Transitional Format Thinking

Why does an electric car need a plug that pretends to be a gas pump nozzle?

https://www.homecharging.spx.com/smart/

What other cord has that much of a handle on it? Cripes! What's wrong with a nice Speakon-like design?

The Great Count Raven Lifeguard Question

On the new job on the beach I find you there.

or

On the new job, on the beach I find you there.

???

"Let The Dead Bury The Dead"
from 1992's Destruction Of The Void

Since a person cannot sing a comma, this leaves the great question of our time up for grabs.

To Kill A Child!?

Looks like I got the answer I was looking for regarding at least one of the new Count Raven songs, in this case "To Kill A Child". But the answer is FUCKED UP! I came across this little interview.

"...It deals with my handicapped child who no longer gets any help from the Swedish government, same as any other handicapped in Sweden. So, my outside world must change, or else I run the risk of having to end my child's life by my own hand before I get too old. Jesus once said, ‘See what is in front of you, identify it, and speak the truth.’ This is what is lacking in society today. If people acted for each other, the devil could not run this planet as smoothly as he does today. People have to start seeing outside their little boxes. If you don't, you’re not living.”

To Kill A Child
[written by Dan Fondelius]

I remember the day that you were born
Your eyes looked at my soul
I was so proud, that I kissed the sky
Little then did I know

Why, oh why, must this world force me to kill my child
I can no longer hide, the eternal pain that I feel inside

They said she was autistic, and silent as the night
I said it is alright
My heart is like the universe, that is endlessly
She'll be alright with me

The trees speak to me of sadness
Of world that wasn't meant to be
The creation is in entire madness
We don't know love, so we don't see
But that is another story
And it doesn't set me free
Neither God or humans help me
Am I bound to destiny?

Years have passed without help from anyone
This road I walked alone
I look upon the world, where no one's ever won
Then I blow her brain with my gun

Why, oh why, must this world force me to kill my child
Why, oh why, the only song this world ever sung, goodbye!

[Spoken:]
She's out of touch, out of reach, not one of us -
She is free, so she has to be punished by all of us
The father kills the son, the father kills her -
Not because of her, but because of you
Because of all of you, who refuse to do even the smallest thing for your next!
The time and clock is ticking for you my child -
Because they won't, they don't care about you!
Soon I will have your blood on my hands.
I'll be thrown in jail -
They will point their fingers at me
They will judge me, as they have, judged you -
As they will be judged, by you, and God!

That anyone would actually openly say they would consider shooting their own kid and put it to song no less…I dunno what to say. It's so messed up on so many levels. Count Raven surely does not fuck around when it comes to lyrics. Normally we assume that art has a buffer zone of metaphor between our world and the song's world, but clearly in this case there is none. Scary.

This also brings light to the song "Ode To Rebecca" which must be the child in question. Fer cripes sakes man, don't shoot your daughter! Geez.

New Count Raven "Mammon's War"

I got a new Count Raven CD. Sometimes, well most times when a band goes away for many years and comes back, they usually suck. But this new one fits in real nice with the old shit. That's nice to see. I still wince at some of the lyrics, though. Not because I disagree with them, but because I disagree with SOME of them, which is worse. If this was a Fred Phelps Sings CD it would be painlessly easy to dismiss, but when there's good shit mixed in with religious nonsense the aforementioned wincing can occur. But no matter. They're still rocking the brown\orange color scheme, Photoshoppy but not TOO Photoshoppy cover art, still using the same logo and the inlay is well done without modern-looking fonts. There were always some synth pieces in Count Raven and there's a bit more on this one too.

If I had my way I would wish for a return to the dual vocalist swap action they had on the first record, which gave one a bit of reprise from the constant Fodde upper register Ozzy strain (just try singing along once, you'll know what I mean. That dude's whipping out the belt for sure!) Perhaps I miss the kick drum triplets with this new drummer, but it's not a major concern. Dan Fondelius is obviously the sound of Count Raven, regardless of the rest of the band being new. Sorry, rest of the band. Ooops, for a second I forgot that I wasn't talking to myself. How embarassing! Ahh the blog, who would have thought that publishing to the entire world was equally as safe from prying eyes as a young girl's most secret of diaries locked away in a case under her bed? Whoops, tangent. Anyway, if you get a chance buy the entire Count Raven discography. Well, you can skip that one which was in mono. Sheesh! Mono! Can you believe that crap?

Didja Get All That?

Note: If you are using more than one Mini DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI adapter, only two displays are supported across the three ports. To connect up to two Mini DisplayPort displays and up to a 30-inch DVI display simultaneously, use the ports without any adapters. To connect two DVI displays, use the dual-link DVI port and the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter or the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately). To connect three DVI displays at once, you must use two Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapters (sold separately). To connect up to three VGA displays simultaneously, use the Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter and DVI to VGA adapters (sold separately).

