One of my favorite days of the year is coming up... Super Bowl Sunday (am i allowed to say that?). No... come on... stay with me here. It has nothing to do with "their" football (they do not play REAL football, throwball maybe, or burly-guy-foreplay even). You see, Super Bowl Sunday is the one day of the year that i am virtually guaranteed, for a few hours at least, that the douchebags of the country will be locked away somewhere safely inside and the streets are mine to roam!
i may be many things but i am not a selfish man. i would like to share my annual hours of joy with others. To that extent i am anointing this coming Sunday: February Seventh in the year Two Thousand and Ten Anno Domini, as the first Day Of Counter Culture!
All you fellow members of various counter cultures deserve your day of celebration. Just seeing each other out during these hours is enough to warrant a head nod of passing acknowledgement towards one another. For whomever is out at that aforementioned time clearly cannot be a douche. Feel that shared inner warmth that comes from knowing that you are not alone. Savor the camaraderie that makes you wish "if only every day could be like the Day Of Counter Culture".
Every holiday has its own traditions, which often evolve and develop over many years time. These traditions have to start somewhere though so it is in this vein i shall introduce the tradition of Pile Making on the Day Of Counter Culture. Wherever you go to enjoy and celebrate your own personal counter culture make a pile of some sort.
Going to a location where the sea meets the land? Stack some rocks. Going to the library or a bookstore? Pick five of your favorites and stack them up somewhere of note: on top of the card catalog, at the end of the magazine racks. Going out to get a donut? Buy a couple extra and stack them on top of the newspaper vending machine. Vegan? While enjoying this time in the grocery store, judgement free, pick out five of your favorite packaged treats and stack them in the middle of an isle in the meat department. Pile up snow, stack skateboards and ollie them, pile styling shoes... whatever moves you.
If you decide to go the tattoo route might i recommend getting tattoos up your arm or down your leg. Please avoid getting "stacked" tattoo, one over the other, for as the images add up and cover up they loose their distinction hence looking more like a fucted up Rorschach ink blot.
Chaos you say. What about those poor folk stuck working on this fine holiday who will have to un-stack our piles? Have no fear. So few people are out at this time that these employees will not have much else to do and as we all know time seems to slow down at work when we have nothing to do. You are doing them a favor by helping them pass the time.
So my fellow counter culturalists, spread the word and have a joyous and merry (happy even) Day Of Counter Culture! Feel free to share accounts of your own Pile Making celebration.
2.03.2010
1.30.2010
2010
Y'up, it has been a while but that is a good sign. It means i have been too busy living.
Before attacking this new year in type i figured i would pay homage to the best of moments, and the best of experiences from olde 2009. In no particular order... free versed.
Sunny Day Real Estate in concert. Never have i been in a more die hard and dedicated crowd. A crescendo of a show with the band feeding off the crowd.
Christmas in Ireland. All you imagine it would be. Just what i needed. It has made me a better person... thank you again Ireland (and you know who).
Vegan donuts. Two words that should appear together more often.
Skating Burnside. As intense as you think it would be. Worth waking up early for.
Favorite band in favorite venue with favorite girl.
My love's gut fixed.
Halfpipe in garage. It does not matter how much work may stress me out... pulling into the garage and seeing that calling me can always bring a smile to my tired face.
Seeing my brother in love.
Attending my first scooter rally. Riding in a buzzing pack that size is addictive... and oh so fun.
Where The Wild Things Are. A great and beautiful movie. Dare i say even better than the book?
It really seemed like two or three years crammed into one but these will be the parts i remember the most. All right 2010... lets see what we can do.
12.09.2009
General Admission
If only the world was more like the floor of a punk show.
Sometimes things in the pit can get a little out of control, a little hectic. Too much going on, people doing what they should not, folks losing perspective of their surroundings. Lately life has been feeling a lot like this.
At the show i know what to do. i know how to get myself a little space. i spread my steel-toed stance to shoulder width apart. Start with some leans. If more is warranted more is given. An increased force on me is countered with the exertion of greater force.
An escalation taken to the necessary levels of the situation at hand. Some elbows. Next, arms alternating high thrusted elbows to fully extended fists. Maybe 'the helicopter' with arms swinging in circles as i pogo. If extreme situations call for it then the classic crouched over, high-knees, high-elbows gets brought out with the occasional boot-stomp, kick-out thrown into the rhythm.
Always get my space. Always get my relief.
But unfortunately life is not a punk show. i am struggling to get some space, to get some air. The world is not allowing me the room i currently need.
All along the punk floor there are no apologies and everyone understands. But this is not standing room only, this is society so consider this my 'sorry' to anyone who catches an elbow in the near future. i am just trying to work myself up a little room.
