OK, worst cover songs? All of Even Dando's covers. He manages to find really cool songs to cover, but approaches every one of them with a "hey,-do- you- have- a- dime- bag- and- a- couch- I- could- crash- on?" indifference that make the songs significantly less cool for future generations.
MTViacomís Cribs- Its time I bitch-slapped this show, before the final three Sopranoís air and I have my cable disconnected. This is another type of show that is killing rock and roll music. Why would anyone in their right mind want to watch ìLifestyles of the Rich and Famousî for rock stars? Not only is this harmful to music, itís just plain false: How many current musicians are really living that way, anyhow? Most of us are either slaving away at day jobs or shacking up with a girlfriend who will eventually hate us forever for our freeloading tactics. (Either that or youíre living at home, in which case you ought to be ashamed of yourself! What kind of rocker are you?)
Theyíre giving the kids the wrong idea. For new artists, making enough money from the music business to subsist on, much less to buy mansions with, has lottery-like odds when you consider how many bands and artists there are struggling today. Kids are going to think that they donít have to go to college, they can just rap over Metallica songs and watch the loot pour in. It will create the type of ìslash and burn agriculturistî musician we all hate: They instantly shoot for the flavor of the month, make one forgettable- at- best record, and theyíre never heard from again. Candlebox, anyone? Do they realize the damage theyíve done to the once fertile land of rock and roll, and the damage theyíve done to my fucking ears?
Or perhaps MTViacom is just getting their footage now, so that when the boobs spend all their money on cocaine, race horses and swimming pools, the Behind the Music is already half-finished. In 5 years when I see Scott Stapp on the corner in Jacksonville with a squeegee, heís not getting dime one!
MTViacomís Cribs- Its time I bitch-slapped this show, before the final three Sopranoís air and I have my cable disconnected. This is another type of show that is killing rock and roll music. Why would anyone in their right mind want to watch ìLifestyles of the Rich and Famousî for rock stars? Not only is this harmful to music, itís just plain false: How many current musicians are really living that way, anyhow? Most of us are either slaving away at day jobs or shacking up with a girlfriend who will eventually hate us forever for our freeloading tactics. (Either that or youíre living at home, in which case you ought to be ashamed of yourself! What kind of rocker are you?)
Theyíre giving the kids the wrong idea. For new artists, making enough money from the music business to subsist on, much less to buy mansions with, has lottery-like odds when you consider how many bands and artists there are struggling today. Kids are going to think that they donít have to go to college, they can just rap over Metallica songs and watch the loot pour in. It will create the type of ìslash and burn agriculturistî musician we all hate: They instantly shoot for the flavor of the month, make one forgettable- at- best record, and theyíre never heard from again. Candlebox, anyone? Do they realize the damage theyíve done to the once fertile land of rock and roll, and the damage theyíve done to my fucking ears?
Or perhaps MTViacom is just getting their footage now, so that when the boobs spend all their money on cocaine, race horses and swimming pools, the Behind the Music is already half-finished. In 5 years when I see Scott Stapp on the corner in Jacksonville with a squeegee, heís not getting dime one!
by at 2:50 PM
Most of the posts to this site are pretty serious, so Iíd like to start a more light-hearted thread. What are some of the worst cover songs youíve heard? Iíve got a few:
My vote for Worst of All Time--ìWhen a Man Loves a Woman,î by Michael Bolton. Percyís version was perfect the first time aroundówhy ruin it? It was bad enough the plonker did it in the wrong key (and barely in his range), but the gratuitous key change at the end is enough to incite burning and looting.
ìTainted Love,î Soft CellóCome to think of it, there should be some kind of injunction prohibiting white artists from performing soul/R&B numbers, unless approved by a council of elders. Itís not that whites canít be soulfulóìProud Maryî disproves that theoryóbut this version completely lacks any emotion. See Devo for lessons on how to deconstruct a rock tune.
ìAmerican Pie,î MadonnaóIt helps to pick a good song to start with, context nonwithstanding.
ìSweet Child o Mine,î LunaóThey sound really bored. Plus, you canít capture irony by close-miking it in a studio.
ìMy Way,î Sid ViciousóI know it was supposed to be awful, but the joke was on Sid, not the Chairman.
ìJohnny B. Goode,î Judas PriestóI dig Priest. I dig Chuck Berry. Not together, however.
Any others? These are just from the top of my head.
