SxE Link of the Week

The Post Punk Kitchen: Vegetarian cooking & vegan baking with no attitude

Vegan Delights

So I'm not a vegan, but I'm lactose intolerant. Thus I have been trying for years to find decent deserts that don't contain milk. Sure I can bake a cake with out it, which I might add I'm pretty good at, but that gets to be difficult when you're lacking time or desire.

So I've tried all kinds of stuff. Recently Rooster's Coffee Shoppe, a coffee shop in PA, sells these great vegan cookies from the Alternative Baking Company. There are a bunch of flavours, the Double Chocolate Decadence is my favourite.

I've also found some tastey candy bars. Green & Black's bars actually claims certain varieties to be suitable for vegetarians and vegans, their Dark Chocolate bars are 70% cocoa and are superb. Another company makes carob bars in a few nice flavours, the are called Goldies Carob Bar, I prefer the Rice Crunch. Whole Foods in New York carries both of these bars.

All Ages Review

A while back I started reading All Ages by Beth Lahickey. I enjoyed the book for the most part but felt that it became a bore to read after a while and I had to take a break from it. I thought when I read this book that I find something inteligent and enlightening about the people that were at the forefront of the Straight Edge movement, but that was nowhere to be found. And I was quite saddened to know that some of these people that sang so much about how SxE was a life choice that made themselves better they broke edge to fit in.

I felt that Beth should have had some more in depth questions and attempt to get more than the same answer from everyone she interviewed. It became trite after awhile to hear the same things regurgitated interview after interview.

Here are a few quotes (with some comments by me in italics):

Mike Hartsfield [Outspoken] - "Yeah, it's really weird I remember all of that stuff pretty vividly"
Beth Lahickey - "That's because you were straight edge"

Susan Martinez - "I bet the straight edge kids remember so much more" ... Of course we do

Drew Thomas [Bold] - "It's easy to be straight edge if you have a really clean lifestyle and your parents are rich." What a fucking cop out, being an alcholic or a drug addict can happen to anyone. You can never say someone had an easier life only by looking from the outside inward.

So I honestly feel that the idea behind the book was great, and it was nice to read some of the interviews, but don't read it cover to cover. Read the interviews that you think would be important to you and skip the rest.

Straight Edge Link of the Week

XclothingX

More to Come...

Sorry that it's been a while since I've posted, but I've been a bit busy and not very much in the mood to post. I have since realized that I never got around to reviewing a few of the SxE things that I promised I'd review. So over the next few weeks I'll post those reviews (I hope) I just finished that last book that I mentioned, Straightedge Youth: Complexity And Contradictions of a Subculture, I thought is was great and will tell you more about it soon.

Fight Till I Die

You destroy your dreams,
what you have inside.
You're a devistated man.
Then you're telling me that my inspiration will
be gone like the one you once had.
Life is too short,
I won't be wasting my life.
Won't waste a second of my time.
The black marks on my hands will be there
and in my heart deep down inside.
We used to always be together
but now on different sides.
I have to respect your choice to take orders
but I can't be down.
The system that you want to live in,
the one we used to fight.
I fight till I die.
My inspiration's getting stronger now.
We're a part of the new rise.
You choose to step out and I will never follow.
Can you see that in my eyes?
Society tells you what to do,
what to eat and what to drink.
Is that the way you want to live?
Then raise your glass and keep trying not to think.
A generation with open minds.
Don't let them pull you down.
It's something that's worth fighting for.
I'll stay strong till the day I die.
We are still strong.
Straight edge and proud till the day I die.

Fight Till I Die ~ Last of the Famous

Straight Edge Link of the Week [11.25]

sXe Community on LiveJournal

Thanksgiving Fun!

Last night I went out to see I Want To Kill You, a freaking damn good grindcore band from Pennsylvania. They have 2 singers, if you call screaming singing, which I do but that's besides the point. Troy, one of the singers, used to be in the band Wolfpac. I saw Wolfpac a few years ago at the Asbury Skate and Surf fest.

IWTKY played at the Silo in Reading, PA and put a great set with a fairly long muscial interlude and a small chat session. I guess the screaming got to be a bit to much. I was hoping they'd play their version of Barbie Girl, but Sean the bass player (and my brother's best friend) said it'd had been way too long since they played it last. But they did play a few new songs and one that included Sean on the didjeridu. Now they just need to update their website a bit more often so people will know when to come out and see them.

The only thing that sucked about the show was that it's still legal to smoke in PA, but that will change soon.

SxE Link of the Week [11.18]

Straight Edge Art on deviantART

Days when living SxE is hard

There are days when I know that if I drank things would be easier for the moment. Those are the times when I hate life, when the shit it brings you just makes you despise the world around. I'm glad for the strength that I have that I don't drink cause I know it's something that I don't need.

Living without a crutch can be difficult and strengthening at the same time. But it takes getting past that need of the crutch to be stronger. But when we do, we become someone better than we were.

These times make me proud to be SxE, but also make me wish getting over through this hard time was somehow made easier.

Ignorance

The other day I was hanging out at Brooklyn Ink. There was this guy in there making an appointment to get a tattoo. We were talking about Straight Edge since most of the people there are SxE. This guy mentioned that he was Straight Edge now and as he's about to head out he pulls out a pack of cigarettes. I was just taken by surprise that this person would call him self Edge in a tattoo shop run by Straight Edgers, filled with Straight Edge people and then leave to smoke. WTF! I can't believe the ignorance that exists about what it means to be Straight Edge in some people still.

Straight Edge Shopping

So awhile back about the time I got my tattoo I started a cafepress shop to make a shirt with my tattoo on it. The idea was to put the design in as close to as possible the same spot on the back of the shirt and then my blog logo on the front. To my surprise people have been checking out the shop and buying the shirts, mostly the black one which looks the best.



