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[Patrick]

That turn of phrase will likely be less unusual with the fairly recent repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." IEDs are a bitch, man.

[Patrick]

Okay, real post. Got myself a quandary here, guys.

So there's this buddy of mine who has been having auditions for guitarists. And during auditions and stuff, he'd give more details about what he had in mind, and he'd teach me some of the songs he'd written for the project. Other than finding the guitarists for the job, he's already got a full band lined up and everything. Easy, right?

The problem is, I don't think I want to make a musical career out of playing music that sounds exactly fucking like everything that's already on top 40 radio. I don't really like the music at all, and it's not taxing any aspect of my musicianship or (dare I say the word) talents. The only talent of mine that it really utilizes is the one where I can listen to most songs maybe 3 or 4 times and play the whole thing note for note. Which is exactly what he's looking to capitalize on. I don't fault him for that, frankly I think I'm perfect for the job as far as my playing is concerned. My heart just isn't in it, though. I don't really think I can justify sacrificing the two projects I'm working on for something that I don't get any creative input on. I don't want to just be a walking jukebox of one man's hits.

On the other hand, let's be frank, the offer is excruciatingly tempting from the business sense of things. The guy's got a lot of connections in the industry, and his family's been doing music professionally for 30 or 40 years. So it's a pretty good shot that this guy is going to get somewhere comfy real quick.

I don't know, you guys. As a career move, saying no could easily wind up being a huge mistake. But saying yes would certainly mean the end of any kind of artistic aspirations I've ever had. And considering the choices I've made and people who've jumped ship on me because of those aspirations... I don't want any of that shit to be in vain. And if I give up on those aspirations, I feel that's exactly what will have happened.

This is probably the toughest choice I'll have to make for a good while, and I just don't know what I should do. I'm completely at a loss.

[Inlander]

"You have to go home with him!"

"No, you have to go home with him!"

Biff! Aaargh!

[Eris]

I just got a strange phone call from my dad. He made a joke about Top Gear, then asked me how I was. When I asked him the same question he told me he was miserable, because no one loves him and his feet are cold. So I told him to put some socks on, then made the joke that he wanted (the right answer to that comment is "God loves you and sit on your feet"). He laughed, said seeya later, and hung up.


I'm still not quite sure what happened. What just happened?

[The Seldom Killer]

I don't know, you guys. As a career move, saying no could easily wind up being a huge mistake. But saying yes would certainly mean the end of any kind of artistic aspirations I've ever had.

Don't talk such shit.

I'm a hairy motherfucker by any reasonable standards but I can't count on the hairs on my head the number of artists who've done a bit of dirt to support themselves, gain reputation, make contacts etc. Unless you're already a top notch megastar oozing groupies and diamonds then you aren't really any different to them.

In this project you'll have the opportunity to meet people, get noticed for doing something of interest to an audience, you'll probably even get to make some influence on the music in the project. As well as that, unless you're stupid enough to sign a contract that hands over control to anything you do in your spare time, you will always be able to do your own thing on the side. As you've said, the work isn't challenging, so at a convenient time in the future you can be replaced. As long as you have the integrity not to get complacent about what you're doing, it'll be fine.

The only question really is "will I benefit from this?". If you genuinely won't benefit from any of the steady income, public exposure, contacts, networking, people with more than no reason to listen to what you can actually do etc then you wouldn't even be asking this question now would you. Nobody really does better for being a starving artist.

I should conceed that my ire comes from facing unemployment with no one really interested in giving me a job. I'm just a bit jealous that other people have opportunities that they can throw away on the flimsiest of reasons.

[The Seldom Killer]

Eris, never been in that situation but if that were me I would be a little worried and make sure someone went round to brew up a nice cup of tea.

[Eris]

Eh, this has happened before. He
a) is 3 hours away from me
b) lives in the same house as my brother
c) is probably just bored and lonely, and
d) probably just ran out of other people to call.

He sits at home all day drinking and smoking and doing jack shit and complaining that no one likes him. He calls his family because he has no one else to talk to, but I am guessing everyone else was asleep, seeing it is 10 at night and he normally calls his elderly aunt, so it's a bit late for that. It may sound a bit cynical, but he will probably have forgotten about this in the morning, and if he is so miserable maybe he should try doing something about it rather than sitting at home feeling sorry for himself all the time.

[The Seldom Killer]

Drunk was my other guess.

