Crowdfunding Platform

http://platform.invested.in is the marketing site for Invested.in's platform, which is available for license.

I am the co-founder of Invested.in, which is why I am posting this her.

The end.

Strudel!

Entropy

random phone...

Strudel!

Entropy

Playing with my new phone

My nephew and I!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

"Slow Car Crash" Rant...

[insert sentence about never using blog...i should write shit more often...blah blah blah]

So anyway, I was just listening to the fairly new Classics Of Love EP (former Common Rider, Op Ivy) and it really made me want to write something. Nothing in particular, just a million rant subjects flowing through my brain.

"All the dreams they taught to us as kids, come to find out they serve only the rich.
Work on the ruins and hope the money gods take pity on you against casino odds."

What the hell is stopping us (from reaching those dreams)? Obviously "the system"..."the establishment"...the years and years of tradition that put us in our place. Throw us all enough bones to keep going, doing what we're doing, and not get too out of line.

But what the hell is there to keep people in line nowadays? The super-popular loans that let everyone pretend they've reached their dreams have come back to bite everyone in the ass, the unemployment rate is still higher than ever, and most everyone keep their heads down and ignore the fact that everyone around them is completely fucked. That's not how I want to live.

"We walk in the alleys of the marketplace.
Hold our breath in the valleys of the broken race."

Why the hell can't the average people get together to raise each-other out of this? Are we still all banking on the system that stuck us in this hole? We're all wasting our time. (...and I'm probably wasting my breath.)

My Favorite stuff from Etsy!

Nicole (my wife) started selling her creations on Etsy. If you use Etsy, you should check out her shop (and heart it). I even got my mug on a couple of the cards!

http://loveleighday.etsy.com

Just when you think it's all over, it probably is.

I drive at least an hour to work every morning. It sucks. Up until Friday, I listened to the Adam Carolla show every day on the way to work...Kayword there was UNTIL. On Friday they had their LAST SHOW EVER....kinda.

Yesterday (Monday) morning Adam started podcasting out of his house. No comercials, no sponsors, nothing but Adam. Supposedly, in his first day of podcasting, adams poscast was downloaded over 250,000 times. Hopefully, this motivates him to keep this going.

I might just have to join the 21st century now and get an iPod or something.

Check it out: http://carollaradio.com/podcasts/

PEACE.

Zumbox - The REAL cost of a 42 cent stamp

Zumbox White Paper: What's the real cost of 42 cent stamp? - Get more Information Technology

Why couldn't my mom have read this article 20 years ago?

Many new discoveries, inventions and creative projects are the result of sheer happenstance or inadvertently veering off in an unexpected direction. If you don't inject a little disorder in your life you mostly likely will miss out on the serendipity of an unplanned success.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/Careers/04/30/cb.mess/index.html

My goal:

Do I hate Twitter? Probably not.

I signed up for twitter months ago and never used it. The other day I decided to revisit it and start using it...I am not sure what to think of it yet. In terms of searching for stuff, and discovering content (discovering diversions from life) it is awesome. In terms of actually communicating with my friends, it is pretty worthless compared to facebook/myspace. I am pretty sure that is only because not many close friends of mine use it yet. We'll see. Start following me on twitter using the link to the right --->

So far, my favorite thing to do on twitter is to read about zumbox. If you don't know what zumbox is, learn fast. http://www.zumbox.com

GO.

This week has been rough...

Nicole has been really sick, I washed my blackberry with the laundry, my credit card info was stolen from a restaurant I had reservations to, I found out I am going to OWE taxes this year...

Anyway, I just thought I would complain.

Seagull Guitar Network

Do you play a Seagull Guitar? I do.

There is now an online message board / forum for Seagull Guitar Players. There is barely anyone on there at the moment, but I would love to see it grow and have a place to gather with other Seagull lovers.

Please check it out and join in.

http://www.seagullguitars.net

PEACE.

Happy New Year!

Hello super-blog! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This last year was one of the most exciting years ever. Nicole and I had our 1st anniversary! I graduated. We went to Connecticut, New York, Israel, Santorini, Laughlin, and all over California (as usual)... I got a new job! I (kinda) learned how to play guitar. Sean & Niki, Ken & Jillian, and Andy & Elissa got married over the summer. I am sure that more awesome things happened, but they're not coming to me at this moment...

