National Treasures that don't Include Nick Cage

Get out and get some fresh air! It's National Park Week and admission is free to all 392 national parks across the land. This even includes the big ones: Grand Canyon in Arizona, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Niagara Falls in New York, Muir Woods in California, Denali in Alaska. Anyone looking to check off one of those "always wanted to see that" places on your bucket list, this is your week. For those of you in the Philly area, we highly recommend the Edgar Allen Poe house on 7th and Spring Garden. Besides the rare letters and manuscripts they have on display, there is also the Raven statue and you can listen to some of Poe's work read by Christopher Walken. Valley Forge and Independence Hall are all part of the National Park system as well and are, of course, free this week too. You can also get your history on by visiting Gettysburg, a family favorite growing up in the Squeamish household, where you will not only learn about the turning point in the Civil War, but you can get some exercise by climbing both Little and Big Roundtops and seeing if you can sprint Pickett's Charge, then relax in the cool of Devil's Den. For more recent history, visit the Flight 93 sight where the courageous passengers of that flight brought down what would have been a third attack on 9/11. If you're just looking for some good old fashioned nature, check out the Delaware Water Gap for both hiking and water activities, if you are hardcore enough to handle kayaking (and the potential for falling out of said kayak) this early in the year. As always, the Appalachian Trail offers a challenge to hikers from around the world; bite off as much as you can chew, whether you are just doing a day hike or trying to backpack the whole damn thing. Have fun, be safe and enjoy some thrifty activities for the whole family.

Practice Responsible Consumerism

It's the fourth birthday of Record Store Day, so you need to celebrate by going out to your favorite independent music distributor and getting yourself a little present. By doing this, you are also giving a present to music shops everywhere by showing your support retailers that cater to the record collector (guilty!), the indie snobs (guilty!) the vinyl junkies (2 out of three, oh well!). If you do transport yourself to your local record store, the effort will be rewarded by a shit ton of exclusive releases that you aren't going to find at FYE, Target or HMV. These aren't just a couple of indie bands that are releasing records--there are those too--the Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello, Beach House and the Magnetic Fields all have exclusive contributions to Record Store Day 2010. But there are plenty of major artists of all different ilks that are releasing vinyl today. The White Stripes, Neil Young, the Flaming Lips (a front to back cover of Dark Side of the Moon complete with an appearance by Henry Rollins), Dave Matthews, Soundgarden and Devo are just a few of the artists participating. So go get yourself some new music, support independent business and pump a few bucks into the economy.
Win Win Win.

Record Store Day

And Justice for All

Important stuff coming up. Since Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens managed to outlast President Bush's final term, President Obama gets a chance to put another person on the high court. No matter who he manages to get appointed, it will almost surely be a loss for progressive politics on the Supreme Court. Justice Stevens has the unique ability to gently guide and walk the line on controversial decisions and his legal theories and judgments are held in wide regard. Stevens is like the wise grandfather figure. Who wouldn't at least listen to what the old bastard has to say? Who could not at least give his advice and wisdom a chance? He was appointed by Gerald Fucking Ford, for Christ's sakes! That means that Stevens already had had a distinguished legal career behind him before I was even born. No wonder at almost 90 years old he is ready for a little rest.

I give Justice Stevens a check-plus for refusing to give up his post while W. was still in office. I think that it is awesome that Stevens was 87 years old and still giving the finger and saying "Fuck you!" to the President. That is awesome. Especially when you consider that he was appointed by a Republican in the first place. That should tell you something about the eight years we were under Carl Rove and Dick Cheney's conservative stranglehold. I could only hope that at that age we all would still feel that sense of rebellion, that burning fire that comes from sticking to one's guns.

The pressure is now on President Obama to find someone that a deeply divided Congress and nation can find acceptable. For sure, the President is going to name someone left leaning. Most of the names mentioned so far certainly are sympathetic to the Democrat's tendencies. But President Obama, and all Presidents, would be well off to find Supreme Court candidates that are truly independent thinkers and that are really looking out for the welfare of the people. The purpose of the Court is to review and cast judgment on that politicized nonsense that are the laws created by Congress. Recently, there has been lots of bellyaching about "activist judges," but in reality, we wouldn't want anyone but an activist judge on the high court. That is the whole point. But what we need is an activist for the truth, not for the political ramblings and bullet points of one party or another.

