I bought some new music, let's review it!

One of the main things I go to DragonCon for in recent years (besides the scantly clad girls) is the music. And it seems every year there's more and better bands. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

I picked up 3 CD's at DragonCon this time around - Dying and Falling from I:Scintilla, Hate Lives In a Small Town from Voltaire, and Celldweller's self-titled album.

OK, ladies first. Well at least the band that's fronted by a lady first. I was trying to explain I:Scintilla's music to my father. Normally I don't discuss music with him because to him The Rolling Stones were the greatest band that ever and will ever exist, but their frontwoman, Britney Bindrim, is related to one of my dad's oldest friends. I:Scintilla is kind of a mix of metal, punk, and electronica with rather amazing vocals. Britney has some serious pipes and the drums guitars and electronics back her up quite nicely. If you are into metal or industrial, I suggest you look them up. If they are coming to your town, I suggest you see them. They put on a good show and I actually think they sound better live than on the CD. Speaking of the CD, Dying and Falling has a rather good mix of music on it. It's a great showcase of many of the things the band is capable of. There's a mix of fast and moderate, hard and light, guitar heavy metal and electronic. While I can't find a song on it I don't like, Ammunition has got to be my favourite. Also, the album art is pretty cool too. It's all paintings by Britney Bindrim.



Next up is an old favourite that did something unexpected and it turned out pretty cool. In fact when I heard of this album I actually thought it was a joke. Voltaire's latest album, Hate Lives In a Small Town, is a country album. I was talking to him about it at DragonCon after having heard a few of the songs he posted on Facebook. I thought it was good, but not what I would have expected, then I got to thinking some of his other songs did have a country feel to them. He even said a lot of his songs actually are or can be country songs. Honestly, I hate country music. Oddly enough, so does Voltaire. However the country music on Hate Lives In a Small Town is not modern country, but more old timey country. Think Johnny Cash. Now think Johnny Cash with Voltaire's warped and spooky sense of humour. That's about what this album is like. If you like old timey country and western, you will probly like it. If you don't like that, well, listen to it anyway, you may like it as well. If you like anything Voltaire has done in the past, you will like it. I enjoyed it and like I said, I hate country.



Finally, a band I never heard of before. They have been around a while, I just somehow missed them. Celldweller is a one man act, that one man being Klayton. Klayton is a very cool, very talented and very nice guy with a pretty damned impressive resume. I'm surprised I never heard of him. I've heard his music before and probly so have you. He's done a lot of work in T.V. and movie soundtracks. My girlfriend wanted their CD after we saw their live show at DragonCon. I wasn't about to tell her no, I wanted it too. The live show was just wow. A mix of very hard rock and pounding electronics with 2 really busy guys switching between keyboard, drums and guitars, singing and dancing all the way coupled with intense visuals on 3 screens. The CD provided more of the same, sans visuals of course. I'm glad I went to their show, more so that I bought their CD. If you like your music intense and aggressive with rock and classical influences, buy this CD. Seriously. If they (should I say he?) are touring anywhere near you, go see them. This is another CD that not only can I not find anything I don't like on it, I can't even find anything I can call my favourite, it's all that good.



So yeah that about covers my DragonCon music purchases. Just another reason I'm broke at the moment. And another reason for the Perseph - A - Thon. I know I haven't been making a post every day like I said I was, but I'm going to try to make up for that this weekend. Hope you enjoyed the music. I might be back later with a rant later on, watch for it.

A few muslims are terrorists, so let's burn a Quran!

Let's not.

Before I get started on what I know is going to be a long rant, take a look at these links-

http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68592

http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Burn-A-Koran-Day/134718123226530?v=wall

Yeah, I know the first one is a forum post that links to the second, but there are quite a few people there that are all for this. If I were not currently banned from that forum, I'd post a link to this if not just post the whole thing there. If anyone would like to do that on my behalf, I'd be pretty cool with it. I'd like to get some comments from those that support burning the Quran or any other book. You know, have like a discussion?

I'm very against this. I know not all Muslims are terrorists. The people behind what happened on 9/11/2001 were, but they only represent a relative few that are extremist fanatics. Nearly all Muslims I have encountered are pretty nice. Aside from that I am against book burnings in general. Nearly all books serve either a purpose of education or entertainment. I think it's completely asinine to to burn a book because you don't like it or don't agree with it. Burning a religious text carries a bit of added weight as that text hols a pretty special meaning to those who are members of the religion that is attached to that text. Burning a holy text is purely an act of hate and ignorance.

