Oi! I'm posting this here, since most of the people who are friends on here, are from Mo. Val.

Since I, apparently, am insane and have nothing else to do between Riverside, Irvine and classes, I've started a local punk/indie music blog. It's called Word Attack! and will hopefully include information on upcoming shows in the area, local bands, Cd reviews, and really, anything else. Whenever I find a new band, or go to a show, I'll post something there. You're thinking, so what, right? She does that anyway.

Here's the thing:  I have a lot to learn about the music around here, and if people who know more than I do submit stuff, it can be (ideally, if I'm persistent. Which I will be) a way to get other people interested too. Therefore, it's submission based. You can submit anything you want, so long as it's not racist, sexist or homophobic. If anyone is interested, submit your shit to: wordattackfanzine@gmail.com. If you're in a band and have a show coming up, send info! If you know people (like, your best friend's cousin's half-brother twice removed) who are in bands, send info! Myspace links! Purevolume pages! What have you. If you just want to submit stuff, send it! Got a new Cd? Review it, man! Hell, I'll even post hate mail. If you think that I sound like a female Mr. Brett, and I should shut up already, let me know! I probably won't do anything about it in that case, but oh well.

So, anyway, pass the word along, please, please, please. I'd greatly appreciate it. I am going to post this later on my Myspace blog. Ideally, it would be awesome if I could get it to print, but unless I have more stuff, and it's not just me blabbing, it's just going to be a blog. But, it's better than nothing. It would be cool if this can somehow manage to work. 

Boompa's--in Moreno Valley, mind you--has shows.

And so does a new pizza joint over by Mission Grove, a coffee shop next door to it, and, of course, Coffee Depot by the Metrolink station.

There's also, apparently, some punk bands around town too.

Now, I've lived here for... going on, nine years now, and I had no fucking clue. Where the hell have I been?!

Then you should visit this site.

The band is an sort of pop-punky Anarcho band from Calgary, Canada that goes by the name of The Martyr Index. This is their new album that is up for download, but it is not the first time they've given their music away for free. If you poke around their site for a bit, their first one's up too (which is really, really good, by the way.) This band is extremely catchy, although, if you disagree with some of the politics, then you may have a hard time getting into them. That said, do check it out. If you're not sure if you want to download stuff, there's a link to their myspace page. If you do like what you hear, do as the band would suggest and share it.

There's nothing like a class to completely ruin your day. I was fine when I was in my African Music class, then I got to Spanish, the only subject I was ever truly good at it in high school.

I couldn't stand it. At all. But, it's not the subject that bothers me, this I know for sure. I love languages, and figuring out how they all work absolutely fascinates me.

It's not the TA either. She's quite possibly the nicest TA I've had all year.

It's the class. How it's set up.

I hate group work. I hate talking. Just give me the grammar, tell me what to do with it, and I'm good! We did dramas today in class, I was fine until I realized that I conjugated a verb incorrectly. And I was fine until I had to search for a spot to sit, and couldn't really find one. And even when we had to separate ourselves into groups for the bookwork. Afterwards, I sat there shaking slightly, and say next to nothing for the rest of the hour.

Is that productive? I think not. I need this class, if only for major requirements--which should be Anthropology by next fall. Booyah!--and not for my love of the language and culture. I need to succeed in this class. I don't need to freeze up every fucking day. I haven't had confidence in myself, well, since ever, but I think before I could hide and pretend some slight flicker of confidence was there; some sort of facade, at least. Something. Anything! And Everything.

Now, it's come undone and finally caught up to me. The light is really bright when your sunglasses come off.

I want this vinyl!

Sadly, I know it would be a wasted endeavor, because I don't have a record player or anything of the sort.  Nor do I have any extra cash--if I did, I'd be at the BR concert tonight. BUT, I love Jawbreaker more than most bands. And it's out of print, supposedly, although I wouldn't necessarily trust it considering the bidding's only going for $9.99. Plus it's a split with Jawbox. Can you really go wrong? I thought not!

Oh well. I'm supposed to go check out a job at Round Table Pizza later. After I go to the library. Ideally, I'd love to work at the library. I could do my homework, study, and read that Anthropology book I checked out from school. I figure if that's going to be my major, then I should probably read up on it a little bit. Makes sense to me!

Oh, how I've missed you Livejournal...

So... I haven't posted in a month. Well, that's because I've been having a dark month, I guess you can say.

