Shawn, who's having a birthday tomorrow, points out that we were just 21 and 22 when we met (and that was after the site had already been running for a while!) and are now both on the cusp of 30 — with me turning 30 this September 29th, and him turning 29 tomorrow. Not only are we “getting old”, but at this point we know (and are friends with) people who grew up on both our sites (be sure to check out his rarely updated but extremely cool site at spc.bodymodification.com).
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimmie some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine
We're over thirty, we're doing just fine
We're probably the very end of the second generation of modern body modification (with Jim Ward, Fakir, and the others who “came out” in the 1970s being the first generation, and those who grew up in the era of established piercing studios, websites, and magazines being the third — the generation that grows up in the era where body modification laws and acceptance has matured will be the fourth)… Anyway, we're the last generation to grow up with body modification not being relatively mainstream…
It's weird seeing the world change, this community change, and wondering what role we had, or if we just got caught up in the same cultural tidal wave as everyone else here (I think we've made contributions, but on the whole we're all just in the same wonderful wave, getting drawn along to where we're supposed to go). It's easy to get down because of the dumb crap that's going on in the world, be it all the wars, or even just the little stuff like anti-mod laws, but I think it can turn out for the best — and I think our re-embracing of the body is a part of that.
I'm going to finish off the rest of my packing now, and then it's off to the train station. First thing in the morning I'll be on a jet, and not long afterwards I'll be working on some major BME overhauls in a little tropical villa — with some snorkeling intermissions of course. I'll do my best to find an internet cafe and upload pictures.
I don't know how this one slipped under the radar; thanks to the folks at EarthRights International and SEEN for bringing it to my attention. On May 22nd of this year, Bush issued an executive order declaring a “national emergency” and saying that the only way to keep the world safe was to grant full immunity from prosecution for criminal charges or financial fraud or any and all other charges to all US oil companies taking over Iraqi oil production. I'm not even kidding (here's a link to the full PDF or the overview page).
Anyway, doesn't that seem kind of weird? I mean, why give oil companies legal immunity from human rights violations and so on, and eliminate all legal recourse? Not only that, but it also grants domestic immunity to any oil company that has any dealing in Iraq. To give a far out — but legal — example under this executive order, an oil company that had also worked in Iraq could kill anyone in California that didn't pay their bills and be immune from all prosecution.
I can think of no justification for making these oil companies totally immune to any laws, but there you have it. Above the law…
My business cards got done just in time… They turned out pretty nice, although next time I'd run them on a heavier stock so the gloss shows better. The embossing is pretty cool though; makes for a nice effect and feels good on the fingers. I picked up my new glasses too. I'm incredibly tired so it's a bad picture of me — of the two sets of frames, I like the first set a lot better I think (when I'm at a fixed address again I'll order a smaller round set).
I'm really looking forward to getting out of here. One more month or so and it's on to the next stage of my life I guess (did I ever tell you that
Thin Red Line is one of my favorite movies?). Not that I don't like it here; I like who I live with and I like the area… but I need to take it another step.
I seen another world. Sometimes I think it was just my imagination... Maybe all men got one big soul everybody's a part of, all faces are the same man.
Oh my soul, let me be in you now. Look out through my eyes, look out at the things you've made. All things shining.
There are things ahead that I've got to get to.
I think I just want to paint. Just make art, you know… What else is there but music in life? I don't care how you express it — express it with song, with a brush, or as poetry. Express it as love or as lovemaking… But the universe is made of music. Goddamn it hurts sometimes when you really feel that; you just want to be music and stay that way.
People would be a lot happier if they went outside more often. It's a simple thing… Unfortunately for an increasing number of people the “outside” is hard to find — when I was living in Toronto, yes, I could go out, and it was satisfying to watch dandelions break through the rubble of the empty lot, but, not long after leaving, I've found that all their hard work was for nothing… Giant metal beasts have torn that acre apart and are repaving it in preparation for a new wave of half million dollar shacks.
A city creates incredible energy — “night life” and so one — and is a great tool for conglomerating culture. But I believe we're reaching a time, thanks to a large extent to broadband global networks, where it's no longer relevant to build these prisons; we can experience their benefits outside their concrete…
Of course, I'm a simpleton.
That is, I like simple things and simple pleasures.
Well, I'm off to the gym shortly, and then I'll finish off the final BME update for the next two weeks — if you want your picture(s) in this one just make sure it gets in by about 3 PM EST; otherwise it'll have to wait until I get back.
I thought this commentary, America is a religion, was really well written and think it's worth taking seriously… It very clearly sheds light one why things are the way they are in the US these days:
The flag has become as sacred as the Bible; the name of the nation as holy as the name of God. The presidency is turning into a priesthood. So those who question George Bush's foreign policy are no longer merely critics; they are blasphemers, or "anti-Americans".
As George Bush told his troops on the day he announced victory: "Wherever you go, you carry a message of hope - a message that is ancient and ever new. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, 'To the captives, "come out," and to those in darkness, "be free".'"
So American soldiers are no longer merely terrestrial combatants; they have become missionaries. They are no longer simply killing enemies; they are casting out demons.
What a weird, weird world we're watching unravel.
