CD Review: OK Computer

Band: Radiohead Album: Ok Computer Release Year: 1997

Grade: 10 out of 10

Comment:
Doing this review a mere 11 years after the release of the album, I feel like what
I say won't do complete justice and that is fine. For starters, OK Computer is
synonymous with excellence. Staying true to the Britpop of the 1990s, but at the same time transcending the alternative rock genre, Thom Yorke and crew lyrically
and instrumentally ingeniously assures us they are one of the greatest bands of all time. Favorites from the album, at least among the casual listener, are "Karma Police", "Paranoid Android" and "No Suprises", but each and every song is an amazing listen. One of the best transitions from gloom to intensity occurs when "Exit Music..." ends and "Let Down" starts.
And how timely to do this review with "Electioneering" all around us? The band's
distrust of globalization and technology is exemplified in this song and more.
Overall, it's hard to argue that Ok Computer is anything less than legendary.

Activist Spotlight: David Dellinger

Background: In 1915, David Dellinger was born in none other than.... Wakefield, Massachusetts! He got his first taste at politics, while studying Economics at Yale University.  He then moved to Maine and worked in a factory (he studied economics and yet became a factory worker, this sounds strange even to me lol).  Around this time Dellinger became a Radical Pacifist.  Fast forward a couple of years and we find our hero in some deep trouble; being arrested (this was not the first time, he had just served a year) for refusing the draft to join the army in World War II, spending two more years in a cage. In 1945, this pacifist created the left wing magazine, Direct Action, prominently criticizing the use of  atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Jump to 1967, Vietnam is in flames and David Dellinger is one of the main forces in the war's opposition, organizing the famous march on the Pentagon that same year.  1968 brought Dellinger his greatest fame or infamy for that matter when he, along with six other radicals, was charged with planning to incite a riot at the Democratic National Convention.  The boys became known as the Chicago 7; Dellinger and others were found guilty (not of conspiracy but for crossing state lines) and were ordered to serve five years in the  slammer along with a nice, little fine of $5,000, however all of the radicals were acquitted of these charges.  The peaceful protester committed the rest of his life to activism, as he always had.  Well, into his eighties the man could be seen marching in protests.  Sadly, the world lost David Dellinger on May 25, 2004.  He was eighty-eight years old. 

Accomplishments: Yale graduate, Liberation editor for over twenty years , Protest on Pentagon organizer, and countless others.

Notable Works: Revolutionary Nonviolence: Essays by Dave Dellinger (1970), From Yale to Jail: The Life Story of a Moral Dissenter (1993), Dellinger's autobiography, "Vietnam Revisited: Covert Action to Invasion to Reconstruction" (1986), and several others.

Influences: Gandhi

Influenced: The New Left (which he was also part of) in the 1960s, Noam Chomsky, Martin Luther King  Jr., Me, and several others. "Before reading [his autobiography], I knew and greatly admired Dave Dellinger. Or so I thought. After reading his remarkable story, my admiration changed to something more like awe. There can be few people in the world who have crafted their lives into something truly inspiring. This autobiography introduces us to one of them- Noam Chomsky.

Zack Interviews Noam Part II

Zack interviews Noam Part I

It's funny how this completely contradicts the article on NAFTA we read about today in Business.

Songs of the Week

00s- Arcade Fire- No Cars Go (2007)

90s- Bonnie Prince Billy- I See a Darkness (1999) 

80s-  Scratch Acid- Monsters (1984)

70s- Alice Cooper- Hello, Hooray (1973)

60s- The Shaggs- You're Something Special to Me (1969?)


50s- Bobby Darin- Mack the Knife (1959)

War Confessions

These activists are the most influential members of the anti-war movement. 

Ron Paul Endorses Baldwin

Pensacola's Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party presidential nominee, has picked up his biggest endorsement yet.

Former Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Ron Paul announced his support of the pastor's candidacy on Tuesday.

Paul had campaigned for the Republican nomination and created a small political sensation with his vocal, grassroots supporters and hefty online fundraising abilities.

In January's presidential preference primaries, Paul won about 5 percent of the vote in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, finishing fifth in both counties out of nine Republicans on the ballot. He withdrew from the campaign on June 12.

