Sunday, November 29, 2009

Mmmm My Foot Tastes Good

Not sure what happened
With where that conversation went
But I want you to know
I will always be there for you
When it counts
When the chips are actually on the table
Not when you are pulling a bluff
And everyone calls you on it
I will always have your back
And will always be at your side
Whether figuratively 
Or metaphorically
But I just can't call bluffs
I can't bluff 
Even to save my own hide
And if I could, I think my credibility 
Would be completely shot
So please
Don't be mad
Don't hold my loose tongue
Against me
Realize that if I were there
And able to see all that happened
I would have kept
My trap that has sunk
My battleship many times
Shut tighter than the seams 
Of my waterproof tent
I'd much rather 
Not say a word
Than upset you
Because I like the taste
Of my own foot

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veteran's Day Blog/Rant (Don't F with Vets)

It is Veteran's Day. A day to thank those who have served this country and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I posted my thanks on Twitter today, asking others to thank a vet for their service and received some very rude comments from @Ray_Peterson, the first being "Vets protect the interests of the wealthy and the powerful. They do it because it is their paid job" and followed it with "Vets are the paid company cops of the wealthy & powerful." Like I told him, he obviously never served this country and he obviously has no understanding of what the military really is. We are all aware that it is run by a corrupt government; however, we don't blame the troops, we support them. They enlisted for various reasons. Some joined because of a family tradition of service. Others join because they just want to serve their country. Some join because they know no other means out of their poor economic circumstances. Others join for the enlistment bonus, whatever it may be. But all have done one thing that many will or would never do, and that is try. They go in and do the best they can, whether they make it a career or are hurt during basic training/boot camp. They did their part to the best of their ability to serve this great nation, to no longer take for granted the freedoms most of us do not think about but when they are violated. All who serve make sacrifices. Whether it is the comfort of home, job opportunities in the civilian world, a limb, or their life, they sacrifice to make sure that each of us can go to bed at night knowing that we still can worship whatever god we want, say pretty much anything we want, including bashing and belittling those who have served.

I know that some of our rights have been infringed on. The Patriot Act is one of the worse bills ever passed, and it violates so many of our rights. However, this is NOT the doing of the soldiers, it is the government. There is a difference and obviously some people are too narrow-minded to distinguish the difference between government and the military. I can only pray that one day their eyes will be opened to see that there is a difference.

With all that, don't fuck with a vet on Veteran's Day. I'm a vet myself, I was in the Army in 1999, got multiple stress fractures in both feet and in my right knee cap. I do not go on long tangents about my service because there are so many others who have served longer and done more for this country than I could ever do. I would never take back my time in the Army, I loved almost every minute of it. The parts I don't love is a blog for another time, and probably will never happen. But even when I was in high school, and a raging anti-government, anti-war pacifist kid, I NEVER disrespected the vets. I know what the Vietnam vets went through upon coming home from a war that no one agreed with. I don't agree with Iraq and Afghanistan has gone down hill and we need to restructure, but I would NEVER bash those that fight. They do what they are told. If you bash a vet, you bash me and many of my friends. Since my feet are pretty much all better (still can't run though), if you got something to say, say it to my face... Yeah, see what happens.

Music Rant

So today I was talking with a guy in my literary theory class about the underground hip-hop scene in Colorado. Not sure even how it came about, but I had recently noticed that some of the groups and artists that I follow go through there ALOT. Well I say that there is a decent scene there and this dude, who established a couple years ago in another class that he was into metal, decides that he suddenly knows something about the underground scene here and in Colorado. He starts going on about how there is a scene there but the scene here in the Dallas area is way bigger. I counter that I was in the scene due to my ex (thank you soooooooo much Chris for that) and the scene is almost nonexistent. His counter "oh no, the scene here is bigger, what do you call that 'dance party' show that is broadcast in several states?" I looked at him with a look that was a mix of contempt and disbelief.... "You mean the show where they play only songs that are played on the radio? That ain't underground dude, that's mainstream bullshit," I said. He ignored my response and kept on about how he lived in Colorado and there is this scene and that scene, but not a hip-hop scene. I told him then how do explain Lyrics Born being their for 3 different shows this month alone, or Sage Francis being there about once a year when he hasn't been to Dallas (which according to him is one of the hubs, the other is Houston, of the "underground" scene)? His only retort then was that he lived there and KNEW. Yeah, sure dude, you know about something that you have absolutely NO experience in. Sure, you know, sure.

