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The World According to Scott
This is the section of my site that is strictly reserved for my opinions, my beliefs, and whatever I feel like talking about at the moment. It's updated generally on an almost daily basis, so check back to see what the most recent things on my mind are.
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Now HERE'S something of note - in retaliation to Bush's "suggestion" for the beginnings of a peace process in the Middle East, Yasir Arafat has said that the US should hold democratic elections for a new Chief Executive Officer before it attempts to ingratiate itself into trying to resolve their issues. I bet old George W. isn't going to take this well...
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Here's something really cool - there's a place called Unity House here in town that that provides assistance with housing, employment and educational services to mentally retarded or developmentally disabled people, & every third Tuesday of the month, one of their counselors, along with a local club called The Haunt, sponsor a dance for its' residents. They have a live DJ who plays requests & it's been going on for almost five years now. Brian Clapper, the counselor who began the organization of the monthly dances, says that it's great, & the residents of Unity House really enjoy them & very much look forward to them regularly.
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Looks like Joe Jackson has decided to reunite with the original line-up that recorded & toured behind his amazing album "Look Sharp." Joe Jackson has been a favorite of mine for years now. Back in 1985, a band of guys I used to do lights & sound for called Quartermoon, used to do "Is She Really Going Out With Him" (off the "Look Sharp" album). I liked the song enough that it got me interested to buy the whole album & it was downhill from there. (As a side note, I ended up playing this song in a pick-up band in the summer of 1990 called the Big Dogs & also sang it as well.) Joe Jackson is probably one of my all-time favorite songwriters & lyricists. I've always found it interesting that someone who wrote such beautiful music could combine it with such cynical lyrics. It would be great to catch this tour & I'm really looking forward to the new album.
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Want to see some examples of how sad the music industry is right now? Go here, here, & here. My good friend Chris sent me a quote by Hunter S. Thompson that sums it up perfectly: "The music business is a cruel & shallow trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves & pimps run free, & good men lie like dogs. There is also a negative side." With overpriced CDs & concert tickets, something's got to give at some point. I'd be happy to see the music industry shrink & become less of a money maker, & more about the music & the artists.
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Have been into buying music fairly recently. Got some great stuff by the following bands: The Hives, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead, Sugarcult, Phantom Planet, The White Stripes, & Injected. There's more, but this is all I can think of off the top of my head.
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Here's something to chew on - there's a local Public Access show here in town called Pirate TV. Basically, all the show is, is some local guy named Mike Angley who sits in front of the camera with a microphone & goes off for an hour every Thursday night. More often than not, he's pretty over-the-top, but he's always very interesting to listen to, whether you agree with him or not. On last week's show (6/20/02), he sat & read off a timeline of events that led up to the September 11th attacks, & basically implicated our government stating that they not only were aware of the impending destruction, but that they also participated & helped to make it come about. Read & decide for yourself.
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Dee Dee Ramone died on Thursday June 5th in his home in Hollywood, CA. Long time bassist for the seminal punk band The Ramones, Dee Dee died of an apparent accidental drug overdose. Like many others, I was introduced to punk rock through The Ramones, & for years used them as the yardstick to measure other music & bands in that genre. With the release of their self-titled first album, a band that no one ever expected to go anywhere or do anything, started the "big bang" that showed you could start a musical revolution with nothing more than three chords. Dee Dee was one of the main songwriters in the group for many years, even after he departed the band, & his influence is still heard today in many, many different bands. He will be greatly missed.
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