Wheat among the the Chaff

Or something.

It so happens that one of my best friends bought a rifle recently. But it wasn't just any rifle, not to me, not to him. He bought a Springfield M-1903 A1. After some serial number research, We found that it is roughly 98 years old. It's in excellent condition for a nearly century old weapon. Fantastic.

Now, for the reader's edification, I am a bit of a gun buff. I can figure out how to take apart most any firearm. I also spent 5 of the the most influential years of my life at a military school. It was a hell for me. This is the the very make of rifle with which I drilled at that academy. To touch it again brought on many memories.

I was a very confused, angry, ostracized indiviual back then. I was wierd, I was lovesick, I was violent, yet profoundly restrained. These things stayed bottled inside for a very long time, not many of them got out, well, ever. Bad times, then. Darkening times they were. I hate that place.

I used to work the armory at that school, repairing broken rifle stocks and replacing worn parts. Those were times where I found joy, to work on a finely made, though deactivated, piece of metal. I worked with my filthy hands and made each rifle I could get said hands on perfect as it could be, from the blade-style front sight to the butt plate Those were the happy moments, that kept me sane. The S-type stock, tapering into the top sling collar, and the solid heft of it were all attributes I enjoyed. Needless to say, I put as many miniature modifications as I could onto my rifle. That was my drill rifle, and none were like it.

To hold one again was like like meeting a long lost friend.

Congratulations Korenav!

-The0

Happy birthday to me!!

Yeah Buddy! I did it. I made it another year. I am 26 years old, and somehow I managed to do it without any major crap-ups.

I would like to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday. Those of you who wrote on my Facebook wall will find that I thanked you all personally with a response wall post. I'm old school like that. I started on Facebook back when you needed a verified college email address to be on it. Your wall posts were kind of like how popular and well liked by your friends you are. So every wall shout was like someone thinking of you and actually saying hello, or Happy Birthday. It was like a step away from actually calling you up. So nowadays, people make a catch-all status remark like, "Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes!" Not me. I'll thank you all individually. It's the proper thing to do.

I got a veritable plethora of gifts from all those who were able to afford it, and let me say once again, it wasn't necessary, but thank you once again. All you mugs are great! And those that couldn't are actually just as thanked. It's great to simply hear from you all and to know that I'm loved.

My warranty on me isn't void yet, so let's get another year in. Thank you all!!!

-The0

More like LAME Moon

I don't know how to preface this, so I'll just out with it.

I. HATE. Twilight.

I hate it. I hate that through the adoration of prepubescent "tweens" Vampires have gone from horrible wraiths of bloodlust and deception, paragon disciples of Vlad the Impaler, terrors of the night to lousy, brooding pretty boys with perfect hair, who only want to be loved and understood. Instead of bursting into flames in the sunlight, they sparkle?! Like someone sprinkled them with glitter. They sparkle like a beautiful, metro sexual, candyass fashion model. OH MY GOD HAND ME A TOWEL BECAUSE I'M SOAKING WET!!! You girls who helped to make this story a bestseller can all fucking choke.

And heaven forbid some form of brutality should remain in these Ken-dolls-in-halloween-costumes. No! They don't even feed off of humans. They feel that's Wrong. They drink animal blood. That's bullshit. Vampires are immortal. What do they care if something is ostensibly wrong? (Side note: I am a proud carnivore. Bite me [you are what you eat, eat a human, be a human]). Seriously, I am pissed that this movie/story has utterly removed the edge of Vampires and turned them into us. They might as well just be the Backstreet Boys or something.

Where's the line anymore? Is every legend going to be pissed upon and stripped down to it's most potentially appealing factor? Vampires used to be the ultimate predators, and then that turned into sexual predator/physical predator, to intellectual predator. Then it was sexual predator. Still kind of awesome, but now, they're just sex symbols. Lame, glittery boy toys. Who thought of this nonsense?

Stephanie Meyer ruined everything cool about vampires, and turned them straight from dark lords to masturbatory aids. Fuck You, Stephanie. Fuck You, Edward Cullen. Fuck You, Bella. Fuck You, Summit Entertainment, And Fuck You, Moviegoers. I hope New Moon burns your eyes out of your sockets.

