Bob’s Blog

Read. It’s important and most people don’t know about this stuff.
An excerpt:

AMY GOODMAN: Didn’t senators at that time, including Robert Dole, go meet with Saddam Hussein?

BARRY LANDO: Right. Senators from the agricultural states went to meet with Saddam, because the US agricultural producers, rice farmers, wheat farmers, were supplying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of grain to Saddam, and they wanted that to continue.

AMY GOODMAN: This was at a time when they understood that he had used chemical weapons.

BARRY LANDO: Absolutely. Right.

Here is the lesson of the day kids, money and self interest will always out weigh everything.

He goes in for sentencing tomorrow. It doesn’t surprise me anymore, and I think I might be out of forgiveness for him at this point. It’s hard to keep forgiving someone when they continually make the same mistakes over and over again and not seem to make a real effort in order to change their life.

Generally speaking, he’s never been a part of my life. Except for about 2-3 years ago, he made an effort to want to visit and hang out. He even tried getting me a job with him during the summer. The job sucked for that short period of time but it was nice to be with him and get to actually know him. I stood up for him when nobody else did and I genuinly believed he was finally making a real change in his life and he would actually start to straighten his life out. But, I was again, disappointed. He did something so horrible that I’m not sure if I could ever speak to him ever again. I haven’t seen him since that summer.

He’s spent the better part of his life in and out of jail. For drinking, drugs, all kinds of things. He (and my dad) are the biggest reasons why I’ve never done drugs and why I’m not a huge drinker. He was the reason why I was straight edge through out high school for a better part of my college life. I remember visiting him in jail once. And let me tell you, there is nothing more humbling about life than sitting in a room full of murderers, rapists and thieves. A simple visit to jail will wake most people up. But not him.

I really wish he would clean up his life. Not so much for me anymore, but for his mom and dad. They deserve better.

Rage Against The Machine are reuniting. How awesome. It’s been too long since someone has stuck it to The Man.

The movie The Prestige is also very, very good. One of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time.

I’ve been having writer’s block. I haven’t been able to come up with anything decent to write about. And, I have no fantastical tales to tell you all. Don’t worry, I’ll come up with some stuff soon. Although, since I love/teach history and I love facts and truthiness and I love bursting people’s bubble’s, I’m thinking of writing about all of the great people in history that are often celebrated and looked at highly when in fact, they were douchebags. People like Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln.

That should be fun.

 For Part One. Click here.

5. Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Like Bad News

It’s really hard, in my view, to debate the greatness that is Modest Mouse. I can’t say that I’m much of a fan of their work prior to The Moon and Anarctica though. I feel most of the music is very unfocused and really doesn’t go anywhere. However, they’ve been able to condense their sound more, focus more on songwriting, and use stellar production, starting with TMAA. With GNFPWLBN, however, Modest Mouse was able to combine all of these things into an incredibly stellar album. Isaac Brock is truly a great songwriter, and it shows with songs like “One Chance”, “Bukowski”, and “World At Large”. This band is truly getting better as time goes on.

4. Metallica – Load

This was my first Metallica album, it was given to me in high school as a Christmas present by my cousin, who is also a big fan of Metallica. He believed that this was a great starting point for getting into the band. It’s pretty easy for most Metallica fans to go automatically say “MASTER OF PUPPETS!”, “THE BLACK ALBUM!”, or even “…AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!” as their favorite Metallica album(s). I however, have always maintained that Load was Metallica at their most creative, and James Hetfield was at his best lyrically. It’s not very often to see a metal band go and write country and folk songs, and despite what their detractors will say about “selling out”, it’s commendable to try new things – especially in genres like hard rock and metal, where the fans are absolutely fickle about everything a band does. It’s easy to put out a Master Of Puppets 2. But it’s not so easy trying to come up with new things and step outside of your box and comfort zone. And, I still maintain that “The Outlaw Torn” is the best song they’ve ever done, both past and present.

3. Matthew Good – Avalanche

This album is borderline flawless for me. Aside from 1 or 2 songs, this album is absolutely epic in every sense of the word. The production is absolutely incredible, the song writing is top notch, and the vocals soar and are as epic as the rest of the album. A great combination of rock, pop, singer-song writer, and experimentation – Avalanche excels in every sense of the word. Matthew Good is, without question, an absolutely stellar song writer, and it shows on songs like “Avalanche”, “Near Fantastica”, and “Bright End Of Nowhere”. I really can’t tell you much more about the album. It’s just that great.

2. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

It’s the Beach Boys. And it’s Pet Sounds. Enough said. Just one of the greatest albums ever created, for any genre of music. There is almost nothing that even comes close to touching this album. The harmonies in the songs are just absolutely beautiful, the song writing continued to get better for the band, and the production and the experimentation on the album was completely new and innovative for the times. Really, I can go just go on and on. If “God Only Knows” isn’t the most beautiful song ever, then I don’t know what is.

1. Everclear – Sparkle And FadeThis album was always something I can turn during high school. A lot of relatable songs about escaping the town you lived in, drug abuse, being mistreated and stepped on, interracial relationships, and just growing up in general. There’s never been an album where I’ve had this much emotional connection too. I can remember coming home everyday from high school and just laying in bed and playing this album because it was about the only thing that ever seemed to make me feel better after many of those days. Everclear, more specifically Art Alexakis, has always been able to capture human emotion in his lyrics. The lyrics aren’t always that spectacular…but it doesn’t matter when you can connect to them and relate.

10. Finch – What It Is To Burn

Every now and then, you get a solid rock band that breaks the mold. These guys did just that, and paved the way (for better or for worse) for the screamo genre that is currently dominating the rock scene with their 2002 release of What It Is To Burn. But unlike the Victory Records cookie cutter bands like Hawthorne Heights, Finch was different. Mixing hard rock, pop-punk, emo, and hardcore into an entirely new breed of rock. At times, very reminiscent of The Deftones and Glassjaw, but also very unique and different. They swore off the “screamo” genre and the baggage that came with it and created their own identity. The band eventually broke up about a year or so after their second release, “Say Hello To Sunshine” which sounded closer to Faith No More, the Dillenger Escape Plan, and “art rock”. Once again showing the band was trying new and different things and not trying to fit into a single category.

9. Cold – A Different Kind Of Pain

Released in 2005, this is the last release by the band Cold. Cold, as you might remember, had a fair amount of success in the late 90’s and early 00’s with their songs “Gone Away”, “Bleed”, and “Stupid Girl” and were a staple along with Staind, Korn, and Limp Bizkit in the nu-metal genre that once dominated rock. This album is a bit different to me than anything else released by the band and by other bands of the genre. The album is centered around vocalist Scooter Ward’s sister who died of cancer. In the music and in the vocals, you can hear the emotions being poured out. It’s a genuine album in a genre that was filled with a lot of shallowness and fake personalities.

8. The Misfits – Static Age

What do you get when you mix The Ramones, 50’s and 60’s pop culture, horror, pop, and hardcore? You get The Misfits. One of the greatest, and often most overlooked bands of the punk rock genre. This album is filled with absolutely classic songs like, “Some Kinda Hate”, “Last Carress”, and “Hybrid Moments”. Heavy riffs, music at breakneck speed (paving the way for hardcore), and the Elvis Presely-like vocals of Danzig make this truly a unique band. Throughout the album, you will find yourself singing along to the songs, despite the fact that you are most likely singing about raping, killing, and murder. But the songs are so unbelievably catchy that you won’t be able to help yourself.

7. Wilco – Summerteeth

It is of my opinion that Wilco is currently the most important band in rock music today. Combining rock, country, singer-songwriter, and folk music, Wilco have established themselves as a premier and incredibly important band. This, I believe, is their strongest and most consistent effort overall. While it’s hard to argue with albums like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born, this comes to me as their most consistent. Lyrically, Jeff Tweedy is an absolute master and is our modern day Bob Dylan. And, really. The song “A Shot In The Arm” has just one of the coolest song intros ever.

6. Mike Doughty – Skittish

Mike Doughty during the mid 90’s was in a band called Soul Coughing, who had pretty big hits such as Circles and Super Bon Bon. This album, Skittish, was originally recorded in 95 and was completely opposite of anything Soul Coughing was doing. Instead of mixing jazz, hip-hop, and poetry he instead stripped it down to just himself and a guitar. The album found a lot of success in early 00 and his career more or less has taken off again after the breaking up of Soul Coughing (I really listen to too many bands that break up, it seems). A very open, and honest album that shows that Mike Doughty can not only do great work with layers upon layers of sound, but also with stripping it down to just himself, a few words, and an acoustic guitar.

Earlier tonight I came to the conclusion that I simply care too much about some things; things that I probably shouldn’t be so concerned about anymore or should have “gotten over” a while ago. I’m starting to believe I sacrifice too much for people who simply don’t give a damn.

While it is perfectly reasonable for most people to say that this is something this world needs more of (caring) and that this is not really a bad problem to have per say (caring “too much”), it becomes utterly frustrating when it seems like no one else around you seems to care at all about responsibility and about people in general. And so you are left asking yourself what’s even the point anymore? Because if most people around you don’t care, then why should you? If you give and sacrifice yourself and time and the people around you don’t – then at what point do you just stop giving a damn yourself?

