Reading Zinn

Here's a quote from Christopher Columbus that I found in the very beginnnig of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States:

They...brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned...They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features...They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane...They would make fine servants...With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.

Yeah, that guy deserves to have a holiday named after him.

Latest post from Maddox

I hate Cameron Diaz
Just when you thought MTV couldn't get more annoying, they give Cameron Diaz her own show called "Trippin'"

and

At one point in the show they go to a village made of shit (literally, cow shit) and Diaz calls it "beautiful" and "inspiring." Yeah, just not beautiful and inspiring enough to give up any of the three mansions you own, right you disingenuous bitch?

and

Of course, having a show in which the hosts prattle on and on about conservation and environmental causes, it makes you wonder how they're able to do it without sounding like giant hypocrites as they fly around on helicopters and jets, all while using enough electricity to power a small city. Simply put: they can't, but that doesn't stop them from trying.

The way they try to avoid this nagging ideological contradiction is by stating: "Trippin' has offset all the pollution created from energy use in making the show, to ensure that it would not contribute to global warming." They supposedly do this by buying "clean air credits." Great idea assholes, so instead of owning up to your shitty ideals and not polluting, you pay someone else not to pollute. Maybe we should all try to pay someone off every time we want to do something that might inconvenience us. I was going to go on a diet, but it's too hard, so I'm going to pay someone else to diet for me. I was going to do a show about community service, but doing the actual work was too inconvenient, so I'm going to pay someone to do it for me. Eat shit you elitist morons.

click here for entirity

Yeah, he's crude, but he makes some of the best and clearest points you'll find in cyber space. I doubt the celebrities feel absolutely nothing for the poor of the world but Maddox hits it right on the head with this article. Why do some of the richest people in the world act like they care so much about unfortunate people, and do almost nothing accept tell us about it? Publicity, of course, but you'd think they'd realize the contradiction and not take risks like this. The fact that they don't proves Maddox's point even more: they simply want more money.

Four hours of Vets

I had history class for four class periods today. We were in the library, we had some special guest speakers. They were war vets from WWII to Iraq. There was some really really interesting stuff.

It was almost cliche, the World War II/Korea vets came in uniform and the Vietnam and Iraq vets didn't. I dunno if that has any significance or what but thats usually the way you see it on T.V.

The two World War II vets who also fought in Korea told us a lot about the strategies of both sides and basically went through the Korean War step by step. ONE OF THEM PULLED A PRANK ON US WITH A GRENADE. He had a firecracker hidden on top of this dead grenade and pulled the safety pin out and it popped! That was so cool.

The other one was asked what he thought about us dropping the Bomb on Hiroshema and Nagasaki and he said he thought it was a good idea because if we hadn't done that we would have had to invade Japan and "that would have been a bloodbath". You have to remember, most people who have fought in war think like this "Better them dead than us", because the military designs people to follow orders without question and to hate your enemy.

The first Vietnam vet, a draftee, had some amazing looking pictures that he took while he was in the war. He, along with the other 'Nam vet and one of the Korea vets, has a Purple Heart. He had some pretty interesting stories, but I'd rather not go into too much detail. To make a long story short, this guy almost cried a few times; the first person he killed "couldn't have been more than fourteen". And he said he was in many firefights, "...like on 'Platoon'".

The second Vietnam vet was insane. He said pretty much all of the curse words except the F-bomb, which is a pretty modern one anyway. This guy was a volunteer, not a draftee, he actually WENT BACK to serve ANOTHER TOUR. But the weirdest thing was, he said, "...you should never go to war,", and when someone said that Vietnam has been called "unneccessary" he said "Well you could say that about any war,". I just could not figure this guy out.

The Iraq veteran didn't see very much combat, but he had a REALLY close encounter with a mortor and was in one small firefight. This really hot chick asked him what he thought about Bush! I couldn't believe that, but I could definately believe the guys answer. Of course, he thinks Bush has been doing "a pretty good job" and, "thats who we voted for", and when asked about the absence of the WMD's, he of course played the Liberation card, and didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal that the primary reason we went to war was false.