From the Facebook link -

On September 11th, 2010, from 6pm - 9pm, we will burn the Koran on the property of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, FL in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil!

Did I read that right? In remembrance? That alone is something I've got a pretty big issue with. There's a lot better things one can do in remembrance of those that died that day than commit a blatant act of hate. It's total disrespect! Why not have a big group prayer for those that died, their families they left behind and the soldiers still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan? I don't believe in praying as I am an atheist, but I do understand that most people that belong to one religion or another do. That's at least respectful. Or how about some big charity fund raiser for the families of the victims? Or send care packages to the soldiers? Or just do something positive and respectful?

But there's other problems I have. As I said, not all Muslims are terrorists. Islam is the second largest religion and accounts for 23% of the worlds population, about 1.57 billion people. At least that's what Wikipedia tells me. It's only a relative few, pretty much their equivalent to militant fundamentalist Christians, that do commit terrorist acts. It seems rather asinine to burn Qurans over a few when many of them are not bad people at all. It would be like burning KJV's because the members of Westboro Baptist Church are total fucking douchebags. In other words, committing a hateful act toward a large group is just ridiculous when only a few are the problem.

And about burning the Quran. It's a religious text. Just a book to anyone else, but to a Muslim it's pretty special. Burning it is only going to make the terrorist fanatics fell justified in their actions and at least annoy the rest. Not to mention make those doing the burning and anyone even remotely associated look bad. Great move there folks, you are doing America a real solid. If any reading this is planning on participating in burning Qurans, before you do, think about how you would feel if it was your holy text that someone was burning.

Another thought on this, where are they going to get the Qurans from? If they are going to acquire them legitimately, well that's a lot of sales of Qurans. The people publishing them and the bookstores I'm sure will appreciate your money. Heck it may even look like a lot of people just converted to Islam. And if they are acquired not so legitimately? Well isn't there something in the Bible that says "Thou shalt not steal"? Hmmm Exodus 20:15, Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9. And it's usually in the front of the Bible with the rest of the 10 Commandments. So if you are not purchasing your Quran before you burn it and you believe what the Bible says, you are going to Hell. Why not give that money to a charity? You know, do something positive with it? A Quran costs between $8 and $40. You could feed or clothe some people with that. Heck if a large enough group gave that each, they could probly put a child of one of the victims through college, if not a few. Just another thought.

Another thing to those that are planning on burning a Quran. Have you read it? If you are going to buy it, you might as well read it before tossing it in to the fire. If anything so you really know what you are burning and why you are burning it. You might learn something. I suggest you not burn it. Read it and keep it as a reference. It may come in handy in a theological debate with a Muslim. It's why I keep a Bible handy as well as having BibleGateway.com bookmarked. This quote from Sun Tzu's Art of War comes to mind.

So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.

Not that I consider Muslims or Christians to be enemies of mine, but I do get into debates with them, mostly the latter. Getting back to the point, burning any text without reading and understanding it is just ignorant.

In closing and to sum it up, anyone that is participating in a Quran burning is only exposing their hate, ignorance, disrespect and just being a total douchebag. I feel like for the most part I'm preaching to the choir here, but if I change someone's mind or cause them to think, well them my time wasn't completely wasted. At least I got it off my chest.

I really need to stop watching the news

But it was on in the break room at work last night. Let's take a look at the latest headlines I saw.


Neighbors Seek Answers After Boy, 8, Allegedly Shot Father, Another Man

Still No Sign of Missing Toddler Caylee Anthony in Spite of Massive Search Effort

Iowa Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Running Over Black Boy

Illinois Police Say 90-Year-Old Living With 3 Siblings' Bodies

What is going on with this world? Really?

Those were followed by this story -
Oregon City Elects America's First Transgender Mayor

At least there was some good news.

Today's "how to of the day" concernes me

In my iGoogle I have a "How To of the Day" feed. Usually I get some pretty cool things in there. Today's really spooked me.

9 Ways To Get By Living In Your Car.

I know things are getting bad, but advice on living in ones car? The related how to's are just as depressing.

Evangelist's compound raided in child abuse case

I just saw this on CNN

(CNN) -- Federal and state police raided an evangelist's compound in Arkansas late Saturday to investigate whether any children have been physically or sexually abused, officials said.


Arkansas State Police troopers monitor the situation at Tony Alamo Christian Ministries in Fouke, Arkansas.

The raid is part of a two-year investigation into a compound near Texarkana owned by Tony Alamo Christian Ministries near Texarkana, Arkansas, said Bill Sadler of the Arkansas State Police. About 100 agents were on the 10- to 15-acre site late Saturday and met with no resistance, he said.