I am super happy that EVERY year for the past 5 years has been better than the year before!

This next year is going to be awesome as well. We already have plans to go to the east coast, I am co-producing the new NARDCORE compilation, we're exercising, I'm writing songs, I'm happy at work, and I am hoping to plan some more awesome trips for us to go on. Life is awesome.

Everyone that knows me knows I have a crappy memory...I have been reading about improving your memory and the top recommendations are to exercise, learn a new language or instrument, and to write a journal...so hopefully I write here more often, keep exercising, and keep playing guitar on a regular basis. I'll let you know how it goes. Or not...!

Missionary - Operation Ivy Accoustic Cover

Missionary - Operation Ivy - Cover

PICTURES FROM THE PIT dot NET!

This is a new site where you can upload, rate, and check out punk flyers, pictures, and art. It is really awesome. Check it out and contribute!!

PICTURESFROMTHEPIT.NET

Friends don't let friends vote mccain / palin

Friends don't let friends vote for McCain / Palin


..

My friend wouldn't charge me for a rape kit
my friend wouldn't send me off to die
my friends wouldn't steal a buck after giving me a dime
I'm not your friend, and you're not mine

Don't call me a friend after selling me a lie
don't call me a friend after changing you mind
I wasn't your friend last month, and I'm not you friend today
So don't call me a friend, it's not that that way

My friends aren't politicians, but they've got things to say
My friends have choice, that they won't just give away
My friends don't always agree on who their vote goes to
But I can till you this, it wont be you

Super Awesome Mystery Prize!!

I found a really funny site called Super Awesome Mystery Prize...their blog is hilarious. They will actually send you a MYSTERY PRIZE!! hahaah

Check it out:

Site: http://www.superawesomemysteryprize.com
Blog: http://www.superawesomemysteryprize.com/blog

PEACE.

ENGAGEMENT, 9/29, 9/30, 11/4, and a bunch of other shit...

Ok...so since last time I posted on this page, I GOT ENGAGED, California Redemption played 3 awesome shows, finished up our 7inch record, and broke in a new (2nd) guitarist. Man...I need to update this more often. I work too much.

On WED. OCTOBER 4th, 2006 I asked my girlfriend of 3 years, Nicole Leigh Lyons to marry me!!! She slapped me...then said yes! Life is good! WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!! I can't wait...

Man...that rules...I am seiously so damn excited...! There is no topping that...but here is the California Redemption news:

So, September 29th and 30th. Bakersfield, then Lompoc.

Bakersfield was awesome. All the bands kicked ass. The Vaggie Scabs, Broken Bottles, Los Dryheavers, us, and finally AGENT ORANGE! The locals Vaggie Scabs had 1 hell of a crowd, and as the show progressed, the crown outside grew larger, and the crowd inside grew as well...just not as quickly. All the local punks hung out outside while Broken Bottles and Los Dryheavers played...they missed out. By the time we took the stage we had won some of their love by offering some free CD's and hanging out with some of the locals. It was fun...hot as hell...Joe, our new guitarist, was rocking...the crowd grew thicker...Roach stage dove into some unsuspecting kids...and just as we were about to start playing The Crowd (Op Ivy Cover), the place got PACKED. So we started playing The Crowd, and the place went off. It was insane. From that moment on, the energy was at about 120%. There were skateboards in the pit, stage-dives galore, and one hell of a good time. GREAT show. If you weren't there, you missed out.

Then there was Lompoc! The next night was fun. I forgot to mention earlier that we convinced some friends to come along and we had about 3 or 4 car loads of friends with us. It was fun. I was able to pick up Nicole before the Lompoc show so that made it even better. Nicole and I met up with everyone at a little mexican restaurant in Lompoc. We had already eaten, so we drove with Mikkei over to a subway where he could get a vegan sandwich. We then hung around Lompoc for the next few hours waiting for the show to start and exploring the local area. We found the venue and it was a HUGE old vets hall. Pretty radical. There was some drama with missing bands, so we took the stage somewhat early. It was a totally awesome time. This night we decided to cover Fuck Armageddon by Bad Religion. Good times were had. Our friends in the Bad Samaritans were there as well, and they played later in the night. We ended up driving home that night...

