There I go…

I’m moving. I’m tired and bored of this wordpress-thingy, I don’t feel at ease with the layouts and with the processes in between, like the paragraphs and stuff like that. To whom it may concern - below is the link to the all-not-so-new-but-willing blog site. Stay tuned and follow me — if you wish.

http://randyflynn.blogspot.com/

See you on the other side…

“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.” (Exodus 22:16-17)

Stop the Madness! (ep. 2)

Episode 2 of my personal view for what I’ve already called “the Tibet question”. Sorry if I haven’t posted anything on this blog, but I’ve had exams throughout March and it was very frustrating. Yep, it’s been a hard month for me and thank God it’s over.
Today’s lyrics are from one of the finest, ground-breaking grindcore albums, left alone one of my favourite artists: The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code. I think this song really fits in with the attitude that the Chinese governor had in letting the Olympic Games begin - you’ll eventually see when you’re reading the lyrics, trust me.

Well, listen and read (or just read, eventually) without prejudice - simple as breathing. In no ways I am instigating people nor riots, I’m just using those lyrics in order to start a discussion and criticize today’s politics and everything that’s rolling in (and out of) it. Here we go then, have “fun” and think about it.

 

“SILENCE IS DEAFENING” by Napalm Death

Rant long and loud
Repeat ’til you’re blue in the face
Ever get the feeling you’re always on a losing streak?

Their silence is deafening
From the havens of thieves and kings

Empower those who serve to deflect suspicious minds
Action and answers as likely as a reversal of time

Their silence is deafening
From the retreats of tamed apologists
Their disdain is crippling
For those whose crises they have fixed

I am your untermensch - a trace of filth to be scraped off…
A trace of filth to be scraped off

Yet when it’s you who’s in their debt
The strong-arm brings you to your knees
So much for progressive authority
A trace of filth to be scraped off

Power for the powerless - well, where?
Screaming at the wall to make more sense…

… I melt back into indifference

The silence is deafening
The silence is deafening
The silence is deafening

Stop the Madness! (ep. 1)

 

First of probably two or three posts dedicated to the Tibetan question. I don’t know what’s going on there, but I’m pretty sure on one thing: VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER. Remember, we’re living in the Age Of Communication, not in the Age Of Despair. That was the Middle Ages, you assholes. If you really are what you claim to be, then why don’t you use your powers to stop this madness, put pride aside and start acting for peace?

For you clever people, I wish to consider the lyrics of this song. It was first published in 1993 but it’s still actual and, for me, very strong and powerful. Read carefully and please comment.

“REFUSE/RESIST” by Sepultura

 Chaos A.D.
Tanks on the streets
Confronting police
Bleeding the plebs
Raging crowd
Burning cars
Bloodshed starts
Who’ll be alive?!

Chaos A.D.
Army in siege
Total alarm
I’m sick of this
Inside the state
War is created
No Man’s Land
What is this shit?!

Refuse/resist
Refuse

Chaos A.D.
Disorder unleashed
Starting to burn
Starting to lynch
Silence means death
Stand on your feet
Inner fear
Your worst enemy

Refuse/resist
Refuse/resist

In Loving Memory…

 

John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 - March 5, 1982)

“EFILNIKUFESIN (N.F.L.)” by Anthrax

It started back in high-school
So cool, king of the scene
You found that making people laugh
Was more than just a dream
The public took right to you
Like flies to a pile of shit
So funny and smart so talented
But success just couldn’t fit

[PRE-CHORUS:]
Wasting your life
No future is bright
Dancing on your grave
Living like a slave, someone should’ve said…

[CHORUS:]
N.F.L., Efilnikufesin
N.F.L.
N.F.L., Efilnikufesin
N.F.L.
Wake up dead, in a plywood bed six feet from the
rest of your life
And when you couldn’t see your own dependency
N.F.L., NICE FUCKIN’ LIFE !

