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Just a little something to start your weekend off right.

U. of Phoenix buys naming rights to Cardinals stadium

There is nothing wrong with showing pride in ones alma mater and today I couldn’t help but picture a pimp-strutting Sam Craighead bopping around town with a big shit-eating grin on his face, in his bright purple University of Phoenix Online varsity letter jacket.

You see, the NFL's Arizona Cardinals have a new $455 million football stadium to play in this season. And under a naming-rights deal announced today, the retractable-dome facility in suburban Glendale will be rechristened University of Phoenix Stadium.

The stadium naming venture is part of a marketing effort aimed at emphasizing the university's success with students, Apollo (the University of Phoenix parent company)’s president Brian Mueller said.

"Our next step is to tell the story of an innovative institution that provides programs for working adult students and gives them a chance to do things," he said. "It's a rigorous process and the ones that make it put a lot into it."

Sam’s PhD in the Blogging Sciences just got a little shinier today.

When I think of our hugely important, culturally relevant website...

These words (from one of the greatest American thinkers of our time) always seem to come to mind:

A court is in session, a verdict is in
No appeal on the docket today
Just my own sin
The walls are cold and pale
The cage made of steel
Screams fill the room
Alone I drop and kneel
Silence now the sound
My breath the only motion around
Demons cluttering around
My face showing no emotion
Shackled by my sentence
Expecting no return
Here there is no penance
My skin begins to burn
(And I said oh) So I held my head up high
Hiding hate that burns inside
Which only fuels their selfish pride
(And I said oh) We're all held captive
Out from the sun
A sun that shines on only some
We the meek are all in one
I hear a thunder in the distance
See a vision of a cross
I feel the pain that was given
On that sad day of loss
A lion roars in the darkness
Only he holds the key
A light to free me from my burden
And grant me life eternally
Should have been dead
On a Sunday morning
Banging my head
No time for mourning
Ain't got no time
(And I said oh) So I held my head up high
Hiding hate that burns inside
Which only fuels their selfish pride
(And I said oh) We're all held captive
Out from the sun
A sun that shines on only some
We the meek are all in one
[Guitar break]
I cry out to God
Seeking only his decision
Gabriel stands and confirms
I've created my own prison
I cry out to GodSeeking only his decision
Gabriel stands and confirms
I've created my own prison
(And I said oh) So I held my head up high
Hiding hate that burns inside
Which only fuels their selfish pride
(And I said oh) We're all held captive
Out from the sun
A sun that shines on only some
We the meek are all in one
(And I said oh) So I held my head up high
Hiding hate that burns inside
Which only fuels their selfish pride
(And I said oh) We're all held captive
Out from the sun
A sun that shines on only some
We the meek are all in one
Should have been dead
On a Sunday morning
Banging my head
No time for mourning
Ain't got no time
"My Own Prison"
Scott A. Stapp

In Response....

At least someone has the cajones to say that George W. Bush is the devil incarnate.

In the esteemed position as a member of the New Dark Ages editorial staff (whom never gets a personal invite to these "tight knit" exclusive parties they speak of), I hereby present Mr. Wag's response to an internets predator, as our primary objective here on this site:

"The point is, there are those of us who are of the opinion that the world's going down the shitter. There's evidence all around. Sometimes its good to point it out. Sometimes its also good to point out the good stuff. The high and low. The Styx and the Stones. Get used to it."

Scary to think that peoples who were previously thought of as dicatators are now the only leaders in the world theater that present any sort of logic (except for the denying of the holocaust thingy by that Iranian guy). Am I a communist? No, I just want to start printing t-shirts of Mr. Chavez as some sort of visible rebellion to the "new dark ages" we find ourselves in.

Happy Birthday William Hickey... You Would Have Been 79 Yesterday!

Joshy said:

Let's all take a minute to remember William Hickey who was born on 9/19/27 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Happy belated 79th Willie!!

you asked for it... you got it.

Tending the Light of Civility in the New Dark Ages

This is a painting by Max Beckmann entitled Double Portrait. The description at the MFA in Boston reads, "This double portrait shows two of Beckmann's close friends: Hanns Swarzenski, a scholar of medieval art (and curator at the Museum of Fine Arts), and Curt Valentin (holding a candle), the New York art dealer who did much to promote Beckmann's reputation in the United States. Both visited Beckmann in Amsterdam during 1946, after the war's long interruption; but they visited at different times and never posed together. Instead, this imagined scene is a testament to the power of friendship and those who tended the light of civilization and civility during the long dark years of the Nazis."

