Travellin' Band

Concert calendar update. Many terrific show dates have been announced recently, among them The White Stripes, Glassjaw, and System of a Down. I have tickets to the System/Mars Volta show in NJ on 8/23. To all - check out the concert calendar wherever you do that. It would be nice to see if we can get an UnfetteredMind group together at some of these upcoming shows. Also, enlighten us all of any small shows or lesser-known bands that are worth checking out. Keep on rockin' in the free world.

Ahhh, Ireland.

For any of you that follow current events as they are described by the MainStreamMedia (cable news, major newspapers, etc.) are indubitably left with a major void to fill. What should normally be bridging said chasm is actual investigatory journalism, sans the propagandists and repulsive deference to the Bush administration. Some ways of combatting this egregious encroachment of suppressive powers are to stray from the traditional outlets of information, instead perusing some of the more progressive and reality-based news sources. One such promising endeavor has just recently come across my desk. Independent World News seeks to deliver transparent, truthful journalism without corporate influence and governmental pressures. Check it out here http://www.IWTnews.com. Let me know what you think about the site and their goals, but also ideas on the subject of an independent media outlet. Happy thinking.

Flame on ...

What a dick. Beautiful day to be breathing. From my window to the external world, the abundance of both life and peace coexisting together fills me with great hope presently. It sure smells great. I feel lucky to be here, and it is that feeling that drives me to want the rest of humanity to appreciate the fickle nature of life and the fragile structure of society. It is when we realize this as a community that we will all care for our fellow wo/man as we do ourselves. I hope everyone feels some bliss today.

To L.S.A - Happy 22, dear
To U.S.A - Check craigslist for 1) Spine, 2) Balls, & 3) a Heart (preferably not black and cold)

That Flag Just Isn't Holy Anymore

I am pretty confident that no one is watching C-SPAN at this moment, however if in the miniscule chance that you are, doubtless could you miss the hubris of this pirate Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI). During debate on a resolution to create a commission which, similar to the 9/11 Commission, would investigate the policies and their animations of our prison camps and treatment of those detained by our forces abroad, this Chairman implies nearly explicitly that those Americans who call for oversight of these "intelligence" institutions are directly responsible for the negative global image of America and the actual violence directed her way. Wait a minute you fiend, just which committee is this jerkass chairman of? Why the one charged with the oversight of our intelligence issues as they relate to the "Global War on Terror!" Bastard! In his verbal excretion of fecal oration, Hoekstra blames what he calls "self-loathing on the floor of this House" for the growing insurgency in Iraq (which is attracting warriors and savages from other nations) and for the view abroad that American foreign policies are hypocritical. Maybe introspection becomes impossible when plundering the seas of natural and civil rights, and in that case this dissident advocates the Chairman smoke a little grass and sit his soul down and think about his situation. Here the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will see through the looking glass of objectivity exactly how ludicrous and arrogant his assertions appear. If we are defined by our actions, then it certainly seems we have gone astray in our crusade as protectors of human rights around the world. Ignoring the credible assertions of abuses committed by the United States and the ongoing genocide and related atrocities in Darfur, instead this officer of the Fraternal Order of Douchebags is content to blame our lack of action on those critical of our policies abroad. Instead of hearing the substance of calls for investigation of abuses by our intelligence community, First Anal Breach Hoekstra absorbs and regurgitates only the perhaps unfortunate, but nevertheless compelling comparative rhetoric invoking Nazism, Stalinism, and any other -ism that takes its cues from the depraved state of ignorance to humanity. Brass tacks - Hoekstra has indicted those who want him to investigate, as per his obligation as Chairman, our policing and jailing practices as they continue to be called into question by those who have witnessed abuses firsthand. The only defense this savage could arm himself with is that reminiscent of the great poet Pee-Wee Herman, immortalized in his "I know you are, but what am I?" routine. However, the hilarity, or tragedy, is in the egregious finger-pointing that puts the heat everywhere but the fire, which is everthemorequickly burning out of control. This scumbag bastard is more content to point his cannon directly across the floor to those who want to clean up alleged injustice, instead of at injustice itself. He is more concerned with defending his own failings in being associated with Nazi policy than he is with preventing others from being subject to similar treatment by our own enforcement agencies. The wagons circle around those who cannot be complacent with not being as bad as, while the others who can sleep at night live to plunder another day the human rights inherent to civilized society. First Anal Breach Hoekstra, point your gun in another direction.

After dinner open thread

Guh? Wanna say something? then say it, damnit.

Stuff ... and things.

Back by popular demand ... me. fuuuuuuuck. Well, fortunately for all of you who read this I am now typing on my new laptop (oooh powerbookG4, how I love you so) which eliminates all of the problems that have kept me from massaging your grey matter with my enlightening brand of ... mmm ... bacon ... er, I mean dissemination. My return to this forum comes after a sabbatical which saw a compromise (veiled anal-raping of democratic principles) on the "nuclear option", the revelation (or confirmation) via the Downing Street Minutes that America is involved in an illegal war led by a criminially complicit federal government, and my farewell to the city/slum of Syracuse, NY. Obviously the most important of those is my glorious return to Great Neck, that reliable bastion of progressive thought and realistic moral and ethical values. Is it me or does all of this cynicism really bring down the mood? Since it is my first post back from my hiatus, I will be merciful and spare you all of the moaning and groaning, however I will not always be as charitable. I keed.

Sooooo ... other news on the homefront - production of the much anticipated second incarnation of Time Trials has begun! The cast and content have been given a healthy dose of awesomejuice and should be wowing audiences by the time Chinese Democracy hits the shelves. Again, I keed - should be sooner than that. Also, a temporary 6th human member has joined my family - my brother's friend from Greece who has never been to America before is staying with us for 3 weeks. I cannot even fathom what a foreigner's concept of America is, especially in recent times - it should be a very enlightening experience for him as well as my family. Perspective is always important, and again, especially for the current state of the global community. We must remember that we are each other, and our common goal is to live happily and peacefully among one another. Listen to what others have to say - really listen - even if you don't agree, even if they are wrong. Look out for each other, communicate, and we will make progress.

Listening:
System of a Down - Mezmerize
Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine

Reading:
City of God - E.L. Doctorow

Thinking:
Pirates
Khaki pants
Ashy Larry