July 4, 1776

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Why ObamaCare is Bad for America -- A Denis Learyesque Rant

Alright, nowhere in the United States Constitution does is say the government is to be the Great Provider and Great Caretaker.  So why as Americans are we tolerating the implementation of a shitty federally contorlled healthcare system?  Well, it's sad to say but many Americans are selfish, lazy and have false sense of entitlement. The issue really is too many of us do not want to make sacrifices in the budget to allow for purchasing our own healthcare coverage.  But there are some simple ways to fit it into your budget.  How about not spending $100 at the bar every weekend.  Or stop giving money to tanning salons.  The sun is FREE!  Use it to get a tan.  Oh, you need to get a haircut?  Go to Fantastic Sam's.  No, you do not need $200 Nikes.  Get your priorities straight.  And you all know as well as I do, Obamacare will lead to abuse of the system.  Some jagoff will wake up at 3AM with heartburn and is absolutely certain it's a heart attack.  So he'll go to the ER.  And they'll give him some Tums and a fucking bottle of water.  Some even bigger jagoff will wake up Monday morning with a bad headache and of course knows he has a tumor and rushes to the ER only to be given some Ibuprofen and sent on his way.  It's this kind of crap which will increase health care costs for those of us who work for a living and are responsible and mature enough to purhcase healthcare for ourselves and our families.  We are willing to make thoise budget sacrifices and not jump aboard the whhhhaaambulance and demand someone else plays the adult in our lives.  Not only will health insurance providers raise rates, but your taxes will go up too.  Whether you use the crappy welfare healthcare soon to be spewed out by our governemnt or not.  Hospitals will become overcrowded and undersatffed.  Believe this: ObamaCare will cause waiting lists for simple procedures as sonograms, mammograms, MRIs and CAT scans. Just ask any Canadian.  All you liberal wacko women who want the government away from your "women's care", well with ObamaCare on its way, they are going to have their hands all over it.  Bet you didn't see that coming, did you?  Morons.  ObamaCare just reinforces the lazy selfish American stereotype.  And really do we want to use failing systems like France and Canada as models of how to do things?  ObamaCare is bad.  Its just far too many Americans wish to remain selfish and lazy and not self-supporting to realize it.

Let's Boogie! A look back at Disco Inferno, one of professional wrestling's underrated stars.

Disco Inferno debuted with WCW in 1995 primarily as a jobber and low card wrestler.  He would dance to the ring and in the ring and during matches wearing obnoxious bell bottom tights.  He'd often forget how to apply his submission finisher and carried a cheat-sheet with him.  So how was this guy underrated?  It's simple.  Glenn "Disco Inferno" Gilbertti was a technically sound, comedically talented wrestler who took a character many other people would have ran away from and carried it to a respectable level of mid-card success whiuch included multiple singles championships.

Disco Inferno's push towards mid-card status began in 1996.  He won the WCW Television Title September 22 on Monday Nitro and began a program with Perry Saturn.  Disco lost the title to Saturn on November 3 only to regain it December 8.   His second and final Television Title reign came to an end 4 week later at the hands of Booker T.  From this point on, Disco Inferno was primarily used for comedic roles only.

During the next three years, Disco formed, and dissolved, a tag team with Alex Wright - The Dancing Fools and later as Boogie Knights.  He also became an associate member of nWo Wolfpac leading to breif mid-card feuds with Konnan and Buff Bagwell.  Disco was also aligned with the Mamalukes as the group's "enforcer" and later was aligned with the Filthy Animals which influenced his brief name change to Disqo.

When WWE purchased WCW in 2001, they declined to purchase Disco Inferno's contract which led to a stint with World Wrestling All-Stars where he worked as a jobber and heel commentator. 

Disco Inferno wrestled briefly in TNA under his real name with a silly gimmick of his name always being spelled wrong.  He also served as the company's road agent from 2007-08.  In 2009 he left the wrestling business to become the host at Sapphire Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas.

Despite the ridiculous gimmick and even more ridiculous hair and wrestling attire, Disco Inferno remains one of the underrated stars of professional wrestling.  Gilbertti was technically sound in the ring and had a knack for silly comedic antics.  He accepted a character which would likely have been undesirable for many others in the business and ran...uh, danced with it to a moderate level of success.  Disco Inferno may have just been a dancing fool for WCW but he did it 100% full speed ahead no matter what he was asked to do.  He never mailed it in or half-assed it and that right there is what he deserves the most credit for. 