I think this is an apt image for the NDA and for those who support it; for outspoken bloggers; musicians, artists and all of those who are begrudgingly enduring this dark period in American history.

Mugs And Jugs (And Hugs)

Beerfest


Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
(Warner Bros., 2006)





File under: Film

Make no mistake the Broken Lizard fellas sure know how to open a movie with a bang. The first ten minutes of Super Troopers might be some of the funniest material ever put to celluloid. And within the first ten minutes of their newest comedic brew, Beerfest, we are witness to an equally amusing German underground party-drinking scene filled with tons of screwball characters and a wonderful bit of silly, 80’s-style gratuitous nudity. But where their last two flicks, the aforementioned Troopers and Club Dread, started strong but struggled to maintain a high level of hilarity throughout, Beerfest keeps you giggling and guzzling (if you sneak beers in like we did) from start to finish. I am willing to admit the beer buzz might have aided the comedy slightly, but it’s the consistency of this one that really satisfies. It’s filled with plenty of their patented over-the-top shtick including a somewhat nauseating moment with an old lady essentially giving a bratwurst a handjob, but it’s balanced out with far stronger subtle humor than past efforts. I really appreciate their throwback style of comedy to a time when movies like Porky’s and Revenge of the Nerds reigned supreme. Bottom line, this is my favorite film of theirs yet; grab a few cold ones and go check it out.

Dear Blog...

I am in Florida for approximately the next week or so. It is sunny here and hottt. Too sunny?? Too hottttttttt? Who knows really!? I do. I think I might go see Wolfmother tomorrow night because they are playing at this small joint called Jannus Landing where I saw Gwar one time and because, well, I'm in Florida and there is not a whole lot else to do. I only know that one song that they sing about "the woah-man" ahhh "the wooo-manz" which sounds like early Christopher Cross, so yeah, totally worth checking out. In other news, I have enjoyed my time with the family and a few friends I haven't seen in a while. And my time at Target today wasn't so horrible. Anyway, just wanted to write to say hi and to tell Ohio I miss it and I'm sad I'm gonna miss a few things like Daymon's parade tomorrow (today) and Chris McCoy's CD release show next Saturday at Andyman's. But, I will be back in time for Pauly Shore at the Funnybone and Swearing at Motorists so don't get too used to me being gone. BFF TTYIW Talk 2 U L8R SK8R BOI!

I've finally updated Off-Ramp Ecosystems

Princeton researchers conduct study on the feasibility of stealing an election using Diebold's voting technology

Read the report here. Includes a video demonstration!!

Need we be reminded about the comment made by Diebold CEO Wally O'Dell that he was committed to delivering Ohio to President Bush?

Keith Olbermann: We have not forgotten, Mr. President. You have. May this country forgive you.

Did you see Olbermann’s Op Ed on 9/11 and President Bush in his latest "Special Comment" section on Countdown last night? It’s nothing short of brilliant.

Check it out: Video.

When so few voices have actually swallowed hard and stood up and said what is right and what a great majority of Americans are thinking, then we have to do our part by uniting behind them and doing all we can to help disseminate the word. It’s not up on YouTube yet, but I’m sure it will be soon, so be on the lookout as that's an excellent way to publicize and extend the reach of this piece. Please aid us in spreading the word on this video; it’s a powerful bit of opinion that the entire country, the entire world needs to see.

Here’s another avenue in targeting the greater media to Spotlight this story. Thanks to Crooks and Liars where you can also get the complete transcript of this if you’re interested.

Gone For Good

I was in college radio with WOXY’s music director, Matt Shiv, and so it especially pains me to hear that the station will be shut down on Friday, Sept. 15th due to continuing economic struggles. I have a lot of great memories with Shiv and I know this was always his dream job. He has worked so hard to maintain and grow the 97X legacy and it’s no wonder that with him in charge it really has been one of the best musical outlets around. Its loss will not go unnoticed. Buy their last t-shirt and wear it proudly. In a perfect world there would be thousands of stations like WOXY and this would be a blurb about some trite corporate station going out of business. But, alas, this is certainly no perfect world. Forever the future of rock & roll...

If You Like Your Nuts Surrounded In Chocolate

Dove


Smooth Milk Chocolate Bar with Almonds (Intl.)


File under: Food

Get the fuck out of the way Hershey's! This is the best over-the-counter chocolate bar I have ever had! It is 3.67 oz. of pure bliss. This is rich, silky, milk chocolate peppered with the proper amount of almonds. I will admit to being skeptical about paying over $1 for a candy bar, but this will satisfy!

