Is everyone gonna go GREEN for the Green Issue?

Welcome to the Green Issue

Every year when April rolls around all the print magazines out there put out what they call the “Green Issue”. So like all of them we too have decided to put out a green issue of our own. Being good to the earth is something we all are cool with.

Recycling should be a normal part of your regular routine. Think about it, when you throw a party and after everyone has emptied the contents of all the bottles and cans of their favoriteparty liquid of choice, recycling all of the empties for the cash they represent just helps to offset the cost in a small way of the next party. This reminds us of a funny night out when a bunch of the staffers were at a house party where the drinking got pretty heavy and the chaos ensued. In the midst of this was one of the party goers that had green on his mind. It was like watching a transient that crashed the party, this guy was trolling the party collecting all the bottles and cans on the DL and loading up a trash bag in the kitchen. After watching this guy in action for a while, one of our staffers started to figure out that this guy was not necessarily collecting all the bottles and cans to be green, he was doing it for the green. Over the course of the night he had a couple of trash bags filled up and had them staged by the back door so he could get them out in hopes that no one would really figure out what he was doing. While he was out on the hunt for more empties we took his loot and hid it. Needless to say when he came back and saw his loot was gone he started to trip out, wondering if he had moved the bags and forgot where he put them -After all he was continuously drinking the warm swill at the bottom of many of the empties.

About five minutes had passed and he was now pretty agitated that he thought someone moved in on his score. Since our crew was partying’ where the living room met the kitchen we were the first people he asked, “Hey did you guys see someone take out the trash, they did a shitty job and made a mess”. We then said back to him, “Yea, we knew the guy was doing something wrong when he took these two big bags and put them in broom closet”. He then rushed over to the closet to see the bags he worked so hard to collect were in there. The laughing from our corner was pretty loud and he knew we had everything to do with the relocated loot. In the end things were cool, and all was forgiven once we replaced his warm swill with a fresh cold one. Through the laughing he said that he was just trying to be a responsible world citizen and recycling. In the end, we figured that the unauthorized recycler ended up doing the party’s host a favor by cleaning up a good chunk of what would have been left for him one he woke up in the morning.

Anyhow, getting back to celebrating this “Green Issue” of the magazine. The more we got to thinking about this whole green thing we came to these conclusions. Why is it that the easiest way try to gain nobility in this society is to proclaim, “I’ve gone green!” Why is it that the Green Issues of print magazines are bigger than the normal issues? If you “truly” wanted to have a green issue, wouldn’t that mean that you would have NO issue that month? With that said, we challenge every one to not buy or pick up any print magazine in the month of April and truly celebrate the Green issue. If a magazine wants to really “go green” and have a Green Issue, then they should put their entire issue online so that there are no natural resources used and our landfills can take a breather. Like the guy who was collecting bottles and cans at a party to put some money in his pockets and not really knowing he was being green, on the opposite side you have magazines that put out a big fat Green Issue because to them it is all about the “green” ad dollars it represents to them and to hell with the earth.

Let’s see how many magazines step up and NOT put out an issue in April to prove they have gone green -Don’t hold your breath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

Phentermine For Sale

Phentermine For Sale, This past weekend on October 1, 2010 Mark Sheehan of the Hardcore Punk band Out Cold passed away. Where can i buy Phentermine online, The following morning word got out amongst his friends and members of the New England Punk scene. Since Mark was fairly reserved when it came to the public eye, reasons to buy Phentermine online, Phentermine coupon, it was only his music and on stage persona that most people came to know.He made it a point to rarely talk between songs when the band was playing and most interviews with Out Cold were done with drummer, John Evicci, acheter en ligne Phentermine, acheter Phentermine bon marché. Buy Phentermine online no prescription, I considered myself lucky to get to know him personally.



Though I had seen Out Cold quite a few times growing up in Massachusetts, I actually met on the campus of UMASS Lowell where I was a student and he was a janitor, Jacksonville, Florida, Columbus, Ohio. Austin, Texas, Memphis, Tennessee, He struck a conversation with me about my Negative Approach t shirt and after that whenever we ran into each other we would talk about music and life in general. I was able to book a show with Out Cold and since this is an article about Mark I am comfortable in saying that Out Cold blew away the other bands that played that night off stage and also it was Mark's humility that stuck out to me over the egos of some other unnamed parties that were involved in the show, Phentermine For Sale. Since it seems to me that Mark would rather be remembered for his music than anything else the last thing that I will say about him personally is that his angry and misanthropic persona as a musician often contrasted his friendly and warm manner off stage.