Professional Wrestling's Most Underrated Stars: Jeff Jarrett (The first in a series)

Professional wrestling has seen its share of underrated and underappreciated stars.  Very few however, stand out more than "Double J" Jeff Jarrett.  Jarrett has established himself has a top heel, or bad-guy, throughout his career, always being the one you couldn't trust and always looked out for only one person: Jeff Jarrett.

Jeff Jarrett debuted in the World Wrestling Federation in 1993 with a country singer gimmick.  He frequently used a guitar as a weapon by smashing it over the heads of his opponents.  In January of 1995, he won the Intercontinental Title for the first time, defeating Razor Ramon on Monday Night Raw.  He left the company in 1996 after a contract dispute and signed a one year contact the arch rival WCW.

Upon arriving in WCW, Jarrett declared himself a "free agent" and the bidding for his services began between the growing nWo and the legendary Four Horsemen.  He was inducted into the Horsemen in December of 1996 only to turn on the group months later, culminating in a brief feud with Steve McMichael.  Jarrett went back to the World Wrestling Federation in October of 1997.

Jarrett's second stint with the former WWF (now WWE), saw his star finally begin to rise.  He droppped the country singer gimmick and began a feud with original Degeneration X memeber X-pac which came to a peak with a "hair vs. hair" match which Jarrett lost.  In the following months, Jarrett became Tag Team Champs with the late Owen Hart, one of his best friends, and was also simultaneously the European and Intercontinental Champion (also known as InterEuro Champion).  His heel character developed most during this time as he was portaryed as a misogynist and abusive towards his female managers, Debra and Miss Kitty.  This is something Jarrett never gets credit for being able to pull off in a convincing manner. 

It was his feud with Chyna which sets Jarret apart in the world of underrated wrestlers.  Never before had a male superstar been put in a high profile one on one feud with a female wrestler.  (Not to mention never before had a female wrestler owned the Intercontinental Title.)  Jarrett and Chyna made it look good and it is something which has yet to be duplicated in the wrestling world.

In June of 2002, Jeff and his father Jerry began a promotion called Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a weekly pay-per-view event.  In 2004, they reached a deal with FOX broadcasting and TNA Impact! was born.  Jarrett continued his heel ways in TNA, constantly backstabbing and slandering other wrestlers to advance his own career.  He was involved in high profile feuds with such greats as Sting, Kevin Nash, and Kurt Angle, a feud which had very personal real-life ramifications as Jarrett married Kurt's ex-wife Karen.

Although he spent time as a babyface, or good duy, in TNA, Jarrett is best as a heel.  He has a talent for playing the jerk and the one you can't trust.  He does it in a believable and very convincing manner.  He was able to peak and reach top-level, main event status in TNA, but he will forever be one of professional wrestling's most underrated performers. 

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Talented People Make Me Sad

Everytime I see talented people do something stupid it pisses me off.  That being said, it's time for me ot vent on a few recent incidents involving talented people.

Let's start with Drake and Chris Brown.  This two idiots ignited a brawl, complete with bottle throwing, at New York City's SoHo nightclub.  The brawl reportedly began when Drake began taunting Chris Brown about having a sexual relationship with Brown's ex, Rihanna.  (A claim which Rihanna has since denied.)  So this brawl began over a woman.  Now is it just me or isn't fighting over a girl supposed to stop after high school?  And really, what the hell is Chris Brown doing even mentioning Rihanna's name?  He gave up that privilege (and his man card) when he beat up Rihanna in February of 2009.  He eventually plead guilty to felony assault and was sentenced to five years probabtion.  The incident has hurt his album sales but he did win his first Grammy for best R&B album in 2012.

Drake was reported to be the insitgator of this brawl.  The Grammy nominated singer reportedly spotted Brown just before SoHo's closing time and taunted him with the words "I'm fucking the girl of your dreams. Deal with it.".  Yeah, juvenille and totally unnecessary.  I don't want to promote stereotypes about the hip-hop culture, but you never hear about this childish crap happening with country or metal singers.  Just sayin...

WWE superstar Randy Orton received his second suspension for violation of the company's wellness policy at the end of May.  Orton reported tested positive for the orally-ingested steroid Dianabol, a report neither confirmed nor denied by the company.  (Dianabol was made illegal by the Controlled Substances Act.)  Randy Orton has already established himself as one of the top heels in the company and over the past year has worked to also establish himself as a top babyface.  Only the greatest of all time have succeeeded as both a heel and a babyface, with Hulk Hogan, Triple H and Shawn Michaels being a few of the biggest names to do it.  Orton was setting himself up to be on the same level as those three.

