I know this has become old news by now but it's going to bother me until it's over. Mike Modano is a fucking Detroit Red Wing. The hockey gods are weeping!
To spend your entire career with one organization in any league of sport is an amazing accomplishment. Greats like Troy Aikman, Steve Yzerman and Lebron James (I kid obviously) have upheld this wonderful trait. Greats like Emmitt Smith and Mike Modano should have been able to.
I'm not mad at Modano. He does what he wants when he wants and we all accept it and love it because he's Mike Fucking Modano. If Mike wants to play until he's in his Gordie Howe prime then so be it. He wasn't just the face of the Stars franchise, he IS the face of American Hockey. Without him and his contributions you wouldn't hear a Texas drawl in the stands of hockey arenas.
I blame Nieuwendyk. I love Nieuwy, always have. I will also continue to carry the utmost respect for the Conn-Smythe winner during our 1999 cup run. But for now, fuck you Joe. You did this to a teammate, a leader and a friend. It shouldn't have been anyone's call but Mike's. It's not like he was breaking the bank or anything, he signed a one-year one-million dollar deal with Detroit. That's rookie money.
Case and point, everyone in Texas knows who Emmitt Smith is. Sports fan or not you just know. He's only the greatest running back of all time. Some argue but you can't argue it statistically. Same with Mo, all-time scoring leader for American born hockey players (no one will ever catch Gretzky in scoring). Both Emmitt and Mo suffered the same fate; being kicked to the curb and forced to turn in the Lone Star on their jersey for a red sweater. Emmitt became a division rival Cardinal as Mo is now a Red Wing, a team who always seems to be one step ahead of Dallas.
Mike Modano will join Brett Hull as dynasty decapitations. Brett Hull was told he didn't have it anymore and signed with the Red Wings that of season. That year Hully scored 35 goals and won another Stanley Cup. Hull retired one year after the lock-out but he did it on his terms. His ass was fat and he couldn't keep up with the new crowd but he went out on his own terms. That's what Modano deserved, his terms.
The days of Reunion Arena and Texas Stadium are dead. The only thing keeping the spirit of those places alive are our memories of these greats filling up stat sheets and being the poster-boys of what true Texas winning is all about. Oh yea and five super bowl rings and a Stanley Cup ring.
No one will ever replace the likes of Mike or Emmitt and that's okay. Those shoes are too big to fill. All I know is, "Shame on Joe."
Don't get me wrong. I'll be at American Airlines Center opening night to see the Stars take on the Red Wings. I'll cheer my ass off for the stars but honestly I hope Modano scores 20 goals against us that night. You can bet your beer money I'll stand up and cheer for everyone of them too.
Thanks for reading and GO STARS!
Grant V. Ziegler
Friday, August 27, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Past is a Blueprint of the Future
There are moments in everyone's life that can be coined as "deciding." A moment so influencial it tore apart the seams of reality and opened a new one.
Most will say that sense of smell is what people use to relate to memories but I don't believe that. There are noises, sounds and music in my head that take me back to specific points in my life and I can give you almost every little detail of that day.
Who I am today is very closely related to the noises that bounced off the sides of my head when I was a developing human being. The first time I ever listened to Depeche Mode, Garbage, Marilyn Manson and Danzig it errupted into a new beginning in my life.
Being a 5th grader barely tells a story of you are, however; it can tell you deep down who you may become. In 1995/96 I started buying my first CDs. I heard "Barrel of a Gun" by Depeche Mode which led me to waste all my paychecks on future Depeche Mode albums. I was stricken with disbelief by the sound. It may not seem all that original now but at the time, I'd never heard anything like it. I grew up listening to my mom's doo-wop 45's and to Michael Jackson (I still do these things to this day but don't tell anyone). Something about Dave Gahan's gruff voice on that track mixed with synthesizers hit me like nothing had before. I craved more. Although U2's "Pop" was technically the first CD I ever owned (Discotheque was a badass song), Depeche Mode's "Ultra" became a staple in my life as the 2nd CD I ever acquired.
