Antics Magazine

NEW BLOG!

2008-04-02T20:29:00.001-07:00

It's the real blog. THE BEAST DAILY

Don't read this one anymore, it's dead.

My Bracket: Cardinal Hopeful Against UCLA

2008-03-22T10:30:00.001-07:00

I make some interesting brackets. They are either interesting in that they suck horribly or they have a matchups that no one could preconceive. Either way, I am a Louisville Cardinals fan and I got them going against UCLA in the National Championship Game. Go ahead and laugh. I think this is the year that the Cardinals will make an appearance. Go ahead and go for UNC and Memphis, but I'll stick with my team to the bitter end and hopefully that end comes at the end of a long winning steak in the tournament.

Clinton's Stranglehold on Texas Loosens

2008-03-05T14:12:00.001-08:00

I swear to god this is one of the best elections ever. You just never know what is going to happen.

Move Over Special Forces 2, It's Civilian Escape!

2007-08-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

First, I have to give credit where credit is due. I caught wind of this game from Hot Air's blog archive. http://hotair.com/archives/2007/08/16/hezbollah-releases-video-game/

Special Forces 2. It's purpose is to recreate the violent feud between the Lebanese guerrilla groups and Israel. The trailer shows a Israeli tank moving through a digital landscape of badly mapped Lebanese street, then inevitably blows up. Above the video suggests that the video game developers are a few years behind, but what does it matter? What other game in the world can you blow up Israeli soldiers? What other game in the world is trying to take a child's past-time and use it as pure propaganda to insure violence and war for many more centuries. That's right! Special Forces 2. Minimal, but still manages to effectively display true anti-semetism digitally. Surprisingly enough, the sequel will feature the war that occurred last year after two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped. Quoted on CNN.com, 158 Israelis were killed during the war and 1,200 people in Lebanon were killed. A majority of the 1,200 people were claimed to be civilians. Even though the casualties in Lebanon were extraordinarily high compared to Israel, Hezbollah regards this battle as a major military victory. Logic will take a back seat. Let's do some math...

1,200 divided by 158 = 7.59.

For every 1 Israeli soldier that dies, there goes roughly 7.5 Lebanese.

I have a great idea for a game. Let's create a game called Civilian Escape where everyday ordinary people get caught between the meaningless bullsh*t hate of two countries and the object is to dodge randomly fired missiles from both Hezbollah and the Israeli army. Halo 3 would be futile in comparison.

Guiliani Time

2007-08-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

One Time Hater of Colts, Now Full Time Merch Buying Fan Boy!

2007-07-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

I have many pet peeves in this world. People who complain, people who are inconsiderate towards others, people who refuse to grow up, and up until last Super Bowl. I feel as though people decide their favorite teams for the year as the preceding Super Bowl victors. The same people who probably thought the Panthers would make a glorious return to the Super Bowl or the Tennessee Titans would make a formidable unexpected appearance, or the ill-fated Pittsburgh Steelers would make a second coming at the Bowl are the same people who are now sporting their new Colts decals and merchandise. Stop the insanity!

Who does Harriet Miers think she is?!

2007-07-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

Subpoena to the republicans to disclose e-mails about the firing of US Attorney connected to the White House is sorely ignored by Harriet Miers. I am really interested in finding out why she didn't show up to the Senate hearing and what is going to happen.

A New Day

2007-07-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Awoke early in the morning and received a phone call from work explaining that I did not have to come in today. Overly joyous from the phone call, I make a cup of Columbian blended coffee and decide to read a bit of two books I am reading. One is "Fear and Loathing in America" by Hunter S. Thompson which I have been reading on and off for some time now. The second book is "Hegemony Or Survival" by Noam Chomsky. I don't know why I like political books so much. I am a hopeless romantic at heart. It really confuses me why I read so much about orchestrated lies, coup de tats, and coups in general. Despite the fact, I have decided that I must write more and more as of late. Let me rephrase that. I must write more and more as of late.

For The Unhappily Employed

2007-07-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

As the seasons begin to climax, I have wished upon myself to quit my professional day job that was making me a really sour human being. It's funny, you know. I quit unexpectedly as if it was a snap decision and I've been working at my other job. At 25, I now bus tables until I start work at my new job in Indiana. The new job is a temporary position in the accounting field and I am really excited to get experience in the field which I chose to be my major at University of Louisville. If people ask me whether it was worth quitting, I would say yes. $12.86 an hour is nothing compared to how great I feel to be away from the job I grew to hate and which grew to hate me. Separation from this has made me realize that there's an immense amount of opportunity in the world that one shouldn't ignore. It was a ballsy move on my part, but I felt there was something better out there for me... and there was.

