Archive for the ‘Rant’ Category
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30
Jan
2010
The “R” Word
Too much stigma is attached to people with intellectual disabilities; as humans, when our curiosities cannot be satisfied and our knowledge is lacking, we often categorise that which we do not understand. This ad certainly highlights this pathetic aspect of human nature.
I hope this ad can be broadcast to millions and millions of people around the world. When a Jewish woman, or an Italian man; a homosexual or an Indigenous person sees this ad, they will be faced with the pain of the racism or sexism or homophobia or xenophobia that they have faced. This ad shocks us because the terms “tar baby” and “Jew him down” are not part of your average advertising campaign. We don’t want to read that; most of us don’t even like the knowledge that these terms exist.
But the term “retard”?
Well, that (until now) has been accepted as a figure of speech that is common in everyday language. How could a mentally disabled person even know what a retard is, let alone have the ability to care?
The irony is, many intellectually disadvantaged people have a greater understanding of sympathy and empathy than those ‘normal’ people who feel they can look at them and think to themselves ”I am better”. They do understand the word ‘retard’; they know they are different.
These advertisements will scream to the world on their behalf.
Just take the word out of your vocabulary.
19
Jul
2009
One of those funky kind of days…
Been a weird day, woke up in a daze… but here are some updates:
I haven’t slept in my own bed for weeks… I’m pretty tired, drained, exhausted. It could have something to do with the fact that I’m WICKED tired!
When push comes to shove though, I truly have the greatest job ever and wouldn’t trade my life for ANYTHING!
We’ve got a handful of show dates coming up on the calandar, including a couple hometown shows, which is nice!
We also have a new photoshoot coming up in about a week. Should be a good one… so be on the look-out for new promo materials, new Myspace and website!
Lastly, check out this sweet action shot from a fan at a recent show… it’s certainly not a very flattering photo, but it’s definitely fun!
Throw up your rock-fist!
18
Jun
2009
I’ve been in a crazy funk…
…and have subsequently been lacking inspiration and motivation.
Going through some crappy non-sense. I’ll explain more soon.
BLEH!!!
19
May
2009
The key I tune my guitar to…
I get asked all the time: “Hey Slim, you get some really crazy voicings outta your guitar!! Are you using some weird tuning!? What key do you tune to?”
Well, my friends, the answer is simple:
I tune to the key of AWESOME!!
(wow, I’m not really that cocky, just bored…)
.
8
Apr
2009
31
Mar
2009
Passionate Take-Over…
Now, before you read on, please understand that I’m not suggesting that anyone kill anyone… nor am I suggesting that anyone should cause any sort of harm to another person…
I’m merely trying to show you a picture of what passion looks like.
As most of you know, “The Boondock Saints” is one of my all-time, guilty-pleasure movie. It’s laden with “F-bombs”, blood, guts, violence and even a pair of “stripper boob’s”… which is exactly why it’s definitely a GUILTY pleasure.
Anyway, the movie is essentially the story of two Irish brothers (Connor and Murphy McManus) who feel a “calling” from God to “…destroy all that is evil, so that which is good my flourish”… they proceed to kill the towns most evil men.
Now again, I’m not condoning this behavior, nor am I encouraging it.. but it does make me wonder: “Why do we, as Christians, judge other cultures and beliefs, condemning them in our own heads… yet allow the most evil men to walk around as if they are saints!?”
Matter of fact, why do you allow the men and women in charge of our churches to be some of the most “evil” people that we come in contact with!? (Please, understand that I’m speaking generally… I DO believe that there are GREAT Pastors and Ministry leaders in our midst!)
Take this quote, for what it’s worth from the movie:
CONNOR
(yelling over the
alarm)
Now, you will receive us.MURPHY
(yelling over the
alarm)
We do not ask for your poor or your
hungry.CONNOR
We do not want your tired and sick.MURPHY
It is your corrupt we claim.CONNOR
It is your evil, who will be sought
by us.MURPHY
With every breath we shall hunt them
down.CONNOR
Each day we will spill their blood
till it rains down from the skies.MURPHY
Do not kill, do not rape, do not
steal. These are principles which
every man of every faith can embrace.CONNOR
These are not polite suggestions.
They are codes of behavior and those
that ignore them will pay the dearest
cost.
(points to Yakavetta)MURPHY
There are varying degrees of evil.
We urge you lesser forms of filth
(pointing to
Yakavetta’s people)
Not to push the bounds and cross
over into true corruption… into
our domain.CONNOR
For if you do, there will come the
day when you look behind you and see
we three. And on that day you will
reap it.MURPHY
And we will send you to whatever God
you wish.
As always, they commence the execution with this family prayer:
” And shepherds we shall be. For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from thy hand that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be. E nomini patri, et Fili e spiritu sancti.”
ANYWAY… just something to chew on…
30
Mar
2009
I have way too many pet peeves…
I’m not entirely sure why I’m even sharing them with you… perhaps a fair warning…
Now this is not a complete list, I just didn’t want to seem like a drama queen, or diva as it were.
So here is short list of my pet peeves, in no particular order.
1. Idiot drivers
- Driving way too fast
- Blowing through Stop-signs
- BLINKERS!!! (They’re on there for a reson)
- You get the picture…
2. Getting phone calls.
I know, it sounds weird… but I hate it when my phone rings. I’m not a big “phone” guy. For a dude that talks as much as I do, I can’t stand to be on the phone.
3. The only thing worse than getting a phone call: voice mails.
Yep, I can’t stand those either
4. Ignorant people.
I just can’t handle them. Seriously… get a clue.
5. Egos.
“To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.” – Charles de Montesquieu
’nuff said.
6. People who are intolerant of other people’s beliefs/cultures/lifestyles.
I can understand people not really “understanding” why someone does this or that, but to tell them that they are wrong, or judge them: you’re WAY out of line!
Matthew 7:3-5 (New Living Translation)
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
7. People who are immature in the most inappropriate time.
Now, understand: I can be REALLY immature at times… as a matter of fact, I’m pretty immature MOST of the time. And there is NOTHING wrong with acting like an idiot, WHEN YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN AND CAN’T do it!
8. Getting interrupted.
I don’t care who you are: President Obama, the Pope, Bono, Bozo… whoever, I don’t care. Interrupt me and find out what happens, suckah!
9. Getting “whatever’d”.
People who end conversations, arguments or what-have-you with “whatever” are simply showing their intelligence, or lack thereof. Seriously, we’re all adults here… let’s be civil, and perhaps use bigger words than “whatever”… ESPECIALLY if you’re whiny!!
Which leads me to…
10. Whiny people.
Seriously… nobody likes a whiner… ESPECIALLY me… so don’t do it.
So, yeah… sorry for the randomness of this post… it just popped in my head.
29
Mar
2009
Want to see the GREATEST thing ever!?
Yeah, not even CLOSE to being great… as if I didn’t have enough to worry about, I now have a broken guitar to deal with. And by broken, I don’t mean “Oh, I’ve got a loose solder-point…” I mean, this joker is BROKEN!
So, if anyone wants to pitch in to get me this guitar, or even just pay for it out-right, that’d be super-sweet!
In the meantime, check out this short video with the damage:
