I think these past winter olympics was the most I have personally watched any olympics ever, summer included. Looking back now I really know why that is… the olympics are fucking boring. The winter olympics are pretty damned elitist as well because the sports played are often times rich, yuppie sports that most poor countries have no access too and can’t afford. The top placeing countries in the winter games are always the richest because lets face it, snowboarding and sking is expensive as fuck and where is someone in columbia going to find a decent curling board? Curling also brings me to my next point… Look at the number of medal’s givin out.  There were like 200+ different medal events in the olypics, and about 3 of them I would go out of my way to look up who won. The winter games have always been about one sport that matters, Hockey. I love Hockey a lot for those who don’t know. It’s probably seconded in sports only to MMA in my oppinion, and I could watch pucks on ice all day.  This year the olympics were in British Columbia Canada, a place I dearly love and (being from the pacific northwest) have visited a lot. I love the Canadian Landscape there, it’s beautiful. Canada started this “own the podium” campaign before the olympics started, they felt that since they are good at winter sports and they are the home country, they should try extra hard to win this olympics medal count, and everyone thought they would. I know I thought they would succeed but I really didn’t care much. The Hockey teams were announced and I picked my side instantly…. it was the side opposite of one of the biggest fucktards on the planet, Canadian player Sidney Crosby. My friends immediantly asked me though “Isn’t  you’re two favorite players playing canada? Getzlaf and Perry?” It’s true that the two Aneheim Powerhouses are proud canadian players but In sports I have a motto: “It’s more fun to watch a team you hate lose than a team you like to win.” Now that doesn’t always apply but for the most part it’s true. In baseball while I love the braves to win, a yankee’s loss makes me smile a little wider. In football I don’t even have a fucking team, but I still love to see the cowboys get destroyed. So as far as the hockey went, I was pulling for anyone to beat canada or more than that, beat Crosby. This immediantly brought up a conflict of interest for a few reasons, the USA was winning the medal count by quite a bit, and had smashed on Canada in their first game played and because of these things the media in both countries were on a tear. Canadian Media was telling the united States that they were cocky (which lead me to say “well no shit… stop the presses…”) and the USA was doing their normal “we’re better than you and we are smashing your ass” thing that we always do so well. The actions of both countries honestly made me sick. Most of you know how the story ends I am sure, Canada and the USA go to the gold medal game and Crosby scores the game winning overtime goal giving Canada the edge in what was an amazingly well played game by both teams. It sucks the way it ended but still a fun Hockey game to watch, the olympics were done and the americans had won the medal count, but the bullshit wasn’t over just yet. The Canadians and Maerican were bragging about what country really won and here was the argument: Canada felt like they won because they had more golds (I heard it about 300 times on twitter…), and the USA felt like they won because they had more medals. Here’s where I laugh…

If you read what I said above and think about it, the roles of the two countries in critizing each other is… Backwards. Canada is a country that is about everyone gets everything. Canadians are about everyone getting health care, education, and whatever. Canada is a big fucking hug and they want everyone in the middle. Thats admirable to me honestly. The USA on the other hand is about being the number one at most things. We want to be bigger, faster, stronger, and number one. Candians should be the ones angry we got more medals, and USA should be the ones pissed at Canada for getting more gold’s. In the face of admitting defeat, both countries are fucking arrogant and are going against everything that makes them who they are. Un-fucking-beilvable.

And in the end it comes down to one thing that pisses me off more than almost anything in this world: Pride in nationality.  These olympics really brought out the whole “proud to be something” assholes. People all over this world have pride in their nationality (sometimes when they’re not even from the country). Latin americans have ” brown pride,” I always see “pround to be Irish” shirts around, Americans have songs about being proud to be an American, and canadians have the same as the rest. I am here to let everyone know that pride in your nationality is FUCKING HORSESHIT! Growing up I was told one thing by my late grandma… “Pride is something you acheive.” People are proud of shit they have no control over, you couldn’t control what race your parents are, why would you be proud of that? Not to say you couldn’t be “glad” or “happy” to be from a certain place or area, that’s fine, but this pride bullshit has to go. Pride is not about nationality at all and becaue of this the Canadians and the Americans have proven to me that they are both fucking moron’s this olympics.

That’s really all I got to say. Fuck the Olympics, Love the Hockey, and who cares about medals. Now lets go fucking destroy the parliment and burn down the capitol building while drinking Moosehead and Rolling rock. Hey, we’re all together in this world that sucks, lets make the best of it… eh?