"I'm pretty much overwhelmed," Baldwin said of the endorsement. "He and I have been friends for some time, and he knows I share his fundamental principles." - PNJ.com

I could definitely see this impacting the two or three million Ron Paul fans out there. Since Libertarian candidate Bob Barr and Paul are divided on more than af few issues, Baldwin could receive a good majority of votes from Paul supporters.

Songs of the Week

00s- The Walkmen- Louisiana (2006)

90s- Nas- N.Y. State of Mind (1994)

80s- Meat Puppets- Lost (1984)

70s- The Carpenters- (They Long to Be) Close to You (1970)

60s- Leonard Cohen- So Long, Marianne (1967)

50s- The Clovers- Love Potion No. 9 (1959)

Leonard Cohen - Passing Through

I thought The Walkmen cover of this song was out of this world...until I heard this, the original. Damn.

CERN Denies End of World Will Be Delayed

Robert Aymar, the director general of CERN, has dispelled rumours that a series of buckled electrical connectors at the Large Hadron Collider will delay the accelerator’s official start-up date of May 2008. Writing in this week's CERN Bulletin, Aymar says that the problem concerns only a small percentage of the connectors and that it is “business as usual” for bringing the new accelerator online.

The LHC is a 27-km ring around which beams of protons are accelerated using hundreds of superconducting magnets, grouped into eight sectors and cooled with liquid helium. To prevent the intensity of the beam dropping, the beam has to induce a “mirror” current with little resistance in the walls, an ability that requires electrical continuity throughout. But because the sectors shrink by about 10 metres in total when cooled down to their 1.9 K operating temperature, the connections between components in the sectors must be provided by collections of sliding copper fingers or “plug in modules”

In the first week of August, however, PIMs in “sector 7-8” of the LHC did not expand properly when the sector was warmed up from the operating temperature — a procedure occasionally necessary in the long-term running of the accelerator. This caused the PIMs to buckle into the space reserved for the beam. 

Read the rest here.

Science marches onward, I guess. Well, unless it blows itself up.

Wakefield 36 Tewksbury 12

Martin Hyppolite A Few Yards From Glory

The Wakefield High Football team defeated Tewksbury on Saturday, 36-12. The Warriors got things started early in the first quarter as senior tight end Mike Reynolds caught a 5 yard TD pass (Caio Pacheco PAT) from senior quarterback John Amentola. Martin Hyppolite then scored on a 5 yard run (Pacheco PAT) to make the score 14-0. In the second quarter Tewksbury was able to score on a nice run by senior runningback Joel Altavesta, but not before Wakefield scored two more Hyppolite touchdowns: a 30 yard run and a 15 yard reception from Amentola. Zach Boyages was able to escape all defenders en route to a 43 yard TD run in the third quarter to make it 36-6. Tewksbury scored in the fourth quarter on another Altevesta run, but it was too little too late.

Player of the Game: Martin Hyppolite

Join Spin!

Hey, every student at WHS can help make our school newspaper bigger and better than ever before. We need writers, editors, art designers, etc. You can write about anything: music, sports, current events, whatever. You can see Ms. Farrell for more details, she has taken over Spin from the wonderful Ms. Tinker. Every Wednesdays we will be having meetings Ms. Farrell's room. Please, spread the word!

Gov't Bails Out AIG

WASHINGTON — Fearing a financial crisis worldwide, the Federal Reserve reversed course on Tuesday and agreed to an $85 billion bailout that would give the government control of the troubled insurance giant American International Group.

The decision, only two weeks after the Treasury took over the federally chartered mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is the most radical intervention in private business in the central bank’s history. - New York Times

I can hear it now: "Government bailouts...OH NOZ! The Federal Government is going to take over the financial sector! Oh no!

Saudi: OK To Kill TV Station Owners

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's top judiciary official has issued a religious decree saying it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV networks that broadcast immoral content.

The 79-year-old Sheik Saleh al-Lihedan said Thursday that satellite channels cause the "deviance of thousands of people."

Many of the most popular Arab satellite networks — which include channels showing music videos often denounced as obscene by Muslim conservatives — are owned by Saudi princes and well-connected Saudi businessmen. Al-Lihedan did not specify any particular channels. - Yahoo! News

Blowing things out of proportion a little...maybe.

