Happy Mother's Day Music
Stop reading this immediately. Push your chair away from the computer. Get to the nearest independent music store (sorry Republicans, your darling Wal-Mart doesn't count).
Get the new Tool Album.
Give it to your mother before I do.
Vicarious
An impeccably written song, keeping in mind the corporate media will stop reporting this stuff when you stop buying it. Also listen to the tightness of the amazing asymmetrical rhythms, and the brilliant musical ideas in this song. If anyone has any question as to whether or not Danny Carey is one of the best drummers on the planet, this should lay those concerns to rest.
Listen:
Eye on the TV, 'cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be, like...
"Killed by the husband"
"Drowned by the ocean"
"Shot by his own son"
"She used a poison in his tea...kissed him goodbye."
That's my kind of story
It's no fun 'til someone dies.
Don't look at me like, I am a monster
Frown out your one face, but with the other
Stare like a junkie, into the TV
Stare like a zombie, while the mother holds her child
Watches him die.
Hands to the sky crying,
"Why, oh why?"
Cause I need to watch things die... from a distance
Vicariously I, live while the whole world dies
You all need it too, don't lie.
Why can't we just admit it?
Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
Neither the brave nor bold will write as the story's told
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
I need to watch things die... from a good, safe distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same, so...
Why can't we just admit it?
Blood like rain come down
Drown my grave and ground
Part vampire
Part warrior
Carnivore and Voyeur
Stare at the transmittal
Sing to the death rattle
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie...La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie...La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
Credulous at best, your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
Pull your head on out, your head please, and give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again
The universe is hostile, so impersonal
Devour to survive... so it is, so it's always been
We all feed on tragedy, it's like blood to a vampire
Vicariously I
Live while the whole world dies!
Much better you than I.
Right in Two
Obviously about war in the Middle East, one of my favorite songs on the new album.
Listen:
Angels on the sideline,
Puzzled and amused.
Why did Father give these humans free will?
Now they’re all confused.
Don’t these talking monkeys know that Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly old monkeys,
Where there’s one, you're bound to divide it...
Right in two.
Angels on the sideline,
Baffled and confused.
Father blessed them all with reason.
And this is what they choose?
Monkey, killing monkey, killing monkey over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs, they forge a blade.
And where there's one they're bound to divide it,
Right in two.
Right in two.
Monkey, killing monkey, killing monkey, over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs, they make a club, and beat their brother down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.
Repugnant is a creature who would, squander the ability to live to die to have a conscience
Brothers sleep inside here...
Cut it all right in two.
Cut it all right in two.
Cut it all right in two.
Cut it all right in two.
Fight, over the clouds, over the earth, over sky.
Fight, over life, over blood, over air and light.
Over love, over sun, over another.
Fight, all the time. Over what? Over Lies and...
Angels on the sideline again.
Been so long with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again.
Wondering when this tug of war will end.
Cut it all right in two.
Cut it all right in two.
Cut it all right in two.
Right in two.
Right in two.
posted by Jeremy at 1:00 PM
19 Comments:
great songs. I gotta go get that album. I don't think my mom would appreciate it...but I sure as hell do. lol.
Ellie I totally recommend it. Most of the ablum is really good. Typical tool stuff - a couple tracks are wasted recordings with odd, repetitious noises etc, otherwise its really good.
Republicans aren't the only ones who shop at WalMart.
"Tool".
How fitting.
I wasn't referring to their clientele, I was speaking about their political affiliation.
Take a look, and tell me Wal-Mart isn't a Republican store:
$377,460 to Democrats
$1,354,790 to Republicans
They violate labor laws, have terrible workforce equality, and almost zero social responsibility. Plus, they're importing manufacturing from China, while claiming to be an all-American company.
If that in a nutshell, isn't Republican business practice, I don't know what the hell is.
I'm willing to look at some of your research though?
In the meantime, read this.
I love Tool and I really like this new album... Nice choices to display my friend! Wow! Free will indeed!
Do you honestly think you know something the rest of us don't? Do you think you're the only one with access to the internet, the only one who gobbles up information from myriad sources?
"I'm willing to look at some of your research though?", "Read this." Do you think what you write amounts to anything other than the self-important ramblings of a fool who doesn't know what other people know? Get over yourself, for your own sake.
