      |
 2Cr 12:7 |
¶ | And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. |
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2Cr 12:8 |
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. | |
 |
2Cr 12:9 |
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. | |
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2Cr
12:10 |
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:
for when I am weak, then am I strong. This is one of my favorite passages from the Bible. There has been much speculation as to what exactly the thorn in the apostle Paul's flesh is, but I think those who do so miss the point completly. It doesn't matter what it is, we ALL have thorns. There are feats only God is capable of. This is what Paul is writing about. Only God can make our weaknesses strengths. I call this the 'Keanu Passage', because that he was what sprang to mind when I finally understood the meaning of this verse. Keanu Reeves' inability to act has become what earns him roles in films now(see:The Day The Earth Stood Still). His weakness, or inability to convey ANY sense of emotion whatsoever, is his strength. It's like a positive typecast. Now, directors seek him to play impassionate people and stoic aliens. I can't help but be reminded of capitalism. Greed has been a human vice wherever man has achieved sustenence. It seems to be a part of our genome, affecting every race and class level since ever. But with God's guidance, through capitalism, exponentially more people are able to prosper and reach their full potential than with any well intentioned system based on sharing, the 'common good', or any other buzz phrase for communism the kids are using now. Man's never quenched desire for more creates jobs and wealth for all who are willing to participate. In it's 'coldness' we learn excuses produce nothing, effort and perseverence are keys to success, which is never given, it must be earned. So stop listening to guilt peddlers about the supposed 'evils' of the years zenith of commerce, Christmas. The phrase 'Black Friday' actually started out as in reference to many retailers profits changing from red to black on their spreadsheets. That is how many people put food on the table, pay their mortages, keep their lights on. Don't let some alternative lifestyle moron who still lives off their parents convince you otherwise. God wants us to celebrate Jesus' birthday, not mourn it. |
Monday, December 24, 2012
Ivy League Imbecile Cornel West is at it again. I knew it was only a matter of time before he chimed in to opine on the recent Sandy Hook tragedy from the racial angle. His predictably asinine response: “We can’t just shed tears for those on the vanilla side of town.” , he quipped on his radio show Saturday. (I didn’t know he had a radio show either,I wonder who’s funding that?) Mr. West has always been outspoken and controversial, often with unintentionally hilarious results. I’m usually indifferent to his sophomoric observations, but I take exception to this one for two reasons.
First, it shows incredibly bad taste to make such statements while victims are still being buried. You would think someone who holds a PhD from Harvard would know that. The country as a whole is wounded from the sensitive nature of the crime and its victims. What kind of classless buffoon says things like this at a time like this? An entitled, ignorant one who believes his inane proclamations are immune to criticism, I say. Secondly, he must be aware that 94% of murders of black Americans are committed by black Americans. The reason murders of black Americans don’t get as much attention is because people like Mr.West will certainly condemn the media as racist for repeatedly reporting crimes with black suspects, as the overwhelming majority of homicides of black Americans are. So either way, the media is racist. See how the game works?
If Dr.West really cared about violence in the black community, he would be talking about Chicago,where there have been over 500 murders this year alone. In spite of some of the strictest gun laws in the country,gun deaths are routine. Especially among young black males. Unfortunately for the windy city, it is not beneficial to the socialist narrative to acknowledge the crisis. It is a duel example of how strict gun laws don’t prevent murders, and the liberal media’s tendency toward selective journalism. Either Dr. West is aware he is deceiving people or he’s oblivious to the truth. If someone this dumb can earn a PhD from Princeton, I’m enrolling tomorrow!
First, it shows incredibly bad taste to make such statements while victims are still being buried. You would think someone who holds a PhD from Harvard would know that. The country as a whole is wounded from the sensitive nature of the crime and its victims. What kind of classless buffoon says things like this at a time like this? An entitled, ignorant one who believes his inane proclamations are immune to criticism, I say. Secondly, he must be aware that 94% of murders of black Americans are committed by black Americans. The reason murders of black Americans don’t get as much attention is because people like Mr.West will certainly condemn the media as racist for repeatedly reporting crimes with black suspects, as the overwhelming majority of homicides of black Americans are. So either way, the media is racist. See how the game works?
If Dr.West really cared about violence in the black community, he would be talking about Chicago,where there have been over 500 murders this year alone. In spite of some of the strictest gun laws in the country,gun deaths are routine. Especially among young black males. Unfortunately for the windy city, it is not beneficial to the socialist narrative to acknowledge the crisis. It is a duel example of how strict gun laws don’t prevent murders, and the liberal media’s tendency toward selective journalism. Either Dr. West is aware he is deceiving people or he’s oblivious to the truth. If someone this dumb can earn a PhD from Princeton, I’m enrolling tomorrow!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Chuck's TOP TEN Records of the Year!
