[Do not include in the Internet Archive.]

moving to tumblr...

I'm moving on to tumblr now as I felt that Blogger hasn't been able to give me the connections that I think would benefit me or the Straight Edge community. I want to be able to connect more and be able to find great Straight Edge people elsewhere too. I also have connected my tumblr to my Facebook (/LivingOnTheStraightEdge) and Twitter (@phreekk) accounts too. I hope that you decide to follow me there now, soon I will start moving over some of my classic posts, add new posts, reblog other tumblr posts and allow anyone to ask me questions about Straight Edge too. x My Life x My Choice x My Pride x

What Happens When You Are Drunk

This is an awesome video of what you think happens when you are drunk and what really happens.  When watching the video mouse over the video to see what really happens.

These are exactly some of the reasons why drinking to excess is stupid and why I'm quite proud to live a sober life.

Commitment

Committing to being Straight Edge honestly wasn't that hard for me when I decided to do it. I was in my mid 20's and didn't drink much to begin with, drugs were not a part of my life and smoking was repulsive to me. To me Straight Edge is defined by the phrase "Poison Free" and means to keep your body healthy. For longer than I was SxE I've had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Lactose Intolerance and one doctor even said that I may be Fat Intolerant too. Of the 4 doctors I've seen none have really helped. IBS has been something that has made eating and living not very fun at times. I've tried cutting things out of my diet and sometimes it never seemed like it was working.

I was recently shown a website (and accompanying book) called Breaking the Vicious Cycle which talks about changing your diet to limit complex sugars and grains that are difficult to digest properly, the diest is called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). I officially started the on January 1st and am still getting used to it. I've learned to make my own yogurt, mayonaise, and have restricted my packaged foods. I bought purely natural peanut butter and now use only honey as a sweetener. It is a quite a change for me; I love candy and sugary things, so getting rid of that and chocolate too is very very hard.

This diet is a new commitment for me that may very well be one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Shai Hulud - This Saturday at ABC No Rio in NYC

Shai Hulud will be playing at the tiny yet awesome venue known as ABC No Rio! It's a matinee starting at 3pm with a low cover price so if you can make it then you need to be there. I should be there unless a catastrophic event occurs as I haven't seen Shai Hulud in a probably about 2 years.

Casey Jones to Release a New Album

So Have Heart are over but Straight Edge hardcore still lives! Casey Jones is going into the studio for a new album that they will self-release. I think it's pretty awesome that they will be handling this release them selves. The music industry is changing so much lately that there may never be a need for record labels.

Have Heart Final Show DVD

I never got a chance to see Have Heart live on stage, but I've been a fan of their amazing Straight Edge hardcore for years. Bridge9 is bringing out a DVD of their final show from October of last year aptly entitled 10.17.09 and will be accompanied by a CD and LP. The video will be released in November and I will certainly be pre-ordering it when they open for that around Edge Day!

I hope they decide to have a reunion tour in a few years (for the love and not the money) and I will definitely make it to that show.

Question? How did you learn about Straight Edge?

Let us know and tell us why, post your answer.

Thanxxx.

James Hetfield is Straight Edge?

So James Hetfield of Metallica got a Straight Edge X tattoo. He claims not be Straight Edge, but Reborn Straight Edge. He mentions that a true, hardcore straight edge hasn't ever done drugs or drank alcohol. I respect James for being poison free and all but I have to say that I think he doesn't understand Straight Edge. Claiming Edge doesn't require you to have never consumed alcohol or done drugs, claiming edge is about committing the rest of your life to being Straight Edge, there's no reborn. You either ARE or AREN'T, it's that simple. Maybe his words are taken out of context or I misunderstood what he was saying, but I think he doesn't quite get it. You can read the full interview over at Double Cross.

Is CM Punk good for Straight Edge?

Is CM Punk giving Straight Edge a bad name? Straight Edge gets a lot of bad press already because of hardline edgers that have formed gangs and fight people that smoke or drink. Young Straight Edge kids act beyond proud by proclaiming their edge following via obnoxious attitudes and raucous behavior. And now with CM Punks Straight Edge Society his fans are chanting that they are better than everyone else because they are Straight Edge.

To me Straight Edge is a personal choice. If someone else isn't Straight Edge I am not bothered or offended or upset in any way. I simply choose not to drink or smoke. But to others it has become a banner to wave in peoples faces. It is now a new way to offend people.

I was originally happy when I heard about CM Punk the Straight Edge wrestler. I figured it would be a possible positive way to introduce the philosophy to many new people that otherwise would live in what is commonly a non-edge lifestyle. But his arrogance (yes I understand it's an act, wrestling is fake and is entertainment) has spread to his followers.

How long will their interest last? Do they even understand the philosophy behind Straight Edge? Do they know the history and the culture of its origins? Not that one needs to know who Ian MacKaye is or even listen to hardcore, but I think it's important to understand what Straight Edge came from, to understand its origin as a rebellion against the typical drunken and drugged punk lifestyle.

If you're SxE and you became it because of CM Punk, please comment here and let me know.

Feel free to also comment on twitter, You can find me as @phreekk and you should tagyour Edge tweets with #StraightEdge or #SxE