Living on the Edge

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What Happens When You Are Drunk
2011-09-13 18:37:00
This is an awesome video of what you think happens when you are drunk and what really happens.  When watching the video mouse over the video to see what really happens.These are exactly some of the reasons why drinking to excess is stupid and why I'm quite proud to live a sober life.
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Commitment
2011-01-06 21:13:00
Committing to being Straight Edge honestly wasn't that hard for me when I decided to do it. I was in my mid 20's and didn't drink much to begin with, drugs were not a part of my life and smoking was repulsive to me. To me Straight Edge is defined by the phrase "Poison Free" and means to keep your body healthy. For longer than I was SxE I've had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Lactose Intolerance and one doctor even said that I may be Fat Intolerant too. Of the 4 doctors I've seen none have really helped. IBS has been something that has made eating and living not very fun at times. I've tried cutting things out of my diet and sometimes it never seemed like it was working.I was recently shown a website (and accompanying book) called Breaking the Vicious Cycle which talks about changing your diet to limit complex sugars and grains that are difficult to digest properly, the diest is called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). I officially started the on January 1st and am ...
More About: Commitment

Shai Hulud - This Saturday at ABC No Rio in NYC
2010-12-09 22:13:00
Shai Hulud will be playing at the tiny yet awesome venue known as ABC No Rio! It's a matinee starting at 3pm with a low cover price so if you can make it then you need to be there. I should be there unless a catastrophic event occurs as I haven't seen Shai Hulud in a probably about 2 years.
More About: Saturday

Casey Jones to Release a New Album
2010-09-27 18:04:00
So Have Heart are over but Straight Edge hardcore still lives! Casey Jones is going into the studio for a new album that they will self-release. I think it's pretty awesome that they will be handling this release them selves. The music industry is changing so much lately that there may never be a need for record labels.
More About: Release , Album

Have Heart Final Show DVD
2010-09-27 17:52:00
I never got a chance to see Have Heart live on stage, but I've been a fan of their amazing Straight Edge hardcore for years. Bridge9 is bringing out a DVD of their final show from October of last year aptly entitled 10.17.09 and will be accompanied by a CD and LP. The video will be released in November and I will certainly be pre-ordering it when they open for that around Edge Day!I hope they decide to have a reunion tour in a few years (for the love and not the money) and I will definitely make it to that show.
More About: Show , Final

Question? How did you learn about Straight Edge?
2010-07-26 17:47:00
Let us know and tell us why, post your answer.Thanxxx.
More About: Question , Edge , Learn

James Hetfield is Straight Edge?
2010-06-03 04:29:00
So James Hetfield of Metallica got a Straight Edge X tattoo. He claims not be Straight Edge, but Reborn Straight Edge. He mentions that a true, hardcore straight edge hasn't ever done drugs or drank alcohol. I respect James for being poison free and all but I have to say that I think he doesn't understand Straight Edge. Claiming Edge doesn't require you to have never consumed alcohol or done drugs, claiming edge is about committing the rest of your life to being Straight Edge, there's no reborn. You either ARE or AREN'T, it's that simple. Maybe his words are taken out of context or I misunderstood what he was saying, but I think he doesn't quite get it. You can read the full interview over at Double Cross.

Is CM Punk good for Straight Edge?
2010-04-19 21:45:00
Is CM Punk giving Straight Edge a bad name? Straight Edge gets a lot of bad press already because of hardline edgers that have formed gangs and fight people that smoke or drink. Young Straight Edge kids act beyond proud by proclaiming their edge following via obnoxious attitudes and raucous behavior. And now with CM Punks Straight Edge Society his fans are chanting that they are better than everyone else because they are Straight Edge.To me Straight Edge is a personal choice. If someone else isn't Straight Edge I am not bothered or offended or upset in any way. I simply choose not to drink or smoke. But to others it has become a banner to wave in peoples faces. It is now a new way to offend people.I was originally happy when I heard about CM Punk the Straight Edge wrestler. I figured it would be a possible positive way to introduce the philosophy to many new people that otherwise would live in what is commonly a non-edge lifestyle. But his arrogance (yes I understand it's...
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Question? Do you ever avoid telling people that you are Straight Edge to av
2010-02-16 00:07:00
Let us know and tell us why, post your answer.Thanxxx.
More About: People , Question , Edge

