Currently Listening

1. “Johnny Hit and Run Pauline” by X (from Los Angeles)
2. “Still Be Around” by Uncle Tupelo (from 89/93: An Anthology)
3. “Good Feeling” by Violent Femmes (from Violent Femmes)
4. “Warstoryville” by U.S. Bombs (from War Birth)
5. “Twenty Flight Rock” by Tiger Army (from The Early Years)
6. “Modern Day Labor Anthem” by Street Dogs (from Savin’ Hill)
7. “I’ll Be You” by The Replacements (from Don’t Tell a Soul)
8. “(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville” by R.E.M. (from Reckoning)
9. “Mary” by The Pavers (from Wrecking Ball)
10. “Astro Zombies by Misfits (from Misfits: Collection 1)

Rancid’s Tim Armstrong to Star in New Detective Web Series

PunkNews.org is reporting that Rancid’s Tim Armstrong is working on a new web series entitled Svengali.

From the story –

Svengali is a detective show that includes murder, music, sex, intrigue and a drunk detective (John Roecker) battling it out with the evil professor (Tim Armstrong). The series is an homage to the 1970's detective shows (I.e. Drinking, smoking, not p.c.) of yesteryear but set in 2010 using the city of Los Angeles as a back drop. Shot guerilla style with no permits or taste this is one web series people will never forget. A series so shocking and sexy it will satisfy your bad taste palette more than "cougar town" could! Special guest star Jane Wiedlin from the go-go's also makes an appearance. The show will run though March. For immature audiences only. You have been warned!

Free Will, Free Choice, Id, Ego, Super Ego: Arguments of Semantics, Unintended Cousins, or Something More?

Man of the West mentioned the idea of “free will” vs. “free choice” in his post The Bondage of the Will Online. I’d heard this idea mentioned once before, by MOTW actually, but I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the concept so I inquired about it in the comments sections. Here is part of the explanation that MOTW provided –

The will is that part of you according to which your choice is made. Your choice is free in the sense that no one can put a gun to your head and determine what you, in your heart of hearts, choose to believe. But what you choose to believe will be determined by your will, which is a slave to sin, unless set free from it by God, in which case it is then a slave to Christ.

After reading this a few times I wondered if maybe this was simply an argument of semantics. Then it dawned on me that the idea of the will as presented above reminded me of the id and the idea of choice reminded me of the ego and super ego. Is it possible that Calvin’s ideas are just another way of expressing Freud’s ideas?

I have to admit that I am not expert on Calvin, predestination, or Freud so I could be completely off base here. I just thought that the similarities, on the surface at least, were interesting.

If you want to read more, the Wikipedia articles on free will and id, ego, and super ego seem to be pretty good starting spots.

Will Smith for President?

No it’s not a joke, he seriously wants to be President.

Quote of the Day

Why is it that so many times the person who preaches the loudest against censorship is the first to censor?

-- The Gnarly Guerrilla Gorilla from the post ANONYMOUS, JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NAZI

Currently Listening

1. “Bleeder” by Hot Water Music (from Alkaline Trio / Hot Water Music [Split CD])
2. “All’s Fair” by ALL (from Guilty)
3. “This Time Last Year” by The Ducky Boys (from The War Back Home)
4. “Gods Are Fearing Men” by Filthy Thievin’ Bastards (from My Pappy Was a Pistol)
5. “Grace of God Go I” by Flogging Molly (from Swagger)
6. “Trying My Best to Love You” by Jenny Lewis (from Acid Tongue)
7. “Achin’ To Be” by The Replacements (from Don’t Tell a Soul)
8. “Step Inside This Room” by Swingin’ Utters (from Swingin’ Utters)
9. “Watch Me Fall” by Uncle Tupelo (from 89/93: An Anthology)
10. “Ugly” by Violent Femmes (from Violent Femmes)

Miramax Films is Closing its Doors

In some sad movie news, the studio that brought us classics like Pulp Fiction, Clerks, Good Will Hunting, The Mighty, Ella Enchanted, and Adventureland, Miramax Films is being shut down.

From the story –

Thursday marked the end of an important era in motion picture history, with Disney shuttering the New York and Los Angeles offices of Miramax Films and the division's president, Daniel Battsek, along with about 80 Miramax employees, departing.

The 31-year-old Miramax label will be retained by Disney and applied to about three movies a year going forward, according to studio officials.

But operated by Disney's management team in Burbank, California -- and lacking any dedicated employees of its own -- the groundbreaking indie studio founded by brothers Bob and Harvey Weinstein in 1979 is essentially finished.

[...]

The Weinsteins sold their company to Disney in 1993 for $70 million. And for a while, they were able to operate rather autonomously out of New York.

However, as the label aggressively sought awards attention with lavish Oscar campaigns, and its movie budgets began to escalate, the Weinsteins' relationship with then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner deteriorated.

After a bitter parting of the ways with Eisner, the Weinsteins left Miramax in 2005 to start a new production outfit (yep, the Weinstein Company), and Miramax was left in the hands of Battsek, a longtime international sales executive for Disney.

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture

Curious about Oklahoma history? Check out the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture.

Thanks to Jim at Fried Green Onions / Pundant.com for the find.

RIP J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, has passed away. Countless restless and angst-ridden teens (and adults) owed Mr. Salinger a huge debt and gratitude for the book that helped so many through some dark times. Rest well Mr. Salinger.

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing songs that I think have very powerful lyrics. I’ve also included links to the lyrics (the ones that I could find at least) for those who may be curious.

1. “Nobody’s” by ALL (from Percolater)
2. “Where Do Ya Draw the Line?” by Dead Kennedys (from Bedtime for Democracy)
3. “Mango” by Dag Nasty (from Four on the Floor)
4. “World Full of Hate” by Dropkick Murphys (from Blackout)
5. “Disciples of Soul” by Hudson Falcons (from For Those Whose Hearts and Souls are True)
6. “Man in Black” by Johnny Cash (from The Essential Johnny Cash Disc 2)
7. “I Believe” by R.E.M. (from Lifes Rich Pageant)
8. “My Glass House” by Swingin’ Utters (from Swingin’ Utters)
9. “God, Pt. 2” by U2 (from Rattle & Hum)
10. “Born Frustrated” by Rancid (from Indestructible)

State of the Union

I just watched President Obama’s State of the Union Address from last night and overall I wasn’t that impressed. The speech was okay but not great and it sure was the horrifically partisan attack that Mark Levin made it out to be. It seems to me that the President is trying to move to the center in his governance and I for one hope that he is sincere about doing so and successful at, but only time will tell (and I have my doubts). For the most part I thought it was a boring and uninspired speech that did little to nothing to change my opinion of the President and the policies his administration is pushing. Yes there were parts that I agreed with, but I have little faith that any of it will come to pass.

If you haven’t seen or heard the speech yet, you can watch it here or read it here.

Why are Band Photos So Pretentious?

I was flipping through an issue of Spin at work recently and was just taken aback by how ridiculous and pretentious most of the band promo photos were. These people looked silly and I just don’t get why. Why do bands let themselves be made to look like snooty ass-hats? If anyone out there can explain this one to me, please do because I’m truly confused.

Someone to Keep an Eye On

As of yet, I haven’t been impressed by any of the name circulating as potential presidential candidates in 2012, but after reading the I find I can even like a Republican – sometimes over at the blog Classically Liberal, the name Gary Johnson has peaked my interest.

From the post –

I told Johnson that there are three issues that divide libertarians from conservatives in the current political debate: drugs, immigration and equality of rights for gay people. So I put him on the spot about the one he had not addressed that evening. He immediately said he would support civil unions for gay couples. Again, that is about 80% there. But compared to other candidates, a consistent 80% there on issues is pretty damn good.

