Monday, June 30, 2008

Righteous Kill

DeNiro and Pacino together. Does anything else really need to be said?


In Theaters Sept 12, 2008


Friday, June 27, 2008

2nd Amendment Upheld by Supreme Court - Could Chicago be next?

Just to start off, here's a few links to news stories that you might want to check out.

Daley vows to fight for Chicago's gun ban

Jury still out on city gun ban

Mayor Daley calls Supreme Court's gun-ban reversal 'a very frightening decision'


Landmark Ruling Enshrines Right to Own Guns



The 2nd Amendment was written for a reason. It wasn't put into the Constitution just for the government's uses but it was also put there for the common good of every person that lives within the border. I should reword this. For the common good of every person that 'legally' lives within the border.

Granted, it was written during a time when there wasn't a police force but that was then. Even now I believe that the 2nd Amendment should be fully instated everywhere. I grew up in a household that hunts and shoots firearms. For now, I do not possess any firearms within the city limits. It's illegal to do so thus I do not.

I believe that people should have the choice to bear arms. If you don't like guns then don't have them. Simple enough. I believe that a person should be able to have a handgun in their home for protection. A part of me thinks we should be able to carry them in public as well.

Mayor Daley stated, "Then why don't we do away with the court system and go back to the Old West..." at a recent speaking engagement at Navy Pier. Why not?

There were court systems in the larger areas during the "Old West". There was also local Sheriffs and Deputys in many of the towns and the gun was a major factor in many disputes away from the towns. Public hangings were allowed then as well. Imagine if they were today, would crime go down? No one knows until we try.

In today's society a trip back to the old west could be a disaster. With the generations becoming softer and more outspoken it could lead to a large 'thinning of the herd'. Which isn't necessarily bad in a theoretical sense but in reality it would be horrible.

Within the past few months here in Chicago there have been a lot of deaths due to gun violence. Which could possibly be used as a platform to help keep the gun ban. But here's the question that I pose.

Are these deaths due to "gun violence" a result of people that have the legal means to own the firearms?

The answer to this question is no. As of this time it is illegal to own handguns within the city limits of Chicago. So these people that are shooting other people are breaking the law to begin with.

So how can the blame be put on the guns?

I've wondered for years how anyone can say that guns are bad. I've never understood this. You can go out and adopt a child. Do you know what your going to get with that child? Do you know the family history behind that child? Do you know if that child will become an alcoholic, drug dependent or anything else about that child when you adopt it? No, you don't. It's a gamble but it's a gamble that is worthwhile.

Do you know what you get when you purchase a gun? You get a gun. You know that it was built. You know what it was built for and it never strays from what it is. Until the person that wields that gun decides to use it for something else. A gun is a gun. It's the decision of the person holding the gun as to what they use it for.

Another example.

As I'm writing this and you see any misspelled words. Who misspelled those words? Was it the program that I'm writing through or was it just me? Could I place blame on this program due to the fact that I pressed the letters in the wrong manner? No, I can not.

Guns bring more violence.

This argument is over done. The only way that the violence will raise is due to the fact that people will be able to defend themselves from the numerous thugs that already have the illegal guns. When people can stand up for themselves they will. When the playing ground is level there will be more instances. Perhaps now the right people will be getting hurt instead of the wrong ones.

Lately there has been a lot of deaths due to gun violence in Chicago. Mostly younger kids that have access to illegal firearms. Has anything been done to find out where these firearms are coming from? Why do these minors have them? Has anything been done to try and rid these areas of these firearms? No one knows for certain except those that are directly involved. There have been no statements made to confirm or deny these procedures.

However, I'm sure it will all come up in court once someone decides to try to overturn Chicago's ban. The city will gladly try to make it seem that all of these people that caused the shootings we're from nearby suburbs. Suburbs where it is legal to own handguns. They drove into the city to shoot a person.

Children's deaths due to guns.

Again, I don't believe that guns cause the deaths of the children that find their parents handguns. I believe that to be the full fault of the parents. If your stupid enough to leave a gun in your home, fully loaded and accessible to your child then your stupid enough to lose a child. That gun did not call out your child's name and it did not ask your child to pull the trigger.

Your an adult and a gun owner. Take the responsibility to teach your children about the gun and how it's to be or not to be used. Put the gun in a place where your child can not get to it. They make gun safes for a reason, not only to protect the guns but your family as well.


In a lot of the articles that I've read it seems that certain people are very scared that the citizens of Chicago could have guns. You can now legally own rifles and shotguns in the city. Rifles which can shoot farther and more accurately than a handgun. Shotguns that can be more destructive than many handguns. What's the difference? You can't hide rifles and shotguns as easily as handguns.