Gnarls Barkley Covers Reckoner

This is an awesome cover, in my opinion, of an awesome song:

WHS Warriors Projected Starters (9/17)

QB - John Amentola - SR
RB - Martin Hyppolite - SR
FB - Jason Federico - SR
WR - Shane Taylor - JR
WR - Zach Sallese - SR
TE - Mike Reynolds - SR
OL - Mark LaPierre - SR
OL - Jeff Sacco - SR
OL - Shawn Conway - SR
OL - Justin Perry - SR
OL - Dave Callahan - SR

DT - Euston St. Jean - SR
DT - Dave Callahan - SR
DE - John Carano - JR
DE - Justin Perry - SR
OLB - Martin Hyppolite - SR
MLB - Matt Riley - SR
OLB - Mike Reynolds - SR
CB - Zach Boyages - SR
CB - Nick Dettorre - SR
S - Shane Taylor - JR
S - Mike Fiore - SR

K - Caio Pacheco - SR
P - Martin Hyppolite - SR

Richard Wright Dies

Richard Wright, keyboardist and a founding member of Pink Floyd, died at his London home on Monday after a battle with cancer. He was 65.

Wright (pictured) met Floyd members Nick Mason and Roger Waters in college, and joined their band Sigma 6, who would eventually become Pink Floyd. While Wright was an early vocal contributor in Floyd, his role would later morph into keyboardist and experimental instrumentalist, as he learned the synthesizer and Farfisa organ, among other instruments. His writing role also expanded, with his most notable credits coming as co-writer of 'The Great Gig in the Sky' and 'Us and Them' from 1973's 'Dark Side of the Moon.'

Wright left the band following 'The Wall' album, but rejoined when guitarist David Gilmour took on the role of chief architect for 1987's 'A Momentary Lapse of Reason.' He continued to play with Gilmour on the guitarist's solo material, including his 2006 album, 'On an Island.'

Wright sang 'Comfortably Numb' with Gilmour at Sessions in 2006. Watch the performance below. - WWW.Spinner.com

We'll see you on the Dark Side of the Moon.....

No Women In Madden NFL 2009

This is completely random, but there are no women in Madden NFL 2009. Pause the game, press instant replay, and then scan the sidelines, the crowd, and beyond for women. Guess what? You won't find a damn one. No doubt at least 60% of NFL stadium-goers are male, but come on, EA could have designed at least one woman 3-D model.

Greed and the Current Economy

It used to be that post-World War II recessions in the United States were the bad part of plain vanilla business cycles – inventories had piled up too high as a result of too few sales, or the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and slowed the supply of new money into the economy to battle inflation.

But the mild 2001 recession and the current slump are a bit different. Their cause, at least partly, has been dishonesty, greed, and weak business ethics. The accounting scandals at Enron, Global Crossing, WorldCom, etc., combined with the bursting of the dotcom stock bubble, pushed the economy down in 2001. Today's sinking economy, to some degree, is the result of sagging real estate values and the bad behavior of many in the mortgage industry and on Wall Street. Losses from today's financial crisis have already reached $500 billion. - Christian Science Monitor

This what the finks on Wall Street deserve. (haha)

Royal Society Scientist Loses Post

The Rev Professor Michael Reiss, who was director of education at Britain's scientific academy as well as an ordained Church of England minister, sparked controversy last week when he suggested that pupils should learn about the idea that evolution is wrong and the Earth is only 10,000 years old.

He claimed just "banging on" about natural selection would not lead devout Christian or Muslim children to change their beliefs, and said creationism should be treated as a "world view" rather than a misconception.

Two Nobel laureates condemned his "dangerous" and "outrageous" views while the renowned zoologist and atheist Professor Richard Dawkins compared putting a clergyman in charge of education at the Royal Society to a Monty Python sketch. - Telegraph

In the words of Matt Hurton: "Teaching creationism is like teaching about magic fairies instead of gravity."

CD Review: Writer's Block

1. Writers Block (Introduction)

2. Objects Of My Affection
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: *****
Vocals: ****
Awesomeness: *****
Overall: 19 out of 20 - 95

3. Young Folks
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: *****
Vocals: *****
Awesomeness: *****
Overall: 19 out of 20 - 95

4. Amsterdam
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: *****
Vocals: *****
Awesomeness: *****
Overall: 20 out of 20 - 100

5. Start To Melt
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: *****
Vocals: *****
Awesomeness: *****
Overall: 20 out of 20 - 100

6. Up Against The Wall
Rhythm: ****
Instruments: ****
Vocals: *****
Awesomeness: ****
Overall: 17 out of 20 - 85

7. Paris 2004
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: ****
Vocals: *****
Awesomeness: *****
Overall: 19 out of 20 - 95

