<p>this whole 'holiday season' everyone saw those bell ringing volunteers working it outside of all the big box stores in the name of the salvation army. above every little red donation jar thingy was a sign that read 'need knows no season'. every time i saw one i thought: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>if needs truly knows no season, where is the salvation army battalion of bell ringing volunteers the rest of the season?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>to me it sounds more like catchy marketing rather than an enacted vision.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Art Of Industry</i> by By The Grace Of God</p>

  

        
  I would guess they're spending the money raised at Christmas time. I would be more annoyed to see them constantly standing asking for money because I'd be left thinking they weren't getting on with spending it on helping people.

  Dunno though, just my 2 cents.

      
        
  i wouldn't say that's the MOST short sighted thing i've ever heard of. bringing a living t-rex back to mainland is way more shortsighted.

  but seriously, do you think that all the bell ringers are the ones that actually spend the money. man, they just send it off to people that are too afraid/greedy to actually get their hands dirty.

  they've stacks to move. they've got bills to pay.

      
        
  I'm a bit confused then... if you're saying the people who collect the money aren't the ones who spend it, why would you be worried about not seeing collectors more often? If the money is being spent by other people, why does the absence of bell ringers throughout the year represent "catchy marketing rather than an enacted vision"?

  I'm not trying to pick holes here, just trying to understand your point.

  I'm from the UK and we don't have bell-ringers here, so perhaps things are different over there. We do see the salvation army playing carols at Christmas time and collecting money then, and I think they come round the doors sometime during the year too. There's a salvation army just down the road from my house and I know that, despite not collecting money in the town centre all the time, they constantly run different things for the people in this estate and the one over the road.

<p><a href="http://37signals.com/svn/archives2/predicting_06_enterprise_is_the_new_legacy.php">the signal vs. noise folks absolutely get it.</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>By the end of 2006, it will be written that enterprise means bulky, expensive, dated, and golf.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>nearly everything that comes outta that blog is right on the money.</p>

<p><a href="http://daringfireball.net/">gruber</a> has a post about <a href="http://daringfireball.net/2005/11/restart_apache_applescript">how to restart your apache webserver on a mac using an applescript</a> instead of the terminal or the sharing sys pref. and in classic geek form, he goes to lengths to make it easier for him to do later. laziness as the driver for technical development. classic.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>So because I’m really lazy, I made an AppleScript that does this. It’s just 	one single line:</p>

  <code>do shell script "apachectl graceful" with administrator privileges</code>
</blockquote>

<p>i'll see your laziness and raise you a keyboard shortcut.</p>

<p>i followed all of john's instructions, but then decided that moving my mouse all the way up there and then selecting it out of the many options in the script menu ... ugh. i just couldn't be bothered.</p>

<p>so i did this. go to the apple menu. choose 'System Preferences'. from there choose 'Keyboard and Mouse'. click on the 'Keyboard Shortcuts' tab. near the bottom left corner, click the plus button. in the sheet that pops down enter these for the options:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153389202/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/153389202_60a04fd65f.jpg" style="width:400px;" alt="add shortcut"></a></p>

<ul>
  <li>Applications : All Applications</li>
  <li>Menu Title : Restart Apache</li>
  <li>Keyboard Shortcut : ⌘⌥⇧R</li>
  <li><em>hint. that last one is 'command option shift r'</em></li>
  <li>then press the 'add' button</li>
</ul>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153389213/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/62/153389213_7d636bbdda.jpg" style="width:400px;" alt="keyboard and mouse pref pane"></a></p>

<p>and there you have it. one shortcut to rule them all. you know, for all the times that i have to restart apache.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153389226/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/55/153389226_7b2e56c292_o.png" alt="script menu"></a></p>

<p>waitasecond, i restart apache like once every blue moon. and i just spent a couple hours on this. this might have been an awesomely inefficient use of time.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>I Try (Feat. Mary J. Blige)</i> by Talib Kweli</p>

<p>a friend of mine is going thru some hard times right now. so i told her what i do in the dark times to make it thru to the next light: comics and juice. [which, i know. i know. doesn't sound that out of the ordinary for me, but which comics you read at a time like this is really important.] she had mentioned how good the bottle of rum looked earlier, and i knew i had to intervene, but the book had to be just right. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785115315/103-5586185-0992649?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;n=507846&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">astonishing x-men : gifted</a>? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785118144/103-5586185-0992649?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">new avengers : breakout</a>? not <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593072937/103-5586185-0992649?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;n=507846&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">sin city</a>. not <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156389341X/103-5586185-0992649?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;n=507846&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">dark knight</a>. something <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401200605/104-0450687-5109534?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;n=507846&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">super hero</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1563899809/104-8107184-6346357?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;n=507846&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">or not</a>? i don't know. this is tough. she's not a big comic reader, so it has to be perfect. at least, the first one. if she wants to keep going then i can get a little more latitude to work with.</p>