It's been totally surreal. I've moved back home for reasons that I'm just not going to broadcast to the blogosphere (so there. Haha.). I've been taking the Metrolink to school and have made more friends from that than when I lived in Irvine and close proximity to campus. Ironic? Nah... but, good nonetheless.

Things have gotten better. I'm not totally happy, but at least I like school. Anthropology's going great, and history's always been a subject that I've enjoyed.

So... not much else to report here. I'm going to watch Monty Python. Later!

First post of the new year!!!!! Woooo!!! And it's a video!!! Viva la Riverboat Gamblers and X (but, be warned... the sound quality of this video is not the best--but, at least you get to see Mike show off his righteous dance moves!)



Well, here's to an awesome 2008!

... why do we always go to a movie? Why do we always have to have a place in mind to, well, go to?

I know it sounds crazy, but I have more fun when I'm just hanging out, walking around with no place in mind than sitting in a movie theater. Like, tonight for instance: we were walking around the mall, ate fries at Carl's Jr., drank coffee at Starbucks and we were just having the most fun being the bunch of goofballs and dorks that we are. If you go to a movie theater, you have to be quiet and not disrupt the movie for all the other people. I like being crazy, and unless it's Johnny Depp singing or a movie I really, really want to see, I'd rather not go. I'd also rather not go do something grandiose like ice skating. I just want to go and be spontaneous. Hell, I think I'd be happy walking around in a park.

Hanging out doesn't have to be structured...

I'm back in Mo. Val. Hooray!!! I feel kind of guilty though: I wasn't feeling all that well when I got to work this morning, and since I get there like an hour early anyway, I went in a little early to tell the manager that I don't feel well and asked to go home (oh. my. god. that is such a run-on.). I probably could have worked the shift, but... I'd be able to go home earlier! So I called my mom to come get me.

So, prepare Moreno Valley... I'm back and you're about to be turned upside-fucking-down!

But, all in all, it's nice to be home. No school to worry about and I can relax and be myself around here. Speaking of school, I didn't totally die, which is amazing! I managed to get a C+ in the writing portion of the Humanities Core class--which means I can go straight into Writing 39C. What now, bitches?!--and a B in the lecture. I also managed to pass History of Rock (although, how is a mystery to me. I never studied for that class, and literally guessed on half of the final) and got an A+ in University Studies. So, my GPA is a 2.92: the lowest it's ever been ever, but, at least I'm not on probation.

Life is good for the moment.

So, I was browsing the alternative rock forums on Amazon and I came across a thread that I thought was rather interesting.

It was a thread asking about the bands that people can't stand. Oh, the usual bands were mentioned: Fall Out Boy, Nickelback, even my beloved Green Day. While I try not to be an elitist myself--although, I'll admit it, I slip up--the fact that they were posting about it was somewhat annoying. I don't see the point. Music is subjective, and not everyone likes the same thing that you do. Heck, most of my friends don't really care. If it really bothers you, shut up and start your own band or turn off the god damn corporate radio. It's not that hard of a thing to do, and say what you want about the band, but Against Me! said it best: "We can control the medium." If you choose not to, then I don't think you can bitch about it...

... but that's a whole other post together.

What really struck me as irritating was this post, which was made in regards to Pearl Jam's censorship at the ATT Blue Room broadcast of some festival they did a while back:

"All this talk about Pearl Jam has gotten me listening to them again. I really love their music. Than being said, I find them, or maybe just Eddie, EXTREMELY annoying when they use the stage as an outlet for political criticism. In fact, I am irritated by any "celebrity" using thir spotlight for politickin'. Just shut up and play your music or act in your movies. Just because you are entertaining does not mean everyone values your opinions. Leave the political commentaries to the Hannity and Colmeses of the world and keep it out of your shows. Golfinger is another one. I used to really like their music (though I feel I have outgrown them since college). They are constantly raving about their being vegans and animal rights and God know what else. Shut up already. I don't care. Dance and play your guitar, monkey."

Does this strike anyone else as sad?

Now, I understand that music is mainly for entertainment value, but really Manu Chao said it best: the musicians have the microphone. They should say something. That's why they do. I don't think it's up to them to fix the world, but isn't it worth it to have some kid think about an issue and go to the polls and try to make this world somewhat better because of a song? Because of an album? Because of a musician? Or are we in such a state of apathy that we've become self-absorbed hedonists that will watch the world collapse first?How are you so god damned complacent?! How could you not be angry about the world the way it is now? I think that's what bothers me the most. I may not have the answers, but at least I want to try and find them.

Forget Los Angeles... Rome is burning once again. And apathy's fueling the fire.