What a Jive Turkey

Another post to file in cool things seen while working category... the other day I watched as this giant bird landed on the top of this woman's house.  I wasn't able to get the best pictures possible, as anyone with a keen eye for photography can tell... nature doesn't always cooperate.

I'm not sure if turkey vultures are bad omens or not.  I enjoyed watching it settle on the roof and chill out for a bit before taking off.  Apparently, turkey vultures are one of 7 species in the family Cathartidai, which includes the King Vulture of Brazil, and the Californian Condor.  

Up close, it looks like this: 

This is certainly the coolest thing I've seen at work yet.  Nature is pretty awesome.  I need a better camera.  

Ska in Gainsville

Less Than Jake

Hello Rockview

1998: Capitol Records

produced by Howard Benson

Chris Demakes - Guitar, Vocals

Roger Manganelli - Bass, Vocals

Vinnie Fiorello - Drums

Buddy Schaub - Trombone

Pete Anna - Trombone

Derron Nuhfer - Barri Sax

singles- 

• All my Friends are Metalheads/Help Save the Youth of America from Exploding/Rock and Roll Pizzeria
• History of a Boring Town

This album came with a booklet that had each song illustrated like a Dick Tracy comic book. Pretty awesome. It is one of my favorite ska fueled punk albums, second only to NoFX's So Long and Thanks for all the Shoes. Punk with a horn section was the new thing in the mid to late 90s, and as soon as it exploded, it disappeared. This album will hold a special place for me, as it reminds me of those angsty high school and anxiety filled college years. Last One out of Liberty City starts the album out with a bang, a great way to begin an album full of face paced, melodic punk, punctuated by trombone harmonies. This is actually the only thing from Florida that is worth my time.

Butterfly Effect

Another installment of Cool Things I See at Work:  

This is a butterfly of the Nymphalidai family, genus Speyeria, a species of Fritillary butterfly.   As far as I can tell, by looking at other pictures and reading descriptions, this particular butterfly is the Aphrodite Fritillary.  

Once again, this is pretty cool, as according to Butterflies of Massachusetts dot com, this particular species of Fritillary has become pretty uncommon in the New England area, supplanted by the Great Spangled Fritillary.  Although, because I'm not very good at this, what I found could very well be a Great Spangled Fritillary.  

It's About Dichotomy!

Volbeat

Beyond Heaven/Above Hell

2010: Rebel Monster

produced by Jacob Hansen

Michael Poulsen- guitar, vocals

Thomas Bredahl- lead guitar

Jon Larsen- drums

Anders Kjolholm- bass

singles-

• Fallen/A Warrior's Call/Rebel Angel
• Heaven nor Hell/Carolina Leaving
• Still Counting
• The Mirror and the Ripper
• A Warrior's Call

The album can be classified, I suppose, as a concept album, but everything this band releases is one giant concept, and this album is just one link in the chain of the concept that spans several albums.  I've never heard of any other band doing this sort of thing, either, which makes it pretty interesting.

The concept appeals to me in a big way, as I'm a huge dork when it comes to demonology, Faust myth, and Judeo/Christian superstition.  This particular story line is, essentially a deal with the devil with a twist.  The cover art kind of gives away the themes of good and evil, redemption, circular story telling...

The music shows moments of brilliance, as with the use of a harmonica solo in their big single Heaven nor Hell.  The sound blends and changes between Metallica-esque thrash, a little Motorhead inspired garage rock, some blues, rockabilly, and of course Danish death metal (they are from Copenhagen, after all).  

Surprise! Living a Lie Sucks

So, this is happening today.  The organization Exodus International has closed, and the president of this "Christian" ministry, Alan Chambers, is doing interviews apologizing for his very damaging and unchristian-like ministry which has hurt many people.

Exodus International focused on healing homosexuals, turning them straight through reparative therapy and prayer.  Chambers has gone on record, most famously with Oprah, to denounce this idea of homosexuality as a choice and lifestyle that can be treated through psychological therapy.  Basically, he has realized that brainwashing does more harm than good.  The Huffington Post has an article in more detail.

I'm not sure, but I hope someone else somewhere has drawn parallels between this anti-gay movement and the Inquisition's use of torture to illicit and secure oaths of undying devotion to the Faith.  Frankly, this Evangelical war on homosexuality is disgusting, and I'm glad to see a leader and true believer of this madness flip his position...  how very Saint Paul of him, what a revelation this must have been.