<p>then the trees parted, the cobwebs were removed, the moon shined a bit brighter and all was clear. <em>things always get worse before they get better</em>. of course, why hadn't i seen this sooner? this book has been there for <em>me</em> before why not for other in the hour of need, too?</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeph_Loeb">jeph loeb</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Sale_%28artist%29">tim sale</a> have done lots of books together. all of which [that i've read, which is a lot] are good, but some rise above the rest a bit. <a href="http://comics.org/covers.lasso?SeriesID=14957">catwoman : when in rome</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1563894696/002-8333282-7691220?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;n=507846&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">batman : the long halloween</a>, etc. and one book in particular makes my list of 'go to in a pinch comics'; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785110623/002-5357226-5364045?v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;n=507846&amp;s=books&amp;v=glance">spider-man : blue</a>.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>jeph loeb Nov 17th 2005 </i> by premium version </p>

<p>but not today.</p>

<p>i've had this thought percolating for quite some time. years even. but i didn't want to believe it. for all the obvious reasons. but i've given in. so i've finally admitted to myself that i believe one of those feelings i've had for way too long without listening to.</p>

<p><span><em><strong>you shouldn't wait for girls.</strong></em></span></p>

<p>
  don't wait for them to call you.<br>
  don't wait for them to come over.<br>
  don't wait for them to start liking you.<br>
  don't wait for them to stop liking the sceazebags that they do.<br>
  don't wait for them to start recycling.<br>
  don't wait for them to believe that civilization is coming to a glorious crash.<br>
  don't wait for them to become vegan.<br>
  don't wait for them to stop asking you to go to church.<br>
  don't wait for them to get back from another state.<br>
  don't wait for them to quit their job.<br>
  don't wait for them to stop cheating on you.<br>
  don't wait for them to get back from another country.<br>
  but most of all, and i know i've said it before,<br>
  don't wait for them to call you<br>
  because. they. won't.
</p>

<p>these are the lessons i've been taught over and over by lots of girls in my life. the bigger let down is not the lessons, but how fucking long its taken me to learn them.</p>

<p>i've also learned that hearts aren't made of glass, they're made of muscle and blood and something else. and they don't so much as break as bend and tear. we have what it takes to keep it together; and move on. but i often believe that they're like a red christmas ball and are fragile.</p>

<p>i knew i would do this, but i forgot some <a href="http://veganstraightedge.com/articles/2005/11/19/2/top-ten-records/">glaringly obvious additions to the list</a>. here they are, which i know puts me over top ten (11).</p>

<ul>
  <li>rage against the machine : s/t</li>
  <li>gorilla biscuits : start today</li>
  <li>avail : one wrench / over the james</li>
  <li>youth of today : disengage</li>
  <li>bold : looking back</li>
  <li>boy sets fire : the day the sun went out</li>

</ul>but most importantly there two demo / EPs of friends’ bands from tallahassee, fl. they were:<ul> <li>i have dreams : three days before christmas</li> <li>a new kind of american saint : take a shit</li> </ul>they were only 15 and 16 years old when they recorded the i have dreams stuff. and a few later on the ankoas stuff. i have dreams was so powerful and emotional for me every time i saw i was moved to tears. and not “oh, i’ve got something in eye” tears, more like full on weeping. those bands are sooo good and never really released that i’ve decided to give you their songs right here. please, download and share. you can find their lyrics here and here.<ul> <li>i have dreams</li> <li>three days til christmas</li> <li>countless rooftops</li> <li>in good hands</li> <li>i don’t imagine you and i anymore</li> <li>thank you for having the courage to help a friend change his life for the better</li> <li>a new kind of american saint</li> <li>intro</li> <li>don’t let these tight pants fool you, i’m all heart motherfucker</li> <li>there’s only one rule in this town (aka knock knock knocking on mosh’s door)</li> <li>jesus wasn’t straightedge, but i am</li> </ul>

<p>these are all .m4a files. which means they'll definitely play in <a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/">iTunes</a> which if you don't have you're silly. and they will prolly play in some other players, too.i have dreams was so amazing that i once sat on a greyhound for 30 hours followed by another 6 hours in a car from philly to tally to see their reunion / last show on december 22, 2001. seriously, i showed up 3 minutes before they went on. watched the best five songs of my life. immediately turned around and left. my dear friends leslie and kate from atlanta were around for part of that adventure which was great. i think we stole some flags from yards, too. it was right after 9-11. good times.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <em>Holding Out for A Hero</em> by Frou Frou</p>

  

        
  yeah, I was suprised there was no ratm in there.  and zero hip hop?  weird, shane.  also, have you seen that fuckin' suv add with CIV's "Can't wait one minute more" in it?  it made me wanna break something.  so I punched ingrid in the nose.  she was a little upset.

      
        
  ps.  I can't believe I left these two out of my top 11...here's 12 and 13
  12.  Helmet - Meantime
  13.  Curb - demo

      
        
  thanks for posting the tallahassee love.

  did you ever get to hear new ethic?  (or, i guess xnew ethicx?)

  that was the band of most of the ihd kids before ihd.

  joshua*

      
        
  When i listen for the very first time to I have dreams, a "freezing" feeling come to me, i can say now that demo is one of THE records of my life, everytime i listen it, the same feeling came to me.

  im Pablo Noel, from a little country called Chile, on the Bottom of South America, i dont remember exactly the date i listen for the very first time the demo but think i have 17 or 18, i have straight edge from the 14/15 years old, now im 23 and still have it, and never regret of it, i say this just for the record, one song can make a change in places who we never imagine.

  cheers.

