New Direction

Social Acceptance

2009-09-15T12:56:00.003+01:00

I am not about to express my opinion or complain about this subject in regards to how it might be in other countries or places in the world. The thing is, I haven't been to and/or witnessed enough places other than the country I live in to pass any sort of judgement or opinion on how it may exist or not exist in the same manner as it does here.

Being accepted shouldn't be determined on whether or not you choose to drink alcohol or not. It shouldn't be determined on you enjoying exactly the same things that everyone else around you enjoys (or think they enjoy). Having things in common with other people is a great thing, but being yourself and socially functioning as the person you really are and being accepted this way is a far greater thing in my opinion. This becomes difficult for someone when the vast majority of the people around them are less inclined to give someone so drastically different to them, the respect and benefit of the doubt that they actually deserve.

The lack of acceptance towards people who choose to be themselves quickly grinds people down and they soon jump on the "normallity" bandwagon and fit right in with the rest of the "normal people".

The people who aren't clones, the people who are true, make their own decisions and live how they want to live with an open mind are not weird, strange or as entirely different as it may appear to the narow minded crowd followers who find it so easy to pass false judgement. Looking in from the outside, taking to the sidelines and watching from exclusion lets us see things that you are totally oblivious to. Maybe it's time for some of the ignorance to be ignored, and for people to open up their minds to see a different perspective?

I find it hard to word exactly what I am trying to put across. But I feel if people put thought into what I am attempting to say, they will at least, understand slightly what I am talking about. Whether or not you agree or disagree, slighty or whole heartedly, everyone has a voice for a reason and in my life for definite there is a distinct lack of time spent discussing things such as this. I would love to speak to open minded people who can relate, voice an opinion or inspire me to change the way I think on some sort of level. My initial thoughts are that anyone willing to do this are hanging out with the socially unaccepted crowd already, what's up?

Not Enough Updating

2009-09-13T21:38:00.003+01:00

Time to tell myself that I am going to use this blog again.

When I am at home, I am sitting bored 85% of the time, so maybe I could use that time to work on the blog? Makes sense.

SET
IT
OFF

I Have 2 Blogs - Cool Guy Alert

2009-06-03T22:24:00.004+01:00

I started up a new blog to cover my geeky (favourite) side. Here is the link -

Trial & Error

Only the coolest dudes have 2 blogs, a Myspace AND a Facebook, right?

OUTLAST+ Gator Bait

2009-04-29T21:14:00.007+01:00

If you don't check out the new OUTLAST demo, you're insane. This demo is solid -
New Jersey Straight Edge Demo 09. Outlast is like the perfect band to me in so many ways, I'm so glad there are bands putting out great releases like this one, bands from NA and Europe as well. 2009 GO!

I also got passed this link to the Gator Bait - Glory Days EP.
Download it here, realise the awesome and buy it here. So damn good, my favourite GB song on this EP has to be The Burden, but you're gonna tear your bedroom up on the last track, REVENGE!

YOUTH CREW REVIVAL 2009

2009-04-29T20:44:00.003+01:00

So many good bands!

This list is taken from Alex who just started his own tape label. Thanks for taking the time and putting it together dude.

Youth Crew Alex Records

2009 is the time to bring back Youth Crew and here are the bands at the front of this revival!

Alert

Mindset

Right idea - (NO MYSPACE)

Overload

Truth Inside

Resolve

Clearsight

Gator Bait

ON

Reveal The Truth

Pressure

Outlast

Gone But Not Forgotten

Breakthrough

Get The Most

True Colors

Loud And Clear

Times Together

Keep It Clear

Birds Of A Feather

Common Cause

Pair Of Dunks

Face Reality

RECORD LABELS &MISC

Dead End Records

Vinyl Edge Myspace
Vinyl Edge Site

React

Life To Live

Just Another Day

Thunder Lizard

Crucial Response

Upside Down

Bottled Up

Adjust

Positive And Focused

Powered Records

My Friends Have Blogs Almost As Cool As Mine.....

2009-04-02T23:43:00.003+01:00

My friend Liz writes this blog A Glass Can Only Spill What It Contains. You should check it out, for the month of March she set herself a challenge to wear different clothes every day. That's insane. I have like 4, maybe 5 sets of clothes. But I'm a dude so that's cool. Check her blog, she is the nicest girl ever.