Sometimes things in the pit can get a little out of control, a little hectic. Too much going on, people doing what they should not, folks losing perspective of their surroundings. Lately life has been feeling a lot like this.
At the show i know what to do. i know how to get myself a little space. i spread my steel-toed stance to shoulder width apart. Start with some leans. If more is warranted more is given. An increased force on me is countered with the exertion of greater force.
An escalation taken to the necessary levels of the situation at hand. Some elbows. Next, arms alternating high thrusted elbows to fully extended fists. Maybe 'the helicopter' with arms swinging in circles as i pogo. If extreme situations call for it then the classic crouched over, high-knees, high-elbows gets brought out with the occasional boot-stomp, kick-out thrown into the rhythm.
Always get my space. Always get my relief.
But unfortunately life is not a punk show. i am struggling to get some space, to get some air. The world is not allowing me the room i currently need.
All along the punk floor there are no apologies and everyone understands. But this is not standing room only, this is society so consider this my 'sorry' to anyone who catches an elbow in the near future. i am just trying to work myself up a little room.
11.29.2009
All i Want For Christmas
*Have not seen one in a while? Hey, i did one a day for a month in October. i needed rest.*
With all this family time surrounding thanksgiving there was bound to be plenty of fodder for moments of enlightenment, or at least exemplars to rant about. Over this extended holiday weekend too much family, too much television, too much reading, and just plain too much thinking (with a little tattoo planning thrown in) brought about one reoccurring theme: the human race - inherently good or inherently bad?
This all started with a conversation i was drawn into with members of my extended family. When asked i expressed my belief that given the opportunity, a majority of people will do bad things for selfish reasons every time. You can not count on people to do the right thing. i apparently think like my uncles. My own father was the most empassioned counter. He felt that most people are good and listed off occasions were people were taking care of their neighbors and offering generous aide.
i clarified my statement by elaborating on my specific choice of the word "majority". i do not feel that ALL people are bad. In fact i continued on to express how our very society exists and is able to continue on all due to that absolutely amazing minority of "good" people. You can not count on people to help you out, however, truly good people seem to end up where they are needed most. It is an incredibly overwhelming phenomenon. That "good" minority just seem to take care of us all, without comment, almost always without thanks, they do what they do. They are not represented in government, in media, or in any formal way. i find it infinitely beautiful and one of the few redeeming qualities of the human race.
i think i swayed the discussion as everyone started conjuring up situations where the right person seemed to end up where they were needed as i quietly left the room. i overheard the conversations even evolve into mention of careers where these type of people frequently end up working. Careers where kind services are performed. Careers, unfortunately, that also do not pay particularly well. Of course these people do what they do for a reason, for an ideal and that keeps them doing what they do while the other greedy majority take advantage of this passion and keep the wages low. i am sure you can list 5 such careers without much thought at all.
Driving from one family event to another i was sideswiped on the highway. As i finally came to rest in the highway median i watched the car that had hit me go into oncoming traffic sending numerous cars to scatter before it finally went off the road itself. Unfortunately the driver of the causing car must have had a medical issue and was most likely not conscious through the whole ordeal. Only one car pulled over to help. At least ten cars had to struggle to avoid the vehicle driving on the highway in the opposite direction and countless others travelled by our two vehicles damaged on the edges of the highway. One pulled over to help.
And what do you think this character, this good Samaritan was like? Of course he was kind, and gentle in nature, and the nicest random person you could expect to meet. Several times he expressed regret that he could not help out more than he had. Inspirational.
Did this happen to me because of the conversation i had or as punishment for my commentary on humanity? No. This happened because this stuff happens every day. People acted how they acted because this is how they act every day. (it did clearly support my hypothesis though... just saying)
We are lucky to have that kind minority!
As Copenhagen rapidly approaches and this planet's leaders get together for a couple of weeks to come up with a plan to save our species from our current climate crisis i keep thinking about what got us into this situation. Billions of people on a daily basis making the selfish choice, the easy choice, the wrong choice. The vehicle you choose to drive, the food you choose to eat, the products you choose to buy. This has caused us to go beyond the tipping point of climate change and has put the human race in a situation of best case suffering and worst case extinction.
Maybe seeing this and studying this on a daily basis caused me to say what i did at that family get together. Maybe it was just living on this planet for over 3 decades. Maybe it was because i am a punk monk. But no matter the reasons, i have seem beautiful things in the life of this planet including at times in the human race and i want to see those things continue on and to be able to continue to come about long after i take my last breath.
i hope, i pray, i wish that there will be enough "good" people at those meetings in Copenhagen to save us all. What a Christmas present that would be.