Alamo, reached by phone in Los Angeles, California, denied any wrongdoing.

"It's a hoax," Alamo said. "They're just trying to make our church look evil ... by saying I'm a pornographer. Saying that I rape little children. ... I love children. I don't abuse them. Never have. Never will."

Asked why authorities were searching the property, Alamo compared himself to Christ.

"Why were they after Jesus?" he asked. "It's the same reason. Jesus is living within me."

It was not known how many children may live at the compound and whether Alamo would be arrested, Sadler said.

Federal and state agents were executing two search warrants, Sadler said late Saturday, and no arrest warrants had been issued.

"Children were interviewed and continue to be interviewed at this hour and likely will continue to be interviewed tomorrow," Sadler told CNN.

In addition to FBI agents and Arkansas state police, officials with the state Department of Human Services participated in the raid at the church property in the town of Fouke, about 12 miles from Texarkana.

Alamo, who turned 74 Saturday, is an evangelist who also has dabbled as a singer and entrepreneur. Critics regard his ministry as a cult. The group has faced lawsuits and government actions, and Alamo has been arrested several times, publications have reported over the years.

Alamo is well-known in Arkansas, said Lynn LaRowe, a reporter with the Texarkana Gazette.

"It's not very rare to come out of any baseball game to find Alamo literature on your car," LaRowe said. "Around here, he is an extremely controversial character."

Alamo denied the existence of a compound, saying there are just houses "for miles" around his church.

Loves children and wouldn't rape them, didn't Michael Jackson say the same thing? If I was a Christian, I would be rather sickened by him comparing himself to Christ. Since I'm not, I can only mock. I would not be surprised if this is yet another that has their congregation rally behind them.

Dropping of school choice causing problems in Pinellas

Good job Pinellas County, get rid of the best thing you had going.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Thousands of students started school Wednesday in Pinellas County, but not everyone went to class because some parents are saying the schools are too far away.

Last year when the Pinellas County School District dropped school choice many thought it would help students attend schools closer to their homes, but some parents are saying thing have only gotten worse.

Parent Heather Riggs says she's furious about the school her 9-year-old son, Justin, has been assigned to.

"The day before school they leave a message: 'we apologize there's no classes available for him in any of those schools,'" Riggs said.

Riggs recently moved into a new home in Largo and says she put in a request for her son to attend a school in their neighborhood, but instead the district assigned him to a school 14 miles away in St. Pete Beach.

"Well let's see, I'm a single mother, the gas prices, um I have a vehicle, and I can't afford the gas prices but what if I didn't have a vehicle," Riggs said.

More Information

• Education Resources
• E-mail TV Reporter Summer Smith

Riggs isn't the only frustrated parent. Terry Drekler says his son's school is more than 10 miles away from their home.

"Bus transportation isn't going to be ready for 10 days, so I'm going to have to drive him to school back and forth to school for 10 days so I'm not happy about that," Drexler said.

A spokeswoman for the school district says there simply isn't enough room for all the requests. She says this year only students entering kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade are guaranteed close to home schools. And former school choice students have been grandfathered in.

The school district is also dealing with the class size amendment rule, so students are being placed in the closest schools with seats available.

Twelfth grade student Jessica Piatt says this is not in her best interest either. She and dozens of others plan to fight until they get a change.

"I've been going to school with high academics so I can excel, " Piatt said. "So going to a "C" school is not going to help me."

The spokeswoman for the school district says they'll take an enrollment count after 10 school days to see where they stand. Then, if there's room the district can go back at look at requests.

Parents need a choice in where their children are educated not just send them where ever the county tells them. If anything, this is a strong argument for vouchers.

I think I'm going to convert to Christianity

So I can get away with things like what this guy did and have a whole congregation behind me. My girlfriend alerted me to this today, apparently he's a janitor where she works.

Bristol pastor, Christian radio station employee charged with indecent exposure

Published 07/30/2007 By Kacie Dingus Breeding

A Christian radio station employee and Bristol pastor has been charged with indecent exposure as well as DUI and violation of the open container law.

WZAP-AM 690's owner, Al Morris has issued a brief statement Monday afternoon saying, "As many of you are aware Tommy Tester, an employee of WZAP was recently arrested in Washington County, Tenn.

"The allegations, as reported by the news media, are serious and are in no way condoned or accepted by the ownership and management of WZAP.

"We do not know all the details and facts concerning the arrest; but for the time being Tommy has been relieved of his responsibilities at the station until such facts surrounding the case are determined.

