A Small Holiday Blag

I have been a little sick the past couple of days, but I was trying to think of a little fun holiday blog. And I've been stuck on what to do. I kinda wanted to make this into a 'gift' for those who read this. My way of saying Happy Holidays to those who take time to read this.

So I've decided to make a little top 10 list of some of my Favorite Holiday songs. Some of these are for Humor's sake, or for nostalgia, but most of them genuinely are some of my favorite Holiday songs.

Even though I don't believe in a supernatural being that seems to be the focus of "Christmas" or quite a few of the Holidays around the winter solstice, does not mean I am a Scrooge. That being said, let's get to the List.

10. The Smashing Pumpkins - Christmastime



Now, I kind of hate Billy Corgan. His voice is a bit nasally for my tastes, but somehow, it works with the Pumpkins. And this song kind of reminds me of how my parents must have felt Christmas morning; with me as a kid. After all the hustle and bussle of the holiday season, sitting down and watching a child's eyes light up as they open gifts... it could be nice on some level.

09. Bob Rivers- I am Santa Clause


There is something so wonderful about a well done Christmas parody. Using Black Sabbath's main riff from Iron Man is great. And I have an image of Santa sporting "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" across his knuckles like Ozzy has "O-Z-Z-Y'. My cousin Miles showed me this a few years back. I'm glad he's more into Black Sabbath and Ozzy more than Santa now, but I thank him for hipping me to this.

08. Danny Elfman - What's This?



So being a former little Goth-y boy, and still being a huge Tim Burton fan, and to a lesser extent a Fan of musicals, this ranks up there as one of my top Christmas songs. Danny Elfman's voice as Jack Skellington is delivering an enthusiastic of wonder is a major turn for the character from "Jack's Lament" earlier in the Film. Burton's creation, the music and clay-mation make "Nightmare Before Christmas" one of my go to Holiday movies. Macabe at times, sure, but Disney has done much worse Christmas Specials/movies. "What's This" is just a fun song, and if it doesn't make you smile, like it Christmas town does for Jack, I have three Ghosts of Christmas that will be paying you a Visit tonight.

07. My Chemical Romance - All I Want for Christmas Is You


This is a recent find for me. I remember the frigging Mariah Carey original, and I loathe it. But Gerard and Co. put a nice little 'pop-punk' spin on it, that makes the unbelievably sappy lyrics a little more palatable. If you really want to torture yourself, go on youtube and see some of the horrendous fan made 'music videos' for either version. I kind of want to stab my eyeballs out due to the one I watched.

06. The Used - Alone This Holiday



Another 'punk-lite' Holiday song. I apologize for the crappy audio on this, but I'm not the one who uploaded the video. The original is on Maybe Memories CD, or iTunes. This is more of a Nostalgic song for me; The lyrics are depressing, but it's a fun song. Good when you're pissed over the holidays. Or just using it when taking a walk out in the snow alone. I actually prefer the version without Kelly Osbourne (Ozzy's daughter) but that's hard to come by.

05. Blink 182 - I Won't be Home for Christmas


This is usually how I feel around the holidays until about a few days before Christmas. I mean, I PROBABLY won't attack someone around Christmas with a baseball bat and get butt-raped in jail for aggravated assault. But one can only have their buttons pushed so much as the days get darker, and drearier. If I end up in jail, please, post my bail.

04. The Vandals - My First Christmas (as a Woman)


What can be more awesome at Christmas than getting what you want? The Vandals, what can I say, I love Josh Freese. A fun upbeat, probably not to serious song about wanting Santa to make you the opposite sex for Christmas. But then again, it is the Vandals. You can never be sure.

03. Spinal Tap - Christmas with the Devil


YouTube does not have a decent recording of this, so I had to get a piano/bass jazz-y version of it. You can find the original on iTunes, I think or any respectable filesharing site. There's a REALLY crappy VHS era of Spinal Tap playing on the Arsenio Hall show. And there is just something hilarious about the lyrics and/or the music in it. Metal + Christmas... it's odd, isn't it? I mean this was released in 1992. A good 4 years before Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Coincidence?
Yeah, Probably.