With all this family time surrounding thanksgiving there was bound to be plenty of fodder for moments of enlightenment, or at least exemplars to rant about. Over this extended holiday weekend too much family, too much television, too much reading, and just plain too much thinking (with a little tattoo planning thrown in) brought about one reoccurring theme: the human race - inherently good or inherently bad?
This all started with a conversation i was drawn into with members of my extended family. When asked i expressed my belief that given the opportunity, a majority of people will do bad things for selfish reasons every time. You can not count on people to do the right thing. i apparently think like my uncles. My own father was the most empassioned counter. He felt that most people are good and listed off occasions were people were taking care of their neighbors and offering generous aide.
i clarified my statement by elaborating on my specific choice of the word "majority". i do not feel that ALL people are bad. In fact i continued on to express how our very society exists and is able to continue on all due to that absolutely amazing minority of "good" people. You can not count on people to help you out, however, truly good people seem to end up where they are needed most. It is an incredibly overwhelming phenomenon. That "good" minority just seem to take care of us all, without comment, almost always without thanks, they do what they do. They are not represented in government, in media, or in any formal way. i find it infinitely beautiful and one of the few redeeming qualities of the human race.
i think i swayed the discussion as everyone started conjuring up situations where the right person seemed to end up where they were needed as i quietly left the room. i overheard the conversations even evolve into mention of careers where these type of people frequently end up working. Careers where kind services are performed. Careers, unfortunately, that also do not pay particularly well. Of course these people do what they do for a reason, for an ideal and that keeps them doing what they do while the other greedy majority take advantage of this passion and keep the wages low. i am sure you can list 5 such careers without much thought at all.
Driving from one family event to another i was sideswiped on the highway. As i finally came to rest in the highway median i watched the car that had hit me go into oncoming traffic sending numerous cars to scatter before it finally went off the road itself. Unfortunately the driver of the causing car must have had a medical issue and was most likely not conscious through the whole ordeal. Only one car pulled over to help. At least ten cars had to struggle to avoid the vehicle driving on the highway in the opposite direction and countless others travelled by our two vehicles damaged on the edges of the highway. One pulled over to help.
And what do you think this character, this good Samaritan was like? Of course he was kind, and gentle in nature, and the nicest random person you could expect to meet. Several times he expressed regret that he could not help out more than he had. Inspirational.
Did this happen to me because of the conversation i had or as punishment for my commentary on humanity? No. This happened because this stuff happens every day. People acted how they acted because this is how they act every day. (it did clearly support my hypothesis though... just saying)
We are lucky to have that kind minority!
As Copenhagen rapidly approaches and this planet's leaders get together for a couple of weeks to come up with a plan to save our species from our current climate crisis i keep thinking about what got us into this situation. Billions of people on a daily basis making the selfish choice, the easy choice, the wrong choice. The vehicle you choose to drive, the food you choose to eat, the products you choose to buy. This has caused us to go beyond the tipping point of climate change and has put the human race in a situation of best case suffering and worst case extinction.
Maybe seeing this and studying this on a daily basis caused me to say what i did at that family get together. Maybe it was just living on this planet for over 3 decades. Maybe it was because i am a punk monk. But no matter the reasons, i have seem beautiful things in the life of this planet including at times in the human race and i want to see those things continue on and to be able to continue to come about long after i take my last breath.
i hope, i pray, i wish that there will be enough "good" people at those meetings in Copenhagen to save us all. What a Christmas present that would be.
11.01.2009
30
spring like temps
on all hallow's eve
where the warm wind removes
the few remaining leaves
they spin around
on the ground
making appropriately
spooky sounds
in the town that defines the scene
girls don their
slutty costumes
because just for one night
they are all allowed to
you can be
who you are
push up bra
painted scar
in the town that defines the scene
on all hallow's eve
where the warm wind removes
the few remaining leaves
they spin around
on the ground
making appropriately
spooky sounds
in the town that defines the scene
girls don their
slutty costumes
because just for one night
they are all allowed to
you can be
who you are
push up bra
painted scar
in the town that defines the scene
29
the nuclear promise was
nothing but a lie
the weapon to end wars
just started a whole bunch more
a new way to make energy
turned into the most dangerous waste
we're a bunch of bald monkeys
running an unending arms race
nothing but a lie
the weapon to end wars
just started a whole bunch more
a new way to make energy
turned into the most dangerous waste
we're a bunch of bald monkeys
running an unending arms race
10.28.2009
28
my soul's still
when i'm rolling on a board
the sound of spinning bearings
silences all sound
there's absolutely no point
and no one keeps score
i don't care if i land it
or just fall to the ground
when i'm rolling on a board
the sound of spinning bearings
silences all sound
there's absolutely no point
and no one keeps score
i don't care if i land it
or just fall to the ground
27
i'm tired of my heart
and my fists
i get too worked up
over meaningless shit
but until other people
begin to stand up
i'll be the one saying
enough is enough
...