Veronica Sawyer Smokes
2009-11-04 20:39:00
Oh my story is not the oldest of it's kind.I was too touched to see you clearly,Far too young to realize I had loved so dearly you,Who's world I had designed,But the sweet smoke came with mirrorsAnd it brought tears to my wide eyes.Dying just to see you...Dying since I misconstrued your blue heart,Black eyes, feigning falling, words I won't forget.I died right when I saw you while you shared that cigarette.Oh I saw you every time I closed my eyes,In the Hughes film I had scored,Produced and starred in, in my mind.I could recite you, well, I'd written every line...But you strayed far from my flawless scriptOn which I'd spent a lifetime!Falling over dead.Dying since I had misread your blue heart,Black eyes, feigning falling, words I won't forget.I died right when I saw you while you shared that cigarette."Veronica Sawyer Smokes" ~ AFI - Crash Love

Reclaiming Edge, Reclaiming Life
2009-10-06 17:51:00
Claiming Straight Edge is a important and non-trivial thing. And yet sometimes life throws you a curveball and your Edge can be broken. I think that consciously going against Edge with the forethought to re-claim is crap, but if you mess up and realize your mistakes then you should re-claim Edge to further your own strength and confidence in your self.I regularly post a question at the top of this blog; the current question right now is "Have you ever lost friends because you claimed Edge?" and I just received an inspiring story by GIPrice who fell into a bad situation and picked himself back up, reclaimed Edge and "started being a real straight edger".Something like this kind of happened to me. Well I was always drug and alcohol free but it wasnt until the summer break before my senior year in high school that I claimed to sXe. Well my best friend introduced me to a bunch of new people and they seemed to be pretty fun and cool people. But they all turned out to be fucking druggie...
More About: Life

You Can Be Straight Edge At Any Age
2009-10-02 23:05:00
I hate when I hear people bashing kids that are under 21 or under 18 and say that they can't be Straight Edge because they aren't legal enough to buy cigarettes or alcohol. Sadly there are plenty of kids that drink and smoke, do drugs and have promiscuous sex when they are still young teenagers. So if you choose to claim edge at 15 (or whatever age) then good for you.But at the same time, if you choose to claim Straight Edge, make sure you plan to be Edge for life, it's not a simple weekend thing or a "till 21" thing. Straight Edge is a commitment.To everyone that thinks Straight Edge isn't for kids, stop hating someone for having better choices in life than you, live your own life.

Straight Edge Documentary in Theatres Now
2009-09-29 17:15:00
Edge the movie is out now in theatres. Check the schedule on their site to see if it's playing in a theatre near you. It's playing this Saturday, October 3rd, in NYC. I'm hoping to make it out, I just moved to Long Island so it's a bit further of a trek than previously.
More About: Documentary , Edge

Have Heart Call it Quits
2009-08-24 15:48:00
I'm pretty saddened to hear that Have Heart have decided to call it quits. They are one of today's best Straight Edge bands with profound lyrics and a great hardcore sound. I hope that some of the members decide to form other Straight Edge bands in the future. They plan to have one last show on Edge Day (October 17) in Boston along with Bane and other bands, some edge and non-edge.The song "Something More Than Ink" was always special to me and made me feel a connection to the SxE community. It will continue to be an important song to me. If you don't have the album "The Things We Carry" then I suggest that you get it now, it is amazing and really speaks to what it means to be committed to Straight Edge and to live a posi life.
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Back to School
2009-08-10 18:58:00
It's that time again when kids head back to school. It's a time that can be quite stressful for kids whether your in middle school or college. Everyone wants to fit in somewhere, even if you say you don't you probably do. Not that fitting in is the most important thing but having the right group of friends is important. They have more of an effect on what you do than you could ever imagine.It's even more difficult at times if your going away to college. I remember my first semester away and making friends was a little hard for me, I'm not the most outgoing guy. When I was in college I did drink, I hadn't claimed Edge at that point, and I did it to mostly fit in. So what I would like to say here is that if you are Edge or not (but you don't want to get caught up in the whole drinking to fit in thing) then you need to make sure to find friends that either don't drink or respect your choices. Sure that might sound not so easy, but there are definitely enough kids at any...
More About: School , Back , Back to School

Bleeding Through - On Tour
2009-08-03 18:53:00
Bleeding Through are going on tour this year and will play in NY just 3 days before my birthday! I'm very excited about this. I think it should be an awesome show as I'm impressed with how they've grown and the fact they are still all Straight Edge. Over on Straight Edge Lifestyle is a good interview with Brandon, the lead singer.Tour Dates:8.21.09 ? Tucson, AZ ? The Rock8.22.09 ? Farmington, NM ? Gators8.23.09 ? Las Vegas, NV ? Red Electric8.24.09 ? San Luis Obispo, CA ? Downtown Brew8.25.09 ? San Jose, CA ? The Urgency8.26.09 ? Roseburg, OR ? Riversdale Grange8.27.09 ? Sparks, NV ? New Oasis8.28.09 ? Orangevale, CA ? The Boardwalk8.29.09 ? San Diego, CA ? Epicenter8.30.09 ? Anaheim, CA ? Chain Reaction9.25.09 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar9.26.09 - Norfolk, VA- Norva9.28.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade9.29.09 - Orlando, FL - The Club10.1.09 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live10.2.09 - Dallas, TX - The Door10.3.09 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit10.5.09 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Thea...
More About: Bleeding Through , On Tour