      
        
  I find it extremely weird that at 6:30 in the morning on December 22nd 2005 I suddenly get the urge to search I Have Dreams in google unaware that it was the same date as their reunion show 4 years ago...thats odd. Whats even more odd is that you said you took a car ride from Philly all the way down South to get there 3mins before they go on then leave right afterwards because my friends Ian and Maria also drove to that show from Philly and got there right before it started and left right afterwards...thats pretty amazing, anyway if you wanna chat or something you can message me on aim:hxcchris.

  -Chris

      
        
  how do you know the dudes from ankoas? who do you know?  hardly anyone i've met has even ever heard of those bands and they are two of my favorites. one because i know some dudes and two because they are so goddamn good! thats pretty awesome though, and good of you to post the songs for download. spread love, its the brooklyn way!

<p>i got a mac mini. it's going to be replacing my existing web server for <a href="http://veganstraightedge.com"> this site </a> and for <a href="http://zinedistro.org">zinedistro</a> (which i hope to be re-re-relaunching yet again). both are currently running on a beige g3 233mhz with a 4gb hd running mac os x 10.2.8 (the highest it can go). so a head's up. sometime in the relatively nearish future, there might be a window of downtime. i know both of you that read this regularly are gonna be bummed. so i apologize deeply and sincerely.</p>

<p>but did i mention mac mini? eh, eh?</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153385628/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/67/153385628_7ef8249137_o.png" style="width:400px;" alt="mac mini back"></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153385645/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/70/153385645_eb8f5e6940_o.png" style="width:400px;" alt="mac mini front"></a></p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Things We Say (Written By Gorilla Biscuits)</i> by Defiance, Ohio</p>

<p>so, i've been thinking about doing this for quite some time and i've been slowly putting it together over the past couple months. which means that i'm fairly sure i'm not forgetting glaringly obvious additions to the list. and yes, i know that i have two against me! records. well, eff you. i couldn't decide which i liked better. so they're a package deal in my book. they are in no particular order. and <em>EVERYONE</em> knows that top ten lists have 11 items. duh.</p>

<ul>
  <li> <a href="http://www.propagandhi.com/records/">propagahndi : less talk, more rock</a><br><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153388033/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/153388033_9f9611bc1a_o.jpg" style="width:200px;" alt="less talk, more rock"></a>

</li> <li> refused : the shape of punk to come
</li> <li> by the grace of god : perspective
</li> <li> minor threat : discography
</li> <li> snapcase : progression through unlearning
</li> <li> operation ivy : discography
</li> <li>against me! : as the eternal cowboy / reinventing axl rose
</li> <li> saves the day : through being cool
</li> <li> at the drive in : in / casino / out
</li> <li> kid dynamite : kid dynamite
</li> <li> sleater-kinney : dig me out
</li> </ul>

<p>so what are yours? please add them in the comments.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Slurring The Rhythms</i> by Against Me!</p>

  

        
  I'll give you my top ten most important albums...these albums changed/saved my life and made me who I am today:

  (in no particular order)
  01.  Nirvana - Bleach
  02.  They Might Be Giants - s/t
  03.  Screeching Weasel - Boodgadaboogadaboogada
  04.  Gorilla Biscuits - s/t
  05.  Propagandhi - Less Talk More Rock
  06.  Candiria - Surrealistic Madness
  07.  Mr. Bungle - s/t
  08.  V/A - Soundbomin' 2
  09.  Vandals - The Quickening
  10.  Green Day - 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour

  Honorable mention:
  01.  Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
  02.  Dead Kennedys - In God We Trust Inc.
  03.  Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
  04.  Between the Buried and Me - Silent Circus
  05.  Earth Crisis - Destroy The Machines
  06.  Hagfish - Rocks Your Lame Ass
  07.  NOFX - Punk In Drublic
  12.  Nuclear Rabbit - Vicuna
  13.  Teen Idols - s/t

  ps.  Have you seen that car add with CIV's "Can't Wait One Minute More"?  It made me wanna throw up.  gross.

      
        
  Here are my top "ten" most important albums.  They changed/saved my life and made me who I am today.  Of course there are boat loads more, but these are the top ten (in no particular order):

  01.  They Might Be Giants - s/t
  02.  Nirvana - Bleach
  03.  Screeching Weasel - Boogadaboogadaboogada
  04.  Gorilla Biscuits - s/t
  05.  Mr. Bungle - s/t
  06.  Various Artists - Soundbombing 2
  07.  Green Day - 1039 Smooth
  08.  Snapcase - Progression Through Unlearning
  09.  Propagandhi - Less Talk More Rock
  10.  Candiria - Surrealistic Madness
  11.  Bad Religion - Suffer

      
        
  n8.

  i feel like all of these make perfect sense to me for you. we overlap a bit and that makes sense. if i made a 'mixtape' using just those records i would see you in chord and drum beat.
  xo.