I asked him about the Defense of Marriage Act and his first inclination was to oppose repeal. I mentioned the law denies equal rights in ways that libertarians ought to be concerned. The father of our host for the evening asked me to clarify. So I pointed out the obvious case that a heterosexual American can marry a non-citizen and bring their spouse to America to live with them but that gay Americans are denied that right by law. Johnson didn't seem to realize that was the case and that the Defense of Marriage Act prevented a policy of equality. But he was a governor not a federal legislator so I can excuse that lack of awareness. Johnson immediately said he may have spoken too soon and said what I mentioned, "just doesn't seem fair." Hey, that's a better answer than you can get out of Ron Paul or Bob Barr.

But his immediate rethink tells me he is someone who has basic principles down and if new information is provided is open to reconsidering his views.

Interestingly Johnson gets a point I've made in this blog several times. Recently I argued the election of Brown in Massachusetts was not an endorsement of Republican views, anymore than the election of Obama was an endorsement of nationalized health care or Obama's views. Only a few days ago Johnson told the Union Leader in New Hampshire that it would be a "a mistrake for Republicans" to view the Brown victory "as some sort of mandate." He said all voters were doing was showing "a real disgust with those in office. It isn't a shift to Republicans. It's just, 'Get whoever's in there out." That is barely different than what I said.

For more information on Gary Johnson check out Our America: The Gay Johnson Initiative and Wikipedia.

Currently Reading

Title: The Sorceress: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Random House, Amazon, Wikipedia)
Author: Michael Scott (Official)
Publisher: Delacorte Press (Random House, Wikipedia)

I gave up on the book that I had been reading…I’m just not up for it at the moment. I need some escape, not something that it going to make even angrier than I already am.

So far book three of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series is off to a great start and picks up right where book two left off. What I really am enjoying is how Michael Scott is able to mix mythological character with historical figures into a compelling urban fantasy.

RIP Howard Zinn

Historian and author Howard Zinn has passed away. Rest well.

Why I Don’t Listen to The Spy as Much as I’d Like to

Last night we went out for dinner to celebrate my wife’s birthday and the restaurant that we went to was playing some satellite radio station that seemed to play very ransom things (not too unlike 97.3 Jack FM). At some point though, the station played “Achin’ to Be” by The Replacements. My head shot up from my food and I said to my wife “this is why I don’t listen to The Spy more…I have yet to hear them play The Replacements.” She nodded in agreement. In fact whenever we’re in the car and we turn on The Spy, they seem to be playing the same basic thing. – wussy British music. Like I said in my email to The Spy, I like bands like The Smiths and The Charlatans UK but good lord there is more to alternative music than these bands and the bands that they influenced.

I would love to listen to The Spy non-stop but it is really hard we they seem to play a one-sided version of alternative music. I’ll forgive them for missing bands like The GC5 and The Devil Dogs but missing The Replacements is just completely and totally unacceptable. I know that I am being nit picky but when you have something with the amazing potential of The Spy and you watch it getting squandered it is very frustrating.

Currently Listening

1. “Watch Me Fall” by Uncle Tupelo (from 89/93: An Anthology)
2. “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones (from Gold Disc 1)
3. “Hold on! I’m a Comin’” by Sam & Dave (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 1)
4. “Somebody to Love” by Queen (from Greatest Hits [We Will Rock You Edition])
5. “Delirious” by Prince (from 1999)
6. “Someday I Suppose” by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (from Ska-Core, The Devil & More)
7. “Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed (from Walk on the Wild Side: The Best of Lou Reed)
8. “Man in Black” by Johnny Cash (from The Essential Johnny Cash Disc 2)
9. “Get Out the Map” by Indigo Girls (from Retrospective)
10. “Someone New” by ALL (from Everything Sucks Demos)

Video of the Day II

"Lucky" by Descendents

How To Blog

The blog Coyote Crossing has a brilliant post about how to write a blog entitled This is the title of a typical incendiary blog post.

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for the find.

Video of the Day

"Knee Deep" by The Copyrights

Video of the Day

"Joe California" by Drag the River

Guns & the Bible: A Soldier's Perspective

Benjamin Bush, a Marine and Iraq War veteran, did an exceptionally powerful piece for NPR’s All Things Considered entitled Hold The Hallelujah: The Perils Of Rifles And Religion. The piece is a little over three minutes and is truly worth listening to.

Money Quote –

The United States is fighting Islamic extremists. But we are not Christian extremists. When I returned for my second tour in 2005, we were in the embattled city of Ramadi, and we fought jihadists, tribal factions and criminals alongside almost entirely Muslim Iraqi soldiers. It was impossible to segregate the ambitions of singular religions then.

Although the rifle equipment was stamped as a private act by a private company, it was sold to governments, and therefore unavoidably and knowingly coupled with politics. Biblical quotes were thoughtfully chosen — thoughtful enough not to be allowed as innocent of larger context.

By branding weapons with Christian messages, there is a deep and ugly blending of religion, politics and bloodshed, and it has unwittingly painted our government and military with the embarrassing language of "crusade."

America is largely composed of people who consider themselves Christian, separated by various interpretations of the same book. But I did not go onward as a Christian soldier. I went forth as an American, a Marine. I was sent by my country to fight a threat, and thereafter with the best intentions of democracy, not theocracy.

Our efforts in the Middle East were complicated enough, and small symbols are examined carefully by our opponents. Based on my understanding of the teachings of Christ, he would be very disappointed to see his Gospel assigned to war of any kind in the first place.

Angry All of the Time

So things in this country are pretty f-ed up right now. The economy is in the toilet. Our leaders couldn’t care less about leading (they’d rather attack each other, blame all of the ills of the world on the other party, and worry about their campaign coffers). Our companies could care less about their employees or their customers (they just want to bleed us all dry). Our society is falling apart at the seams and it doesn’t appear that we can do anything to stop it or change our fate (just look at how horribly we treat each other).

This is America today, but to be completely honest it doesn’t seem that much different than America of 10 or 20 years ago. Sure the economy was better in the 90s but anyone with a brain knew that a down turn was coming and for the vast majority of the 00s we stood on the edge of a knife and finally toppled off that edge in 08. Our leaders have always been more concerned with attacking their opponents than actually leading (the only presidents that I think weren’t guilty of this were Washington and Monroe). Our companies have always desired to suck every penny out of every customer and employee that they could. So what’s different?

For me the difference is that I am angry and negative all of the time. I am fed up and bitter and I just see no hope at all for the future. And when I say that I’m angry, I am angry to the point that it is poisoning everything that I do, see, and read. Each interaction I have with customers and management damn near sends me off into bad word laden fits of rage. Everything story or blog post that I read is pissing me off for one reason or another. I am frustrated with just about everything and I hate it.

I have always had a negative streak but I’ve been hopeful for the future, humanity, and this country but lately even that hopefulness has nearly faded away. My negativity has nearly always been fueled by reason and directed at what I saw as inadequacies and inequalities but now it is growing past that (either that or the inadequacies and inequalities are growing by leaps and bounds). I’m scared that I am going to become nothing more than a bitter and jaded old man that has nothing but negativity to give to the world. There is a place for negativity and being jaded is often a part of life but I don’t want that to define who and what I am and what I can do or become. I don’t have the answers and honestly I’m not ever sure what the questions are but I know that things are messed up pretty bad and I also know that there doesn’t seem to be anything that I can do about it.

Corporate America is Not the Life for Me

Something that has become glaringly obvious to me recently is that I am not built for corporate America. Working for gigantic companies, doing what could easily be described as meaningless work, is not something that I was meant to do. I care too much about people to be successful in a world that sees people as nothing more than a number and a dollar sign. I’m starting to think that maybe I should follow my father’s footsteps and work for a charity but I doubt that I’m qualified for that kind of work. All I have to offer an employer is 15 years of customer service experience, 11 years of technical support experience, and an Associates degree in broadcast journalism. For some reason I doubt that is going to help me too much. It’s too bad I can’t get a gig as a talk show host. I’m sure that I’d torque everyone off at some point. That would be fun, but then again I’d be right back in the belly of the corporate beast. *sigh* Damned if you do…

So We, the Poor, are “Stray Animals”?