However with this suspension, it leaves Orton with one more strike and eight years left on his contract with WWE.  It puts WWE in a tough position from a creative standpoint because it will be difficult to insert Orton into long-term, high-profile storylines because one more violation of the wellness policy and Orton will be fired from the company.  It's also difficult for WWE to use Orton as a midcard wrestler and supporting role in major storylines due to his high level of talent and large contract.  Both sides are now backed into a corner because of Orton's poor judgment. 

I can't say what I would trade to have the vocal talent of Drake or Chris Brown.  I can't imagine having the athletic ability and charisma of Randy Orton.  But when I see people with that kind of talent do dumb shit it actually makes me sad.  I'm not complaining about my life but if I could trade sitting in a cubicle five days a week for performing in a WWE ring I would do it in a heartbeat. 

It is time for celebrities to start respecting their talent and stop acting like fools.

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Under the Covers With Me! A JT Lovecraft Cover Album

For the first of two weekend blog posts, I decided to create my own cover album.  I seleted songs from a variety of genres which may or may not have an artist from that same genre as my chosen cover artist.  So put on those imaginary headphones and hear the music.\

"What's Your Name?" -- For this Lynyrd Skynyrd classic I chose Bon Jovi to perform the cover as an acoustic version.  The boys from Jersey have dabbled with the southern rock sound and lyrically this song fits Bon Jovi.  Also, it's perfect for Jon from a vocal standpoint as well.  I chose for them to do an acoustic version because the were the band who unintentionally inspired the MTV Unpluged performance series with Jon and Richie's acoustic VMA performance.  There is no doubt the band could pull this off.

"Civil War" -- I'm invisioning a darker, slowed down version of this song and who better to do that than Staind?  Aaron Lewis's vocals couldn't be more different than those of Axl Rose which would add a dimension of dread to the song, something missing from the original.  I like the originial, but musically GnR hit a ground rule double when the had the chance to hit a homerun. 

"Gypsy Road" -- Don't let the southern rock/country ways of Big & Rich fool you, this duo can jam.  Cinderella's "Gypsy Road" is an all-around fitting song Big Kenny and John Rich. 

"2 Minutes to Midnight" -- I would love to hear Queensryche do an entire album of Iron Maiden covers, but "2 Minutes to Midnight" is the one Maiden song I would love to hear Geoff Tate apply his crisp powerful vocals. Not to mention Chris DeGarmo's amazing (and under-appreciated) guitar playing suits Iron Maiden songs perfectly.

"Mysterious Ways" -- Not many bands could handle covering U2 songs, but Coldplay would take this track to another level.  "Mysterious Ways" already has a unique sound but the musical talents of Coldplay and Chris Martin's vocals would bring something so amazing to this song.  I'm not saying Coldplay could do a better job than U2 but they would set the bar for what could be done with cover songs.

"The Beautiful People" -- A diversion from Marilyn Manson's grinding metal to Cradle of Filth's dreary black metal would be perfect for the Manson classic.  Dani Filth's coarse vocals would rival Manson's for overall intensity, just in a different way. 

"Like a Prayer" -- Marilyn Manson covering the Madonna classic would be an amazing and creepy twist for a song which already has some dark elements.  I believe Manson could take this song and have results similar to his versions of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and "Tainted Love".  Marilyn Manson just has a knack for turning pop songs into badass metal covers. 

"Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up" -- Hand this Garth Brooks song over to the master ot Tae Kwon Flow, Cowboy Troy, and the results would be fun and high energy.  The fast paced music and rapid flow lyrics are perfect for Troy to add his "Hick-Hop" style.

"Trash" -- This seedy Alice Cooper track would have many fine suitors for a cover, but none better than trash-meisters Faster Pussycat, one of the under-appreciated hair bands lost in shadows of bands such as Poison and Motley Crue.  Taime Downe has the vocal style and dirty charisma to turn this strip club romp into something much dirtier.

"Bitch" -- The leader of the Grrl Power movement for the 21st centry, Lzzy Hale and her band Halestorm is the only choice to cover this song from 90s one-hit wonder Meredith Brooks.  Hale's vocals would bring a more powerful sound and a level of anger and intensity not found in the original. 

