PAGING DR. FEELGOOD - Rockin' the Vote and just plain ROCKIN'

My name is Danny Baram, and IIIIIIII haaaaaaave a plaaaaaaaaan.

Okay, so honestly I am sick of all these holier-than-thou MySpace and email bulletins from my peers urging me to vote, as if the thought had never occurred to me in my life before I read their oh so informative message. Then again, seeing as how so many people around Hollywood tend to live in a bit of a bubble, shall we say, I do understand the need to get the word out. Because, seriously, this is a crucial election, with a lot at stake. It's a chance for the Democrats to win back control of the national government and to gain ground at the local level as well. I hope it's clear to most people that, forgetting party lines for a minute, it is most definitely time to NOT "stay the course." Even Bush says so ... But, seriously, it should be obvious that the Republican, right-wing majority is all about manipulation. Not to say that the Democrats are angels, but I think that no matter what your political agenda, its time to face facts and see the Republican platform for the self-serving SHAM that it is. To them, each interest group is merely a demo to win over, not a legitimate cause to support. Do you think these power players honestly care about social values? Did Mark Foley care about them? No, politics have usurped practicality to the point of ridiculousness - stem cell research, gay rights, abortion - are all nothing more than political bargaining chips for a Republican party that knows it can't stand by its botched war anymore, and must therefore call attention to social issues which its OWN MEMBERS can't seem to stand by in their personal lives. Is it too much to ask for a politician to practice what they preach?

And in all other areas, politics have usurped practicality to a ridiculous degree. Even noted conservative writer George Will blasted Bush and Cheney in his latest Newsweek column, noting the absurdity in the administrations total inability to concede any problems with the neverending war in Iraq. I think people are sick of all this roundabout political stubborness and ready for someone who talks straight. And no, that does not include John Kerry, who continues to make a total fool of himself with his politics-as-usual buffoonery. Man, Barak Obama's entry into the presidential spotlight cannot come soon enough ....

So in summation, I will become one of those annoying "please vote" people and urge you to go out and help change the country for the better. Us Gen Y-ers had an embarrasingly low turnout in the 2004 election - a factor which undoubtedly helped reelect George Bush. Does that make you proud? If not, then go out and vote, because today is hopefully step one in the ushering in of a new era for American politics.

But man, all these propositions in California are seriously confusing as hell. Why are so many issues on the ballot? And can't they at least have a name so I can sort out what Prop 87 is as compared to Prop 576? And also, as a relatively new CA resident, I only found out where I was supposed to be voting through an extensive Google search. Why is it made so difficult to figure out?

ANYWAYS:

Forget about voting for a second ... tonight is the night to ROCK~!

Tonight - me and 3 friend ... the Hollywood Bowl ... live ... The Route of All Evil Tour ... Motley Crue ... and ... AEROSMITH !!!!!

This is going to be awesome - two forces of ROCK collide to unleash one furiously awesome concert. I can't wait to see the sheer craziness that will be the 80's hair-metal stylings of the Crue, but, mainly, it's one more time to see my all-time rock heroes - Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and the rest of the Bad Boys from Boston --- AEROSMITH.

Like I said previously, I am hoping for a bit of a harder-edged playlist from them tonight, but in any case, Aerosmith is Aerosmith is Aerosmith, ya know? Seriously, listening to their songs the last few days, there is no other hard rock band with the sheer number of kickass tunes as the 'Smith in my view. From the classic 70's stuff to the funkier 80's songs to the 90's comeback material, you just can't go wrong with any of Aerosmith's dozens and dozens of classic tunes. Sweet Emotion. Dream On. Walk This Way. Love in an Elevator. Janie's Got a Gun. Cryin'. Amazing. Living on the Edge. And the list goes on and on ...

This will be my third time seeing the band live ... first was in CT with my brother, where they co-headlined with KISS. Second was last year in LA, at the Staples Center, where Lenny Kravitz opened. Now it's the Hollywood Bowl, with Motley Crue ... a band I've been a fan of but have yet to see live ... and that alone should be awesome - the drum cage, the pyrotechnics, the craziness -- awesome. But you can count on the fact that once the Crue has done their thing, Aerosmith will take the stage and plain and simple rock the house - nothing too fancy needed - just one of the best bands ever entertaining the crowd.

- Alright ... I'm out - first to ROCK the vote, then to just plain ROCK.

There's something right with the world today
And everybody knows its wrong
But we can tell em no
Or we could let it go
But I would rather be a hangin' on.

YEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!