Soundboard: "The Games That We Play..."

We all generally believe in something, God, Lady Fate, Destiny, The Powers That Be, something.

They say that all experiences we face are designed to teach us, to help us grow in life and that no matter how fucked up things go in life, that it's to help us. Well I guess it was my turn.

For all of you who've been with TBF since the beginning or at the very least are somewhat familiar with my back story, then prepare to be surprised.

Sunday afternoon I was walking through the mall with Emile and I was just telling him about how I was taking a month off TBF due to burnout and I was explaining how my heart just wasn't in it and I look straight ahead and there she was... SARAH.

Now here's the complete play by play on what happened:

I looked straight and I see her, she sees me, I freeze in place, Emile runs over and tells me that I look white like I just saw a ghost and boom he sees her and says: HOLY SHIT IT'S SARAH!!!

She waves at us and my eyes just start locking on her and I start visibly shaking, and I was pissed. She starts off by asking if I was still mad...

Now if I'm shaking Ladies and Gentlemen, it's because of two reasons:

#1 I'm suffering from Hypothermia, and I'm gonna die if I don't get warm within 30 minutes.

or

#2 I'm pissed to a level of pissed that can only be described as "Biblical" and which means I'm gonna do something that at most could be described as "Horrifying, Graphic, Inhuman, and to a degree just plain Evil"

Thankfully I muster enough control to storm off before all that I described could occur. I go around the corner and I'm still shaking and I felt lightheaded and I feel like my legs are gonna give out and Emile puts me in a bench and I'm sitting there for like five minutes and I'm there and the same time I'm not there...

Emile's trying to talk me and i realized that I had a whole new set of feelings and some feelings that I haven't felt in a long time and i finally look at him and I stood up and walked back over to her with a vengeance.

I stood there in front of her and we said our "Hi"s and she first tells me "Guess what, I had my baby!" I say "congratulations" in a sarcastic tone, she going on saying how she's happy and says to me: "So, what's new?" now at this point I'm looking at her with a face that says it all "Are you fucking kidding me?", She goes on saying that she admits that a lot of what happened to me was from her end and how none of it was my fault and was surprised that I was bothered by how things ended so much and at this point Emile says what I was pretty much thinking...

"YOU'RE A FUCKING BITCH!!!"

And she just keeps asking if I had anything new going on, And I finally tell her the truth, "I was emotionally shut down for the last ten months/ I was dealing with depression/ I'm starting to feel like myself again" and all she said was... "hmm."

One thing you should note is that she acted like she really didn't care and she NEVER actually apologized once for everything that happend.

So she says to me "So can I call you sometime??" and I just set her straight "Actually no, It's better that we never speak again. Congratulations on being happy and on your new life, Goodbye." and then she says "So, I'll see you around??" and I simply say "Don't hold your breath..."

Now going back to my opening about believing in something, I don't know whether this was aimed to hurt or to what but I take that whole situation as this:

The Powers That Be knew I was hurting and they knew I had lost my passion, so TPTB decided to throw me a bone, I finally got mine and now:

BLOOD'S PUMPING, HEART'S RACING, FIRE'S IN MY EYES

or to be more to the point:

THE MAN IN BLACK IS BACK AND HE'S FUCKING READY TO PLAY AND I GOT TO SAY KIDS, I FEEL FUCKING GOOD!!!

So this Friday, expect The Brian Factor back with a vengeance.

I know Marie will be happy and honestly I'm finally happy.

Until Next Time,
-B

Note from the Editor: The weeks to come

Hmm. So Brian's left, and I'm stuck here to amuse ya'll for a full month.

Sorry, but I can't juggle, and the balloons pop whenever I try to make animals.

But at least I get the office to myself for a while. At last: the seat is staying down!

I'll pass on some of my favorite songs, write an editorial or two, and if all of us can't scrape up a Factor working together, then I'll be stuck with the job of finding something to call "Best Of" (though in my opinion, there have been too few Factors to really justify having the title of "Best Of").

(Screw you Research Methods project! I've got Factor stuff to write this month!)

So I'm deputizin' all'a ya: submissions are more than welcome. I'll post four or nine times a week if I get enough material. Perhaps enough contributions will revitalize Brian's interest in the Factor.

