Man, democrats are good at the Spineless Waffling thing. John Kerry's laughable attempt at a presidential bid (remember that personality transplant after the DNC?), now this. First Carter goes off on the Bush administration, calling it the "worst in history" (src=bda and really, it's hard to argue otherwise). He then later recants, saying he was comparing the Bush admin's foriegn policy to the foriegn policy of the Nixon administration. The Bush Administration response? Hand-print "Carter" into the "______ is irrelevant." madlib, photocopy, distribute.

On the one hand, I watched "wild feeds" (satellite uplinks of raw footage transmitted from local affiliates to networks for editing) during the summer of 1996, so I've seen firsthand exactly how the media will twist what a politician actually says into what the media wants him (or her) to say. On the other hand, unloading Nixon is seriously, seriously weak.

On the gripping hand, it's politics. It's bullshit. It'll continue to be politics and bullshit until enough americans get sick of it.

Ever try to make a lazy man care about something? There's nothing like an activist to turn a civilian off to an otherwise valid cause.... and it's hard to actually care about politics when your "choices" are fervently advocated by people you can't stand to listen to.

The picture is from the fourth Skylab mission.

The Russians have totally stomped NASA for volume - they've orbited five of the seven manned space stations, and they've been primary transit for the last two. And one of 'em had a fucking cannon.

Another area the Soviet space program has kept the lead? Venus.

I <3 the space program.

Motherfucking FRONT LINE, with a Millennium/Hard Wired-era setlist, live geetar and drums, all kinds of awesome and I'm not sure which is ringing more - my ears or my wang.

The show was at Mister Smalls, who will be hosting Electric Six (!) and They Might Be Giants (!) within the next couple of days.

Rein[Forced] : Much tighter than the last time I saw them. Might be the sound system, might be practice. Either way, their set was short, tight, and nice. Sounds a bit like Kevorkian Death Cycle, only better.

 

Acumen Nation : Always good, featuring a one-song duet with Jim from Rein[Forced]. I bought Jason a beer after their set and had a brief conversation about what a monetary racket Ozzfest is. Fuck corporate America - if you get a chance, go see Acumen Nation.

   

Then came The Start, whom I've never heard of before, ever. They made it a point to make a point out of the fact they're from Los Angeles, for whatever that's worth. It's been my experience that bands from California are proud of it - it's also been my experience that that's the only thing they have to be proud of. The Start sounded a lot like Luxt and didn't stop moving long enough to get decent pictures.

 

Then came Front Line Assembly. See top for verbspunk - great set, okay sound quality. The setlist pulled from Millennium, Hard Wired, Tactical Neural Implant, Prophecy and the Surface Patterns single. (They. Played. Internal. Combustion. SQUEE!!!!!!1111oneoneoneomfgSQUIRT). Yum. The set was much, much better than my pictures of it. Trust me.

  

  

 

   

FLA's been one of those Bands I Want To See Live since Millennium. Now that they're checked off of the list, it's down to Front 242 and The Sisters Of Mercy. Ph34r!

Also, the art on the Fallout digipak totally looks like a head roped to a giant metal dong.

The win, it burns.

Addendum : I should have mentioned before - Chris Smith secured the tickets, the wheels, and the bar tab. I totally wouldn't have been at the show if he wasn't as into Millennium as I am. <3.

My one pic from last week's comicon : Kristy from Noses Optional with her meme-friendly carton of Wasabe peanuts. Stronger than NyQuil!

14:07 < mdxi> -----------------------------------------
14:07 < mdxi> I've seen things you people wouldn't   \
14:07 < mdxi> | believe. Attack ships on fire off the  |
14:07 < mdxi> | shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams   |
14:07 < mdxi> | glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser |
14:07 < mdxi> | gate. All those moments will be lost in |
14:07 < mdxi> \ time, like tears in rain. Time to die. /
14:07 < mdxi> -----------------------------------------
14:07 < mdxi>     \  ,__,
14:07 < mdxi>      \ (oo)____
14:08 < mdxi>        (__)   )\
14:08 < mdxi>          ||--|| *
14:09 < vai> o_o
14:09 < mdxi> it's funny, see, because a COW is saying it