There you have it.  A cover album JT Lovecraft style.  I hope you enjoyed reading and imagining how it would sound.  Until next time, keep the drinks cold and the music loud.

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Bad Movies You Need To Watch

Since the summer blockbuster season is beginning to come around, I've decided to dedicate this post to some movies so bad, they are worth watching and even owning if you can find them in a bargain bin somewhere.

Stone Cold -- This low-budget action flick stars former football player Brian Bosworth as a loose-cannon cop sent undercover into a white supremacist biker gang after a series of assassinations on judges and prosecutors. Now I've seen a lot of bad action movies, but this disaster from 1991 is still near the top of my list for awful action flicks.  And even though I love this movie for being so bad, I'm kind of saddened half decent actors Lance Henrickson and William Forsythe were part of this.  Nevertheless, if you need 90 minutes of horribly choreographed action and awful dialog check out this flick.

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh -- NBA Hall of Famers Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar team up with comic legend Jonathan Winters in this air ball of a movie about the hapless and astrologically challenged basketball team, the Pittsburgh Pisces.  This brick is classified as a comedy, but the writers must have not been told about that.  Speaking as a lifelong Pittsburgher, this is one movie I like to forget was filmed here.  But for some eye-rolling, head-shaking, insomnia-fueled movie watching, you could do worse.

I Come In Peace -- Dolph Lundgren stars in this low budget sci-fi/action train wreck about an alien harvesting a highly potent and addictive drug from human brains.  This movie is so bad it has yet to be released on DVD in the United States.  However, the movie can be found on DVD outside if the USA under the title Dark Angel.  So your only chance right now is if you still own a VHS player.   This movie was directed by the same person who directed the previously mentioned Stone Cold, so that should tell you something.  But it is one of those cheesy, mindless flicks to watch when you are bored late at night.

The Greenskeeper -- This very low budget horror flick (an estimated $80, 000), stars former major league closer John Rocker and it's tagline is "It's par for the corpse".  If you aren't already intrigued and hooked, there is nothing else about this movie I can tell you to change that.  Except maybe for this: blood and gore and naked women.  Does that help?  If so, then check out this bunker shot of a slasher movie.

Angel Fist -- Cat Sassoon, the late daughter of Vidal Sassoon, stars in this martial arts debacle.  Cat was a trained martial artist and former WKA North American Champion but it didn't seem to matter in the fight scenes, as they were poorly done.  But the topless fight scene will definitely distract viewers from the poor fight quality.  The dialogue in Angel Fist is even worse than what was uttered in Stone Cold and the acting was twice as bad as the dialogue.  But there is something hypnotic about bad martial arts movies and Angel Fist fits that category perfectly.

I could go on with more, but I need to save a few for the sequel!  So grab some popcorn, Sno-Caps and a Coke and set yourself up for a night of movies so bad, they're awesome!

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Looking back at Operation: Mindcrime

A perverted priest, a teenage prostitute masquerading as a nun, drug dealers, a crooked evangelist, dirty politicians, a confused young man with a crisis of conscience... no it's not a new show on the CW, it's Queensryche's classic album, Operation: Mindcrime.

Operation: Mindcrime is a rock opera, meaning the album tells a story as it progresses.  Other examples of this type of album are Pink Floyd's The Wall and The Who's Tommy.  This is not the same as a concept album which have a theme but no specific story line.  Examples of concept albums are Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare and Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar.  Operation: Mindcrime will never be above The Who or Pink Floyd on any list that matters when it comes to the greatest albums ever, but for me it is one of my all time favorites.

The story of Mindcrime is told through flashback as the main character Nikki is under sedation in a hospital after being arrested on homicide charges.  To the outside world is is the only villain.  He is a psychopath.  And after the nurse administers his night time shot, his she whispers what became t-shirt slogan for the band: "Sweet dreams...you bastard!".  Then the story begins.

I don't want this to turn into a complete review of the album.  Let me just say Mindcrime has not lost anything since it's release in 1988.  It delivers a fast-paced story and fantastic prog-metal from the original Seattle band.  (And in my opinion, still the greatest from that city.)  However, don't get me started on the dreadful Operation: Mindcrime II, released in 2006.  I like to pretend it doesn't exist.  But back to my original point, I can't talk about this album without some aspects of a review present.

