Opinion: Principled Stand, Plummeting Poll?

Winston Churchill remarked that, “Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party.” This was especially true for William Morris “Billy” Hughes, our most principled – and arguably audacious – Prime Minister.

Originally a Labor man, he pushed for conscription and held two plebiscites on the issue which were defeated. His caucus was fed up with him and threw him out in 1916. He challenged those who, “thought like him to follow him.” And he did and clung on to the Prime Ministership until 1923.

In this day and age, it’s more likely that the politician in question will sanction their party to electoral oblivion.

Read more at Onya Magazine.

---

http://twitter.com/crushtor

Review: Fair to Midland - Arrows and Anchors

“We wanted something simple because all of our other titles have been so long-winded,” gossamer-tongued vocalist Darroh Sudderth said of the title, talking to a local Texan newspaper about the record.  “We also just wanted to keep it simple because after all, you know, it’s a rock album.”

Fair to Midland can't really be termed a rock band but by the same token, Fair to Midland aren’t your typical metal band. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone that would be prepared to go on record to say that they were. In fact, some metalheads would begrudgingly agree to insert them into that category to begin with. The band’s signature sounds are bright piano lines, bluegrass twang and angelic twee moments tangling deftly with devastatingly hulking riffs, hitting like a freight train desperately trying to halt itself. Sure, the latter element is as hard as steel can be, but the former parts just don’t compute.

But on Arrows, it does. It really, really does.

Read the rest of the review at MetalasFuck.net here.

---

http://twitter.com/crushtor

Out of Commission

Just a small note to myself to say - don't leave drinks on tables with a reach over one's computer. Gravity is not your friend in those situations. I spilled some iced tea on my laptop yesterday. Miraculously - it still works! But that doesn't mean there were unintended effects.

The keyboard has some dead letters (including the spacebar. Of all keys, the spacebar! Why didn't it hit 'Q' or something just as useless?) and the LCD screen has a rather noticeable wet patch on/in it. Through using another, older PC I'm able to access basic "potato" functions but all my "meat" is left on my lappy's HDD.

So if you're a band or a contact that's asking me "where my article is" - don't. At this stage, it's not going to be finished any time soon. Also, I'm not here as a public service to you; I'm a professional writer trying to make a living from my craft. Not only is it unprofessional to demand, it's also quite irritating. Relegating my work to that of a cake in an oven is actually quite insulting.

So I'm out of commission for a few days until my replacements and thorough drying cycle takes its course. Bummer.

---

http://twitter.com/crushtor