Early in Mark's musical career he met G.G, Phentermine for sale. Order Phentermine online c.o.d, Allin who, from what I understand took Sheehan under his wing, Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee. Portland, Oregon. Baltimore, Maryland. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, He eventually joined G.G.'s band on bass and later also pitching in on guitar. He appeared on several of G.G, Phentermine over the counter. Phentermine For Sale, Allin's recordings, perhaps most notably the "Suicide Sessions" album and the "Watch Me Kill" E.P.. Canada, mexico, india, Mark always spoke highly of G.G. and was involved in various tributes after G.G, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Las Vegas, Nevada. Chicago, Illinois. Houston, Texas, died.



Of course the most well known work that Mark Sheehan did was with Out Cold, who he started with John Evicci in 1989, order Phentermine no prescription. Detroit, Michigan, San Jose, California, Mark played bass on the earliest Out Cold recordings, but the band really came into their own when he took over vocal duties, Phentermine price. Of the band's six full lengths their best known album was probably "Two Broken Hearts Are Better Than One" which featured the crowd favorite "Crawlspace." However every one of their records could be considered classic, Phentermine For Sale. Buy cheap Phentermine no rx, Out Cold were in fact known for their consistency, playing intense and angry Hardcore right up until their final album, buy no prescription Phentermine online, Order Phentermine from mexican pharmacy, "Goodbye Cruel World," which is a personal favorite of mine, Phentermine snort, alcohol iteraction. 5mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, The band existed as an anomaly, defying the standards of other bands who almost always sucked by the time they made it to making a second record if they even lasted that long.



Aside from Out Cold, 125mg, 150mg, 200mg, 250mg, Comprar en línea Phentermine, comprar Phentermine baratos, Mark also collaborated with C.J. Ramone in his band, buy Phentermine without a prescription, Buy Phentermine without prescription, Bad Chopper. This was a great source of pride for him as the Ramones were his all time favorite band, purchase Phentermine online. Buy Phentermine from canada, One of Sheehan's coolest musical projects though was 13 Ghosts, the Horror Surf band, San Diego, California. Dallas, Texas. San Antonio, Texas. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Phoenix, Arizona, They made several records, but by far their most well known was the brilliant "13 Crimson Ghosts" record  where they recorded instrumental Surf covers of classic Misfits tunes, buy Phentermine from mexico. Farmacia Phentermine baratos, Phentermine online kaufen, One of Mark's lesser known projects was Alien Blood Transfusion which was an Out Cold side project with John Evicci and Kevin Stevenson of the Shods.



Overall Mark left behind an astounding body of work and contributed to the legacy of the New England Punk scene in ways that could never be overstated. His loss as a musician and a human being is one that is overwhelming and deeply saddening.



Mark's Official Memorial Website is HERE



Out Cold band spotlight - HERE











-Ditch-

Managing Editor

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

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Buy Lotrel No Prescription

Buy Lotrel no prescription, A few years ago I was sitting in my parents' kitchen, listening to Bad Brains on an otherwise quiet Easter Sunday. My mom came into the room and said "This guy has a very unique voice, doesn't he, buy generic Lotrel. He reminds me of a cross between Joey Ramone and that one singer I like. Order Lotrel online overnight delivery no prescription, What's his name. That Emo guy. , buy Lotrel no prescription. ." (For the sake of moving on we will not analyze the musical comparison itself.)



Now my mother is in her sixties and at this point there are only a few musicians that she talks about, 5mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, so I picked up on what she was trying to put down pretty quickly. 650mg, 800mg, 875mg, 900mg, "Are you talking about Morrisey, Mom?"



My mother smiled. "Ah yes that's it."