SC Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has gotten himself in some hot water over what can at best be described as a poor choice of words.

Here’s what he said –

"My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed," he told an audience in the town of Fountain Inn on Friday. "You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that."

On the surface that is some pretty bad stuff. I’m poor (literally…I got my W2 yesterday and I made well below $19K last year, which is the official poverty line for a family of four) so needless to say, this comment ticked me off. My initial reaction to the headline of the linked story was what kind of jackass would compare those who are struggling and barely squeaking by to stray animals? Has this moron never been poor or needy? Those weren’t very nice things to think but like I said that was my initial reaction.

I read further into the story and found this –

Bauer later told The Greenville News he wasn't saying that poor people are animals, he was speaking out against a "culture of dependence" on government. For instance, he said, parents whose children get assistance such as free or reduced-price school lunches should be required to pass drug tests and attend parent-teacher conferences.

[...]

Bauer defended himself in a statement released over the weekend.

"I do not care about being politically correct," he declared. "I care about being honest."

In an e-mail sent to supporters Sunday, he said government has a responsibility to help the poor, but added "there's a big difference between being truly needy and truly lazy."

But in a phone interview with CNN, Bauer said, "I wish I had used a different metaphor," the network reported today. He also told CNN he is "not against animals."

There are so many different ways to read this and so many different things to read into Bauer’s words, but I’m going to give the man the benefit of the doubt and take what he’s said at face value (seeing as I know nothing about him and all). His point about a “culture of dependence” is a valid one. I also appreciate the fact that he has said that he’s not worried about being politically correct. That’s a nice touch but it could just be a way of trying to cover his tracks.

It seems to me that this is a case of someone who shoved his foot into his mouth and now is have to apologize for it and explain what he meant. We’ve all done it so to burn this man in effigy is just uncalled for IMHO.

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing a Swingin’ Utters shuffle.

1. “You Haven’t Seen Yourself in Years” (from BYO Split Series, Vol. 2)
2. “Mr. Believer” (from The Streets of San Francisco)
3. “Troubador” (from BYO Split Series, Vol. 2)
4. “No Eager Men” (from The Streets of San Francisco)
5. “If You Want Me To” (from Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones)
6. “One in All” (from A Juvenile Product of the Working Class)
7. “Five Lessons Learned” (from Live in a Dive)
8. “Beached Sailor” (from The Streets of San Francisco)
9. “A Promise to Distinction” (from Five Lessoned Learned)
10. “Elation” (from Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones)

Red Scare to Release Swingin’ Utters Tribute

PunkNews.org is reporting that Red Scare Records is preparing to release a Swingin’ Utters tribute album with Teenage Bottlerocket, Street Dogs, Dropkick Murphys, and The Forgotten just to name a few. This should be a great tribute to a fantastic band.

I’ve GOT to See This Movie!

After reading The World in a Satin Bag’s review and watching the trailer (see below), I am now bound and determined to see The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (IMDB, Wikipedia).

From the review –

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a stunning example of how fairytales, myths, legends, and all those other things we’ve passed off as nothing more than childish fantasies can be used to tell emotionally engaging and complex modern stories that comment upon all facets of human existence. An immortal (Christopher Plummer as Doctor Parnassus) and his little companion (Verne Troyer) run a traveling show with the Doctor’s teenage daughter and an impetuous youth. But Doctor Parnassus has made a terrible deal with the Devil, and the Devil has come for his payment. The Doctor must find a way to thwart the Devil and protect those he cares about without making things worse for he and his daughter. Slipping between a 19th century England (my guess) and a strange world driven by hopes and dreams (literally), The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is beautiful in almost every detail.

Cover Wars -- "Train in Vain"

The Clash vs. Dwight Yoakam





My Vote: I know that I'm going to lose punk rock points for this but I really love Dwight Yoakam's version of this song.

Billy vs. the Banks

Folk singer-songwriter Billy Bragg has taken on a new target…the UK banks.

From the story --

Billy Bragg is at it again. The singer-songwriter has always had a tendency to throw his folk-rock weight behind political causes, and this time it's Britain's Royal Bank of Scotland that is feeling the pressure over banker bonuses. The 53-year-old musician, who has collaborated with R.E.M., Natalie Merchant and Wilco, has started a rabble-rousing campaign urging U.K. citizens to withhold their taxes until the government puts the kibosh on the £1.5 billion ($2.4 billion) that RBS plans to award to its bankers.

[...]

"The government has the right to limit the size of RBS bonuses and until it exercises it, [Chancellor of the Exchequer] Alistair Darling's not having my money," Bragg proclaims in an entry titled, "Anarchy in the UK!" In one of the many missives he's posted, he poses the question, "What I don't understand is why, now that we taxpayers are the majority shareholders of these banks, we seem totally powerless to curb their excessive bonus culture?"

The Facebook page includes a letter from Bragg addressed to Darling, who represents shareholders in bonus negotiations. The letter states, "Before I am prepared to pay my taxes this year, I demand that you exercise our shareholders veto and limit all bonuses that RBS pays to employees to no more than £25,000 ($41,000)."

Quote of the Day

“Each congressman will be required to wear those NASCAR suits which prominently display the names of the corporate sponsors. So the typical congressthing might have Big Pharma on his chest and Exxon on his ass, with the big banks running up and down his arms. Each politician would be required to begin and end each speech with the statement ‘This message brought to you by …’ and list the names of his three top contributors. And each bill will be required to bear the logos of its corporate sponsors. This won’t make politics any more democratic, but it will make it a lot more fun. And a lot more honest. We can dispense with the fictions of ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ and go directly to the real issues: ‘I favor the big banks’ or ‘I favor the manufacturers,’ and such like.”

-- John Médaille (from the post Welcome to the Plutocracy)

Thanks to DaveTown for the find.

I also found this bit in the comments section pretty intriguing.

Obama will fail, and by summer we will be in the second down leg of the recession. The GOP will win the November beauty contest (especially since there are no limits on corporate donations) and the 2012 Presidential election. But president Palin (or Cheney, or Jindal or Scott or whoever) will be just as clueless, or more so.

Look for a period of military dictatorship. After that, good knows.

Why is This Even Being Debated?!?

Headline: SmackDown: Should Parents Bring Babies Into A Bar?

Really?!? Really.

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing one song from each of the bands in my curremt rotating top 20 favorite bands.

1. “Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World” by U2 (from Achtung Baby)
2. “Poor Me” by Swingin’ Utters (from Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones)
3. “You Won’t Live to See Tomorrow” by The Staggers (from The Sights, The Sounds, The Fear, and The Pain)
4. “Privileged Few” by Roustabouts (from The Only One)
5. “Silver Lining” by Rilo Kiley (from Under the Blacklight)
6. “Unsatisfied” by The Replacements (from Let It Be [Deluxe Edition])
7. “Sitting Still” by R.E.M. (from Murmur)
8. “It’s a Wonderful Lie” by Paul Westerberg (from Suicaine Gratification)
9. “Red Light’s Tinge” by One Man Army (from Last Word Spoken)
10. “What Went Wrong” by The Methadones (from Not Economically Viable)
11. “Carpetbaggers” by Jenny Lewis (from Acid Tongue)
12. “Monahan’s” by The Hudson Falcons (from Desperation & Revolution)
13. “Lesbian Girl” by Hagfish (from Buick Men)
14. “A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing” by The GC5 (from Kisses from Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
15. “Time to Go” by Dropkick Murphys (from Blackout)
16. “Clean Sheets” by Descendents (from ALL)
17. “Ran That Scam” by Dead To Me (from Little Brother)
18. “Never Go Back” by Dag Nasty (from Can I Say [Bonus Tracks])
19. “Suppose” by Buffalo Tom (from Big Red Letter Day)
20. “Sounds of the City” by The Bouncing Souls (from The Gold Record)
21. “Bubblegum” by ALL (from Allroy’s Revenge)
22. “True Rots Show” by 7 Seconds (from Good To Go)

The 15 Most Hated Companies in America

It’s quite a list that’s for sure. And my former employer is # 15 on the list. I think if more people knew about my current employer then it would have made the list as well.

