Punk Rock and Other Shenanigans

About a week ago, I took my computer in to get fixed. It was the third episode in as many years that it had failed me (this time with a busted USB drive and cracked screen), and time was winding down to cash in on my all-coverage warranty. Needless to say, the piece was on its last legs.

Yesterday, I received an email from the good folks at Geek Squad requesting more information regarding the damages. Immediately, I couldn't help but think i'd be paying out-of-pocket for repairs. Tight. So tight.

In actuality, what they meant to say was I'd be getting a new laptop, free of charge. It simply wouldn't be cost effective to fix the old one. So in I go to Best Buy half an hour later, the PC world my playground. Their message upfront: pick any computer you want, except a Mac. Slight bummer, considering I was planning to get a Mac next, but I can't argue with free. I walked out after twenty minutes with a Sony.

Now the bad news is I lost my old hard drive. The good news is everything I actually need is readily available in some form or another. Having recently lost all 800 or so pictures on my iPhone (which I was unable to save due to aforementioned USB drive) and almost losing all my contacts (all recovered), I suppose I'd been conditioned for this sort of experience.

So today, as we down tequila in celebration of my Mexican brethren's victory over the French at Puebla, I find myself restoring my music library onto iTunes. And in the process, I've surfaced some old school gems of records that defined my formative teen years and have me in a massive state of 90's punk rock nostalgia. Here's a sampling:

Strike Anywhere - Change Is A Sound
The Nerve Agents - Self Titled/Days of the White Owl
Guttermouth - Friendly People
Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit
Good Riddance - A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Rebellion
No Use For A Name - Live in a Dive
The Distillers - Sing Sing Death House
Against Me! - The Disco Before the Breakdown EP
Dropkick Murphy's - Do or Die
Everclear - So Much For the Afterglow (unrelated, but stellar throwback)
Coolio - Gangsters Paradise (unrelated, but too awesome not to mention)

On that note, I need new music recommendations. Otherwise, I'll have Manchester Orchestra on repeat for the next five years.

Lastly, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Love Family and UVA community right now. Go hug a loved one, say hey to a stranger, and smile like you mean it.