Synthesis is giving away iPods, CDs, DVDs and more, and all you need to do is visit our Sweeps page for a chance to collect your free shit. And everyone loves free shit. Except Osama bin Laden (and he’s soooooo yesterday’s news). Here’s what we gots:

See? shit is BLOWING UP!

Right now I’m checking out new kicks, and given my well documented infatuation with Saucony, plus the fact that they’re feeding the dragon, I’ve been looking into their more recent designs. While I still favor the 1981 designed Jazz model, I’m kinda digging the sleek Bullet track shoe series.

Sweet kicks, huh? For shits and giggles: http://www.saucony.com/originals

Here I am, busy pounding the table, beating myself off while whistling “Heat of The Moment.” The announcement of the Yes/Asia tour is just one of those exciting things that I live for.

For this tour they’ve brought out the Crypt Keeper to play in both sets. Steve Howe is the original Loner of an only heart.

(For the record, I am actually kinda excited for this in a “grandpa-rock,” “featuring several original members” sort of way…)

Acclaimed British band YES launch their 24-city U.S. tour on June 26 at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA, featuring the classic line-up of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White with new vocalist Benoit David and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman, son of the group’s Rick Wakeman.

For this tour, YES will be joined by Special Guest Asia, with Howe, a cornerstone member of both groups, performing as part of each band’s set, alongside original Asia members, including ex-YES and Buggles keyboardist Geoff Downes, ELP’s Carl Palmer on drums and former King Crimson and UK bassist/guitarist/vocalist John Wetton.

Said Howe: “This is a monumental event and even though it will be a challenge, I am up for it.”

June 26: Indio, CA (Fantasy Springs Casino)

June 27: Las Vegas, NV (Thomas & Mack Center)

June 30: Snoqualmie, WA (Snoqualmie Casino)

July 2: San Francisco, CA (Warfield)

July 3: Saratoga, CA (The Mountain Winery)

July 7: Los Angeles (Gibson Amphitheatre at City Walk)

July 8: San Diego (Humphrey’s)

July 9: Phoenix (Dodge)

July 12: Denver (Paramount Theatre)

July 14: Kansas City, MO (Uptown Theater)

July 15: Ft. Worth, TX (Bass Music Center)

July 16: Muskegee, OK (Civic Center)

July 18: Walker, MN (Moondance Jam)

July 20: Detroit (DTE Energy Music Theatre)

July 21: Pittsburgh (Chevrolet Amphitheatre)

July 22: Glen Allen, VA (Insbrook Pavilion)

July 23: National Harbour, MD (Sunset Concerts)

July 25: Cohassett, MA (South Shore Music Circus)

July 26: Jackson, NJ (Great Adventure Amphitheatre)

July 28: Philadelphia (Tower Theatre)

July 29: Montclair, NJ (Wellmont Theatre)

July 31: Westbury, NY (Theatre at Westbury)

Aug. 1: Jamestown, NY (Savings Bank Arena)

Aug. 2: Bethlehem, PA (Muskfest)

If you’re like me, you can download the forms here. Idiot.

I am an American, and as such, I’m brand-minded. Granted, I’m less-so than most of my friends, but I still tend to favor my trusted logos; Fender amps, Gibson guitars, Electro-Harmonix and Boss pedals….and Clubman moustache wax.

But a few weeks ago I was at SXSW (more pics coming soon, I swear), and there I found a Garnier Fructis booth doing some promotions. I asked if they made moustache wax and they gave me a 5 oz container of “Surf Hair,” saying it would do fine for molding my face mane.

This canister has been sitting on my desk, and from time to time I’ve used a bit on my stache. It’s held alright so far, and smells nice (nectarines? pineapples? mangos? propylene glycol?), but over the next week I will be submitting Garnier Fructis to a strickt clinical test.

Will Garnier supplant Clubman in my daily grooming? Check back all week for progress.

g

“Hi! Joel Bauer, meet Patrick Bateman. Patrick Bateman, meet Joel Bauer.”

“Cheap. Strathmore stock. 60 lb.. Holds a crease. Can you tear it? Absolutely.”

“Good coloring.”

“That’s bone. And the lettering is something called ’silian rail.’”

Pal-sies? Indubitably!