-The0

Love Is For Everyone

Wer wartet mit Besonnenheit
der wird belohnt zur rechten Zeit
Nun, das Warten hat ein Ende
Leiht euer Ohr einer Legende

~Rammstein, Rammleid

They're back, ladies and gentlemen, and though this first verse off their latest album is self-aggrandizing, for this fan, it's true. The wait is over today, and the legend returns.

At first listen, it seems unrecognizable, yet familiar. Some say that Rammstein has joined the mainstream and started to simply make homogeneous metal. I would say that this is not the case, as they still have every element that made me like them from every album previous. Massive sound, heavy distortion of very melodic patterns, driving songs (mostly, more on that later), and above it all, Till Lindemann's grinding and operatic vocals.

Most of the songs from this album have a clearly recognized melody, but others are much harder, literally and musically. Yet, if you sit through long enough, listen to the lyrics (do some translating while you're at it) you'll find yourself on a beautiful, embracing bridge or chorus. It's true of almost every song they've put out. Which brings me to the the next point of happiness for me.

In previous albums, occasionally Rammstein will make a song referencing some horrible act of society or person, be it real or fictional. The last one on Rosenrot was about a guy who was cheered into jumping off of a bridge (which strangely doesn't need an exact reference. It seems to happen every once in a while). This time, it's Wiener Blut (Viennese Blood), a creepy, frightening recounting of the recent Fritzl case. No real melody here, just guitars, synths, and a psychopathic German man telling you an emotional ghost story.

The title track Liebe ist für Alle Da is a more worldly sound for metal. Translated it means "Love is for Everyone." A hammering song, it still has the aforementioned melody somewhere in there. The main reason I bring this up is because with Rammstein, and on this album especially, nothing is as simple as it sounds. They flip around common German idioms, make divine cultural references behind your back, and trick you into thinking you're going to be in one mood, but put you in another. Further explanation will require you to listen to the song first.

And on that note, the dark tone of this album is occasionally put to the side. The extended edition of this release has roughly 4 ballads on it. It's a little maddening, but on the whole, well, I do enjoy falling sleeping to metal. I never knew Till Lindemann could sing such lovely French. A couple of these songs are of the special (read: slightly saddening) kind where the song is exactly the same, but the lyrics are different. Oh well. You only get to enjoy that if you bought the extended edition.

In summation, Ramming Stone's latest album is a very welcome and long overdue addition to my Rammstein library. Not every song appealed at first listen, but many of them grew on me very quickly. Songs to buy this album for are Ich Tut Dir Weh, Haifisch, Pussy, and if they're your taste, Rammlied and B********. Songs that will quickly grow on you are Liebe ist für Alle Da, Waidmann's Heil, and Frühling in Paris (again, if it's your style.) This isn't their greatest album, but it's good, and well worth my purchase.

SEO Purposes: My fellow fans and pattern-watchers may appreciate this: 916139, 9 1 6 1 3 9, Rammstein.

Questions, Comments? Please feel free to comment, and leave questions!

Rock On!!!!

-The0

A Credit List

They say that if you wind up with 3 good friends in life, you've lived remarkably well. I have lived a life of total luxury if that's the case.

Walter: Thank you for being there to help me through schoolwork, bike stunts, bad ideas, and good times.

Ben: Your pennywise sense has rubbed off on me finally. I'm glad you made me do your laundry back in college.

Craig: My first friend, your life is a veritable tome of accomplishments. Every time we speak, I feel like a kid again.

Matt: If there is a man more baddass and intense on a daily basis, I don't think he'd really compare to you.

Evan: Technology makes sense because of you. You make me feel dumb in a learning way.

Kurt: Music has never been more enjoyable. My instrument sounds great because of you.

Dré: You turned me from a brooding sociopathic boy to a semi-socially savvy man. You out me onto the path I am on today.

Adam: I finally enjoy being behind a computer again, like I did in high school.

Webb: I am of the strong opinion that everyone needs a mad scientist for a friend.