Not that it was immediately apparent you were NOT bashing WalMart shoppers...BUT-
WalMart's contributions to the Democratic party don't count because they donate more to the Republican party? Violation of labor laws is a tenant of the Republican party? WalMart offers absolutely NO benefit to people who tend to vote for Democrats? Who do you think you're kidding.
Put your tights away, Robin Hood. Your tired routine is a detriment to the progressive movement. And speaking of thought, your 8th-grade illogic disqualifies you from real intellectual discourse. More sadly, one-sided banter like yours turns people off to the Democratic party. The rest of us have a hell of a time fixing the damage you inflict.
ATTENTION REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES :
JEREMY DOES NOT SPEAK FOR US.
Anonymous - what the FUCK are you talking about? Honestly did you just wake up, start mashing the keyboard, and this is what came out?
Walmart has always been a Republican associated corporation, where is your proof that they are not? Of course they contribute *some* to the Democratic party, all major corporations contribute to both parties. It's who they contribute overwhelmingly to that will tell you where their political leanings are.
Secondly, I don't want to hear shit about your opinion of the progressive movement. If you're defending Wal-Mart, then I have a news flash for you - you're probably not part of anything that's progressive.
And yes, lower wages, anti-consumer and anti-employee is the Republican way for the most part. Has been for years. They're a big business party, and they always will be. Are there other large businesses that contribute to the Democratic party? Of course, but they tend to have environmentally conscious, or employee conscious, or societal conscious aspects to their business. Again, for the most part.
Finally I don't claim to speak for anyone but myself. Out of the 90% liberal majority that reads this site, writes comments, and sends me email, I've never once heard anyone say anything close to what you're claiming above - which again tells me you're nothing but a conservative who is probably just tucking away the baby oil after Bush's speech tonight.
However on the off chance you are a liberal or a conservative or a Democrat, I really don't care. Your opinion speaks much louder than any self-proclaimed affiliation, and with that said I'd still tell you to go fuck yourself.
I think anonymous is really hellpig in disguise as no one could be that stupid.
Dear Goddess in Heaven, you are a moron, aren't you?
You can't bash WalMart without simultaneously bashing the Democrats who receive their dollars and all of the Democratic voters who shop there out of necessity. You're being divisive. That was my point. Where in any of my words you find a defense of Walmart is lost on me. Then again, according to your lines of logic, I'm probably not part of anything that's progressive. Ok there, third-string debate team buddy! Sit quietly and take notes this time:
Phrases like "tend to", "for the most part", "always will be" and "probably" are big red flags that say "I'm a bullshitter!"
The people who read your blog are self-selecting. Of course your feedback is going to be overwhelmingly positive- well-meaning, eager young minds...lonely people looking for some sense of camaraderie, other bullshitters who know less than you do but like to speak just as loudly, whomever. Few people are generous enough with their time to offer you the education I am.
Let's play follow the logic:
A) "BECAUSE other people say this-and-that, therefore YOU MUST be a Conservative."
Hmph. I don't know if that even qualifies as logic. Too ridiculous to discuss. Moving on.
"IF I'm wrong about A, THEN I don't care."
Yikes. Again, too ridiculous...
Let's start with the givens -
I think Bill Clinton is a closet Republican, and I wouldn't vote for Hillary if you paid me. I threw a fit when John Kerry picked John Edwards as his running mate, because he voted for the war and voiced opposition to recognition of same-sex unions. I receive Organic Bytes every two weeks, read Grist every day and buy my produce from local growers. I'm a death penalty opponent and a proponent of the estate tax. My browser defaults to The New America Foundation homepage. Yay.
I am a progressive and your blog disgusts me. THAT is the only opinion I expressed, and yes, it does speak louder than my progressive affiliation.
My point was that Walmart makes overwhelming contributions to the GOP, period. Of course Democratic shoppers purchase items there...lots of people do, it's a giant conglomerate!
Phases like "for the most part" and "tend to" are intentionally not all inclusive, and instead of signaling flags, they indicate room for exception. As with any trend, you will have exceptions, and, mr/mrs spokesperson for solid debating tatics, making all inclusive statements that don't leave room for exception allows those arguing against your point to find loopholes in what you've said.
I'm glad you think the clintons are conservative, and that your read Grist and buy local. That's wonderful.