~Marie (who is currently munching on Brian's Top-Secret Emergency-Only Candy Stash and has her feet propped up on the tall pile of Brian's unfinished pornographic screenplays)

Echoes

Well there were no submissions this week.. so no Echoes to share.

But I do have something I gotta say:

I want to apologize for last week's The Brian Factor. I know that it wasn't the greatest thing ever written and truthfully, I think it's shit.

In fact, looking back, I haven't been feeling anything for a while. I phoned in everything this past month and I've just been burnt out ever since.

I keep remembering a lesson I learned a long time ago:

"Whatever you do in life, do it with Passion"

And that's what I've always done ever since, anything I do, I do it with passion, because I firmly believe in what I'm doing and if you have passion in your heart then a person can pretty much accomplish anything they set their eyes on. What we do in life will be what defines us in the end and I want this to be a defining part of who I am.

But this last month... My passion has turned into obligation.

Between here and my life on the outside, I'm spreading myself too thin and I feel like I'm reaching a breaking point.

So to help nip this in the bud, I'm taking a leave of absence from The Brian Factor, effective immediately.

I'm taking about a month off to recharge the batteries and just to think and get my head sorted out a little.

I know that I don't want this post to be the only thing we all see for the next month, so I left specific instructions to Marie and that pretty much means that for the next month, it's all from her.

I asked her to post up a "Best Of" next week and I even asked her to do her own edition of TBF which should be up in a couple weeks, and I know she wanted to wait it out before she did an edition of "Brian's Song" but I'm kinda hoping that she'd be willing to cover that as well, but we'll see. I may try to have H.C. or Emile come in again and host another edition or something. So I guess you'll just have to tune in every Wednesday and see what's the mystery grab bag surprise.

I know that everything will be fine while I'm gone, I've known Marie for a long time and I know she won't let me down. So I will talking to you guys again in about a month but just cause I'm gone doesn't mean I don't care or that you should all jump ship as well.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder..."

So Until Next Time,

-Brian Rodriguez

Brian's Song: In Front of Me

In life I can note three events that are inevitable...

We will die.

Our first sexual encounter will be awkward and mainly consist of "I'm Sorry, I'm SO SO SORRY!!!" as the post coitus dialog.

Every once in a while we all will reach a crossroads where we have to re-evaluate the choices and events to determine our current direction in our lives.

Well since I'm not dying anytime soon (Knock on wood) and since I'm still a virgin (crying a little inside), I guess that means I'm at a crossroad...

I can't say what's bugging me right now but to help me with my decision I turn to my greatest ally... music.

I've always believed that with the right song, we can find the answers that we're looking for. With the right song, we can find the courage to tell that someone special how much you love them, or the courage to tell them that you can't love them anymore, The anger to push you to bring your best to the table, The emotion that your heart is carrying.

For me this week I chose a song that reflects how I'm feeling right now, hopefully I can find the answers I'm looking for...

So for this week I spotlight "In Front Of Me" By Infected Mushroom as this week's Brian's Song.

"In Front Of Me"

Why can't I see what's in front of me?
Why can't I see what's in front of me?


I see the doors that I can't open,
Adding locks from time to time.

When it opens something blocks me,
And I'm asking myself why?

Did I take the step I wanted,
Was it just a state of mind?

I feel sorry for myself,
Every time I close my eyes.


And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more

And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more

And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more

And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more...


Why can't I see what's in front of me?
Why can't I see what's in front of me?


What's behind the door I wonder?
Must be brighter than my past.

Will I feel a little different,
When i take myself across?

Was it really worth the turning?
Was it just a foolish task?

I feel sorry for myself,
When i open up my eyes...


And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more

And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more

And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more

And I fall into a hole
and I can take no more....


Like what you read, want to know more? Then click the link and learn about Infected Mushroom


http://www.infected.co.il/

"In Front Of Me" is the off of "Vicious Delicious" which is primarily available online at the link I've posted below:

http://infectedmushroom.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=10831_10952

Got an idea for a future "Brian's Song", then hit us up and let us know, there's nothing fun and more truer than just sharing some kick ass tunes with the world.