So I decided today to add a few ads to this site to let more people know about my shirts and stuff. I'm very proud of my tattoo and really love the design. I hope you all like it as well, check out the shop it was made at cafepress. I also added an amazon shop as well, which I think is pretty awesome because I can set a tight grouping on the stuff I like and think you all would like as well. The categories for that are mostly around Hardcore Books & Music. It makes finding good stuff easier.

Link of the Week [11.11]

Straight Edge according to Wikipedia

I've Got the Edge

I've got the Edge
And you've gone over
I've seen the error
and corrected
But you my friend
are not neglected
You can still get the Edge

I've got the Edge
I've got the Edge
and my eyes are wide open
to what lies out there
Nothing can stop me
it's that clear

You're not forgotten
You can still correct
It's the way for me
If you just reflect
you will finally see

I've got the Edge
I've got the Edge
and my eyes are wide open
to what lies out there
Nothing can stop me
it's that clear

I've got the Edge
I've got the Edge
and my eyes are wide open
to what lies out there
Nothing can stop me
it's that clear

I've got the Edge ~ phreekk

I wrote this a while back when I was pissed about people that said shit about my choice to be Straight Edge. It's pretty self explanatory, about how I can clearly see where I am and that if they take the time to realize there own mistakes in life they can change.

Some of my favourite Straight Edge Tattoos

Straight Edge AIM Icons

Straight Edge AIM Icons

What Straight Edge Means to Me

So lately I was talking with someone about why my beliefs of Straight Edge are important. Why do I need a label and ink to express my beliefs. And why this decision is so important to me.

Sometimes it's hard to express why it is so important, it just is. I can be poison free and not be Straight Edge, but by being part of the movement I am declaring that my beliefs are more than just a temporary whim, that I am firm in what I hold as something that drives me and makes me who I am. Being part of a movement with other people that hold the same beliefs is also important. Everyone wants to be an individual but at the same time we all want to be part of something, it's a catch 22, and we need to find those groupings that provide an extension of who we are. To me being part of the Straight Edge movement provides that grouping that extends my beliefs.

When I used to drink I would block myself off from the outside world, now I deal with the shit that comes at me and I actually move beyond it and feel better about myself. I don't like having a crutch. Having something that defines that to me, gives me something more than words and ink to live by and a way to live that won't change with the wind.

See Right Through You

see right through you!
bad attitude
and nothing to say
you judge every band
before they play
see right through you
as kids in the scene
we all do our part
your insincerity
is what sets you apart
see right through you
chip on your shoulder
something to prove
you put other down
cause you got
nothing else to do
see right through you
youve gone through all the fads
and had your opinions sold to you
your so fake i see right through
its a front
and i see right through
potential friendship
thrown away
because we choose to fold our arms
and look the other way
common ground has been ignored
traded in for gossip
on a message board
passing judgement
and passing up friends
youre too concerned
with the next big trend
well your petty ways
have got to quit
becasue we had it up to here
with your fucking shit

"See Right Through You" ~ Bones Brigade

Happy Halloween

Now this is my favourite holiday of all! It makes me feel like a kid again and I get to be able dress like whatever I want. And on the subway no one stares cause so many people get into it. I hope everyone had a great Halloween.

Alone On My Birthday

No decoration on, no cake
Nobody remembered this important date
Guitar, pen, brain start to contemplate
They're the only 3 here
For this joyous celebration
Because I'm self-absorbed, I get upset
Mad at the world, how could they forget ?
I was alone at birth, I'll be alone at death
Hope I won't be alone at my final destination
Never really thought it would've happened to me
But that night I sat by the telephone
Never really thought it would've happened to me
I spent my birthday all alone
Birth's a costume with a genetic script
We play some role that we'd like to fit
And never admit that we're full of it
And live life in some sort of dazed hallucination
I'll never lament because life is brief
Our bodies are changing like the autumn leaf
It's said that time is the greatest thief
And beats and cheats this entire population
But it's alright, home tonight, just suits me fine
I don't mind spending time with my mind all alone

"Alone On My Birthday" ~ Shelter

So I had started to become pretty bummed about turning 30 (funny how I got my triple X's on my 30th year.) I was beginning to think that I was going to be spending this day alone because some of my friends had started acting like non-friends. But life has a way of giving you something to make you smile when you least expect it to treat you right, so I won't be alone on my birthday after all =)

Straight Edge Crew the Video Game

I never played Grand Theft Auto, I just couldn't see the point in pretending to steal a car, shoot innocent people and screw hookers. I play FPSs like Unreal and Sauerbraten and MMPORGs and Street Fighter (the best damn game ever made), but these games are pure fantasy. There's something about crossing the line into almost real.

Makes me wonder though if it would be a good idea to make a Straight Edge Crew game. You defend your city by taking down the drug dealers and the drunk drivers, maybe it could be endorsed by MADD (just kidding, I don't think they'd be up for the violence even if it was against drunk drivers)

I'm not the militant type but I just think this is a little funny in a sort of disturbed way. It's far more Wii friendly with themes against drugs and drunk driving as opossed to the xbox (funny how when written it becomes an sxe name for a guy named Bo) themes of hyper realistic violence.

Talk About Straight Edge

Straight Edge Link of the Week [10.20]

Until Industries

My Favourite Band of All Time

Friday night I went to see the Violent Femmes for the second time in my life. They played the best show I've ever been to. When they play acoustic instruments they play them harder than most bands plugged in. When I was 10 my friends were all skaters and listed to the Dead Milkmen, the Dead Kennedys, the Misfits, and the Violent Femmes. The Violent Femmes was the one tape that I loved the most at the time. They have always been the one band that most affected me growing up.

I love Punk and Hardcore, and Rancid is my favourite Punk band, but the Femmes just deliver something that truly moves me. They played for over 2 hours and the crowd was so into the show. I practically lost my voice singing to all the songs.

Definitely a truly memorable evening.

