Category: tragic

all about me, school, tragic, venting, wtf?!

I’m this close

by  •  • 6 Comments

…to completely giving up. I have applied, taken classes, kissed ass, sent in form after fucking form, and it is all apparently not enough. I cannot get into a fucking nursing program to save my life. I am really close to just saying, “fuck it, universe, you win”. I just got off of the phone with GPC to ask why my status wasn’t changed on their website, because I have sent in the “change of status” form 3 times now, and I have found out that they still haven’t changed it, and want me to resubmit it. What for? Just for shits and grins? You have got to be fucking kidding me.

If I hear ANYONE say anything about how they “can’t believe that there is such a shortage of nurses” in Georgia, I will let them know why. I am smart, have great grades, and most of all, the drive to do the damn job, and even I can’t get my foot in the door. I have been trying to get into other schools, and they keep listing me as an out of state resident, which both quadruples the tuition, as well as puts me at the end of the list, after all of the in state residents (which is practically an instant rejection, since there is such a shortage of these programs in Georgia). I can see why kids graduating from college in Georgia could have a bleak outlook for their future; good luck finding college in this state.

Needless to say, I am MORE than frustrated right now, but I am VERY happy that I at least have a job; no I am not that diluted by my disappointment to forget that majorly important fact.

/upset rant

civil rights, is it just me?, that is so gay, tragic, venting, wtf?!

STFU

by  •  • 6 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, it was ignorant Prejean, blabbing her opinion on the “gay lifestyle”, and her beliefs about gay marriage. She kept talking after the incident, and went so far as to claim that people choose to be gay. Clearly, she chose to be a heterosexual, and barely escaped a lesbian lifestyle. All I could think of everything she was saying was, shut the fuck up you ignorant twit. Seriously, we don’t need your bible thumping views and ignorant ideas to set our fight for equal rights back any more than we need a nail through the foot. Thanks. Moving on…

It doesn’t take long for another twit to get the mic, because here’s another person that I want to STFU: Virgina Foxx. She claims that Matthew Shepard’s HORRIBLE and VIOLENT death was not because he was gay, when it is like 99.9% clear that it was. I will never understand why people are so opposed to hate crime legislation, when so many people have been the victim of hate crimes. No one should have to be brutally slaughtered because of who they are, the color of their skin, or who they love. And if you are against it, fine, that’s your bag, but it’s reprehensible that she would go so far to discredit hate crimes legislation, and claim Matthew’s death was a “simple robbery”. How people can have their stupid heads buried this deep in the sand, and how they can somehow get public platforms is beyond me. Hey Virgina, STFU, alright? Just like Prejean, we don’t need your hateful ignorance, and your warped sense of reality mucking up things for us while we FIGHT for civil rights. What is so scary about gay people just being equal with everyone else?

It really peeves me even more that these are two women, who should know what it means not to have equal rights, seeing as women had to fight for them too. How quickly people forget. You know, you are entitled to your opinion, that’s true, but sometimes, you should think about the ramifications of your “ideals”, and just STFU already. Seriously, go back to your church and tell your mindless followers this crap; keep the public forum free of your hate-driven lies and ignorance please.

listen up!, near and dear, that is so gay, tragic, wtf?!

another, this time local, victim of hate

by  •  • 3 Comments

This completely breaks my heart: 11 year old boy named Jaheem Herrera, commits suicide to escape bullying and taunting from fellow classmates (h/t to my friend Joey who posted the link earlier this afternoon).

I don’t know if anyone even read the piece that I wrote last week about this EXACT thing happening to another 11 year old boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, but I will not let this go silently either.

This is sickening. This is outrageous. This is infuriating. This specifically made my already upset stomach turn: Jaheem’s mother, concerned, had talked to Jaheem’s best friend the prior week, who said,

Yes ma’am. He told me that he’s tired of everybody always messing with him in school. He is tired of telling the teachers and the staff, and they never do anything about the problems. So, the only way out is by killing himself.

I’ll say it again; DO SOMETHING if you see this happening. You CAN stop your children from being bigots. EVERYONE must stop the “playful” use of faggot and gay as derogatory terms; it isn’t a joke. ANOTHER 11 year old child is dead because people take this issue so flippantly. Taunting and teasing is not just “kids being kids”, and EVERY time this happens, it adds to the problem.

