The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

Just like it's difficult to predict their sound on succeeding records, whenever I plan on seeing my favorite band, Muse, perform, it's also difficult to know what crazy events will take place between the time I first see the tickets and the night of the concert. The first time I saw them was likely the smoothest process of all four occasions, as my father and uncle took me to a show of theirs in Detroit for my birthday without any major hiccups - none that I can remember anyway. I ordered tickets to see them in Columbus on that same tour, where my brother and two friends of mine were going to fly in from Nebraska to join me for the festivities. I believe the concert was on a Saturday initially. After the bass player's wife gave birth to their child earlier than anticipated, however, the band had to postpone some tour dates, including the one in Columbus. When they rescheduled, the show went from the weekend to midweek, my brother and friends could no longer make it due ...

I love the rock band Muse. They cause me what I call eargasms quite regularly. In light of their releasing an upcoming album in less than a week - The 2nd Law  - I've been on a Muse kick of late and have even tuned into their homepage and read some members' comments in the forum. Thanks to the band and iTunes, I was able to listen to a free stream of the new album in its entirety as of yesterday morning and have heard it twice all the way through now. I will refrain from providing a review until after I purchase the CD next Tuesday and turn it up full blast on my stereo. For the time being, though, I'll provide it a four-word description: Diverse, crazy and awesome. Excited about the new album, I was curious to read fellow fans' thoughts, feelings and reviews of it, so I went to the band's homepage and forum to read such commentary. I became a semi-regular on the site between one and two years ago (reading, not as much when it came to posting), when I saw the ba...

"The Nice Guy Curse" Lacking the mystery, Lacking the adventure, Lacking the risk, Lacking the danger, No challenge is present, No project on which to work, Rarely any drama to be had, It must be too good to be true, To take care of you when sick, Bring you flowers on a rainy day, Have dinner ready by the time you get home, Write you poems to express what I want to say, To clean the house with no qualms, Run errands without mention, Make sure the toilet seat's down, Take care of the kids, pets, laundry and dishes, Open and honest, Loyal to the core, Someone to hold and comfort you, To love you ever more, But I lack the mystery, Lack the adventure, Lack the risk, Lack the danger, A best friend, A counselor, A comedian, But not a lover, Someone who makes you happy, Who makes you smile, Who makes you laugh, But not enough to be mine, I sit here and wonder, Why this never works, Why must I alter who I am? Because of the nice guy cu...

Ah, here is a topic that hits home for me, as I'm sure many others can relate to it as well. I remember hearing that old saying back in middle and high school, "Nice guys finish last." Back then, I simply pretended to believe in that saying, because I was one of those nice guys and at least in my case, it seemed true. Well, it was true in one particular area- when it came to the ladies. But, as I've grown up, I've gained a broader perspective on things and unfortunately, I still think that phrase holds true to a certain degree. I thought I was simply being biased back in junior high and high school, but perhaps I was on the right track with my belief. Many studies have been conducted on the female attraction toward bad boys and for the most part, it is a phase in their young adult lives. It is almost a natural attraction toward rebellion and curiosity in the teenage and young adult years for some ladies. Who does daddy not want you to date? Well, that's who ...