Devil's Night Book Release on Straight Edge

I just found out about an interesting book avout Straight Edge. It will be released on October 30th, it's available on pre-order from Amazon. It's written by Robert T. Wood an associate professor of sociology at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta and the book is titled: Straightedge Youth: Complexity And Contradictions of a Subculture. I'm interested in reading this as it's from an outside view and I want to see what sort of angle this authoer takes on the subject, is it biased, does he view it as bad, good, or will he slander SxE as a violent movement as others in the past have done.




So this gives me yet another reason to look forward to Devil's Night. The other being that I will get to see AFI agin.

SxE Anti-Drugs Commercial

Straight Edge Link of the Week [10.14]

XembraceX

Stereotypes

People seem to have these preconceived ideas about Straight Edge and it bothers me, I'm just like everyone else, I just don't do some things. They tend to think that being SxE makes me judgemental or egotistic. I'm not and I know plenty of other SxE people that don't judge and don't think they are better than anyone else. Sure, like I've mentioned before, there are those that ruin a scene and in SxE some are judgemental (even militant) but most are not. I guess even beyond the whole stereotype thing I'm bothered by the fact that some people don't like to even hang around people that are SxE, they think that if they drink and I don't that I'll see them at their worst. Sure that happens, but if they want to be my friend they'll understand that they've seen me at my worst, it's just not while drinking.

SxE Link of the Week [10.7]

xsisterhoodx

No sex, right?

Typically after I mention that I'm Straight Edge, after some discussion about drinking or tattoos or Vin Disel (the whole Triple X thing or Dungeons and Dragons), I'm asked what it means. I usually explain that it's a way-of-life like veganism: "I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs." These three rules I believe in most of all the rules that people associate with being Straight Edge. It's funny that when I mention what it means to be Straight Edge one question comes up a lot. "No sex, right?" So apparently they heard about SxE before but only recall it after explained and then counter with the "Don't Fuck" rule. Now I usually don't mention this rule myself as I believe that sex is a personal decision. I feel that it can effect one's life in an adverse way. So I tend to reply to their question with "No promiscuous sex," I just don't act like a whore.

It's also kind of interesting that when I mention the primary rules that people will also sometimes interject with their level of closeness to being SxE such as "I don't smoke" or "I rarely drink." I actually don't care, it's your life. Do as you please, I'm not a SxE preacher. That's why i have my Xs tattooed on my back, it's personal.

Be true to yourself, whether you're True Till Death or not, your own life matters most.

Mall Edge

So I was out in Pennsylvania last week and with out much to do I went to the mall, after waiting around to borrow a car. I definitely love the advantage of the public transportation system in New York. This mall like many across the nation has a Hot Topic. I have nothing against Hot Topic, most people seem to be bothered by their corporate selling of punk merchandise, but to be honest without Hot Topic many of today's punk and hardcore bands would not be as popular. And popularity for them means money and the chance to continue doing what they love to do and we love to listen to. It's a vicious cycle that feeds itself.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find a wicked Straight Edge Varsity jacket on the rack at Hot Topic. They actually have a bit of a collection of SxE Merch, hopefully this means that the scene is building and more people are seeing it as something worth being a part of and not something that's a fashion thing. I hope to actually see more of this and can't wait to see someone wearing that jacket or anything else SxE when I'm out at a show or just on the street.

SxE Link of the Week [9.30]

Naj One | foeknawledge: destroy babylon

The Commercial Nightmare before Christmas

It's not even October yet and many stores have already put their Halloween items on sale and moved them to the clearance racks, replacing them with Christmas items when Christmas is still three months away. It used to be that the day after Thanksgiving was when they'd bring out their Christmas stuff. Now this pisses me off so much. I can't stand when Halloween is overlooked and overshadowed by Christmas.

It's my favourite holiday and deserves more. I'm also pissed because as a Jewish person I'm offended by the In Your Face of Santa, don't get me wrong I certainly don't have any hatred or even dislike for Christianity, but their holiday commercialism is just disgusting to me. I'd think that it would be disgusting to them too as it shows no honour or praise for what is supposed to be a religious holiday.

So speaking of Nightmares before Christmas, Tim Burton's fantastic masterpiece is being re-released in 3D and it should be amazing. Thankfully a theatre in Park Slope in Brooklyn has all new digital projectors that my friend actually installed, which will be able to show it in the full glory it deserves. It comes out on October 20th, check out the trailers.

Something More Than Ink

Just take a fucking good look at just what you did.
You set a raging fire in the heart of a kid.
Your words, and the message you sent,
are held in my heart as they burn inside my head.
It burns, burning inside my head.
Even if you chose a different path to tread.

I guess it was something inside,
it was something more to us

You took a different path than the one you once set.
But that's the cycle of life, so take your steps ahead.
That doesn't change one thing in my life.
I'll never cease to keep your words alive.

I still believe in what was said.
I'll hold on to the last thread.
I still believe in what was said.
You're absence doesn't bring my values' death

I guess it was something inside,
it was something more to us
A hero's fall will never change what I think.
'Cause at the core of my heart, this is something more than ink.

Something more than ink.
On a page, on a shirt, on the back of my hand.
Something written in stone, words we wrote in stone.

"Something More Than Ink" ~ Have Heart

I don't know the meaning behind this song, but it makes me think about Ray Cappo. Despite his choices in life, it is his words before he broke edge that still hold meaning to me. I don't care about his personal choices, I'm SxE for me, but I take his songs to heart, since they are more than the ink of my tattoo and the X on my hand. I listen to this song and I listen to Youth of Today and still believe in what was said, it is my path to tread.

SxE Link of the Week [9.22]

xREPRESENTx

Why Advertising Execs Should Be Shot Like Drug Dealers

So a new energy drink has hit the streets to give people masive amounts of un-needed caffeine and sugar. SxE by the core definition doesn't say that caffeine should not be consumed, but in the amounts that energy drinks provide goes beyond moderation (get the joke here relating to a previous post?) I drink beverages with caffeine but understand that it's a drug that can affect your body. I'd rather not drink caffeine but I enjoy tea and some teas have it, and it's not worth it to me to avoid all teas for the amount of caffeine I consume with it. But I digress.