Quote & Question of the Day

Quote

Maybe you think impoverished Americans are just lazy? Think again. The poor, who have fought our wars since 1776, work harder than the rest of us, and if you had their daily agonies and anxieties, you might be driving into pillville and shrinkland twice a month.

Question

Why are our bosses paid so much more than we are, and so much, much more than our parents’ bosses ever were? Don’t they know that it affects our morale and our attitude toward them? Is it right that while these bosses are getting richer, they are demanding that we become poorer?

-- Ralph Nader (from The Good Fight: Declare Your Independence & Close the Democracy Gap, p.18 and 16)

Currently Reading

Title: The Good Fight: Declare Your Independence & Close the Democracy Gap (Official, Amazon, OnTheIssues)
Author: Ralph Nader (Wikipedia, The Nader Page, OnTheIssues)
Publisher: Regan Books (Wikipedia, HarperCollins)

I'm not very far into this book, but I've already found some great quotes. I don't agree with Nader on a lot of issues but I admire the hell out of the guy and the work that he has done.

Am I a Bad Person for Wanting to Laugh at This?

Headline: German Teens Hospitalized After Drinking Hot Chili Sauce

From the story –

A group of German teenagers got more than they bargained for after drinking chili sauce more than 200 times hotter than normal Tobasco sauce, the Associated Press reported.

Officials say eight teens were hospitalized after drinking the hot sauce. The Red Cross in Augsburg, a city in southern Germany, told the Associated Press that 10 boys, ages 13 and 14, drank the sauce Wednesday morning in school. Officials say it was a "test of courage."

As Forrest once said “Stupid is as stupid does.”

For Once I Agree with Newt

I am not a fan of Newt Gingrich, but I must give credit where credit is due. His piece Mr. President, Govern as You Promised was pretty much spot on.

Money Quote –

The person the American people thought they were voting for in 2008 was a moderate who wanted to bring transparency to government and work with leaders of both parties on common-sense reform.

However, upon taking office, the president turned over massive power to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, who wrote legislation in such a stunningly partisan way that they received almost no Republican votes on any major piece of legislation.

Furthermore, the bills were often written in secret, passed without giving the American people or even Congress a chance to read them, and included special deals for big-business interests, political supporters and key senators as a way to get their support.

This clearly was not change America could believe in.

It is a mystery why Obama thought he could govern as a different person from the one he campaigned as, but he now has a chance to reset his presidency around the principles he espoused during the campaign.

No more secret deals.

No more Pelosi-Reid machine votes.

No more left-wing, Democrats-only strategies.

Republicans would be very smart to approach Obama with a series of reform proposals in health care, national security, deficit reduction and economic growth. Obama would be even smarter to figure out which of these he and the moderates in the Democratic caucus can get behind, and score an easy series of legislative victories that would help both his political fortunes and the country.

The question though is will and can Obama pull a Bill Clinton. Clinton was able to move back to the center after his Democratically controlled Congress pulled him left. They key here though is that he moved back to the center. Whatever you think about the man, Clinton was a centrist and, for the most part, governed as a centrist. That is why his presidency was as successful as it was. Obama is a different creature all together. While he campaigned as a Clinton-like centrist, his past wasn’t steeped in centrist politics like Clinton’s. I would love nothing more than for Obama to govern as a centrist and be the president that he promised he would be in the campaign, but I have no faith or confidence that it will happen.

Quote of the Day II

The impulse to label an opponent as an extremist is a common and tempting one. It is a very easy thing to do, provided that you are not concerned with accuracy or persuading undecided and unaffiliated people that you are right. These labels are not descriptive. They are a way to express the extent of one’s discontent and disaffection with the other side in a debate.

When some Republican says that Obama and his party have been governing from “the left,” he might even believe it inasmuch as Obama and his party are to his left politically, but what he really means is that he strongly disapproves of how Obama and his party have been governing. He may or may not have a coherent reason for this disapproval, but declaring it to be leftist or radical leftist conveys the depth of his displeasure. That is, it is not analysis of political reality. It is therapy for the person making the statement.

The same thing goes for progressives who were trying to find words to express how outraged they were by Bush. Inevitably, many resorted to using labels such as theocrat, extreme right, radical right and the like. These did not correctly describe the content of Bush’s politics, but they did express the critics’ feelings of disgust and loathing for Bush’s politics.

-- Daniel Larison (from the piece All Of This Has Happened Before)

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for the find.

McDonalds Thinks They Own “Mc”

According to this story, McDonalds has sued a 19 year-old Karen McClusky over the name that she has used for a series of charity concerts.

From the story –

For McClusky, 19, finds herself at the center of a thorny dispute that involves a series of charity concerts she's put on over the past three years. She dubbed the event "McFest" (more on that in a moment) -- but McDonald's sees that as an infringement on its trademarks, something the McDonaldland lawyers refer to as "the McFamily of brands."

These include (deep breath): McPen, McBurger, McBuddy, McWatch, McDouble, McJobs, McShirt, McPool, McProduct, McShades, McFree, McRuler, McLight -- and even the prefix "Mc" itself.

"But not McFest," pointed out McClusky, who declined to change her last name for this story. "The whole reason I called it McFest in the first place is my name."

Her original co-chair for the first McFest also shared the "Mc" prefix in her surname, so it seemed a natural. And indeed, not a single McDonald's attorney seemed to object in 2007 and 2008, when McClusky's McFests raised $30,000 for the Chicago chapter of Special Olympics.

But when McClusky applied to have the McFest name protected, McDonald's filed an opposition. So instead of donating funds from her 2009 concert to Special Olympics, McClusky's had to hire lawyers to answer a series of administrative proceedings McDonald's filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. To date, it's cost her roughly $5,000 -- money she wishes had gone to Special Olympics kids instead of attorneys.

The daughter of independent radio promoter Jeff McClusky, Lauren McClusky could of course just change the event name. But that would involve starting from square one in terms of the awareness and name recognition she's already created for her concert series. "It's hard to change the name of something that's already established and locally known," she said.

As for McDonald's actions, McClusky says she's frustrated by the company's desire to clamp down on and in effect penalize a charity event -- especially when McDonald's supports Special Olympics as well. "It has nothing to do with food, arches or their colors," she said. "And our M's are pointy, not curved."

McClusky hopes for a truce that will allow her to keep the McFest name. Still, she's unwilling to make a corporate sponsorship tradeoff along the lines of "McDonald's Presents McFest." For their part, McDonald's representatives maintained that they have no desire to squash McClusky's charitable efforts, and desire an "amicable resolution."

Moral of the story? Don’t use anything that has “Mc” as a prefix of anything…even if it is your name.

Quote of the Day

"Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality. It's doesn't lead anywhere. No one in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."

-- Conan O’Brien (from his final night hosting The Tonight Show)

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing a Social Distortion shuffle.

1. “Live Before You Die” (from Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll)
2. “Making Believe” (from Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell)
3. “It Coulda Been Me” (from Social Distortion)
4. “Nickels and Dimes” (from Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll)
5. “Drug Train” (from Social Distortion)
6. “The Creeps” (from Mommy’s Little Monster)
7. “Telling Them” (from Mommy’s Little Monster)
8. “When She Begins” (from Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell)
9. “Hour of Darkness” (from Mommy’s Little Monster)
10. “Moral Threat” (from Mommy’s Little Monster)

How About Some Poetry?