Imagine if the city decided to put forth a license for people to be able to carry a gun. It could be a reasonably priced license anywhere between $500 to $1,000. This license would only be available so people could carry the weapon in public. It would not be a license for ownership because that would be against the Constitution.

Now lets say a majority of people can now carry these weapons. When they are assaulted by a mugger, a rapist or any numerous other scenarios; they have the ability to protect themselves. They have the ability to level the playing field. I'm not advocating that this should happen, I'm just putting a scenario out there.

With the playing field leveled I believe there would be less crime. The "bad guys" would have more to worry about other than just the police or wearing multiple layers of clothing to escape. Of course in the beginning there would be more deaths on both sides of the spectrum. Which is why there would have to be certain training seminars that any person obtaining this license would have to go through to obtain it.

According to an article about Texas' Right to Carry law on the NRA-ILA website: "Gov. Bush vowed that Texas` Right to Carry law would make the state a "safer place," and statistics prove he was right. Texas` homicide rate has declined to its lowest point since the 1950s and has decreased a startling 60% from the high under his predecessor. Murder rates in Texas fell by 25% between 1995 and 1997, much faster than the 16% decline in states without "shall-issue" laws. Overall, Texas` total violent crime rate has dropped 20% under Gov. Bush and is lower than at any time since 1974."

Imagine if Illinois and Chicago adopted this policy.


Maybe people could walk around any where they wanted without holding their mace, a knife or any other object in their hands.

Employees Expose FOX NEWS Distortions


Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Punisher War Zone

The second installment in the Punisher movies is soon to be hitting the screens. This one is actually different from what I see in the trailer. At least let's hope it's not just another remake...

After a remake of the Hulk movie we don't need a 3rd remake of the Punisher movie. They're already using a different actor as the Punisher. Which will make it the 3rd actor to fill the shoes of Frank Castle.

I know the Punisher is one of the bigger comics but take a hint, if it's not doing well in the movie section then just hang it up.

Here's the trailer.


Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Naked Man driving next to School Bus or School Bus driving next to Naked Man?

Here's a story that seems rather strange.


Field Trip Ruined By Exhibitionist
Police: Naked Man Drove For Miles Next To School Bus


JOLIET, Ill. (STNG) ― Police say fourth-graders received an unwanted anatomy lesson during a field trip Thursday.

Mark R. Hotuyec, 46, of 1224 Nicholson St. in Joliet, was arrested after allegedly fondling himself while driving naked next to a school bus for several miles.

Chief Fred Hayes said students from Wood View Elementary School in Bolingbrook were headed to a performance at the Rialto Square Theatre around noon when a minivan pulled alongside the bus.

"On Broadway near Theodore, the bus driver noticed a maroon 1996 Chevy Astrovan was driving in the next lane. The driver was completely naked and masturbating in full view of the kids," Hayes said.

The bus driver called 911 and updated police on the situation as both vehicles drove into downtown Joliet.

"She did a great job continually providing information so that our officers could stop the vehicle," Hayes said.

Police stopped the van at Chicago and Van Buren streets.

"The driver was still naked when he was taken into custody," Hayes said.

The field trip continued as planned. Hayes said police spoke with Wood View officials about the incident.

"They're very concerned, but were relieved the suspect was arrested," he said.

Hotuyec was booked into the county jail on a felony charge of criminal exploitation of a child. Police also impounded the Astrovan.


(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved.)



Ok, so.... Here's my question. Why would the school bus driver keep pace with the guy in the van? Or even allow the man to keep pace with the bus?

You have a bus full of kids and this guy has his schlong hanging out. Slow down, let him get in front of you, call 911 and give them the license plate number. Then slow down more so he gets away from the eye sight of the children.

Why "continually provide information"? All they really need to know is the color, make and model of the vehicle and the plate numbers. They don't really need to know how many reps the guy is getting in. What could possibly have been the continual information? The vehicle isn't going to change colors or magically float off into the horizon.

Maybe the article is missing some information. Maybe the school bus driver did let the man get in front of the bus so the 4th graders couldn't see anything. If so, good job.

However, I think if I had a child on that bus I might be a little upset if the bus driver did nothing to get the man's car away from the side of the bus. Yes, she did call 911 and she did report the vehicle. Does that mean she had to keep up with the vehicle or allow it to keep up with her?

I guess if any of the parents go off about it we'll see something about it in the paper.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Cyanide & Happiness




The web comic can be found at: Cyanide & Happiness

George Carlin dies at 71

ET breaks the news that comedian George Carlin has died from heart failure. The man who made famous the "seven words you can never say on television" passed away at 5:55 p.m. Sunday at Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica, his longtime publicist said. He was 71.