My main point here is about the new energy drink Cocaine. WTF! is up with the name. I think it's a horrible idea to use a name that is the same as a dangerous illegal drug. I can't comprehend how someone would actually think it was a wise idea to have their product be related by name to something that like that. I wonder if they'll start to refer to their shipping trucks as mules as they use the term dealer to refer to merchants. Once that happens can I shoot dealers of Cocaine? Can't wait to see who will be their celebrity spokesperson, Lindsay Lohan perhaps, she always looks like she's coke'd up.

*Note: I do not condone actual shooting of ad execs.

Punk Goes to the Movies

This Friday American Hardcore opens here in NY at the Angelika. It looks to be a great movie. I can't wait to see it. Unforunately I'm not sure I'll be able to see on friday, but once it goes to more theatres around the city at least it should be easy to catch. I definately am interested to see what amount of the film involves Straight Edge. I don't want it to be a passing phrase that's barely uttered and whispered. It seems that the stigma behind SxE has made it into something it's not. But we'll just have to wait and see.

Also coming out soon is the film Punk's Not Dead that will take on the more recent punk scene as opposed to a historical documentary view. This will be a film I am very interested to see since I didn't grow up in the hardcore scene or the early punk scene, being born during the start of punk I didn't quite experience it, so I have a more current interest. Hopefully it will be worth the wait, since no release date has been set yet.

Straight Edge Link of the Week [9.15]

xxX Seventh Dagger Xxx

Grow

Digging through some old stuff I found a flyer for a Straight Edge band my friends had in high school. The band was called Grow and contained the members Ray (who is currently in Carpenter Ant), Sean and Brian (who is in the photo on the left.) I wasn't part of the Lehigh Valley Hardcore scene when I was younger but they were my friends and they have influenced me to this day. Their demo was to come out in January of 1994, the year we all graduated. The flyer had the lyrics from two of their songs:

Disease You're something that I don't need / Why Must you make us bleed / You're something that was in my hear / Never thought we shall part / You should always be aware / Of friends that have cared / These lies you now portrayal / I have failed / This problem shall never be solved / Now I wish I never got involved / This disease caught in my mind

Conflict As Open as the wind / As free as a cloud / You watch us grow / Knowing we grow wild / Can't grasp our feelings / Can't open our eyes / Hate what you feel / This is the deal / Laughing at your remarks / Caring not in our hearts / Exploding from within / You won't realize / Taking us for granted / Wishing you would die / No crave for acceptance / Cause now I can fly

Note: I edited the songs to be spelled and grammatically correct.

Dirt and Scum

I've been trying to dial down my anger lately, but sometimes I just can't help it. I have friends that smoke and it doesn't bother me so much. But when I see people discard their cigarette remains on the street it offends me, but today it angered me more than ever. Some ignorant woman flicked her cigarette and it barely missed me! WTF! I mean people have no respect for other people any more. I could care less that she had no respect for own body by smoking to begin with, then it went beyond being angered at her merely trying to flick it on to the street into potentially striking another human being.

Maybe I'm just annoyed at the lack of people NOT voting today. Sure it's just a primary, but when people say they don't know who to vote for in the general election it's cause they didn't make their voice heard in the primary. arrgh! I hate this planet sometimes, when do we start terraforming Mars?

Everything in Moderation is a Cowards Way Out

How many times have you heard someone tout the adage "Everything in moderation"? I think it's a weak way to look at life. I think as a human you need to be able to take a stance on things and be able to know what is not worth having in your life. If everything in moderation was something worth living by, then heroin in moderation would be fine, grain alchohol in moderation is okay, sex with prostitutes is good. Where do you draw the line? As long as you don't over indulge in these things then you're fine right, according to the axiom.

So you're probably thinking that I'm going over the edge (no pun intended) to make a point by talking about things that a "normal" person wouldn't say they would do in moderation. But even alchol or marijuana or cigarettes, things done by the "normal" people, in moderation is still something that harms your body and mind. Despite what people say about a glass of red wine being good for you in some way, it also has it's bad qualities. Alchohol is a depressant and can become a crutch and easily abused even when used in moderation. Marijuana effects the mind and dulls the senses, and cigarettes are addictive, controling and kill you. But I guess a slow death in moderation is okay.

Now I'm not the kind of person to push my beliefs on others or say I'm right and you're wrong. This is just my forum for discussing my beliefs. If you think I'm wrong about this or anything else, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

SxE Link of the Week [9.5]

How's Your Edge?

Threatening

Threat is a super low budget film about the streets of New York and centered around the life of Jim a homeless 20's something and his Straight Edge friends. I personally would've appreciated a more positive view of SxE than the "One Less Drunk" crew, but at the same time, there truly is that aspect of SxE in reality. Many of us do feel there needs to be one less drunk around.

I enjoyed the dialog in first half that brought out the characters and even had a slightly Clerks like vibe. But I felt it was too drastically different from the violence infused second half. The violence of the second half was graphic, jarring and felt realistic. The fight that stemmed the violence seemed to start completely out of nowhere and lead to extreme acts of violence upon innocents that didn't make sense to me.

I liked the hand drawn comic transitions through out and thought it helped bring a very indie feel to the film. Now the thing that got me most was the final scene with Jim and Kat on the street. I thought it was very thought provoking and really should have been the point of the film. The fight and struggle of the working class should be brought to the level of the upper class, so that they will take notice.

As a side note there are also 2 soundtracks for the movie. The one I appreciate the most is Threat: Music that Inspired the Movie which is a unbelievable mash up of great straight edge hardcore with industrial and hip-hop flare. It's truly a masterpiece and worth owning whether you liked the film or not.