We live in a world that is filled with with selfishness and where self-centered attitudes are not only promoted but also encouraged. It’s all about me, baby. Fuck other people – other people simply get in the way of #1, right? Fuck what you think. And fuck responsibility and what gets in the way of my schedule. If I have time, I might fit you in. You are nothing more than a mean’s to an end, and if I need something from you, I’ll come get you.

This is how our world works. And it becomes increasingly harder to maintain a positive outlook on people, and just not give up.

I’ll be honest, it has gotten tiring playing hero day in and day out. Someone else can have the job right now.

The internet may be the single most important and revolutionary invention ever. But I’ve come to realize more in the past year or so it is, at times, nothing more than a giant cesspool of stupidity, bigotry, close-minded elitists cowards who finally have a voice to say the things they are too afraid to say in person. People who think they can intimidate and thumb their noses at others, but would get their asses kicked in “real life” if said things are carried out. The internet is filled with spineless idiots who have too much free time on their hands to ever do anything productive with their lives and will band together to form circle jerks of stupidty.

The lack of respect people show one another is actually incredible and astounds me. And I fear as time goes on, it is only going to worsen. The only internet etiquette policy there seems to be most of the time is to treat people as poorly as possible and to be a complete and utter jackass most of the time.

I find it a bit amusing that people will pull out the, “it’s just the internet” card, and that it’s nothing to be taken seriously. Acting as if it’s ok to treat people like the shit on the bottom of their shoe and feel like saying whatever the hell they want to people. Yet – many of those people are the same ones who are online dating or have friends they have met through the internet. I guess, their relationship, doesn’t mean much if it’s really “just the internet”.

They are also the same people that would not have the balls to say these things to your face and in fact – would probably be nice and polite to you if you had actually met them in person. Insecurity? Ease of anonymity? Picked on during high school? Not getting enough ass? Who knows.

By the logic these people often use, we might as well not take newspapers seriously. Or books. Or any other form of mass form of media that relies soley on writing – because afterall, we can’t see who they are. Therefore, we should not take what they’re saying as serious. We might as well not take any other form of mass media seriously at all either. And we might as well not treat people in general well, because afterall – we’re just robots behind the keyboard who have no emotions, thoughts, or feelings.

You give people a little anonymity and they go to town with it and abuse it. The internet seems to bring the 12 year old out in a lot of people.

Here’s a music recommendation for the time being: Matthew Good.

Those that know my taste in music know that I love this guy’s music. He is without question, one of my favorite artists. And have loved him for about 4 years now when a friend from Canada sent me one of his albums. He’s one of Canada’s most prominent and outspoken musicians and almost broke through into the States back in 2000, but, it quickly fizzeled out after being buried under other fellow Canadian bands like Nickelback.

But, he sounds nothing like them. In fact, he’s quite unique with each album being different than the previous. Incredibly deep and creative music at times, and he has, without question, the best voice I’ve ever heard in music next to maybe Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys. I think he’s that good.

So, here are some of my favorite songs from him. Enjoy.

Near Fantastica

Suburbia

Tripoli (acoustic)

While We Were Hunting Rabbits (easily my favorite all time from him)

Man Of Action

On a side note, all my top 10 stuff will start showing up soon, don’t worry.

The past two nights have 24 have been utterly ridiculous. Especially the last 15 minutes of tonight’s episode. The US government needs to have a Jack Bauer type that can kill terrorists simply by biting them to death.

I’m going to steal Cathy’s idea and do a top 10 video games list, and I’ll probably do a top 10 albums and movies list too. Simply because I have the time, and it should be fun.

A little personal update: Life has been slow. Been starting to look at jobs for post-graduation and working on my resume. Been eyeing jobs all over the country. Texas, South Carolina, and Florida, for example. I’m nervous and excited.

As a native Clevelander, I just want to say how great this Colts win is.

All week, I’ve had to hear about how Baltimore got screwed over by the Colts organization, how this was going to be some type of “revenge” match against The Colts, and how the Ravens would not introduce them as “The Indianapolis Colts” rather “Indianapolis’ Football Team”  (even on the scoreboard, they never referred to them as “The Colts”) because of how bitter they are over the moving of the Colt’s franchise way back when.

When in fact, the city of Baltimore did the very same thing to Cleveland as what happened to them. And not only that – but embraced the move. You ripped The Browns from us and you never looked back.

Suck it, Baltimore. And suck it Ravens.