So this is a Christian Band? S.O.B.?
By swenson | September 16, 2009
I don’t mean to pick on Christian Rock this week but you have to take a look at this. I found it on Emusic.com by accident and did a double take. Saints of Bliss? Did anyone think to say something before they released this? Or are they trying to put one over on Christian Rock?
Ignorance is bliss I guess…
Topics: Life Of A Cartoonist | No Comments »
So Why are Christian Rock Fans Jacking Up the Price on “Rare” CDs?
By swenson | September 13, 2009
I admit it, I’m a former all out Christian metal fan who then said to hell with it. But when you grow up in that environment you always do long for the music of your childhood, so recently I’ve been trying to collect some of it in CD form since all I have are cassettes from the the late eighties to early nineties.
The trend I’ve noticed, though, when trying to locate some of these old CDs is that the Christians selling them are raising the prices fairly high. Now normally this would make sense, but cynical me remembers when I was into that movement and I gave away numerous cassettes to friends and strangers in order to promote Jesus–for free! I thought that was the idea. I didn’t think Christian rock was about money.
My naive sensibilties were shed along with my faith. I came to realize that “The Church” is just as much of a business as any commercial venture–only they’re tax exempt. Sales, customer service and entertainment value gets a pastor more parishioners which means more donations which increases his take home pay, as an example.
The one CD I’ve been looking for is the first Vengeance Rising release called “Human Sacrifice.” It is one of the first Christian thrash releases done back in 1988. I consider it a classic along with Slayer, Metallica, and other thrash/speed metal releases of that time period. The evangelistic nature of it doesn’t bother me because it’s either God or Satan in a lot of the early thrash music and I treat it like fantasy literature. I also like it because there was so much controversy about the lead singer getting pissed off about financial debt resulting from a band squabble and then he became an atheist.
So why is it that Christian metal fans are putting that CD up for auction on Ebay so that it goes up as much as 60.00? I just lost one bid that was a bargain for 25 bucks. On Amazon.com you can find the same prices.
Unless these are not Christians selling the album, I would say there’s a moral dilemma here. The original intent of the album was to proselytize and convert, not to generate revenue with auctions or “rare CD” prices. The other part of the dilemma is a Christian willing to pay 60.00 for an album when maybe that money should go to the poor.
I hate to be nitpicking on Christian Rock fans, because I believe you can be both charitable and maintain your hobbies, but I’m not so sure the religion itself is compatible with that kind of thinking? Jesus was about self-sacrifice to the point of wandering without a home and early Christians were put to death. The only Christians that come close to that in modern times are either Christians stuck in fanatical Islamic communities or monks and nuns–and we always get cute NPR stories about how nuns don’t obey the Pope and aren’t the fuddy-duddies we think they are.
I will eventually get my hands on Vengeance Rising’s “Human Sacrifice,” but I refuse to pay sixty bucks for it. I’m not sure why it hasn’t been reissued? Some of the later albums have. And by the way, all of the former band members with the exception of now atheist Roger Martinez have come together under the band name Once Dead which was taken from the second album title. Once Dead put out a pretty good album, but it still doesn’t compare to that original “Human Sacrifice” release.
It’s too bad Christian Rock takes itself seriously, otherwise we could use a Christian music tabloid. There is so much “unChristian” activity that goes on behind the scenes that would shock fans. Christian Rock is most definitely an entertainment business and not a ministry.
Topics: Life Of A Cartoonist | No Comments »
I like Jehovah’s Witnesses
By swenson | August 30, 2009
Well, not all Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I was just interrupted from my work by two of them knocking on the door. Most people wouldn’t bother answering or would shut the door in their faces, but I tend to be a little more empathetic and polite. Plus I like to debate religous issues. JWs are essentially door to door salesmen and it has to be the most emotionally draining job in the world to do. Plus I figure my brilliant arguments will make them see the light–and turn them to a life of Rock and Roll and loose women.
Now if anyone knows some of my work on religious parodies they might be surprised by my attitude. The thing is, generally speaking, I like religious people. I think they’re wrong, but for the most part they’re nice individuals. I just feel they’re wasting their time, though I know where they’re coming from because I used to be the same way at one point in my life.
And so this time around we got to talking about how bad things are getting in the world, because that’s the sales pitch. I said that actually I believe things are getting better which always throws the evangelistic angle off. And I mean it. I’m an optimist who thinks that while we always have ups and downs progress is inevitable, even if it is slow sometimes.
I’ll take slow and steady progress over the empty promises of religion any day.
Life is unfair, obviously we all can’t be rich and famous. I was born to look funny by the second grade because I had to wear glassess that seemed to get thicker by the year. However, progress now gives me the option to have lightweight glasses or get lasik surgery. A simple example, but a very telling one because I don’t think progress is always dramatic–we tend to take the little things for granted.