Straight Edge Link of the Week [8.29]

krishnacore.com

Punker than Punk

Being Straight Edge is punker than punk. It's more than a commitment to yourself, it's a statement against the machine, it's a big FU to the system that drives our society. The media (Left or Right, however you see it) and the government continue to push alchohol and cigarettes on the public like drug dealers. They put out commercials and ads selling these drugs. The Government is filled with lobbyists and lawyers that care more about the money they get from these industries than they do about the people that this government was founded upon and for.

Punks and Hippies and Yuppies have more in common than they realize. They all conform to Big Business and the Government's ties and bonds with the Alchohol and Tobacco Industries. Everytime you drink, everytime you smoke, you feed the machine, you give money to the people you say you hate.

Being SxE is so much more than being clean, it's a way to boycott, it's a way to fight and be PUNK.

senseless violence poisons the mind

Anger about the world around us has been filling my mind lately. Personally I've been feeling more annoyed and pissed at the people around me, people on the streets and subways and the people that claim to be my friends.

I spent last night listening to Shelter over and over and really paying attention to the lyrics more and more, I have a friend that is a Hare Krishna and haven't thought about what that means till now. With how much this world has been pissing me off I think it's poisoning me. My closest friend just lost a brother due to senseless violence and it kills me inside. I really feel like this world won't change for a very long time, now that means I'm not about to stop trying, but I need to find a way to keep it from poisoning me.

I'm not sure how much I understand about Hare Krishna, but to me it seems far more posion free than chrisitanity or any other religion. This world has become a slaughterhouse to the victims of religous fanactics. My own country is failing prey to mindless zombie bible thumpers.

I just know, that from now on I need to figure out how to clear my mind the same way I've cleared my body of the poisons our society thrusts upon us.

Straight Edge Link of the Week [8.23]

japan straight edge

Why Punks are better people

Not exactly better in all ways, but I feel like they are more real than most people. One example is respect, now you'll say Punks aren't nice. However the point I'm getting at is not about being nice but showing respect, respect for themselves, people, the planet, animals, everything. Punks make choices in their lives that effect themselves and others in ways many people ignore and disrespect.

Choices such as becoming Straight Edge or Vegan and respecting your body. Choices like being part of PETA and Food Not Bombs that respect animals and the less fortunate. Choices like supporting Iraq Veterans Against the War (started by an ex-marine and working class punk, and my best friend Mike Hoffman)that respect our military and the world around us.

Even simple yet telling displays of respect are seen in the mosh pit. I've been kicked in the head and punched while moshing. But everytime it happened the other guy would apologize, cause it wasn't meant on purpose, shit happens in the pit. When you get knocked down in the pit, more often than not you don't even hit the ground, four people around you will scoop you back up on to your feet in seconds. That's respect.

Now to the reason I wrote this post about respect. I was in the subway this morning like most mornings, and everyone is rushing. This large guy is coming towards me and I try to make room where I can and he SLAMS his shoulder right into me like a linebacker. WTF! I turn and say "sorry" even though it wasn't my fault, cause that's just the right thing to do. He didn't even turn or utter a word. Now that is the perfect display of disrespect. That's why Punks are better people.

Tobacco Industry Violated Anti-Racketeering Laws

Finally after years of going after the bastards in the Tobacco the government has won their case. My parents both smoke, smoked my whole life and I constantly urge them to quit, they try but it's an addiction. And now the industry that lied about that addiction and the dangers of second-hand smoke must pay to help with smoking cessation programs. Sadly though the government only asked for $10 billion, when the Justice Department's own expert said $130 billion was needed for this effort. Makes me wish sometimes we can send a military strike against the Tobacco Industry with claims that cigarettes are weapons of mass destruction.

Food Not Bombs

This past Sunday I volunteered with Food Not Bombs, a great organization that helps feed the needy and homeless. I helped out in NY at ABC No Rio, but Food Not Bombs is a National Organization with groups around the country helping feed people and spread a message. In some parts of the US, city officials have actually arrested and imposed laws to stop feeding the homeless. I can't believe we live in a world that is that sick and twisted.

I had a great time helping and meeting some very cool people that also helped out as well as some nice people that came to eat. We set up at Tompkins Square Park and about 30-50 people showed up to have a healthy vegan meal. I spoke with some of them and felt like this was something that despite being just a once a week thing actually helps and makes people happy.

I plan to go back as often as I can and help out, and I hope that by reading this you too will either help to volunteer at a Food Not Bombs near you, start one in your city or find a volunteer organization that does something you feel is important to you.

Straight Edge Link of the Week [8.13]

x catalyst Records x

Fugazi-esque in Brooklyn

The North6 basement in Brooklyn was host to a damn good set by the band Gunners. Unfortunately the band that played before them almost made me want to leave. That first band Goddamit was so bad that it seemed that none of them were playing the same song and apparently had never picked up an instrument before that night.

I went to the show last night was to see Gunners. I had met the lead singer/bass player at ABC and figured I'd check out his new band. They were very tight, and sounded great despite the poor acustics of the North6 basement. You could certainly hear the Fugazi influence, but Dima was already forthcoming about sounding Fugazi-like when we spoke. And I like Fugazi so I'm certainly not one to complain, but at the same time they had their own sound as well. Their first song was great, Dima stood with his back to crowd and the three-piece shouted the lyrics without mics. They had one slowed down song that had style but I felt took away from the rest of the really well put together set.

I didn't end up staying to see the other bands, one of them on Revelation Records, but hopefully I'll have a chance again if they're good and as long as Goddamit isn't on the band list that night.

update: I just found the flyer for the show and thought I'd put it up here with the post.