Some People…

Sometimes I cannot believe what sort of technically inept dopes work in the publishing business. Like how about the MAGAZINE who requested high res files from us, I sent them native TIFF and Photoshop EPS files (1.3MB in a Zip file) and this dude says, "Photos of new products are best sent to us as .jpg files." I mean, what the fuck? Is this your first day with the computer machine? Still using Microsoft Bob? Christ almighty...

The Pain of Count Raven Lyrics

I have used the username "countraven" for a number of online sites for many years. Count Raven is a Swedish Doom Metal band which I liked, and still like for that matter. But for the record I am strongly opposed to many of the themes contained in their lyrics. But it's painful because they mix good stuff in with the crazy, and inconsistenly as well. In fact things start out pretty horribly from the first song, "True Revelation" I have bolded and italicized the most ghastly bits.

True Revelation

A new time has come, a new time is here
the one from the pit has risen and soon he'll make us fear
This is the time yeah this is the time now listen to this song
I'm gonna tell You a little story foretold by the prophet John

It started after the war when Israel got their land
It was the new beginning for today's modern man
Foretold two thousand years ago, now we know it's real
They've ruturned to their land on Silverbirds with wings of steel

The year is 1989 the news shocked us today
the Berlin Wall has fallen as many Germans prayed
Revolution in the Eastern block we can't believe our eyes
It's not the usual situation of the average media lies

True Revelation that comes to every nation
True Revelation that comes to every nation

The future that is coming up holds new hope for our World
All will say "PEACE NOW" and weeping won't be heard
Then a young man comes out of Egypt, he'll unite the
Middle-East a fair politician our new holy priest
The World will be amazed "What an incredible man!" he'll
confirm the alliance, all religions will shake hands
There will be one economy and we will all be free
No more creditcards that he can guarantee

The system that is coming up will really end this hell
A mark on hand or forehead or You can't buy or sell

True Revelation that comes to every nation
A new Manifestation the chosen aggrivation

This is the future that You look into and there is nothing that You can do
His next seven years will really be something else, Y'know
People will be stunned and say: "Way to Go!"
Now all is good and everything is fine, at last we will have some
peace of mind Relax and take it easy in your seats and count
in the number of the Beast

True Revelation that comes to every nation
It'll shake the foundation, in fact the whole Creation

Hear me now, all people, this is what I say: If Your heart
loves the Lord than You will be O.K.
In this time of knowledge and love for our world, for Mother Earth
we all fight, our voices can be heard
The World will be a better place, East and West shaking hands
In front of a Worldwide Government we all have to stand
Yeah, soon we'll have a fair world and things look better for You
Then along comes the One - You know who

True Revelation the Final Tribulation
True Revelation Gods Manifestation

So world government is somehow "good" but then on the same record they tell us,

Can't believe there is a future
for the children of today
Corrupted politicians are standing in their way
don't let the system fool You,
all that they want is to rule You

This verse sounds great, but to nitpick I suppose one could infer that only "corrupted" politicians are the problem, as if the position was not inherently corrupt by nature. But I will take it at face value. But then they throw it back over to religion. *sigh* So frustrating.

They're blinding their eyes for glory,
a brief moment of success
Is all their fame and fortune a substitute for happiness?

For once in their lives, why can't they realize?
The answer is love, Yeah love!

Oh Father, whom art in heaven
behold this world in need
of peace and understanding
instead of hate and greed
Choose the way that's in Your heart.

Ghost - Opus Eponymous

As a general practice, my consumption of new music has gone WAY DOWN since the 'Eldar Days' of high school (Ahh, the fond memories of scouring each music store in Northridge Mall for Kreator cassettes!) But occasionally I will come across something interesting. Lately that something has been this new flux of "retro" sounding metal acts. Witchcraft was the first one, then Blood Ceremony and now Ghost. I have to say, Ghost is freaggin' amazing. This has every right to be popular. Nine songs on the record, and seven of them are near-instant hits. You want to talk about HOOKY CHORUSES? Oh my gawd! Ghost has them. I can see no reason why whatever crap Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber are putting out couldn't be replaced with Ghost's "Death Knell". Listen to that chorus! That's satanic POP MUSIC folks!

I've got nothing against the use of nonsense themes in music if done well, but the only thing which sort of bugs me is that Satanism is such an overtapped well. If Ghost sang about some other mythology it might be cool, but when the execution is THIS GOOD I can let it slide. Watching a live video of them made me strongly wish they would get some of those oafs to grab a mic and sing some goddamn backup vocals. If any band needs to "blast forth with three part harmony" it's Ghost. That would be sweet.

You owe it to yourself to have a listen to this record. I won't go into whatever influences they may or may not be using, but quite frankly I don't care. Okay, so Mercyful Fate…some have said Blue Oyster Cult, not sure about that. Okay, I'll stop now. I just like what I hear. And it's got cool cover art. (The only reason I even know about Blood Ceremony and Ghost in the first place.) I was a little worried about the 2x4 nature of the waveform, but to be fair it's got fine tooth comb action going on. Can't have everything I guess.