Our society of “subversive” hate and the fervent anti-homosexuality campaign in this country must stop. This should be a country were an 11 year old child can go to school without fear of being taunted, teased, and bullied to the point that the only way he feels he can escape is to kill himself. It just isn’t right, and I can’t believe that less than a week after writing about a horrible case of this happening, it shows up again, practically at my doorstep.

My heart goes out to Jaheem’s family. Jaheem, I am so sorry for what they put you through, and I am even more sorry that no one with the power to stop them stood up for you. They should be thoroughly ashamed.

Clearly, there is a major problem with anti-gay sentiment and outright hatred for gays in this country. I have to wonder how many children we need to lose before we start doing something about it? Sadly, many have gone before Carl and Jaheem, and many more will go before the judgment and hatred subside. What’s the WORST, is that it doesn’t even matter if these two boys were gay or not; their peers used the hatred and disgust behind words like ‘faggot’ to hurt them so badly, that they couldn’t take it anymore. It disgusts me that people continue to let this happen around them.

A final thought: I will never understand how the very people that stand there, pointing their fingers in our faces, saying that they are morally superior, pass the judgment that causes things like this to happen. Shame on you all. Your “feelings” about homosexuality are far more dangerous than homosexuality itself could ever be.

hmm interesting, is it just me?, tragic, wtf?!

best buy promotion: be a tool-bag… for free!

by  •  • 0 Comments


Pictured above is the promotion Best Buy is running for the release of GH: Metallica; you buy the game, and you get a free “fake tattoo sleeve”. Seriously, Best Buy? Seriously?

Note to anyone that wears this shit: You are a tool-bag. I will mock you openly if I see you wearing such a ridiculous thing. A major part of tattoos is going through the process of getting it, oh that, and the fact that it is permanent. A pantyhose on your arm is truly loser-making material. You’ve been informed, so there is no excuse.

flickr, is it just me?, music musings, tragic, venting, wtf?!

where’d my flickr buddy icon reply function go?!

by  •  • 26 Comments

If you use firefox, and like me, find the flickr buddy icon reply function to be one of the best scripts for greasemonkey, and one that you use daily, you are probably wondering where in the hell it went! Well, thanks to one of my flickr contacts, I was led to a forum that had the script update that I needed to fix the problem. Here it is. Just click on that link, and it will install it, and just like that, you are back in business. No need to thank me, you are more than welcome.

Also, this is just a gripe, but I am sick and fucking tired of iTunes. It is the slowest, worst program on my computer, and I am a complete slave to it. It deletes album artwork whenever it feels like it, and doesn’t put it on my ipod when I update it half of the time. I mean, how much is it to ask Apple to make a program that is literally used by millions of people to have the functionality that it promises?! I just don’t get it. Grrrr I tell you. GRRRR.

hmm interesting, mixed media, tragic, well?

troubled times for satellite radio ahead?

by  •  • 6 Comments

I couldn’t help but be intrigued by this blog post that I read this morning, which if you are too lazy to read (it’s short!), suggests that satellite radio will not survive our current recession, and in fact, may be gone before 2009 comes to a close. I find myself wondering if I should fish or cut bait with my subscription, because I doubt they will refund people once they go under. Additionally, I have wanted to install an iPod adapter for my car ever since I got it, and through internet research, the best option (especially in radio-heavy Atlanta) is to get an installed option. However, there is a catch; it requires the XM/satellite radio link for my car’s model, and I would have to give up XM radio. So… should I just go ahead and give up satellite radio and get my iPod ready for the drive, or should I wait and see how things pan out? I am not going to make any decisions today, or even this week, but I will be watching XM/Sirius to see what happens with them officially in the coming months. I may finally get my wish of iPod functionality in my car!!! But at a price… no more BBC Radio 1; I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

"pointless", is it just me?, music musings, tragic, venting

a random list: music artists I can’t stand

by  •  • 15 Comments

I’m in a random mood, and unfortunately, I am constantly thinking of/compiling a list of music artists that I can’t stand, so I thought I would make a blog post out of it. It could be the voice, it could be the music, but most likely, it is a combo of the two that send me over the edge. If you like ’em, more power to you, but please don’t play ’em when I’m around; after all, I hate them.