I was so excited listening to CDs for the first time in my life. Everything else I owned was on cassette and my Playstation became my first CD player. I fell asleep to the abstract background screensavers of the PS while being wooed to sleep by Depeche Mode tracks like "Home," "Sister of Night," and "Lovethieves." I slept maybe two to three hours a night and never seemed like I lost sleep. May have been the Prozac I started taking in elementary school but I'm going to have faith and say it was because of Depeche Mode.
Same 5th grade year is when I got my first musical boner and it was for Shirley Manson. Songs like Stupid Girl and Only Happy When it Rains owned the airwaves at the time and deservedly so. Mainstream industrial was taking over and bands like Stabbing Westward, Gravity Kills and Filter were breaking out. Luckily, mainstream industrial was given a pretty face with Shirley Manson. To this day Garbage's self-titled debut remains in my top 5 albums of all time. Tracks like Supervixen, Queer and Milk still get stuck in my head out of the blue. They remain with me. Psychologically, Freud might say tracks like Supervixen made me into the pervert I am today. He may be right but I'm okay with that.
In October of 1996 I purchased two albums which became a pinnacle in my life. On the same day at Sound Warehouse (anyone remember that place) I purchased Marilyn Manson's "Antichrist Svperstar" and Danzig's "Blackacidevil." My mom thought I wanted to go to hell but truthfully I found heaven that day. I say this was a pinnacle in my life because sadly I have never found a better album than Antichrist Superstar. Even though Blackacidevil was the least popular of the Danzig albums and what many believe to be a downfall for Danzig it was and still is one the best things I've ever heard.
You can do anything to Antichrist Superstar, it was a theme of themes. You could kill yourself, kill Mom and Dad, or Kill God. I've warmed up for sports to it, I fuck to it, I've cut myself to it and it also showed me that I was my own wicked god to choose whatever path I want. Musically, it's loud, in your face, destructive without regret and every bit as beautiful in sinful ways. I can't say enough metaphors about this CD.
Blackacidevil was a sleazy, sexy fusion of Glenn's dark vocals and devilish lyrics. Songs like "Serpentia" and "Come to Silver" still give me chills to this day. This album led me to all the other Danzig CDs which I still rock out to. Someone asked me at a Danzig concert "what has the devil ever done for you" and I replied "he gave me really good music." I was referring to "Blackacidevil" when I said it.
Although those days are over and I've become an adult, I would still not be the adult I am today without these albums. They helped me form parts of my personality and helped me to realize not just what I am now but what I want to become.
With Danzig getting older, Manson's fame fading out, and Garbage breaking up I'm in a new transformation of my life. Since every life needs a soundtrack I've found myself in the era of Combichrist, Razorblade Dolls, Rammstein and many others that just don't stop for anyone.
If I ever go deaf, I'll kill myself. I can not live without the sounds that have kept me alive all these years.
Most will say that sense of smell is what people use to relate to memories but I don't believe that. There are noises, sounds and music in my head that take me back to specific points in my life and I can give you almost every little detail of that day.
Who I am today is very closely related to the noises that bounced off the sides of my head when I was a developing human being. The first time I ever listened to Depeche Mode, Garbage, Marilyn Manson and Danzig it errupted into a new beginning in my life.
Being a 5th grader barely tells a story of you are, however; it can tell you deep down who you may become. In 1995/96 I started buying my first CDs. I heard "Barrel of a Gun" by Depeche Mode which led me to waste all my paychecks on future Depeche Mode albums. I was stricken with disbelief by the sound. It may not seem all that original now but at the time, I'd never heard anything like it. I grew up listening to my mom's doo-wop 45's and to Michael Jackson (I still do these things to this day but don't tell anyone). Something about Dave Gahan's gruff voice on that track mixed with synthesizers hit me like nothing had before. I craved more. Although U2's "Pop" was technically the first CD I ever owned (Discotheque was a badass song), Depeche Mode's "Ultra" became a staple in my life as the 2nd CD I ever acquired.
I was so excited listening to CDs for the first time in my life. Everything else I owned was on cassette and my Playstation became my first CD player. I fell asleep to the abstract background screensavers of the PS while being wooed to sleep by Depeche Mode tracks like "Home," "Sister of Night," and "Lovethieves." I slept maybe two to three hours a night and never seemed like I lost sleep. May have been the Prozac I started taking in elementary school but I'm going to have faith and say it was because of Depeche Mode.
