acala

First entry...how odd that I'm doing this. Never understood blogging before--the need to share in such a public format the struggling in one's head, nor would I have committed any of my deeper thoughts to such a format before...I mean, that's why I keep an actual old-fashioned notebook...so that I can decide who and when to show anything to, if ever...

But you know, some of these journal thingies I've read are truly works of art--as in very powerful modes of expression...I guess it depends on how you use the medium, y'know?

So, here goes nothing. I don't expect anyone to run across this for some time, so perhaps I have a window of time where I can be "just me".

I'll post links from time to time of places that I think have real value--I dunno how much "entertainment value" these places will have, but "being hardcore/being punk" is/was never about mere entertainment, in the final analysis.

I guess if what I write here is to be really understood, it should be viewed from the perspective of a son of Hardcore, with all of the meanings and shadings of the term--but mostly as in straight from the gut, pure and real.

Again, it's kind of funny to me that I'd be doing this journal in, of all places, a porn site...but this place, as far as I can assess, is much much more than that--which is why I showed up, why I stay, and why I'm deciding to participate.

BTW: if anyone who decides to read this is looking for tittilation--sorry, find another blog or click on the photos to the left...the things that concern me on a regular basis are kind of outside the focus of SG, if you look at it in a very narrow way....but if SG is also a place where we can discuss what freedom and responsibility are, discuss things that meaningful--sometimes fun stuff, sometimes deep stuff, sometimes dark stuff--but always real...well, then welcome to my world.

Whatever that means, LOL!

Here are some websites that are worth your time, IMHO. Check 'em out.

http://www.vachss.com

(The official website of the crime novelist Andrew Vachss--easily one of the best writers/children's rights activists working today, and a huge influence on me and my work. His writing is hyper-violent and deepest Noir in the most stark sense--and very very real. This guy knows his shit--check him out. Recommended reading: His novel SHELLA, the short story collections BAD BLOOD and EVERYBODY PAYS, the "BURKE books", and A SECOND CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT. Many resource links as well here.)

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com

(Marc and Dianna MacYoung's site--lots of information here if you are concerned about stalking, mugging, assault of all types, and crime in general. Easily one of the best martial arts/self-defense sites on the Web--with tons of info and resources for free! Lots to be learned there, not just about the above topics, but life and human nature in general...worth the time.)

http://www.generationfive.org

(Started by author Staci Haines, they are an activist group whose stated goal is "ending child abuse in five generations". Worth your time and support.)

http://www.homealive.org

(A good women's self-defense group--you Pacific Northwest folks should be familiar with them.)

http://www.darkecho.com

http://www.darkecho.com/JohnShirley

(The first link is one of the best sites on the Net for horror/dark fiction aficianados--the one following is the official website for one of my favorite writers, John Shirley--a pioneer of the Horror/Cyberpunk genres--plus he had an honest to goodness PUNK ROCK band in the late 70's/early 80's--how freaking cool is that? Recommended reading: BLACK BUTTERFLIES, DEMONS, the ECLIPSE series.)

http://WM3.org

(The official website for the West Memphis 3. This is very much worth looking into.)

http://www.socialdistortion.com
http://www.imotorhead.com
http://www.xtheband.com
http:/www.misfitscentral.com

(Why? Because these bands rule! )

Till again, take care everyone, and be safe.