Until Next Time, Brian

TBF: Goth vs Emo

Fixation On The Darkness
By Killswitch Engage

Fixation on the darkness
That engulfs this world
Drain the life force of our people
Change
Change

Fixation on the darkness
That engulfs this world
Drain the life force of our people

Return to the womb [New life]
Lay your head to rest [Mercy]
To give you a peace of mind
Lay your head to rest

Come together inside
This body is only a shell
Change
The only way we will survive
Light transfiguration of the soul
Of the soul, of the mind

Fixation on the darkness
That engulfs this world
Drain the life force of our people

Return to the womb [New life]
Lay your head to rest [Mercy]
To give you a peace of mind
Lay your head to rest

Tell them they will not hold us down,
It's time for a change
It's time for a change
It's time for a change...


A common aspect in life is our need to establish an identity for ourselves. Often times we use our interests as the basis of definition for who we are. Outside influence plays a large part of who we become, though most outside influence can really be trace to one of three factors:
- People
- Media
- Life Experiences

Thus the question is asked:

"Is the person that we are, really the person inside?"

While I admit, examining every single person on the planet would hold more of the answers we seek, I remembered that I only have a week to write this, so I decided to shift my focus on two "extreme" versions of identity.

I chose these two on the grounds that I believe that they yield the most in behavioral conditioning. To which I'll give a basic summary of the nature and then compare the two to measure differences in behavior. So this week I get to test that high IQ that I'm rumored to have...

This week on The Brian Factor: Goth vs. Emo

I know that the title gives off the impression that I'm attempting to face both of these lifestyles against each other but actually I added it mainly cause it sounded cool...

GOTH

Goth began in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s as result of genre of music known as the Gothic rock scene, which stemmed from the post-punk genre. Out of all known sub genres during the 80's rock scene, the goth subculture is the only one still thriving today, and has actually continued to diversify. Its imagery and cultural proclivities maintain heavy influences from nineteenth century Gothic literature, and of course mainly through horror movies.

The goth subculture has associated tastes in music and fashion, whether or not all individuals who share those tastes are, in fact, members of the goth subculture. Gothic music encompasses a number of different styles. Common to all styles is a tendency towards a lugubrious, mystical or fatalistic sound and outlook. Styles of dress within the subculture range from death rock, punk, androgynous, medieval, some Renaissance and Victorian style clothes, or combinations of the above, most often with black attire, makeup and hair.

The goth subculture developed very closely with certain forms of music, The most known forms of music within the subculture are:
post punk
death rock
Gothic rock
dark wave
ethereal wave

Though a common misconception is the genre of heavy metal, which is often confused as the primary music with the culture. When in reality Heavy metal and all forms of metal have no real connection to goths, Metal music is only really connected to Metalheads.

EMO

The term emo originated in the 1980s to describe a genre of music stemming from the hardcore punk music scene in Washington, D.C. Early bands labeled emo (or sometimes emocore) in this scene included Rites of Spring, Embrace, and Fugazi. The term emo as a music genre has become broader and broader with time, and now is loosely understood to mean "rock music with emotionally-based lyrics or effect." The term is so loosely defined because its definition is still the subject of debate. Emo now often refers to a person's fashion, personality, or both, as well as the music genre.

Emo are usually defined to have roots in punk fashion as well as Gothic fashion. By almost all current definitions, emo clothing is characterized by tight jeans on males and females alike, long fringe (bangs) often brushed to one side of the face, dyed black, straightened hair, tight t-shirts which often bear the names of rock bands, studded belts, belt buckles, skate shoes, or other black shoes - often old and beaten up - and thick, black-rimmed glasses. Emo fashion has changed with time; early trends included haircuts similar to those worn by the Romulans and Vulcans in Star Trek, tightly fitting sweaters,
button-down shirts, and work jackets.

Most definitions of emo hold that an "emo person" is candid about their emotions, sensitive, shy, introverted, broken-hearted, glum, and often quiet. Emo personality is also often connected with writing poetry, which addresses confusion, depression, loneliness, and anger, all resulting from the world's inability to understand the author. Emo poetry uses a combination of any of: a highly emotional tone, stream of consciousness writing, a simple (ABAB) or nonexistent rhyme scheme, references to the flesh, especially the heart, heavy use of dark or depressing adjectives, concern over the mutability of time and/or love, and disregard for punctuation, grammar, and/or spelling. Themes such as life is pain are common.