i've seen too much
with these blue eyes
i'm tired of watching kids
sent off to die
they're not fighting for oil
or someone's freedom fries
they are fighting,
just trying to stay alive
...
the storms come
and then the storms go
while the rich watch on tv
the poor lose their homes
politicians will delay
until judgement day
but they don't know
that it was yesterday
...
to take pills
or cry myself to sleep
am i strong willed
or am i just as weak
i suppose either way
you can say what you say
'cause i'm stuck with myself
at the end of the day
and my fists
i get too worked up
over meaningless shit
but until other people
begin to stand up
i'll be the one saying
enough is enough
...
i've seen too much
with these blue eyes
i'm tired of watching kids
sent off to die
they're not fighting for oil
or someone's freedom fries
they are fighting,
just trying to stay alive
...
the storms come
and then the storms go
while the rich watch on tv
the poor lose their homes
politicians will delay
until judgement day
but they don't know
that it was yesterday
...
to take pills
or cry myself to sleep
am i strong willed
or am i just as weak
i suppose either way
you can say what you say
'cause i'm stuck with myself
at the end of the day
26
fuck baby boomers
those selfish over-consumers
the Beatles were a pop boy-band
the Beetle was a shitty tin can
you're economy rapers
10 years from wearing diapers
i don't care if you sit in your shit
because i'm sick and tired of dealing with it
you had your boom and you had your bang
and you'll all move to Florida when you're old and lame
but you'll be perched on your retirement home's rooves in your baseball hats and jeans
as the melting glaciers make Florida look like 2005 New Orleans
those selfish over-consumers
the Beatles were a pop boy-band
the Beetle was a shitty tin can
you're economy rapers
10 years from wearing diapers
i don't care if you sit in your shit
because i'm sick and tired of dealing with it
you had your boom and you had your bang
and you'll all move to Florida when you're old and lame
but you'll be perched on your retirement home's rooves in your baseball hats and jeans
as the melting glaciers make Florida look like 2005 New Orleans
10.25.2009
25
all things
yield to love
both hell below
and heaven above
the depths of space
and the limits of time
the future ahead
and the past behind
after my breath is gone
and my cells are undone
me and my love
will still be as one
yield to love
both hell below
and heaven above
the depths of space
and the limits of time
the future ahead
and the past behind
after my breath is gone
and my cells are undone
me and my love
will still be as one
24
your pathetic attempt to imitate
beat poetry to sell jeans
does not impress me
soda companies pretending
that people jumping into fountains are original
has not sold me
your use of underground iconography
to sell sneakers
will not work on me
the counter-culture has
and always will
remain free
beat poetry to sell jeans
does not impress me
soda companies pretending
that people jumping into fountains are original
has not sold me
your use of underground iconography
to sell sneakers
will not work on me
the counter-culture has
and always will
remain free
23
the heels shift your weight
just right
causing your lower back
to arch so,
forcing your ample breasts
and firm buttocks
to both thrust upward
your pale skin
working to highlight
your jet black hair
and supple lips
painted bright red
each step a graceful stretch
as your entire body undulates,
hips swaying with the precision
of a pendulum
hair bobbing at your shoulders
as you go
your eyes almost make me want to believe
that what they are saying
is the truth...
...and then you opened your mouth
all that practice and poise
all that seduction
gone in a sentence
just right
causing your lower back
to arch so,
forcing your ample breasts
and firm buttocks
to both thrust upward
your pale skin
working to highlight
your jet black hair
and supple lips
painted bright red
each step a graceful stretch
as your entire body undulates,
hips swaying with the precision
of a pendulum
hair bobbing at your shoulders
as you go
your eyes almost make me want to believe
that what they are saying
is the truth...
...and then you opened your mouth
all that practice and poise
all that seduction
gone in a sentence
22
why should i have to pretend
to be happy when a cop hands me a ticket?
why should i have to pretend
that i have ANY respect for my boss?
why should i have to pretend
that i don't like to swear?
why should i have to pretend
that i am not horny 90% of the time?
why should i have to pretend
that weed is bad but beer is good?
why should i have to pretend
that adulthood is any less fucked-up than childhood?
why should i have to pretend
that you are not an asshole?
why should i have to pretend
that i don't like to make-pretend anymore?
to be happy when a cop hands me a ticket?
why should i have to pretend
that i have ANY respect for my boss?
why should i have to pretend
that i don't like to swear?
why should i have to pretend
that i am not horny 90% of the time?
why should i have to pretend
that weed is bad but beer is good?
why should i have to pretend
that adulthood is any less fucked-up than childhood?
why should i have to pretend
that you are not an asshole?
why should i have to pretend
that i don't like to make-pretend anymore?
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