Renny: You help me deal with everyday. You help me feed my addiction, and keep me sane.

Andy: Every time I hear from you is a total joy. I love just talking about what's going on with you.

Gigi: You're the best of the kin, and you make me swell with pride everyday.

Mom: You help me deal with life crises. You keep me well furnished, and you keep me going with my grind.

Dad: My ultimate role model. If I wind up half the man you are, I've done very well.

Dr. Girlfriend: You make me want to be the best man I can.

Edits to follow, as I think of more things to say about the best people in my life.

-The0

Open Doors, Closed Windows.

So much for a clever title.

I have significant confusion regarding the Windows 7 release on the horizon. I can't figure out the exact differences between Windows 7 and my current, not-hated Vista. Apparently, it's just like Vista, a couple features removed, and a bit of a streamlining.

Personally, I have never purchased an operating system in box or off a shelf. I always buy it new with the machine. Even if I did have the will, want, or cash to buy it new-in-box, I think I would always wait until the first service pack comes out. You know, let them get all the kinks out, let the drivers get developed, etc.

The interesting conundrum is that new PCs bought within a certain time frame, get a free upgrade to Windows 7 from Vista. Will there be driver issues? Will profiles be lost? Knowing Microsoft and the negative attention they tend to garner, they may very well half-ass the upgrade release, and have inadequate support too. But then again, it may be baddass.

Dr. Girlfriend happens to be eligible for this upgrade, and it's her choice whether she's going to or not is up to her. But the fact that Windows 7 is supposedly going to be less resource-intensive, it's probably a good idea for high-end laptop owners.

So while this is a very cool thing for Microsoft to do, especially in the wake of Vista's "problems" and remembering Windows ME, I would proceed with caution. Lots of forum reading on the horizon.

Thoughts anyone?

-The0

Liebe ist für alle da

As my closer friends and relations no doubt know, I am a HUGE Rammstein fan. I'm not the biggest fan in the world, but they are hands-down my favorite band in the world (though some others do come as close seconds.) The thing is, it's been several years since they've last been in the studio, ever since they worked on Rosenrot. They have a new album, and it comes out very soon. As such, they have started marketing the singles and such that have been selected off the new album, Liebe ist für alle da. This post is to review their latest video, to attempt to divine what the band wanted to portray to us, and to compare it to their best videos of albums past. A review of Pussy.

First off, the video (WARNING: EXPLICIT, GRAPHIC, ADULT-ORIENTED CONTENT!!!!!!!)

This video is either Rammstein's greatest or worst video. Speaking from a mature adult standpoint, It's pure porn. It's a very shallow story, comparing to earlier videos like Du Riescht So Gut and even later ones, like Benzin and Rosenrot. Rammstein has had a talent of putting together very compelling stories in their videos, ones which usually match the song nicely, but this simply pales. The lyrics also disappoint, as Till Lindemann is an accomplished poet, but as far as this song is concerned, even I've written better. As a Rammstein enthusiast, this is not their best representation.

As a sex-addled post-teenager still in love with the industrial genre and all things German, this is outstanding. The heavy use of English to speak to a wider, sex-addicted audience is a good demographic move. Their show their nationality brusquely, with smatterings of definitively German-branded words and concepts. It also speaks to their shocking side. Truly shocking, and not a moment too soon. With their rumored retirement on the horizon, I think they are probably just doing their best to go out on a literal bang. I am still in love with the driving, ass-pounding song, and you'll find me humming it at work sometimes. I have been starving for more material from them since they released Rosenrot 4 years ago. Bravo! Gimme fucking more!

Rammstein has always been known for their brutality, depravity, and stage presence. They have a provocative method of framing the very worst humanity has to offer. But what are they framing this time? Simply fucking? Does it all boil down to just fucking? I suppose in the loosest sense, it really does. They had the presence of mind to acknolewdge most of the settings in which porn stars, well, star. It isn't ironic, but definitely pulls some point. It just has to. Please?

How about:

Anyone can do a porn, Rammstein is pulling out, and at the end of the day, all we want to do is fuck.

-The0