Onward And M. Ward

I have to say I am quite excited to see M. Ward rolling into town again tomorrow night. The last time through he played with DeVotchka (which deserve a whole host of accolades themselves) and I was absolutely blown away by his performance. I went in expecting a subtle, solo-acoustic show and got a ballsy, bluesy full-band experience. And I do emphasize the word experience in that sentence. Ward’s dexterity with a guitar is nothing short of astounding (which I never would have guessed by his catalogue) and his voice commands a room at once like a cannon and at other times like a soulful seducer. Needless to say, this show is highly recommended.

Check out an Mp3 off of his latest Merge release, Post-War, which just came out on August 22nd. It’s called "Magic Trick" and it’s no illusion (sorry) that it’s one of my favorite songs of the year. Buy the record, it's GREAT!

And here’s what is left of his tour:

09.09.2006 Columbus OH Little Brothers
09.11.2006 Toronto The Mod Club
09.12.2006 Montreal QC La Sala Rossa
09.14.2006 New York NY Webster Hall
09.15.2006 Alexandria VA The Birchmere
09.16.2006 Philadelphia PA Theatre of Living Arts
09.17.2006 Somerville MA Somerville Theatre
09.18.2006 Charlottesville VA Satellite Ballroom

w/ Portastatic
09.19.2006 Carrboro NC Cat's Cradle

w/ Lambchop & Portastatic
09.20.2006 Nashville TN Belcourt Theatre

w/ Portastatic
09.22.2006 Denton TX Hailey's
09.23.2006 Austin TX The Parish
09.25.2006 Tucson AZ Rialto Theatre
09.26.2006 Tempe AZ The Clubhouse
09.27.2006 San Diego CA San Diego Woman's Club
09.28.2006 Los Angeles CA Henry Fonda
09.29.2006 San Francisco CA The Fillmore
09.30.2006 Portland OR Aladdin Theatre

Oh boy, Old Joy

I can't remember the last time I was really excited for a film as much as I am for this one:

Old Joy trailer
Official Old Joy website

First showing in Columbus: Wexner Center/ October 14, 2006

The NDA Presents... Robert Pollard!

The New Dark Ages is really excited to announce the next show on our "NDA Presents" schedule, if you will, is none other than former Guided by Voices frontman himself, Mr. Robert Pollard!

Not only that, but we’ll be doing it in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio! It is going to be nothing short of MAGICAL!

The show will take place on November 11th at The Foundry with support by Mitch Mitchell’s Terrifying Experience and Murder Your Darlings.

Tickets for this 18 and over event will be $16. We’ll let you know when and where to get them the second they become available.

For now, enjoy an Mp3 off of Bob’s upcoming solo release titled Normal Happiness -- out Oct. 10th on Merge Records:

Supernatural Car Lover {4.10MB }

Never Underestimate The Buzziness Of Buzz

Last week the word-trend group, Global Language Monitor, released its annual survey of words from television that had an impact on the language. Among television’s top buzzwords of the year were both “Truthiness” and “Wikiality” — two of the words popularized by political satirist Stephen Colbert on his TV show “The Colbert Report”.

This week will see the release of the year’s top internet buzzwords and fortunately we have obtained an early look at the list as a New Dark Ages exclusive. The irony of us being the first to report some of the year’ s biggest internet buzzwords is the fact that our site was actually quite integral in creating said buzz.

Among the top buzzwords on the wacky world webring (the intranets) were “Craighead” and “Blogs on a Blog” which both scored very highly, as did “Lance Bass is GAY” and “Sam Craighead: International Blogging Superstar”. The term “Cut and Paste” was somewhat of a surprise, as was “Joshy” which is an expression used to illustrate a sense of being similar to an alcohol-induced blackout. Symptoms include a degradation or complete loss of all motor function, voice-level control and tact. For example, you could say: “Man, last night after midnight I got all kinds of joshy and Lance Bass is GAY.”

Look for the complete list of this year’s top internet buzzwords to be released via yahoo.com sometime later this week. Tell’em you heard it here first on The New Dark Ages!

This Week in Rock & Roll TV: September 4 - 10, 2006

Here's the line-up:

MON 4: *The Flaming Lips on Leno
TUE 5: The Roots on Kimmel
WED 6: Dwight Yoakam on Leno
THU 7: *The Subways on Craig Ferguson
FRI 8: *Gnarls Barkley on Letterman
FRI 8: *Dinosaur Jr. on Henery Rollins [IFC]
SUN 10: Scissor Sisters on Subterranean

* = Episode previously aired

Check local listings for show times and channels in your
area.

Discuss here >>>