For some reason I’ve started writing poetry again lately. This is something that I’ve done off and on since high school and generally coincides with bouts of depression. Sometimes I’ve attempted to write lyrics and other times it’s just poems.

The thing with poetry, probably more than with any other writing, is that it is your heart opened completely and laid bare. For this reason I have been reluctant to share any of the poems that I have written (plus I have a pretty good feeling that they really suck). Here is one from a few years ago and a few that I’ve written recently.

Dawn breaks
On a morning cloud
Fog snakes
Through the thickness now
Morning fades to yesterday
Time’s come up

Sun fades
Through the lasting cloud
Stars shade
Night cries in anguish now
Morning fades to yesterday
Time comes up
Fade away

Feel your breath
Soft touch of skin
Morning left
Empty within

Nothing will come from tears and joy
This beating heart
This beating heart

Dawn breaks
One last morning cloud
Given up
Hands cry out loud
Morning comes, so cry the night
Mystery, darkness
Dove in flight

-- Tuesday May 22, 2007 12:31 AM

_______


Hearts of fire
Burning in the light of dawn
Past indiscretion
Come and gone
Nothing is forgotten
Forgiven or excused
Nothing but the memories
Sad and amused

What became
Of the night’s burning stare
Past voices haunting
“Life is never fair”
Nothing is replaced
For time is a thief
Haunting in the corners
Of our ancient belief

Pacing the mind’s eye
For something to see
What memories will fade
Time will cease to be
Finding a sense
For tomorrow’s darkest night
Bringing sweet relief
From today’s longing blight

-- Thursday January 7, 2010 1:11 PM

________


The suns of our sky
Light the darkened spaces
Giving way to daylight’s graces

Humming night’s blanket hangs
Across the landscape the camera pans
Growing vines line the streets
Of what was left of our greatest feats

Spinning minds losing control
Desperate hands, needing to let go
Precious time, slinks right past
Never letting the moment last

Looking to the sky, may give some reprieve
But only for those who choose to believe
The beauty in life, the sea, and sky
Are reflected in the glimmer of a baby’s eye

-- January 14, 2010 4:20 PM

_______


Our souls’, are losing faith
Our faith, in ourselves
The strength, to break the day
The day, to make it through

Happenstance forgives circumstance
Chance is what makes our fate

Alone, in all the world
A world, that’s not my home
We’re free, to make our way
What way, is the one today

Happiness defines consciousness
Fate is the grasping glance

-- Wednesday January 20, 2010 6:10 PM

Air America Shuts Down

Not that the news is really all that shocking, Air America, the “radio network that was launched in 2004 as a liberal alternative to Rush Limbaugh and other conservative commentators,” has shut down.

The demise of Air America can really only be blamed on the talent. Often liberals and leftists can come off as snobs and the folks in Middle America just don’t want to hear it. If there was a liberal to come along with the broadcasting talent of Limbaugh (hate the man all you want, and believe me I am not a fan, but the man has got talent and a natural ability at the broadcasting thing) then I think that individual would be successful. But until then I think that Politics Daily's Luisita Lopez Torregrosa summed the situation up perfectly in her piece The Fox Juggernaut: Why It's No. 1 –

Stack its lineup of stars -- Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity -- against the liberal MSNBC's lineup of Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, and you've got a pretty good picture of why Fox comes out on top.

It's simple. Beck, O'Reilly and Hannity -- as disagreeable as they might be to someone with my political leanings -- seem in varying degrees more in touch with centrist-to-conservative America, which is, like it or not, the heart of the country. They speak the language -- simple, straightforward. Who can't understand O'Reilly's pinheads and patriots? Who can resist Glenn Beck's boyish persona and oversimplified view of the world? And how about Sean Hannity, who proudly wears his biases on his sleeve?

Controversy is their bread and butter. They stoke the fires and stir the ashes and hold court with the low and the high. They don't dine and party with insiders. They are anti-establishment. They are suburbanites (none lives in Washington or Manhattan). They are outliers.

And yes I know that the above was not referring to this situation, but the logic is sounds and perfectly explains the Air America demise.

Will there ever be a successful liberal talk show host? I’m sure of it. Someday someone will come along with the ability to communicate liberal ideas and ideals as well as Limbaugh communicates conservative ideas. The problem with so many liberal hosts is that they just ape the conservatives. They take on the often angry tone and attack just like their right wing competition but it just doesn’t work. So far there has been one host that I’ve heard that I think could be a successful liberal host (I’m not sure if he’d even accept being called a liberal) and that is Phil Hendrie. Unfortunately his show is no longer on in Oklahoma (that I can find at least) and I’m not sure that he is the one that could break through the conservative iron curtain but he may be able to get a crack started.

This Sums Up Perfectly the Type of Day I had at Work Yesterday

And normally I don’t quote other people’s posts in their entirety but I just have to with this one...

Customer: “What do I need to get a warranty for my Xbox?”

Me: “Depends, did you buy it new or used?”

Customer: “Used.”

Me: “Okay, you still have the receipt?”

Customer: “Yes.”

Me: “Okay, if it’s been less then two weeks you can bring the receipt down here and we can sell you a warranty that’ll extend the manufacturer warranty for another 2 years.”

Customer: “So, if I bring my Xbox over tomorrow and buy a warranty you can replace it for me right then?”

Me: “Wait, what?”

Customer: “My Xbox broke about a week ago and I wanted to know if I could get a warranty tomorrow and you guys give me a new one.”

Me: “How long ago did you buy this?”

Customer: “Two years ago.”

Me: “No, you can’t do that.”

Customer: “What!? Why not? You just said I could.”

Me: “Sir, that’s like buy a car, driving it through the wall of an insurance company and then climbing out and asking for full coverage. It’s just not going to happen. It’s bad business.”

Customer: “Well, f*** you then!”

Currently Listening

1. “Stand Up” by Riot Squad (from Riot Squad)
2. “Oblivion” by The Staggers (from The Sights, The Sounds, The Fear, and The Pain)
3. “Damnation” by The Staggers (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
4. “Hour of Darkness” by Social Distortion (from Mommy’s Little Monster)
5. “She’s a Knockout” by Social Distortion (from Social Distortion)
6. “King of Fools” by Social Distortion (from Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell)
7. “Live Before You Die” by Social Distortion (from Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll)
8. “Playboys, Punks, and Pretty Tings” by Swingin’ Utters (from Swingin’ Utters)
9. “Tell Me Lies” by Swingin’ Utters (from Five Lessons Learned)
10. “Elation” by Swingin’ Utters (from Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones)

Supreme Court Sells Out Political Process to Corporate Interests

Headline: Supreme Court rolls back campaign spending limits

From the story –

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on business efforts to influence federal campaigns.

By a 5-4 vote, the court overturned a 20-year-old ruling that said companies can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to produce and run their own campaign ads. The decision, which almost certainly will also allow labor unions to participate more freely in campaigns, threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states.

The last thing our electoral process needs is more money being thrown around by corporations, labor unions, political action committees, and the uber rich. While I may not disagree, in theory at least, with the idea that spending money is a form of speech, our political process has been whored out to the highest bidder and the only way to derail this train is to institute the public financing of all elections. Maybe if we had ethical politicians, corporations, unions, and PACs then we could let people spend as much as they want but that’s just not the reality of the world that we live in. The political process shouldn’t be limited to the rich and powerful but that is exactly what is happening in America today.

People I Look Up To, Respect, and/or Admire 2.0

A couple of years ago I did a post on some of the people that I admire, respect, and who have influenced me, and I thought that it was about time to revisit the topic. Like my previous version, this list includes musicians, politicians, scholars, and authors, so of whom I’ve been lucky enough to meet and others I have appreciated from afar. This list is by no means exhaustive nor in any particular order. I’m sure that in the future I will do additional versions of this post with new lists, but until then here is my current list with links to various sites about the individuals.