      
        
  01. The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving
  02. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
  03. Propagandhi - Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes
  04. A.F.I. - Black Sails in the Sunset
  05. The Mountain Goats - Tallahassee
  06. The Misfits - American Psycho (I know, I know, but I'm being honest)
  07. The Misfits - Static Age
  08. Emperor - IX Equilibrium
  09. Saves the Day - Stay What You Are
  10. NOFX - Punk in Drublic (It's my first punk album, kinda started everything)

      
        
  6lack sa66ath, masters of reality
  screeching weasel, kill the musicians
  propagandh, less talk more rock
  DRI, thrashzone
  converge, petitioning the empty sky
  weakerthans, fallow
  rage against the machine, (self-titled)
  dead kennedys, frankenchrist
  dissection, storm of lights bane
  bouncing souls, argyle 7"

      
        
  top ten records in no particular order probably is...

  TRIAL- are these our lives

  SAGE FRANCIS- personal journals

  BOUNCING SOULS- hopeless romantic

  AGAINST ME- reinventing axl rose

  ACID BATH- when the kite string pops

  MISFITS- earth ad

  DEAD KENNEDYS- bedtime for democracy

  GORILLA BISCUITS- s/t

  MURDER CITY DEVILS-in name and blood

  RISE AGAINST-  the unraveling technically since thats what got me started listening to them but their newest record "siren songs of the counter culture" is their best

  OPERATION IVY- discography (of course)

      
        
  In no particular Order.

  1.  Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come.

  2.  HORSE the Band - R. Boralax

  3.  Godspeed you Black Emperor! - F#A#oo

  4.  Mono - Formica Blues

  5.  Rachel's -  Selenography

  6.  A Silver Mt. Zion -  He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms

  7.  From Ashes Rise - NIghtmares

  8.  Minor Threat - Discography

  9.  Scholastic Deth - Revenge of the Nerds EP

  10. Misfits - Static Age

      
        
  Some of these I don't really listen to anymore, but they're still really important to me.

  1. Trial - Are These Our Lives?

  2. Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today

  3. Unbroken - Life. Love. Regret.

  4. Defiance, Ohio - Share What Ya Got

  5. Against Me! - Crime/Axl Rose

  6. Minor Threat - Discography

  7. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come

  8. Operation Ivy - Energy

  9. Youth of Today - Disengage ep

  10. Discount - Half-Fiction

  I left so much out, like the bands that introduced me to this music in the first place - green day, saves the day, and later on earth crisis, good clean fun, strife, chain, the pist, tragedy....and current favorites like rosa and the pipebomb. Top ten, booo.

      
        
  If shane can add more, than I feel I can add just three more.

  Black Eyes - Black Eyes

  At the Drive-in - Relationship of Command

  Stars of the Lid - Gravitational Pull Vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life

  ....and that's that.

<p>look, i know. i'm very very behind on updating it. which is what has kept me from blogging other things. i felt like it would be too discontinuous. but some other things have been percolating to the fore. so there it is. the rest of the trial trip journal will be up soon. maybe this weekend? i don't know. i don't know if i'll have enough time.</p>

<p><img src="http://static.flickr.com/32/62085383_11a47885ba.jpg" alt="friends don't let friends draw their own x's." style="width:400px;"></p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Lean On Me</i> by Bill Withers</p>

<p>
  i presume you're back<br>
  you should eat golden era<br>
  i miss you so much
</p>

<p><img src="http://static.flickr.com/26/64629443_458d07c318_o.jpg" alt="sailor hat"></p>

<p>i know it's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku">not quite right</a>, but it'll work.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Me And A Gun</i> by Tori Amos</p>

<p>fri 10.7.2k5</p>

<p>one of the kids from the show the night before said he could give us a ride out of pendleton to the tri-city area (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, WA). we took it but not all the way there b/c it would commit us to going straight through to seattle all the way through washington. personally, i thought going to portland then up the coast was a smarter bet. so we got out at this exit that had a couple 'truck stops' (which is being very very liberal with the definition of 'truck stop')</p>

<p>we kick it back and forth between the gas stations a couple times with zero luck. try the ramp. bubkiss. so back to the gas stations. finally decide to sit down at one and eat some food. more pesto and bread. seriously, this pesto is amazing. for any pesto, let alone for a store bought one. [i'll take a picture of it later.] then we get kicked out of there. so the ramp is our only option. work the top for a while. nothing. then the bottom. nothing.</p>

well, we could walk up to that rest area two miles down the road?

at least we won't get kicked out and it'll be a change of scenery.

i've realized that a lot of decisions are mad while hitch hiking for the sake of 'a change of scenery.'