The list of music artists I can’t stand (for record’s sake, I guess):

  • Nickelback: not only do all of their songs sound alike, they aren’t good. Additionally, Chad Kroeger’s voice makes me never want to hear again (not to mention the fact that he is a complete and utter tool).
  • M.I.A.: I still think that she is fucking with all of us. The music is annoying at best, and her vocals are like cats trapped in a plastic bag, being beaten with reeds. I don’t get how she is nominated for an Oscar.
  • U2: If I could use one word to describe U2, it would be arrogant. Or pompous. Either way, it is the self-righteousness that Bono practically sweats that gives me a physical reaction similar to nauseousness whenever I hear their music.
  • Matchbox Twenty/Rob Thomas: bleck. Overproduced rock pop at its worst. AND it’s played on the radio practically non-stop. I wish that someone, anyone, would MAKE it stop.
  • Gwen Stefani: Hollaback Girl is one of the worst songs of the century. Yes, I said that, and stand behind it, and you need to deal with it.
  • Fergie/Black Eyed Peas: Another extremely annoying addition to this list. It’s not that Fergie CAN’T sing, is just that when she does, it is the stupidest thing imaginable. No, I do not want to know anything about her humps.
  • Old Dirty Bastard/Big Baby Jesus: One of the worst, most raspy, and drunk sounding voices in rap. At least his name is fitting; well, the first one anyway.
  • Norah Jones: Zzzzzzzzzzzzz… I’m sorry, I’m sleeping.
  • Bob Dylan/Jacob Dylan/The Wallflowers: Bob and Jacob’s voices are so similar, that they get lumped together. Their voices are like nails on a chalkboard to me, which is unfortunate, because I actually think Bob Dylan is quite a brilliant song writer. I wish he would have just stuck with writing.
  • Linda Perry/4 Non-Blondes: They only really had one hit with What’s Up, but it is one of the worst songs that has ever been made. It’s almost like a knife in my heart when I hear it on the radio, because of the massive amount of ANYTHING else that could have been played. Definitely one of my least favorite songs ever. Another case of great song writer using their voice to torture the masses.
  • Natalie Merchant/10,000 Maniacs: If I ever hear Because the Night or Carnival, it will be far, far too soon. I think that they play both of those over the PA in the elevator to hell.
  • Sonic Youth: Not music. Noise. Lots of random, chaotic, annoying noise.
  • Kid Rock: Trailer trash that somehow got lucky enough to get money, and is still, wait for it… trailer trash. Seriously, I bet he smells like an ashtray. Add that to the recent raping of an American rock classic, and there you go.
  • T-Pain: Swallow that goddamned vocoder already. Seriously. SWALLOW IT.
  • Jack Johnson: I am sitting, waiting, and wishing that he would stop making music. He falls in the same boat with Norah Jones; music in the genre that I love that is so boring that it puts me to sleep faster than a handful of Quaaludes.
  • KATY PERRY: she’s a bigot who makes no apologies for being so. Fuck her.
  • TV on the Radio: This isn’t music, it, like Sonic Youth’s “material” is just strange noise with very, very annoying vocals. Seriously, it sounds like the aforementioned cats in a bag.
  • Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam: whenever I hear Pearl Jam, one word always pops in my head: douche. Seriously Eddie Vedder sounds like he is trying to be as much like Bob Dylan as he can, and with regards to annoying me, he does it very, very well. There is only one song of their’s I like, because it is the only one that doesn’t sound like every other one they’ve ever done.

WOW! That list is longer than I thought it would be!! Well, I may add to it at a later date, but it’s a good start. If any of these artist’s songs come on anywhere around me, I do the best I can to get away from them, and if I cannot escape, I usually complain about them while it is on. I know that I am not alone here; let me know about those out there making music, that are like nails on a chalkboard to you.

is it just me?, listen up!, tragic, venting, wtf?!

a plea to XM/Sirius

by  •  • 11 Comments

Please, please, please stop the madness. I cannot take it anymore.

EVERY time I flip through the channels, I have the unfortunate ability to always stumble upon your attempt to destroy my love for music. There is NO reason in this world that will ever justify playing that much Nickelback or Matchbox 20. There are so many fantastic artists out there, that it just befuddles the mind to try and justify this lack of care for our hearing.