10.In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading - Guitar legend Jesper Strombland is gone, and you will be able to tell immediatly. The new dude (no I can't remember his name offhand, and I'm not looking it up) does a great job, nonetheless. This band has lost many old fans in recent years, due primarily to the fact that they aren't replicating Colony or The Jester Race repeatedly. I admire a band who has the balls to take risks and try new things knowing they will lose fans, rather than play it safe to keep old ones. This is a borderline heavy rock album, but the riffs are catchy and the choruses are memorable. My only bitch is there aren't enough guitar solos and the song "Attic" (don't even listen, just skip it.Trust me). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzd6lkLUwA
9.Beneath the Massacre - Incongrous - I was pretty suprised not to see this CD on more "top records of the year" lists. I'm a little biased, as I have seen them live more than once, and was more impressed with them each time. This record sacrifices variety in favor of technicality. I have trouble telling songs apart at times. But when they get it right, as with the song "Damages", it's spine-tingling good. The better songs are actually on the second half of the record, which is rare, but encourages the listener to sit through the entire record, which forces you to listen to it in its entirety. Pretty clever. Another good thing is I like this more each time I listen to it, as the music is so complex, it requires lots of listens to soak it all in. Definitly worth owning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r3oK3MAv0A
8.Impending Doom - Baptized In Filth - I could tell this was going to be a mainstream /deathcore record before it even came out, due to the leanings of the last record There Will Be Violence. Luckily, these vehement Christians are competent musicians and songwriters. Each song is easily distinguishable from the other, which is always a big plus for me. Also the weird guitar sound is still present, the only way I can think of to decribe it is Pantera meets Slipknot, which I have grown to love even though I can't stand Slipknot. Lots of variety here, so you'll get to use all the moves in your headbanging repitoire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xPRhyt_zOo
7.Cannibal Corpse - Torture - Cannibal Corpse are generally acknowleged as the kings of Death Metal. Many fans of the genre despise them, but Death Metal fans are the most harsh critics in the world. This is better than merely 'solid' even by Cannibal Corpse standards. Great riffs, great arrangements. Scourge of Iron makes me headbang whether I want to or not. Encased in Concrete is also a highlight. Fun to listen to, never boring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HxV65bn0Zw
6.Incantation - The first song on this record sounds alot like the first song on Onward to Golgotha, one of my all time favorite death metal records. This is an Incantation record from beginning to end. No experimentation, no melody, just pure Death Metal violence with headphone rumbling Doom breaks. No complaints here! These guys have their own patented sound, so who needs outside influences? Great comeback record. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bco3gz8a9kU
5.As I Lay Dying - Awakened - I'm not the biggest fan of these guys, I listen to them every now and then, but have been mostly "meh" about them. That should tell you how great this CD is. It is pretty by-the-numbers AILD, but this record seems to have a greater sence of conviction and urgency than their earlier records. "Overcome" will make you cry and then go fight crime on the streets barehanded. Yes, it's that good. Love the riffs, the solos, the positive lyrics, even the breakdowns. This would be #1 if I liked the metalcore style more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1VteSDwa-w
4.Meshuggah - Koloss - When you buy this CD (because I know you value my opinion so much) skip the first song. I don't know whose idea it was to start the record with a b-side song, but that's what they did. Aside from that, every song here is a keeper. "Break These Bones..." is probably my favorite track on here. Not many suprises (at this point, how could Meshuggah suprise anyone?) but, if it aint broke, don't fix it. As with all their records, the vocals do get pretty monotonous and annoying, but Meshuggah fans like me love them enough to deal with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P68fmKQJ-6g
3.Napalm Death - Utilitarian - This is probably Napalm Death's best record they've ever made. None of their fans will say that, as they are forever nostalgic of the SCUM and From Enslavement...days, but it's true. I was a huge Napalm fan as a kid, but my interest dwindled after Inside The Torn Apart, as it looked like they were going to stick to their alt-rock guns. I got Order of the Leech when I heard they were back to their grindcore ways, but that record was very repetitive, despite having the best titled song ever,"The Icing on the Hate." They have truly outdone themselves with this one. The first song is an intro, which I usually hate, but is cool here when seen as a nod to the old Carcass and Morbid Angel records that always started that way. "Everyday Pox" has a saxophone solo, and even more suprising, they make it work! It actually complements the song perfectly. They have also added weird clean vocals to their arsenal, which is probably my favorite part of this record. They are also mixed to sound like they are sung "over" the music instead of "with" it, which adds an atmospheric quality. Awesome record. I'm listening to it right now, as a matter of fact. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWTz7730D7Y