However, I think what's really divisive are people like you who come to blogs of other progressives and start arguments. That to me is totally counter productive.
If you're going to hit web sites of people whose ideology agrees with yours about 75% percent of the time just to be an ass, my earlier offer for you to fuck yourself stands.
Really, why bother? Go somewhere else? Or even better, I'd love to read your blog, go to your web site, and take a look at some of your own writing that you've published for others to see.
You've done nothing to make an ass of yourself, yet I'm still not exactly sure what your overall point is?
With that said, I am curious, what is your overall objection to this site, other than my bashing Wal-mart which really struck a nerve with you (you didn't defend Walmart per se, you defending associating them with the Republican party with makes you both politically naive and a fucking moron)?
What specific posts have a I written that make you feel like I don't represent the progressive movement, or infinitely more important, agree with your points of view?
No, "for the most part", "tend to" and "probably" allow windbags to say anything without having to say something. Politicians use these phrases to create loopholes for themselves in order to weasel out of owning up to reckless, intentionally misleading and unsubstantiated claims. You've confused the bullshitter tactic with the very proper tactic of making a concession. You engaged in the former.
My overall point is abundantly clear - you're just unwilling to acknowledge it. You are a liability to the progressive movement, and I want you to know that.
Progressivism is not simply a collection of opinions. It is a method of thinking and communicating. Progressive thought is careful, insightful, comprehensive and nuanced. Your blog is Hannity and Colmes, Limbaugh, Coulter and Malkin, but with a different object of hate, and you're not nearly as bright or talented. You self-righteously and belligerently parrot headlines and borrowed opines, you mislead and misrepresent the opposing argument, and if all else fails, you dismiss dissent as "probably" motivated by this-or-that. How presumptuous. Paternalistic. Regressive. You're black-and-white, right vs. wrong, your way or the highway, and you'd rather dissemble than admit you're wrong. MediaMatters would have a field day on this site.
WalMart = Republican, as if the conflation is meaningful or productive in any way.
A tongue-in-cheek propaganda piece with the words "Patriots don't need privacy. Support the Patriot Act", which is clearly intended to misrepresent the intention of the Patriot Act supporters, many of whom are our darling Democrats.
Your words:
"Bush supporters, social conservatives and many Republicans detest science, largely because it conflicts with their Utopian goals of bringing us back to the mid 1800s as a society, where we can churn our butter, keep women's [sic] goddamn legs and mouths shut, and ride horses to church with Adam and Eve." Idiotic. Sensational.
Your entire bulleted "Conservative Agenda", whose "Liberal" counterpart reads something like "Ensure all teen age girls have sex and easy access to abortion-on-demand; Make homosexuals out of men; Teach pornography in school" Also, you used the word "minorities" in there, which betrays a lack of true appreciation for issues of equality. That's a white man power word.
and later: "Their answer to the value of human society is not to educate and empower, it's to shove feeding tubes down the throats of incoherent, brain damaged vegetables". I mean, honestly. Are you trying to be funny? This kind of rambling is fine if you want to make your readers stupid, if you want to indoctrinate them. That is not what progressives do.
"Conservatives therefore have 2 choices. Start adopting liberal philosophy...OR...stop saying you care about children and mothers. You have to choose one, you cannot choose both." That's George Bush's "you're either with us, or you're against us." How repellant.
I've shared enough of my writing with you. I don't write in a blog because I find the forum tedious, redundant, wholly unnecessary and unavoidably conducive to ridiculous banter that should never find its way to public viewing. I stumbled here because I have a friend who for some odd reason doesn't yet recognize that you're a moron. And now that I've given this tawdry little hobby of yours far more time than it's worth, I'm leaving. (And I won't let the door hit me on the way out. Save yourself the insult.)
WOW!
daros you should get that person to be a guest speaker!!!
Nice rant anonymous. I’d say something like, “sit back and watch as a 3rd string debate team member verbally kicks your ass” but I won’t resort back to the level at which you started the debate, so allow me to take sections of what you’re saying and intelligently clue you in on how ridiculous and needlessly argumentative you sound.