Same 5th grade year is when I got my first musical boner and it was for Shirley Manson. Songs like Stupid Girl and Only Happy When it Rains owned the airwaves at the time and deservedly so. Mainstream industrial was taking over and bands like Stabbing Westward, Gravity Kills and Filter were breaking out. Luckily, mainstream industrial was given a pretty face with Shirley Manson. To this day Garbage's self-titled debut remains in my top 5 albums of all time. Tracks like Supervixen, Queer and Milk still get stuck in my head out of the blue. They remain with me. Psychologically, Freud might say tracks like Supervixen made me into the pervert I am today. He may be right but I'm okay with that.
In October of 1996 I purchased two albums which became a pinnacle in my life. On the same day at Sound Warehouse (anyone remember that place) I purchased Marilyn Manson's "Antichrist Svperstar" and Danzig's "Blackacidevil." My mom thought I wanted to go to hell but truthfully I found heaven that day. I say this was a pinnacle in my life because sadly I have never found a better album than Antichrist Superstar. Even though Blackacidevil was the least popular of the Danzig albums and what many believe to be a downfall for Danzig it was and still is one the best things I've ever heard.
You can do anything to Antichrist Superstar, it was a theme of themes. You could kill yourself, kill Mom and Dad, or Kill God. I've warmed up for sports to it, I fuck to it, I've cut myself to it and it also showed me that I was my own wicked god to choose whatever path I want. Musically, it's loud, in your face, destructive without regret and every bit as beautiful in sinful ways. I can't say enough metaphors about this CD.
Blackacidevil was a sleazy, sexy fusion of Glenn's dark vocals and devilish lyrics. Songs like "Serpentia" and "Come to Silver" still give me chills to this day. This album led me to all the other Danzig CDs which I still rock out to. Someone asked me at a Danzig concert "what has the devil ever done for you" and I replied "he gave me really good music." I was referring to "Blackacidevil" when I said it.
Although those days are over and I've become an adult, I would still not be the adult I am today without these albums. They helped me form parts of my personality and helped me to realize not just what I am now but what I want to become.
With Danzig getting older, Manson's fame fading out, and Garbage breaking up I'm in a new transformation of my life. Since every life needs a soundtrack I've found myself in the era of Combichrist, Razorblade Dolls, Rammstein and many others that just don't stop for anyone.
If I ever go deaf, I'll kill myself. I can not live without the sounds that have kept me alive all these years.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Industrial Lullabies
From the makers of Rockabye Metallica, Coldplay and Emo comes sleep inducing tracks like you've never heard them. Introducing Rockabye Industrial! 40 of your favorite industrial acts are included on this two-disc set.
Having trouble making that little rivetheading, mosh-pit stomping monster get to bed? Try lulling them down with classics such as "This Nap Will Fuck You Up" by Combichrist or "Pampermensch" by And One.
Too underground or neu-industrial for you? Well let's go old school with "This is what Daddy Does" by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. And what collection would be complete without "Jesus Built My baby-crib" by Ministry?
That's not all though, we know there is a fine line between industrial and goth industrial so we've included a third bonus disc for those gothic baby anthems called "Cry Myself to Sleep."
This amazing and free disc comes equipped with songs like "Clown Car" by Switchblade Symphony and "Marilyn, where's my blanky" by the Cruxshadows.
This three-disc set is only $29.99 but if you call now we'll cut ten dollars off the price and add a binky with the words "EBM: Electronic Baby Music" inscribed on it. Put down your razors, stop snorting coke and call now. Operators are standing by and if they're not, just hold. It's not like you're busy at 4AM!
Rockabye Industrial: Put some goth in your baby's loincloth!
Having trouble making that little rivetheading, mosh-pit stomping monster get to bed? Try lulling them down with classics such as "This Nap Will Fuck You Up" by Combichrist or "Pampermensch" by And One.