[Dazed]

Uh, Patrick, take the goddamn gig. Signing up to sell out for a little while doesn't equate to selling out forever, and if you can get paid/get a name for yourself by playing something that isn't necessarily great, go ahead and do it. You wouldn't be the first. Dave Weckl is one of the most uniquely talented and versatile drummers in the world and he used to drum for Madonna, for fuck's sake.

[Jace]

What pat didn't tell us is that it is a U2 tribute band.

[David_Dovey]

Cool, you get to futz around with delay pedals and AC30s

[Patrick]

For those encouraging me to do it, I want you to be as informed as I am. This is some of the music I'd be playing. I can't even listen to it long enough to learn it.

As well as that, unless you're stupid enough to sign a contract that hands over control to anything you do in your spare time, you will always be able to do your own thing on the side.

Welp, that's that, then. Not staying on board.

[valley_parade]

I...no dude, don't do it.

[nufan]

For those encouraging me to do it, I want you to be as informed as I am. This is some of the music I'd be playing. I can't even listen to it long enough to learn it.

I...wow. The lyrics motherfucking-everything about "Long Gone" makes me want to punch that guy forever. I would have said "just do it" before but that is... wow.

[pwhodges]

I have just submitted my formal application to be allowed to continue working past my contractual retirement date.

They have formally agreed this; I will not be thrown on the scrap heap in six months.  Actually, I feel pretty great that they didn't even feel a need to discuss it before saying yes - it would have been so easy for them to justify retiring me and getting someone cheaper.  Competence trumps money!

[öde]

Do it ironically, Pat.

[bainidhe_dub]

Jesus, my work computer doesn't have speakers so I only just listed but goddamn that is some bland shit.

[Rizzo]

Sydney's been pretty good so far. Got a bank account and applied for a tax number and all that boring shit.

Related: Got to see QOTSA, Iron Maiden, Kylesa, Fucked Up, High on Fire and Sum41 at Soundwave the other day. I had such an awesome day and Fucked Up were the last band I saw which made things extra awesome as the singer waded into the audience with the mic and demanded people do vocals. So I did. Awesome.

[tania]

photo

this one's better:

I remember there being a point whereby I was trying to find Tania so I could introduce her to the wife of my absolute all time hero and mentor, I looked around the church and she was on the floor play-fighting with Andy. I seem to recall my sentence went something like "Oh you should finally meet my girlfriend Tania who is.....*looks around, sees Andy and Tania on the floor slapping each other*....not here right now".

wait what i am pretty sure this didn't happen, that floor was absolutely filthy with booze and cigarette butts. sounds like you lead a pretty fun fantasy life though

here is a picture of the actual fight though, which i am not afraid to admit i screamed and ran away from almost immediately like the coward i am -



it turns out that andy is actually like a REALLY immensely terrifying person to be around when she decides she wants to fight you. i legitimately did not think i was afraid of anyone until this happened! good job, andy, keep doing your thing.

[KvP]

Most people don't remember the times during which they are in the throes of Tommylust. It's a primal state.

[nekowafer]

Most awkward moment EVER: After an hour's session with my therapist, she decided to give me a ride home, as I don't have a car. Lots of weird silence.

[Tom]

All tomboys are immensely terrifying when they decide to fight you.

[Alex C]

Nah. But the, I'm competitive to the point where it's probably a mental illness of some sort.

[tania]

anyway blog thread here is a true story, today i got so frustrated with a presentation i was working on for a class tomorrow that ended up not saving properly and being erased and thus was a huge waste of my time (the shitty computers in the graduate lab are set up so that your files automatically save to a temporary folder that is inaccesible unless you are an administrator and also deletes everything once you log out and it is bullshit and everyone hates it and constantly gets screwed over by it because it makes no sense at all) that i ended up freaking out and kicking apart and destroying the recycling bin in the grad lab, while other students were in there. now i owe them a new bin and i think everyone in my program is like actually, really legitimately terrified of me.

grad school: this is what it will do to you

[Patrick]

So I'm looking at cars on Craigslist. Because I'm trying to sell my Fender Jag. I am tired of having a guitar I don't play anymore, and I really need a car anyway. A couple of pretty legit contenders. An old '86 Mercedes, claims to get 30 or so mpg. Not terrible. And those things are pretty damn reliable, my friend's got a similar year and model. Definitely thinking of going for it.

[The Seldom Killer]

How is 30mpg not terrible? I'm guessing you mean 30 mpg city, not motorway.