"We pray that this matter can be quickly resolved.

In the meantime, we ask you to pray for Tommy and for WZAP."

The Johnson City Press reported Saturday that Thomas Dale Tester, 58, of 17426 Hobbs Road, reportedly faces charges of driving under the influence, indecent exposure and violation of the open container law.

Morris said Monday in a phone interview that Tester, known to listeners as "Tommy Tester," is also pastor of Gospel Baptist Church on Reedy Creek Road. "So far, they (members of the congregation) have rallied behind Tommy," Morris said.

Morris, who was on vacation when he first heard about the allegations and read the details in the Johnson City Press, added, "It's the biggest shock of my life."

Having since read the two police reports over and over again, Morris spoke of his desire to wait until all the facts are revealed in court before condemning Tester, "I know what the police report has told me and I know what Tommy has told me--Tommy has denied all of it."

Morris said his staff, the station's listeners and members of Tester's congregation were all shocked about Johnson City police officers' allegations.

When he talked to Tester, "He said they (Johnson City police) scared him--he was scared to death and didn't know what he'd said or what he'd admitted or anything else," Morris said.

According to the Johnson City Press article, Tester allegedly pulled up in a blue 2007 Toyota Camry and offered to give Johnson City police officers oral sex when they arrived at 308 S. Belmont Street to investigate a report of indecent exposure.

Tester, allegedly wearing a skirt, reportedly got out of his car at the Belmont Car Wash and urinated in a wash bay in public view with children present.

A search of Tester’s vehicle reportedly revealed a half-empty pint-sized bottle of vodka and an empty bottle of Oxycodone in the passenger floorboard. Morris said Tester had told him about the painkiller prescription, which he'd said was prescribed due to previous back surgeries.

According to reports, Tester also allegedly admitted to police that he had been drinking and failed all field sobriety tests.

Morris said he'd relieved Tester of his duties at the station pending the outcome of the case.

Tester was released on bond from the Washington County Detention Center Friday afternoon and is scheduled to appear in Sessions Court on Tuesday.

An updated article says he barely got a slap on the wrist. "24 hours in jail, 24 hours of litter pickup, probation for a year and an $800 fine." For drunk driving, drugs, urinating in public, exposing himself to a child and offering a cop oral sex. And his congregation rallied behind him.

Really, where do I sign up?

Soul icon Isaac Hayes dies at 65

US singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes has died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 65, police said.
Police were called to Mr Hayes' home after his wife found him unconscious. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1408 (1908 GMT).
Mr Hayes, a flamboyant, deep-voiced performer, won an Oscar for the 1971 hit Theme From Shaft.
He was perhaps better known to a younger audience as the voice of Chef from the hit cartoon show, South Park.
The cause of death was not immediately known. "Family members believe at
this point it is a medical condition that might have led to his death," a police spokesman said, adding Mr Hayes was being treated for "a number of medical issues".
Mr Hayes suffered a stroke in 2006.

He will be missed. :(

So long Mr. Hayes, you rocked our world.

My thoughts are with one of my co-workers

I came into work Wednesday night to find that one of my co-workers left early due to a death in the family. I found much later on that it was her son. And that he was murdered.

here's a link to the news article. Here's another.

The 16 year old was her son. He was in Orlando visiting his father. It keeps going through my mind - he was only 16.

I can even begin to understand what she's going through. Losing one's child is an awful thing to go through, at any age. And the way he went. I don't know what to think. I don't know what to say. :(

No More Bennigans

Shit! Now where am I going to eat on the holidays.

Bennigan's Closed After Parent Co. Files For Bankruptcy

Independently Owned Franchises Not Included In Bankruptcy Filings

POSTED: 8:57 am CDT July 29, 2008

UPDATED: 1:47 pm CDT July 29, 2008

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The parent company of Steak & Ale, Bennigan's Grill & Tavern, and Tavern restaurants has filed for bankruptcy while employees of Bennigan's report that company-owned franchises are closed nationwide as of Tuesday, less than two months after their parent company said it was not preparing to shut down.The restaurants, owned by Plano-based Metromedia Restaurant Group, filed for bankruptcy protection in the Eastern District of Texas under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code early Tuesday, NBC 5 reported.In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, a company seeks to liquidate its assets and shut down.

In the filing, the company indicated that it has up to 49 creditors. It said it would have no funds left after administrative expenses are paid to repay its creditors.Independently owned franchises are not included in the filings, and the filings do not include the Metromedia-owned Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse restaurants.

