McG's Fahrenheit 9/11 review

I finally got to see Fahrenheit 9/11 last night.

I thought the film was thought-provoking, entertaining and informative. The editing and inclusion of old TV shows interspersed between scenes reminded me a lot of Michael Moore's own TV show, TV Nation.

As for the content, the film shows some 9/11 footage I hadn't previously seen along with some behind-the-scenes action of troops in Iraq that gives you a real bird's eye view of what it's like to be in combat.

I found the movie to be highly funny at times. One of my favorite moments is when Moore shows a duo of Marines trying to recruit an African-American who aspires to be a musician. The Marines tell the kid that joining the service will help advance his musical career and bring his aspirations to life. They even use Shaggy as an example of how a Marine can go on to have a music career.

Another amusing moment is when Moore tries to get Congressmen and Senators to sign their kids up to go to war in Iraq. The bewildered look of one politician in response to Moore's recruiting effort is priceless.

As I was coming home from the movie, I saw my neighbor and we briefly talked about the film and he said, "I heard that's a democratic movie." I think the impression many people have about this film is that it's for democrats, liberals or leftists only. This is a film for humans, regardless of political affiliation.

While the first half of the film outlines many of Bush's responses to the 9/11 attack, its the second half of this movie that drives home the message of how the war in Iraq has destroyed so many lives. Moore interviews many soldiers who have witnessed the daily combat first hand including troops in Iraq as well as veterans who have returned home and are undergoing rehabilitation after losing limbs while serving. Moore also follows a mother who has a soldier serving in Iraq.

If anything, Moore's film allows viewers to see some of the human faces and hear some of the tragic and terrible stories of the many victims of the war.

And when you get down to the nitty-gritty of war (i.e., death and destruction), all politics seem to fall by the wayside, and all that is left is an insane and seemingly inexplicable war on Iraq.
Friday MP3s for your weekend

OK, so here are some of my recent favorite MP3s which should help make your weekend a rockin' one.

MP3: Soundhog - "Work it Out" - One of the best mash ups I've heard in a while. Combine Beyonce with Mogwai doing a classic Sabbath cover and this what you get. Way to go Soundhog.

MP3: Abstrackt Keal Agram Hell Mix - A full-length mix from the Gooom label. Check out the impressive track listing, then grab the cover art.

MP3: Floor - "Scimitar" - Dense heavy rock from Floor's 2002 debut album. I've heard a lot about this band, but am just getting into them. Wow! Was I knocked over by this song. Unfortunately, it's only an 80kbps MP3, but you'll get the idea. Then you may even order the record from No Idea Records, like I did.

MP3: The Spits - "Spit Me Out"
MP3: The Spits - "Don't Shoot" - Two tracks from this awesome band. Borderline retarded Ramones bop with twisted Devo-esque sensibilities. Haven't seen 'em live yet, but my friend Andy swears by 'em. And so should you.

MP3: Royal City - "Is This It" - Interesting rendering using would-be Americana licks and Prince Bonnie Billy-style melancholy. At least you can make out the lyrics a little better than the original. See if you can figure it out.
Hot Snakes new LP and tour forthcoming

Just two days ago I pulled out the two Hot Snakes albums and listened to them both, wondering what the band was up to.

By coincidence, the next day I got an e-mail saying the band is doing a limited tour, hitting the following cities: Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Brooklyn and New York City. Get the full tour date info at Swami Records.

Hot Snakes has a new LP, "Audit in Progress," which comes out October 5. It will be the first recording to feature new drummer, Mario Rubalcaba (Black Heart Procession, Thingy, 411). Former drummer Jason K now plays with Burning Brides, who just released a new album, "Leave No Ashes."

Related downloads:
MP3:Hot Snakes - "Who Died" (from "Suicide Invoice")
MP3:Drive Like Jehu - "Do You Compute (live) " (from 1994, Costa Mesa, Our House)
MP3:Burning Brides - "Arctic Snow" (from "Fall of the Plastic Empire")
A very random collection of things

Instead of watching TV, I like to find unusual things on the Internet.

Here are some of my latest finds.

Did you know there was a topless female streaker at this year's Wimbledon?
See the proof for yourself (NSFW).

Prepare yourself to look at ... The saddest picture in the world. Ever.

"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 25, 2004.
Bushisms: The president's accidental wit and wisdom

Bad Mags (NSFW) collects magazines from publishing's dark side including some of the sleaziest and strangest mags ever printed.