Since we are music-oriented here at DIY, I will start with my top ten albums of the decade.  These are solely Phyll’s opinions, and have nothing to do with Cory or his messed up mindset, and has a lack of swearing because of it.  This takes a lot of effort to not fill it up with Against Me! albums, but here we go.

10.  Heroes to Zeroes – The Beta Band
This album ate up a lot of my time, and I have no way to explain these guys.  Wikipedia says it was described as “Folktronica” which is as accurate as I can image getting.  The lyrics struck me as witty, or absurd.  Both are good to me, and the laid back sound is wonderful to draw to.

9.  The Complex – Blue Man Group
Yes, I’m a tool.  This album was still amazing.  The experimental nature of their percussion never ceases to amaze or please me, and combined with various vocalists, I enjoyed this album again and again.  Plus commentary on rock music is always fudgin’ awesome.

8.  Your Favorite Weapon – Brand New
I have consistently enjoyed Brand New’s albums because of the witty lyricism.  I am a sucker for witty lyrics, and this album really was full of them.  It was more raw sounding than their later works, and showed a youthful energy that I love to listen to.

7.  Pulled Over – Kut U Up
Once again, witty lyrics, this time mixed with interesting punk rock sounds drew me in and held on.  This album makes me feel like I am floating, and is a favorite while drawing.  Identity confusion related well with my younger self, and is a nice reminder to remembering who I was and that I still have good taste in music.

6.  Personal Journals – Sage Francis
Intelligent underground hip-hop with a dash of sarcasm.  Sage Francis never stops pleasing your eardrums, and this album stands out to me as some of his greatest work.  Dipping deep into his life, he pulled out the best lyrics I could imagine and creative rhymes abound.  It makes me wish underground hip-hop would go mainstream, so we could have a little intelligence in the top forty.

5.  Give Up – The Postal Service
Okay everyone, let’s face it.  Ben Gibbard was alternative music these past ten years.  I have absolutely no indie-cred, so I’m not afraid to say it.  This album is amazing, and I wish Owl City sounded like this.  Also, Neutral Milk Hotel still sucks.

4.  Stankonia – Outkast
For a group with reasonable commercial success, Outkast does an amazing job of rapping intelligently, with interesting beats.  This album has some amazing tracks, and I rarely get sick of it.  I can hear social commentary, real life experience, and honesty.  Honesty is a part of music that is a must to me, and I can see it here.  That, and We Luv Deez Hoez.

3.  As the Eternal Cowboy – Against Me!
Alright, so everybody knew they were going to make this list.  This album is slowly becoming my favorite album by them and I can’t explain why.  This album is kind of a mix of their old style, to where they are now.  The song writing is magnificent as usual, and has a strong sense of honesty.  Come over and we’ll spin the vinyl and get drunk off of cheap wine together.

2.  Oracular Spectacular – MGMT
I love this album.  Laid back drug references and wishes of selling out.  It is everything the burnt out punk who finally started listening to music as a whole could wish for.  This is the album I sit back, relax, listen, and think about life to.  I would recommend it to anyone.

1.  Fists Buried in Pockets – The Riot Before
This album is a work of art.  If I could hang music on the wall, my walls would be covered with this album.  It is a piece of work that MUST be listened to as a whole, seamlessly blending from one song to the next, intense with passion and extreme honesty.  It is said that these songs exist because they must.

Honorable Mentions:
These are albums that didn’t make the cut, because I either felt like too much of a fanboy, or I didn’t listen to them until the last year, and felt it would be unfair to include.  I would still recommend all of them.
Grand – Matt & Kim
Reinventing Axl Rose – Against Me!
Renegades – Rage Against the Machine
Monkeys for Nothin’ and the Chimps for Free – Reel Big Fish
Poses – Rufus Wainwright
Stellastarr* – Stellastarr*
Schmack! – Steriogram
Look What I Almost Stepped In – The Vandals
Raditude – Weezer
Minority Rules – Whole Wheat Bread
Want – 3oh!3
Scrambles – Bomb the Music Industry

Dirty Illiterate Youth is now up and running.  Thanks for all the feedback and support!  There will be more gradual changes in the site over the next few weeks while I try new things on here and get DIY settled into it’s new home.  The forums are up, just waiting for members!  An About the Comic/Authors page is almost finished.  Cory’s ramblings about whatever will finally have a home on here.  If you have any suggestions for the site, let me know, either here, on the forums, or email me at bottledgraffiti@gmail.com

Comic will be up Tuesday.

Thanks

Dirty Illiterate Youth will (hopefully!) be launching on December 1st!  Check back then and everything should be up and running!