ich bin ein auslander

As predicted, Brazil beat Germany. Oh well. I actually am disappointed because Germany played quite well. They shut Brazil down completely for the 1st half, and continued to make great shots the entire game.

Now I have two years off before qualifying matches start for 2006!

it’s time. bring it on, brazil. we vill crush you!

We got all cleaned up, found my 11 year old Doubt sweatshirt and headed out to see Jesus Jones at the El Rey. We got there, and the damn place was deserted. No people, no lines, no nothing. The marquee said “JESUS JONES - JUN 27″ but unless that show started exactly on time and ended within 45 minutes, no go. We weren’t that late.

Only by checking Goldenvoice’s website on our return home did we get an answer… the show had been cancelled, although obviously late enough that the El Rey hadn’t bothered removing their sign for it. No reason why, no warning, no email notice from ticketmaster (who will refund the show, but not their $6 per ticket bullshit handling fee).

Fuck Ticketmaster.

Oh well, the new album sucks anyway.

Very topical issue at the moment, no? But let’s leave the high-falutin’ issue of media, politics, patriotism, kids having to recite a stupid little set of words every morning, etc aside. Lesser men (and women) than you and I will make those decisions while being paid better salaries and pocketing oil money. Or Charlie Daniels on CNN Talkback.

Let’s talk about free speech between friends, acquaintances, the people we meet on a daily basis. Do I have a right to say, “Your girlfriend, she’s a fat cow.” Or, “you know, your father smells kind of funny and he can be a right asshole most of the time.”

Sure, of course I do.

But should I act outraged and surprised when you turn around and give me a black eye?

No.

In my view, free speech is not a simple matter of being able to say and/or do whatever you want, whenever you want. I support free speech utterly, and feel that the above is an important aspect of free speech, but it’s hardly the totality. Free speech is a much weightier issue, a greater personal challenge then that. It’s a matter of being aware of the repercussions of your actions - and more importantly, being able to FACE those repercussions.

If you state or do something you truly believe in, then you’re going to stand by that, face the inevitable fire that will come to any true representation of your beliefs (because we’re all different and we all see things differently) and defend your actions, thus defending yourself and the person you truly are. Chances are you won’t win the other person over to your way of seeing, but that’s not really the point - and if you think it is, go read some philosophy books. To quote Arby’s, “different is good.”

Now, if you’ve done something that may not personally represent who you truly are, and get called on it but don’t find yourself with the gumption to back it up and stand by it… well, then it’s probably best to say sorry, shut up, and move on. These things happen.

Excuse me while I cough up a gigantic phlegm-ball.

Brazil beats Turkey, no surprise. predictions: South Korea will take 3rd place and beat turkey, brazil will barely squeak past Germany and win the cup. Hopefully I’m wrong.

In other news, Underworld are releasing a new single (”2 Months Off”) Sept 2nd.. and a new album (”A Hundred Days Off”) later that month. I’m going to pretend not to be excited in the hopes that it won’t be crap.