But for Rise Against, this particular endgame might just be their beginning.

As the title of the band’s sixth full-length studio album–and the moniker of the album’s title track–Endgame, is indicative of both a world that has run its course, and perhaps ushering in an entirely new start.

“It’s about a dangerous time in civilization, the end of life,” says vocalist/guitarist Tim McIlrath. “What if the life that we’re living right now is this unsustainable bubble that cannot go on and perhaps does not deserve to go on? What if he world we created is a place that is so unnatural and ugly that it is a world that needs to come to an end, so that we could have a world that is better for everybody? It sounds very utopian, but it’s not about a perfect place, but maybe some of these things we/re doing, they need to come to an end.”

McIlrath, bassist Joe Principe, drummer Brandon Barnes and guitarist Zach Blair have been making these striking personal and political statements, and providing prompts of great magnitude throughout their remarkable catalog by offering songs that aren’t just merely sung, but very much thought about.

And it’s thought that has made Rise Against such an important bank to its ever-expanding fanbase. For the Chicago-based punk group, the creation of dialogue and discourse with listeners has allowed for a response and career trajectory that’s been overwhelming positive since the band’s launch over a decade ago.

Rise Against’s previous effort, 2008′s Appeal to Reason, further escalated the noteworthy attention already generated by prior successes, including The Sufferer and the Witness (2006) and Siren Song for the Counterculture (2004), which had provided such hits as “Swing Life Away,” “Ready to Fall,” “Prayer of the Refugee” and “Savior.” And Endgame simply picks up on such highlights.

Endgame was largely assembled in the latter half of 2010. The band opted to return to production veterans Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colo., and mixed with Chris Lord-Alge, who also worked on Rise Against’s previous two albums.

The album’s first single, “Help Is On The Way” was inspired by McIlrath’s recent visit during a retreat in New Orleans.

“It was a post-Katrina New Orleans, and I was down at the Gulf, going to the Lower Ninth Ward, seeing the damage and meeting people,” he recalls. “It was so eye opening to see how important the city was and to realize that a city like this existed within American borders at all and to see how much it was hurting was something that was really emotional and dramatic.”

McIlrath notes that the song stems from a lot of the imagery that remains embedded in his thoughts.

“I wanted to paint a picture of what happened down there and what is happening down there, and even though New Orleans is moving away from the spotlight a little bit, there’s still a lot recovery that people don’t see that takes place every day and it’s still an important place in America and in the world. It’s a place that should not be forgotten about. It’s a hopeful title in a sense, but there a couple different things, as in help is on the way but it never came. It still needs a lot more help, it still needs to happen.”

On Endgame, Rise Against also shifts the spotlight to homophobia via “Make it Stop,” a topic McIlrath says really hasn’t been addressed in the rock scene. The Catalyst for the song occurred in September 2010, after a wave of gay teen suicides. According to McIlrath, the band received e-mails from gay fans who had contemplated suicide due to the harsh climates in which they live and the harsh world that judges who they are.

“That’s something I’ve seen firsthand,” he says. “It’s bummed me out to create this community of fans, where you want everybody to feel accepted, but then to realize that there are people that don’t feel accepted, even at your own shows, even at a Rise Against Show, where we go out of our way to let you know that if you are here, you belong here, no matter who you are. It’s a place where everyone is welcome. But we’d hear from fans about homophobia in the scene, or even hear from fans who are unsure about how Rise Against feels about homosexuality. That was what alarmed me the most, was to have a fan that even had a question in their mind about where we stood on it. I guess I looked back on our career and Rise Against had never made a definitive statement.”

The definitive statement Rise Against makes on Endgame, is that the band is open to any sexual preference. “It’s something that we certainly don’t judge,” McIlrath says. “I felt there needed to be a song, which came from our world, because I feel that the rock world stays pretty silent. I wanted to put water where the fire was. I wanted to do a song that, first, lets fans know that we don’t tolerate bigotry in our audience and, second, empower fans who are coming to grips with their own sexuality, empower them to be proud of who they are an that we accept them, and create a community that accepts them.”

Endgame also features “Architect,” a song inspired by the forefathers and historical figures of civil rights and activism, including Thoreau, Malcolm X and Howard Zinn.

“They were designing a world in which we would be able to live in,” McIlrath says. “They fought for the design of everything that we can enjoy as Americans and people in the world today. The song is posing the question: Is our generation producing those architects now? It’s wondering if our generation is so overcome with cynicism and apathy that we are in danger of not creating these architects. Every right that we enjoy as Americans, somebody was out there with a picket sign to get it.”