Edge the Movie
2009-06-30 20:10:00
A new documentary about Straight Edge called "Edge the Movie " is circulating the film festival circuit mailings. So it might appear at a local film festival near you soon. I do want to see this one as it appears that will at least have a more positive look at SxE despite the fact that they mention they will talk about the negative aspects as well. I do feel though that it isn't that necessary to even discuss these aspects at all. Enough has been documented about those that claim Edge and are violent and ruin the scene and name for the rest of us. That would be like doing a movie about Christianity and saying well we have to talk about the Crusades and the Spanish Inquistion, not if you focus on the positive aspects as your documentary. I feel like the iea of doing an unbiased balanced documentary can be lame as a proper focus on the positive aspects can be just as important and fullfilling in a documentary. I'll keep my official judgement quiet until I see the film though.T...
More About: The Movie

Doing Too Much at Once
2009-06-21 15:30:00
I find myself sometimes doing way too much at once and never getting anything done. At work this seems like a boon and since I'm constantly getting tasked by other's to get things done on pretty crazy schedules I find it easy to switch gears from one task to work on another. But at home I see myself skipping around a lot with out schedules and getting very little done.I'll start to fold laundry, then remember I needed to take out the trash so I'll do that, then I'll rearange somethings that were cluttered and then realize I forgot to finish folding the laundry and go back to that, get bored and do something else, etc... It goes on like that a lot.Lately I keep feeling like I may have ADD (Atention Deficit Disorder) but I'm 32 so I'm not sure what can really be done at this stage in my life. I want to be a little more sane when it comes to getting things done instead of switching around all the time and not comleting a lot of tasks that should really have my full attention....
More About: Productivity

The Past The Present 1982-2007: A History of 25 Years of European Straight
2009-06-09 17:51:00
Another cool book is out about Straight Edge over a 25 year period in Europe. I'm actually quite interested in this book as it follows five Dutch bands through the various periods of SxE. I am quite amazed at how worldwide Straight Edge is and that it has become something that can bring people from all over together with a single philosophy. I'm very excited about all the books that are coming out lately that cover Straight Edge.You can check out more info on the book from this blog and you can order the book from Refuse Records. I realize I'm a tad late on this news, but better late than never.
More About: History , European , Past , Present , Years

Burning Fight: The Nineties Hardcore Revolution in Ethics, Politics, Spirit
2009-06-02 16:12:00
I recently found out about a new book about hardcore culture. I haven't picked it up yet, so as soon as I get it I'll post a review. The book is called "Burning Fight : The Nineties Hardcore Revolution in Ethics , Politics , Spirit, and Sound" and it's by Brian Peterson. The book is supposed to cover where 80s hardcore left off and discuss the culture that embraced straight edge, animal rights, D.I.Y., and spirituality into their lives and hardcore.I find the concept of this book rather interesting by the fact that the author was into hardcore in his teens in the 90s and now is a writer and high school English teacher. Just because you're a punk as a kid or even listen to hardcore as an adult does not mean that you can't become whatever you want in life. Hardcore isn't a barrier to life and you can live your life as an adult outside of the scene and still enjoy the music and culture.I think that too many people see subcultures like hardcore as a dead end. It's whatever yo...

HATEBREED: For The Lions
2009-05-05 16:17:00
The new Hatebreed album For the Lions is out in stores now. They have some wicked covers on there. I love the Judge cover! Here's the Track Listing: SLAYER - Ghosts of War CRO-MAGS - It's The Limit SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - Suicidal Maniac SEPULTURA - Refuse/Resist METALLICA - Escape BAD BRAINS - Supertouch/Shitfit MISFITS - Hatebreeders D.R.I. - Evil Minds MADBALL - Set It Off SICK OF IT ALL - Shut Me Out BLACK FLAG - Thirsty NEGATIVE APPROACH - Sick Of Talk CROWBAR - All I Had I Gave MERAUDER - Life Is Pain AGNOSTIC FRONT - Your Mistake JUDGE - Hear Me OBITUARY - I'm In Pain SUBZERO - Boxed In

Question? Have you ever lost friends because you claimed Edge?
2009-05-05 16:09:00
Let us know and tell us why, post your answer.Thanxxx.
More About: Lost , Friends , Question , Edge