The story is what really drew me towards Mindcrime.  Nikki is an impressionable young man upset with the times.  He is drawn into an anti-establishment movement (clearly a left wing group considering when this album was released.) headed by Dr. X.  The song "Revolution Calling" details Nikki's thought process as he decides to join the movement.  Through the use of drugs (detailed in the album's title track), Dr. X's manipulation and the priest's promised services of Sister Mary (a teenage prostitute masquerading as a nun) to Nikki ("Spreading the Disease"),  he becomes the group's assassin ("The Mission").  For the first time in his life, he feels he is someone and his life has purpose ("The Mission").  But when Mary questions Nikki's motives and agenda, the order is given to kill her also.  Nikki's conscience kicks in, but is it too late?  How many people did he kill?  Did he kill Mary?  What will happen to him?  Where is Dr. X?

Let me say I am not unhappy a perverted, corrupt priest was offed in this story.  Nor am I upset by the killing of a Robert Tilton-esque evangelist.  Actually, I'm not unhappy about anyone's death, even Mary's.  Did she really want a way out of the movement?  Or did she just want a way out?

When Nikki awakens in the hospital, he has zero recollection of his actions.  The song's "I Don't Believe in Love" and "Eyes of a Stranger" explain what's inside his mind as he is sedated in the hospital.  Both tracks have a theme of despair and self-loathing but thankfully never reach the level of melodrama.  And I will be honest, I can relate to some of the lyrics in "Eyes of a Stranger".

Mindcrime is still my favorite Queensryche album of all time.  It doesn't have the musical maturity of Empire or Promised Land but it still captures my attention from beginning to end like no other album can. And I still find it funny they band made the villains a radical left-wing group.  But, dig this album out of your collection and listen. Again.

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Random thoughts of the day

I didn't get any inspiration for a blog topic this week, which is frustrating because I want to write something each week.  Today's post is going to be a collection of random thoughts about a variety of subjects.  I hope you find it entertaining.

The Who's "Squeeze Box" has some of the best innuendo ever written.

John Cena is going to be saying "You can't see me" to his money.  He filed for divorce and reports are his wife would want a deal similar to what Linda Hogan received in her divorce from the Hulkster -- 70% of the assets -- if the WWE superstar continues with the divorce.

Barack Obama supporting gay marriage after the vote in North Carolina was gutless.  If he had any testicular fortitude, he would have showed his support the week before the primary in North Carolina.

Dark Shadows is a fantastic movie.  Go see it.

There isn't much better than cooking food over a wood fire grill.  The party terrace my wife and I have worked so hard on is going to host many memorable events.  It still needs some finishing touches, like the Wonderland theme, but it is, as of now, ready for functions.

The way Justin Verlander was pitching Friday night, he could have no-hit any all-star team or dream team.  He was that dominant.

"I'm just sixteen if you know what I mean. Do you mind if I take off my dress?" is the most provocative line I have heard in a rock song in many years.  Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless are a great band. I hope they have a long successful run in the world of metal.

Is there an athlete more in need of a pacifier than Kobe?

I refuse to pay more than 99 cents for a song on iTunes.

Speaking of 99 cents, I paid exactly that much for a Tommy Maddox jersey at the thrift store today.

“To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.” - Frederick Douglass


See you all again when inspirations calls.


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Appetite for Hard Rock: A GnR Classic

The moment I heard the opening riff of "Welcome to the Jungle" I knew this album was different from the other rock albums popular at the time.  It was an album I had to have. Unfortunately, there was one stumbling block: Mom.

Appetite for Destruction was marked with a parental advisory sticker for explicit lyrics. (Thanks a lot, Tipper Gore!) So, my Mom would absolutely not buy it for me.  Well, I did what any kid would do: I had a friend copy it for me.  And I wore the tape out from listening to it over and over and over.

Appetite is a provocative album indeed.  The album was filled with references to heroin, rape, pornography and binge drinking.  I can understand why parents would be reluctant to allow their children to listen to such an album.  This album did push me in a new direction of music.  My rock days began with artists such as Bon Jovi, Poison and Scorpions.  The discovery of Appetite began my journey towards acts such as Motley Crue, Metallica and Twisted Sister.

