New Metal Pundit for 2008

Al Bundy and I have been working on revamping this blog. Hopefully many of our original readers will return and help make this blog as great as it once was. The original Metal Pundit paved the way for new friendships, and we hope we can continue making great friends while discussing what we love the most: METAL! Of course, this blog will be heavily skewed politically. As you all know, the administrators of this blog are all a bunch of crazy, anti-Bush liberals! However, we respect opposing opinions and we strictly treat everyone respectfully (unless you ask for it, of course). This is a place to debate and challenge our most solidified virtues.

A new spin to this blog will be my thoughts and analysis of legal topics. As many of you may know, I am currently in my first year of law school. I have completed my first semester and I have learned incredible amounts of law and lawyering skills. I will gladly explain legal concepts with which I am already familiar. As my studies progress, I will be able to offer more insight. However, please do not ask for legal advice because I am not yet a licensed attorney. It is against the law for a law student to offer legal advice, so don't bother.

We all hope you enjoy the resurrection of this blog. As always, we are open and willing to consider all reasonable suggestions to improve the blog. Have fun and enjoy the posts!

Forty-Two Ways Not to Have Sex With Ann Coulter

Law School

As many of you know, I will be starting my legal career this Monday, August 20. As a result of this, I will be away from this blog for a while. As a matter of fact, I have been ignoring this blog for quite some time, mainly because the road to getting accepted to law school was arduous. Furthermore, I didn't want to write any politically-related articles because future employers will likely investigate me, and I wouldn't want my political ideology to hurt my chances (you never know).

This isn't farewell by any means. I will probably share my thoughts about law school from time to time. I may relinquish my frustration on here as well. I hope you all understand.

I trust this blog to my closest online friends - BigNewsDay, Al Bundy, Metallord, and BlackLabelAxe. Have fun guys!

For those of you interested, here is my schedule for the next months:

PROPERTY - Mondays and Thursdays
CONTRACTS - Mondays and Wednesdays
TORTS - Tuesdays and Fridays
LAWYERING SKILLS - Tuesdays and Fridays

Wish me luck brothers!

New "Debates" Section on Legions of the Abyss Forum

Debate about all the controversial topics you adore at the newest section at Legions of the Abyss Forum.

All readers of this blog are welcome to sign up (if you haven't already) and debate politics and music with us.

ENJOY!

Happy Independence Day!

On this special day, let us forget the shortcomings of our current government. Let the celebrate the ideals the founders of this country promoted - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July!

A Compromise for the Future:

I've heard a lot of terrible things that are perfectly untrue said about Mexican immigrants lately. I've heard fear-mongers make them out to be unlawful degenerates, and even more ridiculously- terrorists! I've got a message that is not new at all:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

That's very likely what your own ancestors saw and heard when they got off the boat. If you think your ancestors came here legally then you are kidding yourselves. The Irish that came to America in the 19th century were treated worse than slaves and were rushed to the front lines to face their certain death at the other end of Confederate gunfire in the war of northern aggression between the years of 1861-1865. Otherwise they were spit on, shat on, and paid pathetic fractions of their comparable "natives" wages for doing the same work. Watch the movie "Gangs of New York" if you need some perspective. They were only given citizenship because they could be sacrificed for Mr. Lincoln and his Republicans in his conquest of Virginia.

Okay, the history isn't helping us in 2007. Here's my proposal:

All U.S. Citizens are required to do the following:
1) Pay taxes
2) Speak and Write in English

1) We all pay taxes. Income tax is ridiculous and unconstitutional, but we've been over this already. The Fair Tax makes sure that the people using government are all paying for it. Everybody buys retail goods, absolutely everybody. Even tourists, even illegal immigrants, in fact more than legal citizens. It's also the only way our government has a prayer of keeping our benefits funded, like Social Security and Medicare.

2) We must have an official language. This is where the no-amnesty guys will start to realize that I haven't lost my mind. The English language won a majority vote to German by just a handful of votes during the debate over what our language would be. Can you imagine the persistent disaster that would have plagued us if our founding fathers refused to adopt a uniform language? The cost of doing government with translators is terrifying, and it is destroying our chances of public schools working. I am truly enthusiastic and grateful that people want to be Americans, but before giving them the same rights that we fight and have died to preserve, I'm perfectly fine with requiring that you be tested for sufficient aptitude at the English language.