<p>so we start hoofing it. we only make it about half a mile before this truck stops. but since it takes forever for trucks to stop we didn't know if he was stopping for us. he doesn't get out to fix anything, so we're likes, yep, must be for us. fingers cross. then we jog up there.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>
    us: where are you heading?<br>
    him: olympia, wa. you?<br>
    us: either portland or seattle. eventually seattle.<br>
    him: i can take you all the way into portland. i go right through there.<br>
    us: do you have room for two?<br>
    him: yep. hop in.
  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>i take the bed first and james is shotgunner / talker. this guy is very much the prototypical trucker. loud. dirty. gross. ...roundish. and loves to hear himself talk. we stop at rest stop. pee. switch seats and get back to it.</p>

<p>now i'm up front. talk talk talk. james and i decide to eat some more bread and pesto and nuts and dried fruit. after we've be driving for a while dude decides he wants to eat, too. so we're rifling through his stuff looking for his food which is a box of goldfish or cheezits or something equally gross and barely qualifying as food. oh, and then there's a can of chili. what're you gonna eat that with guy? i don't really see any cutlery. 'there should be a fork or something in that cabinet.' james only finds a butter knife. 'that'll work.' ugh. this was the most trucker moment i've ever seen. he was eating chili. cold. out of a can. with a butter knife. while smoking. and ashing on the floor. classy.</p>

<p>but you know, a ride's a ride, right? actually, he wasn't too bad once he was done eating. he gave us a lot of stories about his life, his hitch hiking adventures, his family, wife (and multiple ex-wives). basically lots of sage like advice. he told us all about this gorge and plans for a casino. which, btw, the gorge was beautiful. then we roll into pdx. he drops us on some ramp. </p>

<p>we walk around. go to veganoplis. eat some awesomeness. then decide to not hang out in pdx anymore and just get back on the road. try working some ramp a bit. no dice.</p>

<p>fuck it. lets just take greyhound.</p>

<p>so we did. a whole 26 dollars. then i call hannah who is going out but tells us to come over and crash out or whatever we want. near the greyhound station we asked some old guy how to get to the u district. and as he was giving us directions, he just offers to take us there. score.</p>

<p>caught up with hannah a bit. met her roommate. was reminded how most kids are in college by some dumb boys that were over there. read. wrote. slept. a bed and shower was real nice.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Slow Song</i> by Sleater-Kinney</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thesongswesing/54472977/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/24/54472977_a004d5a012.jpg" alt="me at trial by alex"></a></p>

<p>i couldn't hold the goofy face i was trying to make, so it ended up as this.</p>

<p>Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/thesongswesing/">bikeridesandhighfives</a>.</p>

<p>rurs 10.6.2k5</p>

<p><a href="http://veganstraightedge.com/articles/2006/3/7/2/james-miska-saol-ceol/">james</a> slept well. i did not.</p>

<p>i've learned that i don't really sleep well when i'm traveling. thems the breaks, i guess.</p>

<p>we had the breakfast of champions at subway / taco bell inside of <a href="http://www.tatravelcenters.com/">T.A.</a> our own food, not theirs. dates, pineapples, cashews, mangos, bread and pesto. we rule.</p>

<p>tried for two and half hours at two different doors at T.A. to get a ride from truckers and the what not. eventually i got told "you can't be sitting there with a sign." james was told he couldn't hitchhike there, but he had spotted 'punk looking kid' earlier, waited for him to come out, then talked him up a bit. got a ride with him to go watch a movie [a history of violence], then to pendleton, or. where he was playing a show. his name is krist. he's vegetarian. he performs under the name '<a href="http://myspace.com/southerly">southerly</a>.' he drives a mini van and he's been on tour for 26 months straight. intense. i was gonna try to see him in seattle, b/c i really liked him in pendleton. but seattle had been so great and so many kids i didn't have time to. sorry krist. but i'm getting ahead of myself.</p>

<p>we asked around for a ride at the pendleton show. krist asked for us on stage. he was really really nice to us. pendleton was a sleeping little town. the scene seemed really forced. like they didn't really wanna be there. so we stayed with the kid that was putting up krist. we got some food at the store first. the cashier woman asked me if i wanted her to ring up my juice now. and i said "no, it's cool. i'm good." and it worked. IT FUCKEN WORKED!</p>

<p>we had some pasta with red sauce which is totally totally generic tour food, i know, but it really hit the spot. i fell asleep early. everyone else watched the david cross dvd.</p>

<p>wed 10.5.2k5</p>

<p>we took the 72 bus from in front of uprock to <a href="http://www.google.com/local?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;client=safari&amp;rls=en-us&amp;q=transit+center&amp;near=Ogden,+UT&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=locald&amp;radius=0.0&amp;latlng=41223056,-111973056,10380789585458871410">ogden transit centre</a>. walked about two miles down the highway to flying j. at flying j, 2 people sat down and talked us a bit. they were cramping our steez, making us look like we needed a ride for four, which is near impossible to get, instead of a ride for 2. while we were eating our dates and cashews and mango tango, they asked "what are you guys, vegan?"  ...yes. so i scared them away.</p>