So, uh, it was pretty interesting. They didn't really cram hatred into our brains or try to explain why their wars were right. I enjoyed hearing them. If that was one final attempt by out teacher to Republicanize his students, he failed. Good riddance.

Weezer's "Make Believe"

Advice: Buy it. If you don't like it, don't get rid of it. Listen to it again in ten years and see what you think. Weezer's music is like wine, it gets better with age.

track 1. Beverley Hills
This song has gotten some negative comments about the "rap vocals". Some go on to say something stupid like "Weezer needs to go back to the old days!". They fail to realize that "Beverley Hills" sounds incredibly similar to "El Scorcho", which is from the old days.
This song rocks.

2. Perfect Situation
The intro sounds kinda like something from the Green Album, which wasn't their best, but I like it. The melodies are really pop, but there's some parts of the chord progression that you don't hear too often that prove that Weezer is better.
This song's pretty good.

3. This is Such a Pity
WHOA! Synthesizers, huge chorus. This is the most '80's sounding song Weezer has ever written, I think its my favorite.
This song Rocks.

4. Hold Me
Maaaan, the chorus just soars like an eagle. I'll admit the verse and bridge are kinda lame but the chorus totally makes up for it and really makes it all work.
This song's gonna be a classic.

5. Peace
The melodies are similar to what people have been calling "emo" these days, but this is better than anything that Matchbook Romance or Hawthorne Heights could come up with (probably because those bands suck).
This song's good.

6. We Are All On Drugs
This one's kind of like the angry song of the album. "Drugs" doesn't just mean drugs, it stands for any destructive habit that someone might have. Good message in the song.
This songs alright.

7. The Damage in Your Heart
The best way to describe the way this song is "Maladroit meets Pinkerton". Ah, you're liking the sound of this one already. The chord progression is classic Weez, and its got similar harmonies to their old stuff.
This song rocks.

8. Pardon Me
This is the first appologetic song they've release since "Butterfly". I think the only reason this one wasn't the single is because Incubus had a single with the same title. This song is totally pop, but its a good Weezer kind of pop, really likeable.
This song's good.

9. My Best Friend
Wow. This song sounds like it should be on the soundtrack for Sheck or something. Well, the chorus is pretty cool, but gosh the verses are cheesey. The verses sixties happy party rock and it just sounds lame with the good recording quality of today.
This song's alright.

10. The Other Way
Yesssssssssss. MAN, the chorus is awesome, its like something George Harrison would have written. This one's going down in Weez history too.
This song rocks.

11. Freak Me Out
I think this is somewhat of a concept song. Its just really chill, no distortion, and the melodies are sweet like sugar. This is another new gem.
This song rocks.

12. Haunt you Everyday
The verse sounds like something from Abbey Road (thats a Beatles album, stupid). Don't get me started on the chorus. This song could have been on Pinkerton, seriously. Its got piano and a lot of background guitar riffs.
This song ROCKS.

Seriously, all we need now is a new Primus album and a Rage Against the Machine reunion and the musical magic of the 90's will be born again.

More B.S. from History Class

Guess what we did today? Thats right, we watched a video.

This video is called "In Memoriam". What the fuck is memoriam? Anyway, its about September 11th. The video itself is not what got me today, it was my idiot teacher.

The video got to the part where the people who were trapped in the towers were jumping off, it showed some still pictures of some people in mid-fall.

Then Idiot says, "See why we're fighting the terrorists right now?".

We sent troops to Afghanistan to find Osama bin Laden, not fight him, my teacher was obviously referring to the War on Iraq, which is not that same thing as the infamous "War on Terror".

REMEMBER WHO ATTACKED THE WORLD TRADE CENTER? TWAS NOT SADDAM HUSSEIN!

Once again he has made an attempt to turn the class into a bunch of "WE'RE FIGHTIN' FOR FREEDOM, BITCH!" Bushie nationalist militants like himself.