Carlin, who has had several heart attacks and a history of cardiac issues, went into the hospital this afternoon after complaining of heart problems.

Carlin has more than 20 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, numerous TV and movie roles, and three best-selling books to his credit. Last year, he celebrated his 50th year in show business, and he had just finished his last HBO special in March, "It's Bad for Ya."

Posted June 23, 2008 2:04:00 AM

More Articles Below.

International Herald Tribune

Just Jared.com

News Hound

Access Hollywood

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Mayhem Fest Announces Dates and On Sale Info

THE FIRST ANNUAL ROCKSTAR ENERGY MAYHEM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES DATES AND ON-SALE INFORMATION
PRE-SALE STARTS APRIL 4
NATIONAL ON-SALE IS APRIL 19
TOUR TO KICK OFF JULY 9 IN SEATTLE


BURBANK, CA (April 1) – Organizers of the first-ever Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival have announced dates, venues and on-sale information for the highly anticipated all-star thunderfest. Multi-platinum rock acts SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED will lead the much-buzzed-about amp-shattering road show, which will feature hard music’s most influential bands and its new wave of heavy-hitting acts. The tour is set to kick off July 9 at the White River Amphitheatre in Seattle and will hit Live Nation Amphitheaters in 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada between July 9 and August 19, 2008.

Fans can purchase tickets beginning April 4 at 10AM local venue time via the Official Mayhem Fan Community at http://mayhemfest. tickets. musictoday. com.
Pre-sale orders also allow fans to hear tracks from Mayhem bands, receive early entry venue passes, purchase a discounted subscription to Revolver magazine and receive a Mayhem t-shirt. In addition, pre-orders enroll fans into a contest offering one grand prize winner an electric guitar and two meet & greet passes to get the six-string signed.

Fans that pre-register to be a part of the Mayhem Fan Community before April 4 can purchase tickets upon immediate availability. And by pre-registering, they’ll also be entered into a contest to win a merch pack featuring CDs from every band on the tour.

Tickets go on sale nationally beginning April 19.
You can get more information at www.Mayhemfest.com or www.livenation.com.

In addition to Slipknot and Disturbed, the main stage features DRAGONFORCE and MASTODON, as well as a JÄGERMEISTER second stage with MACHINE HEAD, AIRBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, WALLS OF JERICHO and the JÄGERMEISTER Battle of The Bands Winner. There will also be a HOT TOPIC STAGE featuring UNDEROATH, BLACK TIDE, SUICIDE SILENCE, THE RED CHORD and 36 CRAZYFISTS. The World’s Greatest Freestyle Motocross team THE METAL MULISHA is also confirmed to perform on all dates.

Sponsors for the 2008 ROCKSTAR ENERGY MAYHEM FESTIVAL include Title Sponsor ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK and JAGERMEISTER, HOT TOPIC, X BOX, IBANEZ GUITARS, TAMA DRUMS, I LOVE VAGINA, METAL BLADE RECORDS, PETA, ROADRUNNER RECORDS, THE END TIMES, DiNGSTORE. com and THE IY.
Media Partners include REVOLVER MAGAZINE, HOLLYWOOD MUSIC, KNAC. COM and METAL INJECTION.

The Rockstar Energy Mayhem festival brings together the creative team that has founded many music tours including the highly successful Vans Warped Tour and the Worldwide Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour. Kevin Lyman, John Reese and CAA’s Darryl Eaton have partnered again, this time with Live Nation, to bring fans the next great music festival juggernaut, which will be MAYHEM! Following the proven model of utilizing sponsorship to deliver a lower ticket price and an enhanced concert experience the tour organizers have joined forces again with ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK as the Title sponsor.

Live Nation is promoting the festival nationally.

In addition to catching their favorite bands live, fans can take part in a number of festival activities, including playing the newest video games, perusing vendors, attending autograph signing sessions and a slew of other interactive activities that will add to the festival experience.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK will be sampling their products and providing great surprises for attendees and will also present the VIP/Contest winner area designated THE ROCKSTAR LOUNGE and the festival area PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR TENT where fans can sample ice cold Rockstar and get autographs from their favorite bands.

"This festival will be our marquee music presentation for years to come," says Rockstar Energy Drink Marketing Director Mike Kelso.

"We at Rockstar are excited to team up with our partners from Rockstar Taste of Chaos to launch an all-out summer tour that will blow you away!"

Fans can go to www.mayhemfest.com to keep up with additional details as they are released.