My buddy Stuart who sings in Defence (who I posted about earlier last month) writes this blog the-boy-who-died-while-playing-dead. I was planning to say he should update it more but he has a new post about going veggie so I'll let him off the hook. Stopping eating meat all together might not be the best way to start off, like I haven't been eating red meat for months now and I am managing fine, but we'll see how he does and hopefully he can give me some pointers to going veggie. Good luck Stu.

NYC

2009-03-25T23:52:00.003Z

15 hours of solid sleep to knock off the jet lag and I am back to reality. It sucks!

New York City was pretty cool. Here is just a few pictures of the trip -

See ya!

2009-03-19T01:16:00.002Z

I am leaving for Edinburgh airport in just under 5 hours. Destination - New York. My first time in the states so I am super excited.

I have tickets to 2 NYR games at Madison Square Gardens. Hopefully gonna get tickets to a NJ Devils game when we arrive. Apart from this I am going sight seeing and shopping for lots of cool shit that I can buy at cheaper prices and sneak back without paying the tax man a penny. Fuck the tax man. Fuck the UK.

See you next week!

Scottish Hardcore = YAWN (usually)

2009-03-17T14:00:00.003Z

I played in 2 bands a few years back. They were pretty terrible, but at the time we were young and we thought it was great getting to play shows and record. 2 of my best friends played in these bands with me. When they grew up, got proper girlfriends, got there own place, got pets etc etc, I think we then finally realised the fun was fading from it all and there was no point in keeping those bands going.....

I used to laugh at the thought of moving out of your parents house, moving in with a girlfriend, paying bills and looking after yourself. Now look at the ones who are laughing at the 21 year old still staying with his parents, with no ambition of moving out or looking after himself any time soon. I'll get my act together like these dudes did. One day. (I hope).

But anyway, the whole point of this right here is to tell you that my friends started a new band. And this time it isn't shitty. They are actually pretty awesome and it makes me really happy that they are finally playing in a good band. I just hope they can get recognition and actually do something with the band in this country. Check them out here -
Defence

There is also another current band from Scotland that I actually like. You can check them out here -
Intentions

A few more bands like this, and we might be onto something here! Faro, watch out!

Faro, Portugal

2009-03-14T00:09:00.019Z

This place rules hard! Look at what these guys do best.

First of all, Pointing Finger R.I.P -
Pointing Finger

Pointing Finger then spawned this band, Broken Distance, who are one of my favourite bands of recent times -
Broken Distance

And now these dudes, PRESSURE. This band has serious potential if you ask me. They might even knock Pointing Finger off my Euro Youth Crew top spot -
Pressure

Diogo vocalist of PF and now Pressure also does a fanzine. Guess what, yeah, it rules as well -
Wake Up And Live Fanzine

What the fuck Faro?????

Enjoy! Go!

Do you think I'm a piece of shit because I act a little funny? Just a little different?

2009-03-10T11:00:00.004Z

You don't know me! What I believe!

Yeah, I am going to actually start using this blog for all sorts of things instead of letting it sit here doing nothing.

Routine -

I have slipped into a constant routine. It sucks. More than anything. Maybe I have always been in this shitty routine, but one major thing changing in life has made me realise and think about it a whole lot more? The lack of any sort of social life gives you alot more time to sit and wonder about shit like this. I work during the days, I do nothing in the evenings apart from go to the gym these days. The only time I spend with people is when I play hockey on the weekends, which is fun, but it's the exact same story ever week of my life with nothing to work towards, nothing to look forward to or get excited about.

I guess we all have a routine in our life, but won't notice how shitty it can become until something great is taken from that routine, and all you're left with is the negatives. There's some sort of balance there to keep you looking forward.

Right now, I would trade my entire TFS collection for a life!

As It Is Fanzine #1 - Downloadable PDF

2008-08-04T12:24:00.003+01:00

I have uploaded the zine and it can now be downloaded in PDF format.

Download

As It Is Fanzine #1

2008-08-04T00:32:00.013+01:00

Yo! Here it is. As It Is Fanzine, issue number 1. The issue that never made it onto paper. The interviews were done quite some time ago now at the beginning of 2008 so some of the things said do not stand anymore. I think it's best this way that people will still get to see the work that I have done. So I hope everyone enjoys what I have managed to come up with. Oh, and you just have to click the pictures individually to get each page. Sorry it opens in Photobucket for the time being but I will try and sort this out and also get a full PDF version for people to download too. Enjoy -

2008-08-03T20:26:00.007+01:00

NEW DIRECTION! GO!