Leftover Crack and Citizen Fish show now...man...what a show. We got about a hundred free shirts from Keegan's uncle, so when we were printing our new sweatshirts we decided to print on our free shirts and give them away at the show...If you got one, I hope you enjoy. :) I spent the night before puking, and I didn't have much energy before the show. I thought it would keep me from having the best time possible...it didn't. When we started playing, the energy was there and we had a great time. It was nice playing again in Ventura. There were a bunch of familiar faces and a bunch of kids singing along. I can't wait for a cheaper local show. It'll be great. After we played I downed a bottle of water and felt like I was going to start throwing up again so I went and met Nicole, wen't home, and was asleep before the show was even over.

These three shows were Joe's first shows with us. He kicked ass and so did the shows. If you recognize him, it's because he was the lead guitarist and singer for the Punk band Product Of Suburbia. We played a bunch of shows with them years ago and we have known Joe for a long time. Before joining, he would come to a ton of our shows and would always be singing along. It only made sence to throw him on guitar. He was always there anyways! If you go searching around the internet for pictures of us, you'll see him on such episodes as "California Redemption goes to New Mexico"..."Ronald Reagan sings along,"..."California Redemption headlines Ventura Theatre"...and a bunch more. If you see him around yell out "Joe Suburbia sucks!!"...he'll tell you abunch of cool stories. He rules.

Also since the last post, we finished recording, mixing, and mastering our 7inch. It has taken way too long to get this done, and it's great to finally be finished. We're just waiting on the artwork now and record release dates should be available soon. It'll be out on AWOL records, was recorded at ONE ROOM STUDIOS, it'll have art by MCHARDCORE, and will feature 4 new songs including the lyrics on a full poster.

Alright...I think that's it. Maybe not...I dunno. I'll try to post more often...

There are some videos out there for these shows, so as soon as I get a hold of them I'll get them posted online and i'll link to 'em here.

PEACE.

7.21 in Bakersfield

So...last Friday we were scheduled to play a show at The Gate in Bakersfield. We promoted the hell out of it online, and Roy from The excommunicated kept us informed about how they were promoting it and all that fun stuff. We got lots of feedback from kids who were planning on going, and the show was destined to turn out great.

Well, Friday came around and as soon as I got off from work I headed to Doug's house, we loaded the truck, and left to Bakersfield. Over 4 hours later, and a shitload of traffic we made it to the little star on the map...but where the fuck was The Gate?? Everything on the block was dark, and we could not, for the life of us, find the venue. We rolled down the windows and listened for some noise, but we heard nothing. Shit. We yelled at Mikkei, cuz he'd been there before and he had no clue as to where it was. Then, out of nowhere some punk rock kid starts running in front of our car yelling at us to stop. It was Roy.

Roy told us that earlier that day The Gate's transformer blew up and the electric company wouldn't have it fixed for a few days...BUT...the show was moved to Uncle Jimmies house...or some shit. Well, we didn't drive out to Bakersfield to turn around and drive home...so off to Uncle Jimmies.

About 30 minutes later...and a 10 minute drive...we got there. We pulled up to some fancy looking warehouses, and started walking towards them. Behind the warehouses was somebody's house, and a backyard filled with dirt, a filthy looking above ground pool filled with the remnants of the shows attendees, and what looked to be an old workshop of some sort (engine hoists, old car parts, buckets full of paint...all sorts of shit).

A band was set up, and was playing the last few songs of their set. We took the "stage" next. It was at LEAST 90 degrees outside and it was about 10pm. HOT. We played through a shortened set (there was limited time), and had a great time. Keegan hit me square on the head with his bass...ouch. Some dude was running around the dirt in a speedo. Yeah. Then came The excommunicated and Dagobah System. Both bands rocked hard and played fast. Good stuff.

Even though the venue didn't work out, we still had a great time. It sucks for anyone who couldn't make it out to the house and had to miss the show...but we'll be back out there soon. It wouldn't be Punk Rock if it weren't for shit like this. I don't even think there was an Uncle Jimmy or whoever. A big thank you for Roy and his girlfriend and buddy for waiting around for us for hours at the venue. You rule.

Here's our short setlist (I think...probably the wrong order): Live Free Or Die, Armor, Vets Hall, Religion For Dummies Part 2, People With Guns.