Rage Against the Machine and Mormonism

It has become a daily occurrence for me to notice at least one clean cut Mormon kid on the BYU-I campus wearing a Rage Against the Machine shirt. I have to admit, as a person who routinely wears his Rage shirt which was purchased in '99 after the release of Battle of Los Angeles, that it's comforting to know that other's enjoy their radically political rap-rock.

A brief history on Rage Against the Machine, they're known for their outspoken Chomsky loving rhetoric which flows through their heavy metal riffs; in fact, "the machine" is liberal double speak for "establishment." If you want to know what kind of band they are consider this, the official Rage Against the Machine website states that "following the 9/11 attacks, Clear Channel create[d] a list of 'songs with questionable lyrics.' RATM has the distinction of being the only band to have all its songs on the list."

Add that to the fact that 99% of Madison County voted for George W. Bush in 2004 and you have yourselves a culture erratic. Of course, it's not too odd to have political radicals, left or right wing, in the LDS church due to the neutrality stance in terms of politics. It's just a coincidence that the majority turn out to be right wing and/or constitutionalists.

Long story short, RATM if you want to play a show that will get you back in the spotlight fast come to Rexburg Idaho. You'll be playing in front of your fan base in a county where 99% of it's population see your political ideals as utter garbage. It's the perfect formula for the controversial show that will get you back on top.

John Denver Was A Confused Vampire

John Denver once said "Early to rise, early in the sack" this does not mean that he is simply a country boy. This slip up shows that the late John Denver was in fact a confused vampire, forever believing that it was opposite day. Which makes me afraid, is it possible that rural America and 70% of Republican states are in fact un-intelligent vampires? I believe this should be a true concern of the media in the presidential race, forget Romney's faith and the possibility that Obama maybe Islamic, half of the voting populace could be vampires. Does this not scare anyone?

Oh well, you heard it here first.

I Wish Global Warming Would Hurry Up...

...I mean seriously. I believed Al Gore when he said there was global warming on the horizon, why debate a man who invented this glorious Internet, I just wish it'd hurry up already. For that last two days here in Oregon, due to snow, I have been working on a mad case of cabin fever; using the dueling schools of thought in psychology as my entertainment. If only we as Oregonians could order up some of that global warming for the months of November through March we'd be set. Heck, let's have it year round so we can grow Mangoes.

Oh yeah, I think I just convinced myself to use hairspray, buy an SUV and raise methane releasing cows. Never underestimate the power of ones mind.

Happiness is Awesome

Dear cynical cesspool known as the Internet,

I am here to proclaim to all the antagonistcally negative people of the world that happiness is awesome. It matters not what mud has been slung leading up to the Iowa caucus or what inappropriate one-liner was said regarding whatever news article you've read because if you're not happy it ain't worth it.

This brings me to the real reason I blog, I feel it's responsible to mention these because I've already made note of the blog attributes I'd like to avoid. I blog to present the world with the small portions of life that make me happy, so in turn to spread happiness like the plague -- that's right a plague of pastel colored bunny rabbits bouncing around to a Bob Marley album, don't forget the PEZ.... man do I love PEZ.

In honor of the great Bob Marley, I'd like to end this entry with a quote; "Just can't live that negative way...make way for the positive day!" 'Til next time, CAPTAIN MIKE OUT! (Like Ryan Seacrest.)

The Second Entry is the Hardest

What should a scrawny intellectually stunted 20 something write about? How does said person top the previous post of flat-out awesomeness? I do not know the answers to the above questions, but I'm going to stumble my way around until I find it.

I currently have two sharpie marks on the tops of both hands signifying that I have made it through yet another hometown youth show. It has gotten difficult for myself to get excited due to the fact that it is a completely new wave of kids putting on shows and playing a different genre, this time synth-rock. Whenever I'm in these places I hear the little 15 year old kid in me say "go make fun of someone, throw an elbow and dance like a moron." Which, don't get me wrong, is still fun but when you're an "old timer" like me it can be an inner-dual between egos that can cause a headache that rivals that of a nanny after the children she supervises finds the hidden stash of pixy sticks and rockstars.

On a somewhat related note, as I was building cardio by walking extremely slow on an out-of-date treadmill at the athletic club I read an interesting article regarding Edvard Munch's admiration for the work of Soren Kierkegaard. The magazine that I was reading inferred that Edvard Munch's scream was in fact inspired by Kierkegaard's silent inner struggle. I read that a recurring theme in Kierkegaard's journal is that he is unable to confide in anyone and that no man may never fully know his story, thus perpetuating his emotional decline until he, in Munch's eyes, can do nothing but scream unto the deaf ears of pedestrians. Keep in mind this is the "hear-say" Mike Experience version of the article.

Considering that uplifting tale of a philospher, synth rock and trying to decide whether or not to act like a moron in public isn't that bad especially when you've been able to find one to confide in.