Tour dates are as follows:
Date City Venue
7/9 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheater
7/11 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheater
7/12 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheater at Mountain View
7/13 San Bernardino, CA Glen Helen Pavilion
7/15 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
7/16 San Diego, CA Coors Amphitheater
7/18 Phoenix, Az Cricket Wireless Pavilion
7/19 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
7/20 Denver, CO Coors Amphitheater at Fiddler’s Green
7/22 Kansas City, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/23 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis
7/25 Dallas, TX Superpages Center
7/26 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7/27 Houston, TX Sam Houston Race Park
7/29 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
7/30 W. Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheater
8/1 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
8/2 Pittsburgh, PA Post-Gazette Pavilion
8/3 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum
8/5 Boston, MA Tweeter Center for Performing Arts
8/6 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion
8/8 Toronto, ON Downsview Park
8/9 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
8/10 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
8/12 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheater
8/13 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Indianapolis
8/15 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
8/16 Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center
8/17 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
8/19 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center


SLIPKNOT
Uncompromising. Intense. Chaotic. Unforgiving. Cathartic. Destructive. Dominant. These words barely scratch the surface in describing the multi-platinum, Grammy-Award winning hard rock enigma known as Slipknot. This groundbreaking nine-piece, born out of the desolate landscape of Des Moines, IA, have sold in excess of 10 million albums worldwide over the course of 3 studio albums. Their last studio album Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) was released in May 2004, debuting at 2 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and has sold over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. to date. The album broke new ground for the band, spawning a string of hit singles including "Duality," "Vermilion" and "Before I Forget." December 2006 saw the release of the DVD Voliminal: Inside the 9. Certified double-platinum, it’s a vivid, brutally honest glimpse of the world inside the ’Knot. Slipknot, along with their maggots, has forged their own path on their own terms. This isn’t a band. This is a way of life.


DISTURBED
Known for their punishingly powerful music and socially conscious lyrics, Disturbed has sold a collective 9 million copies worldwide of their three albums — 2000’s RIAA-certified triple-platinum The Sickness, 2002’s Billboard album chart-topper Believe, and in 2005 their second consecutive number one debut on the Billboard charts, Ten Thousand Fists — since forming in Chicago in 1996. The band, which is singer David Draiman, guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren and bassist John Moyer, will release their self-produced forthcoming album titled Indestructible on Reprise Records in May. Get ready for what the band calls "a little bit darker, really complex and furiously paced record."


DRAGONFORCE
DragonForce are the next generation of guitar heroes. The lead single, "Through The Fire And Flames," is the massively popular breakout track from Guitar Hero III. Thanks to the superhuman guitar wizardry and soaring vocals on their most recent album, the jaw-dropping Inhuman Rampage, the DragonForce buzz has erupted from the underground and has escalated to a deafening roar. Headline tours always sell out. Heads are consistently turned. New fans are immediately made. Radio reacts. Sales continue to go up. The appetite for DragonForce is insatiable, and so is the band’s desire to dominate the US tour market. Guitar virtuoso Herman Li says, "It’s great for us to be back after a 16 month absence from touring the U.S. The demand from fans for DragonForce to return has been overwhelming, so we’re very excited to be part of the biggest tour of the summer. Get ready for some serious Mayhem on and off stage. Don’t blink or you’ll miss something!" It’s time to experience all that DragonForce have to offer!


MASTODON
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Mastodon have been critically acclaimed by almost every publication in the US and UK. "Late Night with Conan O’Brien" took note of this and put them on his show, which set a precedent and paved the way for more metal acts to be considered on NBC. Their Grammy nominated album, Blood Mountain, the group’s third release, isn’t just unconventional, it’s surreal, progressive and unrepentantly heavy. Mastodon combined their favorite musical styles, including thrash, doom, prog and psychedelic metal to concoct something utterly original, undeniably devastating and irrefutably entrancing.


MACHINE HEAD
With virtually no mainstream radio or video play whatsoever the San Francisco Bay Area’s 2nd biggest metal band Machine Head have become one of the most credible and influential metal bands of all time, and their unique brand of bludgeoning metal has gone on to sell over 1.8 million records throughout the world. Recently nominated for a Grammy, Machine Head’s latest album The Blackening was in the 1 or top 5 "Album of the Year" spot in nearly every single metal magazine throughout the world, and shocked the mainstream press at the 2007 Kerrang! Awards ceremonies, where The Blackening was named "Album Of The Year" over My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy.


