If you drink a bunch of water, make sure to watch your potassium level as it might drop via dilution. Potassium helps to lower kidney stones as well as being important for proper heart function. Bananas and lentils are good sources of potassium.

Eric B and Rakim is the best. THE BEST!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt8wNjuyyZg

Also, NWA, Ice T, Paris, Geto Boys, Schoolly D, Beastie Boys, MC Lyte, UGK, BDP...so much great hip hop in the golden years.

It's because your music sucks.

-Gen X

That's Randy Becker, or "the Beckman" as we called him when he was selling 1/4 bags behind the auto shop between 5th and 6th period.

Maybe approach it in a less cerebral way. Find something with a great groove (Funkadelic or Big Brother and the Holding Company come to mind) and just let the music wash over you.

One thing that I do to reignite my passion for music is to go really deep into an artist's catalog, find those lesser known songs and look for the beauty in them.

When in doubt, play some King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, they have about nine million records that slip between various genres and I've never heard anything problematic about their personal lives.

For real!

Bands I like:

Thou

Ragana

Neptune Power Federation

Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats

Hairless Monk

Motor City is Burning: John Lee Hooker wrote a fantastic song, and the MC5 took it in a more passionate and powerful direction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpDmIv93Qvs

I agree with that. But I live in deep red Texas and strangers simply aren't killing each other at rates that would warrant one to change his/her behavior as you're suggesting.

I have another LPT: just don't be a dick to randos out in the world.

Maiden's Powerslave starts off with a bang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60

LOL, see I blocked it out. I mean Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow or whatever it's called.

LOL, same. Have you read Blood Meridian? That'll straight up make you want to take a shower after reading. Cormac McCarthy can certainly force a reaction to his words.

I love Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, but seeing those soulless boomers dancing to Don't Stop Believing at Bill Clinton's first inauguration ruined that song for me. It's an immediate skip every time. Damn shame too, it's a well-crafted pop song.

As for buying stuff, here's my go-to list of things people should have in an apartment:

Renter's Insurance

2 fire extinguishers (one for the kitchen and one for the bedroom. Make sure the fire alarms are in working order.

Chain lock or dead bolt that can't be accessed from the outside of the door

A decent tool kit (Vice grips, 2 screwdrivers, hammer, drill, flashlight etc.)

First aid kit

Toilet plunger

Touch up paint that matches the trim

Not sure how you define modern, but Mastodon's Leviathan (2004) was a great concept album based on Moby Dick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Su1YXQYek

Basing a move on where a music scene used to be is dangerous. How long ago are we talking? Early 90s Grunge? That scene is dead.

Scenes are born from specific sets of circumstances and there's not some sort of fairy dust sprinkled on an area. For example, Detroit was a flashpoint for R&B in the 60s, but imagine moving there to start a Motown-style group today?

If you're looking to plug into a scene, look at where contemporary bands are popping up and move there. Bonus if it's in a community that cares about artists and has a system in place to support their art.

If you want to stay in Texas, Austin has a large music scene, as I'm sure you know. Not sure why Dallas is a better choice for you.

Nope.

Seattle will have a better infrastructure to support struggling artists than Dallas. Also, trust me, Texas sucks and is getting worse. Nobody who enjoys human rights or personal freedom should ever move to Texas.

Good rock stations? Are you contacting us from 1982?

Correct, but my comment was in relation to OP's question regarding the costs of Roman swords. Training and food/healthcare/shelter are huge expenses for a military for sure.

I got it from a 2009 article.

https://www.armoryblog.com/firearms/cost-equipping-soldier/

I think the military doesn't pay retail for gear/ammo, but prices have increased for sure.

It costs around $17,400 to equip an average US Army infantryman. Empire is expensive.

I guess it's a matter of preference. I like to taste the fresh veggies and mustard and placing it on the bottom bun gets that stuff on your tongue.

Yes?