8. Let's Call It Off
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: *****
Vocals: ****
Awesomeness: *****
Overall: 19 out of 20 - 95

9. The Chills
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: *****
Vocals: *****
Awesomeness: *****
Overall: 20 out of 20 - 100

10. Roll The Credits
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: ****
Vocals: ****
Awesomeness: ****
Overall: 17 out of 20 - 85

11. Poor Cow
Rhythm: *****
Instruments: ****
Vocals: ****
Awesomeness: ****
Overall: 17 out of 20 - 85

Total Grade: 93.5 - It's going to be incredibly difficult for Writer's Block to be topped, but I know that PB&J, more so than other band, can do it with Seaside Rock, their latest album set to be released next Tuesday, September 23.

Iran Arming The Taleban

Elements in the Iranian state are sending weapons across the border to the Taleban in Afghanistan, a BBC investigation has uncovered.

Taleban members said they had received Iranian-made arms from elements in the Iranian state and from smugglers.

The UK says its troops have intercepted arms which it believes were given by a group within the Iranian state.

The Iranian embassy in Kabul dismissed the allegations, saying Tehran supported the Afghan government. - BBC News

We arming the Taleban too just by purchasing gas.

Islamic Law Adopted In Britain

Islamic law has been officially adopted in Britain, with sharia courts given powers to rule on Muslim civil cases.

The government has quietly sanctioned the powers for sharia judges to rule on cases ranging from divorce and financial disputes to those involving domestic violence.

Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through county courts or the country's High Court, a part of its Supreme Court system. - Fox News

A classic form of sexism on display right here.

Wall Street Meltdown

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Wall Street was a vastly different world Monday from what it looked like just days earlier, following one of the most harrowing days in the history of U.S. financial industry.

In less than a day, Lehman Brothers, one of the nation's oldest investment banks, filed for bankruptcy - the largest ever announced in the United States. And Bank of America executed a bold and swift $50 billion takeover of Merrill Lynch, while the fate of other brand-name financial institutions remained in doubt.

Anxiety was palpable in the financial community Monday. The Dow Jones industrial average plunged more than 2.5% just after the opening bell, before paring some of those losses.

This sucks I guess?

Concert Review: Paul Weller (Berklee)

Opening Act: The Rifles - Certainly one of the finest opening acts I've seen in my brief concert-attending journey. Reminiscent of The Libertines, The Cinematics, and The Jam, these guys truly rocked. Songs such as "Repeated Offender" and "Peace and Quiet" handled the group's brief act. Combining pop elements and punk riffs, these songs (and more) came out as polished as you can expect for a band that is just starting to acquire fame. The crowd seemed especially impressed by "She's Got Standards" -- a revival of post-punk that sounds more 80s than 00s. Chris dug them, too, saying, "The Rifles were fantastic. They reminded me of the Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines ( not just cause they're all British)."

Paul Weller:

Glen - They call him the Modfather (or at the least the guy behind does...after every song) and Weller couldn't be more deserving of such a title. Weller's strain of rock, dub, and soul is as alive now as it was thirty years ago. Offering tracks dating back to Weller's old Jam days, old proved to be just as good as new. "Wild Wood" and "You Do Something To Me" were awesome, but it would be a shame to forget the sheer greatness of newbies like "Sea Spray" and "From The Floorboards Up." Too, it would be a travesty to not give credit to Weller's bandmates, who along with Weller put on a hell of a show. One of the highlights was a harmonic acoustic belting of "All On A Misty Morning."