Some definitions of emo hold that typical "emo persons" are likely to inflict self-injury, most often by means of cutting, burning, or otherwise mutilating themselves. Some assert that it is cool within the emo subculture to pretend to be suicidal and self-harm, or that participants self-harm purely for personal enjoyment.

Emos are also stereotyped to use depressing Internet screen names within straight edge X's, often using ironic slogans, a poetic sense or cliche.

BEHAVIORAL COMPARISON

By comparison Emo's are the ones who are in fact the most dangerous in terms of behavior, They engage life in a mind set that is without question self destructive. Emos treat all of life as a tragedy, as if in a state of constant mourning for a lost friend. The statistics show that they are more than likely to commit suicide and engage in self mutilation.

Goths on the other hand, are really just outsiders, people who never fit in a standard setting. Like Emos, Goths are aware about our mortality and embrace the understanding that death is an inevitably, but they don't seem to let it stop them from living life. The allure of darkness is something we all experience at one time or another. Though what makes them special
is that unlike Emos, they enjoy the basics of emotion, they live for pleasure, wonder, and a sense of serenity. It's no question that they're heavily influenced by concepts of vampirism, but anyone who's familiar who vampirism knows that it too has an
unnamed allure to it, the mystery, the magic. in essence the unknown, There is no judge, no wrong, no right... just contentment.

MY TWO CENTS

So now that I have shared my findings from and objective standpoint...

IT'S TIME I CRACKED SOME FUCKING SKULLS AROUND HERE!!!!

But I'm gonna keep it short and sweet...

The minute we become teenagers, our hormones go into overdrive and we all feel screwed up, we all feel like nothing makes sense and that we're stuck in our own private hell. But the one thing you have to realize is that you're not alone. This isn't a perfect world, the people aren't perfect and hell in every walking body on God's green earth, they're all feeling confused, scared, sad, angry, and often questioning everything they do.

ONE MAN'S HEAVEN IS ANOTHER MAN'S HELL

Life in itself is a blessing, and who knows lies beyond? Whatever you believe, simply realize this: You have to stick it out to the very end, no matter how many bad days we can have all it takes is one good day to turn it all around. That's something I learned myself earlier this week.

So to all you Emos:

GROW THE FUCK UP!!! STOP FUCKIN CUTTING YOURSELVES, STOP FUCKIN KILLING YOURSELVES, YOU WHINY LITTLE BITCHES!! STOP ACTING LIKE YOUR LIFE IS SHIT, CAUSE NEWS FLASH: IF YOU CAN AFFORD THOSE OUTRAGEOUSLY OVER PRICED CLOTHES, THEN YOU GOT IT A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN MOST PEOPLE.

And to you Goths:

GET SOME FUCKIN SUN!!!! PEOPLE ARE TALKING SHIT ABOUT YOU GUYS. THEY THINK YOU'RE THE DEVIL'S PLAYTHINGS OR SOMETHING. SO GO START UP A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM, SHOW'EM THAT YOU'RE NOT THAT BAD. OPEN A FUCKIN DAYCARE OR SOMETHING!!! TEACH KIDS, INTRODUCE THEM TO BAUHAUS OR SOMETHING!!!


GOD DAMN KIDS TODAY.....

[Marie: Brian got his info from Wikipedia's articles on "Goth subculture" and "Emo (music)".]

Brian's Song: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

So I was reading about the newest edition of the most Unsexiest men in America and I realized that they forgot me again!! I naturally blamed Marie for throwing me out of the running because of her claims that I was "eye candy" from last week. Not that I didn't like hearing that but C'mon, how can you believe someone who just came back from a three martini lunch??? (especially if there's 8 martinis on the bill)

[Marie: Those martinis aren't for me. Handsome Gabe's usually hanging around that place at lunch time. You ply him with enough liquor and he'll do a strip tease right there on your table. Until the cops come, at least. So, yeah, you can foot the bill for my lunch hour extravaganzas; you burn my retinas with your naked rendition of the Vengaboys' "We Like to Party" (and I thought that freaky bald guy in the Six Flags commercials was scary!) and you can expect consequences.]