Straight Edge Link of the Week

xFUCKxSELLOUTSx

You've always loved music by SxE artists and never knew it

So it's shortly after 5pm, on Thursday, work is almost completely dead. A few of us are sitting around chatting. The subject of music comes up, I talk about hardcore and the punk show I went to last weekend. And people's eyes act all funny when I bring up the word "skank." So I explain what it means. And then I'm asked to demonstrate, which of course at work would seem completely embarrassing to do. However I'm always more than happy to make an ass out of myself, (something I certainly never needed alcohol to do,) and I put on some ska from my iPod. I started out facing the wall got into the beat and started to skank for my friends.

After my recital we talked a bit more and Straight Edge came up. I told my one friend about superXcontra and he was surprised to know that there was SxE rap. I played the CD and he was blown away. I then let him borrow it. After that I told him that there were others, XReignOfTerrorX and Sage Francis. He completely flipped when he heard about Sage. He's been listening to him for a while now. What's even funnier, is that earlier that day he made a comment that he love the video Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy (something that definitely surprised me to hear) so I had to surprise him, and a few other Fall Out Boy fans at work, by telling them that Pete Wentz the lead singer was SxE.

It's very cool how musicians that my friends like and admire are SxE. I kind of wish that these artists made it more known, but that's their personal reason. But I'm glad to be able to shed this light on them, and maybe they'll think about SxE with more respect and understanding and maybe even interest next time they listen to Fall Out Boy.

I hate when people say they like all kinds of music

When I hear people say that that it makes me think think that they are either afraid to say just like one kind of music (cause they are afraid people will think they are limited) or they actually have no personal taste in music. If you have no interest in music, say so. If you're afraid to sound limited then be yourself and tell me you only like pop music, i don't care, i'm not here to judge your taste but be honest and tell me what you like.

Me, I personally love punk [Rancid, Bouncing Souls, Anti-Flag, AFI], hardcore [Youth of Today, The Promise] & post-harcore [Thursday, Hawthorne Heights] and ska [anything from Moon Ska]. With ska I tend to prefer 2nd and 3rd Wave. I also like some indie [Belle and Sebastian, Fiona Apple, Go Sailor] music and even a little hip-hop/rap [Beastie Boys, Public Enemy]. I've recently gotten into Nerd-core [mc chris] and will continue to love ska-punk [Operation Ivy] despite a lot of people lately disliking this genre mashup. I'm really into Psychobilly [Tiger Army] & Clash style Rockabilly (not the country sounding Rockabilly)

I hate country, especially the twangy country. Most rap I dislike, and I hate metal. I especially dislike hardcore bands that cross over into metal (I used to love 18 Visions, but I'm so annoyed now.) I dislike classic rock [Led Zeplin] and hate progressive rock [Rush]. I even don't like the Seatle grunge scene [Nirvana, Pearl Jam].

So there I've laid down what I like and don't like. And you're free to judge me if you want, but for me I listen to music I like and really don't care what other's think about my tastes. But I also am very open to hearing what other people like, I may not like it, but I'll at least put in the time to listen. If you hate the music I've mentioned then let me know what you like, or even if you like the same stuff still let me know what you like so I can check it out.

With that said, I'm going to throw on some Looper now.

Best deal under a dollar

Ska Punk is not dead! 99 Cents (or less) put on a great set at ABC No Rio today. Of the four bands that played tonight they were the best and the most fun. I haven't skanked in sooooo long that I had to get in the pit for them. They even did a killer punk cover of La Bamba! The lead singer really got into the show and they brought up a large crowd of their local fans, so that made the place and the pit way more fun. This one guy did not stop dancing the whole set, I don't think he ever got tired. They're from NJ so I hope to see them again soon. The mp3s on their site and the ones from StereoKiller seem to be broken, hopefully they'll fix them soon cause I didn't see any of their CDs at the merch table.

A little bonus to boot, I picked up a CD by Carpenter Ant before the show, they had played ABC last fall. The interesting thing is that I went to high school with the lead singer Roy Carnage (aka Ray Gurz). It's a funny thing too, cause a few weeks ago I was wondering what the hardcore scene was like back in the Lehigh Valley. I searched around for stuff on old hardcore bands of friends I knew. Ray once did vocals for the SxE band Grow, and some other friends were in Blindside (not the same band that currently goes by that name). So I came across the Capenter Ant website and a few forums that talked about the local scene and such. So C.A. is a pretty good skatecore band, they seem like a lot fun. They did their most recent show in June, but I hope they'll come up to NY soon. I emailed ray to see what their shows are, I'll give a review of them once I finally see them live.

Henry Rollins and Fat Mike

Henry Rollins is interviewed in the summer 06 issue of Punk Rock Confidential, a magazine put out by Fat Mike. Now I probably wouldn't have bought the magazine had I known that Fat Mike put it out. I used to like the guy, his music was decent, his label rocked and I loved the Rock Against Bush CDs and thought he helped the punk community become a little more involved in politics. Then I read a quote attributed to him about SxE and read some of the lyrics of his songs closer [" the kids who used to live for beer and speed now want their fries and coke"] and just realized that I couldn't listen to a jerk that cares way too much about being drunk and high, even the stuff he says in his magazine just piss me off. To be honest, I don't think I'm better than him, I just can't see his point of view and when he says shit like that it pisses me off, just as much as militant Straight Edge music pisses me off.

But I was happy to read a great interview of Henry Rollins in the issue, a saving grace of $3.95 i spent on it. Even thought Henry has never labeled himself SxE, he lives the lifestyle and that means a lot to especially when coupled with his outspoken views and of course his great music. What's fantastic was that Henry basically challenged Fat Mike and Sean Hannity to a fight. Henry just let it go in the interview and ripped on everyone from Karl Rove to Paris Hilton (who i actually think is damn hot, I love the skinny girls what can I say); he didn't pull any punches. As always I was impressed by Henry, and think that if he had acually ran punkvoter.com we'd have a real president in office. One of the best quotes in the article speaks to something I think is really important and needs to be said about so many punks and other people in every (sub)culture:

"However, I think the wrong thing to do is to put that kid that shopped at Hot Topic down. Not to say "You Suck!", but to say here's something you might like to check out. Putting him down closes doors, it doesn't lead to a dialogue, you're not going to turn the kid on, you've
failed the mission and if anything you've just got another subscriber to Fox News. Don't shut them down even though it's a harder road to go."