My vote for Worst of All Time--ìWhen a Man Loves a Woman,î by Michael Bolton. Percyís version was perfect the first time aroundówhy ruin it? It was bad enough the plonker did it in the wrong key (and barely in his range), but the gratuitous key change at the end is enough to incite burning and looting.
ìTainted Love,î Soft CellóCome to think of it, there should be some kind of injunction prohibiting white artists from performing soul/R&B numbers, unless approved by a council of elders. Itís not that whites canít be soulfulóìProud Maryî disproves that theoryóbut this version completely lacks any emotion. See Devo for lessons on how to deconstruct a rock tune.
ìAmerican Pie,î MadonnaóIt helps to pick a good song to start with, context nonwithstanding.
ìSweet Child o Mine,î LunaóThey sound really bored. Plus, you canít capture irony by close-miking it in a studio.
ìMy Way,î Sid ViciousóI know it was supposed to be awful, but the joke was on Sid, not the Chairman.
ìJohnny B. Goode,î Judas PriestóI dig Priest. I dig Chuck Berry. Not together, however.
Any others? These are just from the top of my head.
by at 1:28 PM
in other health-related news: walgreens wants to limit the number of hours pharmacies are open in their stores on chicago's south and west sides.
i wonder if it will be more "cost-effective" to limit these hours, or is it just plain racial? i'll let you decide for yourself.
i wonder if it will be more "cost-effective" to limit these hours, or is it just plain racial? i'll let you decide for yourself.
by at 12:48 PM
In the news: Eddie Van Halen has cancer. Donít call me cynical, but itís not exactly a stunning revelation; in every photo Iíve seen of him heís either smoking a butt or covered with the Patch. He was able to catch the cancer early, though, so the odds of it going into remission are very good. Of course, being Eddie Van avails you to the best treatment money can buyóJoey Ramone wasnít quite so fortunate. Still, hats off to you, Ed, youíre a survivor. Just make sure the next VH album doesnít suck, OK?
by at 10:20 AM
Good. The last 4 times I've tried to post blogger ate it.
MTViacom and ViacomH1 are going to ruin music for future generations.
Bands on the Run: This steaming lump of shit passed off as a ìRealityî TV show is insulting to everyone, especially musicians. The show fosters the kind of competitiveness that will destroy the music scene anywhere. Chicago is ìBands on the Runî every day, and thatís the reason that Chicago rock bands hardly ever break into the national scene: Theyíre too busy scuffling for the same 100 people. Donít they know that thereís enough music to go around for everyone to get there together?
Reality, my ass! I happened to catch the Chicago show. In one scene I noticed shot in the Double Door, the band reports that they made over $1000 in merchandise that night. BULLSHIT! You mean to tell me that every single person in there bought something? Nobody buys stuff at the Double Door, especially from unknown bands! (At those drink prices, no wonder!) And what about this ìbonus moneyî the bands get for getting the most people? You donít get bonus money on the road for anything, unless you rob a convenience store!!! Now, THIS is how the scenario would go if it were truly a reality show.
Band shows up at club. Play a show as the opener. They make 100 bucks at the door since no one specifically came to see them, and they sell 50 bucks in merch. This isnít enough for a hotel in Chicago so they stay with some friends. During the night, the vanís trailer and equipment is stolen, since it HAS THE NAME OF THE BAND WRITTEN ON THE SIDE OF BOTH THE VAN AND THE TRAILER!!! (Even the dumbest bands know not to do this, youíre practically inviting theft!) Band goes home demoralized, and decides that they really should have gone to college. End of show.
MTViacom and ViacomH1 are going to ruin music for future generations.
Bands on the Run: This steaming lump of shit passed off as a ìRealityî TV show is insulting to everyone, especially musicians. The show fosters the kind of competitiveness that will destroy the music scene anywhere. Chicago is ìBands on the Runî every day, and thatís the reason that Chicago rock bands hardly ever break into the national scene: Theyíre too busy scuffling for the same 100 people. Donít they know that thereís enough music to go around for everyone to get there together?
Reality, my ass! I happened to catch the Chicago show. In one scene I noticed shot in the Double Door, the band reports that they made over $1000 in merchandise that night. BULLSHIT! You mean to tell me that every single person in there bought something? Nobody buys stuff at the Double Door, especially from unknown bands! (At those drink prices, no wonder!) And what about this ìbonus moneyî the bands get for getting the most people? You donít get bonus money on the road for anything, unless you rob a convenience store!!! Now, THIS is how the scenario would go if it were truly a reality show.