Too underground or neu-industrial for you? Well let's go old school with "This is what Daddy Does" by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. And what collection would be complete without "Jesus Built My baby-crib" by Ministry?
That's not all though, we know there is a fine line between industrial and goth industrial so we've included a third bonus disc for those gothic baby anthems called "Cry Myself to Sleep."
This amazing and free disc comes equipped with songs like "Clown Car" by Switchblade Symphony and "Marilyn, where's my blanky" by the Cruxshadows.
This three-disc set is only $29.99 but if you call now we'll cut ten dollars off the price and add a binky with the words "EBM: Electronic Baby Music" inscribed on it. Put down your razors, stop snorting coke and call now. Operators are standing by and if they're not, just hold. It's not like you're busy at 4AM!
Rockabye Industrial: Put some goth in your baby's loincloth!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Nice Vampires Suck, Naughty Vampires Swallow
Another spoof and another 80 minutes of wasted time. Vampires Suck had such potential to do significant damage to the image of Twilight but sadly it proved there are actually worse movies than Twilight out there.
Like most bad movies, all the good parts were in the trailer. Save yourself some money by just getting a few good giggles out of the trailer and calling it a day. There were no laugh-out-loud moments or any parts of the movie I'd tell a buddy "you just have to see."
I really do enjoy spoofs usually. Scary Movie 1 and 2, Hot Shots, Dracula: Dead and Loving It were classics in this department. Sadly, I see the quality of spoofs declining rapidly. Films like Epic Movie and Superhero movie had so many opportunities to stick it to the original films and decided to resort to fart jokes and humorless punchlines.
I am happy they portrayed Edward as a whiny bitch and Becca (instead of Bella) as an annoying emo recluse. The movie is only rated PG-13 and I know it is to cater to all age groups that would generally like Twilight. Unfortunately, that limitation in content probably reduced the chances of this being decent by 60 percent. A dirty, raunchy vampire spoof with lots of blood, guts and tits has potential for great hilarity.
It looks like this Twilight fad just won't be stopped. So sparkle on Mr. Pattinson. Your penis probably looks like Elton John's sunglasses in the sunlight. Good luck with that.
Like most bad movies, all the good parts were in the trailer. Save yourself some money by just getting a few good giggles out of the trailer and calling it a day. There were no laugh-out-loud moments or any parts of the movie I'd tell a buddy "you just have to see."
I really do enjoy spoofs usually. Scary Movie 1 and 2, Hot Shots, Dracula: Dead and Loving It were classics in this department. Sadly, I see the quality of spoofs declining rapidly. Films like Epic Movie and Superhero movie had so many opportunities to stick it to the original films and decided to resort to fart jokes and humorless punchlines.
I am happy they portrayed Edward as a whiny bitch and Becca (instead of Bella) as an annoying emo recluse. The movie is only rated PG-13 and I know it is to cater to all age groups that would generally like Twilight. Unfortunately, that limitation in content probably reduced the chances of this being decent by 60 percent. A dirty, raunchy vampire spoof with lots of blood, guts and tits has potential for great hilarity.
It looks like this Twilight fad just won't be stopped. So sparkle on Mr. Pattinson. Your penis probably looks like Elton John's sunglasses in the sunlight. Good luck with that.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Industrial Strength Balls
Industrial is the music style/genre I most often relate to and enjoy. It's a glorious fusion of hard synthesizer beats, electronic drums and guitars. It has the capability of inducing a stomp-fest that brings a building straight to the ground or it can lure you into sexual escapades with its howlingly beautiful rhythms. Without industrial music synthpop artists that have taken over our airwaves would not exist. That's right Lady Gaga, without all electronic keyboard and synthesizer music you wouldn't be anything more than a drag-queen with down syndrome.
However, I'm finding this music breed to be losing its moxy. Front runners like Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails have fallen to the wayside and although that leaves room for someone to take the spotlight I haven't seen anyone stepping up to the plate.
Marilyn Manson is getting fat on his all Haribo Gummy Bear and Mansinthe diet. His lyrics don't rhyme anymore and his ass hasn't been seen on stage in almost four tours. Trent Reznor went political, shaved his head and apparently forgot how to play music in between it all. Someone needs to get Trent some more drugs and another bad relationship to write about so we can hear a decent album from him again.