What religion really exploits is violence or the idea of that our world is going to shit because of it. There’s no doubt that we live in a violent world, but again, things are getting better. Every time we go through something as horrific as genocide the world has to eventually face it’s own “evils” and find a better way to get along. It is going to be a long and difficult road but we are safer now then we have ever been. There’s a nice video lecture on the subject if you want to check out a summary on the subject of decreasing violence at Ted.com by Steven Pinker.
Even the societies that are still bigoted to the point of violence against those of another race, religion or gender are now being stirred up because we are becoming a global community. Blame the internet. It is bringing new ideas in to stomp on old traditions. I belive the west, as imperfect as it is, provides many social models that work, like allowing women to do whatever the hell they want and allowing for the co-existence of all religions. Sure we have dumbass politicians, but all countries have that and at the very least our media can question them publicly without getting hanged.
While I don’t agree with a one world government, which is the apocalyptic doom of fundamentalist Christians, I do believe strongly in a global community. One that feeds off of each other and finds ways to cope with everyone’s differences. The more individual freedom the better because freedom brings wealth–also greed, scandal and bad hairdos (Trump!)–but the money means better living for all.
With that said, I still hate my goddamn morning job I’m keeping to pay my pricey mortgage–but I do love my freelancing, my cartooning gigs and getting to write about trivial matters such as my favorite horror movies. It’s a pleasant life overall, or at least so far.
So if a Jehovah’s Witness knocks at your door, tell them to cheer up. Life is getting better and that we don’t need their god. Offer them a beer and a smile.
Topics: Life Of A Cartoonist | No Comments »
Stacey Nelkin in Season of the Witch
By swenson | August 30, 2009
I just wrote a post for my Horror Examiner archive on Halloween 3, the film everyone hated because Michael Myers wasn’t in it, and was watching the movie again for reference. My post explains why I actually like the film, feel free to read it here.
But when watching the movie I keep coming back to the odd decision on the awkward nudity with Stacey Nelkin. I’ve always like eighties horror nudity, partly because it has to do with the taboos of my childhood, but also because it feels sexier than all of the plastic you see exposed today. That may be just my age catching up with me.
Stacey Nelkin was completely hot, similar to a Jamie Gertz with thinner lips and she also reminds one of the lead female in Sword and the Sorcerer. It was obvious she should be nude at some point in the film because of her upper proportions, but then all we get is a blurred shot of her behind a shower stall and Tom Atkins pulling one part of her lingerie down to expose a nipple. What?
That happens to be my beef with Season of the Witch. Not that Michael Myers doesn’t show up and start slashing up bodies, but that Stacey Nelkin isn’t fully nude. At the very least we should have gotten a full tit shot.
So what went on behind the scenes? Was there not enough money in the budget to persuade her to show her entire body? I find that hard to believe. Was it some executive that said no to such a scene? Was there a nude scene edited out? With a despised and ignored film like Season of the Witch, I don’t know if we’ll ever get those answers.
Topics: Retro Movie Comments | No Comments »
Mutant Energy Update and Quinault Beach Resort
By swenson | August 24, 2009
New strip on Examiner, and I’ve only watched the first season of True Blood if you’re wondering about the comments.
I’m amazed I got to a second strip this week after taking a vacation. It wasn’t exactly a planned vacation because originally I was supposed to meet my parents in Idaho–but after mapquesting the drive at 8.5 hours I said to hell with that. Since I already took the time off from my morning job I had to do something with my wife.
We went to Quinault Resort, an Indian Casino on the beach. Kind of disappointing for the price. For 139.00 we got a cramped room compared to staying at Shilo Inn down the road for the same price and getting a spacious room (which is where we stayed last year).
Apparently Quinault doesn’t think couples like to watch TV in bed so you have to sit on the small couch. As for the fireplace it divides the already tiny room. The balcony? No balcony, it’s one of those fake looking ones that extends out about 3 inches so you can lean against the railing–the kind they built all over downtown Seattle. Why any hotel alongside the beach would use that design is beyond me. You look forward to a balcony when you go to the beach.
The view was nice and the beach was fairly empty–this is at Ocean Shores where you can drive on the sand and aim for small children and seagulls. We ended up eating at Shilo Inn because Quinault’s main restaurant had terrible service. Pretty much people felt like an inconvenience from what I saw and the staff looked unhappy. My wife noted the restaurant was named “Emily’s” after the founder who had her face smiling on the wall. Long dead, it’s hard to say if she would be pleased with how her restaurant is being handled.
Oh well, we came out 40 bucks ahead on the slots. I can’t understand how many old people just sit at those machines all day long and lose their money. We met one old woman in the elevator who said, “Don’t let them fool ya, the golden years are a pain in the ass.”
Gee, I’m looking forward to getting older.
Topics: Life Of A Cartoonist, Weekly Cartoon Archives | No Comments »
« Previous Entries Next Entries »