2.Cattle Decapitation - Monolith of Inhumanity - I don't care much for gore-grind. Maybe all the MySpace bands ruined it for me. I always thought it completly missed the point of Death Metal, which is emphasis on the MUSIC itself, not the lyrics. Aside from the early Carcass (who singlehandedly founded the genre) records, I always thought the stuff was for lack of a better word, dumb. That said, this record is probably the best Death Metal record of the year, for many reasons. For starters, the drumming is absolutly insane. Alot of drummers could learn from this dude, as it is not about proving how good you are, or making sure to use every fuckin cymbal in your kit on every song.(hear that, Job For A Cowboy?) Psychotic carnage is the best way I can think of to describe this music. Another reason it's great is this band seems completly oblivious to the plague of PROG currently popular in metal right now. The whole "we have to show how great musicians we are on every song" is getting really fucking OLD. It totally ruined the new BTBAM record. This record also employs a brand of clean singing I've never heard before. It's not melodic in the sence of "pleasing to the ear", but its on key to the music, and gives the record an even more bizarre, disturbing aspect. The riffs and solos are also amazing, though I wish there were more. A truly intense, strange, unsettling, amazing work of art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWeTeFn0LhM
1.Nile - At the Gate of Sethu - I know, I just said Cattle Decap is the best Death Metal record of the year. It probably is to most people. At the Gate of Sethu isn't #1 on any list of metal records for the year that I've seen. I don't care. This is hands down, my favorite record of the year. I saw these guys a couple of times early in their career, and was completly blown away. If you have never heard them, they play a frenzied form of brutal Death Metal with an Egyptian motif. Many of their song titles are silly sounding, but that goes for nearly every Death Metal band. The songs on this record are insanely fast, but now they've finally thrown a few mid-tempo and slower riffs in the mix. The opening riff for "The Gods Who Light Up the Sky..", is a perfect example. There are also lots of atmospheric breaks between songs, which make the record all the more enjoyable. I listen to this in the dark nearly everyday, whenever I get the chance, and enjoy it more every time. The fast sections are complete mayhem, yet the riffs are easily distinguishable from one another. You can easily tell the songs apart, even though most of them are extremely fast and brutal. No small feat. The solos are also interesting, and compliment the music perfectly. The drumming is inhuman. I don't see how a human being is capable of playing THAT FAST for that long, but that's Nile for you. Many Death Metal bands could learn alot from these guys, like how to write insanely brutal Death Metal songs that are not only memorable, but catchy. There is not one note of filler on this record. Though some parts make me giggle ("The Great Tribunal!!"), none make me ever skip to the next song. Death Metal perfection. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6SZTiha8bw .
10.In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading - Guitar legend Jesper Strombland is gone, and you will be able to tell immediatly. The new dude (no I can't remember his name offhand, and I'm not looking it up) does a great job, nonetheless. This band has lost many old fans in recent years, due primarily to the fact that they aren't replicating Colony or The Jester Race repeatedly. I admire a band who has the balls to take risks and try new things knowing they will lose fans, rather than play it safe to keep old ones. This is a borderline heavy rock album, but the riffs are catchy and the choruses are memorable. My only bitch is there aren't enough guitar solos and the song "Attic" (don't even listen, just skip it.Trust me). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzd6lkLUwA
9.Beneath the Massacre - Incongrous - I was pretty suprised not to see this CD on more "top records of the year" lists. I'm a little biased, as I have seen them live more than once, and was more impressed with them each time. This record sacrifices variety in favor of technicality. I have trouble telling songs apart at times. But when they get it right, as with the song "Damages", it's spine-tingling good. The better songs are actually on the second half of the record, which is rare, but encourages the listener to sit through the entire record, which forces you to listen to it in its entirety. Pretty clever. Another good thing is I like this more each time I listen to it, as the music is so complex, it requires lots of listens to soak it all in. Definitly worth owning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r3oK3MAv0A
8.Impending Doom - Baptized In Filth - I could tell this was going to be a mainstream /deathcore record before it even came out, due to the leanings of the last record There Will Be Violence. Luckily, these vehement Christians are competent musicians and songwriters. Each song is easily distinguishable from the other, which is always a big plus for me. Also the weird guitar sound is still present, the only way I can think of to decribe it is Pantera meets Slipknot, which I have grown to love even though I can't stand Slipknot. Lots of variety here, so you'll get to use all the moves in your headbanging repitoire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xPRhyt_zOo
7.Cannibal Corpse - Torture - Cannibal Corpse are generally acknowleged as the kings of Death Metal. Many fans of the genre despise them, but Death Metal fans are the most harsh critics in the world. This is better than merely 'solid' even by Cannibal Corpse standards. Great riffs, great arrangements. Scourge of Iron makes me headbang whether I want to or not. Encased in Concrete is also a highlight. Fun to listen to, never boring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HxV65bn0Zw