Oh, I remember the days of industrial mainstream. Teenage angst was fueled by lyrics such "I wanna fuck you like an animal" by NIN and "I'm Guilty and you're Guilty too" by Gravity Kills. Senators everywhere wanted to shut down and protest albums like Downward Spiral and Antichrist Superstar. That's how I knew industrial meant something. Kids were killing themselves to these albums and honestly, that's something to be proud of.
Industrial still has hope. With this electronic music generation we live in, some synthed out band is destined to make its way to the top. I'm pointing my finger at Combichrist. They're loud, forceful, creative and their tours disappoint no one. Without Combichrist, industrial music barely has a voice. With block rockin beats such as "This Shit Will Fuck You Up" and "Get Your Body Beat," Combichrist has empowered a movement in the industrial culture that has taken over smaller stages and dance clubs everywhere. Someone, somewhere will notice one day.
Locally, I'm blessed in the industrial scene. If the world had what I have now they'd still be paying their whiplash bills after rocking their industrial cocks out. A portion of my paychecks tend to go towards the Razorblade Dolls, Red Pyramid, Rivethead, Bit_Rot, and Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs. I couldn't be happier to throw money at these acts. If it keeps them making music I'm for it.
I don't know if these bands will be the next wave of what's on your radio, but for music's sake and especially industrial's sake; I sure hope so.
Thrill Kill Kult is still making music, so are Skinny Puppy, Rammstein, Das Ich and :Wumpscut:. All these bands have different ways of making industrial music sound good and I hope they become an inspiration to others as much as they have been to me. That way someone who has more musical talent than I, can come along and break this barrier from underground to global domination.
Thank you for reading,
Grant V. Ziegler
However, I'm finding this music breed to be losing its moxy. Front runners like Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails have fallen to the wayside and although that leaves room for someone to take the spotlight I haven't seen anyone stepping up to the plate.
Marilyn Manson is getting fat on his all Haribo Gummy Bear and Mansinthe diet. His lyrics don't rhyme anymore and his ass hasn't been seen on stage in almost four tours. Trent Reznor went political, shaved his head and apparently forgot how to play music in between it all. Someone needs to get Trent some more drugs and another bad relationship to write about so we can hear a decent album from him again.
Oh, I remember the days of industrial mainstream. Teenage angst was fueled by lyrics such "I wanna fuck you like an animal" by NIN and "I'm Guilty and you're Guilty too" by Gravity Kills. Senators everywhere wanted to shut down and protest albums like Downward Spiral and Antichrist Superstar. That's how I knew industrial meant something. Kids were killing themselves to these albums and honestly, that's something to be proud of.
Industrial still has hope. With this electronic music generation we live in, some synthed out band is destined to make its way to the top. I'm pointing my finger at Combichrist. They're loud, forceful, creative and their tours disappoint no one. Without Combichrist, industrial music barely has a voice. With block rockin beats such as "This Shit Will Fuck You Up" and "Get Your Body Beat," Combichrist has empowered a movement in the industrial culture that has taken over smaller stages and dance clubs everywhere. Someone, somewhere will notice one day.
Locally, I'm blessed in the industrial scene. If the world had what I have now they'd still be paying their whiplash bills after rocking their industrial cocks out. A portion of my paychecks tend to go towards the Razorblade Dolls, Red Pyramid, Rivethead, Bit_Rot, and Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs. I couldn't be happier to throw money at these acts. If it keeps them making music I'm for it.
I don't know if these bands will be the next wave of what's on your radio, but for music's sake and especially industrial's sake; I sure hope so.
Thrill Kill Kult is still making music, so are Skinny Puppy, Rammstein, Das Ich and :Wumpscut:. All these bands have different ways of making industrial music sound good and I hope they become an inspiration to others as much as they have been to me. That way someone who has more musical talent than I, can come along and break this barrier from underground to global domination.
Thank you for reading,
Grant V. Ziegler
Sunday, August 15, 2010
More Drugs in Sports
This is my first blog on this site so be gentle with me... for now.