College Humor has a ton of great videos and pics of drunken students doing pranks, hooking up and whatever else it is that kids do these days.

This is the sad story of the Libertines' guitarist/singer Pete Doherty and his life which could end up becoming another example of rock and roll's oldest and deadly cliches.

I don't usually like music documentaries, but these upcoming films about Metallica and Brian Jonestown Massacre sound like they will be really good.

And finally, what are they thinking? BMG is rolling out a new three-tier pricing for CDs including a version of new release CD without a cover and only the basic information printed on the disc, much like a home-burned disc.

People don't burn CDs because they like barebones CD packaging. They burn CDs because downloading music is fun and fast and making your own CD equals instant gratification. BMG needs to focus on how to sell downloads to its customers. (...more)
(Thanks to largeheartedboy for this link).
Support your freedom to read

As early as tomorrow, the House is likely to vote on an amendment to the annual appropriations bill for the Justice Department that would forbid the government from using any money to use the USA PATRIOT ACT to search your library and book-buying records without probable cause of crime.

Last year, the House stunned the Ashcroft Justice Department by overwhelmingly voting for an amendment that would repeal "sneak and peek" provisions of the Patriot Act. Unfortunately, the congressional leadership killed the amendment before it became law.

Act Now! This week, the House can send another important message to the Bush Administration, which is pushing hard to have the Patriot Act made permanent.

Click here to read more about the freedom to read amendment and to send an email to your Member of Congress.




Happy Fourth of July from Jazz and Augie
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Pretty vacant

On October 31, 1998, the group Shellac performed at the Lounge Ax. Dressed as the Sex Pistols, the band performed an eight-song set of all Pistols covers. On vocals as Johnny Rotten was David Yow, whose impersonation was dead-on according to eyewitness accounts (...more). If you look hard enough, you can hear this show for yourself.

Jim Knipfel is ruining it for everybody

I just finished reading Jim Knipfel's book, "Ruining it for Everybody." I recommend this book for people who hate people. I'm talking about reclusive misanthropes and fanboys who think Bill Hicks is a truth-spewing God. People who embraced punk rock and hardcore, only to find themselves facing a mid-life crisis 20 years later. People who think life is pointless and who get annoyed by little things on a daily basis. Fans of Bukowski, Henry Miller and Celine will like what Knipfel has to say. Misery loves company.

Unhappy people will like this book.

For all of Knipfel's loathing (directed at others as well as inward), there is a fair amount of positive mental attitude as well as a recognition that every day life can have its beautiful moments. Knipfel also makes us realize that there are shitty people out there in the world too, but somehow, we put up with them and their shititudes. The same way people put up with people like me and you, and our shititudes.

I liked "Ruining it for Everybody," and I was glad to find that my local library has a copy of Knipfel's first book, "Slackjaw," waiting on the shelves for me to check out.

Knipfel currently has a weekly column in New York Press and his previous column Slackjaw is still available in all its nihlistic glory.
Middle-aged metalhead

Did anyone catch VH1's "100 Most Metal Moments" a few weeks ago? I sure did and loved every minute of it. That's because I'm a heavy metal fan. (...more)
This is quite the tenses

I am sitting next to someone who is cursing up a storm. It's always weird to be in a public place and someone is all riled up and mouthing off.

I didn't find too many interesting MP3s this morning, but this song by the Rogue Wave, who have an album coming out on Sub Pop, sounds pretty good.

MP3: Rogue Wave - "Endless Shovel" (from their forthcoming LP, "Out of the Shadow")

I read some interesting stories today:

Bush told he is playing into Bin Laden's hands - Interesting overseas analysis of the impact of Bush's war in Iraq.

Vice-President Hillary? - Drudge hasn't had many good scoops lately, although this would be interesting if it turned out to be true.

Drunken driving threshold lowered in Del. - I'm glad about this since I live in Delaware. Sometimes I'm driving to work as early as 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. and see drunk drivers on the road on a regular basis. Sometimes I feel like I'm tempting fate and that one day I'm going to get hit by a drunk driver.

Howard Stern taking 'radio jihad' to nine new markets - Howard is back on five of the six stations he was on before Clear Channel dropped his show. Stern announced at a press conference yesterday that he added four new stations that will air his show.

The best part of Stern's press conference was when he expressed his dissatisfaction with Bush's presidency directly to the press and urged people to vote for Kerry. I think a lot of celebrities share Stern's sentiments, but are too afraid to voice them.