To me, Appetite for Destruction was the best album of the 1980s.  (Sorry, MJ.) Not necessarily for how great it was, but for what it was.  It was an album which redefined rock music.  In an instant, the landscape changed from "Armageddon It" to "Paradise City".  Granted, Appetite did include the more hairbandesque "Sweet Child O' Mine", but the other tracks on the album totally kicked the shit out of anything Poison or Bon Jovi had to offer at the time.  (Bon Jovi is still my all-time favorite band, so keep that in mind when digesting the previous statement and just how great Appetite truly is.)

Guns N' Roses' debut album shocked, inspired and revolutionized hard rock.  With songs such as "Out Ta Get Me", "Mr. Brownstone" and "Rocket Queen" (Which has one of my favorite lines of all time: "I can turn on anyone just like I turned on you.") it was, and still is, miles beyond Hysteria or Open Up and Say Ahhh.  Even though I wrote in an earlier blog post GnR did not deserve R&RHOF induction, a belief I still stand by 100 percent, they did release the best album of the 1980s and one which is in my top five of all time.  (Coming attraction alert!) It is one of the few albums I can listen to from start to finish without skipping a track.  So all you rock fans out there, dig out this GnR classic and satisfy your appetite for great hard rock.

A Return to Smash Mouth Football?

I like what the Pittsburgh Steelers have done with the first three picks in this year's NFL draft.   They have added great talent to the offensive line with their picks in rounds one and two.   Could this be a sign new offensive coordinator Todd Haley want to return to a run oriented smash mouth style of football?  As a Steelers fan, I can only hope that is the case.

David DeCastro, a guard from Stanford was the team's first round pick at 24th overall.  DeCastro was expected to be a top-15 pick and is considered by many NFL analysts to be the best guard prospect since Steve Hutchinson in 2001. But luckily for Pittsburgh, DeCastro fell to them in what will turn out to be one of the steals of the first round.  Standing 6'5" and weighing in at 315 pounds, it will be a shock if DeCastro is not the opening day starter at right guard.  Coach Tomlin gave Maurkice Pouncey the starting job at center after the first preseason game in 2010 and that, of course, has worked out extremely well.

At the combine, DeCastro had the most bench press reps among guards with 34.  He also had the fastest 3-cone drill time among guards.  He fell into the middle of the pack with his 40-yard dash time of 5.43 (which for a guy who is 6'5" and 315 pounds, that's pretty damn good), fell .03 seconds shy of the top 20-yard shuttle time and was in the top half in vertical leap.  It can't be explained why DeCastro fell to the Steelers at 24, but you can be sure Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin, Todd Haley and the Rooneys haven't stopped smiling since Thursday night.

The selection of Mike Adams in the second round shows the organization believes in second chances.  Adams tested positive for marijuana at the scouting combine and then proceeded to lie about it.  The Steelers removed him from their draft board altogether.  The 6'7", 325 pound Adams is a native of Farrell, Pennsylvania and a life-long Steelers fan.  After the combine he requested a meeting with Colbert, Tomlin and Art Rooney II to talk about the incident.  He agreed to certain conditions, including couseling, to get back into the Steelers good graces.  His failed drug test and subsequent lies about the test kept him from being drafted in the first round.  Instead, he was drafted 56th overall but possesses the talent to one day be a franchise tackle.

Sean Spence, a 5'11", 231 pound outside linebacker from the University of Miami was selected in the 3rd round at 86th overall.  It wouldn't be out of the question for the Steelers to move him inside to add depth to an area where the have none.  He will definitely need to add strength leading up to training camp and the preseason but has the raw talent to make some noise in the Steelers defense someday.

The Steelers first two picks of the 2012 NFL draft, in addition to Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert, are rebuilding an offensive line which, for the the past couple seasons, has been a ragtag compilation of mix and match backups being forced into starting roles.  Now they have protection for Ben Roethlisberger.  Now they have big bodies to create running room for Rashard Mendenhall when he returns from the ACL injury suffered in January. (Running back is another issue you may see me write about in the not-so-distant future.)  Hopefully DeCastro ends the days of relying on Ramon Foster and Trai Essex.  Hopefully watching Willie Colon end up on injured-reserve every year will be a moot point with the addition of Adams.  But most of all, maybe the days of watching Roethlisberger get sacked 40+ times a season will finally come to an end.


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The plan...

I don't want to blog about politics.  I know there is a presidential race heating up (and I do hope Obozo loses in November) but right now, I'm not interested.  I don't want to write about movies all the time, either.  I will begin writing about some of my favorite albums and how they influenced me.  I will write about food. I will fill an entire post with words about absolutely nothing.  All this will begin next week.

