To The Metal

This is the last time I’ll wait.
I forced my self here.
Listened to all I can take.
(I try and wash it away.)
I still remember the fallout that can’t be erased.
(Bite my tongue now.)
I can’t believe all the ways that you hold me I break.

This is the world that you burn.
This is the life that you waste.
How does it feel on your own, now that you’re pushing me away?

Cast out the storm in my head I’ve tripped and fell in, caught in my conscience again.
(I try to push it away)
In case you forget I’ll boldly just let it all fade.
(search the silence)
I can’t believe all the lies that you tell me I break.

This is the world that you burn.
This is the life that you waste.
How does it feel on your own, now that you’re pushing me away?
away
away
away

(This is the world that you burn.) You’re pushing me away.
(These are the lives you waste.) You’re pushing me away.
(How does it feel?) I still remember the fallout.
(How does it feel?) I can’t believe all the ways that you break.

This is the world that you burn.
This is the life that you waste.
How does it feel on your own, now that you’re pushing me away?

This is the world that you burn.
(I can’t believe all the ways that you hold me I break.)
This is the life that you waste.
How does it feel on your own, (I can’t believe all the lies that you tell me I break.) now that you’re pushing me away?
away
away
I can’t believe all the ways that I break.

Listening to the radio on the way home yesterday, I heard Mayor Mike Bloomberg say that the solution to the energy problem is for Americans to use less energy.

We, the greatest, most powerful nation on the planet needs to… use less?

Sure, that sounds great to Liberals and environmentalist weenies who see the world through rose colored glasses… but realistically we need to accept the fact that the population of this planet is only going to rise and we must make plans now to accomodate that growth.

Neither Republicans or Democrats have any solution beyond catering to their flock enough to steal another vote. I know this because neither side is doing a damned thing to:

• Increase domestic drilling…
• Increase domestic refining…
• Increase the use of alternative sources such as Ethanol, fuel cell, or biodiesel technology…
• Cut or eliminate taxes on energy and energy production…

Any one of those would have a direct effect on the price of energy, put more money into our pockets, and possibly make it so we can enjoy driving just to drive again… for decades to come.

Instead we have idiot politicians voting to ‘cap the fuel tax’ instead of eliminate it, or suggest that we use less energy, or propose taxing the profits of oil companies. None of that will do anything to significantly lower the cost of energy. That momentary thrill of sticking it to big oil will be rapidly lost when the cost of those taxes are immediately passed on to you and I.

Better dust off the skateboards folks, because if nothing is done you won’t be able to afford a drive to the town hall, city hall, or state capital to voice your opinion… Maybe that was the goal all along?

When Chris was voted off I started hearing rumors that he was offered a gig with the band Fuel. His wikipedia entry had mention of it, and a ‘friend in the industry’ confirmed it for me yesterday. Last night on Extra! on NBC, the offer was officially made, and today the news is a buzz with the story.

My only question is… What happens to Absent Element? Although I like Fuel, and to see where Chris could go with that band would be exciting… Normally an established band isn’t so open to the songwriting skills of a newcomer. I absolutely love the lyrics of AE, so whatever route the guy takes, I hope he uses a pen & paper as much as his voice.

Chris Daughtry Gets Job Offer From Fuel – Thanks to Derek for the link.
Chris Daughtry’s Wikipedia

So last night I was as shocked as anyone, not nearly as shocked as the contestants of American Idol when Chris Daughtry was voted off. I won’t lie, it fucking pissed me off. I look at the performances of everyone and saw a guy who was a world ahead of the rest. Every performance was radio worthy. Every performance was original and unique. Ever performance refused to compromise and was the antithesis of pop.

There, I said it. Chris Daughtry wasn’t Pop enough for Idol and God bless him for that.

So I did some digging today and discovered that vocal gymnastics are nothing new to Daughtry, in fact he’s been the lead singer and guitarist for a band called Absent Element.

Of course, you wouldn’t know that because despite the fact they are his band, and played with him before the American Idol train came calling… They can’t use his full name on the website, nor even show a picture of him. The decision makers of Idol have turned Chris into a commodity where only the highest bidder can benefit for the duration of his contract, music be damned!

That said, take a few minutes and check out http://www.absentelement.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/absentelement/ to see just what our man Chris is really capable of. I already bought the album and a t-shirt.

