HOT: Kazoos Against Hate
While people seem to be more emboldened in their bigotry and hatred in the late 2010s, the members of the Westboro Baptist Church — known for protesting funerals and holding signs with slogans like “God hates fags” — have been publicly showcasing their ignorance and hate for years now. A couple of hundred metalheads in Virginia recently found a clever way to fight back. When the “church” planned a protest against Danica Roem, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the first openly transgender person to serve in any U.S. state legislature, Randy Blythe of Richmond, Virginia Metal band Lamb of God asked fans to show up for a “counter-party.” But instead of countering with more hate, Blythe asked that his followers drown out the “church” with colorful and outrageous costumes and an army of kazoos (playing, among other things, the theme from Sanford and Son). The action seemed to have its intended effect, as the Westboro crew reportedly cut its protest short.
Blythe talked to StyleWeekly.com about the counter-party, saying, "Why bother throwing a kazoo counterparty when the loonies of the Westboro Baptist Church show up? Well, first and foremost, Danica is my friend. I don't like people who mess with my friends. Second, their 'message' sucks — they do have the right to preach it, but we also have the right to drown it out with kazoos. Third, it's too good of an opportunity to pass up. Who doesn't want to hear a few hundred people playing the Sanford & Son theme on kazoos? Only a truly godless and un-American puppy-kicking troglodyte, that's who."
Lamb of God lead singer Randy Blythe leading counter-protesters to an appearance by Westboro Baptist Church at Capitol Square Richmond, Virginia. pic.twitter.com/7jAwqijFKi
— Chip Lauterbach (@ChipLauterbach) March 11, 2019
WARM: Myspace Loses Music
If you are a musician who uploaded songs to Myspace and didn’t back it up elsewhere… well, you’ve likely been recently unfrozen or just out of a decade-long coma. So welcome back, we have some bad news — your Myspace music files (and photos and videos) are likely gone forever. After some prodding by users in recent years, the pioneering social media site finally issued an apology in a statement that confirmed that anything uploaded “more than three years ago may no longer be available on or from Myspace.” It’s estimated that more 50 million Myspace songs uploaded between 2003-2015 are now lost for good.
COLD: ’Tis Not the Season
Earlier this month (which is March, not December… or even November), a man in Pennsylvania was arrested after taking out his frustration over unseasonal Christmas music in a most violent manner. The driver of the minivan that was taking the man to a halfway house was reportedly filled with the holiday spirit and singing Christmas songs during the trip. The passenger allegedly became enraged and began hitting and choking the driver, who, according to Pittsburgh’s WTAE-TV, nearly passed out. Police arrested the man and charged him with aggravated assault.
