X is…

My wife gets together with her childhood friend every few years. I suppose if only to create a good measuring stick of just how far separated they have become.

I suppose there was a time 20+ years ago that they were in the same spot in life. Poor relationshipos and ties to close too Christianity to allow them to stand up for themselves in a realistic and rational way. Then one of them met me and was allowed to be herself, express opinions, and discover a world away from guilt.

As they sat down to eat lunch, my wife’s friend discussed how she would never let her children become friends with anybody who does not accept her god. While my wife and I encourage our children to meet as many different people as possible. To explore the world and its options.

Her children have become separated from her so much. My wife has too.

I doubt some will ever learn their lessons. I suppose some will always be restrictive.

Just another reason to enjoy freedom of thought.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Anybody who may stumble across this blog may have noticed that I’ve been playing with themes lately.

I got tired of yellow.  Likely, as well, I get bored of colors easy and I really need something that I can change on occasion.  I know this is likely not good form.  People want to know what the site will look like every time they navigate to it, but sometimes we do what we do.

I had a theme that I liked, but it made my stats program stop working and I was too lazy to mess with trying to figure out why.  I went through a bunch more themes and tried some.

I think this one is good.  I’ll play with the header some more.  I sloppily erased the design that was on it.  Maybe I’ll add some x’s or put an equation on it instead.  Won’t that be neat?

I also like that I can change the photo at the top right whenever I like rather quickly.  The current one is what is actually on my arm.  I use the infinity, if you ever wondered, as a representation that we are all finite pieces of an infinite amount of options.  We are all meteorites pummeling this universe.

When people ask, I tell them I’m a math geek.

Popularity: 25% [?]

As I pointed out before, I’m a huge lover of music.  Rock specifically, and I love progressive rock.

One of the best sites for finding progressive rock is progarchives.  While I take their reviews with a grain of salt, it is a great site for finding bands and determining what they style is and whether or not a band is worth checking out.

As I was doing some reading the other day, the progarchives boards had this discussion.  The title is theism vs. atheism in prog.  Well of course that caught my eye, but why stick to prog or even religion?

Does anybody care what anybody has to say?  Does most of the world even know what the song is about and does it effect their opinion of the song, artist, or in their own life at all?

Popular opinion in the seven pages was that religion or spirituality did not matter as long as it wasn’t too much or too preachy.  Fine, and somewhat agreed.

I recall a conversation I had a few years back with a Libertarian friend of mine who is basically willing to give up social rights and privileges for money.  I would ask him why he listens to much of the liberal rock that is out there in the world.  Rage, System, Disturbed, and many more.  These bands write songs that do not support the politics nor the president that he supports.  He told me that he didn’t care what people sang about as long as the music rocked.  OK.  I don’t agree.

The lyrics of music are the poetry of today.  To me they define the music and can truly ruin a song if not in line with my way of thinking.  I look for and support bands that I can get into due to what they are saying.  Sound is not everything.

I know that Rage Against the Machine was discussing their political views several years back and were disappointed because the kids just didn’t get their message.  The music rocked, the kids got into it, and they completely missed the point.

Sometimes bands give ambiguous messages or their message just isn’t very clear.  Or maybe we define the message to suit our own needs.  We’re far less interested in what the band is saying and far more interested in how it fits what we want and desire from the music we like.

The band Chevelle was labeled a Christian band after their first album.  I’m not sure how they felt about it and I know it was only because their debut was on a label famous for supporting Christian acts.  I personally don’t see them as a Christian band, but I could be missing something.

Thoughts?  Do lyrics make the song?  Do we tolerate lyrics that don’t quite align with our attitudes because the music is good?

Are you the type of person who only listens to The Girls Got Rhythm and She Rides to avoid having to think too much?

Maybe you could care less.

Honestly, I may like a band until the band says something in the media or writes a song that I simply cannot listen to.  Once a band writes a song that disappoints me lyrically, I often cannot listen anymore.

Sometimes…. the song remains the same.

Popularity: 32% [?]

..Every night while she was praying… over my head, over my head, I hear music oh lord.

That King’s X song was the beginning of an awakening for me of music.

Music is a huge part of my daily life. It’s about the only thing that gives me peace and as I saw Ordinary Girl play this little game, I thought that was a great idea. Then The Exterminator decided to make a mockery of it, but it was still entertaining and I expect nothing less. Phillychief decided to jump in with a little more my style.

Of course I’m weeks behind because I don’t really expect anybody to know my music nor care to, but for my own entertainment’s sake I’ll shuffle.

So here it is. Skipping, of course, all the post rock and post metal in my iPod since there really isn’t any lyrics to such tunes. Skipping, as well, any songs in which the first line is the title.

Starting with a scorcher from the mid-90’s.

1. Dying felt so god damned good today
2. Stay with me a while, rise above the vile
3. How do you preach the word if you don’t know how to read
4. Well I don’t know why I came here tonight
5. You and me are the disease and the germs are spreading
6. Yeah, the rain came independence day OG
   
7. Penetrate, penetrate all the simple minds
8. If this is a dream I’m happy you’re having it with me
9. Moon hangs around, A blade over my head
10. It is not a good if you’re not looking good
11. I hate you and you hate me I cannot look at you and see
12. Listen to the tales and romanticize
13. I don’t know whose side I’m on
14. Amplified on fire, strapped to take you higher
15. You won’t admit it, but it’s true- I’m happy without you
16. Wake up son of my mine, momma got something to tell you
17. So tell me, when you took the practice Scholastic Aptitude Test
18. I’ve sewn my seeds with a metric grosse
19. They took the drugs and left you stranded down in Mexico
20. Free at last I’m the past
21. Found myself a way to rid myself clean of pain
22. Overhead the albatross hangs motionless upon the air OG
23. After defying the grip of the hangman’s noose
24. Chaos, it’s just the beginning
25. Yesterday when I was just a boy

Popularity: 28% [?]

Three students were suspended in Minnesota for not standing during the pledge of allegiance.

According to the school district policy, students must stand, but they do not have to recite the pledge.

Now the principal of the school is reviewing the policy after, according to FOX news, she found out that it may be unconstitutional. Gee whiz, it might be?

Now, this is a junior high, so chances are good that the original three suspended didn’t do it for any good reason. One claimed she didn’t hear the call. The others may have been lazy. No matter.

I always have had issues with the pledge anyway. Words forced down our children’s throat without explanation as to what they are saying, why they are saying it, and what it all means. We have passed legislation and required them to pledge to a symbol why? I know my children both practiced and practiced memorizing the words when they were in first grade because their teacher told them they had to know it.

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Popularity: 34% [?]