Broke my heart to see the guy torn down like that on TV, he sure as hell didn’t deserve it, and the tools who are still in the game don’t deserve to be there nearly as much as he does. That said, he’s got bigger and better places to go, and I’m sure once he’s free of the shackles of American Idol he’ll be dominating the charts much to the chagrin of the high and mighty music industry. Once the industry realized they could sell records without talent, we all got kicked off the show.

Best of luck, dude.

All I can say after tonight is that American Idol is fixed. Some folks may have believed it already, now I do. There’s no way in HELL that Chris Daughtry got the least number of votes. I’ll surmise he got the most number of votes, but simply wasn’t ‘Pop’ enough for the elitist morons running the show. Mark my words, that guy is going platinum because none of the 3 that remain could ever release a record worth listening to. I’m officially done with that fucking show, it’s an absolute joke.

Take away the gray hair and wacky dancing, Taylor’s a Karaoke singer. Can belt some notes out, but won’t sell a record to anyone under 40. Catherine’s a doll, but she barely has a pop voice. Don’t even get me started on the identity crisis that is Eliot. Proof positive that in the end talent has nothing to do with that joke of a show.

Still looking forward to Daughtry cutting an album, I have very little doubt that there will be some industry assholes owing him an engraved apology in the very near future.

Good luck Chris, show must go on man, so take what you’ve accomplished and just fucking tear shit up.

First a few basic points…

1.There is no point to drafting new law or increasing the punishment for a crime if the law is not properly or consistently enforced before any changes were made. Jumping the border is already illegal.
2.If the streets are packed with illegal immigrants who are not protected by our constitution or laws… FUCKING ARREST THEM. When more come out to protest, ARREST THEM TOO.

I started out the day by cursing at the television as I realized our elitist keepers latest ploy was to simply call everyone entering this country (illegal or not) immigrants.

No, those weren’t thousands of illegal immigrant felons marching… those were immigrants.

Kinda sucks if you worked your ass off and struggled to immigrate here legally.

What disgusts me more, is that my elected leader, the guy I voted into office twice because I believed the decisions he makes and supports will guarantee my security and prosperity… said that we can’t do it. The only people I’ve ever heard extol what this country and its citizens cannot do are Liberals. There is no opposition party. Both sides are working to divide this nation and conquer it for their own twisted endgame.

Any time someone has told me what I can’t do in this life, I’ve proven them wrong. Give me a rifle, some handcuffs, and permission to deport by force. Residents of the border-states already have the right idea. They’ve been told by the Liberals, the Media, and now George W Bush that what they are successfully accomplishing by nothing more than peaceful armed opposition cannot work.

As always, reality and politics are on opposite sides of the aisle.

The country didn’t come to a stop today despite the protests. Politicians are simply pandering for votes and more power which they do not deserve. Sadly, people are cattle and kooks like myself are largely ignored.

I’m a Conservative, always have been and always will be. That said, my elected leaders are no more traditional Conservatives than the mind-knumbing morons on the other side of the aisle are traditional Liberals. Our nation has been hijacked.

These protests are just one more symptom on the hospital chart of a dying dream.

“a source or agent of evil, harm, distress, or ruin”

Early this morning I heard thunder… the low rolling kind. Shook the whole house when it hit… No lightning.

Today I went to the funeral for my old friend, Gene… Sitting in the church as it slowly filled there was a break in the music and again the whole building shook… This wasn’t thunder though, it was the sound of at least a hundred Harley Davidson motorcycles as the funeral precession rode up.

It was raining when I first got there, but during the service and for an hour or so afterward, the skies had cleared up and the sun shone brightly. Was almost surreal.

The church was packed, for one guy. Just one guy. Yet each and every person in that place had their lives touched by him. I hope to be as blessed one day.

For the longest time, I’ve avoided the topic as much as possible. I’ve known people who have died, but never anyone who I knew personally and respected as a friend. This was my first funeral. Some people might think I’m lucky to have avoided it for 26 years, but it’s something we all must face sooner or later and will never get any easier.

All that said, folks, please, while you’re out driving, keep an eye out for bikers. A little extra attention to the road could save a life. Your iPod and your telephone will still be there after that moment goes by where you look instead of taking a distracted leap.