Chris - "I often hear that Weller's shows were quiet and chill, but this show displayed the contrary, well at least for most songs. He had a whole band backing him and they bashed out numerous rockers. To be honest, I don't know much about his solo career; I'm a major Jam fan though. Of course, I was ecstatic when he and his band played two Jam tunes: "Butterfly Collector" and "Town Called Malice" (the encore). All the forty somethings in the audience were dancing their arses off to that number! It was hilarious, with the exception of a few other young lads [including Adam Amoroso of Lynnfield's Mystery Tramps], Glen and I were standing amongst middle class, middle aged, Mod fanatics. I was disappointed that he didn't play "That's Entertainment," but what are you going to do, right? My favorite song from the evening was the classic "Wild Wood." You could hear the entire audience singing along; it was really serene and special. Weller displayed his talent as a singer, guitarist (damn, he and his band love their guitars; they went through at least five during the show, no lie) and pianist. It was quite humorous when he smoked cigarettes whilst performing. You couldn't even tell any difference in his vocals, his voice still sounded magnificent. I was disappointed about the admission: $39, a bit much! But, oh well. I don't regret it, it was a great show. Dozens of fans (including yours truly) tried to meet up with Weller and talk to him, sign shit, etc. But, unfortunately security claimed "the band have gone." Lol, I for one, do not believe they had two buses, one for the band and one for the crew. Bullshit, what's next? Daniel Johnston has a private jet and Wesley Willis is singing songs from the grave? Well, this is the modern world I've learned about. It's too bad cause there was a thousand things I wanted to say to him. But, I guess that's entertainment!"

Band Spotlight: The Jam

History: In 1972, Paul Weller formed The Jam with some friends from Sheerwater Secondary School in Surrey, England.  Over the next five years the band garnered some attention, quickly becoming one of the highlights of the then thriving British Punk scene. But two things set these hip Mod Revivalists from the rest of their rebellious contemporaries: 1) Their dress/look: clean tailored suits and ties ( a far cry from tattered jeans, chains, and safety pins) and 2) their musicianship (most punkers couldn't play!). In 1977, they released the classic In the City, with great success in the UK. They then gave us five more solid years of passionate rockers, slow, sensitive ballads, and influential hooks, before they called it quits in 1982. 


Years Active: 1972- 1982

Line-Up:
Paul Weller- Vocals, guitar
Bruce Foxton- Bass
Rick Buckler- Drums

Genre: Punk Rock, Mod Revival, Power Pop, New Wave, Rock and Roll, Pop Punk

Top Album: In the City (1977) 

Top Songs: 
"In the City"
"Slow Down"
" Batman Theme"
"The Modern World"
"All Mod Cons"
"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight"
"Start!"
"That's Entertainment"
"Butterfly Collector"
"Beat Surrender"
"Precious"
"Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?"
"Town Called Malice"
"All Around the World"
"Going Underground"
"The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)"

Label: Polydor


Influences: The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, R & B, Beat Music, Motown, Soul, The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas,  Michael Jackson, Joy Division, Wire, and others.

Influenced: Oasis, The Clash, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, The Police,  Arctic Monkeys, and The Libertines (the last two I suspect were influenced!).

Grade: A-

Songs of the Week

00s- Animal Collective- Fickle Cycle (2005)

90s- Paul Weller- Wild Wood  (1993)


80s- The Replacements- Go  (1982)

70s- The Jam- Down in the Tube Station at Midnight  (1978)


60s- The Who- Happy Jack (1966)

50s- Bobby Freeman- Do You Wanna Dance? (1958)

More Posts Coming Soon

Crap load of work in school. Don't worry though, more posts coming.

Mike Gravel

A worthy candidate from Alaska we should have payed more attention to.

Brady Out For Season W/ ACL Injury

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is expected to miss the rest of the 2008 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, according to a source familiar with the injury.

While New England coach Bill Belichick said in his postgame press conference that he had no update on the status of Brady’s injury, two sources indicated it involved serious damage to the knee.“It’s bad,” a team source said. “We’re going to have to play without him.” - Yahoo!

That's just too bad.

New Brochure Aimed To Reduce Abortions

New York, Sep 7, 2008 / 01:17 am (CNA).- Concerned Women of America (CWA) of New York has launched a new international project that aims to reduce the abortion rate for babies diagnosed with Down syndrome, which reportedly stands at 90 percent. The project was developed in consultation with major Down syndrome groups in the United States.

According to a CWA of New York press release, the project makes available a free informational brochure titled “When you've learned that your baby may have Down syndrome ... There is help and hope!”

The brochure offers reassurance to families facing a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis and informs them of resources and support groups to help them and their baby. It features the photographs of children and young adults with Down syndrome along with their family members.

You can look at the Brochure online here: http://downsyndromebrochure.com/

Democrat Voter Registration

CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) — Five days a week, Linda Graham trolls tattered neighborhoods of this once thriving steel city outside Pittsburgh for unregistered voters she can sign up as Democrats — one of thousands of unknown volunteers whose work outside the limelight has already altered the basic arithmetic of the November election.