I love his show on IFC and hope that he comes out strong in the upcoming election to do something that will get people motivated to act and vote.

Poison Free Roadster

Anyone that knows me, knows I love to drive and drive fast. Which is certainly a shame since when I moved to Brooklyn I had to sell my Subaru WRX. But I still love cars and just found out about a new auto company called Tesla Motors. They will be producing the fastest and longest range 100% electric car. It goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds and has a range of 250 miles on a single 3.5 hour charge. Freaking Beautiful!

Now aside from the power and range the fact that it's 100% electric just makes it that much more desirable and important for the world. No need to feed off oil from despotic and evil rulers (foreign and domestic.) I can't wait for when they come out with a rally model.

[Saturday, July 28, 2006] PS: Since I haven't had a car for a while now I didn't even think about how one that lives in NYC would even be able to own a 100% electric car that needed to be plugged in. Tesla will be offering a solar panel carport as mentioned in the AutoblogGreen interview but that still won't help those that have to park in the street. Now of course I realize that anyone that would own this particular model won't be parking it in the street. Although, it does raise the point of needing to offer a built in system for recharging. Solar panels on the car itself, such as those offered by XsunX (with this kind of name I wonder if the founder is SxE, solar power is very DIY and Poison Free) that are transparent and can be applied to windows as well as possibly the entire surface of the car.

All that would need to be created to meet this lack of outlets on the street and when traveling long distance is some sort of power transfer station (like a gas station) that could give your car a quick jump of juice in a short period of time. That of course is years out, but by the time the average driver will be purchasing a 100% electric 2 door hatchback we might have this kind of technology.

Why Hardcore shows are better than any other kind

Hardcore shows have energy and so much heart. You can feel the excitement and the energy (and smell the sweat, not a plus at all but it shows you the energy if you couldn't already feel it) when your at a show and especially in the pit. Yesterday I skipped going to the hardcore Matinee at ABC No Rio, which I haven't been to in a bit cause of other stuff, to go out to Long Island to visit with some friends and go see Fiona Apple. Now don't get me wrong, I don't just listen to Hardcore music, but as the years go on I get more and more into Hardcore. Damien Rice went on before Fiona, I really don't know his music, but if he had someone screaming out background vocals during a few songs I would've felt more at home. Plus the whole arena thing just sucks, the Jones Beach Theatre is neat since it's on the water but it's too damn big and the acoustics sucked of course.

When crazy Fiona got on stage we snuck down to closer seats since half the place was empty with the on/off rain all day. Fiona could scream in a Hardcore or Post-Hardcore Screamo band if she wanted, she's got a great raspy voice when shes screams (her singing voice is much more sweet) almost like Brody Dalle (formerly Armstrong) of the Distillers. So I really do love Fiona's new CD, the old jazz era sounding vibes are great, a definite diversion from the Champion and Comadre (a band I saw at ABC No Rio a few weeks back) discs that I've been spinning in my iPod lately. Now I did enjoy the show (er..concert I guess since it's not punk or hardcore) and loved how she danced like someone from an insane asylum. At one point while talking to the crowd she actually said "Shut up Fiona" and hit her head on the side with both open hands, then said "Jesus Christ" and started playing the piano again.

So despite sitting in a wet seat still a few hundred feet away I enjoyed the experience, but there is nothing at all like being 3 feet from a stage in a pit and feeling the heat and energy put out by the band and the kids around you. Next weekend I have friends that want to go to the zoo in Central Park, I wanted to go but I heard the gay penguins broke up, so I'm not sure I still want to go cause I really really need to be in a pit.

Hip-Hop Straight-Edge

So while searching the net for the BBC documentary I mentioned previously in a nice little download form I came across something that totally blew me away. Hip-Hop Straight Edge music that I like, by a band called superXcontra. To be honest I tend to prefer punk and I rarely listen to Hip-Hop unless it's the Beastie Boys or mc chris. But the fact that these guys' lyrics are straight-edge and the beats are melodic and the rhyms don't sound lame or silly. I'm also happy to come across SxE music that is not hardcore. I always try to look for music that breaks boundaries and this definitely has and with talented artists as well.

Despite some violent tones in the lyrics they have a positive spin. They sing against the way current rap stars promote drinking and buying super expensive clothes and such. I love these lines:

but you you worried bout ya fashions and ya brand name clothes / a bottle of kris goes for 2-3 hundred dollas / that's like six weeks of food if you one ta spread out them dollas / gone in sixty seconds if you at the right party / 80 bottles gettin bled some gettin poured on all the shortys / insane in the brain now the blood's on ya hands

So I ordered their album for $5 and it comes with the BBC documentary that I was looking for originally. I hope the rest of the tracks are as good as the ones I downloaded.

"Straight Edge is a promise I'll take to my grave" from the song NVRSCRD

All Ages and Breaking Edge, so much in one post, but it's all related I promise

So I finally got the "All Ages" book in mail today from the UK. I read the Foreword and the Intro so far. I'll post a reveiw of the whole thing soon. Just wanted to post a few things to start with though. Ray Cappo wrote the foreward, and as I read it I thought about the article by Ray that I found on Grrrls With X's on Their Hands. I don't know when he wrote it, or if it's truly his writing, the original source link was a now defunct Anglefire page. But even if it's not really his words, it still makes me think about what it means to break edge and what others should do and say about people that break edge. First reactions are always to say WTF! especially when you consider that someone is Ray, who has been such a huge influence on the scene and SxE kids across the planet. Now I never met Ray and don't judge him for his choices at all. It just makes you wonder what being SxE meant to him (or anyone for that matter) that it can be thrown aside with a simple glass of wine. I think people become angry hearing about Ray and others they know breaking edge because it affects them in a certain way, by this I mean that your community has lost someone and this pride and conviction you hold deeply feels like it was stepped on. When people outside SxE step on your convictions, you just brush it off and say whatever. But when someone inside SxE steps on them, you feel that and can't let it go. As a community we should definitely be more concerned with finding out the why though first and then decide how we feel afterwards.