02. Nine Inch Nails - 28 Ghosts IV



Something about this song reminds me of snowfall or walking in snow. This is not my video to the song, but gives a nice representation of what's in my mind when it plays. Off of Nine Inch Nails instrumental album released in March of 2008 Ghosts I-IV this track has been one of my favorites for this year. at over 5 mins, it's one of the longer pieces on the album. Give it a listen, it's a $5 download off of nin.com.

01. John Lennon - Happy Xmas (war is over)


Street Drum Corps. Featuring Bert McCrakin

The Three Tenors

Maroon 5


This song was originally a protest song about the Vietnam war; although in recent years, I feel it has lost it's meaning. Or it has changed at least. I don't want to preach here (but it might come off as such); It's not what I do well at all. I take this song to be reflective on your year, and if you're working to help this planet, and help and love those around you. I try to, so much and I'm sure you do to. This song is to promote the ultimate ideal of this holiday season, peace on earth and love for your fellow person. Peace can come from a messiah that is to come; or one that has come, died, and will come again. Peace can be simple as extending a hand to someone in need with out thought of getting something in return. Peace is possible, if we hold ourselves accountable for our actions, and we take care of ourselves, and take care of our neighbors.

This Holiday season, lets let the messages of hope, love, light and happiness really take hold. Promote it all year round, take a few minutes each day and do something kind for someone in need. Talk to strangers, make them smile, you might help them when they are having a bad day. Promote people to reach there full potential. Love everyone equally, regardless of race, ethnic background or religion.

Happy Holidays. War, Hunger, Illiteracy, Poverty, Disease can all be over. If you want it. Let's make it happen.

Winter In Maine

Maine is rather pretty; for as rural as a part of Maine that I live in, I often am surprised by the grand beauty of the place. I saw a dear on this drive, and the sunset, although not done justice by this picture, was spectacular.




The house I live at is two levels with an unfinished basement. The basement is mostly used for wood storage. You can see the decorated Christmas Tree in the front window on the right.






My car, in front of the garage, on the ice covered driveway. That is a major downside of living up here; the ice is annoying. Especially when you look at the next pictures.






The road I live on typically looks like this, West which leads to nowhere other than other houses.







Going toward 'civilization'; a church and a post office. And more homes. This is also the way I go towards Presque Isle.







The road leading towards Washburn, heading towards Presque Isle. Usually this road is not as bad...







We have lots and lots of woods. I want to go walking in them, especially now since it's winter and take pictures, but... I don't feel comfortable doing it just yet.












More woods.








I like this picture, with the structure in the right hand side.








This was the road to Presque Isle; I expected this to be better as it is a state road. but No.

Hopefully tomorrow the snow will be done.

Music, Torture and my Opinions

This story that ran on MSNBC is really disgusting. (2 pages)

As someone who is both an avid fan of music and being someone who contributes to an artistic craft (writing), I am offended by this on many levels. I am on a personal level, because as a writer, I would not want any of my works to be used to inflict harm on another person. Including papercuts, or pummeling someone to death with my forthcoming short story collection.

However, I expect nothing less from this administration. Our current resident in the Office of President and his cabinet have no respect for human or civil rights. We have allowed this administration to hijack basic human decency. We let them, through our military branches to kidnap people that we think are 'terrorists', including children.

What drives me crazy is none of this was done with Artist's consent. They used songs that are for Children's shows (I Love You, from TV's Barney), played at ear splitting volumes while shackled in uncomfortable positions. Yes, they've used Nine Inch Nails and Rage Against the Machine, both of whom have been vocal critics of this current administration.

Some musicians see the situation rather differently.

Some musicians, however, say they’re proud that their music is used in interrogations. Those include bassist Stevie Benton, whose group Drowning Pool has performed in Iraq and recorded one of the interrogators’ favorites, “Bodies.”

“People assume we should be offended that somebody in the military thinks our song is annoying enough that played over and over it can psychologically break someone down,” he told Spin magazine. “I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that."