Another look at some upcoming movies

Detention -- This horror-comedy looks like Scream without the clever satire and campy humor.  If that doesn't keep you away from this movie, I don't know what will.

GI Joe: Retaliation -- The first one was bad.  This one looks worse.

Battleship -- If I hadn't known the title of this movie before watching the trailer, I would have guessed from the big-budget special effects and bad acting it was Transformers 4.  That's not a good thing.  This all flash and no substance monstrosity stars Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn DDecker, (Yes, the DD is intentional.) Rihanna and Liam Neeson.  And shame on Neeson for being part of this.

ATM - Hey! It's "I Know What You Did Last Payday".   *SIGH*

Dark Shadows -- Finally...a movie that looks fantastic.  Hollywood power-couple Tim Burton and Johnny Depp reunite for this theatrical version of the TV show.  Depp plays Barnabas Collins, an 18th century playboy cursed by a heartbroken witch and transformed into a vampire before being buried alive.  He is set free in 1972 and must come to the rescue of his dysfunctional family while confronting the witch who cursed him centuries ago.  The movie also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Helena Bohnam Carter, Christopher Lee and has a cameo from Alice Cooper.  This should be a delightful good time at the movies.

Get Your Tattoo: Take a Trip to Redbox and rent The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a dark and disturbing movie.  However it is still far less twisted than the Stieg Larsson novel.   Removed from the film is the plotline of incestuous rape, but misogyny and militant ethnocentrism remain as the focus of the story.

Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) has the role film’s secondary hero, Mikael Blomkvist, a once respected journalist recently convicted of libeling a prominent Swedish businessman.  I do understand the casting of Craig in this role.  His name is well known around the world and he has the look fitting the character.  He does not however, have the acting range necessary to portray Blomkvist, a character balancing pride, disgrace and uncertainty in his career.

Shortly after his libel conviction, Blomkvist is offered a job by Henrik Vanger (played by the legendary Christopher Plummer), the patriarch of one of Sweden’s most powerful families.  On paper, Blomkvist’s job is to write Henrik’s memoir.  In reality, and the entire family knows it, he is to investigate the alleged murder of Henrik’s niece, Harriet, nearly forty years ago.  At first, it seems a dead end venture for Blomkvist until an casual comment from Blomkvist’s daughter opens the door to the horrible truth behind the Vanger family.

Rooney Mara (great granddaughter of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney) is Lisbeth Salander, the heroine of the story and title character of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy.  She is a computer hacker extraordinaire with a photographic memory who looks like something straight from a Jane’s Addiction concert.  Her antisocial behavior has her labeled as incompetent by the Swedish government and she is a ward of the state with a court appointed guardian. Her kindly old guardian has a stroke and her new guardian, despite the presence of Nazis in the Vanger family, is the most detestable character in the movie.

Yorick van Wageningen is Nils Bjurman, a disgusting pig of a man who forces Lisbeth to perform sexual favors in exchange for money from her own bank account.  This escalates into a very brutal rape and subsequent revenge from Lisbeth.  The scene is one of the most graphic I have ever seen and is difficult to watch.  But I must give credit to Mara and van Wageningen for shooting a scene so frightfully real.  Anything less would have weakened the film.  Mara was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her role as Lisbeth and rightfully so.  Casting her was a bold and risky choice but it was definitely the correct choice.

David Fincher’s direction of this film is very similar to that of his breakthrough film Se7en and surprisingly Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun” video, which he also directed.  Fincher didn’t rely on graphic violence in Se7en, just images of the aftermath.  He uses the same technique in Dragon Tattoo.  The dark feeling and the editing techniques of “Janie’s” are very noticeable with this film also.

Stellan Skarsgard (Thor) and Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck) also appear in this film as Martin and Anita Vanger.

Fans of the book may be disappointed with how the film wraps up the mystery of the Vanger family and how Erika Berger (Blomkvist’s editor and part-time lover) and Dragan Armansky (played smoothly by Goran Visnjic of ER) are shoved into the category of third tier characters.   Even with all its cuts and changes, the film still runs at two and a half hours.  It’s a tight, edge-of-your-seat thriller but you will definitely want to rent a comedy to watch afterwards.

Limbaugh vs. Fluke and the extreme left: A clear winner

Once again the radical left has it all wrong when it comes to Rush Limbaugh.  The Sandra Fluke controversy shows the hypocrisy of the left in its full monty.