6.Incantation - The first song on this record sounds alot like the first song on Onward to Golgotha, one of my all time favorite death metal records. This is an Incantation record from beginning to end. No experimentation, no melody, just pure Death Metal violence with headphone rumbling Doom breaks. No complaints here! These guys have their own patented sound, so who needs outside influences? Great comeback record. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bco3gz8a9kU
5.As I Lay Dying - Awakened - I'm not the biggest fan of these guys, I listen to them every now and then, but have been mostly "meh" about them. That should tell you how great this CD is. It is pretty by-the-numbers AILD, but this record seems to have a greater sence of conviction and urgency than their earlier records. "Overcome" will make you cry and then go fight crime on the streets barehanded. Yes, it's that good. Love the riffs, the solos, the positive lyrics, even the breakdowns. This would be #1 if I liked the metalcore style more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1VteSDwa-w
4.Meshuggah - Koloss - When you buy this CD (because I know you value my opinion so much) skip the first song. I don't know whose idea it was to start the record with a b-side song, but that's what they did. Aside from that, every song here is a keeper. "Break These Bones..." is probably my favorite track on here. Not many suprises (at this point, how could Meshuggah suprise anyone?) but, if it aint broke, don't fix it. As with all their records, the vocals do get pretty monotonous and annoying, but Meshuggah fans like me love them enough to deal with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P68fmKQJ-6g
3.Napalm Death - Utilitarian - This is probably Napalm Death's best record they've ever made. None of their fans will say that, as they are forever nostalgic of the SCUM and From Enslavement...days, but it's true. I was a huge Napalm fan as a kid, but my interest dwindled after Inside The Torn Apart, as it looked like they were going to stick to their alt-rock guns. I got Order of the Leech when I heard they were back to their grindcore ways, but that record was very repetitive, despite having the best titled song ever,"The Icing on the Hate." They have truly outdone themselves with this one. The first song is an intro, which I usually hate, but is cool here when seen as a nod to the old Carcass and Morbid Angel records that always started that way. "Everyday Pox" has a saxophone solo, and even more suprising, they make it work! It actually complements the song perfectly. They have also added weird clean vocals to their arsenal, which is probably my favorite part of this record. They are also mixed to sound like they are sung "over" the music instead of "with" it, which adds an atmospheric quality. Awesome record. I'm listening to it right now, as a matter of fact. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWTz7730D7Y
2.Cattle Decapitation - Monolith of Inhumanity - I don't care much for gore-grind. Maybe all the MySpace bands ruined it for me. I always thought it completly missed the point of Death Metal, which is emphasis on the MUSIC itself, not the lyrics. Aside from the early Carcass (who singlehandedly founded the genre) records, I always thought the stuff was for lack of a better word, dumb. That said, this record is probably the best Death Metal record of the year, for many reasons. For starters, the drumming is absolutly insane. Alot of drummers could learn from this dude, as it is not about proving how good you are, or making sure to use every fuckin cymbal in your kit on every song.(hear that, Job For A Cowboy?) Psychotic carnage is the best way I can think of to describe this music. Another reason it's great is this band seems completly oblivious to the plague of PROG currently popular in metal right now. The whole "we have to show how great musicians we are on every song" is getting really fucking OLD. It totally ruined the new BTBAM record. This record also employs a brand of clean singing I've never heard before. It's not melodic in the sence of "pleasing to the ear", but its on key to the music, and gives the record an even more bizarre, disturbing aspect. The riffs and solos are also amazing, though I wish there were more. A truly intense, strange, unsettling, amazing work of art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWeTeFn0LhM
1.Nile - At the Gate of Sethu - I know, I just said Cattle Decap is the best Death Metal record of the year. It probably is to most people. At the Gate of Sethu isn't #1 on any list of metal records for the year that I've seen. I don't care. This is hands down, my favorite record of the year. I saw these guys a couple of times early in their career, and was completly blown away. If you have never heard them, they play a frenzied form of brutal Death Metal with an Egyptian motif. Many of their song titles are silly sounding, but that goes for nearly every Death Metal band. The songs on this record are insanely fast, but now they've finally thrown a few mid-tempo and slower riffs in the mix. The opening riff for "The Gods Who Light Up the Sky..", is a perfect example. There are also lots of atmospheric breaks between songs, which make the record all the more enjoyable. I listen to this in the dark nearly everyday, whenever I get the chance, and enjoy it more every time. The fast sections are complete mayhem, yet the riffs are easily distinguishable from one another. You can easily tell the songs apart, even though most of them are extremely fast and brutal. No small feat. The solos are also interesting, and compliment the music perfectly. The drumming is inhuman. I don't see how a human being is capable of playing THAT FAST for that long, but that's Nile for you. Many Death Metal bands could learn alot from these guys, like how to write insanely brutal Death Metal songs that are not only memorable, but catchy. There is not one note of filler on this record. Though some parts make me giggle ("The Great Tribunal!!"), none make me ever skip to the next song. Death Metal perfection. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6SZTiha8bw .