It should be pointed out at this point that at the time my mother was still teaching high school English, 1000mg, 2000mg, thus explaining her exposure to quasi hip slang. Boston, Massachusetts. Charlotte, Carolina, "Well I don't know that I would really call Morrisey Emo. Buy Lotrel no prescription, His whole deal kind of predates that Emo thing, which sort of started out in the Hardcore scene."



My mother looked at me with complete confidence and said. "No it didn't. We've been using the word 'Emo' since the 60's, Lotrel for sale. I had a friend in high school who we nicknamed 'Emo' because he was always crying and getting hung up on girls."



And so there you have it. Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee. Portland, Oregon, Despite any popular myths we now know that my mother and her friends coined the term "Emo" in the 1960's. Anyone who wants to dispute this fact will have to be ready to fight the proud son of the best mom in the world.



Over the years "Emo" has become a word that has been adopted by the mainstream and has increasingly ambiguous meanings, buy Lotrel no prescription. Since I first heard the word used somewhere around 1995 or 1996 I have yet to encounter a person who would call themselves Emo or heard of any band labeling their own music as Emo. Generally it has always been used in a teasing manner or even as a completely derogatory insult, 125mg, 150mg, 200mg, 250mg. It is associated with things that are wimpy, Buy Lotrel no prescription, wussy, geeky, nerdy, buy cheap Lotrel, and downright sissy. Where can i find Lotrel online, People use Emo to describe everything from sweater vests, to androgynous hair styles to fake ass Newschool Hardcore to Weezer. There are even porn websites out there now that specialize in "hot Emo girls."


Buy Lotrel no prescription, Twenty years or so after my mother coined the term "Emo," the word "Emo- Core" appeared in print for the first time in the January 1986 issue of the skateboarding magazine, Thrasher. In the "Notes" section which dealt with music that presumably skaters would be interested in, acheter en ligne Lotrel, acheter Lotrel bon marché, it was stated "There's a new form of performance occurring out in Washington D.C. Where can i buy cheapest Lotrel online, It goes by Emo- Core or Emotional Core. Bands like Embrace (featuring Ian MacKaye), Rites of Spring, online buying Lotrel, Beefeater, Lotrel from canadian pharmacy, among others, are taking the severe intensity of an emotional projection, and adding it totally into their respective live sets, order Lotrel online c.o.d. Crowds are said to be left in tears from the intensity." (to view this article for yourself check it out here)



The scene that the article was referring to was being spearheaded by former members of the first generation of D.C. Hardcore bands, who had been instrumental in launching the Straight Edge philosophy and had been in bands like Minor Threat and The Faith, buy Lotrel no prescription. Buy Lotrel online no prescription, During the mid 1980's many of the core members of the D.C. Hardcore scene were disillusioned by the violent and seemingly mindless direction that the scene was going in and as part of a concerted effort made an active decision to create their own parallel community. Philosophically they were anti violence and sought to embrace compassion rather than the anger and hatred that was often associated with Punk Rock, reasons to buy Lotrel online, but aside from that the values that the group shared were unstated if not vague. Chicago, Illinois. Houston, Texas, The bands that took root in this community included Embrace, Rites Of Spring, Beefeater, Lotrel withdrawal, and Gray Matter. Buy Lotrel no prescription, All of these bands had artistic and melodic sensibilities that set them apart from their Hardcore counterparts as well as lyrics that often dealt with complex emotional issues. 0.4mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2.5mg, This is what resulted in Thrasher's dubbing them "Emo- core."



"Emo- core" was a term that was never embraced or even accepted by the members of this burgeoning scene. In a video that can be seen here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbdh0Qm_5A0) Embrace vocalist, Ian MacKaye addressed and dismissed  the title at a gig shortly after the January 1986 issue of Thrasher was published, order Lotrel from mexican pharmacy, pointing out that "Hardcore was emotional to begin with." However the term did remain an obscure part of Hardcore Punk Rock jargon, Buy Lotrel without prescription, eventually being used to occasionally  describe subsequent bands that were influenced by Embrace and Rites of Spring, such as Swiz and later records by bands like Justice League and Verbal Assault. Still "Emo core" as a word was mostly used sardonically rather than as a serious name for a sub genre of Punk Rock, New York. Los Angeles, California. The late 1980's Straight Edge parody band, Baltimore, Maryland. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Crucial Youth even included Emo Core in their "Straight Edge Glossary," defining it as "'Mature' music made by cigarette-puffing ex-straightedgers. Heavy on soul searching, hard to mosh to." (http://www.newredarchives.com/bands/crucialyouth/Glossary.jpg)