Needless to say I think I’ve come to the conclusion that you have completely misunderstood me, this blog, its purpose, and the angle/niche it takes within the progressive community. *cracks knuckles* here we go:
1). No, "for the most part", "tend to" and "probably" allow windbags to say anything without having to say something. Politicians use these phrases to create loopholes for themselves in order to weasel out of owning up to reckless, intentionally misleading and unsubstantiated claims. You've confused the bullshitter tactic with the very proper tactic of making a concession. You engaged in the former.
Again, this is a matter of opinion, but you’re completely missing the point here. Those phrases allow for exceptions to the rule. If I were to say, “all Republicans are anti-choice,” before making a successive point about why that’s a bad thing, my successive point would be ignored as someone who defends Republicans might say, “no, the two Republicans from your home state of Maine are pro-choice.” I have learned all too often, that all-encompassing statements will come back to haunt you as those who don’t want to debate the topic at hand will pick apart blanket statements, so not only will I not avoid those words in the future, I am more careful than ever to make sure I use them.
Furthermore, not only are you mistaken, you have contradicted yourself. On the one hand you are incredibly upset that I used qualifiers such as “most” or “tend to,” yet on the other hand you said this:
2). You're black-and-white, right vs. wrong, your way or the highway
So, you’re saying that I’m leaving room for too much nuance and exception, yet almost immediately after you criticized me for being too black/white, right/wrong. Perhaps you should make up your mind before spewing bullshit on one’s web site, but that’s a choice I leave for you to make (see, as a progressive, I’m into things like choice).
3). A tongue-in-cheek propaganda piece with the words "Patriots don't need privacy. Support the Patriot Act", which is clearly intended to misrepresent the intention of the Patriot Act supporters, many of whom are our darling Democrats.
What I think you don’t understand about progressive web sites and blogs is that myself and other small blogs tend to use a lot of humor and more importantly, sarcasm. Almost all of the graphics on this blog and in other parts of the site elicit some kind of humor, irony, thus making the image itself a punch line. I’m not sure if you were able to get the joke and I’m embarrassed for you that I have to explain it, but the image itself pokes fun at so-called conservative patriots who are enabling and supporting the NSA wiretapping program (do a google search on FISA). It’s taking their rhetoric and their attitude about Constitutionally guaranteed privacy, and it’s poking fun at it. It’s not slamming the Patriot Act (some of which is very vital), it’s making a point about those who support the unconstitutional provisions of the act. If that offends you, I think you need to move on to a site the doesn’t use humor and/or sarcasm to subtly make fun of conservatives.
And absolutely, that includes Democrats. I think the Democrats who vote for the act, who support Bush’s Supreme and Federal Court nominees, etc, need to be called on their bullshit. I am a registered Democrat but almost never identify myself as such, and you’ve just read the reason for that. I’m disgusted with a lot of the Democratic party right now (see: one Joe Lieberman, fellow from CT).
So again, if making fun of the conservatives who support those provisions of the Patriot Act is upsetting, I’ve got no answers for you my friend.
4). "Their answer to the value of human society is not to educate and empower, it's to shove feeding tubes down the throats of incoherent, brain damaged vegetables". I mean, honestly. Are you trying to be funny? This kind of rambling is fine if you want to make your readers stupid, if you want to indoctrinate them. That is not what progressives do.
YES! And, we also would have accepted, “sarcastic, bitter, dark humor,” etc. A lot of what I write is biting, and it’s very critical. If you minimize this comment window open a new browser and click here, you’ll go to the main part of the site (the blog is not the whole site). Look at the name up above. The name of the site is called “Rage Against the Right.” This means a lot of what I write is going to be biting, angry, and backed up with a shitload of information. If I wanted to create a site tailored more to what you’re looking for, I’d have titled it “nuances of the progressive movement that may or may not be critical of right wing politics.” That’s just not the niche I’ve decided to carve for this site, and for that, you do have my apologies.
However, if the Terri Schaivo fiasco didn’t bother you – the fact that congress called a midnight session to vote on one particular individuals right to die, bypassing the judicial system, and drawing president Bush to Washington, INTERRUPTING HIS VACATION (when he wouldn’t interrupt it for the Asian Tsunami or for Katrina) – if all of that didn’t leave a bad taste in your mouth to the point where you can’t throw it in someone’s face now and again, then this site is clearly not for you.