Almost every month we have to hear about another steroid scandal in baseball. I'm sick of it. Not just because the player is cheating but because not enough players do it. As an avid sports fan, baseball has become boring to watch. So if you ask me, baseball could stand to do a few more drugs.
Who is really losing if athletes do more steroids? There are more home runs which we all know are what fans want to see. The score is high, the fans have more to cheer about so who is really jilted here; the record books?
You can easily tell who is doing steroids and who isn't anyway. Barry Bonds went from a scrawny, little outfielder to a trim and muscular DH in about a season. It was obvious. I like seeing the affects of steroids on players. They're goofy looking with their big heads and I know their balls are smaller than mine now. That's a plus for me. There are a bunch of big-headed, small balled guys playing a great game in which the score is 19 to 17. I call that a win.
Baseball isn't alone. Soccer could use some drugs too. Not for the players though, for the fans. Ninety minutes of nothingness going back and forth. It's dull, repetitive and has more actors than an Oscar Award Ceremony. Give angry fans more drugs and have them set more things on fire. Soccer fans do not set things on fire because they're angry, they do it because they're bored. They just had to sit through 90 minutes of dull and unentertaining sport in which the game was maybe 2-1 or 1-0. I appreciate a defensive game but that's ridiculous.
Also, I am a Dallas Cowboys fan and I remember being spoiled on their winning days back in the early 1990s. Many of the top players were doing highly illegal substances. When Michael Irvin wasn't crossing the goal-line he was snorting it. Might I add, snorting it while wearing his three super bowl rings.
I am not a drug user nor do I condone them in most cases, however; certain sports need a pep. Most sports have different record books for different eras. American football has record books for pre-Super Bowl eras and current Super Bowl eras. Why not just make baseball have records for clean baseball and drug induced baseball. No one loses.
Next time I go to a Texas Ranger game I hope to hear the announcer yell "going, going, GONE," 13 or 14 times. I can catch a souvenier and laugh at the funny headed guy jogging the bases for the third time this game.
Thanks for reading,
Grant V. Ziegler
Almost every month we have to hear about another steroid scandal in baseball. I'm sick of it. Not just because the player is cheating but because not enough players do it. As an avid sports fan, baseball has become boring to watch. So if you ask me, baseball could stand to do a few more drugs.
Who is really losing if athletes do more steroids? There are more home runs which we all know are what fans want to see. The score is high, the fans have more to cheer about so who is really jilted here; the record books?
You can easily tell who is doing steroids and who isn't anyway. Barry Bonds went from a scrawny, little outfielder to a trim and muscular DH in about a season. It was obvious. I like seeing the affects of steroids on players. They're goofy looking with their big heads and I know their balls are smaller than mine now. That's a plus for me. There are a bunch of big-headed, small balled guys playing a great game in which the score is 19 to 17. I call that a win.
Baseball isn't alone. Soccer could use some drugs too. Not for the players though, for the fans. Ninety minutes of nothingness going back and forth. It's dull, repetitive and has more actors than an Oscar Award Ceremony. Give angry fans more drugs and have them set more things on fire. Soccer fans do not set things on fire because they're angry, they do it because they're bored. They just had to sit through 90 minutes of dull and unentertaining sport in which the game was maybe 2-1 or 1-0. I appreciate a defensive game but that's ridiculous.
Also, I am a Dallas Cowboys fan and I remember being spoiled on their winning days back in the early 1990s. Many of the top players were doing highly illegal substances. When Michael Irvin wasn't crossing the goal-line he was snorting it. Might I add, snorting it while wearing his three super bowl rings.
I am not a drug user nor do I condone them in most cases, however; certain sports need a pep. Most sports have different record books for different eras. American football has record books for pre-Super Bowl eras and current Super Bowl eras. Why not just make baseball have records for clean baseball and drug induced baseball. No one loses.
Next time I go to a Texas Ranger game I hope to hear the announcer yell "going, going, GONE," 13 or 14 times. I can catch a souvenier and laugh at the funny headed guy jogging the bases for the third time this game.
Thanks for reading,
Grant V. Ziegler
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