You do realize the raids on the Occupy movement are STILL happening, right? As of this posting Occupy DC was raided in the same fashion as the Oakland, CA raid and New York City raid.

So, let me get this correct. These people who are NRA (National Rifle Association) members—who often times use the argument that keeping & bearing arms is for the sole purpose of personal protection against a government, should it ever become repressive toward the people—are happily standing aside (with popcorn in-hand) watching the skull-cracking of defenseless non-violent, and non-gun carrying, protesters whilst EXACTLY their “government tyranny” argument is being played out LIVE on the television media, the newspapers of the world & all over the country (by the way, this is a rhetorical question)?

Could you imagine what would have happened had the police (the “tyrannical” state government officials) raided the protesters at the Tea Party rallies, who were themselves armed, that had no legal permits to assemble on public property? Oh MAN that would’ve been a goddamn bullet flying REVOLT! So I guess this “stand up, protect your family and defend yourself against a tyrannical government” ideology that some NRA members have….ONLY applies to the good ‘ole repressed conservative, hard-working, family valued doucheba…er…folks of America.

Can someone help me square this circle?

I’ve decided I would take a seat and jot this down…my initial reaction to this….

A few moments ago I opened my Facebook and a fellow drummer friend of mine sent me quite the nicest note. He wanted me to know that because of my (rebooted) blog—In the event you’re reading this elsewhere it’s at http://michaelcarrasquillo.com—he felt inspired to now share his opinions and experiences on his own, newly created, blog. His link was displayed right below with the status saying, “thanks for the inspiration freak! LOL. any thoughts or suggestions would be humbly appreciated!” I immediately clicked and added it to my Google blog reader in my “Personal Friends” category. This is where I keep tabs reading about 900+ blogs (yes it’s crazy)…anyway I digress.

What I’m trying to say here is…in my search for inspiration, to rekindle my creativity; it amazes & humbles me how one act of personal re-initialization, a kind of flint and steel sparking process—trying to ignite a fire—has the potential not only to ignite my fire (again), but could also ignite a new fire right next to me. This is my ‘get back on the horse after a bad fall’ moment, and I plan to let you see it; which is, I guess, inspiring to others.

Creative Gears Slowly Grinding To A Halt

Over the past few years, it seems as though I have been dealing with some issues in my creative life. It’s been plagued with false starts and half dones. Often, I feel as though I used to be WILDLY prolific and now…who knows? It’s like fits and starts. I’m excited to do something then I get scared to death. I’ll say though, in all fairness, I have been going through some tough years over the last 3—which is an entirely different blog post all together—on the personal front with my family that has somewhat slowed me down with my creative aspirations but it seems it’s a bit bigger then just mild procrastination due to mental fatigue. I can’t quite figure out what’s wrong with me…which is why I started/rebooted this blog. To organize my head, find myself, my real voice…not my rant voice (those of you who know me know about that very well on Facebook).

Lacing Up Someone Else’s Shoes For A Little Walk

The other night I received the DVD ‘Tyson’ from my blockbuster queue. While I was working on a website project I had this on in the side window of my screen. I think we, as a society, have formed a pretty clear opinion of Mr. Tyson already and I was no different before going into this. Despite that, I was still curious and I wanted to see what this documentary and Mike Tyson had to say. I grew up watching this man, or should I say machine, destroy men. If you spent any time watching Mike Tyson fight you would see that he was a pretty intense athlete. Most would call him an animal. It isn’t ’til you hear his story that you get an idea of what/who ‘Made’ Iron Mike Tyson. The mental and physical conditioning…the transformation…the realization and new found purpose for which he was placed here by [insert your deity here].

Where Have I Heard That Before?

Now hopefully you watched the scene I posted above because once I saw it, I was speechless. I know we’ve all heard things like this before from master motivators everywhere but for some reason knowing what I knew of Mike Tyson over my life, this moved me. It just goes to show you that you as the viewer NEVER know how someone’s mind is affecting their self esteem and drive. They may appear to have supreme confidence on the outside but underneath they are boxing with themselves.

The Creative Voice(s) In My Drummer Head

I tend to relate and frame this in something I know well, my music/drumming life. I’ve been asked by fans all across these beautiful United States how I do it? How do I keep my energy so powerful for the entire hour and change. Am I ever nervous? I respond all the time, “no.” There’s been hundreds & hundreds of shows in my life and all of them I’ve had ONE mission in my performance. I need to give the audience more than what I have. I have to find it somewhere and give it to them…all of my soul. I don’t do it for flash; I do it to change the moment that you’re standing in to one where you’ll remember everything you WANT and nothing you don’t. There have been many times during my touring years, especially with Slick Idiot, where the pre-show intro comes on and we’re on the move from the backstage to…well, showtime. All of these shows the closer I get to the stage the more confident I get…the closer I get to the stage the MORE confident I get…but I’m scared to death….

How do you feel…what are you telling yourself in your head?

I went to a cafe this morning & my total was $17.74. When I heard that price I said, “hm, interesting year. Quite a lot went on…2 before we signed the Declaration of Independence.” I heard NOTHING. The cashier was puzzled & so was her co-worker. I had to explain & said, “Uhh, 1776? Declaration of Independence? JULY 4TH?” Then they went, “OHH!” Come on people? What, NOBODY KNOWS WHY WE CELEBRATE JULY 4TH?

This is SAD!

Mona Mur, En Esch & Michael Carrasquillo in Brooklyn

Former Slick Idiot drummer (2000/2005), Michael J. Carrasquillo, has been taped by Slick Idiot & (former) KMFDM front-man, En Esch, to join him and German vixen, Mona Mur to support them on their first LIVE United States début.

The tour, called “Mona Mur & En Esch: Beauty & Violence LIVE” [PURCHASE TICKETS] will do a ONE-TIME ONLY gig at Europa in Brooklyn, NY on April 21st 2011.