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Here's another moronic "cause" lots of people are rallying around these days. For various reasons, lots of people are unhappy that other people think pit bulls are a vicious breed of dogs(they are). I see postings on facebook all the time similar to the one below. Animal rights is probably my least favorite liberal cause gone mainstream.
For starters, we now have animal charities. This is nothing short of imbecilic in my (not) humble opinion. I especially like the advertisement where the abused dogs and cats are pondering things like the motives of their captors and when their suffering will cease. First off, animals can't think! Not even the really lovable ones. Secondly, aren't there lots of human beings in this world more entitled to this money? Sorry, orphans and widows, there are cats out there without scratching posts. On the bright side, you do get a "free" tote bag with EXTRA LARGE animal charity logo, so everyone will know you are a gullible dumbass. I understand the outlook of many animal lovers. Many have been betrayed or otherwise hurt by people at some point, so they prefer the company of dumb beasts because animals provide unconditional love and companionship free of the risk of potential disappointments and heartache of human interaction. I empathize with these people, but being hurt is a part of life. People will always let you down and occasionally even stab you in the back. It can be hard to cope with. Hard, but not impossible. I can't help but think many people are wasting their time and effort devoting so much of both to ease suffering of animals. So many around us could use a lift. There are many wounded, lonely people in this world. There are many who go to work everyday, do all they are supposed to, only to arrive home to an empty house or apartment. There are many single parents doing their best job possible to be both parents, alone. There are elderly widows and widowers whose companion they've shared their entire life with is gone. There are many teetering on the edge of madness from bad fortunes, financial, romantic and otherwise. Some people are ashamed of their adverse circumstances, having always been responsible and successful. My point is that we have become a people who would rather judge our brothers who are suffering hardship than help him in many cases. We judge our brother to be unworthy of compassion, then spend time and resources to rescue animals. All of us know at least one person who is struggling with adversity. Why not be rescuer to them? It may not make a difference, but the chance is zero if you don't try at all. The dogs and cats won't even hold it against you, because they're dogs and cats, they cant. Idiot.
For starters, we now have animal charities. This is nothing short of imbecilic in my (not) humble opinion. I especially like the advertisement where the abused dogs and cats are pondering things like the motives of their captors and when their suffering will cease. First off, animals can't think! Not even the really lovable ones. Secondly, aren't there lots of human beings in this world more entitled to this money? Sorry, orphans and widows, there are cats out there without scratching posts. On the bright side, you do get a "free" tote bag with EXTRA LARGE animal charity logo, so everyone will know you are a gullible dumbass. I understand the outlook of many animal lovers. Many have been betrayed or otherwise hurt by people at some point, so they prefer the company of dumb beasts because animals provide unconditional love and companionship free of the risk of potential disappointments and heartache of human interaction. I empathize with these people, but being hurt is a part of life. People will always let you down and occasionally even stab you in the back. It can be hard to cope with. Hard, but not impossible. I can't help but think many people are wasting their time and effort devoting so much of both to ease suffering of animals. So many around us could use a lift. There are many wounded, lonely people in this world. There are many who go to work everyday, do all they are supposed to, only to arrive home to an empty house or apartment. There are many single parents doing their best job possible to be both parents, alone. There are elderly widows and widowers whose companion they've shared their entire life with is gone. There are many teetering on the edge of madness from bad fortunes, financial, romantic and otherwise. Some people are ashamed of their adverse circumstances, having always been responsible and successful. My point is that we have become a people who would rather judge our brothers who are suffering hardship than help him in many cases. We judge our brother to be unworthy of compassion, then spend time and resources to rescue animals. All of us know at least one person who is struggling with adversity. Why not be rescuer to them? It may not make a difference, but the chance is zero if you don't try at all. The dogs and cats won't even hold it against you, because they're dogs and cats, they cant. Idiot.
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