The 2nd Quarterly CD Review

Or, I re-ranked my CDs three months later. I only did the first 50 this time, since I have 66 in my files now, plus about 30 in "the bin."

Format: "CD Rank. Band - CD Title (Old Rank)"

1. The Cure - Disintergration (-)
2. The Appleseed Cast - Mare Vitalis (5)
3. Mineral - The Power of Failing (3)
4. The Appleseed Cast - Low Level Owl Vol. 1 (-)
5. Mogwai - Happy Songs For Happy People (4)
6. Saves The Day - In Reverie (14)
7. At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command (6)
8. Strike Anywhere - Change Is A Sound (-)
9. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary (7)
10. Jets To Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness (32) [The big winners, I believe...]
11. Mars Volta - De-Loused In The Comatorium (11)
12. Saves The Day - Stay What You Are (2)
13. Brazil - A Hostage And The Meaning of Life (-)
14. Mogwai - Rock Action (15)
15. The Appleseed Cast - The End of The Ring Wars (-)
16. Bright Eyes - Fevers & Mirrors (1)
17. Mogwai - EP+2 (10)
18. Mogwai - Come On Die Young (33)
19. Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn (13)
20. The Appleseed Cast - Low Level Owl Vol. 2 (-)
21. Explosions In The Sky - How Strange, Innocence (9)
22. The Get Up Kids - Someting To Write Home About (23) [I'm actually listening to this as I type...]
23. Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down (34)
24. Mars Volta - Frances The Mute (-)
25. Christie Front Drive - Anthology (-)
26. Sigur Rós - ( ) (-)
27. Sparta - Wiretap Scars (12)
28. Mineral - EndSerenading (-)
29. American Football - American Football (18)
30. Blink-182 - Buddha (15)
31. A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms (21)
32. Radiohead - Hail To The Thief (29)
33. Thursday - Full Collapse(28)
34. Rufio - Perhaps, I Suppose... (8)
35. Mono - Walking Cloud And Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered And The Sun Shined (35)
36. At The Drive-In - Vaya EP (-)
37. The Offspring - Americana (43)
38. Saves The Day - Ups & Downs (25)
39. Sigur Rós - Agætis Bÿrtun (-)
40. Explosions In The Sky - Those Who Tell The Truth Will Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Will Live Forever (22)
41. Thrice - The Artist In The Ambulance (20)
42. Rufio - MCMLXXXV (1985) (26)
43. Strike Anywhere - To Live In Discontent (-)
44. Thursday - War All The Time (37)
45. Coheed And Cambria - Second Stage Turbine Blade (30)
46. Brand New - Deja Entendu (15) [ouch...]
47. Blink-182 - Dude Ranch (19)
48. Sparta - Porcelain (39)
49. The Used - The Used (31)
50. Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (38)

Congratulations to the ones that didn't even make the cut this time.

I know, no one actually cares about any of this, but I really enjoy making these lists. :)

PARADE Magazine: Insidious Conservative Propaganda!

Totally true. Ever look at that innocent little faux-newsmagazine that comes in the Hartford Courant (and many other national papers) every Sunday? Well, look closer. It's filled with subtle pro-conservative propaganda intent on maintaining the status quo! Whether it's an interview with Laura Bush or Bill O'Reilly, an ad selling music boxes featuring ex-Pope John Paul II, or tips on how to maintain a large majority in the House and Senate, it's all there. It promotes feel good, pro-family values items, including "Ask Marilyn" columns where people write in to say they don't make friends with people who swear. It provides an idyllic view of the white, middle class, mom-and-dad-and-two-kids lifestyle that rules conservative TV ads. Don't believe me? Read it for yourself.

P.S. I'm part kidding. But part not.

A New Perspective on Buddhism

I have come across an interesting fact concerning one of the least soiled of all the worlds religions. Steven Segal, "...has been proclaimed a reincarnated lama and a sacred vessel, or 'tulku,' of Tibetan Buddhism" (Christopher Hitchens, The Nation, August 3, 1998). Now let that work itself around in your head. Steven Segal...a reincarnated lama...what can be said about that? Richard Gere (a fellow Buddhist) was supposedly angry when he heard this. Apparently he was hoping to be a reincarnated lama and hollywoods not big enough for two of them. This is a prime example of the religion logic machine in action. Steven Segal... wtf.

Meet The New Assistant Editor

I've decided to make The Republic of Jimminica a community effort. Josh here is the first of hopefully a handful of associate editors I've decided to allow access to the blog. His first post will be very telling, I'm sure....

The Wallingford American Legion: Rocked.

To those three who were supposed to accompany me but had "more important" engagements: you missed one dope-ass show. Never mind the fact that I have the volume on the music at about twice the normal level, having lost any semblance of hearing hours ago. Or that I spent three hours standing in a room the size of my english class(and 110ºF, 90% humidity, and smelly) with 200 other people. That just adds to the fun.

I got there about 5:45, after escaping a massive jam back on 91, expecting something to happen soon. Instead, me, about 20 people, and four bands stood around until 6:15, when the guy who had the key finally showed up, and then it was about 6:45 before the first band (Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start) started playing. They were quite good, which I wasn't expecting, and they played 7 or so songs and wrapped up at 7:30. After a short breakdown/setup break, in which I bought a ATDI CD from a guy, the next band, Chin Up Chin Up, who also was quite good, started up and played some pretty excellent songs. They were done by 8:30. The next band, Arson, was a lot heavier than the others (and also unannounced on all the billings I saw), which helped really warm the crowd up. They had some very good stuff. Everyone did.