UNDEROATH
Underoath are currently recording the follow up to their juggernaut gold-certified and critically acclaimed third album DEFINE THE GREAT LINE (Tooth & Nail/Solid State). The Florida-based sextet’s inexplicably delightful amalgam of mayhem and melody--plus their depth and ability--propelled the landmark 2006 album to a 2 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. Renowned for their cathartic and frenzied live performances UNDEROATH have solidly built their fan base from incessant touring and their unrelentingly intense live shows, establishing an unbreakable bond with their fans. The combined sales of their three albums is close to one million copies. The strength, and explosive lure of UNDEROATH continues in 2008.


BLACK TIDE
Fresh off their now legendary Ozzfest stint, Avenged Sevenfold dates and a forthcoming tour with All That Remains, Black Tide are set to take the world by storm with their debut album Light From Above, produced by Johnny K (Disturbed, Staind). Revolver Magazine dubbed them the "Future of Metal" and Spin called them "a combination of Megadeth riffage, Metallica brutality, and Guns N’ Roses melodicism." They not only embrace the charisma, character and unwavering attitude of those who shredded before them, but they do so in a manner that would make the virtuosos that inspired them proud. Black Tide is not only bringing music back from the dead, but they’re returning the power to metal. The meltdown is long overdue.


WALLS OF JERICHO
Detroit’s hardest, Walls Of Jericho, have been described as "Murderous Metal-core" by Alternative Press in their recent feature for the "Most Anticipated 2008" issue. With Candace Kucsulain, who is arguably the most energetic and courageous front-woman in all of metal and a twin guitar attack, Walls Of Jericho have won over audiences worldwide. WOJ have an EP due out Spring 2008 produced by and featuring Corey Taylor (Slipknot), and a new album due Summer 2008. Other recent touring credits include Ozzfest 2006, Family Values 2006 as well as Devil Driver, Stone Sour, Unearth, Bullet For My Valentine, and Mastodon.


36 CRAZYFISTS
After three critically acclaimed records, 36 Crazyfists switches labels to Ferret Music for their new album, The Tide and Its’ Takers due out May 27. Still the only hard rock band to build a career from Alaska, 36 Crazyfists has built an international following by doing extensive touring around the world from appearing on the mainstage of UK’s Download Festival, to a sold-out European/UK and Australian tour with co-headliners Atreyu. 36 Crazyfists is poised to finally break the US market with the new album produced by guitarist Steve Holt and mixed by legendary hard rock mixer Andy Sneep.


FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
Five Finger Death Punch has been pummeling audiences since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, The Way of the Fist. With their hit single "The Bleeding" pulverizing the Active rock charts and MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball, the album has been called a "Cowboys from Hell for this millennium (Outburn)." The band has already toured with the likes of Korn, Hellyeah, Flyleaf, Trivium, and Atreyu in the short time since their album debuted in the Billboard Top 200. Five Finger Death Punch features an all-star gang of musicians, including vocalist Ivan Moody (formerly of Motograter), Darrel Roberts (W.A.S.P.) and Zoltan Bathory (UPO). This summer audiences will see why Metal Edge calls Five Finger Death Punch "the sound of violent exhilaration, giving contemporary metal a belligerent shove in an exciting direction."


SUICIDE SILENCE
Suicide Silence’s rise through the ranks of extreme metal saw them headline full-scale tours in both the US & UK in the Summer/Fall of 2006 while still an unsigned band. Upon finally finding a home with Century Media Records, the band’s debut full-length impacted the Billboard 200 at 94 cementing them as the highest selling debut artist in Century Media history. According to Revolver Magazine, "The Cleansing was well worth the wait" and as the band continues to shatter the boundaries of conventionality with a uniquely devastating live show & rigorous commitment to touring, it comes as no surprise that Suicide Silence has been cited by Alternative Press as one of the 100 bands you need to know about in 2008.


AIRBOURNE
"Stand Up For Rock n’ Roll."It is as clear a statement of intent as you’re ever likely to hear. One verse that says everything you need to know about Melbourne, AU four piece Airbourne and their debut album, Runnin’ Wild: forget your worries, get down to the front of the stage and lose your mind to some ear-bleeding, sweat-soaked rock n’roll. Or, as the song continues, "Drink your beer/Drink your wine/Let’s have a good time." Stand up for rock n’ roll indeed. From the album’s fist-pumping title track to the anthemic "What’s Eatin’ You" and the self-explanatory rock explosions of "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast" and "Diamond In The Rough," Runnin’ Wild is an exercise in booze-and-sweat soaked rock n’ roll that isn’t looking to change the world by abolishing Free Trade, but simply provide the ultimate soundtrack to the biggest all-night rock party there is.


