YAY! It's Kwanzaa time! We lit up the kinara today. It's so nice, you guys should see it. Then all of my family got together and danced traditional dances. You guys should come around some day so that I could share my African heritage with you all. Then I could tell you about the seven principles of Kwanzaa, also known as the principles of blackness. No, but really, have a nice Christmas/Hanukkah all of you. I'll get you all your gifts after the break.

*dramatic music* It is now time for Nazzy News. The Warped Tour line-up was announced today. It's okay, but last year's was better. The current one isn't bad, though. Plus, they always add more bands as the year goes on. But right now, they have a couple bands I would be interested in seeing. Like Reel Big Fish, The Casualties, Enter Shikari, Set Your Goals, NeverShoutNever, and Sum 41. Check the list on the site if you're going! Oh, and Emily, the All-American Rejects are going. I know you like them. And Sesi, you like Attack Attack, don't you? Because they're going too.

I'm going to talk about music now so that I have space for rants. And guys, I have news. The Gaslight Anthem overtook Sublime this week as my favorite band. And I adore Sublime. The Gaslight Anthem is just so special though. Irreplaceable is the only word that comes close. There isn't a single song by them that I dislike. So many of their songs can be considered some of my favorites of all time. And they have something that Sublime didn't have. With The Gaslight Anthem all their lyrics touch me, yet the songs are still energetic and fun. So, you all know that now. Another band that I've been liking is Billy Talent. This journal's title is one of their songs. I like to think of them as a more poetic Black Flag. Oh, and Flobots is now my favorite rap group. They are effin' beast.

Speaking of music n00bs, I have to say this plain and simple. I hate it when people say that rap sucks. It's one thing if you don't like it. But it doesn't suck. Honey, mainstream rap sucks. You obviously haven't listened to the above-mentioned Flobots, or Tupac, or Immortal Technique, Aesop Rock, The Roots, Mos Def, Public Enemy, or Run DMC. Think before you speak. Another thing I don't like are those jock-punk types. You know what I'm talking about. You both listen to the same music and have similar beliefs. But you're not "cool" enough for them. Most of the time, these kids are posers. I know one, he's in my science class. My poser alarm always goes off. He's such a Fat Mike wannabe. You know, Fat Mike from NOFX. All these jock-punks are like mixtures of tr00 punx and traditional posers. I hate them. They listen to rock/metal music for the image. But it doesn't run through their blood like it does for me and my friends. All the coolest punks are those dorky types that TRULY believe in the punk beliefs of unity and equality. Kind of like my friend David.

For once in my life, I don't know what to rant about. Oh! Wait! Lies. I do know. I've had "Hourglass" by At The Drive-In stuck in my head for a couple days. If you haven't heard the song, it's pretty much about wanting to be someone else. A lot of Gaslight Anthem songs are like that too, "High Lonesome" is a significant one. "I always kinda-sorta wished I was someone else", the song goes. I've always thought it would be interesting to be someone else. I'm sure I'm not the only one. No one is perfect. But that's really hard to remember. It's hard to say that life is okay at times. It can be, though. If you look though everything. I personally try to keep my head up. It usually works.

Okay guysssss, this has been the longest journal ever. Tell me if you're going to Warped Tour and what you want for Christmas in the comments. And comment on my rants, obviously. Buh-bye.