Rush Limbaugh was been widely criticized by the left wing (and the chickenshit GOP presidential candidates trying to draw undecided/independent/moderate voters) for his comments about Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown law student claiming she is having so much sex she can’t keep up with the costs of contraceptives.  Rush labeled her a “slut” and said since she wants the rest of us to pay for her birth control so she can have all the sex she wants she is also a “prostitute”.  Many claim his comments crossed the line.  As someone who has listened to Limbaugh on and off for 20 years, I can say those aren’t the worst comments Rush ever made.

Georgetown University is the nation’s oldest Jesuit and Catholic University and birth control is not covered under its health insurance.  The Catholic Church has had a very long-standing policy against the use of birth control.  And the government mandating policy to any religious organization is a violation of the separation of church and state.  Any law student should understand that.  But those things only matter to the left when someone want to place a Nativity scene on public property.

After her testimony was over, Fluke and several other closed-minded leftist women, walked out on testimony from Catholic Bishops.  So much for wanting to hear the other side of the debate, especially when it could come down to a Constitutional and legal issue, something in which a law student should have interest, you would think.

So if Ms. Fluke is really going through so much money buying contraceptives, she’s obviously not on the pill or shot, because with those options the amount of sex you have does not matter.  And plenty of  other women in America are using the pill or shot and not drying up their bank account.  So let‘s say she is using condoms.  It’s come out recently Sandra does have a boyfriend.  Does he not contribute to the condom fund?  If not, then she shouldn’t be giving him any sex.  And there are plenty of places to get free condoms if you need them as well.  The bottom line is birth control is not vital for anyone’s daily life.  It’s not like insulin for a diabetic.

So riddle me this, why has no one pointed out these women demanding the government get involved in policies regarding medication for women’s bodies are the same women who want the government to stay away from their bodies when it comes to abortion?  Just another little something to think about.

On a side note, if Sandra can find time to engage in this abundant amount of sexual intercourse, when is she studying?  In 2011, The US News & World Report printed a ranking of the top law schools in America based on a survey from the ABA.  Georgetown University is ranked 14th on that list.  So Sandra is not a stupid woman, but all this time she’s spending in bed takes away from time she should be spending in the library.  Pass the Bar Exam first.  Then worry about having sex.

Let’s get to Rush Limbaugh’s apology and advertisers.  Many feel the apology was not sincere and done only to appease advertisers.  Not likely.  The radical left website ThinkProgress has claimed 45% of Limbaugh’s advertisers have pulled their ads from his show.  Again not likely.  I’m not surprised such a report came from a website which despises everything Rush stands for and wants to see him fail.  Limbaugh’s show has a waiting list for advertisers and many will happily jump on board despite the controversy.  Think about it.  Rating for Limbaugh’s show are going to be even higher right now with all the coverage this story has received.  It’s a great time to advertise on his show.

As for the apology, I don’t feel it was 100% sincere.  I feel it was a calculated and clever ploy to keep the story at the top of the news.  He made the apology over the weekend which would have the weekend shows on networks like CNN and FOX talking about it.  And come Monday morning and evening, the big stars on those same networks would have to talk about it on their shows.  Finally, come 12PM EST, even more ears would be tuned in to hear the opening monologue of Rush’s show.  So once again, Rush oursmarts everyone else.

In what came as no surprise, Sandra and the gang of hypocrites rebuffed Rush’s apology.  But what did come as a surprise was extreme leftist and shock comic Bill Maher defended Limbaugh going as far as to say the left looks bad for not accepting his apology.  Keep in mind Maher is the same man who called Sarah Palin a “bimbo” and the “c-word”. (And Maher used the vulgar version, not my version.)  Now, when any woman is called the c-word, shouldn’t all women be outraged, regardless of politics?  I would think they should.  But again, just more hypocrisy from the left.  I must give credit where it is due, and will likely never do this again for Bill Maher, but he deserves kudos for what he said about the Limbaugh apology and the left wing of American politics.

The only things I know for sure is Limbaugh’s show isn’t going anywhere  (Sorry leftists.)  and the debate over the government mandating policy to religious employers will continue and may end up before the Supreme Court.  It’s clearly a violation of the separation of church and state, but I’m not a lawyer, judge or justice.  I’ll let them figure it out.  And Sandra, you obviously have brains and passion so get off the talk show circuit and the mattress and into the library.