"We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
-Theodore Roosevelt 1907

People don't immigrate just to abuse the local health care system. You don't leave your homeland to take somebody's job. You leave your homeland in persuit of opportunity. If you wish to deny this persuit to others then you are less American than somebody who is currently leaping over that stupid fence near San Diego. The only thing we as citizens ask is that you learn the language we do business in, and that you pay your fair share of taxes. Our current tax system is abominably fucked, so once we fix that we native Americans will learn that immigration has, and always will strengthen our country.

LEGIONS OF THE ABYSS CONTEST DETAILS!!!

On May 5th, the new Legions of the Abyss contest will be held. To enter this contest tune into www.hardrockradiolive.com for the Legions of the Abyss showcase show with DJ Metallord. This is HOW you win: Tune in to hardrockradiolive.com on May 5th starting at 7 PM CST (8 PM EST) and DJ Metallord will give you a clue (or maybe a few clues) about the question Lefty Metalhead will ask at about 10 PM. First person to answer this question correctly wins the prize! YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED MEMBER OF THE FORUMS TO ENTER! listen carefully and be logged on to the forum so you can quickly answer the questions when it's posted.

DISCLAIMER: This contest is open to all members of Legions of the Abyss. The winner of the contest shall receive a prize with a value of no greater than $35 (thirty-five dollars). The administrators of LOTA reserve the right to strip the prize of any winner who violates the terms of membership (see the forum rules thread) anytime before prize is shipped. All transactions are final.

Gorguts (Live) - Death Across America

House Passes Timetable for U.S. Troop Pullout!

Finally! The Democrats have finally acted upon their mandate won in November. The country's most important issue, the war in Iraq, has divided many in our soil. Furthermore, and most importantly, it has been the cause of death for thousands of our troops and many more Iraqi civilians. The House of Representatives passed legislation setting a timetable for a troop pullout. It says that the troops must be home by September 2008 if Iraq doesn't meet certain requirements. There is no question that this is the correct action to be taken after four years of relentless fighting.

Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) had to say:

The American people have lost faith in the president's conduct of this war. The American people see the reality of the war, the president does not.

Agreed! The White House has threatened a veto by the President. Democrats, nevertheless, grew some testicles and decided to face Bush with no fear. The administration has effectively lost touch with the reality of the Iraq War. Our current operations are no longer working (assuming they did work in the first place). Its imcompetence to plan a post-war Iraq led to the destruction of many American lives, and a dire situation where terrorism has flourished in Iraq. Osama Bin Laden is probably thanking Allah for Bush's war in Iraq!

As expected, this was a party-line vote. The legislation passed 218-212. Republicans were quick to argue that such a timeline would be an admission of failure. What they ignore is that, if it is indeed a failure, it is due to a Republican administration full of ineptitude and corruption!

Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) had this to say:

The stakes in Iraq are too high and the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families too great to be content with anything but success

I agree. The stakes in Iraq have been very high and the sacrifices made by our military have been enormous. However, if this is the case, why did the Pentagon and the White House pursue a war without adequate planning? Why were our soldiers rotting away in awful conditions at Walter Reed? It seems like the "idea" of the stakes and sacrifices is what Republicans like Blunt are worried about, not reality.

As my good friend BlackLabelAxe said, someone has to do something. Partisanship doesn't matter so much at this point. We have to get something done...quickly!

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer(D-Md) said:

The American public expects, the Congress of the United States, to do something, not simply to say 'yes' to failed policies, but to on their behalf, speak out and try to take us in a new direction.

I applaud Mr. Hoyer!

Hopefully the Iraqis will see this action as a kick in the ass. Perhaps this will force them to take action and defend their country. It is now their job to secure and stabilize Iraq. Of course, it is debatable whether it can be done, regardless of our presence there. Iraq would probably best function as three separate countries, but that's a debate for a different day.

Republicans, of course, claim that the legislation is full of pork, and it is. However, we must realize that pork is what "greases the wheels" in order for the vehicle to move. If pork is necessary to get this done, then so be it. I'd sure rather have a pork-laden legislation passed than continue to lose our troops in Iraq!