As the late 1980's developed into the early 1990's and Punk Rock and Hardcore became less defined styles of music, Post Hardcore bands continued to experiment with melody and new musical expressions, buy Lotrel no prescription. Just as the first generation of Straight Edge Hardcore bands evolved into the Embraces, farmacia Lotrel baratos, Lotrel online kaufen, Gray Matters, Purchase Lotrel online no prescription, and Ignitions of the mid 1980's, the second generation of Straight Edge bands and fans like Youth Of Today and Bold evolved into the early 1990's Post Hardcore bands like Shelter, Quicksand, Indianapolis, Indiana, San Francisco, California, Into Another, Purchase Lotrel online, and Texas Is the Reason. Revelation Records, who had once championed the Straight Edge Hardcore of the late 1980's was now carrying a roster of bands who had formed out of the ashes of the Youth Crew explosion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Phoenix, Arizona, now playing experimental music that sought to redefine emotional and spiritual identities. Buy Lotrel from mexico, Meanwhile somewhat independent of this phenomenon, melodic bands like Jawbreaker and Sunny Day Real Estate were capturing the ears of Hardcore kids in the 1990's.



By the mid 1990's bands were taking cues from the bands on Revelation, along with Sunny Day and Jawbreaker, order Lotrel no prescription, and sometimes even adding sensibilities from the Metal influenced bands that were popular in the Hardcore scene at the time. Where can i order Lotrel without prescription, The terms "Emo" and "Emo-Core" became widely used, less sardonically and more out of a lack of a better term which would lump together these bands with strange mixes of influences. Buy Lotrel no prescription, "Emo" and "Emo-core" became associated with the melodic music that blurred lines between Pop, Punk, and Hardcore that was popularized by Saves the Day, Lifetime, the Get Up Kids and the Promise Ring, but it was also associated with heavier bands such as Grade, Cave In, and Piebald (who themselves would later adopt Pop sensibilities). With the ambiguous nature of the mid 1990's Hardcore scene creating a complete clusterfuck of genre crossing, San Diego, California. Dallas, Texas. San Antonio, Texas, the only things that all of the bands mentioned really shared in common were emotional lyrics and a vague aesthetic and geeky way of dress.



As "Emo" seeped its way into mainstream vocabulary it came to refer less to a form of music and more to a clothing style. This created a perfect storm when the band Weezer popped onto the airwaves. Weezer never had any connection to the Punk or Hardcore scene but they had already embraced the cartoonish image of high school nerds which happened to be very similar to the "Emo" image. The already confused mainstream masses lumped Weezer into their view of what Emo was thus resulting in the word being almost completely detached from the Punk and Hardcore scene.



As stated before one would be hard pressed to find any person or band that actually wanted to be called Emo. It is a term that has never been embraced by anyone. It started out as a fairly meaningless term and evolved into something with even more shallow connotations. Like the term "New Wave" was adopted by mainstream culture in the late 1980's, "Emo" has become a word that people associate with anything that is vaguely influenced by Punk Rock or other forms of youth rebellion but has also been de-fanged and stripped into something passive and meaningless. In addition it also used to describe anything that reflects sensitivity or being overemotional, but then it could also be used as a replacement for the word "nerdy." In short Emo is such a ridiculous term that it is impossible to define and with time it is only becoming more asenine.