The epic nomination battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton helped put millions more Democrats on the voter rolls while Republican registration declined. Now Graham, 45, has taken three months of unpaid leave from her job at Pittsburgh's Central Blood Bank in the hope of adding to those gains before the presidential vote.

She's encouraged by the response here. "They're all feeling the crunch" of lost jobs and a sagging economy, Graham said. "But people are feeling empowered. They're feeling like, you know what, I hold a little bit of power in this." - USA Today

You know what would be really cool? Old people registering as Libertarians.

Money as Debt

I just thought this was a really interesting video that some of our readers, and even more so, most of our writers, would like to see. The rest of the videos are on youtube for those that wish to continue watching parts 2-5

Noam Chomsky on Pornography

Band Spotlight: Descendents

 History: The band formed in 1978 in  Manhattan Beach, CA. Initially their sound could be described as melodic surf pop, but all this changed when sixteen year old singer Milo Aukerman joined the group in 1980.  Their first two releases (Fat EP in 1981 and Milo Goes to College in 1982) showcased their blend of goofball humor, serious love numbers, and caffeine driven anthems. Their style stood out as far more poppier and melodic than their fellow hardcore punkers. Due to Aukerman's busy career as a biochemist (and parent) the group sporadically performs and is currently on hiatus.

Line-Up: 
Milo Aukerman- Vocals
Stephen Egerton- Guitar
Karl Alvarez-  Bass
Bill Stevenson- Drums
Though the Line-Up has changed frequently over the years.

Sounds Like: Extremely catchy, fast, melodic pop punk (and not like Fall Out Boy pop punk)

Genre: Punk Rock, Pop Punk, Hardcore Punk

Top Album: Liveage

Top Songs:
"My Dad Sucks"
"I Like Food"
" I'm Not a Loser"
"Suburban Home"
"Hope"
"I Don't Want to Grow Up"
"Wendy"(Beach Boys Cover)
"Sour Grapes"
"Van"
"Clean Sheets"
"ALL-O-Gistics"
"Everything Sux"
"I'm the One"
"Rotting Out"
"Sick-O-Me"
"We"
"This Place"
"Merican"
"She Don't Care"
"Cool to Be You"
"Sad State of Affairs"


Label: New Alliance, SST, Epitaph, Fat Wreck Chords


Influences: The Ramones, Beach Boys, surfer rock, etc.


Influenced: Offspring, Green Day, Blink 182, and many others.

Iraq Safer Than Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) ― An estimated 125 people were shot and killed over the summer. That's nearly double the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq over the same time period.

In May, cbs2chicago.com began tracking city shootings and posting them on Google maps. Information compiled from our reporters, wire service reports and the Chicago Police Major Incidents log indicated that 125 people were shot and killed throughout the city between the start of Memorial Day weekend on May 26, and the end of Labor Day on Sept. 1.

According to the Defense Department, 65 U.S. soldiers were killed in combat in Iraq. About the same number were killed in Afghanistan over that same period. - Cbs2Chicago

Sucks for Chicago. This may just be a classic example of cherry picking, though.

Musical Taste "Defines Personality"

The study concluded that jazz and classical music fans are creative with good self-esteem, although the former are much more outgoing whereas the latter are shy.

Country and western fans were found to be hardworking and shy; rap fans are outgoing and indie lovers lack self-esteem and are not very gentle.

Those who like soul music can take heart as the research concluded they are creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease with themselves and have a high self-esteem.

And if you've ever wondered why people driving expensive sports cars often have music blaring from their vehicle, North could have an explanation.

Those who choose to listen to exciting, punchy music are more likely to be in a higher earning bracket, he says, while those who go for relaxing sounds tend to be lower down the pay scale. - Reuters

These are pretty accurate.

Google Browser: Chrome

Chrome, a new browser is hitting or has already hit the web.(the beta version) Google has teamed up with Mozilla firefox to create a whole new web browser from scratch that fits in with today's main stream uses, They are going head to head with internet explorer. Microsoft is pretty confident with its own flawed internet explorer stating that they arrive with every Windows OS, so they would probably dominate the market. Chrome is said to be more simple and faster than explorer but need s more polish. The BETA version is available.

Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks

COMBINED NEWS SERVICES August 28, 2008 Arctic sea ice, which melts partly during each polar summer, has shrunk more this year than in any on record except for 2007, the National Snow and Ice Data Center has found.

