September Is The One To Remember

It's been awhile since I've been up here. Yo.

It seems that 8/8/10 I got meself a girlfriend. G.I.R.L.F. RE end. So that, and the added stress of taking to school once again have combined for my loss from this dear blog o' mine. Ones of people seem mad about this. She's great. A brief description. Blonde, Sexy, and oh-so talkative. Too bad we can't hear her (seriously she's quiet). She speaks in a hot, yet quiet way. Like a subtle moan. mm. It is an opposites attract way in some sorts. She seems to be a teeny-bopper in disguise, and I am a punk to the core (at least I tell myself that). However, she is NOT a dumb blonde and can hold her own in any situation fact related, except politics. This is good, because if she was entirely the dumb blonde stereotype, it probably would not have worked. After all, I'm attracted to intelligence too. However, some of the things she enjoys...not the best. In a word, Glee. A TV show I have never seen. And all signs point to NO I'm not watching that crap ever. That show scares me way more than Hunx & His Punx do (damn they're catchy). So she's good to me, incredibly smart (except where "media" falls) and enjoyable to be around. Overall plus, because there has to be give and take with these kinda things, it's the little things that are more important. Like how we both are atheists and hate children. Fuck Religion. And dogs.

Anyhoo..
My birthday came and went, and I recently went record shopping to celebrate. One of the best days ever at Flipside. Glad I went there. Was on the way to Great Lakes to go to Gameworks, which I later found out was closed. Total anger. Bar Louie, which is a weak name for a weak bar, took its place. RRRRGGGGH! I really wanted to play Topskater! Of course with the yo-yo dude. Triple backflips for all to see. Life sucks, then you die...then good records make up for it.

McRackins "I'll Stick To Beer" 7"
I'll stick to beer is a hilarious song, doting on his never drinking hard liquor again since it made him sick. Also very catchy. Props. "Puppy Mill". This is the weakest track on the single. It has a decent beat and rhythym, however, the lyrics. Downright awful. Talkin' about how his dog is sick and came from a puppy mill. Weak and who cares about that anyhow? "Beautiful Sunday". Daniel Boone cover. Simply the strongest track on the wax. The playful lyrics are so sweet. Add to that some Queers like beat and some whiny pop punk vox (good), and you have an excellent track to enjoy. The only problem is how quick it's over and out. SWEEEEET! And it didn't leave the table for a week.

to be continued in next blog post... trust me it's quite the score!

Premier League Starting UP

OK. I know I'm a Yank (at least I'm not a Rebel). Yes, we follow football here, and not "football", like you Brits do. However, I have been taking a liking to the sport in recent times. It all started in 2004. I was in France for a summer exchange program for high school. And so it went that when we arrived, Euro Cup was going on. We tried to be all polite and root for the French, but they choked (as usual?) and Greece went on to win. Anyways, we watched all the matches, and once I learned the simple rules of soccer, I ended up carrying the love for the game with me to this day.

The only problem I have is finding an English club to support during the season. Most of the time, I end up rooting for the underdog in most games. Which I guess gives me more cred than rooting for Man U or Chelsea, and buying their gear. Either way, It'd be nice to have a team to root for. And for the record, I hate the MLS. It is a gutter league of castaways and college kids from the States who are not good enough to make the better league, (FA). So I'm welcome to any suggestions on which teams to root for as a Yank, what is permissible, if any? If I'm not able, by your standards, to call a team my own, I will continue rooting for the less favorite side in any matchup. Also, I will continue to enjoy the action of one of the best sports around. I know rooting for the best team is lame, so I'll take any suggestions as to which club is fair game. Thank you for your time spent reading (not "Reading"). Blahh. Soccer is back!

Just Letting you know...

The Ukelele Sucks

Just watched this movie..

Well not the one I will direct you to below. It is a documentary about the runup to 9/11 and the resulting start of a military advance into Afghanistan. Anyhow, the movie, "9/11: Press For Truth" was a great watch. It outlines all the evidence of threats, attacks, and possible attacks planned against the U.S. in the years leading up to the tragedy in New York City. Also called upon are the actions, or inactions, the U.S. government and elected officials took during those times. This movie gives well researched facts, news video and press clippings to the viewer. .This bombardment with facts is one of the things I liked best about the film. It provokes thought in a time where negative things about the government are often censored or thrown out of news stories altogether. Government accountability is also brought to mind, through the questionable actions of those in power took around these times.

One clip in the film shows Condoleeza Rice trying to "Politician" her way out of the facts presented to her in a Presidential Briefing she had reviewed on August 6th, 2001. A month before the attack. Youtube punksucks2525, which is my channel, for the entire vid. It is hilarious how she tries to slant her knowledge of any threat at all.