This rant is long overdue; every time I flip from a channel that I am listening to, because they start up a song I don’t care to hear, I am confronted by one of the hundred or so stations playing Nickelback or Matchbox 20 without fail. No one has luck that bad, so I have to place some blame on the XM/Sirius nation.

Stop it. Stop it now. Nickelback SUCKS. So does Matchbox 20 (and Rob Thomas on his own falls squarely into this bracket as well). There are MILLIONS of songs out there that you can play, and you continually pick these tools. Please, for the love of God, end the madness, and play any of them that weren’t shoddily made by either of these bands. I literally shudder each time I go to change the station, because I know what horror awaits me on the next station. It just isn’t fair.

Thanks for (I’m sure) not listening.

/rant

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion, tragic, wtf?!

5SF: november 28

by  •  • 0 Comments

I hope that everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving; I ended up being stranded in bed with my unpredictable back. All is well though, because I got some well needed rest, and was able to play lots of video games (which was fun). I appreciate all of the well wishes from everyone, and return them right back!! Also, I hope that everyone is okay today, and safe and sound; especially with nonsense like this going on out there. People. Calm down. There is no need to trample someone to get a deal on anything; nothing is worth that much. It really makes me sad for that person’s family, and my heart goes out to them.

Well, not to get everyone in a downer, but I just felt compelled to say something about that horrible incident. No amount of savings is worth that, I really can’t believe people are that desperate. Alright, enough about that… here’s this week’s five fabulous songs for you; and note that this is the LAST Friday five that will take place before the MASSIVE year end best of 2008 CD countdown, which starts on December 1!

Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1128_okkervilriver-lostcoastlines.mp3]
I have been sitting on this song for a few weeks now, but I have been enjoying it more and more with each listen. It starts off simple, and the builds to an all out head bopping dance rock-pop number that I swear sounds like The Cure, Morrissey, and The Shins are all collaborating on one track. The result is something so inherently 80’s alternative, yet still current enough to really make you want to pick up the record for future listens. The song would fit in either decade, but it’s definitely interesting to hear the 80’s sound of such great bands like The Cure being updated slightly for the here and now.

Matt Alber – End of The World
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1128_mattalber-endoftheworld.mp3]
I almost didn’t pick this one for this week because I picked a Matt Alber track last week, and I don’t want to delve into the realm of overkill. BUT… I saw the accompanying video for this song last night, and I shit you not, there were fucking tears streaming down my face by the end. It is an insanely beautiful song, and the video is so completely sweet, honest, and believable, that it really reminded me of the amazing scene between Jack and Jack on Torchwood (if you don’t know what I am talking about, check this out. Wow, right?!); too bad I can’t link to the video so you can see it as well. Hmpf! I am sure that it will find its way onto youtube soon enough, so do yourself a favor and remember to look it up when it does; it is exquisite, and only strengthens my already huge crush on Matt Alber.

Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1128_passionpit-sleepyhead.mp3]
This song is weird… and that is why I LOVE IT. The beat, the clapping, the weird background vocals, the tribal sounds… all of it is AMAZING. This is one of those songs that you hear it, and wonder what the fuck you are listening to, and you want to know because it is so fucking amazing that you have to have it and play it on repeat. These guys are being compared to fellow electro rock groups like MGMT, and I definitely see the resemblance, but there is something in this song that makes me love it so much more than anything I have heard from the others so far. Also, be sure to check out the trippy, and amazing video for this song, because it is equally amazing, and really compliments the video in a way that isn’t fully describable; the video is definitely a work of art on it’s own. I seriously cannot get enough of this song, so beware, it is a MAJOR earworm.

Freezepop – Frontload (Designer Drugs Remix)
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1128_freezepop-frontload.mp3]
I have been a fan of Freezepop ever since I heard the AMAZING track they did for the Guitar Hero series called Less Talk More Rokk. Well, I noticed on iTunes that they released an EP recently, I was really impressed by this track. This particular remix is incredibly hot, and is so synthed out that it is just insane. I want to put on my dancing shoes and fucking gyrate all night long to this track. It is actually hard to sit still and type as I listen to it. I am really glad to have been exposed to Freezepop from Guitar Hero, and I have enjoyed pretty much everything I have heard from them.