Anyway, just getting that off my chest. So this week I decided to leave my next choice to fate as I swore in front of Emile that the VERY next song to play on the radio was my next spotlight on "Brian's Song". Naturally I prayed that I wouldn't get a song from some crap Emo band or worse, something from Placebo...(My revenge on Marie is complete)

[Every one is entitled to their opinions. But, one of these days I'm gonna introduce CULTURE to these metal-heads and pop-drones.]

Thankfully I got U2, and everyone was prety much on the same page:
I was happy (that's right, I said that I WAS HAPPY!! BE AFRAID!!)
Emile was happy
Marie was happy
H.C. was happy (though I think that may have to do with her website being up and running instead of U2, or both, you never know).
The guy handing me my burger was happy (though he was happy cause his shift was over)

Pretty much everyone was happy... Which really kind of freaks me out.

So for this week I spotlight "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" By U2 as this week's Brian's Song

"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"

You don't know how you took it
You just know what you got
Oh lawdy, you been stealing from the thieves
And you got caught
In the headlights of a stretch car,
You're a star.

Dressing like your sister
Living like a tart
If they don't know what you're doin'
Babe it must be art,
You're a headache, in a suitcase
You're a star.

Oh, no, don't be shy
You don't have to go blind,
Hold me
Thrill me
Kiss me
Kill me.

You don't know how you got here
You just know you want out
Believing in yourself almost as much as you doubt,
You're a big smash
You wear it like a rash
Star.

Oh no, don't be shy
You need a crowd to cry,
Hold me
Thrill me
Kiss me
Kill me.

They want you to be Jesus
They'll got down on one knee
But they'll want their money back
If you're alive at thirty-three,
And you're turning tricks
With your crucifix.
You're a star, oh child

Of course you're not shy
You don't have to deny love,
Hold me
Thrill me
Kiss me
Kill me...


Like what you read, want to know more? Then click the link and learn about U2:


http://www.u2.com/


"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" is the off of "The Best Of 1990-2000" which is available at music stores everywhere.

Got an idea for a future "Brian's Song", then hit us up and let us know, there's nothing fun and more truer than just sharing some kick ass tunes with the world.

Until Next Time,

-Brian

TBF Feminism Challenge

So it's official ladies, the challenge is on.

Here are the basic guidelines that you will need to know:

1. Posting date is set for Friday, June 15th, So the final date we're accepting submissions is earlier that week which is Monday, June 11th.

2. There is no limit on how much you want to say, give it all you got.

3. If you can, try to follow our formula of writing:
Opening Song
Intro
Backstory
Your Two Cents

4. When you are finished, EMAIL your entry to: thebrianfactormailbox@yahoo.com

5. Be sure to include your name so we can give you the proper credit, hell if we love it then we'll call it "The (insert your name here) Factor".

I'm pretty sure that I'll have more to say but i just can't think of anything right now.

Well Good Luck and I hope to hear from you soon,

- B

[Marie: Sorry about the delay in posting this. Shit has kinda hit the fan, and I've been trying to clean up the mess. (Not literally.)]

Echoes: Gun Politics

A Comment Submitted by Super Editor Marie Re: "TBF: Gun Politics":

"Guns are dangerous but people are more dangerous than any weapon we can create."
- Brian


Hear, hear! Well said...


Response From Brian:

Yeah, three cheers for me!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

Well not really, it wasn't anything fancy, it was just the truth, but then again, most people can't stand the truth.


A Comment Submitted by Sara Re: "TBF: Gun Politics":

I really liked this topic, I guess nothing really is off limits with you isn't it.


Response from Brian:

Actually you're wrong, there is only one topic I won't touch... Feminism.

It's nothing personal, I just firmly believe that I couldn't give the topic the proper justice it deserves. When i write, I try to imagine it effecting me and me alone, it allows me to relate with what most people deal with. But as much as I try, I still can't seem to get to that point with the topic.

So if I can't do it, then maybe someone can...