The moral of the film is that Knowledge Is Power. Knowing the facts allows one to formulate the right opinion, when lies are no longer suitable. It is for facts and hard news to exist for governments to be kept in check. We need a lot more independent media around, and that is a fact as well. Watch this documentary if you get a chance, you'll be rewarded for it. With Pizza, or something..

good rec from recently.

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The cool thing about this record is they play straightforward rocknroll without the pretentiousness. The lyrics come straight from the heart and have a classical rnr sound that seems so familiar. I feel the familiarity through the songs "I Miss My Records" & "Desperate Times" in particular. They remind me of the first time I listened to Darkness On The Edge Of Town by Bruce Springsteen. Even though their punkier influences shine through on "Dancing.." and "Look Out For The Cops," this band exhibits a very good classic rock sound. It is totally rocking in a mellow sense, and leaves one with a longing for more of their thoughtful and soulful stylings. Badlands ain't got shit on the new stuff from the Used Kids! Not much of the punk style, but the rocknroll is to be appreciated here. Enjoy, and roll that pack of Marlies into your sleeve till it burns through. Catch this one now!!

My Near Future Letter To Maximumrocknroll, Rough Draft

Har har just fooled ya. I got nothing to say. Oh there is the whole thing on my mind on how this magazine Maximumrocknroll could be improved. But not in the magazine's entirety. There is only one area which I would choose to change, if I were CEO or "Coordinator". The Reviews!! My objection is that not everyone listens to every new punk band around. It seems the reviewers fail to realize that a new reader or member of the punk community may be checking out the mag for the first time ever. A common misconception is that EVERY punk knows about EVERY punk band around. Unfortunately, most of us have other things on the mind, and have not had the ability to sample every band of the world, as the reviewers clearly have. One thing that could be taken to heart is a few details on what music the band plays. As easy as it is to find things on the internet, some of us don't know all the bands you compare new bands to. For example, 'well it sounds like Ty Segall and Fucked Up had a baby.' What does that mean to a new reader?? Why not define the music as either 60s, thrash, heavy metal, or 77 punk as you used to? And if it's psych pop, garage pop, electro, don't review it. Also power pop and poppunk are good buzzwords to throw out there for us. What is powerviolence? What is Grindcore? Why all the words anyways? Provide clear examples of the MUSIC ITSELF. Not, "well I hate the artwork, my stomach hurts so I hate every record I reviewed today." Then give a review of the content, lyrics, etc.., and let us decide. Don't hide the music in a riddle of obscure bands/buzzwords most of us haven't heard of yet. It would be nice to get a more classical description of the band, based at the least, on bands every punk is sure to know. The classic major bands would be a good launch point. This may sound kind of contrived to those whose job is to delve into every nook and cranny of punkish music, but the fact remains, we don't know every recent band, nor should we. The classics set the stage, and many genres of "mainstream" music factor into the punk movement. It seems the actual punk bands take a backseat review-wise in relation to other experimental sounding bands. All I ask is please get those reviews on the right track. The artists hurt as a result, and so does the scene in general. I would love to listen to more recent music, but am confused as a result of your reviews as to where to look for parallels to some classic punk faves I have. And being left to decipher whether or not it's actually punk can be all too annoying as well.

Awful Day

Nine Oclock and I'm thinking about a run up to Meijer for some replacement razors. I'm low on the mach 3 replacements and have been resorting to shaving with single blade disposable bics. Taking one of those to my face is like playing russian roulette, because I know I'm going to get cut, but not when. Throw the car into reverse and BLAM! Flat tire. in the driveway. At this point, I'm pissed off. Get out the spare saver and proceed to undo the lugs and get the old tire off. After about ten minutes I am covered in sweat and throw my shirt to the porch to finish the job. Thirty minutes later, and my back looks like malaria city. I have at least twenty mosquito bites on my back and, oh, how they are itchy and horrible looking.

Fast forward to the next morning. I figure I'll head up to the tire joint and get it replaced for free. Not Free! Costs me almost thirty five dollars to reinsure the new tire and purchase new lugnuts, which are apparently stripped. So I wait from 8:30 to 9:15 for them to take care of it when one employee calls me over. He knows why I got the flat in the first place. The heavy-duty spring near the strut snapped and its jagged edge was pointing directly at the tire. So he offers me a place he "recommends" down the street. I say to put on the spare and get me out of there. So he does. Minutes later, I'm headed down the fifteen mile ride to my mechanic. Takes me forty minutes. Flashers on, idiots honking at me, and plenty of fingers to go around. Luckily my cousin was near my shop at the time so I got a ride out to work later.

Work went fine, and I'm alive so I cannot complain that much. Hope to get the shitmobile back tomorrow though. Just a long line of bull I've had to put up with for the past week. Feel my pain?

-Ryan-