I write sins not tragedies.

I really wish I was compelled to write something right now, but I can't. There are times like these that I wish I had a massive quantity of marijuana, because then I would want to write.

Alas. I'll just go back to watching Alice Cooper sing "Welcome to my Nightmare" on the Muppet Show. Something speaks to me in that song right now.

A by-product of the Me Generation

Over the past few months there have been an increased number of deaths linked with listening to mp3 players. These include the recent death of a student in B.C. by helicopter crash because he didn't hear it coming. Or the individual who died in Grimsby while playing by train tracks (I think we can all guess how this ended). This saddens me to no end because it is so easily avoided.

The other night while on the way home I spied an individual walking along one of the side streets near my house, which gets a lot of traffic who was listening to his mp3 player. I noted at the time that I thought the person was a moron and would eventually fail to hear a car coming at him.

It never ceases to amaze me how stupid people can be. I'm always afraid that I won't hear oncoming traffic when I'm listening to my ipods outside, so I turn down the music. Is personal safety enough of a risk to take for music? I don't think so.

What will you do about it?

Something in me hates it when bands get political. I'm not adverse to musicians having political opinions, or even voicing them, but what I take issue with is when their music is politically tinged. I honestly do not know why it bothers me so, because I often enjoy some bands that have political (I will fully admit I adored the Disturbed song 10,000 Fists) songs. I think perhaps I equate the political music with the political statements the bands (or certain members) make to accompany them. Or maybe because when I witness political bands I just cringe because I know what rampant stupidity and self-indulgent bullshit is sure to follow. Or maybe because I've been inundated with FAR TOO MANY anti-American songs as of late. I'm not one for saturation that's for sure. Come on folks, I'm as opposed to the political machinations of the current U.S. government, but I have the wisdom to not write trite, obvious musical treatises against it. I just write angry blog posts about those who do.

Is it just me, or are many bands in this day and age political for the sake of being political? I don't mean bands that have been deeply political from the get go (I look in your direction RATM), but rather bands that in the aftermath of what has been the last 7 1/2 years of Bushmania latched on to the landslide of political music. I have a hard time believing that all these musicians are deeply political, but rather recognize an ample opportunity when there is one. Has anyone else noticed how being political now has a certain degree of credibility? It is as if bands are sitting down and going " Well if we write some anti-government songs, we can cash in on all these disillusioned youth, and make us some mad cash!" I wonder if I could start writing anti-political music, and they claim grand vision and change the face of music. Now if only I knew how to write music, or had a musically creative bone in my body.

Though I was never a fan of RATM, I can respect their political tinges for they seemed genuine. I mean look at Morello for gosh sakes. My hat is tipped to you sir.

This abbreviated rant brought on by a recent article in Revolver on Disturbed in Kuwait. Draiman.... find something else to latch on to, please?

And the Lord said unto Moses....

"Steve Jobs — quote me – does not give a shit about music. Because what he's done is bifurcated the music business. No longer is the test of an artist's work the embodiment of an album, what is considered as consumable are single songs, and that's because of the Apple platform. He's a genius, the only thing he cares about is selling his platform." — Steven Nowack

Amen brother. Amen.

Speed up the belt Sam,

I'll post soon. Still reveling in the not having to frantically prepare papers and assignments for submission at the last possible moment (which for some reason has earned me an A average).

I will talk about music soon. I promise. I think I have another "Laura's Guide to..." in the works mentally.

Happy LOUD DAY everyone!!

Laura