Scientists said the data provided more ominous indications that a global warming "tipping point" in the Arctic seems to be happening before their eyes: Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is now at its second lowest level in about 30 years.

With several weeks left of the melting season, the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported yesterday that sea ice in the Arctic now covers about 2.03 million square miles. The lowest point since satellite measurements began in 1979 was 1.65 million square miles, measured on Sept. 16, 2007. - Washington Times

This makes the global warming argument compelling, but like everything else there is strong evidence form both sides.

84,000 Jobs Cut In August

WASHINGTON — Businesses shed 84,000 jobs in August as the unemployment rate soared to a five-year peak of 6.1%, the Labor Department said Friday in a report providing stark evidence that the economy is foundering.

Fully 2.2 million Americans have lost their jobs in the past 12 months, as the unemployment rate has climbed from 4.7%. So far in 2008, firms have laid off 605,000 workers, with job losses averaging 76,000 a month. - USA Today

If the business just isn't coming...what else to do? It's sad, but obviously a reality.

Songs of the Week

00s- No Age- Everybody's Down (2007)

90s- Primus- Here Come the Bastards (1991) 

80s- Husker Du- Books About UFOs (1985)

70s- The Jam- In the City (1977)

60s- Jimi Hendrix- Hey Joe (1967)

50s- Buddy Holly- Peggy Sue (1957)

Sold: The Pleasure Island Sunoco

WAKEFIELD — Rising costs of fuel and increasing use of credit cards, that many drivers now use to purchase their gasoline, are causing independent gas station owners to close up shop. Credit card firms charge a fee to the stations.

Robert and Pam Poirier, North Andover residents, decided to retire when it began to cost them between $3,000 and $6,000 a week at their Pleasure Island Sunoco station because of those credit card fees. - Wakefield Item

I wonder how in the world the new owners will be able to compete with Irving. I can't imagine the new owners will be able to keep the place profitable. I might be wrong though.

Coincidentally, the Wakefield Item changed their site around too. It's all messed up; the links redirect you to random pages and the appearance is less spectacular than before.

More Breast Cancers Detected

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3 (HealthDay News) -- While tremendous progress in screening and treatment for breast cancer has been made in recent years, some 184,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008, and about 41,000 women will die of the disease.

Researchers are now focusing their efforts on reducing these numbers even further.

Four studies being presented this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C., highlight both areas of progress and areas that need extra emphasis. - The Washington Post

The MBI technology detects three times as many breast cancers.

Xbox 360 Lowered To $199

SEATTLE -- Microsoft Corp., in a move to court the mass market with its videogame products, plans to sharply cut the price of its Xbox 360 game consoles--including offering its least expensive model at $199.

The price cuts, effective Sept. 5, signal an increasing aggressiveness by Microsoft of Redmond, Wash., to boost sales of the Xbox 360 before the crucial holiday shopping season. The price cut in its low-end console, which had been priced at $279, marks the first time that one of the latest generations of consoles from game makers has fallen below $200.

Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, said three-quarters of sales for game consoles historically have occurred after hardware makers dropped the prices of their machines below that mark. - Wall Street Journal

This is absolutely nuts in a great sort of way for Microsoft. I remember just a few years ago when the PS2 was over $200.

27,000+ Boeing Workers Hold Strike

More than 27,000 Boeing aircraft assembly workers yesterday held a pivotal strike vote that could paralyze the world's second-largest aircraft manufacturer while its business is booming and further delay delivery of its new fuel-efficient 787 commercial jet.

Electricians, riveters, painters and others covered by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began casting ballots yesterday morning; the outcome was expected to be announced late last night on the West Coast. The workers are based at plants in the Seattle area, in Gresham, Ore., and in Wichita, Kan. - The Washington Post

A little organization can't hurt...right?

Gay Marriage = Economy Booster? (Pssh)

A report prepared for the Massachusetts economic development office estimated that 32,000 same-sex couples are likely to come to the state to marry over the next three years, pumping about $111 million into the economy. The report said the state stands to gain about $5 million of that from sales taxes and the cost of marriage licenses.

The report also predicted that about 44 percent of New York's estimated 48,761 gay couples will come to Massachusetts to wed and that more than 7,000 will come from other nearby states, including New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont -- even though those states have not explicitly said they will recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.- The Washington Post

Oh right, I forgot. It is somehow okay to dismiss morality if the end result is positive for the economy. Humanity...

