Heavy Duty History

Like sledge hammers held in either fist, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin set the Standard for what would come to be known as Heavy Metal. Before them there were none, but in their wake have come legends, who have built an intire musical genre on their rock solid foundation. As you will see in these two fantastic clips, there is always an argument over what is, and what is not Metal. Some of the comments in these pieces I agree with, some I do not. After all, I too am sure that I know exactly what is, and what is not Metal. For my money, all '80s "Hair" bands need to check their Heavy Metal Union cards at the door. As a matter of fact, if you're into that whole scene, you may as well not read further, as it's probably to late to save you. However, for those of you without every Winger, and Cinderella, release in your collection, please enjoy. Whether you prefer the beautiful juxtaposition of Jimmy Page's interracial guitar work, against the mayhem of John Bonham's drums, or the absolute onslaught of down-tuned Evil that is Sabbath (as I do), you're in for a treat. Throw up your horns Metal heads, I give you the birth of the Beast.

-Rock

Negative Creativity

Strife, conflict and angst, Why is it that so much of the worlds great art is produced by these negatives? I don't understand why it is, it just seams to be. There have been many happy artists, but my favorites all have a ting of melancholy, or a story of woe. Artistic expression may be a direct gift from God, to help us deal with life's pain. For your consideration, I offer Saint Bartholomew, from Michelangelo's Last Judgment. Note how the Saint displays the skin carved from him in martyrdom, and holds high, the instrument of his torture. It is believed that what Saint Bartholomew holds in his left hand bares the face of Michelangelo,,,so very Dark and so very beautiful.

-S

Lead Me, O Wise Member Of The Ruling Class

I saw this interview with Gore Vidal on a friend's blog and could not help but rant a bit. It's always a good thing to to be forced to think. I must say however, that Mr. Vidal is far to intelligent to spout impossibilities, such as two presidential elections being stolen. If you have a conspiracy as large as national election fraud, the sheer number of people involved would make it impossible to keep under raps. It simply did not happen that way. I'm not an apologist for Mr. Bush, I'm just stating a fact. A conspiracy of that size, could not be kept secret. Secondly,,,you are part of the ruling class Mr. Vidal. Stop making statements like "I've been around the ruling class all my life", it comes off as disingenuous. I do agree with much of what he says about The President. I am not at all pleased by the way the mud was slung during the last presidential election. However, it's an ugly truth of politics, and it's nothing new (Read up on Jefferson and Adams). both men are of sub par presidential material. Both less than honest, but it's what we as voter gave ourselves to work with. By the way, am I to believe John Kerry's account of his tour of duty in Vietnam, while disregarding the fact that only three of the twenty three swift boat commanders who served with him gave their support to his candidacy, twelve calling him unfit? Mr. Kerry is part of "The Ruling Class", so maybe his voice is more important than those he served with. George W. Bush took the cowards way out, and John Kerry blew smoke up America's ass. That's what we get! Those are the choices we left ourselves with. In every election there are so-called outsiders, but they are always crushed by the Conservative, masking himself as a Centrist, and the Liberal doing the same thing. "If I were an average voter in the United States, I wouldn't know who was telling the truth." I am the average voter Mr. Vidal, and I'm offended. In speaking of John Stewart's satirizing of the news as "building a better mouse trap", you show a touch of idiocy. Stop selling bullshit, we're all full up here. O well, I guess your let-them-eat-cake attitude goes over well at tea parties.

-Sham