THE RED CHORD
The Red Chord have been crafting intriguing heavy music since their independent debut Fused Together in Revolving Doors in 2002. Combining elements of grindcore, death metal and hardcore, that release established them as one of the premier Massachusetts extreme metal acts. In 2005, Metal Blade released the follow-up Clients, a tortured concept album about mental patients, drug addicts, the homeless, the desperate and downtrodden. While they decimated crowds worldwide touring with the likes of Gwar, High On Fire, Unearth, Every Time I Die and Hatebreed, as well as stints on Ozzfest 2006 and Sounds of the Underground 2005, Clients established The Red Chord as innovators in the burgeoning underground metal scene. By staying away from the cliché trappings that crippled some of their contemporaries, 2007’s Prey For Eyes hit Metal Maniacs’ "Critics Picks" Top 10 Albums of 2007, Revolver’s Top 20 Albums of 2007 and Decibel’s Top 40 Albums of 2007, further solidifying The Red Chord as a force at the top of their game.


About ROCKSTAR Energy Drink – Developed to increase the recovery time of those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles, ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is available in ten amazing flavors. You can find Original, Sugar Free, Juiced, Zero Carb, Guava, Pomegranate, Punched and Roasted Mocha, Roasted Vanilla Light and Roasted Latte at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK.


http://mayhemfest. tickets. musictoday. com

http://www. mayhemfest. com

Friday, June 20, 2008

Blue Line O’Hare Out of Commission for July

Repairs knock out Blue Line O’Hare leg in July
By: Lorene Yue June 20, 2008

(Crain’s) — Riders taking the Blue Line to and from O’Hare International Airport will have to take part of the journey by bus in July due to rail work.

The Chicago Transit Authority is replacing deteriorated rails and ties on four miles of track between the Rosemont and O’Hare stations on the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line. Starting at 3 a.m. on July 8 until sometime July 28, trains will not run between those stations. Service will be covered via a shuttle bus.

That means for three weeks, Blue Line riders will have to jump on a CTA bus at O’Hare’s shuttle bus center instead of heading to the underground train station.

Track work is being done to improve travel on the Blue Line, where train speeds have been restricted due to the condition of the tracks.

Because of track conditions, trains between Rosemont and O’Hare are currently inching along in some areas at 15 miles per hour,” Ron Huberman, CTA’s president, said in a statement.

Once the work is complete, the Blue Line trains on the O’Hare branch should be able to reach speeds of 55 miles per hour.

Amazing Hand Shadow show by Raymond Crowe


Thursday, June 19, 2008

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Sallie Mae - Scourge of the Student Loan Seas

Student Loans and how they effect you can have a different outcome based on millions of different factors involved. The interest rates are usually very high and unless you have great credit or something worth more than the loans, you can't get another loan at a smaller rate to pay them off. The best way to skip the interest that they tack on is to just pay the loan off in a lump sum. For those of us that haven't won the lottery or inherited a Trust Fund it's not so easy.

I'll be the first to say this. I am a blue collar person, always have been and always will be. I'll also freely say that going to school was a huge waste of time and money for me. Why did I go to school then? Easy enough. I was refused a Warehouse Manager job because I didn't have a degree. I was told that I had the experience, the knowledge and the abilities but since I didn't have a degree the company didn't want me. So I asked my interviewer what kind of a degree a person needed to tell their employees how to organize and run a warehouse.

Their reply was, "Any kind." Turns out, some companies just want to know that you have a degree to show that you actually stuck something out for the long run. Seriously, some employers require a certain number of college credits. They can be anything and the classes that you take don't even have to reflect on the job your applying for.

That's when I decided to go for one of the easiest degrees I could think of. Multimedia and Web Design at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago. I basically decided on this since a close friend at the time had taken the same course. I had helped her with many of the assignments and it seemed easy enough.

I went to the school and had all my paperwork ready and talked with an admissions adviser. We went through the financial aide and it was told to me that I would be completely covered for the entire 3 year length of the course by financial aide. This was important at the time since I was already working a full time day job just to keep up with rent and bills.

Half way through the course my financial aide was declined. I was told that it had ran out. This didn't make any sense to me since it was already told to me that I would be fully covered for the entire course. At this time I was carrying a 3.2 grade point average and working 2 full time jobs.

So I decided to cancel the classes I had and just drop the course. I went to the counselors and talked to them about dropping the classes I had scheduled. They said to me that it was past the drop or add time period and even though I was dropping the classes and not attending them I would still have to pay for them. This made no sense to me at all.

So now fast forward to the Summer of 2007. I've now been working between different door jobs and I was very interested in becoming a Police Officer here in Chicago. One of the requirements is that you must have 60 college credits. Once again, the college credits could be from anything and not necessarily classes focused on Criminal Justice.