Okay... so when John McCain was tortured, it would have been okay to play "Born in the USA" at top volume outside of his cell in addition to stabbing him in the groin? I mean, I can have been tortured by music at times, but usually, I can leave.

The point I think Benton is missing is that this will not really stop another 9/11. If you think that the people being held against all international laws are not going to be pissed at the people/country/government that just decided to torture them... let's look at John McCain again.

John McCain recently (Campaign 2008) told reporters that he hated [racial Asian slur here]s. Now, I feel for Mr. McCain. No, really, stop laughing. I do, if he was tortured, I do feel pity for the man that he cannot forgive a race of people. Do I take John McCain at his word that he uses that word only for those who tortured him? No. I do not. Because you're just as racist by saying ' I only use the term N---er for those who act like N---ers.' You're still marginalizing people by the color of their skin, or their heritage. Or any other racist term you may want to sling out there.

If John McCain a war hero cannot let go of his hatred after being tortured (while not legal to torture, it was legal to detain Mr. McCain as he was a uniformed enemy combatant; most of the detainees at GTMO or the other black operations prisons we have set up are not recognized by any international body), who's to say that anyone in our illegal prison camps will let go of theirs?

Torturing people will not stop crazy idiots from bombing something that they want to bomb. Maybe our actions towards those less fortunate than us might stop some of the psychopaths from recruiting people.

And if you morons in the DoD are going to condone music as a form of torture... at least pick something that doesn't make you look like idiots, like Rage, or Nine Inch Nails.

Please, use Springsteen, or Nugent, or some other idiot that has blind patriotism.

It's Been Cold

So, it gets cold up here in Maine.

I really wish we had lightsabers.

It'd make the process of staying warm much easier.










Please note: This is a moose.










And this is me inside of a moose.



Now moose don't like it when you just try to crawl into their mouths, or more unhygienically, up their butts.










So I have to stay warm by killing moose and crawling inside.
They are quite spacious and have windows.

Without a lightsaber, the best way of killing a moose is with a spork, preferably made of titanium.

So you physicists working on lightsaber technology, please hurry. I'm cold.

(Note: I have never killed a moose, and certainly not with a spork. This was just my lame-ass attempt to say I'm trying to keep warm up here.)

Political Rant Ahead.

Recently over a friend's house I was having a grand old time untill someone mentioned President-Elect Barack Obama was going to teach kindergarteners sex education in schools. This was coming from an 18 year-old expectant mother who couldn't shut up about her preggers belly. I shook my head, and said "That isn't what he said. " I got a condescending smirk as she was walking out the door.

Yesterday, my wonderful possible future father-in-law informed me that the United States Supreme Court will now be debating to hear a suit brought against our President Elect for not being born in the US or not having Legal Citizen status.

Today, I got an earfull from some of Jen's coworkers on how Obama is a horrible person because he's a smoker.

I am incredibly sick and tired of hearing these rumors of Obama persist. Obama is a legal US citizen. If a person is born on US soil, he is a citizen. He wasn't born in Kenya, yes his father was a citizen of the UK and Kenya, his mother was from Kansas, he was born in Hawaii. Which incase you haven't noticed, is a state.

'It's the wallet that says 'Bad MotherFucker'

Oh and evidently is a horrible thing to have a president who smokes. This if you ask me, is much better than having an administration who lied to get 4,306 (confirmed dead, there are 3 more who have not been confirmed by our DoD) of our country's people killed in a war we caused. This administration is also responsible for removing habeas corpus if one is labeled a 'Terrorist,' and may not 'torture' you, but may 'redefine what torture is'.

Lets put this into perspective.

Smoking, while unpleasant and kinda gross, endangers mostly endangers the person smoking, and if exposed to chronic consistent tobacco smoke, others around him.

Then we have war profiteering, murder, torture, erosion of civil liberties, suspension of habeas corpus, leaking a name of an undercover agent from the CIA, conducting a war of aggression, disregarding the UN, disregarding various rules of the Geneva Convention.

Look, I am not asking you to love Barack Obama. I don't care what you think about the man, in terms of policy or his private life. I do care that people are spreading lies, untruths and generally being narrow minded because he is young, black and our President Elect.

