Antiquated Marrige Ideals Today

  

   What will these Liberals do next? Start Christian prosecution?” “This won’t change the definition of marriage.” I read. This was a down-home Christian’s response to the latest equality breakthrough in America- That Gay marriage is now legal in all 50 states. 

  Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and self-victimization, but alright, I bite. What is Christian prosecution? Is it the slaying of millions? Is it the incarceration of Christians? What, man, What? TELL ME.

Or is it the threat of having your longstanding, outdated ideals of life shunned by future generations? I can tell you one thing: GAY MARRIGE HAS BEEN AROUND MUCH LONGER THAN CHRISTIANITY.

 

  Can you believe that there was once an ancient world where intersex relations were welcomed and even respected at a level higher than that of a straight match? Crazy stuff! But it’s true. Once the Dark Ages approached, the world was drawn into a state of dormant solitude. Some of the most beautiful religions were inverted and destroyed because of the rise of Christianity.

  So I guess these people have always been walking backward (ha-ha…). In our reality today, yes, more people are shunning the ways of Christianity. Are we godless heathens? No, many of us do have chosen deities and philosophies. So why don’t the beliefs of other religions play any role in American culture? Wiccans are freaks, Buddhists are hippie Asians, and lets not even mention the hundreds of tribal religions that dot North America.

  Recently I took a trip to see my ex-boyfriend turned transvestite. I needed to release negativity, what? If you don’t know, this blog is Colorado based, and here in Colorado, Gay Marriage has been legal for some time. It just so happened that the part of town where the record stores are was where the very… colourful Pride Fest was happening. I was surprised by the fact that 1. There were no protesters out and about, and 2. Just what a safe haven Denver has become for these people.

  The girls were hot, the guys were gorgeous. Everyone was happy to be there and be loved. NO H8 if you will. I didn’t see a single thing that disgusted me or made me uncomfortable (other than my ex). They were gay, straight, trans, and bi, all gathered in one place for the same reason. They were there to respect each other, have a good time, and most importantly, they were there to treat each other like Human beings.

That’s all I saw. PEOPLE being PEOPLE. Tell me now, what is it that defines what people can love? I love my dog and steak, but what is it that makes me look at the person I’m currently with and say: “I Love You”? I can tell you that it is no act of the pushing and pulling of Church against State. Who are you, Old Christian Fellow, to decide what the definition of marriage is? If you don’t want Gays to marry, don’t let them do so in your church, if that is what makes you happy. To deny someone the greatest gift of all, a companion in life, is cruel and unfair. 

  It still takes a state document to say two people are married, so going to the church is only a personal preference. Trust me, there are much more beautiful locations to give your last first kiss than in a sticky, stinky old chapel.

So Mr. I’m better than that, who are you? What right do you have to take away love from two people who probably have more in common than you and your shotgun wife? 

  It is time to ditch middle age propaganda and get with the times. We are America, not Britain in 1350. We pride ourselves on our freedom and liberty, so let’s finally free ourselves and liberate our sexually oppressed brethren!
                      -Georjett Herring

Musical Dementia!

We've all gotten somewhere in the 5 stages of grief after this time has pasted since we all first heard about AC/DC's Malcolm Young. If you don't know what happened or who he is... well... I'll just tell you to save time. Malcolm is Angus Young's brother. They are the lead and rhythm players of AC FUCKING DC. Not that long ago Malcolm was reported to be in a nursing home due to dementia.

I was thinking just last night about my record player and my guys at work. If you are just joining us, other than your editor, I am a nursing assistant in a vets' home. since I got my little Crosley player for Christmas, I've been taking it to work after I figured out that it calms the "wanderers". They will just come up and sit to listen to the music and eventually go to sleep.

I've had 80 year old little ladies bumping to Led Zeppelin, I've had senile, angry republicans appreciate Jefferson Airplane... I've had my co-workers suspect me of drug use... but nothing compares to when you put on a record and they actually know what you're playing.

Recently I was working back in the secure unit- where the wanderers are placed so they can go about their meandering safely- and I had my player out. I had brought a few albums I though the guys would like: America's Greatest Hits, Volunteers, The Grass Roots' Greatest Hits, Dreamboat Annie, and of course the offending Houses of the Holy. They dig The Crunge. After fending off the double amputee who kept putting his claw arm on the record, one of the more... together residents popped up for a snack just as I put on Gary Puckett and The Union Gap's Greatest Hits (Compilations are the best for them... lots of singles).

He stood there quietly spilling ice-cream on the counter and started to hum, which he does pretty often. Then the track changed...

The man started humming louder until the chorus struck. "WOMAN! Have you got cheating on your mIIIIiiiIIND?" and so forth until the track ended. I tried other regular singles on there, but that one was the only one that got him.

This had me thinking back to the time when I first started and was pulled to go on a trip with the guys in the Unit. I got to go to the zoo for work! Woo!
Anyway, during the trip, while everyone ate lunch, the head nurse started singing to them. just little songs that I later found in a binder stashed away. Just little folk songs. I like to call her the little southern belle, and she sings just like what you would expect from one. High with lots of vibrato... only that was soon drown out buy the monotonous murmur that picked up among the men.

Each one of them looked up like a light had gone on, only one glance could tell you no one was home. The songs brought something out in them that was clearly engrained into their minds.

