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W O R D S . . . . .
Gothic and Industrialist movements spread throughout school
By Jon Tomkins, Staff Reporter
[editorial comments in brackets (by whom?)]
When walking through the halls of Conestoga, some people might be wearing all black and have unusually pale faces. They might even be in a central group that seems to be some kind of minority. These people are known to us as Gothics or Industrialists.
Goths are people, men or women, that mainly dress in velvet, silk or satin clothng, and they wear tall, black boots. They listen to bands such as Nine-Inch Nails, the Cure, and KMFDM. [these bands are gothic?]
Julia Michaels, a gothic senior, said "To be Goth, there are no exceptions. You must listen to these bands." [I pray that they misquoted her]
The basic mood of most Gothics is that of a deep, depressing nature.
Freshman Gordon Raeburn said,"The world is a dull repetitive place. Industrialism allows you to go places, mentally, that you cannot in the normal world."
They express their feelings through the way they dress. Many people become Gothic, just because it makes them feel good.
Freshman Margot Burghart said, "It's like the first time you smoke a cigarette. You're curious the first time, and then you get hooked."
Industrialists are similar to Gothics. They usually listen to harder types of music such as Coil, Nitzer Ebb, and Ministry. They are found to stray away from cloths, wearing leather instead. Many industrialists and Goths practice Micca [they did say Micca, not Wicca], a form of white magic. They describe it as the 'healing magic.' At times they also practice self-mutilation.
Burghart said, "A lot of the time for me, life is depressing... I've sewn pentagons into the palms of my hands, cut myself, and even set my pants on fire. I don't know why, but it seems to relieve my depressing moods."
Aside from their lack of enthusiasm for life, and numerous suicide attempts, Gothics and Industrialists seem to stick together. Burghart said, "if one of us is in trouble, we will do anything we can to get them out of it, no matter what it takes."
Their main hangout is known as The Underground at the Valley Forge Sheraton. There are also numerous places in Philadelphia that are known as the Gothic/Industrialist Clubs [not true -- the only real one, Asylum, just closed]. It is not uncommon to see some of them drinking blood. They are into vampires, and don't seem to mind drinking this giver of life. They often sell fangs at these hangouts that are worn to express themselves.
Raeburn said, "Drinking blood is fun. It doesn't only save you the money and time of getting drunk, it tastes great!"
What seems normal to us, might look crazy to them. Michaels said "You guys take us way too seriously."
Despite their customs and attempts to inflict injury upon themselves, most of them seem very understanding and kind [how thoughtful of the reporter to say that!]. They say the reason they pack together is because people taunt and tease them. They wonder why others can't just accept them for who they are, and not what they are. In time, maybe we will.
(thanks to X-ta for forwarding this to the brunch list)
The Story of Scrap
by Edwin C. Barringer, published by The Institute of Scrap Iron & Steel Inc, 1954
"The scrap man is a composite of every factor of the iron and steel industry, from the humblest collector to the largest broker. He is a man who functions without fanfare, buys little from and sells nothing to the general public, does not clamor for distinction, yet renders a service that is unequalled to the industrial annals of the country. To him this book is dedicated; to present him in a sympathetic and understanding light in its purpose."
"But oblivion is not the end for iron and steel that has thus met its fate. Waiting ceaselessly--indeed almost impatiently--is the scrap man whose very reason for existence is his ability to pick up the pieces--often literally--and perform the first operation in restoring apparently worthless ... metal to a new life of useful service."
"Reincarnating the hapless metallic victims of obsolescence, corrosion and failure ... transforming the discards of yesterday into the necessities of tomorrow ... this is the scrap industry."
"In Shakespeare's plays steel is mentioned 64 times and iron 48 times."
"Tubal-Cain, seventh in descent from Adam ... is also claimed by the scrap industry as its founder."
"It used to be said that two things were inevitable--death and taxes--but now add a third, the scrap man. Even the dome of the Capitol of Washington, which is cast iron, at some future date will be scrap."