<p>i saw a good nice looking kid, the kind you could take home to the parents, with montana plates [granted we weren't going to montana, but we were going north to the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=salt+lake+city,+ut&amp;ll=41.178073,-111.991796&amp;spn=0.031729,0.066210&amp;hl=en">15 / 84</a> split] so i talked him for a ride up to the split. he agreed. his name was john. he was a mormon. he was in slc for conference [his second one]. talked to us about religion, the church the whole time. he missioned with the mong people in milwaukee and had just gotten back so was plenty excited to talk about it. he went to school and byu idaho.</p>

<p>at the 84 w / 15 n split we tried 2 gas stations [got kicked outta one] and the on-ramp twice. we went a little crazy on the ramp, getting cold and bored and down. but then we remembered that this is better than any day at ANY job. so we started dancing around, being more animated and doing spin kicks.</p>

<p>and that's when adam stopped.</p>

<p>adam was driving from austin, tx to snake river, id. he was in subaru impresza. with turbo. he was totally a street drag racing kid. he like to go 80-90 mph the whole time. which helped us make some lost time. let me tell you he has THE.WORST.TASTE.IN.MUSIC.EVER. seriously, people still listen to techno? he dropped us at a T.A. just before boise, id.</p>

<p>tried for a ride a bit. gave up til morning. went to scout out a good sleeping spot. right next to the T.A. was a <a href="http://www.shiloinns.com/Idaho/boise_airport.html">shilo inn</a>. we almost were able to get on the roof, but instead we slept outside in this little enclave that blocked the wind really well and was out of sight of the windows. it was a really sweet spot. i felt safe. well, safe-ish.</p>

<p>i've got a gigantor redux of my trip so far in the works. i don't have time to type it here at the coffee shop, but its written already in my notebook.</p>

<p>suffice to say, its been so fucken amazing this whole weekend. it felt like this kind of thing [ hardcore / punk rock / vegan straightedge / whatever ] is indeed special and important. its felt very very 1996. in a good way.</p>

<p>more soon.</p>

<p>i'm going to pdx today. i'm alive and safe. thank you for your concern. i'll be in salt lake in a week or two. first is pdx, then arcata, then sf, then santa cruz.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153384723/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/46/153384723_e27cf3c8e8.jpg" alt="route from salt lake to seattle"></a></p>

<p>me and my buddy <a href="http://veganstraightedge.com/articles/2006/3/7/2/james-miska-saol-ceol/">james</a> are hitchhiking outta here in a couple minutes out to seattle for the trial reunion show. actually, i'm mainly going for the <a href="http://www.mightyo.com/">vegan donuts</a> and james' sweet sweet company. then i / we are gonna hitch down the coast to santa cruz. all the while <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&amp;friendID=656212&amp;Mytoken=106DDF02-1510-1329-227778C2E216AEE921005687">alpha matt</a> and <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&amp;friendID=2496684&amp;Mytoken=A2487FD6-AFE2-58E0-E2C3E007D880B98321494673">katie</a> are hitching outta here to santa cruz where they'll be meeting up with their ride in a van up the coast to trial. stoked. we were gonna race in teams of two out to santa cruz, but there isn't room for us in the van. oh well.</p>

<p>in other news, i fought with cingular for two hours yesterday and it looks like the only to turn my phone back on is to get a new number, which i don't want, all b/c of that stupid merger. big stupid mergers are sooo 1999. when are they gonna learn? so the (a)moral of the story is, i won't have a cell phone anymore. i'm sorry. the only way to reach me will be email, or this weblog.</p>

<p>so, i gotta go now. please try not to worry too much. i've done this many times over and i'm always safe and smart. <a href="http://scripts.cgispy.com/newsboard.cgi?action=view&amp;num=2&amp;user=script">besides, threepio will look after me</a>.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Bout Time We Give Something A Try</i> by One Reason</p>

<p>a bigger write up will come in the next day or two, but for now just know this: if its possible to have a perfect day, yesterday was damn fucking close.</p>

<p>some highlights: protest, bucket drum brigade, 'taking the streets', none of us getting arrested, guerrilla mic grab speeches, 'no war but class war', 'no blood or oil', 'all power to the people', bday party, bday kisses, trampopoline, backyard boat, tiki tiki torches, tango (mango style), dance floor, cobbler, chocochip bookis cookies, midnight movie : the end of suburbia, fast clear out, fast clean up.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes</i> by Propagandhi</p>

<p>
  huddled by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave_radio#Shortwave_listening">shortwave</a>.<br>
  cheering on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Liberation_Army">b.l.a.</a><br>
  we cried for the ones at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre">ludlow</a><br>
  wrote songs about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Commune">those beautiful months in 1871</a>.
</p>

<p>
  i'd like to think we've done our best, because we've been scared many a time.<br>
  but <a href="http://www.crimethinc.com/">have never given in</a>.
</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Milk Crates</i> by Rosa</p>

<p>i still mean it. your presence is more important to me than your presents.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganstraightedge/153385827/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/54/153385827_bac1cfe33e_o.gif" alt="might mouse"></a></p>

<p>but it was still a swell present.</p>

steff crashycrashy: Are you scrolling all over the world?
shane becker: i am.
steff crashycrashy: vroom
shane becker: mighty scroll ball, i bow to thee.

i got a mighty mouse for my bday from steff.

