Chicago Deep Dish goodness

Everyone has their vices, whether it is cigarettes, alcohol, chocolate, you name it. Many people get addicted to certain substances or feelings. If I can define addiction as something you need to do everyday at least once a day, and if you don’t do this, you have trouble functioning (masturbation excluded), I’d venture to say I may have a pizza addiction, or at least I may be at risk to becoming addicted to pizza.

If I don’t have pizza one day, I don’t think I have problems getting through the day, but when I do have it, I’m in a much better mood (unless of course it’s a bastardized version of what pizza is). Pizza has been there for me at the best of times, and the worst of times but it’ll never discriminate, and I can depend on it being there for me whenever I need it.

Over the years, I’ve had hundreds of slices from many places around the world. I actually make a point of trying pizza wherever I go, asking the locals where to get the best pizza and I probably base a lot of my opinion of a place on how good the pizza is there (and the beer for that matter). Of all the pizza I’ve had, I’d like to highlight what I’m going to call Six Savoury Slices.

Scalpers: Not PTH Approved

We’re about two weeks into the Silverstein “Chillers” tour and things are quite the opposite in Florida right now. The sun is shining, the sky is clear and the van is anything but chilly. It might be purely coincidental, but it seems the warmer weather, the more willing people are to come out to the shows.

The last couple nights were sold out, and there seems to be even more people than usual outside the venue desperately looking for tickets. Last night, maybe 10 or 15 people came up to me asking if I had any extra tickets or if I could sneak them in. With such a high demand for tickets comes a stronger presence of scalpers, who, in my opinion, are the scum of the earth.

Initially, many people might think scalpers are cool: just business savvy dudes that understand that if people really want something and you’re the only one who has it, they’ll be willing to pay more for it. In theory, I, too, like that concept a lot.

In fact, almost everyday, I find a way to “trick” someone in my band to pay me more for something I have. But the thing is, when you’re selling a $15 ticket for $150, I think that’s taking advantage of the situation. If you’re offering a service to someone, at least be reasonable about the cost.

Think about it, let say on an average night a scalper sells 20 tickets for $25 more than they paid for it. Let’s say they get to the show an hour before doors and sell their tickets in 2 hours. That means there making $250 an hour.

That’s a hell of a lot more than I make, so that’s when I start to get mad. That’s when I realize that these scum suckers are making a better living than me (and maybe even you) for doing something so slimy. This is when I realize that fans who spend $25 more for their ticket, have $25 less to spend on merch, which is where bands really make back their money. These same ticket buyers (if they’re of legal drinking age), are going to spend $25 less at the bar that night and that’s bad, too, because we’ve found drunk people seem to like our music more than sober people.

 

"A child that does not travel praises its mother as being the best cook. " - Bemba proverb

I call bullshit.

Yesterday I ate so much cheese I might never shit again.

Save the pot of coffee I'm presently drinking, everything in my life contributes to an overall feeling of blockage like so much fat around my heart. A rolling stone may gather no moss, but it certainly picks up cholesterol.

 

++Each week, Protest the Hero's Tim Millar (guitars/vocals) and Arif Mirabdolbaghi (bass /vocals/lyrics) will be offering dispatches from the road. Check back next week for more random information!++

Jack Passion: 23-year-old Natural Beard Champ 2007

Beards have played a big role in music, from Brahms to ZZ Top to Kerry King. Here, I pass on to you my Beard Etiquette 101 teachings for the bearded and the beard admirers.

Being part of the beard community for about the last 2 years, I've learned and experienced a lot. It's funny how not shaving for a little while brings you into an unspoken gentleman's club, where men with beards see you as a peer; you have common ground, and men (or boys) who can't or haven't yet grown a beard look up to you.

After having been asked many questions about my beard and having talked to other beard growers, I've learned some basic beard etiquette. Here, I pass on to you my Beard Etiquette 101 teachings for the bearded and the beard admirers.

Beard Hierarchy: If someone has a bigger beard then you, they are allowed to talk down to you, should they choose to. Since they have more growth than you, they are superior to you and you should know your place. You can talk about beards with them, but should approach the subject with caution. Most bearded fellows like to talk about their beards but that shouldn't be the first topic of discussion.

Let It Flow: Moustaches look great when styled, but beards are meant to be left alone. Braiding only makes your beard look shorter than it is. Some beardos can get away with the part but it should be saved for special occasions. Most of us don't have enough of a beard to properly style it, so it's best to just let it flow.