For one time in my life, I feel like I am totally autonomous and free from wage slavery and isolation in the job market. The only advice I have for my co-workers is to not let the corporate brainwashing techniques get to you. Don't forget who you are. Don't let unhappiness overwhelm you. Do something about it now and don't let hypocrisy stand in your way.

You will only let something dominate you if you let it dominate you.

So, This is what it comes to...

2006-11-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

I am looking at AllofMp3.com and considering to support the Russian economy!

Audio Review - Sunn 0))) & Boris - Altar CD

2006-10-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

Record Review - Sunn 0))) & Boris - Altar CD
Southern Lord 2006

Much anticipated, the collaboration between these two mighty loud bands is remarkable. The low-end sonic textures of Sunn 0))) is tastefully complimented by the Japanese BORIS. Sunn 0))) continues to experiment further than they have on any of the critically acclaimed White albums. The dimension of percussion by Boris has added some groove to the rumbling sound of Sunn 0))) and has opened up many more doors for creativity while breaking out of stereotypical drone.

At times, very different and new direction for Sunn 0)), particularly The Sinking Bell (Blue Sheep) where Jesse Sykes voice is heart-felt, restrained, and beautiful. Deep piano covers the track and works well for the song. Collectively, this song brings the album to a colorful standstill. I hope to hear more songs like this track and it makes me eagerly await future releases by both bands.

Thrones mastermind, Joe Preston (Melvins, High on Fire) lends some vocals to the track "Akuma No Kuma" remeniscent of Throne's Sperm Whale release. Effect laden and warm hums soon become distorted horns with spaced out vocal stylings. Await the death and rebirth of the Planet Earth within the course of this fine colab.

Record List

2006-10-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Taking Offers for the following records:

email: paul.chenault@gmail.com

Test Pressings

Refused - Everlasting (Equal Vision #33)

LP

5ive - II (Hydrahead)
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope (Relapse) *Picture Disc
A Life Once Lost - A Great Artist (Ferret) *Picture Disc
Bloodlet - Entheogen (Victory) Purple Vinyl
Cavity - On The Lam (Hydrahead) *Picture Disc
Circle of Dead Children - Genocide Machine (Willowtip)
Converge - Unloved and Weeded Out (Reflections/Deathwish)
Converge - You Fail Me (Deathwish) Clear/White Vinyl
Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine (Relapse) Orange Vinyl
Godflesh - Crush My Soul (Earache)
High On Fire - Surrounded By Thieves (Relapse) 2xLP
Ink and Dagger - S/T (Buddyhead) *Orange Vinyl x/100
Lair of the Minotaur - Carnage (Southern Lord) Red Vinyl
Luddite Clone - Arsonist (Cyberdine 243) *Original Pressing, Picture Disc
Isis - Mosquito Control (Escape Artist) White Vinyl
Isis - Oceanic Remixes Vol. 1 (Ipecac/Robotic Empire)
Isis - Oceanic Remixes Vol. 2 (Ipecac/Robotic Empire)
Isis - Oceanic Remixes Vol. 3 (Ipecac/Robotic Empire)
Melvins & The Melvins - Never Breathe What You Can't See (Alternative Tentacles)
Neurosis - The Eye Of Every Storm (Relapse/Neurot) Grey Vinyl 2xLP
Pelican - S/T (Hydrahead)
Pelican - Australasia (Hydrahead) Blue Vinyl *Unopened
Pig Destroyer - Prowler in the Yard (Reptilian) *Picture Disc
Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer (Relapse) White Vinyl 2xLP
SUNN0))) - White 2 (Southern Lord) Clear Vinyl
Tarentel - The Order of Things (Neurot)
These Arms Are Snakes - Oxeneers (Second Nature/Jade Tree) *Blue Vinyl
Trail of the Dead - Source Codes & Tags (Interscope)
Today is the Day - Supernova (Amp Rep)

Audio Review - Grizzly Bear - Colorado

2006-09-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Bear - Colorado (Warp Records)
Reviewed By: Yours Truly, Paul Chenault

The Brooklyn based group Grizzly Bear has assembled what many music critics, specifically Warp Records, believe to be the most beautiful record they have ever heard. That's quite a challenge considering Warp Records has put out some of the best IDM/Electronic productions, ever. This album is neither of those two genres, but tastefully, exploits many of the same great ambient motives associated with the two genres. And Grizzly Bear, despite the silly name, has accomplished something that many bands will never will ever have: A defining album.

After releasing noteworthy material such as Horn Of Plenty, Grizzly Bear has created Colorado. Is this the release we have been subconsciously waiting for all these years?

It could be. The closest way I can describe, with respect to nostalgia, binding the melancholy of folk music with beautiful uplifting plate reverbed 50's pop conventions. Beautiful americana passages are the touches of light with Colorado. I hope that the rest of the world is wise to take ear of this band. Grizzly Bear.