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>we're the shit</i> by James Miska</p>

<p>i like to say that <a href="http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/">veganism</a> is my health insurance. b/c aside from a <a href="http://wisdomtools.com/">2 month</a> window in 2001, i haven't had health insurance since high school. and even when i was younger it was spotty, b/c we didn't exactly have a lot of money. my mom can testify to this (this was the thing that convinced her that me being vegan wasn't so crazy): i don't really get sick any more since becoming vegan. it's (<a href="http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000227.htm">!</a>) not like its a perfect track record, but it's not like before where i'd get sick for days to weeks at a time. i remember carrying cough drops and syrup with me everyday to school all of junior high and early high school. i would get a chest cold late fall and have it til baseball season. every year.</p>

<p>then i went vegan (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_August">august 9, 1995</a> ... the same day Netscape launched IPO). i didn't get sick that fall/winter. and then again the next. that's when my mom noticed. <em>'wait a second, shane, you didn't get this year or last.'</em> that's when she when she decided it wasn't crazy.</p>

<p>like every rule there are exceptions. i do get a little under the weather sometimes. and even a little sick occasionally. like maybe once a year. only every few years top do i actually puke.</p>

<p>that was last night. i was walking from the kitchen to the living room when all the sudden i said (in a whimper of voice) 'i don't feel so good.' then all the sudden i was on fire with a fever. so i curled up in a sleeping bag. freezing and shaking while everyone was in just tee shirts. i was too cold slash woozy slash cold again to even read from the giant stack of comics i had right next to me. then... uh oh. i think i need to get up from the couch. i start walking to the bath while telling my body not to throw up yet. i look at nate and say 'not gooood.' make it into the bath, see the first piece of porcelain and then there's no holding back. all the lettuce from <a href="http://pfchangs.com/">p.f. chang's</a> i had earlier during <a href="http://www.fox.com/oc/">the o.c.</a> came right back up. i know, i know, i really should've aimed for the toilet, but my body saw a giant open chasm or porcelain. there was no stopping it. if i would've tried for the toilet, i would've gotten all of the carpet / rug and the toilet seat lid and stuff. it was for the best, i think.</p>

<p>then after that, like immediately after, i was world's better. still had my fever which i slept / sweated off. but by the time i woke up this morning i was all fixed.</p>

<p>so the moral of the story (even though i don't believe in morality) is veganism keeps me healthy.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Dead Ends</i> by By the Grace of God</p>

<p>i accidentally beleted this post about my time in arizona. so i'll try to recreate it the best i can. </p>

<p>i had a lot of fun. ate a lot of salad with <a href="http://www.veganessentials.com/catalog/annies-goddess-dressing.htm">goddess dressing</a>. ate <a href="http://www.google.com/local?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=new+jersey+pizza&amp;near=Flagstaff,+AZ&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=locald&amp;radius=0.0&amp;latlng=35198056,-111650556,16095999744988921240">vegan pizza</a> (cheese and pepperoni). ate thai veggie pizza. met a couple new kids: <a href="http://myspace.com/xmelx/">melanie</a> and <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&amp;friendID=3516770&amp;Mytoken=4AF799F7-56D0-4D08-A5E55BCFDE6C4C3A850836031">jane</a>. read most of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assata_Shakur">assata shakur's</a> autobiography, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1556520743/qid=1127415559/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9732007-0766245?v=glance&amp;s=books&amp;n=507846">assata</a>. read quite a bit of a book called 'the prophet' teej and steff recommended. we went to the grand canyon. it was majestic. more pictures of that later. i was reminded out soul sucking and depressing college dorms are. cinder blocks and fluorescent lights, do not a home make.</p>

<p>but the most amazing thing that happened was that i was re-reminded how much i'm in love with my roommates, <a href="http://veganstraightedge.com/articles/2005/4/22/3/la-casa-bicicleta/">my house</a>, and my town. who would have ever thought that i'd like salt lake city so much. but good things are starting to happen and i've never been in on the ground floor of building a scene or community or whatever. i'm no longer in a hurry to move away</p>

<p>i also went to a barber shop and got my hair cut which i like to do every few years. barber shops are a rare dying breed. and they're so sweet.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <i>Bastardo</i> by Charlotte Hatherley</p>

<p><a href="http://audio.theresistancearmy.com/bands/2/james-miska">James Miska</a> : <a href="http://audio.theresistancearmy.com/albums/13/live-at-boing-992005/by/james-miska"> Live at Boing 9.9.2006</a></p>

<p>On Sept 9, 2005 Boing! had a little house show. Some friends playing acousticy music with some clap-a-longs, tambourines, shared drums, et al. Lots of laughter. Lots of fun. My friend, <a href="http://crashycrashy.blogspot.com/">Steff</a>, brought her sweet little DV cam for me to record the show. Let me tell you, the sound quality is suh-weet. This is me sharing with you my dear friend James' music with you. Download it freely. Share it to your heart's content. All the songs titles were made up by me, not James, mainly based on some lyric from each song.</p>