This I believe I do have based on the Illinois Institute of Art and a previous community college that I had went to. But alas, I can't get my transcripts since I owe ILIA money for classes I never went to and dropped before the classes actually started.

So. Now that the backdrop has been set.

It's now 2008. Most of my loans have been in forbearance. This means that you get a certain amount of time that you don't pay for the loan. The payments are added to the end of the loan but the interest still accrues as if the loan is just larger. Basically you get charged double interest on the payment. As with one loan I had that was for about $11,000 and has been in forbearance, it is now for about $14,000. These figures aren't exact.

All my loans are through Sallie Mae as I'm sure many students loans are. Sallie Mae has a huge amount of employees and a slow computer center. You can make a payment and still get calls from them for a week or more after the fact asking you to make a payment. It's only when you tell them to check the records that they will notice that you did make the payment a week prior.

A few months ago I had some loans that came out of forbearance. Sallie Mae, being the spokes company for efficiency, never reported that this happened. One would think that a company that is trying to get money back from you would let you know in some manner. Four months after the loans came out of forbearance I started receiving emails and phone calls. They want their money or the loans will default.

I, like some people, have a hard enough time creating credit. I don't need these school loans to default. Not only will it effect me but it will my co-signer as well. So I made a call to Sallie Mae.

Once on the phone with a pleasant southern accented associate I start asking questions. How much are my payments? When are the payments due? How much to break even with all the loans to this date?

The associate gives me a total amount to bring all of my loans current. I stress the word all because according to this associate an amount just short of $500 would bring all my loans current until the month of July. Then I would have a constant payment due for many more years to come. So in order to get everything current and save all the hassles I pay out the amount just short of $500 and get everything cleared away.

I'm now preparing to include these monthly payments into my budget. Thus, the addition of another job once again and the work schedule of 6 - 7 nights a week.

2 or 3 weeks pass. I start to receive phone calls from an unlisted number. I don't answer phone calls from unlisted numbers. Then I start to receive phone calls from a cellular number based out of Los Angeles. Then a cellular number from New York. I receive another call from the same cellular number from Los Angeles and decide to answer. Normally I don't answer numbers I don't know and return the calls if a voice mail is left.

I answer the phone and it's off to the races.

"Hello?"

"Hello sir, is this Derek D?"

"Sure is."

"Hi this is ____ from Sallie Mae services. Our records indicate that you owe $___. How would you like to take care of this today?"

"Excuse me?"

"Sir, this is Sallie Mae Student Loans. We're calling about the student loans..."

"Your calling me from a cellular phone number out of LA. Sallie Mae is located in Indiana."

"Sir, we have many different phone numbers. Now if I can just get your information."

"How bout you tell me my information. If your Sallie Mae then you already know it."

"Sir, we don't give out information over the phone."

"That's funny, I don't give my information to people calling me from a number registered to a cellular phone in LA when they're supposed to be at a company in Indiana." Then I hang up and call Sallie Mae.

I talk to a supervisor at Sallie Mae and report the problem. Turns out that it was them calling. They have different numbers that are not registered to them in order to try and collect debts. I ask why they're calling me since I just became current 2 - 3 weeks prior. To this the supervisor said I was not current and that he would transfer me back to an associate.

Turns out the associate that had helped me prior overlooked the different types of loans I had. There are two different types, private loans and federal loans. She had overlooked the federal loans. So I was close to defaulting on the federal loans. Even after asking her several times, "Now this brings me current on all of my loans correct?" she failed to realize that she had overlooked the federal loans. However, when I asked how much my monthly payments would be she didn't overlook them. She had the monthly payments correct.

After talking with the new associate I was able to put my federal loans into forbearance once again. After making the $500 payment only a few weeks ago I am maxed out on making any more huge pay outs.

I almost wish Sallie Mae was fully automated. Phone to computer, no errors unless there's a glitch in the system. Human error seems to be way too high when it comes to services like these. The people sit in a room with a headset on and read prompts off of a computer screen. No thought needed.

In fact, if you ever receive a phone call from this type of a business ask questions. Ask questions that will involve the person to back track and re-read. You can base the level of intelligence or boredom of the associate on their response time. It's kind of a fun game.

If you really want to have some fun then turn the tables. Ask the associate their Zodiac sign, their date of birth, their favorite ice cream and tell them that these will all be questions used to verify that they're actually living and breathing human bipeds and not quadrupeds from the 3rd moon orbiting Uranus. If they don't laugh and you keep with it claiming that they must be aliens, give yourself a pat on the back if they hang up on you.

Not to worry, they have a toll free number and if you call back odds are you won't get the same associate again.

If only life was this easy.