Now it was around 9:30, and the headliner was going to play. Let me first say that when the Appleseed Cast started playing "On Reflection" the place went batshit insane. Here's the set list:

1. On Reflection (mostly instrumental)
2. Steps And Numbers
3. Sunset Drama King
4. something off Two Conversations, I dunno.
5. A Dream For Us
6. A Place In Line
7. something else off TC
8. Forever Longing The Golden Sunsets
9. "Our Crazy Instrumental"

Despite numerous requests from the crowd, they didn't play "Fishing The Sky," which was a shame. Or anything from End of the Ring Wars, which also was requested ("On Sidewalks", :Moment #72" were the requests) And Crisci was feeling sick (likely the disgusting conditions we broiled in), so they played a shorter set than usual. But the songs they did play were absolutely phenomenal. They took the Low Level Owl songs and made them more live-material-like, and assumably did the same with the TC stuff. But most definitely, the highlight of the evening was "Forever Longing The Golden Sunsets." I knew what was coming when I saw Crisci slide the capo on, and at the first note, the crowd lost it. Any sense of self-consciousness had been lost by everyone, and the place just went crazy. I myself had progressed from a barely perceptible head-nod during the first band's set to an all-out headbang now. By the time they got to the outro, the room's temperature had gone up another 10 degrees. It was, simply put, amazing.

Base Closings: Political or No?

Looking at a map of the recent military base closures by state, it appears to be roughly even between red and blue states (this was actually the first thing I looked for when the map popped up on CBS). I myself assumed the White House would not be so brazen as to offer political retribution on such a high-profile topic. However, looking at the numbers (I know, quoting another blog is a little shifty), a different story is told. To simplify it, blue states would lose tens of thousands of jobs, and red states would see a net gain of thousands. Unlike the plan it was presented as, that is, an attempt to shrink the military (which I wholeheartedly support; anything to bring down the deficit), it is more of a reshuffling. And this wouldn't be the first time Bush and/or the Republicans have done something like this.

The Republican Watch (Num. 2, Vol. I)

Well, this might become bi-weekly...

#1: Hide Your Magazines!

Bush and his friends are off on another adventure through the murky world of 1st Amendment rights. This time, they want to crack down on porno. From CNN.com:

"...they joined a growing number of purveyors of pornography whom the Bush administration has pursued.

Since 2001, 40 people and businesses have been convicted and 20 additional indictments are pending, said Andrew Oosterbaan, chief of the Justice Department's child exploitation and obscenity section. By comparison, there were four such prosecutions during the eight years of the Clinton administration, he said.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, like his immediate predecessor, John Ashcroft, has pledged to make obscenity prosecutions a priority. The department is expected to announce soon the creation of a special unit within its criminal division to focus on adult obscenity cases."

Just another example of the Bush administration deciding they have the right to regulate what you can do in the privacy of your own home. Which I absolutely hate.

On a related note, an Alaskan senator (Republican, of course) recently proposed a bill that would allow the federal government to censor cable like they censor the networks. First, this is illegal. The reason the government can regulate the networks is because they broadcast through radio waves, which travel through the air, which is "public property," constitutionally speaking. Cable, meanwhile, travels through, well...cables. Which are owned and operated by the cable companies, and therefore immune from governmental censorship. This is probably just an effort by the GOP to say "Hey! Don't blame us! It's the heathen Democrats who blocked it!"

#2 Bolton Lives!

Sadly, my dear archenemy, John Bolton, passed through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the general Senate on a 10-8 party line vote. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) was able to convince his fellow Republicans not to endorse Bolton's nomination, as is usually the case. However, it is highly likely, even given the committee's misgivings, that Bolton will pass a Senate confirmation. A sad time, 'tis.

On Anarchy

In honor of Strike Anywhere, I've decided to refute any and all arguments about the potentially positive nature of anarchy.

Myth #1: Anarchy Could Even Exist

This is obviously the most basic point possible, the question of whether a total lack of government would even be achieveable in reality. I would argue that it would not. Basically, the idea is that, even if you could successfully bring down all mechanisms of government across the world simultaneously (neccessary to avoid existing governments from moving into the power vacuums created elsewhere), true anarchy would not last more than a few months. Humans are, by nature, social creatures, and would therefore gather into groups. And groups, by nature, require a leader. Combine that with natural ambitions that many harbor, and it would be short time before there would be tens of thousands of warlords ruling over the human race once more. Over time, through brutal (probably also internecine) conflict, the number of warlords would be reduced as the strongest consolidated their power. Within a century, we would be looking at a system of administration similar to 11th-century Europe. This is totally unavoidable. The timetable may be longer than that presented here, but sooner or later, societies would coalesce with a system of government to lead them. Because Hobbes was right.

Myth #2: Anarchy Would Promote Egalitarianism

No. Just look at my explanation above to see why this wouldn't work. Pure socialism would be much more efficient at achieving this, but pure socialism is impossible to attain, mainly because it involves anarchic principles.

Myth #3: Society Would Still Function In Anarchy

I'm not sure anyone actually believes this, but just in case.

While this would be great, too much of the modern world relies heavily on law and order and effective government adminstration to function. Looting would be rampant, since no protection would exist for the weak (just look at Baghdad in April 2003 to see what even small-scale anarchy can accomplish in the way of looting). Furthermore, utility function would collapse, especially that of power plants and the electricity which runs everything. And of course, anarchy pushes my great fear of nuclear apocaylpse through inefficient protection of silos and reactors. I could go on, but the point is made.

Any other arguments? Email me (aero777x1@yahoo.com) and I'd love to address them. Actually, even better, I'll allow posts for this one time for questions.