Len – Steal My Sunshine
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1128_len-stealmysunshine.mp3]
Poor Len… such an amazing song, and that was about it. Well, lucky for them, this amazing track was recently featured in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, which instantly made me put it back into rotation; and I’m sure, made them a small chunk of change at the same time. This is one of those songs that are perfect to drive around to, or to enjoy a great time with friends. This song made a splash back in 1999, and was even featured in the movie Go (which had a pretty amazing soundtrack). Even though it was there one hit wonder, Len sure sold a lot of albums based on this little ditty; I remember for a while, you couldn’t go to a used CD store and see any less than 10 Len albums in the used bin. I guess people got tired of the song, but not me… I’m glad to bring it back!

So there you have it, five new songs for your listening pleasure. I hope you enjoyed them, and as always tell me what you are listening to as well! Let’s share people!

civil rights, is it just me?, listen up!, that is so gay, tragic, venting, well?, wtf?!

WTF Out magazine? Katy Perry as musician of the year? Are you JOKING?

by  •  • 21 Comments

Well, Out, you’ve gone and pulled another “WTF” moment on us with your recent choice of Katy “UR So Gay” Perry as MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR!!!!?!?!?!??! Regular readers know that I was been pissed at them before for outing celebrities (one of which has come out on her own since), so I guess that I should just expect stupid shit from one of the only gay magazines that we have in wide circulation. Seriously Out, what is going on with your writers and staff that has them so in the dark? Do you not realize that Katy Perry is perpetuating (without apology!!!) a negative gay stereotype; one that I am sure many of you had to overcome and deal with as kids in school? I just don’t get blatant stupidity like this. I have made my opinion about Perry known before on this blog, and it is still getting attention (thanks to links on wikipedia… wtf!?). I can only wonder where things will go now that I am calling spades again on Ms. Perry?!

After seeing the cover and reading the awesome post over at Dorothy Surrenders, I had to go and see what saving grace Out was sure to have in it’s interview with Perry; surely, they would confront her, right? Well, they didn’t (figures), but out of everything I read in the interview with Perry, and this was a gem for me:

Some of the opinions are just from people who are unhappy in their lives, or critics that wanted to be musicians but never fucking made it. We all know that. Unless there’s an amazing, legitimate journalist I respect, I don’t really take any of that shit to heart.

REALLY Katy? So you know what it is like to be a gay youth who gets called “gay” and “faggot” every day at school, and how that fucking hate and verbal abuse leads many gay youth to commit suicide? You know all about that, and we are all just bitter bitches, right Katy? Fuck you. FUCK YOU and your self righteous “I’m an artist so I don’t have to be socially responsible, and I don’t have to apologize for what I say” bullshit. You don’t deserve your 15 minutes more than anyone else, and I for one will be glad when the light dims over your pathetic career.

Shame on you, Katy, and shame on Out magazine for picking some dumb bitch like you as their freaking musician of the year (because clearly, there are NO LGBT artists out there worthy, right?). This is just one more reason that I will NEVER have a subscription to that piece of fluff “all about the abs, and all for show” Out Magazine. Clearly, they have their heads so far up their own asses that they are willing to just hop in bed with the same fuckers that picked on them on the playgrounds; all while laughing off the harassment that was slung at them.

I just want to say that I personally feel sorry for anyone that has to endure the bullshit that people throw at them in the form of verbal abuse; especially when it uses a word that describes them as a synonym for bad. I went through HELL in school, and I wouldn’t wish that one anyone, not even Katy Perry. Katy Perry perpetuates that very same hateful mentality in her song UR So Gay (I even gave her a lenient benefit of the doubt for I Kissed A Girl), and after hearing that she doesn’t give a fuck about what she is saying, I want that bitch to know that people like me aren’t just unhappy with our lives, or just “didn’t make it” like “she did”; we went through a fucking LOT to get where we are, and we don’t need more bullies out there being told that it’s okay to make fun of the gay kid, because hey, it’s funny anyway, right? Fuck you Katy Perry, and fuck you Out Magazine. It’s more than annoying when our own community turns a blind eye to those that will make fun of us to our faces, and then say it’s no big deal when confronted with the accusation; especially in a time that we are fighting for our rights. Way to accept second class citizenship guys… seriously. Ugh.