FactCheck.org a non partisan website, to figure out what is true and what is false. There is enough bullshit out there in the world. So do a favor and stop spewing it. I'm sick and tired of having to correct people. You have an opinion; fine. You want to be ignorant of the facts, spew information that you know is false; go join our mass media. But if you want to engage me in political or social debate, or make mention of something you only heard, and have not actively looked up if it is true or not, you need to shut the hell up, listen to people who HAVE done research, and educate yourself.

You have a brain, use it.

Consumerism, Stomach Sickness, Ice, Snow, and love.

So I finished X-mas Shopping for everyone, I think/hope. What I already obtained from websites, I think that everyone will like their gifts...

I think a couple of things might get here just in the nick of time. Mostly things from little independent shops. Like the xkcd merch, or the questionable content dot com merch.

I want to make a little mix CD to go with some the cards I'm sending out, but I'm not a huge fan of Crimmus music. If I do get a few more ideas (I want at least 15-20songs), I think I need to pirate/download from itunes (give suggestions in the comments section) some wintertime music, or music that reminds you of winter/holidays.

I have a couple of songs I'm putting on there for sure. But it's only like...5 song ideas. So go nuts in the comments section.
Anyway, shopping this year was done entirely online. And it is so much easier. Thinkgeek was amazing to me; and although I wanted to buy a metric-ass-load (it's a real measurement, look it up [also see the picture of birds to the left for an example]) of stuff for myself, I restrained. Various people got stuffs from there.

Amazon.com was a savior for a certain person, but it just wasn't cutting it this year for the most part. However, St.Helen's Bookstore was amazing for one awesome item... someone will have a very special x-mas gift. They were amazingly prompt and what I ordered from there is absolutely beautiful. I ordered something from another indie bookstore, and I hope they are as amazing as I've heard.

I added a few people on my list this year, with small stuffs. A book or a little plushy from thinkgeek. Mostly stuffs that one could put on a desk at their work.

The Onion's online store was a source of much hilarity between me and Jen. They sell fake gift boxes to put real gifts inside. A USB toaster, the iFeast Pet Feeding MP3 Docking Station/Stereo.

The best store that I encountered this year had to be The HungerSite. Not for shipping, or selection, or customer service. But for gifts that mean something more than their value/sentiments... It's good to shop there, and just to click on their links daily. Most of my family got stuff from there this year. They have artisan projects, and the food that you buy and get jewelry or clothing etc. goes to that village/country or to where the artists desire it to go. And if you prefer donating to another worthy cause, they have other sites in their network.

So for the past three days or so, parts of my body have not been feeling so well. I have what I think is gas. Like horrid, makes you want to stab your own small intestines with a spork and then strangle someone with them, kind of pain. Oh, and accompanying this wonderful sensation are two things I thought I'd never really have to worry about. The first is about my passage of feces; the second is about my urine. So if you dislike poo and pee talk talk quit reading now; I will have another bold text to tell you when it is done. So I've been having very loose passage of stool, and not in big quantities. Or sometimes, it's just a lot of gas. For how much the gas has been hurting, and how little poo is coming out, I'm kinda worried that I have the Byrus/'a Shitweasel' from Stephen King's Dreamcatcher. And then their is urination. Although it's not painful, nor an odd color for me, it's much more frequent than I normaly have pass through my body. The urine is my typical fairly clear, which is normal for me. I don't think it's a UTI or and Kidney/Bladder infection, there is no pain, no discoloration or odor change. I mean I know how to wash myself, and I'm surprised by the frequency of my urination, I'm usually a once or twice a day kinda guy; now it's every couple of hours. Just going by my own guestimates, but I think I'm passing about the same amount of urine per day. But it's just occuring much more often. I'm not showing any signs of Diabetes, no weight loss/gain. Oh well, my body just is deciding to freak me out, I guess. Idiotic body.

I am done talking about bodily functions. Now I talk about happy things.