So if one candidate or another tickles your fancy, write to your favorite congressperson and voice your opinion. They are there to serve you; you pay their salary, make them work towards the things in which you believe. And if you dislike one or more of the candidates, write about that too. Dissent is a quickly evaporating skill that is employed far too little. It is your duty to make your voice heard above the din of the masses. Sing loud, sing proud!

The Something Special

Bouncing Souls frontman, Greg Attonito, has announced that he and his wife will be playing a round of acoustic shows together. Along for the ride is Kevin Seconds (of 7 Seconds), also playing solo and acoustic and Kepi Ghoulie (of the Groovie Ghoulies), also playing solo and acoustic. I guess this is what the older punk guys do. They get married, the knees start to go, they find a kindred spirit in Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and other singer/songwriters and they do the folk punk thing. Greg has some songs up on his MySpace which are pretty cool blues/roots tunes and I would imagine that he will also do some Souls songs along with some covers. Who knows? This is a super intimate show at the Barbary Thursday, June 6th. Only $8.

For those of you with little Squeamishes running around, Greg and Shanti wrote and illustrated a children's book called I Went for a Walk. It was self published under Hollywood Jersey Press, but for the life of me, I can't figure out where you could order a copy of it. I guess you will just have to go to the show--they may very well have them for sale there or they could at least tell you where to pick it up.

EDIT: I MUST BE AN IDIOT BECAUSE I WENT FOR A WALK HAS ITS OWN MYSPACE PAGE. YOU CAN PICK UP A COPY HERE: I Went for a Walk

Maybe in Another Life...

Despite their obvious awesomeness, LA hardcore punks the Bronx never really seem to fill an East Coast room when the tour by themselves. Playing the modest North Star Bar Saturday night, the space towards the back of the room was sparsely filled with on lookers who did not so much nod their heads in time with the music. As you moved closer to the stage, the crowd got a little more rowdy and the first few rows were a menagerie of sweaty, tattooed guys and tough as nails chicks rejecting contact with the gentlemen's beer guts. As always, Matt Caughthran and his boys gave it their all; as a front man with no guitar to weigh him down, Caughthran is free to interact with the crowd as much as he pleases. And he pleases, working his petute off to give the audience a real rock and roll show.

Though the Bronx didn't take the stage until after midnight, their alter egos, Mariachi el Bronx provided the second support act of the night. Sporting authentic (and super sharp) mariachi getups, deep bellied guitars and a trumpet, el Bronx played 30 minutes of sun soaked, south of the border melodies.

About 90 minutes later, they were back in street clothes and up on stage bringing the rock. The Bronx tore through choices from all three of their punk full lengths. They focused on their strongest material--"Heart Attack American," "White Tar," "I Got Chills," "History's Stranglers," "Knifeman," "Six Days a Week." A slightly extended version of "Shitty Future" involved a switch of drummers midway through and they proclaimed Philly to the be the toughest city on the east coast. Older songs were played faster than the original versions, while the more contemporary selections sounded pretty much exactly like they do on record. They ignored the more mid-tempo material and concentrated on bringing the punk and bringing it hard. Despite North Star's "No Slam Dance" policy, I only saw one person ejected despite stage diving and pits of various sizes, all of which was encouraged and enjoyed by the band.

Why these guys can't attract a more devout following is beyond me. Formed in 2002, the band prompted a bidding war between a whole shitload of labels, both of the indie ilk and several majors, before they had anything other than a demo and a couple of shows under their belts. Following the release of their first album (all of the Bronx's albums are self titled), there were several tours as openers for High on Fire and Dillinger Escape Plan, amongst others. Their second album was released on Island/Def Jam and they did high profile support for Mastodon on the Blood Mountain tour. Everything seemed to be in place for them to take over the rock scene, however, they just do not seem to be able to translate this into a dedicated fan base and they seem destined to play most filled, smaller places rather than mostly filled, larger clubs. In fact, I think that more people might have been there to see the mariachi outfit earlier in the evening.

