Nuclear Weapons + Dark Age = Bad

Humans seem to like dark ages. We've had two in the past 3500 years (1200BC-700BC and 500AD-1200AD, roughly) and we're due for another sometime soon. It seems to be just part of the natural cycle of human history, and it usually follows the fall of a great empire (Greece in 1200BC, Rome in 500AD). So it comes to be that if the United States were to implode, it could take the world with it. I'm cool with dark ages, since we come out better for it at the end (like the whole magna carta after the second). The problem is that, in the past, its been crazy guys with sticks chasing each other around. This time, it'll be crazy guys with enough nukes to destroy the world ten times over. And this is assuming George Bush III doesn't get drunk one day and pass out on the little red button. So, assuming we don't intentionally kill ourselves, we still are heading towards an inevitable destruction if we don't dismantle our nuclear weapons.

Why All The Idiocy? (Part II)

I realized I called the other post "Part I" so I decided I needed to conform to that.

The quote:

"We state our unequivocal condemnation of this act of terrorism and we call on all parties to maintain calm at this difficult moment and to avoid any further violence. Immediate implementation of (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1559, including the withdrawal of all Syrian forces; the disbanding and disarmament of all militias and an end to foreign interference in the political independence of Lebanon."

-US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice on Hariri's assassination

The bold emphasis is mine. Why didn't the Bush Administration pick up on the blatant hypocrisy of calling for another country (Syria) to withdraw its troops from another country (Lebanon) and stop screwing with politics while we are doing the exact same thing in Iraq? Morons. And hypocrites.

CD Review - The Power of Failing

Mineral was, along with Sunny Day Real Estate and the Get Up Kids, the key band in the mid-90's emo renaissance. Generally overshadowed in the national music scene by, first, grunge, and later Socalian Punk Rock (à la Green Day), it was nonetheless a vibrant scene with much more talent and intelligence to go around than either of the two aforementioned genres. The Power of Failing (Crank! Records, 1997), Mineral's first label release, is probably the best standard to judge from (rivaled only by SDRE's Diary (Sub Pop, 1994), an excellent CD in its own right).

Power is not for the uninitiated. The tone of the whole CD is very gritty and unpolished, which seems anathema to today's listeners of radio rock. The vocalist seems either drunk or tone deaf through much of the record, showing almost no consideration for rhyme, reason, or cadence. And the guitar consists almost entirely of the simplest of chords, octaves. However, each of these "problems" not only don't detract from the CD, they make it what it is. The gritty tone and lack of vocal polish convey a sense of despair and frustration ("Slower" is an excellent example of both), key themes of the emo genre. Screeching guitars, feedback, harmonics, everything unpleasant is used to further these effects. The CD starts out rough and tumble, but by "If I Could" it has begun to take on a more relaxed pace, giving way to an almost gloomy tempo by "Silver". The simple octave chords prevent the guitar from taking away from the song as a whole, as often happens when the player gets too crazy. And unlike many of their contemporaries they use few allusions or references, prefering instead to play and sing in a simple, straightforward manner. Sunny Day Real Estate, for comparison, uses so many vague phrases and references that the CD is just short of cryptic.

"Gloria" and "Slower" are the recommended listening off the CD, and can on their own encapsulate the entire record and genre as a whole. "Silver" is the ultimate in doom-mongering (opening line: Happiness is just a dream), while "Take The Picture Now" is a wonderfully depressing piece that encapsulate the singer's desperate wishes for happiness (Lyrics: There are blue skies in my dreams/and laughter that seems unending/there are green grass fields there/and happiness and hope for tomorrow) that never will be fulfilled. The singer seems on the verge of tears (yea yea, snicker all you want) and even the guitars seem to be crying.

Overall Rating: 9.4/10. My only complaints about this masterwork are the equivalent of getting a free car and finding out the reading light doesn't work. "Parking Lot" should've been moved up in the record, leaving "Take The Picture Now" as the last song, for while the former is of the same lyrical vein, it doesn't carry the same emotional weight. And I wish it was just a bit longer. Maybe one more song. But again, minor issues. Excellent CD.

Volunteers Wanted!

My only useful skill is music. Even that is debatable. However, when I see a music related scholarship, I jump. Therefore, to make sure I'm not submitting crap, I'd be very pleased if I could get some people to volunteer to review my work before I submit anything. Tell me if you're interested. It's good stuff, I promise.

Send statements of loyalty to: Aero777x1@yahoo.com