N.O Residents Return To Homes

NEW ORLEANS — With thousands of residents stacked up at entrances to this city, impatient to return home after evacuating for Hurricane Gustav, Mayor C. Ray Nagin shifted course on Wednesday and ordered an immediate lifting of barriers blocking their entry here.

People began trickling back to hot, dark homes on the emptied streets by Wednesday afternoon, as the city — and much of the state — is still mostly without electric power. Despite angry blasts from Gov. Bobby Jindal and even a plea from President Bush, utility officials gave no word on when electricity would be restored. But some residents said they had no choice but return, the intense heat and humidity here notwithstanding.

The return had been scheduled for early Thursday, but Mr. Nagin’s unexpected action was forced by a slow-moving humanitarian crisis, as residents, many of modest means in this poor city, reported running out of money to sustain a prolonged evacuation.

The media (and perhaps meteorologists) over-hyped Gustav. Don't get me wrong...living for days without electricity sucks, but I seriously thought the outcome would be much worse.

US Announces Aid To Reconstruct Georgia

The US has announced $1bn (£564m) of aid to Georgia for reconstruction after the conflict with Russia.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the aid would be used to rebuild houses and infrastructure - but not for military purposes.

Georgia has requested $2bn in funding from the international community.
Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force. - BBC News

And they are right when they say the U.S is the most generous nation in the world.

Rage at the RNC

Once again, I commend Rage for keeping the protests peaceful and still making their voices heard.

Power Cut!

I think Rage handled this situation well. It's really bullshit that they can't play their set.

Band Spotlight: Black Lips

 History: The band formed as teenagers way back in 2000. Just before they began touring in 2002, tragedy struck when guitarist Ben Eberbaugh was "killed by a motorist in a drunken act of rage." The band went on in his honor. Over the years they gained recognition for their eclectic music and notorious live shows, which have included, nudity, vomiting, firework, and even chicken. With profiles in Rolling Stone and SPIN, it's safe to say that we'll see these four young lads from Atlanta, Georgia, in the near future.

Line-Up:
* Cole Alexander - Vocals, guitar
* Jared Swilley - Vocals, bass guitar
* Joe Bradley - Vocals, drums
* Ian Saint Pé - Guitar (from 2004)

Sounds Like: Throw some Cavern Club era Beatles, Soul, Doo Wop, Punk Rock energy, and cough syrup in the mix and you have the Black Lips.

Genre: Self-Described: Flower-Punk; They are extremely eclectic, as I mentioned before; elements of Garage Rock, Noise Rock, and Country.

Top Album: Good Bad Not Evil (2007)

Top Songs:
"Stranger"
"MIA"
"Juvenile"
"Jumpin'Around"
"Boomerang"
"Hippie, Hippie, Hoorah"
"Fairy Stories"
"Dirty Hands"
"Buried Alive"
"O Katrina!"
"Veni Vidi Vici"
"Navajo"
"How Do You Tell a Child That Someone Has Died"
"Bad Kids"
"Cold Hands"
"Slime and Oxygen"

Label(s): Bomp!, In the Red, Rob's House Records, Vice

Yay! Now, I can say I did a Band Spotlight this Summer!

School Tomorrow!

This song always gets me pumped for school haha. I used to listen to it every morning last year before school started; other than that little tidbit about me, then no, this song has absolutely no connection to the beginning of the school year or anything regarding school for that matter. Oh well, enjoy!

What grinds my ears : 9/1

Ignorant Women grind my ears. These women don't know they their boyfriend doesn't love them, but they think he'll change. Women don't know that people don't change unless they have a life changing experience that teaches them a lesson. These women are also the reasons men like my father gets laid. These men take advantage of love, that women have. Men and people in general are way too stupid to realize what is going on around them.

Most women are really unaware of who men are. They are a bunch of horny people. I am not generalizing all men, but most men are like this. Men and people in general never learn new tricks. Women are stupid for not realizing that before they get hurt. I dont feel sorry for any girl in a domestic arguement, or a abusive relationship. These women should of saw that their man was a abusive son of a gun, but they can break it off.

I think women are ridiculously naive and ignorant. I am sorry for repeating it, but its so true. They fall for the stupidest man stuff ever. Falling for stupid men won't get you anywhere. There are thousands of unloved guys in the world, that deserve you and will love you. I want you to debate me on this.

- Cameron