The mariachi endeavor may have been a mixed blessing for the Bronx. It has gained them some fans from corners of the rock world that might otherwise overlook them, but at the same time, it has almost set them up to be a novelty act. "Hey look! It's this punk band that also does mariachi music!" While nothing could be further from the truth, it makes them appear to be a gimmick, a joke. All of the press for this tour has concentrated on Mariachi el Bronx and while there is no such thing as bad publicity, they are dangerously close to overshadowing the fact that they are probably one of the best punk bands formed this side of the new millennium.

Sabot on South Street

We would like to turn our attention to another Philadelphia organization that we feel is deserving of praise and commendation. For more than 30 years, Wooden Shoe Books has been pushing the envelope and encouraging Philadelphia to turn not towards government for solutions to society's woes, but to use personal resources and sacrifice towards the common good, recognizing that what is good for the community is good for the individual.

Located at 5th and South Streets, Wooden Shoe is run entirely by volunteers and is 100% not for profit. Though not a huge space, they make the most of their walls, with floor to ceiling literature organized by general topic. Looking for books on the Cuban experience in America? Wooden Shoe is your place. Need references on ethical treatment of cattle in slaughterhouses? Hit up the Wooden Shoe. Noam Chomsky, the Black Panthers, the IRA, communism and other controversial topics abound in the Shoe. You will find resources that come from many different perspectives and their selection goes way beyond what you will find in Barnes and Nobel or Borders. They also have a computer free for all to use, dubbed "the People's Computer," and probably the only table of children's books that will educate the parents also. Also, they have the city's best selection of photocopied 'zines, from nationally recognized publications like Cometbus to much more local publications from various artists, anarchists and freak power folks.

Wooden Shoe also presents workshops, performances, readings, films etc. at least once a week. This is stuff that flies way under the radar--authors you have not (yet) heard of, films that don't even make art house theaters, but the intimate space provides an opportunity to interact with the artist(s) whose work is on display and talk to other like minded individuals. In addition to art events, there are also workshops for methods of community organizing, maintaining grassroots integrity and other ways to get directly involved in making a difference in your community and connect with those who would also help. Most events are free, but you do need to reserve space by email for more popular gatherings.

The Wooden Shoe moniker is taken from the industrial revolution when French peasants would throw their wooden footwear into machinery in order to get a much needed rest while working insanely long hours. (The French name for wooden clogs, "sabot," is where we get the term sabotage.) The infoshop (as they like to call themselves) seeks to disrupt the gears of capitalism and provide an alternative point of view for anyone who cares to listen. We urge you to at least stop in and see what may catch your fancy. You can either feed your mind or find the opportunity to get your hands dirty and get involved--anything is possible.

Wooden Shoe Books

Shhhh.....It's a Secret

Super classified, undercover show tonight starring Paint it Black and The Loved Ones. This one is purposely under the radar, since it's two big Philly bands playing a small show. Email info@paintitblack.org and Mr. Yemin and company will let you know where and when to show up. You can also email us if you prefer, 'cause we got the lowdown. No matter who you get the info from, please don't post the name or address anywhere public. It's early and all ages, so if you're leaving work, you will need to hustle that ass to get there before those young whipper snappers. Good luck!

Psychobetabuckdown at the North Star Bar, Keeping out of Direct Sunlight in Camden

Bust out the Visine, 'cause southern California's resident stoner kingpins Cypress Hill take up the stage at the North Star Bar for a super duper rare club appearance. This show is huge because it's so small. Though your brain my be sticky with resin from years of bong hits, you'd best think quick and snatch up tickets for this shindig, tickets are going to fly out the door. That's right cheeba monkeys, sell that eighth of kind, 'cause this shit's a bargain at $25. Saturday, April 10th.