House Ok's Subpoenas for Karl Rove and Aides

The Democratic-controlled House ok'd subpoenas for Bush advisor Karl Rove and other White House aides. The firing of several U.S. attorneys triggered this much-needed move, despite President Bush's threats against the Democrats.

Dubya warned Democrats that such a political move would be met with a "legal fight". He argues that the Rove and aides should be questioned out of oath and, perhaps, off the record. In other words, he wanted to create a stage where his advisors could do what they have continously done throughout his presidency-lie!

According to Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA):

After two months of stonewalling, shifting stories and misleading testimony, it is clear that we are still not getting the truth about the decision to fire these prosecutors and its cover-up

Hopefully, the Senate Committee on the Judiary will also issue a subpoena for Rove, as well as former White House Counsel Harriet "not-good-enough-for-wingnuts" Miers and her former deputy, William Kelley.

On Bush's lie-friendly terms, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) said:

Anyone who would take that deal isn't playing with a full deck

Alberto Gonzales has to either resign or be removed as Attorney General. The White House has recurringly shifted reasoning regarding the firing of the attorneys. Furthermore, Gonzales admitted to the illegal aquisition of personal data from Americans over the past few years. When will the lies and scandals end? I know, 2008!

In other news, Congress will vote on legislation dealing with troop withdrawal from Iraq. A House committee also made it possible for Valerie Plame, outed former CIA agent, to testify before it.

Discuss as you wish!

Concert Vids

KREATOR LIVE IN EAST BERLIN EXTREME AGRESSION TOUR 89/90



MY DYING BRIDE LIVE IN AT DYNAMO OPEN AIR FESTIVAL 1995

LEGIONS OF THE ABYSS REVAMPED!!!

Legions of the Abyss now has a new look!

http://www.legionsoftheabyss.com

SAVE INTERNET RADIO

If the RIAA and SoundExchange get their way, independent webcasting / Internet radio will soon cease to exist.

Why? The Copyright Royalty Board , the group overseeing statutory licensing for US-based internet radio stations, announced the new royalty rates for streaming radio performance rights. The board rejected the arguments made by webcasters and instead chose to adopt the proposal put forth by industry-backed SoundExchange, a royalty fee collection agency created by the RIAA.

The new rates are based on “performances” of songs. A “performance” is defined as one song being streamed to a single listener. In other words, a station with 1000 listeners is charged for 1000 performances of each song it broadcasts.

Further, the new rates, just announced today, are retroactive to 2006, and increase rapidly each year. The rates per performance are as follows:

$0.0008 in 2006
$0.0011 in 2007
$0.0014 in 2008
$0.0018 in 2009

At first glance, those seem like fairly small numbers: eight ten-thousandths of a dollar, eleven ten-thousandths of a dollar, and so on. When you actually do the math, however, you see the truth revealed. The average radio station plays 16 songs in an hour. Under this system, that would be equivalent to 16 performances.

0.0011 x 16 = 0.0176

Still a fairly small number - under two cents. But now assume this station has 1000 listeners. That means that, in one hour, the station would be billed for 16,000 performances.

0.0011 x 16000 = 17.60

That’s $17.60 an hour. Now we’re starting to see how expensive this truly is. Multiply that by 24 hours a day.

17.60 * 24 = 422.40

$422.40 a day. But there’s 365 days in a year.

422.40 * 365 = 154176

$154,176 for the year in performance royalties alone for a station with 1000 listeners. And that’s just for 2007: it gets even worse. In 2008, the cost rises to $193,536 for the year. In 2009, it goes up to $248,832. Even for a much smaller station, the royalties owed are huge.

Of course, these figures don’t include the other set of rights that Internet radio stations are required to purchase, which must be licensed separately from an agency like SESAC or ASCAP[/COLOR] , or the cost of bandwidth and server capacity. When you add all these costs together, you can easily see why nobody, save perhaps a megacorporation like AOL or Yahoo, could afford to pay these rates.

But wait - what’s this? The new rates apply retroactively to the beginning of 2006. In other words, someone who has been happily (and legally) running their small internet radio station for the past few years is suddenly going to be hit with possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional royalties owed. These bills could easily cause a small, independent broadcaster (and his family) to go bankrupt.