Band shows up at club. Play a show as the opener. They make 100 bucks at the door since no one specifically came to see them, and they sell 50 bucks in merch. This isnít enough for a hotel in Chicago so they stay with some friends. During the night, the vanís trailer and equipment is stolen, since it HAS THE NAME OF THE BAND WRITTEN ON THE SIDE OF BOTH THE VAN AND THE TRAILER!!! (Even the dumbest bands know not to do this, youíre practically inviting theft!) Band goes home demoralized, and decides that they really should have gone to college. End of show.
by at 10:36 AM
Friday, May 4th, Knife of Simpson and Big Wow at the Underground Lounge, 945 W. Newport, Chicago 10 pm! Major lineup changes!!!! It's all good.
by at 9:58 AM
i want to talk a little bit about the big one-ww2.
memorial day is fast approaching, which means another romanticized world war II movie, "pealr harbor" (directed by that hack michael bay and produced by the incredible, inevitable, jerry brucheimer) is coming to a theatre near you. this will be the lastest in a string of movies and books that perverts the actuality of war, and the memories of the men and women who fought it, survived it or lost their lives during it.
now don't get me wrong. i have the utmost respect for our war veterans. they did some terrible, nasty, ugly things in those days to protect our freedom. but let's face it. these men did not go and fight in a war because they wanted to be heroes of the nation (like hollywood and the publish ingindustry wants you to believe) but because they were forced to. as soon as they saw battle, no doubt the only thing they wanted to do was get home.
tom brokaw really got the ball rolling with "the greatest generation" (did mr. brokaw forget these are the same people that raised the baby boomers?) which "danielle steeled" the efforts of those abroad and at home during the war. that lead to other bullshit feel-good hits of the summer like "saving private ryan" and the atrocious "enemy at the gates", etc.
i understand the urgency to get these stories told. our world war II veterans are dying by the hundreds each day, and their stories deserve to be told. but we should hear the real stories and not hollywood's version of them.
i have been fortunate enough to meet a few world war II vets who fought and shared their stories with me. i met vets who fought through italy, the battle of the bulge, omaha beach in normandy and flew bombers in the pacific. their accounts of the war are not like what i see in the movies.
one veteran i met liberated a concentration camp and said as he was marching toward it, he said to himself, "boy they sure have a shitload of firewood piled up over there." needless to say upon closer examination, it was not a pile of firewood he was looking at.
this was the war for these men. i wish we could see more accounts of the war through the eyes of the veterans, instead of from those looking to glorify them. we can learn a lot more about war, the human spirit, and why we should never go to war again.
instead of going to see "pearl harbor" this summer, try to read "catch 22" or "slaughterhouse V" instead.
memorial day is fast approaching, which means another romanticized world war II movie, "pealr harbor" (directed by that hack michael bay and produced by the incredible, inevitable, jerry brucheimer) is coming to a theatre near you. this will be the lastest in a string of movies and books that perverts the actuality of war, and the memories of the men and women who fought it, survived it or lost their lives during it.
now don't get me wrong. i have the utmost respect for our war veterans. they did some terrible, nasty, ugly things in those days to protect our freedom. but let's face it. these men did not go and fight in a war because they wanted to be heroes of the nation (like hollywood and the publish ingindustry wants you to believe) but because they were forced to. as soon as they saw battle, no doubt the only thing they wanted to do was get home.
tom brokaw really got the ball rolling with "the greatest generation" (did mr. brokaw forget these are the same people that raised the baby boomers?) which "danielle steeled" the efforts of those abroad and at home during the war. that lead to other bullshit feel-good hits of the summer like "saving private ryan" and the atrocious "enemy at the gates", etc.
i understand the urgency to get these stories told. our world war II veterans are dying by the hundreds each day, and their stories deserve to be told. but we should hear the real stories and not hollywood's version of them.
i have been fortunate enough to meet a few world war II vets who fought and shared their stories with me. i met vets who fought through italy, the battle of the bulge, omaha beach in normandy and flew bombers in the pacific. their accounts of the war are not like what i see in the movies.
one veteran i met liberated a concentration camp and said as he was marching toward it, he said to himself, "boy they sure have a shitload of firewood piled up over there." needless to say upon closer examination, it was not a pile of firewood he was looking at.
this was the war for these men. i wish we could see more accounts of the war through the eyes of the veterans, instead of from those looking to glorify them. we can learn a lot more about war, the human spirit, and why we should never go to war again.
instead of going to see "pearl harbor" this summer, try to read "catch 22" or "slaughterhouse V" instead.
by at 6:56 PM
Retro Rock Journal: Why I Hate the Midwest Mods. A rant by Illyich Lennon.