It's been very pretty up here in N. Maine today, at least. I took a few pictures with my camera phone, which I'll post in a few days. Snow on the side of the road/railroad tracks. It's been a nice day. Although it is a bit different driving in compared to SW PA.

I miss Pittsburgh, a little. No so much in the geographical sense of the idea, but my friends and family. I wish I could just BS with JC or Erin for a bit. I want to have an all night coffee and work on music with Matt.

Jen and I are doing well. She's been trying to take care of me while I was a little sick (still don't feel 100%), and I'm a bit stubborn on that kind of stuff. It's one thing to pick up tomato soup for me, it's another to make it for me. It's appreciated, but I like feeling a little self-reliant, even when my body is staging a Che/Castro vs Batista Cuban-like rebellion in my intestines. She has the day off tomorrow, so it'll be nice having a whole day to ourselves. I'd like to just relax and do whatever. Anything but more crappy TV. Crappy movies would be fine, but one can only watch so much scrubs, mash, friends and discovery channel.

Sometimes when I'm here, it still feels like I have to head back to SW PA at some point. That I didn't move here. That sometime I'll have to pack all my shit back up and go back 'home'. Its an odd feeling. Being 1000 miles away from most of the people you know makes you appreciate people a lot more, and makes you appreciate the hell out of the people you have near you a lot more too.

Next time, I'll be more ranty, I promise. This was a pretty upbeat post. I'll be sure to be more angsty and angry.

EDIT: i don't think i said fuck in this entry at all. It's a sad, sad, sad, sad world...

Things I Am Thankful For.

1. Family
I truly have a wonderful, loving family. And although I am about 1000 miles away from them at the moment, I love them, and cherish them always in my heart.

2 Friends  

I have quite a few friends, but not many who read this, I think. Although I know a few who do read this, I don't think a lot of them realize how much they are loved by me.

3. Good Entertainment
You ever have a Book, Movie, piece of Art or Song/Album really hit you? Like actually mean something to you? Not just something mainstream that you are told to like, but something you have an 'AH-HA!' moment, and it strikes something inside you. It may not even be a song you like, but you get it and understand it on some emotional level. It's more than entertainment, at that point, if it can move you. And not a cheap emotional payoff of having the good guy win, or the two lovers finally after a series of mishaps, hook up. But real emotional catharsis of laughter, tears, happyness, cynicism, irony, anger, rage.... That kind of creativity, that's what I crave in my entertainment.

Songs/Albums -

Saul Williams - Coded Language
Tool - Parabol/a 

Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero

Nine Inch Nails - The Four of Us are Dying

Films-

SLAM.
Constant Gardner
Fight Club
The Giver

Books-
House of Leaves
Stranger Than Fiction
The Dead Emcee Scrolls
God Dilusion

4. The Series of Tubes
The internets. A series of tubes that allows us to communicate, exchange ideas and gross porn, that allows us to troll on the net looking to start fights or to have meaningful discussion. Sometimes the tubes get clogged (like the last post), or sometimes we have so much tube space there's not enough torrents to clog your tube.

The internets, to me, is probably the greatest thing since sliced bread. Although, sliced bread isn't all that special. I mean, you have bread, you have a knife.... slice it yourself.

But the internet has brought me a lot of good and bad things. But mostly good. 

Good

Love- I met Jen online. Through TDT/Campdoc. And without her, my life would be very different. 

Friends- Most of the people I am on a first (or second and third) name basis online I consider friends. Camp and a few other websites have provided me with some amazing people from all over the country. And if I was ever stranded close to them, I am sure I'd have a place to crash.

Creativity- Places like Flickr, Blogger, remix.nin, Deviant Art, Photobucket serve a higher purpose than just documenting our own products on the net, but can show us other people's work, and inspire us to create something ourselves.

Weird Porn to laugh at.

Bad

Furries.
Stalkers.
Weird Porn

I have a lot to be thankful for, and I need to remember that even though I'm sarcastic and use this blog for creative ranting, and/or typing stuff to amuse you all, I can't take it too seriously. My rants are just that, rants. And I am greatful to be alive and surrounded by people who love me. And an Internets that provides me with cool people, fun stupid youtube videos, a plethora of weird porn, and a good outlet for my ranting from time to time.