The whole world is your playground
Yet you can’t find your niche
Your only friend it helps you through
Helps you dig your daily ditch
The bottom line can’t touch you
Cause you’re above the rest
But your little friend’s the enemy
And the bottom line is death

[REPEAT PRE-CHORUS]
[REPEAT CHORUS]

[LEAD BREAK]

You lived a life of excess
GODDAMN shame it’s such a waste
Just one too many cookies
From the batch no one should taste
Yet his memory still stays with us
Cause watching him was fun
Too bad that things weren’t different
Who knows what he’d have done

[REPEAT PRE-CHORUS]
[REPEAT CHORUS]

Don’t Believe a Word (ep. 1)

Don’t believe a word when they say that weapons of mass destruction do not exist. They DO. And there’s three of them:

1. Nuclear weapons.
2. Chemicals.
3. The Gilmore Girls.

Power (and the Complications It Holds)

Ok, it’s the whole week I speak about it, I’ve made up my mind and I think I’m ready to talk about last thursday’s topic on “La Bella Vita”. Sorry if I’m late, but I wanted this to be as complete as possible. It’s very long, so you’re free to yawn.

The word “power” has many definitions, but two of them have a particular meaning:

1. the capability to act or function effectively,
2. the ability to exert authority or control over others (source: Oxford Monolinguistical Dictionary)

There are many ways in which “power” can express itself and nowadays it is impossible not to find an example of it: according to our everyday knowledge, its range is wide and it varies from the mere mechanical concept to the holy and divine, left alone the political, industrial and economical aspects. It is a clear example of a concept that it’s been evolving throughout the centuries. But what is “power”, and what is a “good” or a “bad” power?

To the eye of the beholder, a “good” power is something seen as positive, that brings stability and a certain, commonground feeling of safety (i.e. the warmness of a bonfire); a “bad” power brings the opposite and it is often associated to images of pain, oppression, sorrow, left alone a sudden, violent exposition to unleashed energy (e.g. a conflagration). Whether the lines between the two qualities are well known, it is cold facts that usually “good” powers come across them and stirs in the “bad” ones (electricity causes millions of people to be electrocuted) and so the “bad” powers (guns are still used as a defense) can - even though some of them seem necessary, like fire. Eventually, it is not a matter of quality, but rather a question of usage.

In order to fully express and operate, every power needs a source and every source needs another source since it is a power by its own - whatever its range of action is. In addition, the number of sources for a power are limitless, but their quantities are not, which makes a gluttonous appeal to greedy people. Considering this and that sometimes the two meanings for the word cited above walk together, the best way for us to use power, left alone the problems concerning an equal and just distribution of it, has become an issue around the same time the meaning of “power” had progressed. By living with this continuous issue, mankind had started thinking of a power that holds every other form of it, or something that grants a perpetual authority - that is, the absolute power, which is mostly intended as infinite. If on the one hand it can be considered positively good, on the other it is a guarantee to corruption and oppression in both fisical and psychological meaning. For instance, if a man was given the chance to control this ultimate power, one of the first things he might want to do it would be quashing the others with it, for he thinks he is in a perpetual cliffhanger and wants the power for himself only.
So it is up to two main questions: what is the best way to use our power, if granted, in order not to harm or disrespect the other’s? And secondly, are we ready for it?

Personally, here is my answer to the first question: the best way is to save it and use it when there is a real need of it. We are living in an age where we have “more than enough” and sometimes this means a huge waste of [ ] (fill the gap with anything that comes in your mind). One waste leads to another, and it is just a matter of time before we run powerless in front of the real need. It is best for us if we try to use this “power” in better ways, especially for granting happiness or welfare.

About the second question…well, it is up to us. We should look deep inside ourselves and see if we are really worth of having it.

Now a new question comes out…what is happiness?

iRandy #2

Here we are as scheduled for the monthly appointment with the hit parade of the 4 most played records in my iPod in the last 30 days. So many things have changed in this period of time (welcome Lucretia…I love you…) and I think this has had a significant weight (so to speak) on this month’s playlist. Let’s see what I’ve been listening to…

1) Napalm Death, The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code (2004)
Most played: Silence Is Deafening, Vegetative State, Morale

Powerful, fast and shredding grindcore. Napalm Death, in my opinion, have done a real comeback and returned to be THE band in their own genre: songs about corrupted politcs, personalities drifting and morale dilemmas, all in a not-so-obvious way, typical of the band.

2) Carcass, Wake Up And Smell The…Carcass (1997) Most played: Emotional Flatline, Rot ‘N’ Roll, Tools Of The Trade

After the melodical shift heard on “Swansong” (1996), Earache Records released some out-takes from that album’s sessions, plus some other from EPs or compilations. This is a best-of which is not a best-of, but a glimpse on the artistical and melodical evolution of a seminal band. You can’t definitely miss it.