Straight Edge and Stress
2009-05-01 16:03:00
I feel like being Straight Edge gives me an advantage when dealing with stress and anger. Often we are faced with problems and people that are very difficult to handle, people that only care about themselves. Having Edge forces me to face those issues head on. Quite often people hit the bottle or pop some pills to forget their troubles, but they don't go away. Before I claimed Edge I drank to ignore the crap in my life, and nothing got better. The only way things got solved is when I talked it out with people, when we figured out the real problem. Stress can tear you apart. But for me having faith in myself to stay Straight Edge is what gets me through the stress. xTRUE TILL DEATHx

Birds X Of A Feather
2009-04-20 20:13:00
Just found out about a great Straight Edge band called Birds X Of A Feather . Here's a nice interview with the band from @xroldx."To me hardcore and the edge are no passing phase. ...I've never been fed up with hardcore and you know why? Because I don't care about what other people do, how other people dress and how other people interpret hardcore. I'm just doing this for myself"You can find Birds on myspace.

Twitter
2009-04-20 15:58:00
So I've had a defunct twitter account for a while and finally got around to using it. I'm going to be posting new and different content all with the same pessimistic angry outlook on the world around us -- along with links back to the blog and some music using blip.fm and pics using twitpic.com and whatever else is worthy of twitter.So please follow me on twitter: @phreekkI also listed myself on wefollow with #straightedge #punk and #hardcoreAnd NO, this is not a result of Ashton Kutcher or Oprah.
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Katamari is Straight Edge
2009-04-01 18:55:00
From joystiq.com:Although it's hard to believe that the ideas for Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy weren't birthed from some serious drug use, Keita Takahashi stated at GDC that he's completely straight-edge when it comes to partaking in the chemical vices of man. In the same session where he revealed Noby Noby Boy for iPhone, he also claimed, "I don't use drugs at all, I don't drink at all. Please don't worry about me."
More About: Edge , Straight , Straight Edge

Hot Straightedge Punks
2009-04-01 05:59:00
I just found these lyrics for a song about Hot Straightedge Punks and thought I'd share cause hey I'm a hot straight edge punk (at least I think so):chourus: you may not be like Kurt Cobain,but with you i cannot complain. I know all you guys are hard to find,Hot straightedge punks you make my love life rock out loud!1rst verse: hey! i'm just a plain punk girl, trapped in a huge messed up world, full of gangstas, preps & wrist cutting emo kids. just unique with my own style & yet it has to make me smile,because i know that i am not alone2nd verse: i see him walking down,turning frowns upside down. my heart beats faster with every step he takes. a punk with no booze or drugs unlike those other thugs. oh why cant there much more guys just like you?(chorus)3rd verse: i just think its so damn brave. another ones life saved. you're not weak just very cautious. i just think it's so fly that ur not drunk or high. Hey straightedge punk, don't ever change that habit please!(chor...

You Can't Be Straight Edge "For Now"
2009-03-25 04:54:00
I love when I search the net for Straight Edge news and come across articles in local newspapers that cover Straight Edge kids in their area.  It's always a nice feeling to see a positive news story that shows how SxE is a lifestyle choice for making one's life better.  I just came across the article I Am ... Straight Edge in the Hartford Courant about a 16 year old boy that found out about Straight Edge from a band he liked.However I would like there to be more positive and uplifting stories about SxE that involve older people that are past the age of 21, people such as myself, that have chosen to be Straight Edge to improve their lives.   Because when you read about a 16 year old kid saying he's Straight Edge people always think that they'll break edge when they are 21.  Sadly this kid even says "I'm not saying I'm never going to drink or to try stuff, but for now, never, I have no desire to." which to me shows that he's not commited to being Straight Edge.  I think that if...

Happy St. Drunky Day!
2009-03-18 04:08:00
Seems like St. Patricks Day is simply another reaosn to get trashed and like an idiot.
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Claiming Straight Edge is an Wise Economic Choice
2009-03-16 18:25:00
In these extremely tough economic times, it's hard to find money, a job or even a little help sometimes. And it seems that with less money to go around people are actually spending more money on the things they don't actually need. Americans are spending more money on cigarettes and alcohol than before and the numbers are rising. As a nation we are driven to vices that we think will make us feel better rather than logically trying to find ways to actually make our lives better. Basic math will tell anyone that giving up smoking and drinking will put so much more money into your savings that you won't need to live paycheck to paycheck, which is all to common these days. Even looking at really old data on spending for cigarettes it's so obvious that you can retire on the money you'd save in 30 years.In the end, not only would you be saving money, but you'd be saving your self from all the harmful effects if you claimed Edge .
More About: Choice , Economic , Wise , Straight