That all then leads to the concept of becoming Straight Edge again. Is that possible? Can you drink a glass of wine or smoke a cigarette once and then decide that you want to be SxE again. I tend to think no, I mean you can decide to no longer drink or smoke, but you can't take on the label again. I feel this way cause it's like you dirtied what it meant and then crawl back. Now this leads to the ill feelings that arise when someone does break edge, but I still feel this way.

So back to the book, I'll review it soon, but I wanted metion that I came across another great blog recently by Eric Grubbs who is writing a post-hardcore book. And he said the book has been "quite handy" for research on his book, so I'm looking forward to reading the rest and certainly interested in reading Eric's book when he's finished.

Priorities

I went out tonight with some friends. It bothers me a little when it seems, to them, that the biggest priority of the evening is drinking. I thought the biggest priority was having a good time with friends. The quote of the evening "I don't want to go to a place to eat that also serves beer, I want to go to a place that also serves food." I don't mind going to a bar to hang out with some friends, but when we go out to eat I definitely want to go to a place with good food, especially since I don't eat fried food. Sure I understand that my choices affect my friends, but their choices affect me too. Am I being overly sensitive here, I don't know, but it's how I feel.

Great SxE Audio Documentary

Straight Edge Lifestyle has a great BBC audio documentary on their site. It's a little long and since the site is in flash they don't provide direct access to download the audio.

To be honest I quite dislike their site (from a design aspect), most Flash sites suck and this one has really bad navigation. But listen to the documentary it's pretty cool.

Regrets

So a friend, after reading my blog, told me I shouldn't regret ever drinking. So I thought I should clarify that statement a bit. I don't regret ever drinking, but I regret the situations in which I chose to drink. To be honest having drank in my past, like everything in my life is part of who I am, and has made an effect on the choices in my life. I may have never become Straight Edge if I didn't make those choices or regret the situations that lead me to drink. I'm damn fucking proud of who I am now and of being Straight Edge. So despite my past and my regrets they are the sum of my being.

Books on SxE

So I was looking around on the net a few months back for books or pretty much anything on SxE and came across this book called All Ages by Beth Lahickey. I kept looking still for other books, there were a few others but people seemed to really like this one. So I plucked down the $12 (actually a tad less since I got it online.) I'm waiting for it to come in the mail, I was hoping it'd come today since I have to ride the bus to Pennsylvania tomorrow. I also get to show my brother my new tattoo. He's not Straight Edge but he's got a bunch of tattoos, the best being the Rebel symbol from Star Wars. After I read the book I'll put up my review on the book.

Maybe after this one I'll also take a look at the other books and such out there that talk about being SxE, might be a cool idea to start compiling a list and reviewing SxE media outside of music, which is already heavily reviewed.

XXX

July 1st I got my first tattoo. I've always wanted one, but I could never decide on what I wanted. Growing up I also knew that it was against my Jewish faith to get one, but since I've been SxE I'm more commited to the Edge than I am to archaic laws (anyways I want to be cremated so the whole burial in a jewish cemetary is already out the window) about things that have no reference in today's world.

So back to the tattoo. I wanted a dragon or the old style Japanese Kanji for dragon; I being born in the Year of the Dragon and all. But I never felt a true connection to these ideas. One day while standing on the edge of a mosh pit watching the kids and the crowd and just hearing the music I knew that was my connection. So I thought about it, talked with my friends and drew up three Xs in varsity style in Illustrator. I gave them a slightly different look that typical. My friend Charles had met this SxE tattoo artist a few years back at a show and he told me I should look for this guy to do my tattoo.

So I searched the net for a while, Charles had forgotten his name. But I finally found him and like fate, his shop Brooklyn Ink was only 5 streets from where I live now in Bay Ridge. I knew then that I had to get my first tattoo and "Old School" Alex was going to be the one to do it. Everyone always asks if it hurt, but to be honest it didn't. I was so pumped and excited and had so much positive energy and adrenaline that I actually loved the whole thing, It was unbelievable. I had Charles take photos and I put them on Flickr.

I'm Straight Edge

I'm Straight Edge. And this year I'll be turning the big 3-0. I grew up around skaters and straight edge kids since I was around 10 (most my friends claimed edge when we were around 14) yet I never liked hardcore music growing up and thus never felt the connection they did to the scene and thought I needed to be hardcore to be straight edge. Some of my friends and others from my school broke edge after graduating and when I went to college I drank (recall I never claimed edge, thus I never broke edge.) And to this day I regret ever having that first drink.

While in college I also gained an appreciation for music, especially punk and ska. Rancid [...And Out Came the Wolves] being the first punk CD I ever bought drew me into punk like a hyena to a rotting carcas. After school I got into hardcore music and started going to shows more often since I finally had time and that's also when I drank more. I then started realizing that I didn't like being drunk. I looked back onto my years with my SxE friends and the X's on their hands and how they were what I wanted to be but never was.

So I claimed edge and threw away all the shit that I felt was dragging me down. Of course I got shit about it from some of my friends, but once they realized what it meant to me they we're totally cool with it. Some aren't and I'm not friends with them any more, not cause they drank, but cause they couldn't be okay with me not drinking.

Now I'm Straight Edge and proud. My real friends accept me and are proud of my commitment to my life.

Update: acutally just reposted this because blogger doesn't let you delete comments from a post unless you had some stupid setting enabled before the spam was posted.