September 28th, 2011 Videos Of The Week: Occupy Wall Street Edition

About two weeks ago, the Occupy Wall Street movement started, with hundreds of protestors in a little tent city standing in front of the financial district. I was extremely cynical regarding it for two reasons:
1. There is absolutely no incentive for Wall Street to give a shit about these people. At the end of the day, no matter how bad a protestor made them feel, they can always go, "WELP I STILL GOT ALL THIS MONEY" then buy a politician to make protesting illegal. You can occupy it, but you can't make it give a damn.

Anonymous can say all it's going to change the world after the success of Chanology (the protest against Scientology), but I think that was lightning in a bottle.
The reason Chanology worked is because there is a period of time after your first encounter with Scientology, whether it be a stress test table, or walk in for their movie, where they can't be sociopaths. All the disconnection (where you have to separate from non believers) and Xenu come in to play a while after that first meeting.

A Wall Street exec can go his whole life without ever looking you in the eye, and still make it so you don't have any money at the end of the day.

2. When the protest actually started, my fears were confirmed that, yes, this was going to be absolutely useless. The audience was mostly college and post college 20 somethings; the same people who show up to EVERY protest.

Then they had to move to Zuccotti Park a few blocks away, on a day when no buisness was taking place.
Then came the Tweet asking for people asking for half vegan, quarter no cheese pizza.
Then came the Ron Paul supporters and BitCoin advocates.
Then came the topless yoga classes and I became curious.

Then I wrote the thing off. The second a camera gets on these people, the word "hipster" is going to be sung from the top of the tower as it fades into obscurity, with a bunch of voices all vying for the last breath.

Then, a week later, this happened:
VIDEO OF THE WEEK #1- Woman Getting Maced By Police Officer


Then they had my sympathy.

The officer's name is Anthony Bologna, or Tony Baloney. Don't accuse him of being an asshole or anything, I bet he got picked on a lot in school, like "Tony Baloney has a tiny penis" or, "Tony Baloney will be a sad old man who will be a cop because he's too dumb to do anything instead of, you know, because he wants to protect and serve" and now he's taking it out on women who only asked what the hell was going on. Oh wait, maybe he is an asshole.

Now it's getting actual, legit support from several different unions, including the Transit Workers Union and the ALF CIO

And now I'm glad that at least someone is there. This is a legit grassroots movement. The reason the Tea Party gets all the attention is because the same people OWS is protesting put a bunch of money to get a bunch of old white people riled up. While I can understand the anger of the old white people, all that cash just gives the TP a bad aftertaste.

So, three things I hope to see going forward:
1. Get more working class, "normal" people in on the protest. It's not a "Save The Whales" thing where it only affects one enthusiastic subset, it's a subject that affects all of us:

2. Lesson from Chanology #1: Be Persistent, and Don't Be Afraid To Be Rude
VIDEO OF THE WEEK #2: NYC ANonymouse Flashmobs CLO Building

Make it clear to these people that it's not worth it to be that wealthy and work in an environment that has screwed over so many. Some have actually left Scientology because the assholes standing outside an org won't leave and supposedly their tech was supposed to handle dissenters. How would this apply to OWS?

If someone be hatin', drop some knowledge, and make them feel like crap for being such bitches.

3. Lesson from Chanology #2: Be Active

I'd love nothing more than to see 20 homeless people covered in pubes just messing with the traders. But that conteracts point 1.

Again, would adopting Chanology practices work? Chanology was weird people fighting weird people. Wall Street is an institution that, like it or not, is a part of this country, and unlike Scientology, most people have already made up their minds in some fashion.

This is pretty stupid, but I promised something like this on The Bunker this week, so there it is.

Transmission Over

I just wrapped up a set on Ozone Radio! The Ozone liked it, so I get to do more!

The show is called "The Bunker" and I broadcast it from my secret underground bunker as Radroaches gnaw on the outer breaches of my wall. ShoutCAST for WinAMP was not very cooperative, but neither were the Radroaches.

Party On The Radio

1. I'm re-uploading "College Party". There were a few problems I had with the mix listening to it in the Dino Hunter M.D. episode. Namely, the mixing was off a bit.

