KYEO

Reading my last post made me think that I should address the title of my blog. KYEO is a song by a band called Fugazi. They made independent music a respectable thing. They were conscious of the world they played in and reacted to it.

KYEO of course stands for Keep Your Eyes Open. It has a line that I love it says "Don't you know that things have settled down. But silence is a dangerous sound. We must keep our eyes open." I think it speaks to an inherent lack of trust that I believe we should have for the "powers that be." When one steps back and takes a look, I believe we'll eventually find that it is not in the powers' interest to give us what we need. We need to be looking for the ways that we're being cheated, but told that we're living what Jesus called "life abundant."

As for my last post, the radio/music industry (which by the way, when you see the word industry, warning lights should go off immediately) is one of those things that really sticks out to me. Growing up really into punk will do that to people. Music helps feed you, and when you see people butchering it and running the show they don't actually understand, you take offense to it. Being a musician is different than running Capitol Records. Ian Mackaye of Fugazi once said "Fugazi is about being a band... About playing music. The music industry is about making money." They are two VERY different things. In America we look at things through  a "how can this benefit me?" lense. "Benefit" usually means "making money." When that is your lense, you've already cheated yourself and anyone that accompanies you on your journey.

Jesus said "woe to you when all men speak highly of you, for that is how they treated the FALSE prophets." Keep your eyes open.

Radio.

I'm a huge fan of this song by Dead Prez called "Radio Freq." The chorus says "Turn off the radio. Turn off that bullshit."

The 2nd verse is wonderful:

"What's on the radio? propaganda, mind control

and turnin it on is like puttin on a blind-fold

cuz when you're bringin it real you don't get rotation 

unless you take over the station

and yeah i know it's part of THEIR plans

to make us think it's all about party and dance

and yeah it might sound when they're spittin their raps

but in reality, don't nobody live like that...

...platinum don't mean that it gotta be hot

i aint gotta love it, even if they play it a lot

you can hear when you walk the streets

how many people they reach

how they use music to teach

a radio program aint a figure of speech..."

It's wonderful.

The other night I was on my way to Manayunk to play poker (which, by the way, I won) and had the radio on in the car. The song that came on had a title that I forget specifically, but was literally something along the lines of "I'm gonna smash out your windows." The song is a first-person account of a girl whose boyfriend cheated on her, so she got him back by smashing the windows out of his car. The whole time it goes on and on about getting him back. How bad he made her feel and how she's going to "make it hurt" for him is the focal point of the whole song. It speaks in full support of violent revenge (whether physically, verbally, or emtotionally).

Growing up I got a lot of flack for punk bands sounding the same. I understand this. What was frustrating was that the people that condemned me for this were avid supporters of radio music. Go put on your radio, tune it to a top-40 station and tell me how many songs actually sound unique. Today the whole thing is this weird echo sound that's in almost every song. Seriously. Let Daft Punk do their thing, but let it be their thing.

But that's beside the point. The point is that people are hearing songs with lousy messages as soon as they turn on the radio. Put yourself first. Satisfy every urge as quickly as possible. Having money and sex is all that's important. Only criticize your "leaders" when it's trendy and will make you money (see Eminem and Green Day). Nonsense from start to finish.

I understand the idea of it "sounding good" and stuff. But that's pure preference. And another issue. Whether people actually prefer what they're told to prefer is completely debatable.

This could go on and on. Maybe someday I'll write a book. The point is, think about what music is saying. And as is the case with just about everything, when it sounds really great, one should be immediately skeptical as to why. Be critical of what people are trying to sell you. And if it's nonsense, reject it. Don't buy it. Don't pay to see it. For every "artist" you hear on the radio, there are at least 10 (and I'm being painfully ignorant putting it as low as 10, it's probably closer to 1,000) artists you've never heard of that are doing a better and more authentic job at it.

Turn off the radio. Turn off that bullshit.

Job!

So yesterday I was excited enough just to go and pick up my brand new custom messenger bag made by ReLoad right here in Philly. It's larger than my old bag and built for the riding usage that I'll give it everyday. It's a beautiful thing.

On my way home, wearing my new bag for the first time, I got a call from Child Services Inc. in Center City and they offered me the case worker position I applied and interviewed for several weeks ago. It's wild. I'll have a real job.

In the interview they asked why I would want to be involved with youth and their organization. I wrote that I believe the most effective way to empower someone is to communicate to them that they are valuable and to form meaningful and supportive relationships. I told them that I would not miss opportunities to do so.

So here I am. I'm really nervous to deal with the paperwork that comes with it. People don't speak highly of the position, often saying "wow, that'll be intense. Think you can handle it?" Well. The answer is I don't know. But if someone goes in really fired up and proud, they're more likely to hit a huge wall and crash. I know it'll be hard and challenging. But far too often I've seen people pass on good things because they're afraid. The opportunity to empower disinherited youth is far too great an opportunity to pass on.

Change isn't something you believe in (sorry Barack). It's something you live. I feel this will be a wonderful opportunity to live change.

Onion Article.

Here's a funny article form The Onion. For those not familiar with it, The Onion is a satirical newspaper. And it's very funny.

Umm...?

Please read/watch this segment with Bill O'Reilly. It's about Sarah Palin and such. It's at least entertaining, if not totally creepy.

Good frames won't save bad paintings.

A long overdue tribute to the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

And it happened. As my newly purchased t-shirt says, "Phinally."

After that disastrous night on Monday, October 27th, I had two whole days to sweat out whether or not the Phillies would win the World Series at home, or blow it and find a way to lose the series in Tampa. With the history of Philadelphia sports, it certainly felt like the whole thing was slipping away. It made me sick to think about it.

Then Wednesday finally came and game 5 resumed. The Phils quickly went up 3-2 but managed to give it back, and the knots returned with a vengeance. They re-took the lead and were hanging onto a 4-3 lead going into the 9th inning. Brad Lidge shut 'em down, and when the final strikeout was complete, the city of Philadelphia erupted. The weight of the world was off our shoulders and the wait was Phinally over.

As with the NLCS, I jumped on my bike and headed for the celebration in Center City. I saw friends along the way. When I stopped and hugged Jonny Rashid (my roommate) he said "this is justice!" as calmly as possible about 3 or 4 times in my ear. I almost teared up. I ended up in Center City and it was mobbed with people. It was not pleasant in the least (except for the guy doing pull-ups from the light post 15 feet above Broad Street) until I met up with the one and only John Kopp. He, Drew, and I shared an excellent embrace that I've been dying to have for some time. We just sort of smiled, hugged, and enjoyed the moment. It was wonderful. 

(I'm not too internet-savvy, so here's the link instead of the posted pics...)

For me, that's what it's about. Watching and cheering with my friends. Back in college we all had different favorite teams in different favorite sports. But the Phillies were the team we all followed and love. We watched each others teams together and rooted together. When the Phillies won, it was a top-notch moment for all of us. John Kopp was/is the top Phillies fan, and everyone's favorite, so that added to the equation.

Then there was the parade on Friday. I work right on south Broad Street, so it passed right by. I ended up, with several friends, on the roof of the building, waving at all the players and of course the Phillie Phanatic. It was wonderful. Then there was Chase Utley's speech at the stadium. Only in Philly. I love it.

Greetings from Philadelphia, home of the World Series Champion Phillies.

Nothing changes or gets better until we begin to remove the planks from our own eyes. Nothing changes until we learn to love our neighbor as ourselves. Nothing changes until we give God His due before and after giving Caesar his. Nothing changes until we submit to Jesus and He changes us.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.