St. Micheal vs Frodo Baggins?

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
- Groucho Marx

I just realized that I can put anything I want in here, and based on my peers efforts, the bar has been set way lower than I anticipated. I don't write that often, and it's typically because I'm daunted at "putting together" something at least halfway interesting or informative for you, and not committing the all too common crime of adding to the dreck of society, rather than feeding it nutrients, metaphorically speaking. The .01% percent of me that thinks the rapture actually might come in 6 more days is fairly pleased with my efforts thus far, and thinks I may have bought myself a cheap ticket to happy-land eternity-ville.

Classic agnostic thinking, always leave that back door open....just in case. I don't know, I did just watch a documentary on the relationship between God and the Devil the other day. As per the usual, I didn't walk away changed or convinced. I'm actually stunned at how often I was comparing the story to the Lord of the Rings. The ever present threat of a dark force, gaining power and living subtly amongst us until it's time for the great coming, or dawn of a new time. I'd like to think of myself as one of the elves, but I get the feeling they don't have as liberal of a showering policy as myself. Orlando Bloom looks like he smells fantastic in that movie, just saying.

I spend far too much time looking for the answers. Recently I discovered I've been eating tofu for 15 years and never stopped to think about where that white blob comes from. I literally thought you plucked it out of a rice patty or something, looking the way it already does. I also never remember peoples birthdays, my family included. I have a giant list on my desktop of peoples birthdays, and I typically open it for reviewing 3 days after I missed another one. This is a microcosm of a big problem for me. So intent on finding out these answers before the end, that I can ignore the present. I bet Derek Jeter doesn't live like this.

Lots of music stuff happening. Went down to the studio to visit Ian and Brian working on the Crowes record, it's sounding super smooth, people are gonna be stoked. Spiro Agnew is still having "situation room" meetings every Sunday, new material is written and a resurrection is looming. Also started a "melodic hardcore" type project (nameless) with Cory from Let Me Run, Mike and Dan from Gates, and Derek from Jaguar Shark. We'll be laying down a few songs before Gaslight leaves for the Europe tour. It's been heaps of fun playing music like that.

True!

I'm so confused...

Ironically, I was at one of the most standard of American places, a diner, when I heard that US military operations succeeded in killing Osama Bin Laden. I have mixed feelings on how you celebrate a persons death. I don't feel relieved, I don't feel pleased, and I don't feel sad. For some reason my heart is racing and I feel anxious.

I received a text from a friend who serves in the military, when I asked him how he felt about it, I got a text back that said "I have never before rejoiced in someones death, and I hope I never have to again." That's some pretty heavy stuff to ponder over waffle fries and rye toast. But like I said, I don't know how to feel, and I'm having a difficult time garnering a sense of patriotism through this.

Trust me, Bin Laden was a terrifying and ice cold person in my eyes. Along with many people whose soul dedication on earth is positioning themselves for what is coming in their next life. Therefore negating any interest in a healthy, peaceful and natural life for anyone not consistent with their beliefs.

Sadly, the main purpose for his life was the protection of Islam under the belief that it was being attacked by the "West" in a crusade-like manner. And the concept that killing Americans and people with pro-western views was not only positive by their religious views, but necessary to be a faithful servant to God. It's an incredibly dangerous concept, one that has robbed thousands of innocents their lives over the last half century of conflict. I think it's most likely a load of crap, and a disgusting injustice that each one of those people have been robbed of their singular hopes and dreams due to such dreck.

My problem is, as a believer in human psychology and what you can do to a human brain if you start manipulating it early enough, is that in some way, like with everything really, these terrorists were once normal little kids with an empty palette for a brain that was colored in with bullshit. Because of this, my thoughts get grayer. I don't agree with it, but I can understand how a person succumbs to such a perception. In reality, if you're smart, you can essentially steal a persons free will by getting to them young enough. The same reason that I was raised with tolerance, education and non-violence as my mantras. And wow, big surprise, it's what I still believe in as an adult today.

I guess it goes beyond in the belief of a concept, and more in my diminishing belief in human beings ability to unite worldwide in some idea of collective harmony. (An idea, as a kid, I was certain was the only way) So when I hear about his death, I'm not relieved, I feel like we just took one step closer to the wrong thing for some reason. I can only hope it's a catalyst for something positive. Revenge just isn't doing it for me.