3) Megadeth, Rust In Peace (1990)
Most played: Holy Wars…The Punishment Due, Lucretia, Tornado Of Souls

Megadeth’s finest and renowed album and also, the last example of pure thrash/speed metal. And sadly, the last album by the TRUE Megadeth, before the downward spiral towards more melodical and “pop-oriented” sounds heard on “Trust” (1997) and “Risk” (1999)…

4) Deep Purple, Perfect Strangers (1984)
Canzoni: Knocking At Your Back Door, Perfect Strangers, Not Responsible

Let me say it now: this is the only album by Deep Purple that I actually enjoy. I don’t know if it is for the rock sound that it creates, or if it is for Ian Gillan, who really knows how to convince me, or if it is just because I was born in the 80s…anyways, this is pleasant rock, even if the drums are redundant.

That’s it for now! Check out every first friday of the month for my heavy rotation playlist!

!golb ym ot emocleW

I tip my hat to you and say hi! My name is Luca, I’m a 22 years old Italian student and I’m very glad to start an english blog! I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do, since it is my very first blog — be gentle and kind with me, ok?

First things first: some parts of this blog are actually an english translation of my original italian blog, which can be publicly viewed and commented here. The main reason why I wanted to start rewriting it in english is basically because of my American friends who are staying in Rome, working for a christian association called AGAPE Italia. I have invited them on my italian blog once, but since they’re American they couldn’t unfortunately understand all of the jokes on it. So, here I am - with an all-new account on WordPress and willing to start a new, exciting adventure in a foreign language! (oh, here I go again, talking like the main character of a role-playing game…).

Now, here are some of the things I’ll be speaking of in this blog, and be advised that if you feel offended by strong language and/or strong imagery or anything that could really offend you, please live this blog immediately. So to speak: sometimes I could coarse with a lot of “F words” and such. But fear not - this happens not so often, since I am calm and quiet most of the times and I keep profanities for myself. And if that doesn’t happen, it’s just because I’m very angry and I need to “let go”.

Basically, I’m going to talk about common, everyday topics like music (especially the heavy one) - and you might eventually read about my personal reviews on music CDs, if you’re lucky enough. Then movies, videogames, things that happen in the everyday life of an ordinary madman like me (just kidding!), fun stuff and such…ok, that’s not a great presentation of things, but say, I’m still not sure about what to write here anyway. Just stay tuned and enjoy what the cat drags in.

Since this site is still under construction, I’m filling this empty space with the full lyrics of one of my favourite songs, Blind Faith by Dream Theater. This one’s dedicated to Joel, Amos, Matt, Chris and all the guys at AGAPE Italia — keep up with the good work guys, you rule.

Dream Theater - Blind Faith
(Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, 2002)

Hear me, speaking
Asking why I even bother
Tell me, how you
Live from day to day

Take your time and look around
Is this utopia you’ve found

Sick of all of this
The suffering and we just carry on
Isn’t it time we care and lose the hate
Understand our fears

But we do all that we can
Justify the means to an end
Sorry you must excuse me
I’ve painted my own Mona Lisa
She’s fixed everything
Now I’m spoiled beyond my wildest dreams

Blind Faith we have in you
Invisible
Which direction do we choose
Predictable

Take the streets, the beaten path
Our system works for whom I ask
Yeah I have it all
The bigger house
An iron fence to keep you out

When did we all let you down
So come Messiah show us how how
Our human spirit drowns
Don’t think you hear me now
No sign of you around
What is it you hope to see

Blind Faith we have in you
Invisible
Which direction do we choose
Predictable
Give us something we can use
Desirable
Cause you’ve done all you can do
Regrettable

And still life pushes on
With or without you
We’ve got to carry on
Our will, will guide us to
A place where we belong
Know there lies the truth
I am the believer who gives purpose on to you

I don’t think we let you down
So come Messiah show us how how
Throw us a pure lifeline
I hope that you hear me
Too proud to be around
There’s more to us than we see now

Blind Faith we have in you
Invisible
Which direction do we choose
Predictable
Self ignorance, abuse
Desirable
Cause you’ve done all you can do
Incredible

 

See you next post!