-Ditch-

Managing Editor

 

                      Check out more articles HERE

 

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Buy Zebeta No Prescription

Buy Zebeta no prescription, Most Punks will tell you that they rarely watch television, but if and when they do, they typically watch a show or series that has surpassed the plots of many other television shows in circulation. Comprar en línea Zebeta, comprar Zebeta baratos, In essence, in order for Punks and people of the "underground culture" to watch television, Zebeta snort, alcohol iteraction, Rx free Zebeta, the show HAS to be a pretty big deal. Jersey Shore premiered its second season after the immense and overwhelming success of the first season, El Paso, Texas. Washington, D.C. Seattle, Washington, Reasons to buy Zebeta online, and while the premiere of the television show's second season may continue to be irrelevant to the Punk Rock music scene, it has rapidly become one of the biggest sensations to strike both television, order Zebeta no prescription, Zebeta price, and even Punk viewers who never before considered the television to be a form of entertainment. Jersey Shore has struck Miami Beach, Fort Worth, Texas. Denver, Colorado, 0.4mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2.5mg, but more importantly, Jersey Shore has struck the Punks in your local scene, 125mg, 150mg, 200mg, 250mg, Australia, uk, us, usa, with good reason.



The premiere of the series created intense hype which surprisingly, also affected the Punk community, buy Zebeta online cod. Købe Zebeta online, αγοράζουν online Zebeta, While some object to the scandalous occurrences of the show and criticize the series for further delivering trash and unproductive characters on television, the reality of it is, San Diego, California. Dallas, Texas. San Antonio, Texas, Where can i find Zebeta online, Jersey Shore is pretty Punk rock. Many of MTV's reality TV shows feature personalities and scenarios which are far fetched and unrelateable to not only Punks, but also to the general public, buy Zebeta no prescription. Shows like The Hills and My Super Sweet Sixteen feature lavish and wealthy lifestyles that appear to virtually afford beauty, 5mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, Zebeta withdrawal, glamor, and material objects of any size, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Las Vegas, Nevada, Order Zebeta no prescription, shape and price. Punks definitely come nowhere near to any of that, buy Zebeta online no prescription. Where can i order Zebeta without prescription, Even shows like The Real World fail to capture the interest of reality TV junkies, mainly because the people they cast are typically suburban-living-White-Caucasian-preppy Chad and Ashley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Phoenix, Arizona, Where can i buy cheapest Zebeta online, with token African American guy for variety. Once again, rx free Zebeta, Buy Zebeta without prescription, the given scenario does not appeal to Punks... Buy Zebeta no prescription, and why would it. Jersey Shore rose up above these pretentious shows as the underdog, farmacia Zebeta baratos, Zebeta online kaufen, Online buy Zebeta without a prescription, and unlike the typical "reality tv" shows of the other networks, demonstrated the nitty-gritty of a lifestyle that keeps appearing more and more similar to the Punk rock life.



Just how is Jersey Shore Punk rock, online buying Zebeta. Order Zebeta online c.o.d, Besides the show's distinguished nature which separates it from the above mentioned shows on MTV, Jersey Shore delivers reality TV in a manner which most networks have failed to provide, Zebeta coupon, Reasons to buy Zebeta online, and in such a manner that it has caused most networks to mimic and replicate it. The biggest factors contributing to the success of the show consist of Punk Rock's favorite things: alcohol, kjøpe Zebeta online, bestill Zebeta online, Zebeta from canadian pharmacy, sex, and Rock N Roll (or in Jersey Shore's case, El Paso, Texas. Washington, D.C. Seattle, Washington, Canada, mexico, india, Techno). Music, alcohol, and sex explicitly create the situations of the show and deliver it a la mode de infamous Punk rockers Sid Vicious and even GG Allin (Minus the prejudice and sexism). In fact, when watching Jersey Shore, GG Allin's song "Drink, Fight, And Fuck" seems to perfectly coincide with the situations of the show as cast members of Jersey Shore indulge in alcohol, then occasionally become involved in physical altercations, then engage in sexual escapades with people they meet, though not necessarily in that order, buy Zebeta no prescription. Truth be told, Jersey Shore's ability to honestly illustrate one aspect of youthful-living in America makes the show that much more credible and interesting. Punks can appreciate honest illustrations of human beings, even if they're not the most positive. As the underdog, Jersey Shore has demonstrated characters at their worst, and has also caused critics to misunderstand the Jersey Shore entity, similar to the way in which society has misunderstood Punk Rock and its music for years. Though Jersey Shore may indeed be trashy and classless, has Punk Rock ever NOT been considered so. Jersey Shore and Punk Rock aren't as different as they are deemed to be.