I HEARBY ISSUSE AN OPEN CHALLENGE.. OF SORTS.

I'M LOOKING FOR A WOMAN, ANY WOMAN WHO CAN WRITE ABOUT FEMINISM AND REALLY GIVE IT THE JUSTICE IT NEEDS.

THIS IS OPEN TO ANYONE (EVEN YOU MARIE) ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU GIVE IT YOUR BEST. I AM BASICALLY SAYING I WANT YOU TO WRITE FOR THE BRIAN FACTOR. THE POSTING DATE DEADLINE I AM AIMING FOR IS JUNE 15TH.

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW....


Next Week i aim to find a middle ground between two powerful opposing forces, and of whom exactly do I mean??? well tune in next week...

SAME BRIAN TIME

SAME BRIAN CHANNEL

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA... BRIAN

Soundboard: "It's Raining, It's Pouring..."

Well thankfully not enough so that I have to swing by Home Depot and pick up materials to build an Ark.

Here at TBF headquarters, Marie and I are just staring out our windows into the world and getting lost in our dreams, our thoughts and our ideas. A combination of falling rain and Portishead fills the office, creating an ultimate sense of... peace.

I don't know what Marie's thinking but I kinda don't want to give that feeling up.

God how I love a good rainy day...

Brian's Song: Forget to Remember

So this week I'm going about the normal routines and I suddenly get this feeling like I forgot something really important, and I know it's important cause if it was something crazy (like Marie asking me for a raise again) then I'd intentionally forget...

Something tells me I shouldn't have said that out loud.....

[Marie: He's talking about that incident that happened last Thursday. I said "Look, Brian! It's Elvis and Kurt Cobain and Johnny Cash!" Then I stole money while his back was turned and laughed evilly.

...What? I gotta support my online gambling addiction somehow!]

Anyway, So as luck would have it, The BriPod once again displays is amazing powers of deduction by picking the perfect song to help me as I pray that Marie forgets what I said and to help me remember what it is that's buggin the hell outta me!

So for this week I spotlight "Forget To Remember" By Mudvayne as this week's Brian's Song

"Forget To Remember"

What have I done?
Where have I come from?
When I burnt the backs with the sun through a glass, did I seal the
loss that's become me?

Feeling undone
What have I become?
When I turned my back on you I turned my back on myself and became this
machine.

Thoughtlessness
Selfishness
Hopelessness
Arrogant

I feel it on the inside
Twisting and contorting
Memory has shaped me once again
Still feel you on the inside
Biting through and stinging
Will I ever forget to remember?

Shadows in the sun,
Filter through us.
Still wrestle the demons that arrested me as a child,
Confession rejected.
We grow up,
To give up.
People step on the cracks for wounds owed paid back through the words
of surrender

Emptiness
Loneliness
Listlessness
Worthless

I feel it on the inside
Twisting and contorting
Memory has shaped me once again
Still feel you on the inside
Biting through and stinging
Will I ever forget to remember?

Can you save me?
From myself
From these memories

Can you save me?
From myself
From these memories

Surrender
To the shadows
Haunting inside
Bleed through you
Surrender to the secretes...inside
Lies within you

I feel it on the inside
Twisting and contorting
Memory has shaped me once again
Still feel you on the inside
Biting through and stinging
Will I ever forget to remember?

Can't feel you on the inside
Set down the bag and left it
Lost memory has left me
One again
Open up the inside
Admission for the cleansing
Now that I've forgotten to remember

Surrender
To the shadows
Haunting inside
Bleed through you....


Like what you read, want to know more? Then click the link and learn about Mudvayne

http://www.mudvayne.com/

"Forget To Remember" is the off of "Lost And Found" which is available at music stores everywhere.

Got an idea for a future "Brian's Song", then hit us up and let us know, there's nothing fun and more truer than just sharing some kick ass tunes with the world.

Hey, now I remember!!! I was gonna tell Marie to stop having her "Guys Gone Wild" tapes be delivered here at the TBF office!!

Why does my wallet feel lighter????

Until Next Time,

-Brian

[Marie: Don't listen to him. Those are his tapes. If I wanted to see more male eye-candy (than I do on a daily basis walking through the Porter quad), I'd just come back to TBF office early from lunch. Brian likes to dance naked to the Spice Girls and Venga Boys.]