<ul>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/01-raise-your-glasses.mp3">01 Raise Your Glasses [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/02-bloomington-backwoods.mp3">02 Bloomington Backwoods [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/03-47-times.mp3">03 47 Times [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/04-of-bicycles-and-butterknives-graveyards-and-a-grand-vision-of-things.mp3">04 Of Bicycles And Butterknives (Graveyards And A Grand Vision Of Things) [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/05-the-airplane-song.mp3">05 The Airplane Song [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/06-still-sleeps-tonight.mp3">06 Still Sleeps Tonight [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/07-the-clap-a-long-song.mp3">07 the clap a long song [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/08-the-intersection.mp3">08 The Intersection [live]</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/james-miska/live-at-boing-9-9-2005/09-seriously-who-gives-a-fuck?-youre-wasting-your-life-thinking-about-it.mp3">09 Seriously, Who Gives A Fuck? You're Wasting Your Life Thinking About It. [live]</a></li>
</ul>

<p>And as a bonus, here's about half or so of Josh's last song called Jim Crowe Was a Homophobe.</p>

<ul>
  <li><a href="http://theresistancearmy.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/bands/joshua-faulkner/10-jim-crowe-was-a-homophobe.mp3">Jim Crowe Was a Homophobe</a></li>
</ul>

<p><strong>they're so pretty!</strong></p>

<p>don't you just wanna hang out and be pals with them. you could cuddle, and play games, talk about issues... and they're vegan</p>

<p> <img width="480" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Manatee_with_calf.PD.jpg" alt="beautiful sea cow"> </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>
    Although it does not have any natural predators, human expansion has reduced its natural habitat in the coastal marsh areas and many manatees are injured by the propellers of outboard motor boats.
  </p>
  <p>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manatee">wiki</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>maybe 12 is shooting too high. maybe 4 is more accurate.</p>

<p>if you didn't know and if you care, september 24th is a national (maybe global, but prolly just national) day of action (which is code for lots of vigils, marches, speakers and other forms of <em>inaction</em>) against the war in iraq. i don't know who called for or whatever, but it does seem to be the date that other cities are doing stuff, too. so in salt lake, there's some rally / march / more rally with speakers and music. so if that sounds like you're kind of fun, see you there. or not.</p>

<p>either way if you go to that or not, we're having a birthday party at my house for me, my roomie nate, our neighbor chris, teej (in spirit, as he'll be in cupertino), robert (i think) and andrew (i think). but definitely for me, nate and chris. so if you're reading this, you're are invited. if you're reading this and don't know where i live, write me or call me and i'll decide if i wanna tell you that.</p>

<p>so why would you wanna come to this party? well, there'll be bomb ass rap songs (not actually bomb ass rap songs, per se, just good fun music that may or may not include bomb ass rap songs. let see you post something and get away with saying 'bomb ass rap songs' four times, sucka!), there's a tramapoline, there's a dance floor, there'll be a canopy of xmas lights, tiki torches, awesome vegan eats, sweet sweet company, cute bois and gyrls. i mean, what else do you really need? boos? i already said cute bois and gyrls. oh, booze? that's boring and if you can't have without it than you're pretty boring, too. but its byo, i guess.</p>

<p>if you have any music requests put them in now in the comments and i'll be sure to get them on the list.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <em>Turnstitle </em>by Hot Water Music.</p>

<p>so i've arrived in flagstaff, az to hang out with my buddy, <a href="http://myspace.com/xsadiehawkinsx">courtney</a> for a few minutes. it pretty nice down here from what i've seen so far. not nearly as desolate desert middle of nowhere as i was expecting. some highlights:</p>

<ul>
  <li>18 hours on greyhound == not positive</li>
  <li>getting two seats to yourself on greyhound for 18 hours == a little more posi</li>
  <li>greyhound pats you down or searches with metal detectors now</li>
  <li>they do the worst job ever at both of those things</li>
  <li>i put my pocket knife in my shoe twice and got it on no problem</li>
  <li>bringing produce is a good idea. makes you feel like less of a slug.</li>
  <li>four and a half hour layover in vegas suck</li>
  <li>vegas is the worst place ever</li>
  <li>i tried to go to the vegan donut place in vegas on said layover</li>
  <li>it was closed</li>
  <li>i got in an argument with a lame security guard (is there any other kind?) in vegas greyhound station.</li>
  <li>proceeded to tell her she was such a <em>good worker</em> for <em>just doing her job</em>

</li> <li>today i’m going to a barber shop, b/c none of my friends cut my hair before i left and i feel like a schmuck with a starter kit, plus barber shops are fun and i haven’t been to one in years.</li> </ul>

<p>this is the first time i've really been forced to post from the built in admin section of wordpress and i'm really impressed. usually i use marsedit which is bomb tack u lar. but for being a web interface, this is pretty dope, too. i'm really stoked on the <a href="http://asymptomatic.net/wp/2005/08/18/1898/better-every-day/">1.6 version of wordpress</a>.</p>

<p>Currently playing in iTunes: <em>Moving Pictures </em>by Fall Out Boy</p>