The Punk community has been hit with a television show that bears a striking resemblance to a lifestyle that has been frowned upon by society for years; a lifestyle which most can say is like the Punk Rock lifestyle. Maybe not all aspects of the show are relateable, as the cast member's sexual encounters may not exactly be the standard of most Punks, and Edge kids would not relate at all to the use of alcohol, but the profanity, fights, and side stories included (such as Sam and Ronnie's quest for love) are all situations which the majority of Punk Rockers can agree they've experienced at ONE point in their lives. While the rest of America indulges in shows like So You Think You Can Dance or Glee, most members of the Punk community have made it clear through their social networking pages that Jersey Shore is the show thats garnered their interest; a show which undoubtedly, is pretty Punk Rock.

 

-Stephanie M.-

Senior Staff Reporter

Big Wheel Online Magazine

 

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In Defense of Punk Rock

Most of us who are into Punk rock initially got involved in the movement at some point in our teenage years. With acne on our faces, foam dripping from our mouths and giant chips on our shoulders we found excitement in music that was loud, full of energy, and completely anti authority. The excitement and fear that is associated with going to a Punk show for the first time is an unusual and unfamiliar feeling that leaves you constantly seeking the same sort of experience over and over again. Young punks become adrenaline and testosterone addicts much to the chagrin of their parents and teachers who pray that Punk rock will be a phase that passes quickly.

Records are bought, clothes are mutilated, hair gets sheered off or spiked up and dyed day glo colors. Somewhere along the line most punks find however that beyond the image and blasting guitars that being punk rock has deeper implications. Instead of just a uniform and musical style, Punk becomes a vehicle to reevaluate society and all of its roles. While there are many different cliques and sub tribes within Punk rock, all serious members of the culture have come to similar conclusions- that the world has become seriously fucked up as the result of mindless consumerism and abuses of power committed by establishments that were created long before any of us were born. As a result we respond in our own ways- some Punks become politicized while others reject their surroundings in purely social ways. Whatever form this rebellion takes on, one can be assured that people everywhere will notice the loud statements that punks make and will often respond with even more anger and hatred, further reinforcing a sense of alienation from society that almost all Punks have felt.

If all of this sounds like madness that's because it is. The Punk rock lifestyle is often overwhelming and exhausting. It can sometimes be a lonely path to walk but it seems that once you're in there is often back. When a mindset is changed radically it can be difficult if not impossible to go back to looking at life in a simpler and less antagonistic way. Yet inevitably as high school graduation approaches punks start dropping like flies, trading in the lifestyle for something that is more relaxed and seems more rewarding. As kids go to college they often pick up their class schedules and drop their Dead Kennedys records on their way.

Transitioning to the other side of society and crossing the line drawn in the sand to the side of the enemy must be a strange feeling, but like Joe Strummer said "He who fucks nuns will later join the Church." Of course it is understandable that people will change with age and find new interests and perhaps yet another new way to look at the world. At the same time though mainstream society seems so empty and void of substance and feeling. Maybe after years of spitting at the world that lack of substance and passion is exactly what some people go looking for. It might be easy just running on autopilot for a while.

Almost any Punk band that makes more than two or three full length records ends up becoming tame with time. The rawness of most Punk bands in their early stages is exciting and captivating. By the time most of these bands start to smell success though they seem to lose their desire to scream out their guts and emotions and those now empty guts seem to become hungry for a commercial reward. Bands who were once loved for playing raw and pure Punk rock rarely sound better when they turn their music into a more polished, sophisticated and "mature" product. The result is usually more disgusting than appealing and so all you old Punks who gripe about how your fan bases turned on you when you changed your sound, I have no sympathy. The so called "evolution" of bands usually adds up to a whole lot bullshit. If you want to make music that isn't Punk don't blame us when we turn your backs on you. Just like you once did we spit out the poison that society and the music industry tried feeding us because we didn't like it. It should be no surprise that when you try to emulate the "rock" music that we hate, that we want nothing to do with your fourth record. Don't forget you were once one of us.