And McIlrath sees Endgame‘s “Survivor Guilt” as a sequel to “Hero of War,” which appeared on Appeal to Reason, hailing from the perspective of a ghost of a soldier who fought for his or her country.

But it’s important to note that the spectrum of material presented on Endgame is counterbalanced with a number of personal subjects, including the song “This Is Letting Go” which is based around a story McIlrath had penned.

“The songs to me are a selection of who we are as people,” says McIlrath. “We’re not 100 percent political or 100 percent personal. We’re people with many different cares and passions. Many different things make up our daily lives. I don’t consider myself any more political than those out there who care about the world they live in.”

And as for the pressure in following up its string of successes–which now includes three gold-awarded albums and gold singles-McIlrath says it’s all internally generated.

“The pressure that we feel is he pressure that we put on ourselves,” he says. “We try to step up our game on each record and create something that’s relevant, new and fresh, and is still Rise Against. I want to give my perspective, and from the punk community, take in what’s happening, interpret that and put it into a song, letting the world know how we feel about it. Thats the goal behind a lot of the music.”

           Sadly, on June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died in his home from cardiac arrest. It was a shock and was greatly upsetting to family, fans, and friends. “The King of Pop” would no longer dance or sing again.

            Even though Michael Jackson has died, his legacy can still be celebrated and remembered. “Michael Jackson: The Experience” is Ubisoft’s new video game. This game is made for the Wii, Nintendo DS, and the PSP.

            In this game, up to four players can participate at one time. “Michael Jackson: The Experience” is a dancing game, similar to the “Just Dance” video game series. Players have to follow Michael’s dance moves accordingly.

            This game includes twenty five of Michael’s legendary songs. Some of these songs include “Thriller”, “Black or White”, “Billie Jean”, and many more. This is the first game that has been made official since the videogame “Moonwalker” of 1989.

            Fans are already raving about the brand new game. Many people are anxious to learn Jackson’s legendary moves. “Michael Jackson: The Experience” is already in stores for interested gamers.

The iPad can be used to pool resources with others, complete presentations, and share information on your business. The iPad’s large easy-to-see screen allows people to refrain from straining their eyes. Its slimness, lightness, and instant access allow work to always be at reach.

The iPad has great applications that can be used for business such as the Mail, Calendar, Maps, Contacts, Safari, and Notes applications. These offer great convenience and allow people to easily get directions, share ideas at meetings, store important information, and much more. The iPad proves to be a successful business partner.

Information that is stored on the iPad is protected, and has full device coding. It also supports having passwords and other policies for security. The iPad has worldwide 3G coverage even in the most isolated locations, so that you do not have the inability to work.

There are additional applications that allow everyone to keep track with their work. These allow people to revise and study contracts, examine and manage sale proposals, work out travel plans, and much more.

These iPad upgrades allow people to have more ease in the business world. These new upgrades and applications will help more people in their planning, developing, and presenting their final products. Business is one of the things that future generation is taking hold of and the iPad will help everyone get there.

Marines Celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday with a ball. They do this to remember the history of the Marine Corps and to remember the fallen Marines that no one else remembers. Even Marines that aren’t active duty go to this Marine Corps Ball, and there is several locations where it takes place in each state. Every Marine has a story and every Marine shares their story at the ball. This day, November 10th is the best day to be a Marine because you get to spend time with all your brothers that you probably haven’t seen in a while.

On November 10, 2010 was the 235th birthday and the 235th year the Marine Corps has defended America from invaders. In 1952 congress wrote in there law that the Marine Corps will be the most ready when the Nation is the least ready. Marine are ready to fight and defend this country in any clime and place at anytime and you can see that from the Korean war where there was freezing temperatures to the present battle in Afghanistan where it can drop 100 degrees from day to night.

Every Marine celebrates the birth date even if they are deployed. Major Simmons said “he remembered on the 9th of November the company chief cook told him Major we got to do something for this birthday at least have a cake. Among the items that got kicked out of the door of the helicopter along with sea ration’s barbwire and ammunition was some white cake mix the master sargent fired up one of his field ranges and baked a cake in flat sheets and iced it with strawberry jam  we called are marine out of the line at a squad at a time and fed them a three inch square of cake. I could still see that white cake those dirty hands, it was more like a sacrament then a celebration the sacrament of brotherhood, three days later we turned over the perimeter to the army and climbed aboard the trucks before November was over we would be in a much tougher fight, Chosin Reservoir. For many of my marines that would be the last Marine Corps birthday ever.”

