"Paradise Lost" by Symphony X

Symphony X fans have waited five long years for a follow up to the brilliant 2002 release "The Odyssey". It was difficult to predict what the band would do next. They'd already released an excellent concept album, "V: The New Mythology Suite" and numerous other great progressive metal albums so what was in store for us?

Well, they have done it again: "Paradise Lost" is a masterpiece.

The adjectives that came to mind when I first heard the album were "tight", "confident" and "complex".

"Tight" because the musicianship is superb, not one note out of place, not one beat off. The old expression "well oiled machine" suggests itself but in this case the machine is a Ferrari.

"Confident" because the musicianship is such that you just know these guys are at the top of their form. They are so good they don't have to think about it. They just play and the fact that they are sure of themselves and what they are doing comes across as confidence.

"Complex" because the rhythms are intricate, the music is intricate, the emotional content is varied and the interplay of music, rhythm and emotion is phenomenal.

I've listened to the album a few times now and there are still new things I'm discovering. I look forward to listening again and again.

So I give this album a 5 out of 5 and I highly recommend it. You can get it here: Symphony X: Paradise Lost

You are not alone. So SPEAK UP!

According to a recent survey by Consumer Reports National Research Center the majority of Americans know about the problems with the corrupt relationship between the FDA and the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Consumer Advocate Mike Adams gives details of the survey in his article, Americans fed up with drug industry influence, FDA corruption, reveals remarkable Consumer Reports survey.

In case you didn't know, right now:

• The FDA does NOT have the power to require warning labels on drugs with known safety problems. The Food and Drug Administration must negotiate safety warning labels with a drug maker. Isn't it nice to know that your health and life are points of negotiation.
• Pharmaceutical companies PAY THE FDA to review and approve their drugs.
• Pharmaceutical companies can bury negative drug trials, and the FDA has in fact been caught conspiring with drug companies to keep negative drug data secret from the public.
• Currently, doctors who earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in "consulting fees" from drug companies are not only allowed to vote on the recommendations for FDA approval of their drugs, there is not even any FDA requirement to disclose such conflicts of interest.
• And more! Read about it in Mike Adams' article.
  

Once you realize that the survey showed that the majority of Americans are outraged over this corruption then perhaps you won't be shy about raising your voice and demanding reforms.

The Facade at Google is beginning to crack

Google is at it again. While pretending to be the anti-Microsoft, the company of the people and the web site for the common man, Google is going about the business of creating its own monopoly in it's own special arrogant way: Google is starting to act like your garden-variety monopoly

Another Triumph for the Pharmaceutical Industry

When pro-wrestler Chris Benoit killed his family and then himself the fact that he was taking psychiatric drugs with known side-effects of homicidal ideation, psychotic behavior and suicide was mentioned but now is being carefully ignored by the media. In the latest round in the tragedy, there is a big argument over who was killed first because it affects who inherits. In the news articles I've seen there is not one mention of the psychiatric drugs but plenty of talk about steroids. You have to marvel at the immense power the pharmaceutical industry has over the media.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Drug Rehab - What Works, What Doesn't

I recently got a comment on my post "Drug Rehab Fraud". I moderate my comments so I didn't allow it because it was promoting a website that looks to me like a MySpace for the addicted. Rather a sick concept I thought. I know the old saying that a problem shared is a problem halved, and I agree with the idea, but this site was loaded with ads from the same kind of frauds I was writing about in my post.

Imagine it, you create a site to attract people who have an addiction then you advertise solutions that don't work so you can make money out of them and keep them coming back for more because they are still addicted. Pretty nasty.

So instead of promoting a drug rehab method that doesn't work, I am going to promote the drug rehab method with the highest success rate on the planet: Narconon

When Translators Go Wrong

Here's a car you'll want to buy! The Great Wall-Wingle! Yes, it's called a Wingle!

Listen to this: "Bold design of chrome plated grill, infiltrating with the desire to conquer all from inside to outside." Sounds sexy! How could you resist a car described like this: "Fashion in every detail demonstrates innovative design concepts, creative design and avant-garde daring style, without any meaningless decoration. Brilliant achievements in their careers enjoy life passion."

It's a powerful car: "GW2.8TC engine, self-creative power, China’s first high-pressure common rail diesel engine cooperated with Germany BOSCH Company which possesses of world’s leading diesel engine technology."

I'll take two to go! Great Wall-Wingle Intro

Apparently the wording was worser lastest week but it fixed was.

(You'd think they could have spent a couple more bucks - maybe a couple thousand even - to get the copy on their site right.)

Pepsi Aquafina is just filtered tap water?

Do you like paying out a couple of bucks for a plastic bottle containing filtered tap water? Well, if you do then PepsiCo is willing to help you. Yes, as you sip your filtered tap water you can look at the Aquafina logo and imagine you are drinking something pure and natural: Pepsi admits Aquafina comes from tap water

Is it any wonder that food companies spend millions every year lobbying Congress to lighten up the food labeling laws?

Powered by ScribeFire.

China bans Reincarnation

When I first saw the headline to the article, China tells living Buddhas to obtain permission before they reincarnate, I thought it was a joke but when I read the article I realized it was just another example of an oppressive government violating human rights.

Human Right #18: Freedom of thought. We all have the right to believe in what we want to believe, to have a religion, or to change it if we want.

The oppressive leaders of China are scared to death that someone will lead the people in a revolt against them, so when they see anyone who might have the slightest amount of influence over others they clamp down hard. It doesn't seem to occur to them that if they allow people freedom and human rights then the people won't want to revolt, but then totalitarian dictators were never very good at thinking.

Human Right #18: Freedom of thought - Video
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - abridged version
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - full text