TBF: Gun Politics

Feuer Frei!
By Rammstein

Getadelt wird wer Schmerzen kennt
vom Feuer das die Haut verbrennt
Ich werf ein Licht
in mein Gesicht
Ein heisser Schrei
Feuer frei!

Bäng bäng

Geadelt ist wer Schmerzen kennt
vom Feuer das in Lust verbrennt
Ein Funkenstoss
in ihren Schoss
Ein heisser Schrei
Feuer frei!

Bäng bäng
Bäng bäng
Feuer frei!

Bäng bäng
Bäng bäng
Feuer frei!

Gefährlich ist wer Schmerzen kennt
vom Feuer das den Geist verbrennt
Bäng bäng
Gefährlich das gebrannte Kind
mit Feuer das vom Leben trennt
Ein heisser Schrei
Bäng bäng
Feuer frei!

Dein GlŸck
ist nicht mein Glück
ist mein Unglück

Dein Glück
ist nicht mein Glück
ist mein Unglück

Bäng bäng
Bäng bäng
Feuer frei!

Bäng bäng
Bäng bäng
Feuer frei!

Bang bang....

Whoops.. well screw it I don't feel like translating, plus Marie and I are happy that I'm using a Rammstein song for this week.

ALL RIGHT FINE, JESUS STOP KICKING ME MARIE!!!!

Fire at Will
by Rammstein

Whoever knows pain becomes criticized
from the fire that burned up the skin
I throw a light
in my face
A hot cry
fire at will! *

Bang bang
Bang bang

Whoever knows pain is raised
from the fire that burns in desire
A sparking thrust
into her womb
A hot cry
fire at will!

Bang bang
Bang bang
Fire at will!

Bang bang
Bang bang
Fire at will!

Whoever knows pain is dangerous
from the fire that burns the soul
Bang bang
The burned child is dangerous
with fire that separates from the life
A hot cry
Bang bang
Fire at will!

Your happiness
is not my happiness
it is my misery

Your happiness
is not my happiness
it is my misery

Bang bang
Bang bang
Fire at will!

Bang bang
Bang bang
Fire at will!

Bang bang....

* "Feuer frei!" is the German expression used to order weapons to be shot, as in "Fire at will !". Literally it is "Fire freely".


Life and Death, They are two absolutes in all of creation. Everything have a period of time to fufill its purpose and then dies. That was the natural order of things, but we've learned to grow and create, but as much as we create we also create that which destroys...

It stares at you, pointed at your face, the current difference between life and death in an absolute form... all in one person's hands.

When something is done, it's usually done with the best of intentions. So where did responsibility become negligence? did we really fail or is this simply the evolution of time and events.


This Week on The Brian Factor: Gun Politics

For as long as civilization has existed there has always been conflict. Over time weapons used ranged to swords and axes to catapults and arrows to bombs and cannons to nukes but for the better part of the last three centuries, one weapon has been used more often than anything a gun. Throughout history, guns have served many purposes, In the days of the colonies guns were what helped declare our independence, in the old west, guns were the interpreters of the law and have since become the main tool of war. Now we are in an age were besides war, guns have been responsible for countless deaths and even more injuries than can be counted.

Freedoms and Rights, we are all familiar with them, or at least we've heard of them. Key to this issue is the Second Amendment, which is interpreted by supporters of gun rights as enshrining an individual right, and by advocates of gun control as referring to a collective right. Most of the gun control policies we hear about originally began back in 1911 in response to a failed assassination attempt on fomer New York Mayor William Maynor but a national outcry truly began five decades later with the shooting deaths of John and Robert Kennedy and of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. which led to public outrage and the political action with enactment of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968. Almost immediately spporters of individual gun rights have resisted nearly all these regulation efforts, often spearheaded by the National Rifle Association. This outrage-action-reaction cyclical pattern reflects an essential core value conflict at the center of the gun politics issue.

Disagreements range from the practical (Does gun ownership cause or prevent crime?)

To the constitutional (How should the Second Amendment be interpreted?)