Joseph Campbell (Mythologist, author) – Joseph Campbell Foundation, Wikipedia
Ralph Nader (Consumer activist, Presidential candidate) – The Nader Page, Wikipedia
James Monroe (US President) – White House bio, Wikipedia
Leslie Simon (Music journalist, author) – Leslie Simon is Awesome
JK Rowling (Author) – Official site, Wikipedia
Tina Fey (Actress, comedian) – IMDB bio, Wikipedia
Glenn Beck (Talk show host) – Official site, Wikipedia
Milo Aukerman (Lead singer of the Descendents, scientist) – Facebook, Wikipedia
Bill Stevenson (Drummer of ALL and the Descendents, record producer, owner of The Blasting Room) – Wikipedia
Joe Blow (Lead singer, guitarist for The Staggers and Dog Company)
Janeane Garofalo (Actress, comedian, political activist) – Official site, IMBD bio, Wikipedia
George Washington (US President) – White House bio, Wikipedia
Jimmy Carter (US President) – White House bio, Wikipedia

My Thoughts on Scott Brown’s Victory

I wasn’t at all surprised that Republican Scott Brown won the Senate seat once held by the late Ted Kennedy. I truly know nothing about him or his opponent in that race, but I do know that people are not happy with how things are going in DC and specifically are not happy with the Obama administration. Add on top of that all of the tension about the economy and it is a no brainer that the Democrats would lose that seat. Also it seems that Brown is a nice guy, or at least that is the impression that I’m getting after reading things like this and this. Hopefully he won’t get tainted and corrupted by the Washington machine like so many others have.

Stiff Little Fingers Biography

PunkNewes.org is reporting that Roland Link has released a book chronicling the under appreciated Belfast band Stiff Little Fingers entitled Kicking Up a Racket: The Story of Stiff Little Fingers 1977-1983.

SLF is one of those bands that never really got their due IMHO. Sure you can hear their influence all over the place (in bands like the Dropkick Murphys, Swingin’ Utters, Street Dogs, and One Man Army) but they have never gotten the recognition of many of their contemporaries (like The Clash and Sex Pistols). Hopefully this book will open up a whole new audience to the tremendous music of SLF.

Some Stories Make You Lose Hope for Humanity’s Future

Like this one.

Ralph Nader Writes Some Fiction

Literally.

An Encouraging Start

According to this story, “Eighty-one percent of U.S. adults favor legalizing marijuana in a medical context.” Now if we could just get people to realize that legalizing the stuff would be 1000 times better than our failed “war on drugs.”

Video of the Day II

"Pictures to Prove It" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Video of the Day

"It's Empty" by Filthy Thievin' Bastards (One Man Army cover)

Two Words

Band candy.

No Roses for Poe

It seems that whoever has been anonymously leaving roses on Edgar Allen Poe’s grave on his birthday missed this year’s event.

The Devil in Anglo-Saxon Literature

The blog Wormtalk and Slugspeak is “compiling a list of places in Anglo-Saxon literature where devils, demons or the Devil himself speak.” If you have any suggestions, hope on over and let the good doctor know.

10 Things That Parents’ Should Not Do

Michele Borba has a great post entitled 10 Worst Things Parents Do to Ruin Kids’ Social Lives that I think is a must for any parent to read and absorb. I especially liked # 1 on the list –

Set a Terrible Example. Do you tell your kids to have good manners, but then verbally abuse your waiter? Do you tell your kids not to talk about people behind their back, and then pick up the phone to gossip? Don’t expect your kids to be a good friend unless you are.

Quote of the Day

If “Truth in Advertising” laws were applied to the Washington agencies, departments, and many congressional offices, the doors to these institutions would be adorned with “for sale” signs.

-- Ralph Nader (from The Good Fight: Declare Your Independence & Close the Democracy Gap, p. 2)

What’s Up with the BNN Rankings?

Is it just me or has the BlogNetNews Oklahoma Weekly Influence Index not updated in a really long time?

Green Lantern -- The Movie

After watching this trailer for the upcoming Green Lantern movie I have to admit that I was not thrilled. Then after reading this post (where I found the trailer in the first place), I realized that this was a fan made trailer and not an official one. My first complaint was that the person playing Hal Jordan was not Ryan Reynolds, but upon checking IMDB, it does appear that Reynolds is still on to play Jordan (he is just too perfect for this part IMHO).

One of the things that makes me unsure about the prospects of this film is the fact that Green Lantern is my favorite all-time superhero (him and Captain Marvel). On top of that I’m not sure how well he can translate on the big screen. Comic book movies tend to be either really good (like Spider-Man and Batman) or they really suck (too many to list). And like any, GL has the potential to go either way. My hope is that this film will follow in the footsteps of Batman and Spider-Man, but my fear is that we will end up with Superman Returns.

Currently Watching

Title: Whatever Works (IMDB, Official, Wikipedia)

Whatever Works is a hilarious dark comedy from Larry David and Woody Allen. Now before you get worried, Woody does not make an appearance in this film. What this film really is, is a Larry David vehicle and that is a good thing. For those who don’t know, Larry David (Wikipedia) was the inspiration for the character George Costanza on Seinfeld and essentially Boris, his character in Whatever Works, is George on crack (if he was a washed up physicist with a limp from a failed suicide attempt).

Quote of the Day

That's why I can't say enough times, whatever love you can get and give, whatever happiness you can filch or provide, every temporary measure of grace, whatever works. And don't kid yourself. Because it’s by no means up to your own human ingenuity. A bigger part of your existence is luck, than you'd like to admit.

-- Boris Yellnikoff (played by Larry David in Whatever Works)

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing a shuffle of The Staggers.

1. “James 5” (from Riot Squad)
2. “Darkest Before Dawn” (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
3. “Last Man on Earth” (from The Sights, The Sounds, The Fear, and The Pain)
4. “Riot Squad” (from Riot Squad)
5. “Damnation” (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
6. “Warm Summer Day” (from Riot Squad)
7. “What Would You Do?” (from Riot Squad)
8. “Dead Walking” (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
9. “From Within” (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
10. “My Life” (from Riot Squad)

Pat and the Satin Bag

Here is a pretty interesting take on the Pat Robertson / Haiti / Satan thing.

Video of the Day II

"Murder on My Mind" by Joe Blow & York

Video of the Day

"Last Man on Earth" by The Staggers

I LOVE This Show

I’ve been watching The Unusuals (IMDB, Wikipedia) like crazy on YouTube and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows. Sadly it only had 10 episodes before it was cancelled. The show is an excellent combination of drama and quirky comedy with excellent acting, writing, and directing. It’s a real shame that this show didn’t last longer than it did, but man oh man the episodes that are out there are fantastic!

How About the 2010 Okie Blog Awards?

Check it out and get your nominations in.

Thanks to The Lost Ogle for the find.

Street Dogs Hitting the Blasting Room

PunkNews.org is reporting that the Street Dogs will heading to the studio next month and the studio in question is none other than the house that Bill Stevenson built, The Blasting Room. The only thing that would make this news cooler would be if Bill was producing the record.

My Letter to The Spy

Below is the email that I just sent to the program director at 105.3 The Spy.

_________________________________

Suggestions for The Spy

Hey Ferris,

Thank you very much for bringing The Spy back to OKC. Having the station back has brought an incredible breath of fresh air to the extremely stagnant radio dial. And while I am really enjoying what you are doing, I have a few suggestions to make the station even better.

The thing with alternative music is that it is a huge catch-all that incorporates all of the genres that followed the punk movement of the 1970s (including the bands that influenced the bands of that movement). This includes things like punk, goth, oi, hardcore, psychobilly, industrial, indie rock, and so on.

