History, all that’s left is the scraps. Or is it?

I recently was a vistor of one of America’s most historic sites, Washington DC. My girlfriend and I explored the many tourist attractions, the various memorials, and some of the museums that hold some of the most sacrid historical artifacts that the population of this world has endured and accomplished.

The energy in a few of these attractions was pretty deep for me. It was different than just a site with statues made of raw material and old beat up artifacts. There was something less tangible and more emotional. One of the sites that hit me was the Lincoln Memorial. I’ve visited DC before, but I believe I was too young to truely grasp the meaning behind what is there. As I read the walls of the Lincoln Memorial there was a thought within the back of my mind, sorrow. That someone so wise and diplomatic was taken by a coward assassin.

Throughout history there are examples in which we are deprived of the true heroes and it seems as though the “survival of the fittest” is a theory that does not apply to the human race. Because your definition of “fittest” could be totally different than mine. Our strong are taken by those who have nothing but weapons and violence to fight back. Our strong minded are taken away from us because there are some people who don’t know how to fight with the mind and they do the only thing they know how to do, eliminate that which threatens them.

The next touching moment was the Holocust museum. The Holocust has always provoked interest in me, it’s such an unusual event that truely tested the will power of a group of individuals. Hearing the stories of these people who endured some of the most torturous physical and mental scenerios in human history really proves how capable the human mind is over our physical life. These heroic people were beaten to the absolute limit mentally and physically. Yet, if you hear some of their stories they remained positive and fought through with everything they had. It really puts things into perspective, and this is one event that should never be forgotten.

I’m a strong believer in the mind. We are more than these shells we run around in. It does not take muscle to achieve goals, it is the dedication of something greater that will be more likely to help you arrive at the goal at which you seek. It is the strive to survive and accomplish that which you desire that should be treasured, not the actual physical accomplishment. And there is evidence to my theory because I can guarantee once you arrive at your destination, you will want another.

Be strong, be focused and always want more, the sky is truely the limit. Remember, although we learn from text books and our elders, there is still much to be learned about our existance. It’s the ride we enjoy, not the final destination.

Musical Melody, the progression..Or decline?

To start off, I’d like to point out someone who makes millions and is featured in so many artists albums/songs… T-Pain. I’d like to point out that this man is exponentially more wealthy than some of the artists that are constantly developing their talent, and who are consistantly devoted to innovating music. T-Pain’s sound is electronically generated, it would be akin to me getting paid millions of dollars to do arithmatic on a calculator. I’m not doing anything, the calculator is doing the work! He uses an effect called Auto-Tune.

What’s with this new auto-tune craze? Even the hardcore bands are starting to follow the path of electronica. I won’t lie, I do have a few bands that use the electronic sound, and I can get into it every once in awhile. But now it’s starting to become a cardboard cut out of previous releases by previous artists.

I love pure melody with pure instruments. I’m a strong supporter of acoustic sets, that’s where your talent will truely shine. Keep the flaws, they make you human and more people can connect. I want to hear your fingers slide down the frets, I want to hear your pick hit the strings!

I’m honestly a little worried about where our music industry is going, we enrich the cookie cutter artists and leave the rest in the dark. Don’t get me wrong, some of these artists that are mainstream are very talented, but their record labels force them to make the “radio sound” that everyone seems to eat up like a bag of big league chew.

Embrace local music, you know those guys who go to your local bar and play for a couple free drinks? They’re there to entertain you and share their talent. I know how it is to play to a crowd of about 15 half of which are too worried about squeezing the lime in their drink than to embrace the gift you’re trying to deliver. Do me a favor, when you do go somewhere with live music, tell them you appreciate what they give to you I promise you they’ll appreciate you for doing so.

Music is my sanctuary, which is why I’m asking you to support those locals who aren’t receiving that fat paycheck to deliver it to us.

I’d like to give a shout out to one of those locals who deliver music for the art of it, not for the paycheck. He had the band, they are going towards the “radio sound”, his paycheck was increasing exponentially by being in this band. His name is Fred Mascherino and he’s an X-guitarist for a band called Taking Back Sunday. Fred is from the Chester County, PA area. He still lives around here and he played a show at West Chester University last year that I went to and his music is truely mezmorizing. If you have time, check out his project:
“The Color Fred” all of his music is available on iTunes. He’s a perfect example of an individual who just wants to share his music, not get rich off a cookie cutter sound.

Thanks.

Have a band or know of another local that deserves a shout out? Let me know, post a comment on here. Use this space, let’s give some people who deserve a pat on the back some spotlight!

I would also love to know your opinion, please participate in this poll:

The Premiere of Philadelphia Union

 The Philadelphia Union

 Well, you couldn’t expect much more than what we saw tonight..

 

The newest addition to the MLS – The Philadelphia Union played against the Seattle Sounders. For all of us soccer fans in the Philadelphia region, we’ve been looking foward to the start of our new franchise for quite some time now.

The Union suffered a lot of penalties, and we had a man sent off in the first half. We have a young team, it will take some time to get a groove and chemistry between the players. Don’t count us out yet as a serious MLS Club! (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

One player that grabbed my attention and the announcers talked about him as well was Roger Torres (click the link for a great article on him by Simon Borg).  Torres had great ball handling and although the Union lacked much possession, he played a good game.

All in all, I’m excited to have a club. First game of the season loss (0-2) to Seattle, but it was nice to see Philly represent.

Virtual Comfort, the pen pal of the 21st century.

I decided to start a blog. I always liked writing them back when myspace was the bees knees, so I figured I would indulge.

It’s a comfort to be able to vent without immediate responses or mis-interpreted body language that can throw off your train of thought. It’s a way to give your thoughts to a completely neutral component that won’t judge you in your time of distress, or profound mindful state. It allows you to complete your train of thought(s) of anything, any topic, any length, any time.  And then later on, when you tighten your screws or finally are freed from the distress that consumed your mind for the moments that you emptied the contents of yourself onto this virtual page, you can reflect.  Or even allow others to reflect and respond to your virtual creation of human experience transformed into a text universe organized on a public website.

I will for-warn you, I am not chained by social networking etiquette. In my humble but necessary opinion, social networking should be free from the constraints of professionalism or any other ism for that matter. We are constantly forced to persue a society created normality that in my eyes destroy the most beautiful and unique feature we have the ability (or in today’s case choice) to express, our true selves.

 Agree with me? Then wipe that shit off your nose, smile when you want to, and feed me your conscious self, not your artifical self through virtual text on my screen. Break free of your chains, we are animals, we are instinctive and expressive animals with minds that are still not totally explored. Somewhere inside of us there is something that isn’t defined in a text book, show me yours.

One of my favorite lyrics ever is from a band called No Use for a Name, a pop punk band that refused to accept the paved path that we are taught throughout childhood.

“I know my purpose isn’t on a poster sign, I’m still part of the game that any number can play”

I’ll leave you with this last thought, let your body take the beating that life throws at you. Use your body as an operating tool to accumulate the necessary tools/gadgets to feed your habit. Use your shell, but let your inner working consciousness be free.

Thanks.