To the ethical (what should the balance be between an individual's right of self-defense through gun ownership and the People's interest in maintaining public safety?)

Political arguments about gun rights fall into two basic categories: first, does the government have the right and authority to regulate guns, and second, if it does, is it effective public policy to regulate guns.


MY TWO CENTS

"A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed..."

-Bill of Rights, Second Amendment

People are looking for a basic: who's right, who's wrong when really there's no easy answer. Conflict is an eventuality, no matter how far we evolve in society, we will still have our moments of violence. So what are your options? Never sell guns to dangerous people? Well how are you gonna find out who's dangerous, take one look at them and say "No you can't"? Some of society's greatest killers were completely normal looking guys who were incredibly insane. So what then, be leary of minorities? Granted, most instances of gun violence usually occurs in urban areas, but as Columbine showed us, anyone, not just minorities is dangerous with loaded weapon.

If a truth has to be said then say all that there is to say: Guns are tools, indiscriminate tools used to pierce whatever is in front of them. In all the great debating of who's right and who's wrong, no one seems to remember the human element in all this. Guns are dangerous but people are more dangerous than any weapon we can create.

Blame whoever you want, there's enough for everybody...

If you were looking for a happy ending, I'm sorry to say that there isn't one this time. We all have our experiences, our fears and our hopes and all you can do is take all that and make your own choice and hope that it's the right one.

Until Next Time,

-B

Soundboard: "Losing my mind..."

"I may be losing my mind... but in a good way!"

disconnected, disjointed, accidental, sketchy, fragmentary, synthesized, impermanent, and momentary.

Yet I couldn't be happier....
-B

Brian's Song: Ex's and Oh's

So after two weeks of back to back guest hosts, I am back in the saddle again, kids.

First off, I gotta say thank you to H.C. and Emile for taking the reins and sharing with us the beats that move them and, let me tell you this: I wouldn't mind having a few more guest hosts sometime down the road. And no, not because it means less work for me but because I love music and we all have different tastes and I believe in checking out new music, cause you just never know...

I know that I'd love to see our favorite Editor link up her iPod and share something with us.. Though I bet you, she'd choose either Placebo, Massive Attack or U2 (I'm just going with what I'm familiar with out of her CD collection) or maybe some "A Beautiful Tragedy" (if I ever finish putting lyrics on that music)

(Marie: Sure, I'll do a song, but It'll be unexpected and random and so awesome!!!!)

SO where was I? Oh yeah, so now I'm back and to celebrate "The Return of The KING!!!!!!!!"

I SAYETH WE BE ROCKIN OUT BITCHES!!!!!

So for this week I spotlight "Ex's And Oh's" By Atreyu as this week's Brian's Song.


"Ex's And Oh's"

You took me home
I drank too much

'Cause of you my liver turned to dust
Cold rust taste
A cruel creeping cold pain
Do you understand what I mean?

When you feel your soul drop to the floor
Like a hole
Like an open bleeding sore

Then you'll have bled like I bled
And you'll have wept as I've wept

Suck me down, it's time to rock and roll
Let's hit the bar, let's lose control
One false move, you took me home
One false move, you're all alone

But it looks so good and it feels so nice
I paid the price
I'll cut you out just to hear you scream,
Get away from, get away from me

And I can feel my heartbeat racing
As I realize what I must do
Get away from,
Get away from,
Get away from me

I should have turned and ran like hell
Last time I got the taste of you

I should have turned and ran like hell
And I'll see we're through

I should have turned and ran like hell
Last time I got the taste of you

I should have turned and ran like hell
And I'll see we're through
And I'll see we're through

You fell upon me like a plague
Weakness, sweet weakness

But I digress...
After all this...

You're just like all the rest

Suck me down
It's time to rock and roll
Let's hit the bar, let's lose control
One false move, you took me home
One false move, you're all alone....


Like what you read, want to know more? Then click the link and learn about Atreyu:

http://www.atreyurock.com/

"Ex's And Oh's" is the off of "A Death-Grip On Yesterday" which is available at music stores everywhere.

Got an idea for a future "Brian's Song", then hit us up and let us know, there's nothing fun and more truer than just sharing some kick ass tunes with the world.


Until Next Time,

-Brian