Stars Wars Is Jesus

2006-09-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

"This week I went to see The Phantom Menace, the first episode in the Star Wars series. It is obvious from this film, and from others he has produced, that director George Lucas is on a spiritual quest. Since many other Americans have embarked on the same quest, his films tell us something about where our culture is heading spiritually."-

-- Star Wars Theology
Dr. Philip G. Ryken

"The Rebel Alliance and the Imperial Forces?"
-- Paul Chenault

Clone Wars?
-- Adam Greenwood

Hegemony Of The Searchers

2006-09-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hegemony of The Searchers
Starring John Wayne and Jeffery Hunter, “The Searchers” is an epic film of two men and their search to find a niece and a sister who were kidnapped by a Comanche chief named Chief Cicatrice (Scar). The movie is set in mid-1800s and features a series of fantastic framed shots of North American scenery. The movie, itself, has influenced a variety of directors, writers, and cinema fanatics leading it to be one of the best Western films ever made.
Even though The Searchers has entertained audiences for the last 50 years, there are a few problems I’ve noticed within the movie specifically dealing with hegemony of white culture. Hegemony is the leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation . The movie shows the white dominance over the Native American and Mexican cultures. For example, they constantly refer to the Native Americans as brutal, sadistic, and savage by protagonists of the film. The film resists from telling the history of the Indians and how they were systematically annihilated in the name of Western US Expansion. Sadly, the movie glorifies the intolerant behavior as being heroic and a way to bring the Indians order and civilized culture.
The main characters Ethan Edwards and Martin Pawley witness the post-massacre of their family, which leads to an epic search in order to find the Comanche tribe leader Scar. Throughout the story, the history and culture expressed is purely from the white American protagonists standpoint. The audience is given little reason for the motivations of the Comanche and why they sought to massacre the Edwards family. The Indians are depicted as a cruel and savage race of people that are determined to undermine and destroy the settler’s culture. The actions by the Comanche tribe and the leader Scar are no different than the actions by the Protagonists at the end of the movie where they ride through the Indian settlement shooting and killing a number of Comanche. The sympathy and empathy for the main characters is the only difference when viewing the atrocities.
Another unfair account is the paralleled relationship between the abduction and naturalization of Martin Pawley’s sister Debbie Edwards into Comanche culture and Martin Pawley’s upbringing by the Edwards family. Being one-eighth Cherokee, Martin Pawley was saved by Ethan Edwards after an Indian raid killed his parents. The Edwards raised Martin Pawley as a member of their family and the actions were portrayed as a heroic and honorable action. In retrospect, the same happened to Debbie Edwards after a raid by the Comanche tribe. Over the course of the search for her, she assimilated and married the Comanche leader Scar adding an unexpected twist to the film’s story. Very little admiration is given to the Comanche for raising and not killing Debbie Edwards for the duration of the film. The actions by Scar are deemed as negative and are abhorred by Ethan Edwards who may kill her solely because she has assimilated into Comanche culture. This parallelism of events embodies the inequity of laws governing whites and the Indians.2
The film’s surface progress is toward “recovery of Debbie,” but this implies, and the films hardly disguise it, progress toward the destruction of Indian law and Indian society. There can be only one law, one definition of persons and relationships. The Searchers presents the violent triumph of that law, annihilating everything that opposes it or that it defines as “other”.
Let me further elaborate by saying that I do not hold contempt for the main characters and their search for Debbie Edwards or the events that compelled Ethan Edwards and Martin Pawley to do so. The searching for Debbie Edwards is a logical and sound action that is more or less understandable. The catalyst for the search is the murder of the Edwards family and the abduction of the two young women by the Comanche. It is understandable and imperative to search and find out what exactly happen to Debbie Edwards and Lucy Edwards. It is definitely imperative that the two find closure with the slayings and likely for the characters to bring justice to the matter at hand.
The film is a marvelous piece of work featuring huge beautifully framed shots of the North American landscape and tells a tale of two men in search for a loved one. I think it serves as a timepiece in American culture and displays an exciting and vulnerable time period of the old West. Many directors have been fascinated by the movie and it’s plot has been used in a variety of other films such Close Encounters of the Third Kind.2 Closing my essay, I’ll leave a quote by film critic Stuart Byron in 1979 that compares the plot and structure to films such as Taxi Driver, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Deer Hunter, and Hard Core. In each of the films, the plot suggests “an obsessed man searches for someone—a loved one, a child, a best friend—who has fallen into the clutches of an alien people. But when found, the sought one doesn’t want to be rescued.”2

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First Post

2006-09-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

I'll be updating this frequently.