Happy Day of Gluttony, Americans.
Pig out with your thing out.

Trying to post this again

things that are pissing me off, again.

1. Television

TV, you had a GREAT good medocre run. I am going to give you Pros and Cons in various categories then decide if you're worth having around, TV.

1. Technology
Thanks to TV, we do have higher definition, remotes, portable movie players, Video on Demand, HDMI, and various ways of pirating TV and Movies. Howerver, with highdefinition comes great responcibilities. Who here has a Blu-ray Disc burner? Who has a HDMI ready computer monitor? Who really wants porn in high-def? For me, the answers are no, sort of, and Oh Dear Sweet Buddah NO!

2. Programming
With the exception of some brilliant programs, TV in the past 10, no 20 years have been shit. America loves (according to the Neilson Raitings) American Idol (2005-2008), CSI (2003-04), Friends (2002), Survivor (2001) and Who Wants to be A Millionaire (2000). So for half of the current decade we are living in, we've spend time watching idiots on gameshows trying to win either a million dollars(Survivor, Millionare, Idol), cars (Survivor, Idol) or a recording contract/souless existance (American Idol).

11 of the top 20 prime time telecasts from 1964-present have been sporting events. The only really redeaming quality of that list is that the series finale of MASH tops the list and the finale of Roots is at number 3.

So we watch reality TV and sports, programming in my opinion, that makes us docile and complacent, and does not teach us anything. Even the most basic sitcom has the basic premise of Good v. Bad or Idocy v. Intellegence. Sometimes they get the message right (M*A*S*H), sometimes they get it wrong (Seinfeld), sometimes they just leave us confused (LOST).

Programming on the History, Discovery, Investigation and A&E have much more intellegent programming than most of the other channels. Discovery Channel has MythBusters; FOX has Family Guy, need I say more

3. Storytelling

In case you haven't noticed, TV isn't about this anymore, it's about getting you to BUY BUY BUY shit that you do not need. Average half hour programs are actually 22 minuits, to allow for 8 minutes of commercials. Over the course of 10 hours, American viewers will see approximately 3 hours of advertisements. They are now thinking of using embedded ads to annoy people like me. Kind of like popup adds, or the annoying topper bars on old geocities webpages.

4. News
General Electric owns NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Court TV.
Westinghouse is partners with CBS including 48 Hours and 60 Minutes.
Newscorp owns FOX and it's subsidearies.

Time Warner owns CNN.
Disney owns ABC.

We have no real news any more, Edward R. Murrow would be ashamed.

I say let's leave TV for now, watch and watch it all you want people. I'll continue to remain behind the times, and pirate the shows I like. And I'll gladly get my news from the internets.

2. l33tsp33k and or CaPaTaLiZiNg RandOM LETTErS

Okay, unless you are writing in a code (house of leaves), lolspeek and the aboved mentioned typography issues piss me the fuck off. I mean, internet culture is amusing to a degree, and I do use it, mostly in an ironic or sarcastic sense. Hell, this WebLog (figure it out kids) is an accidental reference to internet culture, and since I am posting this in them thar series of tubes I feel that I have a right to mock the idocy of the internet from time to time.

Lolcode, a programing language that mimics the speech patterns of captioned felines. An example follows.

HAI

CAN HAS STDIO?

PLZ OPEN FILE "LOLCATS.TXT"?

AWSUM THX

VISIBLE FILE

O NOES

INVISIBLE "ERROR!"

KTHXBYE

What the fuck, guys? Does this really DO anything? What are you trying to acomplish 

beside amusing me for 20 seconds?

3.Blogger.com

Okay, this is biting the hand that feeds you, but why the fuck did this post decide to not connect to 

blogger.com, then refuckingformat the post like 3 times. shit was going out of the edges, and I couldn't read 

what i typed origionaly.

EDIT: this is still fucked up in my little blogger.com window, text overlapping picture of the internets 

is all covered in text....  It pissed me off that all of this shit looks like crap on the entry page, and then 

crap on the page because somehow my html formatting got royaly fucked in the ass with a big rubber 

dildo with a mickymouse head on the end...