Of all the retro movements out there, it doesnít get any more backward-looking than the Mods (can we call them the post-Mods now? It is a new century now.) The Mods are a very small yet incredibly pretentious subset of what is known as indie rock that assiduously follows the musical and fashion trends from the early British Invasion (and, apparently, not much longer afterwards). Do you think your typical Empty Bottle-attending spock rocker is pathologically judgmental about his (but mostly your) musical tastes? The Mods are even more so, but it carries over into how you dress, what your hair looks like, what cigarettes you smoke, etc. For these people, itís a way of lifeókind of sounds like the Church of Straightedge Hardcore all over again, doesnít it?
Since there arenít many original ìClass of ë64î Mods leftómost have, I imagine, evolved or died outóitís kind of difficult to determine exactly what constitutes ìModî these days. Is it a haircut? The music you listen to? For most of them itís every bit as much what isnít as what is, with an emphasis on the former, and a good deal of their patter in chat rooms and listservs is dedicated to nitpicking and criticizing the foibles of those who step outside a subculture that hasnít existed for about 40 years.
All of which makes for extremely awkward interactions with people living in the first decade of the 21st century. This is part of one ìshopî conversation I had with another musician in a ìModî chat room: ìOh, donít get a Rick bassóthatís soooo mid-Eighties Mod revival. Get a Vox instead!î
First off, I think the irony of the entire situation was lost on heróthe only Mods around today are revivalists, especially if you were born 10 years after the fact. Now, maybe my sarcasm sensors are a bit dull and I misread her comment, but I was a bit offended by this outburst of elitism. I regard Vox stringed instruments as rockís version of a protected species: Youíll likely find them stuffed and under glass now, seldom in the wild. Most early electric guitars made in Italy were manufactured by accordion companies that retooled their assembly lines to cash in on the post-Postwar demand for electric guitars and bassesóthe Vox was no exception. The hardware was cheap, the frets were tiny, and the construction was flimsy. Consider the Wyman bass, Voxís flagship bass (named for Bill of the Stones, who was an endorsement whore): Its neck was ridiculously thin, like a banjo; the peghead laughably over-endowed, looking like the blade of a butcherís knife. It probably had to be large enough to accommodate the ostentatious, glued-on ìV-O-Xî lettering, which might have made the guitar even more unwieldy. I imagine youíd have to wear it around your neck to compensate for the body/neck imbalance (just like Bill Wyman did). Good luck playing in tune above the twelfth fret, tooóthe bridge pairs two strings to one saddle, like the original P-bass design.
To wit: the Vox bass sucks. It was a poorly made, cheap import whose only cachet was form over function, not practicality (kind of like Italian carsóbut I digress). By now, a decent original instrument is more expensive than a used car. A much better alternative would be the Phantom basses and guitars (available on guitarpunk.com), which are based on the original Vox teardrop body designs, but have updated hardware and electronics (though the jury is still out over whether the Phantom knock-offs are ìModî enough for my snooty online friend). The Rickenbacker is a great bass, infinitely more playable, durable and versatile than the Vox, but because the Jamóregarded by many as the original ìMod revivalî bandóused them, itís snubbed by some in this incredibly insular subset of indie rock.
My point is this: if you like something, use it. Who cares if itís not ìin fashion?î True, you wouldnít bring a pink Warlock to a jazz gig, but this is ROCK AND ROLL, dammit! If your pink and yellow Ibanez JEM 800 with a Floyd Rose works for you, then play it. If you want that 7-string guitar so you can start a band with your friend, a heavy-metal clown named Boo-ya who freestyle raps (howís that for judgmental?), get it. Just make sure itís what YOU really want, not THEM.
And donít bring it anywhere near the Empty Bottle.
By the way, if you meet any self-described Mods Ö KILL THEM!!! Theyíll thank you in the afterlife.