The music industry as it stands offers nothing interesting or appealing to people who are looking for music that is energizing or thought provoking. Large venues gouge audiences' wallets while offering a less friendly and more anonymous experience. Why would someone want to pay sixty dollars to see a band play in a stadium rather than paying eight dollars to see a Punk band in a small space with a bunch of close friends? Overall the experience of seeing a big rock band is generally uninspiring and not engaging. At Punk shows people run around, singing along, and jumping on and off stage with bands playing. Admission is rarely more than ten dollars, records are almost never than twelve, and a T shirt that costs fifteen dollars is considered to be a complete rip off. It is not abnormal to go to a big concert and pay sixty to eighty dollars for a ticket, ten dollars for parking, six dollars for a hot dog, thirty dollars for a T shirt, and end up being nowhere close to the band. Meanwhile macho assholes who are trying to prove that they know how to "rock out" pick fights and throw up on the ground.

When people express a concern over the decline of the music industry it's hard not to laugh. That old beast is long past its expiration date and things have smelled rotten for a long time. In a last ditch effort major ticketing agencies and record labels are consolidating in an attempt to join forces in an evil alliance to survive a few years longer. Little good has ever come out of the commercialization of music. Perhaps the only interesting innovation that has ever come from those fuckers in their mansions on the hills is the "Wall of Sound" technique of recording that Phil Spector created when he was a key player in the music industry and look out how that old bastard turned out. Otherwise no great innovation has ever come out of the music industry that couldn't have been created in a less commercial atmosphere. The industry does not create music- it simply creates an outlet for products that more often than not probably would have been better if they were created in a more nurturing environment.

If the music industry ever collapses I will say goodbye with a "So long! Wish I could say it was nice knowing you." Make no mistake or misjudgment - if there were no commercial music industry that by no means would ever mean that there would be no music. One can guarantee with confidence that Punk rock would not suffer. In fact one could assume that if the playing field were leveled that few of the so called artists who are enjoying popularity now would still be successful when people actually began to seek out music rather than just having it served to them by mainstream media. Perhaps if this were the case people would learn what Punks have known all along- that the deeper a connection that one has to the roots of the music that they listen to the more satisfying it is to enjoy.

In short while I have learned to never expect that people who get involved with Punk rock at a young age will stick around for half as long as they say they will, let me remind our readers that at some point everyone involved in the punk movement came in looking for the same things and that the values that punk rock represents are still vital and important. While at times punk might seem juvenile, rehearsed, and perhaps even insignificant, know that we are fighting a good fight in a time of corruption and deceit. This undoubtedly will come off as idealistic, but the only thing that we can really hope to ever do is offer an alternative to mindless society and to do so by living as examples and rebelling in positive and thoughtful ways. To those who feel the need to change I say good luck and I hope that you find what you are looking for, but for those who stick around, give yourselves a pat on back and know that you are a part of something meaningful.

 

-Ditch-
Asst. Editor
Big Wheel Online Magazine

 

 

 

Babycakes Grand Opening in downtown Los Angeles

While there are no shortage of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area, one of the hardest things to find around here has been finding high quality desserts. This niche has been filled somewhat by Scoops in Silver Lake which serves exotic flavors of soy ice cream, but when it comes to baked goods it seems that Babycakes may be leading the way in L.A.. This bakery opened an L.A. extension on Sunday, January 3, 2010 after carving out a name and high esteemed reputation in New York City.


Not being ones to miss out on a major breakthrough in the world of sweets,  we made our way to Babycakes' opening and tried out some of what they had to offer. The highlight of the trip was a chocolate chip cookie sandwich.

Two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that were the perfect texture, and consistency surrounded a light and creamy vanilla filling. This particular selection is gluten free and made with unrefined sugar. The majority of the items on their menu are gluten free and all are sweetened with either agave nectar or unrefined sugar, catering to strict vegan diets.

The bakery itself is small and is located in Downtown Los Angeles on sixth street, with Los Angeles Street on the corner. The staff are friendly and quick and you can see the bakers doing their magic in the back behind the register. Decorations are modest and overall there's a cheerful vibe. Even well into the afternoon there was still a long line and all of the customers seemed more than happy.

Babycakes Website: www.babycakesnyc.com


More photos can be seen HERE
 

 

-Ditch-
Asst. Editor
Big Wheel Online Magazine

 

 

 

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