Well, I at least know better. Too bad though I don't live near Providence, RI... I know I missed an awesome freakin show tonight. Many may not know this about me, but I love goin to shows. I promised B though I'd lay off the mosh pits. I do need to get to a good metal/rock show too, but I've been to a rock show since the last time I've been to a hip-hop show and it's a totally different vibe.

Anywho! So I come home and I'm sitting here doing homework. I take a study break and add a couple artist I hadn't previously, like Buck 65, and the new group I was told about Saturday, Doomtree, who I just found out has this guy Cecil Otter in it who's on Strange Famous Records as a solo artist... So I get this add, which I get bands adding me from time to time since about 2/3 of my friends are bands. I do give each band add a chance, but I only listen to 2 tracks and I listen only about 1-2 minutes in. Well, I click on the profile and I'm greeted to what sounds like a crappy MIDI file. The guy's bio says "If you listen to the radio, you've heard my style." First of all, on the rare occasion I do listen to the radio, I know for a fact, I haven't heard your style, well not since the first music files were on computers. Secondly, you sound like shit! Yeah... I've heard MIDI files sound better. So, I denied him. But not just cuz it sounded bad, but cuz he referenced the radio like he did. That's not to say the radio is bad, however, the commercialization of music has made much of it lose something. I'm so glad that Radiohead doesn't get the radio play that some think they deserve. I'll agree, everyone should listen to Radiohead, but with that type of hype, certain things are expected of you and they are not good. I like Radiohead, and all the others I listen to, just the way they are.

And by popular request, here is a quick list of some of the artist that are on my iPod. Check them out and if you have a suggestion for something new I might like, please leave me a comment!

Sage Francis
Soundgarden
Alice in Chains
Doomtree
Lyrics Born
Type O Negative
Horrorpops
Atmosphere
Aceyalone
Murs
Aesop Rock
Static X
System of a Down
Buck 65
Tool
Johnny Cash
Nine Inch Nails
Anjulie
Audioslave
Bad Acid Trip
Gorillaz
Beyonce (*snicker*)
Bjork
Tricky
PJ Harvey
Massive Attack
Portishead
Blackalicious
Bloodhound Gang
Qwel
Blue October
Bush
Busdriver
Saul Williams
Non-prophets
Cake
Collective Soul
The Cure
The Cult
Guns N Roses
Stone Roses
Flobots
Gift of Gab
Incubus
Korn
Marilyn Manson
Lacuna Coil
Live
Machine Head
Subtle
Doseone
Pantera
Pharcyde
Pink
Prodigy
Radiohead
The Roots
Seven Dust
Slipknot
Anticon
Sneakerpimps
Soul Coughing
Eels
Spacehog
Tears for Fears
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Tori Amos
Ani DiFranco
A Tribe Called Quest
Typical Cats
Visionaries
Living Legends
2Mex
Awol One
311
All American Rejects
B. Dolan
Dead Milkmen
Lords of Acid

This is not everything, but a lot of it. Check it out, make some recommendations. I like all kinds, even weird stuff like Ween (those guys are hilarious!).


Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Shootin Stars

I can't sleep
Once again
Insomnia
Homework
Stress
Whatever the reason
I step out
Barefoot
Dew on the ground
I stand in the yard
Staring at the sky
Curled in my jacket
The wind is cool
But not actually cold
I just like how the fleece
Feels wrapped around me
And I locate stars I know
But the city lights
Even at 4 am
Have overwhelmed
All but the brightest
Venus
Mercury
Orion
The Moon
And along the Belt's arc
A thin line of brillance
Archs
Orange
White in the center
And as soon as it showed
It fades into the lights
A shooting star
The second in so many weeks
And I make my same wish
One that I know will come true
I wish for this
So instead of a dream
It becomes fact
How many more shootin stars
Will I see
Before it becomes reality?
Enough to ensure
Dreams become reality