Monday, June 16, 2008

Friday, June 13, 2008

(Addison, IL) Not So Cool Anymore.

Residents in Addison, Illinois face a sweltering problem. No more window unit air conditioners. Well... no more air conditioners in the front windows of any home. Ok, not in any window on any wall within 12 feet of any surface facing a street.

The Village officials in the western suburb have deemed window unit air conditioners to be unsightly. Claiming that they reduce property values and are eye sores to the public. Well... just the ones that you can see from the street. And the ones that have boards and styrofoam jammed into the sides to stop the cool air from escaping. Also the ones that have a bracing system built out of boards to help distribute the weight of the unit so as not to damage the windows they are in. They're just plain ugly.

Village officials deem this ordinance to be very important. With property values decreasing in the summer months and returning to the bland levels of value in the winter months. Jim "Bob" Horthtoe had this to say, "Well, it's got to be all these air conditioners in the windows that makes people not want to live here. It all correlates together. Air conditioners go in the windows and property values go out the door. It has to stop."

Addison residents are upset. Thomas McInglytosk says that his concerns rise from his family's well being. "What will happen when it's warmer inside our home than it is outside? Are we expected to move our television and game consoles outside for our children?" McInglytosk's concerns revolve around his children's sedentary lifestyle that will now face a dramatic change that will include sweating, weight loss, mass consumption of liquids and exercise. "My children (2 boys, ages 9 and 11, daughter age 8) will have to leave the house now to be comfortable. They might even go somewhere that has a pool."

John Berly, assistant village manager, had this to say, "I do daily battle with these landlords, most of them are absentee landlords who don't care that much. To us, [compliance with the ordinance] is a part of general maintenance and upkeep."

Standing in front of a local residence, clad in medieval armor and with his sword in hand ready to battle with a landlord, Berly continued, "The front yard is what the public sees. The condition of the front is a major factor in determining property values, and it reflects the community norms of acceptable maintenance."

I pondered what Mr. Berly said. I didn't dare say it aloud since his overall hit points more than tripled mine and I had forgotten my 20 sided die at home. Are the air conditioning units what actually determine the property value or the lack of central air? Could it be the overall appearance of the entire village or the employment rate? Crime rate or lack of quality housing?

The city will be able to find some of the perpetrators of this ordinance at least one day out of the year. When they do their annual building inspections. The only people that might get by with it would be the people that live in buildings that the village has deemed in good condition. These buildings do not receive the annual inspection. "The village inspects apartment buildings annually and charges an inspection fee of $50 per building plus $50 per apartment, though inspections are waived in some years for buildings considered to be in good condition," Berly said.

Berly, now in a heated battle with a Level 40 Landlord, noted that contractors have advised the council that costs could fall between $600 to $1,000 to retrofit buildings for air conditioners placed in walls. Cost will depend on the building structures and the amount of siestas needed on extra warm days.

Rising costs for heat, taxes, insurance, water, garbage removal and rent prices staying affordable,could make the costs too high to retrofit all the apartments. Consider a 14 unit apartment building could cost between $8,400 to $14,000.

With complaints coming in from all over the community Addison's mayor, Larry Hartwig had this to say, "We may have to look at fine-tuning it." The city has decided to only give out warnings this summer for any in window air conditioning units that don't comply with the ordinance. However, next summer the fine spree will begin at a cost of $500 per occurrence.

Ralph Johnson owns several apartment buildings. In order to abide by the city's new ordinance Ralph has had to have his residents sign an agreement not to use window air conditioners. "No one's happy about it but anyone higher than the 4th floor is visible from a street. I'm not paying the fines. If the city wants them to be miserable then let the city make them miserable. I have central air at home."

When asked if Ralph thinks his tenants will get upset and move to a neighboring town without such an ordinance he replied, "Yea, screw it. Let them move. Maybe then I can get Section 8 approved and get all that extra cash from the government."









Find the original article here: Chicago Tribune

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Monday, June 02, 2008

Sunday, June 01, 2008

One Sentence

I'm sure everyone's heard of PostSecrets by now. If you haven't then definitely check it out.

On a similar note I found this other site while Stumbling through the net today. It's called One Sentence. It's similar to PostSecrets but instead of using post cards it's simply one sentence that describes what your thinking or going through.

Also, if you've lost a camera or a memory stick for our camera, check out ifoundyourcamera.net. It's a fairly new site that helps people find their cameras. It basically works by people posting photos found on the camera. If it happens to be yours the website owner, Matt Prepost, will help you get your camera or memory stick (whichever is found) back. It's a great idea and it's already gotten results.

Jump over to these sites and check them out. Some of them are pretty interesting. If anything, some of them will give you a chuckle.