A message from an 84-year-old World War II Marine:
“My personal desire is to call each and every former, retired and active duty Marine and wish each of them a Happy 235th Birthday for our beloved Corps. That is financially and logistically impossible. Happy Birthday Marines, wherever you are. Semper Fidelis.”
Cpl. James… D. Broome

Marine Corps Birthday from the Commadant and Sgt. Major

The dates are December 11-12, 2010. The time for December 11 is 6:00 PM . The time for December 12 is 3:00 PM . The tickets started going on sale on November 1st. The prices are as follow:  Adults $5 with 3 cans of nonperishable food (or $7), Children 10 & under and seniors $3 with 3 cans (or $5), Ages 2 and under are free.

Last year the guest skaters were the 1996 World champion Todd Eldredge and National Junior competitor Alexander Aiken. This year’s guests are Alexander Aiken and Michael Chau.  This is a family event so please come and support the Lowcountry Food Bank.

“I think it goes to show that America is changing its views on things and although not everyone is open minded about female and different raced leaders, but the majority of people are because otherwise how would she have won? With each generation I think their is going to be less racism and sexism and these elections and future elections will prove this,” says Meaghan Fitzgerald.

Certain fashions have become more racially stereotypical than others. (i.e. sagging is usually associated with African Americans). Sagging has actually become culturally integrated. However, as  people we will never see the end of stereotypes. The stereotypical “thug” looks like this: long tee-shirt, oversized sagging pants, earrings (whether fake or real), some type of headgear, and excessive jewelry.

Some counties believe that sagging has become so out of control that they have created laws that fine offenders and can get them a short term jail sentence. When news of these laws hit the streets, it attracted positive feedback and negative protest.

“Finally, someone had enough courage to stand up to these thugs. Somebody had to do something. Since these thugs kept runnin’ ’round with their pants down to their knees, they thought they were so tough, they ain’t so tough now that the government’s got “em,” Ms. Mabelle MaDukes excitedly commented.

“Okay, I’m not the one to disobey law on purpose, you know? They made a law sayin’ that I can’t wear my pants below my waist revealing skin or undewear, that’s fine. And I’m not tryin’ to make this a ‘white versus black thing’ or anything like that. But what I don’t understand is how a man can’t wear his clothes the way he wants to, but a man is allowed to wear women’s clothes in any way he seems fit,” Otis Jenkins said.

All those interested should speak to Mr. Schirling for more information. Flyers can be obtained from his room, with the cost, details on how to sign up, and additional trip locations and sights that will be visited in and around the listed cities. A few other places and things on the long list of activities are a visit to the Berlin Wall, a live Mozart Concert, seeing the BMW Headquarters, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Munich Olympic Stadium.

All students across the school are welcome to come along, as well as any of their friends and family members not students of Schirling’s. However, ONLY 40 slots are empty, and there are already applicants. There is still room, though; so fast acting can still secure yourself a spot on.

This is likely to be the final trip to Europe Mr. Schirling will be heading, so the Fort is encouraged to make it a good one, if not the best of them all.

The SC Governor candidates, Sheheen, from the Democrats had 47 % of votes. Haley also another SC Governor, but a republic had 51 % of the votes.

The SC US senate was far won by DeMint, a republican. DeMint won with 62% of South Carolina’s citizens votes.

DeMint, which was elected SC senate, had a total of 791, 627 votes. The rest of the votes went to Alvin Greene, running against DeMint. Alvin Greene, a democrat, only though had half the votes DeMint received.

Nikki Haley, the Governor for South Carolina, also a republic. She had a total of 674, 103 votes. Then, her Sheheen which was a democrat running against her had a total of 617, 427 votes.

The Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, Comptroller General, Superintendent, Adjutant General, and Agricultural Commissioner were all voted Republican for South Carolina.

The House of Representatives for South Carolina were all voted Republicans except one, Clyburn with 63% of the votes. He was the sixth and last representative that was voted Democrat.

Nikki Haley was the first woman Governor for South Carolina. Haley is a three-term House member who campaigned as a political outsider and earned the backing of Sarah Palin. Tea-party backed Republican state Rep. Nikki Haley will also become the nation’s second Indian-American governor when she replaces term-limited Gov. Mark Sanford. Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal also is Indian-American.

Tim Scott made history Tuesday night to be the first African American Republican to be elected in Congress.

“Voters are more interested in your issues than in any other characteristic,” Scott told a Newsweek in June.

Elected to South Carolina’s First District, a coastal area running from Charleston to Myrtle Beach. Scott is a veritable Tea Party representative, not only receiving endorsements from Sarah Palin and Tea Party activists, but also telling The Daily Caller in July that he was more inclined to join the Tea Party Caucus than the Congressional Black Caucus.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/02/tim-scott-first-black-republican-elected-to-congress-from-the-south-since-reconstruction/#ixzz14F9Z5rJH