NBC 5 called a local Bennigan's Tuesday morning and was told, "We won't be opening anymore." A call to the company's headquarters yielded a "no comment" early Tuesday.Employees at a Bennigan's in Plano were greeted by a sign Tuesday on the front door reading "WE ARE CLOSED. THANK YOU." Next door, a Steak & Ale sat empty in a deserted parking lot but there was no sign posted.The manager of a Colorado Bennigan's told KMGH-TV he was spending the morning calling employees to tell them not to come in. He did not want to be identified by name."This sucks. I'm out of a job," he said.A waiter named Steve, who wouldn't give his last name, said the staff got a phone call Tuesday morning telling them the restaurant was closing.Neither Bennigan's nor the Metromedia Restaurant Group returned calls for comment.A lawyer listed in the filing, J. Michael Sutherland of Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal LLP, did not return a call.According to a recorded message on the law firm's answering system, not all stores using the Bennigan's and Steak & Ale trade names have filed for bankruptcy and some franchise locations were not included in the filing.The filing lists 38 separate entities that it classified as "debtors" but does not include a list of locations that are shutting down.All restaurants have been struggling as consumers cut back on discretionary spending to better deal with high gas prices, the weak housing market and inflation. The hardest hit have been casual dining chains and bar and grill restaurants, which charge higher prices than fast food and other quick-service chains.Bar and grill restaurants have also suffered from intense competition. Morningstar analyst John Owens said several chains expanded quickly, making it more difficult for customers to differentiate between them and forcing many companies to cut prices to lure diners."Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," Owens said.Meanwhile, commodity costs have soared, forcing chains to either raise menu prices or see profits plunge.Credit has also been tight, making it difficult for companies to restructure their debt.In June, Metromedia Restaurants said it was formulating a proposal to present to its lenders to restructure its debt, but said it was not preparing to file for bankruptcy.In the filing, the company indicated that it has up to 49 creditors and owes less than $50,000. It said it will have no funds left after administrative expenses are paid to repay its creditors.The news appeared to be a shock to most of the company's employees, but some may have had an inkling that the company was not doing well.Steve, the Bennigan's waiter in Plano, said he recently went from making $30 on a good lunch shift to only $10."Business has been slow," said Steve, who said he relies on tips. "I went from making a lot of money on a shift to making very little."Of the nearly 800 restaurants generating more than $800 million in annual sales, 20 restaurants are located in North Texas, according to Bennigan's Web site.Steak & Ale was founded in Plano in 1966. Bennigan's was established 10 years later in Atlanta.

True story - after we lost my uncle, my mom and I always went to either Bennigan's or TGI Friday's on the holidays. No sense in making a big holiday dinner for 2 people. In more seriousness, this puts a lot of people out of work. And the job market is tough as it is. This further enforces my view point that America is headed toward another great depression.

And in the news.....

String cheese is a dangerous weapon.

Suspected bomb turns out to be string cheese
Jul 22, 2:54 PM (ET)

CENTERVILLE, Utah (AP) - A piece of string cheese made to look like a bomb forced the temporary closure of a Centerville grocery store. Police were called to Dick's Market over the weekend for a report that a someone had left a device covered in duct tape near a dry ice cooler.

The store remained closed for two hours while bomb-sniffing dogs and a bomb technician investigated.

They eventually found the device was a piece of cheese.

Centerville police Lt. Paul Child said juveniles are suspected of planting the item in the store.

He says the closure caused thousands of dollars in losses to the store, including from milk, ice cream and other items that spoiled during the closure and had to be thrown out.

You would think the dog would have eaten the cheese. Of course how one mistakes cheese and duct tape for a bomb is beyond me. C-4 doesn't look like string cheese.

Angry man shoots lawn mower for not starting
Email this Story

Jul 25, 6:17 PM
(ET)

(AP)
In this photo provided by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's department, Keith Walendowski is shown....Full Image

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A Milwaukee man was accused of shooting his
lawn mower because it wouldn't start. Keith Walendowski, 56, was charged with
felony possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle and misdemeanor disorderly conduct while armed. According to the criminal complaint, Walendowski said he was angry because his Lawn Boy wouldn't start Wednesday morning. He told police quote, "I can do that, it's my lawn mower and my yard so I can shoot it if I want." A woman who lives at Walendowski's house reported the incident. She said he was intoxicated. Walendowski could face up to an $11,000 fine and six years and three months in prison if convicted. A call to Walendowski's home went unanswered Friday morning.

For that kind of money he could have gotten himself a really nice riding mower. But it was his mower, shouldn't he have the right to shoot it?