EDIT 2: trying to get this reformatted is pissing me off more and more. so, it's going up as is. eat my shit blogger.com

Lights In the Sky 2008

Nine Inch Nails - Lights In The Sky 2008 tour ad from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.

Things That are (currently) Pissing Me Off

1. Axl Rose and Guns 'n' Roses

So I take it we all know that Axl Rose is releasing the 15+ years in the making album Chinese Democracy. Har har, cute name because it's an oxymoron. And psudo-ironic.

I enjoy old GnR, Lies and Appetite were both solidly good recordings, and to me, bring back
a nostalgia of childhood/early teenage years when I really got into 'Rock'.

But if you are like me, you've grown sick of the hype surrounding this upcoming release. Axl is the only origional member from GNR to appear on the album, so why not call it a solo album or something else. Dizzy Reed joined GnR when it was at it's peak, and for touring reasons. He did appear on UYI 1&2, and is the only tie that Rose has with the peak the band experienced in the early 1990's.



I expect this album to be top of the charts the week it's released. A lot of fans remember GnR, and will buy anything that has it's name on it. And they have made a lot more fans since they've been inactive since 1993-4. I don't deny that this is fricking awesome, because I'll get a free Dr. Pepper, but it's just a damn album. There will be ups, and there will be downs; prepare to be disappointed, GnR fans.



2. People Magazine: Hugh Jackman
I don't know; maybe I'm a little little fucked up in the head, but Hugh Jackman, right? Wolverine-Hugh Jackman? Van Helsing-Hugh Jackman?



3. George Lucas
Thank you George Lucas for raping my childhood once again. First it was Star Wars, which you started raping back in 1999 with making The Force be about fucking microbiology! I like microbio, it's cool and interesting, but little parasitic bacterium cannot make you be able to choke someone with your mind! Strike 1.

Then, I saw a trailer of EP 2: ATTACK OF THE CONES! (worst subtitle in the history of film making; even more so than Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky). Then I saw the movie.

Let me spell this out for you George...
Y-o-d-a- -w-a-s- -a- -p-u-p-p-e-t-!
And it was fucking awesome! You had him all CGI floating around on a fucking wok pan, and generally raping one of the saddest deaths I ever witnessed in film (when i was 5).

Strike fucking 2.

So onto episode III, the revenge of George's really bad ham fisted comments on politics and giving things really silly names.

Look, man. You started out so good, and you had a wonderful little universe. You had a good story with A New Hope. You had a great story with Empire. Then you had a well rounded conclusion with Jedi (except for the fucking muppets). And, because you wanted to add a personal spa to pamper your aging scrotum, with bubble jets, mineral baths and daily de-wrinkling, you decided to tell more of the story.

There's a reason why Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost is more popular and well known than Paradise Regained.

I'll now briefly list other travesties bestowed upon humanity by you,you hack of a filmmaker.
The Clone Wars, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Willow (fucking hobbit +bible+gulliver's travles ripoff), The Land Before Time (you killed littlefoot's MOM, you fucking bastard; and it has 13 sequels), Howard the Duck, and More American Graffiti. NOT to mention The StarWars Holiday Special (BEA ARTHUR!!!!!)

4. LOST
Okay, I watched the first season when it was on, and then due to various reasons, I stopped watching it. Now, I've been re-watching it with Jen, and now progressed to the third season.

J.J. Abrams is a genius. I watched Alias quite often, I liked Cloverfield as a monster movie, and his remake on Star Trek (which I haven't watched since I was a very young child) is looking promising.

You got me hooked, again. And to top it off, not ONLY is there the show, there is the ARG stuff that you seem to do after every season is done/leading up to the next season.

I am a sucker for ARGs. Year Zero, Why So Serious/The Dark Knight, Iris. And I didn't even buy Iris/Halo 3

Something to think about

In the United States, the most privatized, capitalist country on the planet, it should come as no surprise that it also has the largest prison population in the world 2 million people, and growing every year. Statistically, most of these people are uneducated and come from poor, deprived societies. And contrary to propaganda, it's this environmental conditioning which lures them into criminal and violent behavior. However, society looks the other way in regard to this point.