College Party by RhythmBastard

ON NEWGROUNDS

2. In conjunction with submitting stuff alongside the NewGrounds Audio Deathmatch, this so happens to be the Bonus Round, so I'm uploading "Pass The Class" from Robot Rising to the Audio Portal as well.I didn't make these songs within the two weeks, so I'm taking it as a freebie, since there is a song I have finished, but personal reasons are keeping me from releasing it.

3. I'm going to be on Ozone Radio from Thursday 9-10 PM, doing a live audition! The show will called "The Bunker", and if you've read the blog, then you'll kind of know what to expect music-wise, but I will take requests.

4. I made this picture for Koltreg of Socialfist and Changeling fame:

It's from Batman #1 where he has to do community service and set up a Free Hugs station. I got into a couple of the DC reboot comics, but not Batman. That reboot thing seems to be real hit or miss.

September 14th, 2011 Videos Of The Week

LIVE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: "Knights Of Cydonia" by Muse at Wembley Stadium

The band that came into existence the day Guitar Hero 3 came out put on an excellent live show. A lot of lights, a lot of flashing, and a lot of bombast complient one of the most intense songs I've ever heard. I can't listen to a Muse song without having some a little movie playing in my head.

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK: "Babydoll" by Akira The Don

Fresh off The Life Equation, it's "Babydoll"

I don't know what song he sampled in this (Van Morrison, sounds like).
Either way, it gives the song and the video a nostalgic feeling, that takes the listener back to a simpler time that never really existed except in Hollywood.

September 7th, 2011 Videos Of The Week

FUCK IT, THE BEST VIDEO OF ALL KINDS OF ALL THE WEEKS IS RIGHT HERE:

BEST ANY VIDEO OF EVERY TIME FOREVER: "Pterodac to School", Dino Hunter MD

Dino Hunter MD - Episode 1 - "Pterodac-to School" from Cannibal Troll on Vimeo.

You know some of those songs I mentioned back when the Robot Rising EP came out? It's finally coming into fruition. The two in this episode are "Pass The Class" and "College Party", the latter of which has been taken down for a little while. I'll take another look at it, then put it back.

Now, since I missed last week, I figured I owe it to all 0 regular readers to do this.
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK: "Lars Attacks" by MC Lars
I know I start with the live video but I'm fucking with convention ALL OVER THA PLACE!!!


I was going to put another video here, but then I remembered that today, "Lars Attacks!" comes out! I got it last week thanks to his Kickstarter campaign, along with Indie Rocket Science.

I guess I should be talking about the album itself now:

In my mind, there are two types of songs I like listening to:
"Body" music- Stuff I workout or dance to. It's dynamic (from "quiet" to "loud"), intense and upbeat, and that energy transfers into me.
E.G. Punk rock and all it's variations. Also includes dance music, such as guilty pleasures "Like A G6" and "Party Rock Anthem"

"Head" music- Music I work to, like when I'm writing or when I'm cleaning around the house, or music I can put on and wind down to. It's consistent musically, so I can let the rhythms and words wash over me.
E.G. Primarily Rap, and some metal bands fall into this category, such as Mercenary. Chiptune/8-bit music also works here.

"This Gigantic Robot Kills" is "body" music. Some of the songs are straight up rock, and it's filled with lots of high culture (Hamlet, metric system) and pop culture (90's ska, Guitar Hero) references. It's something I can put on at a party.

"Lars Attacks" is "head" music. His rapping is faster, the instrumentals are more reserved, and the material is darker. He's trying to say more in each track, and go for bigger concepts. The goofy optimistic English major still comes through, and that's what keeps it fun to listen to, even through more reflective tracks like "Judas Preist" (about The Gospel of Judas) and "Francis Bacon Slashed The Canvas".

His DIY attitude been nothing short of inspiring, and every interview I've read with him proves one ultimate point: He gives a fuck about his music. Few have been as academic or as dedicated about what they're doing than MC Lars. Even though the RBN stuff is in limbo right now, I look at everything he's doing and think, "You know what? At least he's [touring Europe/playing Warped Tour/working on this awesome new album]", and it's this progress that's made him exciting to follow.

LIVE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: The Vampires set at the Waterloo Coffee Shop in (presumably) San Diego, CA.

On the direct opposite end of the "Give A Fuck" spectrum, we have a group I found out about through the Mega 64 Forums. Not really a group, so much as an act.

But look at it. Not one fuck given. It's inspiring how little they care about what's cool. That's the kind of energy I'd love to be able to go out with.