Of all the retro movements out there, it doesnít get any more backward-looking than the Mods (can we call them the post-Mods now? It is a new century now.) The Mods are a very small yet incredibly pretentious subset of what is known as indie rock that assiduously follows the musical and fashion trends from the early British Invasion (and, apparently, not much longer afterwards). Do you think your typical Empty Bottle-attending spock rocker is pathologically judgmental about his (but mostly your) musical tastes? The Mods are even more so, but it carries over into how you dress, what your hair looks like, what cigarettes you smoke, etc. For these people, itís a way of lifeókind of sounds like the Church of Straightedge Hardcore all over again, doesnít it?
Since there arenít many original ìClass of ë64î Mods leftómost have, I imagine, evolved or died outóitís kind of difficult to determine exactly what constitutes ìModî these days. Is it a haircut? The music you listen to? For most of them itís every bit as much what isnít as what is, with an emphasis on the former, and a good deal of their patter in chat rooms and listservs is dedicated to nitpicking and criticizing the foibles of those who step outside a subculture that hasnít existed for about 40 years.
All of which makes for extremely awkward interactions with people living in the first decade of the 21st century. This is part of one ìshopî conversation I had with another musician in a ìModî chat room: ìOh, donít get a Rick bassóthatís soooo mid-Eighties Mod revival. Get a Vox instead!î
First off, I think the irony of the entire situation was lost on heróthe only Mods around today are revivalists, especially if you were born 10 years after the fact. Now, maybe my sarcasm sensors are a bit dull and I misread her comment, but I was a bit offended by this outburst of elitism. I regard Vox stringed instruments as rockís version of a protected species: Youíll likely find them stuffed and under glass now, seldom in the wild. Most early electric guitars made in Italy were manufactured by accordion companies that retooled their assembly lines to cash in on the post-Postwar demand for electric guitars and bassesóthe Vox was no exception. The hardware was cheap, the frets were tiny, and the construction was flimsy. Consider the Wyman bass, Voxís flagship bass (named for Bill of the Stones, who was an endorsement whore): Its neck was ridiculously thin, like a banjo; the peghead laughably over-endowed, looking like the blade of a butcherís knife. It probably had to be large enough to accommodate the ostentatious, glued-on ìV-O-Xî lettering, which might have made the guitar even more unwieldy. I imagine youíd have to wear it around your neck to compensate for the body/neck imbalance (just like Bill Wyman did). Good luck playing in tune above the twelfth fret, tooóthe bridge pairs two strings to one saddle, like the original P-bass design.
To wit: the Vox bass sucks. It was a poorly made, cheap import whose only cachet was form over function, not practicality (kind of like Italian carsóbut I digress). By now, a decent original instrument is more expensive than a used car. A much better alternative would be the Phantom basses and guitars (available on guitarpunk.com), which are based on the original Vox teardrop body designs, but have updated hardware and electronics (though the jury is still out over whether the Phantom knock-offs are ìModî enough for my snooty online friend). The Rickenbacker is a great bass, infinitely more playable, durable and versatile than the Vox, but because the Jamóregarded by many as the original ìMod revivalî bandóused them, itís snubbed by some in this incredibly insular subset of indie rock.
My point is this: if you like something, use it. Who cares if itís not ìin fashion?î True, you wouldnít bring a pink Warlock to a jazz gig, but this is ROCK AND ROLL, dammit! If your pink and yellow Ibanez JEM 800 with a Floyd Rose works for you, then play it. If you want that 7-string guitar so you can start a band with your friend, a heavy-metal clown named Boo-ya who freestyle raps (howís that for judgmental?), get it. Just make sure itís what YOU really want, not THEM.
And donít bring it anywhere near the Empty Bottle.
By the way, if you meet any self-described Mods Ö KILL THEM!!! Theyíll thank you in the afterlife.
by at 9:30 AM
The Soviets did an emergency landing in Japanese airspace during the 80s--we sent that plane back in crates, postage due!!! Expect no less this time. And of course we won't give a damn about human rights; we haven't for the last 50 years, and we don't now. If we did, we wouldn't have let Iran-Contra happen--and we certainly wouldn't have put THOSE SAME PEOPLE BACK IN POWER 10 YEARS LATER!!!! This is a battle between principles and profits--we'll see how much politicians are willing to go to the mat for REAL American values (and I'm not talking about the values at Menards.)
