If history is anything, it's not my thing. However, I will say confidently that Incubus is the rock, man. They're the guys who changed my musical life after Blur created it. Must be quite the amazing thing to be in a band that's responsible for changing someone's musical life. Now, I'm not talking about the whole, "Yeah man it changed my life I got Make Yourself and listened to it over and over and wore it out and learned all the lyrics." I'm talking like, not only getting every album I could but every single track, b-side, live performances a/o or a/v, what have you. I'm talking learning all the lyrics on all those albums then learning all the songs on guitar, getting not only one guitar track but all the tracks (granted there was more than one) and learning the song not only one way but often several. And of course the fact the they introduced me out of the world of the potentially mundane world of 4/4 time and into the extremely expanded world of odd meters and just other rhythmus in general, odd or not. Plus they're the only band that keeps challenging me on every album. I'm glad this newest album has some hard guitar in it, cause while the album as a whole has only one really, really memorable track (unlike the previous two), and while I don’t know all the songs, the songs I know I had to work on for a while to get down which was great, honestly.

Thus Mike Einziger brought this deliciously mediocre post to you. Mike, we salute you.

Hoverin' by my suitcase/tryin' to find a warm place/to spend the night/Heavy rain fallin'/seems I hear your voice callin'/"It's all right."/A rainy night in Georgia,/a rainy night in Georgia/It seems like it's rainin' all over the world/I feel like it's rainin' all over the world

I can't personally speak for Georgia, but it was definitely a rainy night in Alabama last night. Not quite sure if that's what caused the power outtage I awoke to this morning, but suffice it to say that well, waking up to dark and realizing suddenly that it might be way past the time you were supposed to get up isn't a good feeling. After I pulled myself away from my bed, and came to the realization that the power had been out long enough to deny me a hot shower, a cup of coffee, or even just some light to read by, I laid out on the couch and figured why bother to dress in the dark? After passing out, I had a dream in which I was discussing my hatred of bumper stickers. For those who are unaware of my general disgust for bumper stickers, the fact that I dream about hating them should tell you something disturbing about my psyche. For the rest of you, it should come as no shock. But why don't I like bumper stickers you wonder? To me, a bumper sticker is like forcing your ideas on someone else. There's nothing wrong with talking to me, asking me if I want to hear what you have to say, then saying it. Or even just putting it on an open forum like the television or the internet. But when you are so arrogant and lazy that not only do you not bother to break from your daily routine to speak to me, but also decide that seven to ten words and an image can sum up your entire argument so clearly that there is no room for debate, well that just boils my water. And my spiteful obsession doesn't end there. There are even certain bumper stickers that infuriate me even more. Like the one's where the parents brag about their child beating up an honor student. Yes, its good that your son or daughter is physically stronger than everyone else, and its nice to know that you've been teaching him might makes right. That way, when he grows up and we have to lock him away, yet feed him and take care of him with our tax dollars, at least we'll know who to blame. The other day, I saw a bumper sticker that just made me want to run the guy who had it off the road. It had a picture of confederate flag on it, and said "If this offends you, then you need a history lesson." Hmmm. . .confederate flag offensive? Of course not. The confederacy was just a contigent of southern states who attempted to break away from the northern union of states. That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the reason why they did that. You see, they were all cotton farmers, and for them, cheap labor meant more profit, and more time to sit around sipping iced tea, and pretending to be gentlemen and ladies. In actuality, the confederacy broke away over the issue of slavery. They wanted to continue enslaving people based simply upon the color of their skin. So when I see a confederate flag, its hard for me, as a person who, had the confederacy had their way, would be enslaved today, to look upon it as a symbol of Southern pride. So yes, I am offended, and all because I took that history lesson you suggested. There's a plethora of other bumper stickers that annoy me, really there's a plethora of things in life that irk me, I guess I'm just a irkable guy. Either way, I guess I should say that I do like bumper stickers that make me laugh. At least they're entertainment.

Today's mp3 is by Incubus. I heard them in concert and instantly went out and bought two CD's of theirs. And I wasn't disappointed at the time. It seems my desire to listen to them has waned with time, until I pretty much only break it out if I'm working really hard and I'm tired, and I need something for that motivational force to keep me going. And even then its kind of a blase listening. But a song that they've done that contines to impress me comes from the S.C.I.E.N.C.E. album. Its Favorite Things which contains the now controversial line, too bad the things that make you mad, are my favorite things Why controversial? Scroll back up and see what Jeremy said on my thoughts on that. I'm sure you'll be shocked and apalled. Or maybe neither.

My mood?

In trying so hard to look away from you/we followed white lines to the sunset/I crash my car everyday the same way

Its Friday. I spent the last thirty minutes debating about what to write about. Unlike most Friday's my mind is racing with thoughts. I blame this clean living and early morning waking up I've been doing. And lets not forget the recent events. Events so recent, and so eventful, I can't even begin to talk about them here. Shocking. Well, I'll now leave you with a little creative writing, and my mp3 of the day.

Say hello to the broken-hearted,
the dumb, the foolish, the blind, the downtrodden,
the crazy, the one's so lazy, they forgot what mattered,
and threw it all away.

Say hello to the broken-hearted,
the insane, the mentally challenged the emotionally retarded,
those who never spoke their minds, their hearts,
and they threw it all away.

Say hello to the broken-hearted,
the stupid, the ignorant, the hurt, the lame,
those who never win because they always play the game,
completely wrong and they threw it all away.

Say hello to me.

Today's mp3 is what is considered genuine emo. I know because Jerm told me so. I first heard this group while riding in his car. There's nothing like having Jeremy stop, look at you and say, hey, how about some EmO. That's how he says. Its like emu, but with an 'o'. Right. Anyway, here it is.
Understanding In a Car Crash - Thursday


I gotta stop thinking. . .

lets have a picnic go to the park/rolling round till long after dark/down at the beach or a party in town

So the end of my first week directing traffic as a member of the safety patrol is drawing to a close, and I feel as if I've learned many many things. First, the hand signals that you are taught are helpful, however, only other crossing guards will understand what you're trying to convey with them at all times. To prevent accidents, step in front of cars before you motion others on. Not that I've caused any accidents, but I've certainly seen my share of "man if that other car had done what I'd told it to, it'd have gotten rocked. . ." All because some people try to think for the safety patrol instead of thinking for themselves. I've also learned that you should look back before stepping back since anything could be back there, cars, sticks, debris, but mainly cars.

Another thing I've gotten to learn is that being outside is without a doubt the best way to spend any day. I'm convinced that outdoors, even outdoors in the middle of traffic is an awesome place. I'd spend more time outdoors, if I had time to spend. Every morning when I wake up there's a halo hanging from the corner of my four post bed. . . oh wait, that's a lyric to a song. What I meant to say was, every morning when I wake up, its a horrible battle, but once I step outside and the sun's shining, birds are singing, I'm instantly awake. And its been scientifically proven that sun is the key factor in actually becoming alert upon wakening. Now all I need to do is remember to bring some gatorade to my post to replenish my quickly departing electrolytes during my post.

And what could be better with any given day spent outside than music? I think War said it best with All Day Music. That's right, War. The group who brought such hits as Lowrider and Cisco Kid. They did more than just two good songs. All Day Music is one of them. Enjoy.

My mood?

Always look back before you step back