The legal and prison systems are just more examples of how our society avoids examining the root causes of behavior. Billions are spent each year on prisons and police, while only a fraction is spent on programs for poverty, which is one of the most fundamental variables responsible for crime to begin with.

And, as long as we have an economic system, which prefers and in fact creates scarcity and deprivation, crime will never go away.

Blags I read (part 1.)

So, I think i finally got the hang of doing the blog-thing. I am liking it so far, but I just wanted to make a few comments on the other Blogs I'm following.

Change.gov is Barack Obama's transitory website to show transparency during the transition from President GWB and President-Elect BHO and inauguration and information about his agenda. Regardless of whom you voted for, I think (as long as this isn't a PR stunt) this is a good step forward and a large distinction between 43rd Presidential Administration and the 44th President-Elect's Administration.

Rob Sheridan's Sketch blag blog - Rob is the Art Director of Nine Inch Nails a popular band I like love obsess over. His sketches border on the surreal, and always make me a little uneasy.

The Fargus Report maintained by my good friend Fargus, is part political discussion, part amusing stories, and as always, 100% Fargus.

Evertime Realms by Blake M. Petit is a Blog of compelling sci-fi/ fantasy/ superhero fiction with the on going story with the unfortunate title Summer Love which, sadly, I have been slacking on reading recently. Also contained are his articles on comics, TV /Movies/Books reviews, and my personal favorite, his Think About It rants.

Erin Patrica is a friend from Pittsburgh, and is a self described I'm a Clumsy, Snarky, Vat of Useless Pop Culture Information. I'm a Beer Snob. I'm a Geek. I'm a Zombie,Horror,Bad Movie Fan. I'm a Steelers Fan. I'm a Bibliophile. I'm an Aunt, Girlfriend, Friend, Sister and Daughter. I have a Ph.D. in Horriblenes. sometimes I can't say it better than the girl herself.

nin.com photoblog archive is an archive of nin.com's tour photoblog and news posts. very 'interesting' photos at times.

This is all, for the time being. I plan to cover other blogs as I add them. I also plan to cover movies, music and books that i think you should read/view/listen to.

Read the movies, view the music and listen to the books.

By the way: stay warm, and stuffs. I currently have a stomach bug, and on top of that, it snowed last night.

Updates to come soon.

I just ordered a new laptop, and I signed up for mobile updates via my iPod Touch.

So, I should be updating this soon.

Also, for those people who are reading this who may not know me, I have recently moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities in the US, having traveled a bit in my youth.

But having lived in the SW PA area for the past few years, I grew weary, and some things in my life needed changing.




So I moved to Presque Isle, ME.
Quite a difference, but it has a very slow paced vibe to the whole area.

Northern Maine, reminds me in some aspects, of West Virginia, mostly the Pocahontas County Area. It's beautiful, full of farms, nature and a lot of wildlife.


However it is missing a few things I. I'll get into that

in a later post.

Anyway, Scrubs is on.

Goodnight and Good luck.

Obviously I cannot figure out how to make a post from my iPod touch

Read at your own risk.

Hello.
I am AJ.
I can't say I am please to meet you because, well, I have not met you. Nor am I pleased very often.

I created this blog out of necessity and a desire to express the random stuff that goes through my head more effectively.

Or at least attempt to. I may get sick of this in a week, or a day. I don't know, usually my mind is busily chugging out ideas, random facts, various stories and thoughts, other times it's sluggish and sticky and full of gray-matter.

There are no rules to this blog. Really. No big secrets of life, the universe, or anything to unveil here (42). No topics i will cover on a post to post basis.

I may post links to other blogs/websites i find interesting, or appropriate to what is going on in my mind; I may just do a direct
stream-of-consciousness posting; I may do a well reason argument on why Ryan Seacrest is the reincarnation of Caligula; I may just babble nonsensically like I have for the entirety of this post.

On this trivial note, I bid you adieu until next postings.