I'm not surprised Bush settled for expediency--that's how he got his job in the first place. Let me tell you, if President Gore had done the same thing, the right wing of this country would have been calling for his pointy head. Don't be mistaken: we're going to play up this little incident, too, by justifying increased military aid to Taiwan, and plunging the Far East into a new arms race. China will have to fortify, as will the Koreas. Not to be outdone, China's regional competitor, India, will start a buildup. Of course, Pakistan will follow, and pretty soon everybody will have warheads pointed at each other. Just when you thought it was safe to crawl out of your bomb shelter ...
By the way, RIP Joey Ramone, you were an inspiration. And that's all I want to say, lest this post become a Hallmark card.
I'm not surprised Bush settled for expediency--that's how he got his job in the first place. Let me tell you, if President Gore had done the same thing, the right wing of this country would have been calling for his pointy head. Don't be mistaken: we're going to play up this little incident, too, by justifying increased military aid to Taiwan, and plunging the Far East into a new arms race. China will have to fortify, as will the Koreas. Not to be outdone, China's regional competitor, India, will start a buildup. Of course, Pakistan will follow, and pretty soon everybody will have warheads pointed at each other. Just when you thought it was safe to crawl out of your bomb shelter ...
By the way, RIP Joey Ramone, you were an inspiration. And that's all I want to say, lest this post become a Hallmark card.
by at 11:13 AM
it pains me to report that joey ramone is dead.
joey passed away easter sunday after battling lymphoma. rock'n'roll has lost a legend, and for that i am really bummed.
for me, the ramones was one of those bands that made me want to start my own. they weren't very talented, musically, blasting out three-chord, three-minute anthems, but their intensity, prowess and drive to bring rock'n'roll back was what set ramones apart from most acts of their time and still to this day.
there were certainly more "qualified" people to play what the ramones played, but no one else was willing to do it at that time, and they took it upon themselves, despite their lack of musical talent. they remind me a lot of bob dylan that way.
i'm just thankful that joey, and the rest of the band, ultimately decided to lay it on the line and share with us their passion for rock music, and their distaste for what was happening to it. god bless you joey, may you rest in peace, but more importantly, thank you for all the good times.
joey passed away easter sunday after battling lymphoma. rock'n'roll has lost a legend, and for that i am really bummed.
for me, the ramones was one of those bands that made me want to start my own. they weren't very talented, musically, blasting out three-chord, three-minute anthems, but their intensity, prowess and drive to bring rock'n'roll back was what set ramones apart from most acts of their time and still to this day.
there were certainly more "qualified" people to play what the ramones played, but no one else was willing to do it at that time, and they took it upon themselves, despite their lack of musical talent. they remind me a lot of bob dylan that way.
i'm just thankful that joey, and the rest of the band, ultimately decided to lay it on the line and share with us their passion for rock music, and their distaste for what was happening to it. god bless you joey, may you rest in peace, but more importantly, thank you for all the good times.
by at 10:39 AM
boy, good ol' "w" really showed those chinese a thing or two, huh?
he got our boys back, and all he had to do was humiliate himself to all 1 billion chinese and the rest of the world!
why won't the president wake up? the chinese were able to get our spies on their ground, so of course they were going to milk it for all it's worth. those servicemen and servicewomen (god bless them) were coming home, no matter what. no way in hell are the chinese going to blow it now. they have much too much to risk.
they know if they tortured those servicemen and servicewomen, there would be hell to pay, either in the form of hindering their enterance into the wto, or selling taiwan advanced air defense systems.
if "w" were able to get that plane back in one piece, i would have been impressed. however, that thing is coming back in crates, and the chinese will have more knowledge of our "sensitive" military technology. but if that's what it takes to more easily exploit their lobor force, then so be it.
the chinese are smart people. they know once they open their markets, no one is going to hound them about human rights issues anymore. once the dough starts rolling into the u.s., the government isn't going to give a damn about anything else.
i'm sure they pissed their pants wen they heard "w" say "I'm sorry," i'll bet!
but "w" is going to try to make us think that all he had to do was swing his big dick in front of the chinese, and they'd buckle in and give our boys back. well, what do expect from a president who used to be a cheerleader?
he got our boys back, and all he had to do was humiliate himself to all 1 billion chinese and the rest of the world!