When I first heard about what happened to Malcolm it was... well my first thought was "I'll take care of him!"... but I took it like a death, because that's the way it has been made to seem. In a way, it is a great loss. A hero, destroyed by his own mind, and one of the greatest bands in history shut down. I'm sure a lot of people have had the thought "Damn, poor guy... I wonder if listening to his music will make him sad... He's too young!"

Well, Brian Johnson recently told the Telegraph that Malcolm told the guys: ''Just get out and make music, lads – just for me one more time". The thing about dementia is, well, you can kind of tell once it starts taking over you. My one of my guys is 3 years younger than my grandma who still enjoys chopping wood and bee keeping, while my mother on the other hand will forget where she is driving to mid-drive and will need to be reminded a time or two... and she hasn't even cracked 45. She knows it is inevitable, but at the same time doesn't.

Hallucinations, false realities, and dream like states follow these people, but it is as real as that computer in your face to them. It's a fate that lies ahead for most, but in order to face it, we have to embrace it. While no one is safe it seems, we can look for the cure and aid in the healthy care of those who are stuck in their own minds.


Recently I have made up some purses that are featured with the faces of AC/DC and their legacy. If interested, 10% of the proceeds will be going to Alzheimer's research and care! Let's keep rocking and rolling and hope/ pray/ whatever it is you do for Malcolm and all those who need it.

Let's keep the music in these people's lives. go out and play my minions! They will love you for it and you will be making a huge difference in the lives of those your music touches.

New Things In The Etsy Shop!

Check out the latest addition to the shop! I have hand painted stash jars ready to go! check them out here!

New Etsy Shop!

Hey guys, So I've been away, but I've got a new Etsy shop for you to check out!

Right now, I have up some homemade patches, but once I get my camera, I'll put up some new stuff! Check it out HERE!

Grace's First RSD

My sister Grace tagged along for RSD 2015... She didn't get any vinyl, but she did manage to get your generic heavy metal... Hey, she's 14, she'll get better... I hope...

Record Store Day 2015 Get Behind Me Satan

I got it and it only took me 2 hours, 40 bucks in gas and being over crowded in car and in store... Worth it... Check out the video and head over to Facebook to get updates on when the next videos will be up!

TIDAL - Rising or Falling?

Tidal brought us musicians united to bring on a revolution. To change the way we hear music and to fairly compensate hardworking independent musicians in ways Spotify, Pandora and so many others have failed. Now, just weeks after the launch of Tidal, musicians are speaking up and they aren't happy.

Some of the harshest comments come from the band Mumford and Sons, a band which was not invited to join TIDAL, but claims they would have declined had they been offered.

From their recent comments, it appears the band agrees with the idea that musicians should get paid more, but disagrees with Jay-Z's approach of an artist owned streaming site that is lead by Millionaires.

“I think smaller bands should get paid more for it, too. Bigger bands have other ways of making money, so I don’t think you can complain. A band of our size shouldn’t be complaining. And when they say it’s artist-owned, it’s owned by those rich, wealthy artists.” says frontman Marcus Mumford. Bassist Winston Marshall adds "Music is changing. It’s fucking changing. This is how people are going to listen to music now—streaming. So diversify as a band."

This all falls in line with comments made by others such as David Grohl months ago when the Taylor Swift/Spotify debate opened up (Swift went completely anti-streaming and removed her entire discography from Spotify) Grohl commented that it doesn't matter how people hear your music because of they like it, they'll come to your show. In fact, Marshall even said in a recent interview " We look at our albums as stand-alone pieces of art, and also as adverts for our live shows"

Death Cab For Cutie frontman Benjamin Gibbards also commented on the elitist idea that Tidal is creating. Jay-Z brought out millionaires rather than struggling artists. An issue that has been brought out many times in the press- millionaires complaining about their paychecks. 

In a recent interview with The Daily Beast his thoughts on what Jay-Z should have done.

“If I had been Jay Z, I would have brought out ten artists that were underground or independent and said, ‘These are the people who are struggling to make a living in today’s music industry. Whereas this competitor streaming site pays this person 15 cents for X amount of streams, that same amount of streams on my site, on TIDAL, will pay that artist this much. I think they totally blew it by bringing out a bunch of millionaires and billionaires and propping them up onstage and then having them all complain about not being paid.”

It seems artists everywhere feel Jay-Z took the wrong approach.

"There was a wonderful opportunity squandered to highlight what this service would mean for artists who are struggling and to make a plea to people’s hearts and pocketbooks to pay a little more for this service that was going to pay these artists a more reasonable streaming rate and they didn’t do it. That’s why this thing is going to fail miserably."

Few have gone as far as Gibbard to say it's going to fail, but it seems the majority sides with Mumford, Marshall and Gibbard. However, new information arrived this week as Jay-Z showed just how he planned to help struggling artists - TIDAL Rising.

In a new update, TIDAL added a feature that will directly help new musicians. The official press release stated, “The updated left hand menu features TIDAL Rising. TIDAL gives voice to tomorrow’s biggest names through TIDAL RISING, a program dedicated to promoting emerging and independent artists from around the world. Every week, nascent talent in any genre will emerge.”

Neither Gibbard nor Mumford and Sons has made any public statement at this time. 

-Alison Parker