Meanwhile, over-the-air radio stations are still not required to pay one dime to the record industry for public performance rights from SoundExchange or an equivalent group. They only need to pay the far more reasonable fees of BMI, ASCAP, and/or SESAC. This reads like another tactic by the recording industry and corporate powers to exert control over anyone involved with music and an attempt to destroy independent broadcasting.

Whether you don’t want to see your favorite internet radio station go off the air, whether you just hate the RIAA, whatever the reason: please, help us get this senseless, greedy policy designed to do nothing but line the pockets of the record industry overturned. Write to, or better yet call, your representative , your senators, and the Copyright Royalty Board . Tell your friends and family, write on your blog, digg this - help get the word out and help to Save Internet Radio!

Here's the petition- http://www.savethestreams.org


(Thanks Fat Jenk)

Ann "Bitch" Coulter Does It Again!

Outspoken wingnut pundit Ann "cunt" Coulter used a homosexual slur to throw mud at presidential hopeful, John Edwards. The "bitch", as many Americans know her as, called Edwards a "faggot" while talking about him.

Is there no end to Coulter's bullshit? Will she ever shut the fuck up? I suggest John Edwards return the favor and dick-slap her in the mouth, or at least in that adam's apple of hers! Feel free to BASH this whore all over this thread.

Accepted to Law School!

Today I received an acceptance letter from the John Marshall Law School here in Chicago! I'm very excited because this guarantees my pursuit of a legal education. Everyone wish me luck and good fortune while going through three years of hell!

The Metal Pundit Forums are Up and Running!

Thanks to Goremaster, The Metal Pundit now boasts one of the best metal/political forums on the net! Make sure to visit the forum today! Register to participate in our discussions regarding the most evil metal music and controversial political topics. We will have compelling debate and discussion on the 2008 Presidential Elections!

Visit The Metal Pundit Forums today!

Thanks again to Goremaster for his outstanding work. He is truly a gifted forum-builder!

THE METAL PUNDIT FORUMS

Me and Lefty have started The Metal Pundit Forums! Another one to add to our Family of Forums!

SIGN UP FOR THE METAL PUNDIT FORUMS NOW!!!!

A reminder

A reminder to switch to the new Blogger. It's got some new features. Highly reccomended.

Legions of the Abyss

Check out the best metal site on the net!

Legions of the Abyss and the Forum

Hails to my brothers: BigNewsDay, Metallord, Goremaster, Ken Hawk, and BlackLabelAxe!

DJ BND Tonight!

Tune in and listen to the greatest metal/punk DJ on the net! DJ BND will kick your ass with the heaviest metal and the most controversial punk!

Democratic Presidential Poll

This has been done before, but with the ever-changing political climate, candidates quickly gain or lose ground (a la Biden). Since most of us here are Democrats, I'll list the top Democratic candidates. Feel free to share your thoughts about any candidate. It's never too early to begin thinking about our next president. Enjoy.

Barack Obama - Lefty's pick!
Hilary Clinton
Joe Biden
John Edwards
Christopher Dodds
Mike Gravel
Dennis Kucinich
Tom Vilsack
Bill Richardson
Wesley Clark
Al Gore
Al Sharpton

I think an Obama/Edwards or vice-versa ticket would be ideal. These two gentlemen have some good ideas.

The New Metal Pundit is Here!

This is the official rebirth of The Metal Pundit. I have designed a new layout for your viewing pleasure. At this time, please share your thoughts on the new look. Keep in mind, I'm still working on the links section. Don't hesitate to post some new stories! ENJOY!

Metal Pundit Shall Return Soon!

After months of being inactive, the return of THE METAL PUNDIT is imminent. Once again I will grace my fellow bloggers and metalheads with compelling political news and discussion, thoughts and insight on metal music, and a variety of hackery! Look for new material this week!

Check out The Abyss radio show

Legions of the Abyss now has it's on live radio show on http://www.hardrockradiolive.com that
will be hosted by me also i'm on there mon. wen.thurs. from 11 to 1 cst pm also at 11 to 1 cst am
The Abyss wull be on sat. nite at 11 cst pm to 3 cst am for hours of crush'in underground music.