5)."Bush supporters, social conservatives and many Republicans detest science, largely because it conflicts with their Utopian goals of bringing us back to the mid 1800s as a society, where we can churn our butter, keep women's [sic] goddamn legs and mouths shut, and ride horses to church with Adam and Eve." Idiotic. Sensational.
Again, a statement made in the name of sarcasm and humor. I refer you to what I said above. This site doesn’t always read like the Wall Street Journal – it’s not 100% humorless (or not without attempt at humor at least), so please, try to relax and enjoy. Otherwise, surf on to much more subdued, more solemn type of political talk. I would also suggest that if you’re tied into the liberal movement as much as you say you are, I would spent more of your energy battling with Republicans than I would cracking down on people poking fun of conservatives, but again, that’s just my twisted opinion.
6). Also, you used the word "minorities" in there, which betrays a lack of true appreciation for issues of equality. That's a white man power word.
I did use the word minorities, which I bet has occurred twice in the year or so since I’ve been writing about this stuff. I don’t use it often. Rather, I use “people of color,” or “women,” etc, to be more specific and with more progressive terminology. Most people aren’t offended by the “minority” however I understand the value of being a bit more sociologically correct.
I realize you don’t know my background – but I do donate money and free time to equal rights campaigns, have knocked on people’s doors, marched on Washington for the first time in 10th grade, have a father whose entire consulting firm is based on equality in the workplace, and have given 3 different newspaper interviews regarding my family’s structure and the struggle for equality. I need not receive any lectures from you on the topic my friend. I’ve been immersed in it since high school, so spare me your preaching on the subject.
Honestly, do you leave these types of message on blogs much larger than mine, who talk about the same subject matter with the same opinions, using humor and sarcasm as a guide? Take a look at the links on the right hand side, or just click on the names of the people who post here, and read their hard work, and tell them what you think. If you’re trying to change the progressive movement in the blog realm, you’ve got a lot of other people to be pissed off at.
And, with that said, I will give you my opinion on what you’ve done here. The major criticism of the Democratic party and of Progressives is that we can’t get our shit together. We’re too moderate, don’t stick up for what we believe in, and let Republicans push us around, claim the flag, the country, and the upper hand as theirs, and it’s been happening for way, way too long.
This site seeks to change that attitude, and I think for the most part, it does a decent job. While the cornerstone of liberal principles includes free will, questioning authority, and having nuanced debate, it is also our downfall as liberals tend to not be sheep and disagree on some things.
The different between you and other liberals who disagree with me and other bloggers is that the discourse remains in tact. When liberals disagree, with each other, they do so knowing they fight is a long one, and they are still on the same team at the end of the day.
You have done the opposite. You have been the fly in the ointment, the spike in the tire, that has been a distraction. It is people like you that are increasing the stereotype of progressives not being cohesive and not moving together in some sort of organized direction. That is a shame, and it is an incredibly poor reflection on you and what you stand for politically. I’d rather have you on the ‘other side’ of the political fence, because if conservatives were to drop by and read this, they’d be laughing. In 14 months since I’ve had this site, you have actually made more of an ass of yourself than any conservative who has ever commented here because instead of proving any valuable points, your knee-jerk reaction has only announced yourself as completely misunderstanding most liberal blogs, if not this site in particular.
Therefore, instead of you cleaning up after people like me, it is I, following you with the mop, and shaking my head. How sad.
Finally you said this:
7).. I don't write in a blog because I find the forum tedious, redundant, wholly unnecessary and unavoidably conducive to ridiculous banter that should never find its way to public viewing.
Then really, get the fuck off this site, and go read Slate or Salon all day…actually wait, those site use humor from time to time in order to illustrate a point and give social criticism…in that case just read Al Fran…I mean, Air Amer…actually why don’t you turn your computer off and go grow some organic tomatoes for a while? There’s nothing funny about that.
I was going to post something but the whole Walmart dialogue just blew me away.
Tool - ya I'm going to check it out.
you guys should keep going back and forth and everyone else should appoint a winner...you could do it every week and call it something cool like the debate off or something...hellpig is up next...and then voich!
for my "debate off" (btw very creative koerber) im submitting we debate gas grills vs charcoal. i'm taking charcoal.sucker.
I don't know, the outer Washington Ave area grills some fine steak from time to time on their giant gas setup ;-)
These lyrics are chilling.
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