A second helping of 'Rock Against Bush'

A second helpingof 'Rock Against Bush'
Fat Mike of the band NOFX -- a regular on the Vans Warped Tour, which is the definitive skate-punk festival -- started PunkVoter.com just four months after the 2000 election. But only this summer has his movement been able to prove its power on the charts.
In May, the organization's first compilation CD, "Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1," debuted at No. 54 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart.
Boasting tattooed bands like Good Charlotte, Pennywise and Sum 41, the CD became the nation's No. 1 indie record, hit No. 2 in Internet sales and was the No. 1 most-added entry at college radio.
The series' second volume hit the charts this week. It should do even better than the first, considering that it includes unreleased tracks from bigger names like No Doubt, Green Day and the Foo Fighters.
Library seeks teens
The Warren-Trumbull County Public Library is seeking Trumbull teens in grades 7 through 12 to serve on its teen advisory board (TAB).
Young adult librarian Karen Murphy serves the library's teen readers and leads the TAB. The first TAB meeting of the coming school year is scheduled for noon on Sept. 18 at the Main Library, 444 Mahoning Ave N.W. in downtown Warren. Lunch will be provided.
TAB members help to attract teens to the library by assisting in program planning and other activities. For more information, call 330-399-8807, ext. 400
Rock shows
Upcoming concerts at area skate parks:
UA Backlit Room, October Nights Fall, A Second Before the Crash; Wednesdayat Gravity House in Austintown; $5 cover, doors open at 6 p.m.
UCrisis; tonight at Section 8 in Hubbard; $5 cover, 7 p.m.
URed Tragedy, realeyes, a back lit room, Dolcet, Dustin Keryans memorial show; Saturday at Section 8 in Hubbard; $5 cover, 7 p.m.
Quote/Unquote
j"I worked (at an amusement park in New York) when I was 13. It doesn't get any better than that. When I worked I got everybody on the rides (for free)." -- Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, on his best summer job, in People.
k"Seeing as how my career exists (because) people had to vote for me, I feel voting is extremely important." -- Kelly Clarkson, in Teen People.
"Kids in high school can be very mean. Chances are if you're getting picked on in high school, you'll be more successful than anyone else when you graduate." -- Actor Jonathan Bennett ("Mean Girls"), in J-14 magazine.
A tale of immortality
"The Boy Who Couldn't Die" by William Sleator (Amulet, $16.95) is a thrilling science-fiction story based in reality. Sleator has unlocked the secret to an excellent read by creating unforgettable characters and twists on every page. He leaves you wondering about the nice old couple next door with his tale of immortal zombies who control their own lives by day, but by night are turned into mindless murderers. Sleator's reference to the rituals performed by voodoo priests leaves you thinking, "Maybe this did happen."
The story focuses on 16-year-old Ken who wants to uncover the secrets of his immortality, secrets he believes are hidden in his dreams. After his best friend is killed in a plane crash, he desperately wants to become invulnerable to pain and death. In his search he meets a woman who says she can perform a ritual to accomplish that. After the ritual, Ken begins to test out his immortality in several odd but funny ways.
As secrets unfold and relationships are formed, this story gets more exciting with every word.
Ja Rule returns
When Ja Rule's 2003 album, "Blood In My Eye, flopped compared to his previous CDs, many wondered if Ja's career was over. Ja did too. "I'm coming in as an underdog," he says of his new album, "R.U.L.E.", which was released this week. "The question is, will I regain my championship title?" To help him fight back, friends like Nas, R. Kelly, Ashanti, and Mary J. Blige make guest appearances on his new CD -- a return to the danceable jams fans loved in the first place. "It's got family, party, the street and relationships," he says.