Next time this happens, I promise to mention the error in his lesson. He said something about conducting a debate, that should be a hoot.

My Special Superintendant

Sultis to request contract change
By Heather L. Nicholson Baytown Sun
Published May 11, 2005

Goose Creek superintendent Barbara Sultis is asking the school board to halt her automatic $10,0000 salary raise each year for the next three years. Instead, Sultis wants the board to review her performance each year and then decide on a salary increase.

click here for the whole thing, here's the last part:

When Sultis replaced former superintendent Jerry Roy, who served for seven-plus years, his salary was $151,400. Sultis’ starting salary was $150,000.

Since her appointment, Sultis has received the scheduled $10,000 raise each year. She currently makes $180,000. When the board agreed to keep the salary increase process, they based their decision on superintendent salaries in school districts like Deer Park and Galena Park.

Also, after consulting with the Texas Association of School Boards, they found the average superintendent salary increase is 6 percent. On top of her current salary, Sultis is allotted $360 for high-speed Internet in her home, $1,500 for her cell phone and $10,800 for her car allowance.


Good to know that while my parents were taking money out of my bank account to buy my birthday present their tax dollars we're helping good 'ol Barbara Sultis save time on the net.

The Future of Organized Labor

By Ralph Nader from nader.org

With U.S. union membership down to only 8% of the workers in the corporate sector - the lowest in 90 years - a clash of unions is underway within the AFL-CIO over the future direction of organized labor. The unions challenging the leadership of President John J. Sweeney - the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Teamsters UNITE and the Laborers - want more of member unions dues to the AFL-CIO returned for expanded organizing and want more mergers among the 76 existing national unions.

click here for the rest

So basically the unions aren't united. They're like the Democratic Party in 1968 with that huge riot outside the convention and all the disturbances and arguments inside, leading to Nixon's victory.

We need another Cesar Chavez or Harry Bridges or something. Will it be me? Could it be me?

If there was any time that we really needed bands like Rage Against the Machine and the Dead Kennedys to still be together, its now.

I think The Drafted's gonna have to start doing some demonstrations at our concerts...

Dems booted from N.C. church over politics

By Paul Nowell / Associated Press

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - A pastor of a small Baptist church led an effort to kick out church members because they didn't support
President Bush, members said.

The nine members were voted out at a Monday meeting of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in this mountain town about 120 miles west of Charlotte. WLOS-TV in Asheville reported that 40 other members resigned in protest.

"It's all over politics," said Selma Morris, the church's treasurer. "We've never had a pastor like that before."

Pastor Chan Chandler had told the congregation before last year's presidential election that anyone who planned to vote for Democratic Sen.
John Kerry should either leave the church or repent, said Lorene Sutton, who said she and her husband were voted out of the church this week.

"He's the kind of pastor who says do it my way or get out," she said. "He's real negative all the time."

Morris said some church members left after Chandler made his ultimatum in October.
Chandler didn't return a message left by The Associated Press at his home Friday, and several calls to the church went unanswered. He told WLOS that the actions were not politically motivated.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek sharply criticized the pastor Friday, saying Chandler jeopardized his church's tax-free status by openly supporting a candidate for president.

"If these reports are true, this minister is not only acting extremely inappropriately by injecting partisan politics into a house of worship, but he is also potentially breaking the law," Meek said.

This topic is a first for Shattered Soapbox. Few know this, but I actually go to church every Sunday.

Yeah, this guy in North Carlina is obviously out of his mind. I'm fortunate enough to actually have a liberal pastor at my church, and there haven't even been mass decreases in church membership. He's really quite popular with the church, mind you, he's never actually said, "I'm a liberal" or "I voted for Kerry" or "Bush is wrong", but everyone knows he's a lefty (I think).

He doesn't talk politics in church, as he shoudln't, but I've sensed some liberal messages in his sermons (which should be expected from any Christian sermon because Jesus was the biggest liberal of all time). The most political I've heard him speak was in a youth meeting where we were discussing war (in the Bible, not Iraq). He said, "No one wins a war."