Up to this point the Spy has focused on certain aspects of what is alternative music. Case in point, nearly every time that I have listened to the Spy I have heard a song by either Morrissey or The Smiths. Now don’t get me wrong…I like The Smiths and all but if I am hearing them that often (and I only get to listen when in my car) then that means they are in massively heavy rotation. And while The Smiths were hugely important to alternative music, there are other bands that were just as important that don’t get played on the Spy. I have yet to hear anything by The Replacements, Descendents, Husker Du, Minutemen, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Big Black, or Concrete Blonde played on the Spy. I could just be missing them but I think that they deserve as much play as The Smiths and just aren’t getting it.


I first came into the alternative music scene about 20 years ago and cut my teeth on episodes of 120 Minutes hosted by Dave Kendall and rocked out to bands like the Charlatans UK, The Soup Dragons, R.E.M., and The Cure. That was a great time for music and it seems to me that you were obviously very active in the scene at that time based on the songs and bands that I hear on the Spy. This is not a bad thing, but there is more to alternative music to that time and bands that sound like those bands.

One of my dream jobs is to run a station like the Spy, but I know that I am not an expert in all things alternative. In my pipedream, I reached out to experts of the various subgenres of alternative music to get an idea of what those folks are into and make sure to add those bands to the playlist. For example, I am not an expert on industrial music but I know that there are industrial fans out there and I’d want to have them as listeners to the station and I know that after a while they would probably want to hear something other than KMFDM, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Ministry, Nitzer Ebb, and Nine Inch Nails (the only industrial bands that I know).

I think that it would be great if you expanded what the Spy plays to include more of these subgenres and one way of helping do that would be to reach out to those who know the music. Get with the guys at Size and Guestroom Records to see what the big sellers are. Find people who know punk and indie rock and psychobilly and goth like the back of their hand and mine them for band and song suggestions. Expanding the station to embrace all of the facets of alternative music would not only expand the audience, it would make this really great station into an effing fantastic one.

Thanks for listening and please don’t think that I don’t appreciate what you guys are doing, because I do. I just think that it could be even that much better.

Take care,
Dave

Closer to Doomsday?

These guys think so.

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing a Buffalo Tom shuffle.

1. “Darl” (from Let Me Come Over)
2. “Sunday Night” (from Sleepy Eyed)
3. “Torch Singer” (from Big Red Letter Day)
4. “Soda Jerk” (from Big Red Letter Day)
5. “Good Girl” (from Three Easy Pieces)
6. “My Responsibility” (from Big Red Letter Day)
7. “I’m Allowed” (from Big Red Letter Day)
8. “Sundress” (from Sleepy Eyed)
9. “Summer” (from Sleepy Eyed)
10. “Staples” (from Let Me Come Over)

Top 11 Power Trios

I've been listening to a lot of trios lately so I thought that it would be fund to do a list of my favorite power trios. This list isn’t in any particular order and I’ve included some videos just for fun too.

1. Buffalo Tom


2. One Man Army


3. Dinosaur Jr.


4. Sebadoh


5. Material Issue


6. Sugar


7. The Thermals


8. Violent Femmes


9. Green Day


10. Jawbreaker


11. Alkaline Trio

I Normally Don’t Go for Cop Shows But…

I just watched a couple of episodes of the show The Unusuals (IMDB, Wikipedia) and really enjoyed it. You can watch the pilot here.

Ancient Civilization Found in Amazon

According to this story, remnants of an ancient civilization have been discovered in the Amazon basin.

From the story –

"The combination of land cleared of its rain forest for grazing and satellite survey have revealed a sophisticated pre-Columbian monument-building society in the upper Amazon basin on the east side of the Andes. This hitherto unknown people constructed earthworks of precise geometric plan connected by straight orthogonal roads," the researchers wrote in the journal.

[…]

According to Martti Parssinen, Denise Schaan and Alceu Ranzi, the authors of the study, the community likely had a population of more than 60,000 people. The researchers said they have only uncovered roughly 10 percent of the existing structures, which may date as far back as A.D. 800.

Quote of the Day

Now, what about that "harsh view of Islam today"? I should let Marty speak for himself. But my basic view is that the Islamic world today is not unlike the Christian world before the enlightenment (a time, of course, when Islam was more tolerant and advanced than Christendom.) It is a culture where notions of liberalism and religious tolerance are largely foreign -- where even the most liberal mass movement that can be found, the Green movement in Iran, has to make its case in religious terms in order to have any chance at legitimacy. I would not blame the mass of Muslims for al Qaeda's terrorism any more than I'd blame the average medieval Christian for the Crusades. Still, an illiberal, non-secular culture like this is far more capable of producing, or even merely accepting, violence against non-believers qua non-believers.

A lot of liberals have an unfortunate tendency to brand as racist any analysis that holds one culture above another. But there's nothing inherently racial in believing that the illiberal culture that dominates the Muslim world is a key source of the problem, just as it wouldn't be racial make a sweeping indictment of pre-Enlightenment European culture. My belief is that, in the long run, relations between the Muslim world and the West will remain very difficult until the Muslim world has its enlightenment. In the meantime, American policymakers should do their best to reach out to Muslims and try to drive a wedge between the majority and the extremists.

-- Jonathan Chait from the piece My Suck-Up of the Day

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for the find.

Sullivan on Partisan Polarization

Andrew Sullivan has a great post on the partisan polarization entitled Ungovernable?.

Money Quote –

Look. There is a real and vital role for political opposition, and a robust, healthy, even vicious critique of Obama’s policies and a clear alternative to them is not just legitimate but essential for a democracy to work. But these statements from key players at the very top of the Republican party do not reflect this. They reflect a partisanship that seeks to impugn the core motives of the president, implying that he is, in fact, something alien and destructive to America, and must be opposed in everything he does, whatever it is, because his success would mean the end of America itself. It is not a declaration of opposition; it’s a declaration of war.

Currently Watching II

Title: Charlie Bartlett (IMDB, Wikipedia)

Charlie Bartlett deals with a kid who, after getting kicked out of numerous private schools, is sent to public school. Charlie, like many teenagers, desperately wants to be well liked and after a bout with depression is prescribed a drug to help him concentrate. All the pills do is get him whacked out of his mind so he stops taking them and enters a business deal with the school bully to sell them. This deal eventually turns Charlie into the school’s unofficial psychologist. The high point of this film for me was Robert Downey Jr.’s excellent portrayal of the school’s principle and the father of Charlie’s leading lady. Overall this is a fun and thoughtful high school romantic comedy.

**Note -- This was originally part of the previous post but I couldn't get the pictures to look right.

Currently Watching

Title: What Goes Up (IMDB, Official, Wikipedia)

What Goes Up takes place in the days before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and deals with a group of misfit students who have lost a beloved teacher and a reporter who comes to town and gets befriended by the group. There is a lot more going on to the story than that, but it is kind of hard to sum up without giving away too much of the plot. The film is dark and brooding but uplifting and hopeful as well.

Currently Listening

1. “Darl” by Buffalo Tom (from Let Me Come Over)
2. “Suppose” by Buffalo Tom (from Big Red Letter Day)
3. “He’s a Whore” by Cheap Trick (from Cheap Trick [1977])
4. “Surrender” by Cheap Trick (from Heaven Tonight [Bonus Tracks])
5. “Rockin’ Stroll” by The Lemonheads (from It’s a Shame About Ray)
6. “Anyway” by The Lemonheads (from Lick)
7. “Evangeline by Matthew Sweet (from Girlfriend)
8. “Time Capsule” by Matthew Sweet (from Time Capsule: The Best of Matthew Sweet)
9. “Last Word Spoken” by One Man Army (from Last Word Spoken)
10. “Sleeper” by One Man Army (from Rumors and Headlines)

Cover Wars -- "Brain Stew"

Green Day vs. Weezer





My Vote: I've got to go with Weezer on this one.