On the other end of the spectrum, Green Day and AFI are going to play a show together at the Susquehanna Bank Center. This show is huge because it's so huge. As a recovering goth, Davey Havok has been overheard saying his goal is to try to get a tan on this tour of enormous outdoor amphitheaters. Plus, Green Day draw such a ridiculously large crowd, they can't be limited by places with walls and ceilings, man. Anyway, this is going to be grossly overpriced if you want to be anywhere but the lawn, and since this is a Live Nation venue, be prepared for some hefty service charges. C'est la vie. Tuesday, August 3rd.

A Sin of Omission

Feline Squeamish #1 and Feline Squeamish #2 have asked us to bring something to your attention. We let the weekend go by without mentioning Save the Florida Panther Day, the culmination of Save the Florida Panther Week. Our apologies; let us correct this immediately.

With a population count at less than one hundred according to most sources, the Florida Panther (appropriately the state animal) is a kitty that teeter-totters on the brink of extinction. Like most animals on the endangered list, the main cause of their dwindling numbers is destruction of their natural habitat and the introduction of highways (and the vehicles that travel on them) into their grounds. The interruption of the natural cycles of flora because of wildfire prevention and introduction of canals to corral the water table for development has also led to a decrease in the deer population, the Panther's major prey. Because of its severely limited numbers, the Florida Panther also suffers from the genetic repercussions of inbreeding.

Recently, Florida has put several programs into place so as to not sit idly by an let this happen. When large parts of Alligator Alley (a major east-west route across the state) were renovated in the mid 1990's, they included underpasses for wildlife to safely move from one side of the highway to the other, as well as netting and fences that encourage use of the underpasses. Alligator Alley and other highways that cross panther country have limited speed limits at dusk and dawn, when panthers are most active. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has worked with a big cat rescue facility in Texas on a captive breeding program, which incorporates, but is not limited to, cross-breeding with eastern Texas varieties of big cats. (Before their numbers were thinned, these felines regularly interacted with each other as their natural habitats overlapped. This is an effort to recreate that and eliminate some of the genetic complications from inbred cats.) Through these and other efforts, the population has increased from about 30 in 1990 to almost 100 currently. Despite this small victory, the Florida Panther remains critically endangered and continues to struggle. This year already has seen 14 panthers hit by cars and killed.

If you would like to help:
Florida Panther Net
The Florida Panther Refuge

Happy Freedom of Information Day!

That's right Squeamies! Today is James Madison's 269th birthday and in honor of the Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, we celebrate the government's requirement to provide, at least to some degree, transparency. Madison had this crazy idea that the size and power of the ruling body should be limited and the governed not be burdened by an intrusive federal power. As a young man, Madison defended many victims of religious oppression and became a protege of Thomas Jefferson in the Virginia legislature. Madison went on to author large parts of the Constitution, including the section that set up the then revolutionary three branch method of government and implemented the check and balance system. At first, Madison opposed the Bill of Rights because he feared that the federal government might claim any power that was not specifically limited in the Bill. When he saw that resistance was futile and that the Bill of Rights was going to happen, he worked tirelessly to ensure that they were the specific list of personal liberties that we know today and that they in no way expanded the oversight of Congress, the President or the court system. Madison fully believed that government was there to serve its citizens and not the other way around, and that it was in the best interest of the country to have an informed people. In his honor, on Freedom of Information Day, the American Library Association passes out the Madison Awards, given to those who best champion the public's right to know and access to public information.

Now, of course, there are severe limitations on what the government is willing to hand over to you, but it is comforting to know that you can't be punished for asking. For the most part, so long as it isn't a matter of national security and it doesn't fall under that hazy cloud of executive privilege, those records are open to you. So celebrate today by asking for anything that interests you. You may genuinely need the information, or it may just be because you can, but make your government work for you. It is there for your benefit and you should take advantage of it. You can find a link below to the Department of Justice which provides information on how to go about obtaining the knowledge you desire. If you are interested in state records, those fall under your particular state's own Freedom of Information Act, which may differ significantly from the federal version. You will need to search for the state information you desire; try looking under "open records law," "public records act," of "sunshine law," if you are having issues as each state has given it its own title. Good luck and have fun! Exercise your rights so we don't lose them!

Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act