Metal Dad - Hardcore for Life

Friday Photos

The Metal Dad family had a great time yesterday. We went into the city to the Chicago Christian Industrial League to help serve their annual Christmas dinner. #1 Son helped by washing dishes and Mrs. Metal Dad, #2 Son, and I helped by washing pots and pans. Then we went to the assisted-living community where my mother-in-law resides and had dinner with her, one of her friends, and one of my brothers-in-law and his sons.

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Merry Christmas

from Metal Dad and the family

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It's My Life (cont.)...

Sometime last month my manager at work informed me that I had "an unhealthy accrual of vacation time." I was asked to get my 200+ hours down to around 40 by the end of the year. So for most of November I was working 3 day weeks.

Then at the beginning of December we were informed that everyone had to take a mandatory vacation between Dec. 22 - Jan 5. No sweat for me since I still have plenty of time available as well as 3 floating holidays to use, but some folks will have to go into a negative vacation balance.

I understand the book-keeping concept behind this: reduce the financial liability by reducing the amount of unpaid vacation being carried on the books and I'm down with that. I'm just concerned that since Mrs. Metal Dad is done with school (for the immediate time being), the offspring are all on winter break, and I'll be at home more than usual our marriage motto of "divorce no, murder maybe" might be severely tested.

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Economic/Political Quote of the Day

Keynsianism is proof you shouldn't 'leave economics to economists.'

Good article by Andrew B. Wilson on Margaret Thatcher's approach to the British recession in 1981.

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Friday Photos

All dressed up for Mom           Mrs. Metal Dad getting "pinned"

A proud husband with his mother-in-law watching Mrs. Metal Dad graduate

Now Playing: Pink Floyd - Ummagumma Disc 1 - "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"

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Mises Quote of the Day

"For the naive mind there is something miraculous in the issuance of fiat money. A magic word spoken by the government creates out of nothing a thing which can be exchanged against any merchandise a man would like to get. How pale is the art of sorcerers, witches, and conjurors when compared with that of the government’s Treasury Department!"
Mises - The Theory of Money and Credit, p. 458

Now Playing: Flagitious Idiosyncrasy In The Dilapidation - Flagitious Idiosyncrasy In The Dilapidation - "Tied up"

Technorati Tags: Economics, Fiat Money, Inspirational Quotes, Mises

Congratulations

to Mrs. Metal Dad who graduates today from the LPN program at a local college. She worked very hard and I'm tremendously proud of her. I once joked that as soon as she finished and found work as a nurse I was going to quit my job and be a stay-at-home dad. I think she thought I was serious.

Major props go out to our sons who were very helpful and understanding through crazy schedules and medical talk at the dinner table.

Now Playing: Iron Lung - Cold Storage - "Regenerate"

Technorati Tags: Family, Nursing

Mises Quote of the Day

"They [Keynesians] blithely assume that the state has unlimited means at its disposal."
Mises - Planning for Freedom, p. 90

Now Playing: John C. Lilly - E.C.C.O. - "Lilly's Voice"

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Play of the Day

The Life and Times of a Unicorn - The Unicorn Project

Shameless plug for #2 Son's death/grind/hardcore band who are playing a show tonight with post-hardcore, screamo band Greeley Estates.

Now Playing: Unsane - The Peel Sessions - "Organ Donor/Street Sweeper/Junge Music/Exterminator"

Technorati Tags: Deathcore, Family, Greeley Estates, Hardcore Music, The Unicorn Project

It's My Life (cont.)...

It's not a pair of baggy jeans and a band T-shirt that make you hardcore. It's a family

#2 Son, one of his friends, and I tackled the evening rush hour to drive into the city to see Madball and Suicidal Tendencies at the House of Blues last night. We made good time but the parking lot I had intended to park in was no longer there (I guess I've got to get into the city more often). We found an acceptable alternative a couple of blocks from the venue, hooked up with one of their friends and headed off to the show.

We were a bit late for the 6:00 PM start and thus missed most of the opening band's (Whole Wheat Bread) set. We caught a couple or three songs. They didn't suck but were nothing spectacular.

Madball played a rousing set of the New York hardcore for which they are known. These guys conjure up those feelings of family and belonging that I first experienced at an Articles of Faith show in Chicago back in the early Eighties. But this is not a nostalgia act. And while there were plenty of nods to the past their music and live show is still fresh and exciting.

Never having been a huge fan of Suicidal Tendencies, my expectations were not great. They played a good set of old and new songs to a wildly enthusiastic crowd. I don't think I've ever seen as many folks near my age at any of the shows I've attended in the past few years as I did last night. That's pretty good testimony to the loyalty of their fans.

Now Playing: Sick Of It All - Call To Arms - "Hindsight"

Technorati Tags: Family, Hardcore Music, Madball, NYHC, Suicidal Tendencies, Tours

It's My Life (cont.)...

So, somehow I got volunteered to drive #2 Son and one of his friends into the city tonight for the Suicidal Tendencies/Madball show.

I have to admit I'm not crazy about driving into the city (Chicago) but Mrs. Metal Dad thinks I'm getting a bit goofy in my old age so it's off to the House of Blues tonight.

I've never been a huge fan of Suicidal Tendencies, especially in their more metal-oriented period, but back in the early Eighties they were one of the better hardcore punk bands to come out of California.

I've always liked Madball and their signature New York hardcore sound and I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Now Playing: The Holy Mountain - Entrails - "Slaves"

Technorati Tags: Family, Hardcore Music, Madball, NYHC, Suicidal Tendencies, Tours

Sometimes the News is Worth Reading

Chicago Tribune reports that Gov. Blago (If my lips are moving, I'm lying) has been taken into custody by the Feds. Maybe he can share a cell with Ryan.

Now Playing: Massmord - Inget Liv / Ingen Död - "Wasted Lives"

Technorati Tags: Blago, Corrupt Chicago Politicians, Current Affairs, Liars and Thieves, Politics

Mises Quote of the Day

The idea that political freedom can be preserved in the absence of economic freedom, and vice versa, is an illusion. Political freedom is the corollary of economic freedom.
Mises - Planning for Freedom, p. 38

Now Playing: Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star - "Zen Archer"

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Mises Quote of the Day

What the government spends more, the public spends less. Public works are not accomplished by the miraculous power of a magic wand. They are paid for by funds taken away from the citizens.
Mises - Human Action, p. 655; p. 659

Now Playing: Keith Jarrett - Dark Intervals - "Ritual Prayer"

Technorati Tags: Economics, Inspirational Quotes, Mises, Politics, Spending