[pwhodges]

I wouldn't expect to get 30mpg out of an '86 Merc in UK gallons, let alone US ones.  They must be a very gentle driver.

[Patrick]

2.6 liter 4cyl engine. Wouldn't shock me all that much.

[The Seldom Killer]

On that sort of engine, of that age in a Merc than the efficiency will very likely be lower. In the short-term the economies might work in your favour, if the price is very good, but anything more than a year and you'll be paying over the odds, particularly if the situation in the middle east continues to spread.

[The Seldom Killer]

Just had an e-mail sent round to say that the company that services our lift has changed and is now Schindler Lifts.

Elapsed time to Godwining: 3 seconds.

Disappointing.

[FIXDIX]

Drunk post!

Had drinks with my girlfriend's friends from Brisbane!

Fuck yoooooooou!

[valley_parade]

2.6 liter 4cyl engine. Wouldn't shock me all that much.

I know a lot of people were converting old Mercs to run on gas and used vegetable oil. May be the case here?

[bainidhe_dub]

I thought only diesels could be converted to vegetable oil? Though if it's an old Mercedes it may be diesel. That would be pretty cool, you would just smell like french fries & chinese food all the time.

[Spluff]

Just had an e-mail sent round to say that the company that services our lift has changed and is now Schindler Lifts.

Elapsed time to Godwining: 3 seconds.

Disappointing.

We had those at my old work, I think it took us about the same amount of time

[Jace]

Hang a sign on the lift "no Jews allowed."

[pwhodges]

This is really  old, guys (and yes, I work in a building with Schindler lifts, too).

[Johnny C]

For those encouraging me to do it, I want you to be as informed as I am. This is some of the music I'd be playing. I can't even listen to it long enough to learn it.

brendan canning was in len dude, sack the fuck up

I have just submitted my formal application to be allowed to continue working past my contractual retirement date.

They have formally agreed this; I will not be thrown on the scrap heap in six months.  Actually, I feel pretty great that they didn't even feel a need to discuss it before saying yes - it would have been so easy for them to justify retiring me and getting someone cheaper.  Competence trumps money!

congratulations! workin' a job you dig and are good at rules.

[squawk]

johnny why do you say that like len was bad

[Ozymandias]

JC don't steal my sunshine.

[squawk]

i'm really high and i don't know where else to put this

[The extra letter]

Yesterday I discovered that 32 inch waist jeans are too big for me, but 30 inch waist jeans are too small for me. It makes a change from 32 inch waist jeans being too small for me...

[The Seldom Killer]

We had those at my old work, I think it took us about the same amount of time

The really annoying thing was that afterwards half the office were convinced that they were just cashing in on the name. Even after I pointed out that the company was over 130 years old the consensus was that they should have changed the name because Spielberg made a film with the same name.

[JD]

Moving tomorrow!

[The Seldom Killer]

Don't do it dude, tomorrow is Friday and I like to keep it where it is.

</sorry></couldn't resist>

[Jimor]

Speaking of pants, I just bought for the first time, pants with a larger waist than inseam. For years I had held steady at 34/34, but had to go 36/34 this time. 

In other news, just got back from covering a double header of high school basketball playoffs. I ran one of the replay machines and we got some really nice shots to show off. Friday and Saturday are the regional finals at the arena where the Sacramento Kings play. I'll be right on the floor for Friday's game, and the main "game" camera for 2 games on Saturday. My former high school is one of the schools playing that day! Long exhausting days physically, but so much fun, too.

[The extra letter]

I used to be most comfortable in 30/30 jeans before The Great Weight Gain of 2010, but they're impossible to get here. The shortest the legs are usually is 32. I get pant sand end up having to get my mum to take them up for me, heh.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

a tree fell on my bedroom last night

didn't penetrate the roof, just kind of dented it a little. might have a pic later.

[Patrick]

I have trouble fitting in anything larger than a 29" waist. I kinda hate myself. I can't shop for pants at thrift stores, because my size is the same size as a high school freshman.

[Tom]

Go eat a cheeseburger.

[Lunchbox]

I bought cowboy boots off eBay.
The right one fits nicely (a bit snug, but it's leeather, it'll stretch out)
The left one I can't actually get my foot into it.
They're slightly used, so they're obviously the right size match for one another.
Annoyed. I'm gonna get my foot in. I'm gonna do it. Even if it takes all day.