Video of the Day

"What Became Of The Likely Lads" by The Libertines

Poll: Which Posts Do You Prefer?

I’m curious as to what type of posts you my fair (handful) of readers prefer to read and enjoy the most, so I’ve put a poll that I’ll keep open for about a week. The choices are –

• Politics
• Religion
• Music
• Books
• Movies / TV
• Autobiographic
• Other

Thanks for voting!

John Stewart & George Lucas

Watch it.

I must admit that I have a love/hate thing with George Lucas, but after watching this I think that my love is starting to out weigh my hate.

Thanks to The World in a Satin Bag for the find.

Adding Fuel to the Fire

If Muslims around the world wonder why so many think so poorly of their religion and their societies, they need only to look at stories like this one.

Ummm…Yeah…

I’m not really sure that I can say anything about this story.

Quote of the Day

"Nothing is forever. I don't want anybody to grieve when I go," he said. "Just be glad I could do what I did while I was here."

-- Frank Knight

This is a pretty sad story. Mr. Knight, a tree warden, had cared for this elm tree for over 50 years and it is now finally succumbing to Dutch elm disease. The tree had been around since before the American Revolution.

Some Headlines You Just Can’t Resist

How Old Is Richard Simmons?... (and other Important Questions Answered)

Currently Listening

I’m letting the computer pick the songs again today.

1. “Your Cheating Heart” by The Dimestore Haloes (from Thrill City Crime Control)
2. “Mr. Big” by Dils (from No Thanks! The ‘70s Punk Rebellion Disc 3)
3. “Seasons” by Chris Cornell (from Singles [Original Soundtrack])
4. “Let’s Rab” by The Donnas (from The Donnas)
5. “Sex Objects” by The Briefs (from Sex Objects)
6. “Eyes Like Sparks” by Paul Westerberg (from Stereo)
7. “Argyle” by The Bouncing Souls (from Live Disc 1)
8. “In Your Face” by 7 Seconds (from Walk Together, Rock Together)
9. “Burning” by Fugazi (from 13 Songs)
10. “Witchy Potion” by The Tight Bros. From Way Back When (from Runnin’ Thru My Bones)

Bands Whose Entire Catalogues I’d Like to Have in My Collection

There are some bands that you like and there are some bands that you love and then there are some bands that you want to have everything that they ever released in your possession. I have the complete catalog (or nearly the complete catalog) for ALL, the Descendents, the Dropkick Murphys, The Staggers, 7 Seconds, One Man Army, Dead To Me, The GC5, The Donnas, Sugar, Dag Nasty, Street Dogs, The Riverdales, and the Hudson Falcons. Here is a list of bands that I’d love to have all of their releases on my CD shelf.

The Bouncing Souls
Swingin’ Utters
The Replacements
Rilo Kiley
Ben Lee
Sebadoh
Dinosaur Jr.
The Methadones
Buffalo Tom
Guided By Voices
Teenage Frames
The Pavers
Superchunk
Rancid
The Jesus & Mary Chain
The Smiths
The Cure
The Pixies
The Flaming Lips
The Chainsaw Kittens
The Thermals
Hagfish
Sicko
Big Drill Car
Lily Allen
Red City Radio
Husker Du
Pavement

I’m sure there are some others that I’m forgetting, but this is who I could think of off the top of my head. Too bad I’ll never be able to afford it.

The Country is Growing More Conservative?

According to this story, a recent Gallop poll shows that “a growing percentage of Americans who identify themselves as conservatives and a decline in the percentage who identify themselves as Democrats.”

From the story –

Forty percent described themselves as conservatives last year, compared to 36 percent who said they were moderates and 21 percent who called themselves liberals. In 2008, conservatives and moderates were tied at 37 percent each, with liberals at 22 percent. Between 1992 and 2002, moderates reigned as the largest ideological group.

While the percentage of independents who considered themselves to be moderates held fairly steady in the low- to mid-40s during the last decade, the percentages of Republicans and Democrats who described themselves as moderate declined. Forty-four percent of Democrats were in the moderate camp in 2000 compared to 39 percent last year, and 23 percent of Republicans said they were moderates, compared to 31 percent in 2000.

Gallup's findings point to increasing polarization between Republicans and Democrats. The number of Democrats who considered themselves as liberals grew during the decade from 29 percent in 2000 to 38 percent last year. The percentage of Republicans who identified themselves as conservatives grew from 62 percent in 2000 to 71 percent last year.

As far as party identification, the number of those who said they were Democrats dropped below 50 percent for the first time since 2006. Forty-nine percent identified with the Democratic Party and 40.7 percent with the Republicans. The Democrats had started out the first quarter of the year with 51.7 percent of Americans in their camp, but that declined over the balance of 2009.

This does not bode well for the Democrats this November. I think that it also shows that people tend to be against whoever is in power and to me that is a good thing.

Song of the Decade

I was talking with a good friend and the topic of the “song of the decade” came up. At the time I really couldn’t think of one, but now I think that there is one song that you could call the song of the decade because of it’s enormous popularity and reach (I have personally heard this song on radio stations ranging in formats from active rock to classic rock to adult contemporary to alt-rock to top 40 to pop to flipping Radio Disney).

If any song could be described as the song of the decade for the 00s it’s “Beautiful Day” by U2.

Awkward Moment at Work

Last night I was in the process of moving seats (because the computers were all acting stupid) and during the move I was chatting with my friend Jason. He was talking to another guy at the same time and at some point Jason said “right David” and I responded “right.” The guy he was talking to said (in his very flamboyant voice) “you’re not supposed to agree with him, you supposed to be a good Christian boy.” I chuckled and bit my tongue because I know if I would have said “I’m not a Christian” then I never would have heard then end of it (either that or he would treat me like a leaper).

The Vatican Digs U2

According to this story, the good folks at the Vatican think very highly of U2 and Bono’s lyrics.

From the story –

L'Osservatore Romano, the semi-official newspaper of the Vatican, has published an article vouching for the myriad Christian themes in Bono's lyrics. The piece quotes Italian music critic Andrea Morandi arguing that, while the biblical allusions in early U2 albums like 'Boy' and 'October' are well known, references to religion can be found in almost every tune by the Irish rockers, right up to their most recent work.

Thus we can follow Bono's faith from the dogmatism of '40' from 'War' (which rewrites Psalm 40) and 'October''s 'Gloria' (with its Latin chorus) through the uncertainty found in the albums 'Zooropa' and 'Pop' ("full of discussions with God", according to Morandi), right up to the born again reaffirmation of 'Unknown Caller' (Morandi: 'Where the stranger who calls you is the God who saves') from 'No Line on the Horizon'.

“40” is one of my favorite U2 songs, it is just beautifully haunting. It is one of the songs that I want played at my funeral.

What I have always loved about this band is how they express their spirituality without ever getting preachy (they save that for other subjects). You don’t have to be a Christian to be touched by this band’s lyrics and music and that is not only a testament to their song writing ability but their faith as well.

Currently Listening

I’m letting the computer pick the tunes today.

1. “Lo Boob Oscillator” by Stereolab (from High Fidelity)
2. “Star 69” by R.E.M. (from Monster)
3. “We Got the Power” by Dropkick Murphys (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
4. “Slow Motion” by Blondie (from The Platinum Collection Disc 2)
5. “All Laced Up (But Pitfallen)” by Swingin’ Utters (from The Streets of San Francisco)
6. “Answering Machine” by The Replacements (from Let It Be [Deluxe Edition])
7. “All I Want” by Toad the Wet Sprocket (from Fear)
8. “Freaky” by ALL (from Allroy Saves)
9. “Hold On” by Green Day (from Warning)
10. “Final Hurrah” by Paul Westerberg (from Suicaine Gratification)