why won't the president wake up? the chinese were able to get our spies on their ground, so of course they were going to milk it for all it's worth. those servicemen and servicewomen (god bless them) were coming home, no matter what. no way in hell are the chinese going to blow it now. they have much too much to risk.
they know if they tortured those servicemen and servicewomen, there would be hell to pay, either in the form of hindering their enterance into the wto, or selling taiwan advanced air defense systems.
if "w" were able to get that plane back in one piece, i would have been impressed. however, that thing is coming back in crates, and the chinese will have more knowledge of our "sensitive" military technology. but if that's what it takes to more easily exploit their lobor force, then so be it.
the chinese are smart people. they know once they open their markets, no one is going to hound them about human rights issues anymore. once the dough starts rolling into the u.s., the government isn't going to give a damn about anything else.
i'm sure they pissed their pants wen they heard "w" say "I'm sorry," i'll bet!
but "w" is going to try to make us think that all he had to do was swing his big dick in front of the chinese, and they'd buckle in and give our boys back. well, what do expect from a president who used to be a cheerleader?
by at 6:28 PM
Well, it is official: They're putting a Starbucks in Logan Square, Chicago. That's where I live. I'm not happy, because it means that the nauseating gentrification that has been taking place over the last 3 years is only going to continue, and I thought it had pretty much gotten as bad as it was going to get.
Now, I'm white, mind you, and in some ways, I'm part of the problem. But I moved to Logan Square because it used to be affordable. People would ask why I would want to move to somewhere that far from the lake, and that close to Humboldt Park. Now I have to endure a Starbucks two blocks from my home?
I'd like to find out what is the best way to combat a Starbucks. DO you break windows? Harass customers? Flyer all the SUV owners in the neighborhood? Piss on the bathroom seats? IF anyone is reading this, drop me a line and make suggestions!
Now, I'm white, mind you, and in some ways, I'm part of the problem. But I moved to Logan Square because it used to be affordable. People would ask why I would want to move to somewhere that far from the lake, and that close to Humboldt Park. Now I have to endure a Starbucks two blocks from my home?
I'd like to find out what is the best way to combat a Starbucks. DO you break windows? Harass customers? Flyer all the SUV owners in the neighborhood? Piss on the bathroom seats? IF anyone is reading this, drop me a line and make suggestions!
by at 1:37 PM
the napster debate is one that haunts my sleep, because it is so tricky.
here's why: i believe that a community of people should be able to share music files with each other at no cost. however, there must be some safeguards for those who don't want their property to be shared. this debate is starting with music, but its implications will reach a lot further.
if music is the first intellectual property that is not protected, then the rest are sure to follow. that means books, inventions, new drugs, discoveries, and every other intellectual property that can currently be protected may follow suit.
if that becomes the case, then no one will publish anything of any worth. the french tried the experiment of doing away with copyright laws altogether, and the only thing that was published there was pornography. you see, nobody wanted to bust their balls to publish anything that took hard work, because it was completely unprotected. why bother?
can we outlaw people from sharing music? of course not. can we allow this case to threaten all protected intellectual property? we'll see...
here's why: i believe that a community of people should be able to share music files with each other at no cost. however, there must be some safeguards for those who don't want their property to be shared. this debate is starting with music, but its implications will reach a lot further.
if music is the first intellectual property that is not protected, then the rest are sure to follow. that means books, inventions, new drugs, discoveries, and every other intellectual property that can currently be protected may follow suit.
if that becomes the case, then no one will publish anything of any worth. the french tried the experiment of doing away with copyright laws altogether, and the only thing that was published there was pornography. you see, nobody wanted to bust their balls to publish anything that took hard work, because it was completely unprotected. why bother?
can we outlaw people from sharing music? of course not. can we allow this case to threaten all protected intellectual property? we'll see...
by at 9:39 PM
Alright, I'm officially sickened. Not only is it bad enough to hear Dr. Martin Luther King's speech being used a marketing gimmic for Cingular Wireless, look at the statement made by Clay Owens, the company spokesman:
``We decided that we would be about self-expression. We looked out there and saw basically a ghetto of competing rate plans and technology and we wanted to distinguish ourselves.''
If I see anyone with a Cingular Wireless phone, I'm going to fucking smash it. Free at last.
``We decided that we would be about self-expression. We looked out there and saw basically a ghetto of competing rate plans and technology and we wanted to distinguish ourselves.''