Weird, huh? Its true, there IS a Religious Left, its just not being very loud as a whole. As for the Religious Right, its getting kinda scary.

Local Music Biz Politics

This has been on my mind for weeks now and I vented some of it on my band's myspace but I'm gonna basically repeat myself right now because I'm feeling it even more now.

Aright, I'm trying to book a bunch of summer shows for The Drafted. I've called/emailed six venues already, ONE of them has given us a show. I emailed Fuel, Walter's on Washington, club Ink, and Wired saying we wanted shows for July 1st, 8th, and 22nd, and I attached an mp3 and gave a link to hear us. NONE OF THEM RESPONDED. I called Fuel, noone answered. I called Walter's, the number is temporarily disabled; I called club Ink, the person was "not taking any calls at this time".

See, there's all these little "production companies" floating around out there now who book shows for bands. The thing is, they only book shows with bands that all play essentially the same style. So they're no help for The Drafted; NO ONE sounds like us. There's so many of these "production companies" that those are the only people that venues seem to be listening to anymore. And there's so many freaking local bands now that its hard enough to book a show anyway.

To sum it up: The Drafted has never been much of a show-playing band, and now its even harder to book shows, so now we're really screwed.

Army Misses Its Recruiting Goal Again

This is what I'm talking about.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army missed its recruiting goal in April, marking the third consecutive monthly shortfall. Col. Joseph Curtin, a spokesman for Army headquarters in the Pentagon, said Monday that as of April 30 the Army was on a course to achieve only 85 percent of its target for the full year.

But he said big gains are expected this summer, and the Army is cautiously optimistic it will overcome the current recruiting deficit and achieve its full-year target of 80,000 enlistees.

Opinion surveys have indicated that a growing number of young people and their parents are wary of the Army's recruiting pitch at a time when soldiers in Iraq are killed and wounded virtually every day.

Spring is typically one of the more difficult periods of the year for military recruiters.
Curtin said he did not have specific figures for April but that it fell short of the monthly goal of 6,600. In March the Army had hoped to sign up 6,800 recruits but fell 32 percent short. That was slightly worse than in February when a goal of 7,050 was missed by 27 percent.

Prior to missing the February target the Army had not fallen short of a monthly goal since May 2000.

The Army National Guard and Army Reserve have had even more trouble recruiting. In March the Army Reserve signed up barely half the 1,600 soldiers it sought. It has not met a monthly goal since December 2004, and for the period from October 2004 through March it met only 82 percent of its goal.

Is the opposition becoming stronger? Lets hope it takes less time for the majority of America to oppose the war than it did during Vietnam.

History Class: Protesting is bad

So today in history we watched this video about the late 60's early 70's. It showed the main protest/demonstrations/riots of the time. At the end of the video it showed part of an interview with a man who fought for the North Vietnamese Army. He said they used to watch footage of the anti-war protestors demonstrating against the war, he said, "...they gave us strength."

So now a class of about 30 has been told that anti-war protests help our enemies stay strong.

This is really shitty.

I don't see how one man can represent an entire army when he says something like that, I mean, how does that guy know that EVERY SINGLE North Vietnamese soldier saw the clips and gave a damn, or even saw the clips at all. Maybe his platoon had special privelages, who knows? But that little clip is all any Bushy would need to make them feel good about being pro-war, and any undecided person could be easily swayed by it. The intent of that interview was to argue the point of view that protesting against what your government does is treason.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure thats propoganda, and even if its not, it still shouldn't be used as an educational device.

But again, what do I know?

May Day

Today is May Day in Europe, which is their Labor Day, which is a day of reflecting on the sacrifices that workers have to go through every day and respecting that the workers matter.

In the States, today is LOYALTY DAY.

Think about that.

Why on earth would our government invent our Loyalty Day on the same exact day as Europe's Labor Day? Well, Loyalty Day has only been around since 2003, I wonder if it had anything to do with...