If I see anyone with a Cingular Wireless phone, I'm going to fucking smash it. Free at last.
by at 4:54 PM
The only thing the Nuge will contribute to the Napster debate is a fresh load of napalm, in the form of his usual inflammatory, "if-you-don't-like-it-you-can-kiss-my-ass" outlaw posturing. Besides, he'll probably spend most of his time mugging with Phil Gramm and the rest of his right-wing buddies the NRA lobby, so I don't think he'll have anything substantive to offer other than some trite Wild West analogies and buckshot-in-your-backside idle threats.
Don Henley should be pitied--he's filthy rich and can't stand the thought of somebody listening to "Dirty Laundry" for free, yet knows his record company has lavished countless millions on the three compaines that rule the promotions business with an iron fist--all to make his vapid solo efforts Adult Contemporary hits. Where's the outrage now, Don? Looks like this is The End Of The Innocence. That money was supposed to be yours--why don't you go after the corrupt system that denied you the ten Mercedes you so righteously deserve, instead of your fans?
Maybe you're grateful your bosses have spent so much money to assure your place in history with the #3 selling album of all time. If you are, stop whining about what a raw deal Elektra stuck you with, and how unfair the music business is. You managed to make a comfortable living for yourself, which is more than any professional musician could ever hope for. But I guess as an avaricious, insular Californian you wouldn't understand that.
Wow, those bitter ex-hippies really are a lot of trouble. Peace, Don.
"Don Henley used to sing for the Eagles/Now he just whines like a wounded beagle" -- Mojo Nixon
Don Henley should be pitied--he's filthy rich and can't stand the thought of somebody listening to "Dirty Laundry" for free, yet knows his record company has lavished countless millions on the three compaines that rule the promotions business with an iron fist--all to make his vapid solo efforts Adult Contemporary hits. Where's the outrage now, Don? Looks like this is The End Of The Innocence. That money was supposed to be yours--why don't you go after the corrupt system that denied you the ten Mercedes you so righteously deserve, instead of your fans?
Maybe you're grateful your bosses have spent so much money to assure your place in history with the #3 selling album of all time. If you are, stop whining about what a raw deal Elektra stuck you with, and how unfair the music business is. You managed to make a comfortable living for yourself, which is more than any professional musician could ever hope for. But I guess as an avaricious, insular Californian you wouldn't understand that.
Wow, those bitter ex-hippies really are a lot of trouble. Peace, Don.
"Don Henley used to sing for the Eagles/Now he just whines like a wounded beagle" -- Mojo Nixon
by at 2:24 PM
Don Henley and Ted Nugent to represent musicians in senate hearing? This should be cause for alarm: Musicians everywhere are going to be represented by DON HENLEY and TED NUGENT? That's not exactly who I want representing me. I'm a musician, and I don't recall voting on this! First of all, Don Henley will just come off looking like a jerk. The Eagles ar the top-selling American act of all time, and here he is worried about who's downloading "Boys of Summer" without giving him his 7 1/2 cents every time. And Nugent? Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't he be out killing some animals with guns? What crucial information can Ted possibly have about artist's rights, other than the right for artists to bear arms? The truth is, I don't think ANY OF NUGENT'S OR HENLEY'S FANS USE NAPSTER. Not enough of them to make these rock dinosaurs a central part of the hearings. Their fan bases are well into their 40s and 50s by now. They have kids and jobs and responsibilities. They aren't sitting around patiently waiting for "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" to download! They don't even know what an MP3 is!
There is nothing more hollow than people from deep within the music industry worrying about the inability to control this technology. I want to hear from bands and artists that are just starting out, people that are maybe two years into their indie or major label record contract, and hear their reasoning on what effects Napster has had on their sales. I don't want rock's equivalent of Bill Gates representing musicians everywhere. In case Don hasn't noticed, things are different in the music biz these days, and he should be at home counting his money instead of getting involved in a case that has nothing to do with him.
There is nothing more hollow than people from deep within the music industry worrying about the inability to control this technology. I want to hear from bands and artists that are just starting out, people that are maybe two years into their indie or major label record contract, and hear their reasoning on what effects Napster has had on their sales. I don't want rock's equivalent of Bill Gates representing musicians everywhere. In case Don hasn't noticed, things are different in the music biz these days, and he should be at home counting his money instead of getting involved in a case that has nothing to do with him.
by at 9:34 AM