navybsn

I'd take either, but if someone else is paying, 4001 all the way. but yeah, I will always choose vintage if given the choice. Shit was just made better then. That's why all of my receivers are 1970's model. They're rock solid and sound "just right". I'm not sold on the improvements either. Besides, I will probably only ever to get to own one, so why not go for the "one". Enslaved - RITTIR

Always loved the Soundgear basses. My last one was a cherry red 4 string. The neck just works for me. But nowhere near as sexy as a 4001. Plus that tone....

I should, you're right. Maybe I'll put a Rick 4001 on my Santa list. King Gizzard - Polygondwanaland

Yeah man, that sounds scarily similar to my dad's last years, except his was Parkinson's. Early onset. He was diagnosed around the age I am now and was dead within 10 years. He was a pretty successful guy. Long time critical care nurse that ran ICU's across North Florida for years. He quickly degraded to a shell of a human. From what I understand, we had no relationship as I sorta mentioned above, it was not pretty. Honestly scares the shit out of me. I know that Parkinson's isn't genetic, but that doesn't alleviate my fear of it. Losing your mind has to be the absolute worst way to go. I think I'd rather eat a bullet. I can totally empathize with the way you feel about the relationship with your dad. I feel the same way. I don't think either of my parents ever saw me as anything more than a meal ticket. A means to accomplish a goal. Sucks to feel that way, but I've learned to deal with it.

Dude, I hate to hear what you dealt with. I can empathize with your situation unfortunately. My family life growing up was fucked which led to me having to cut my family off once I became an adult. It's a long story, but in short, my parents got married at 17. I came along at 19. They were kids who had no idea what they were doing (like anyone really does). My sister came along 2 years later. We had a few good years where mom & dad made decent money, but most years were pretty thin. Fried bologna sandwiches for dinner were a staple 3-4 nights a week. Fast forward to when I was 15, my dad left my mom. Walked out on Christmas Eve. My mom lost it. Disappeared. We had no idea where she was for 2 months. Turns out she had been institutionalized after being found by the police wandering the streets crying and distraught in the middle of the night. So it was just me to care for myself and my sister during that time. Even when she eventually came back home, she was never the same. Skip a bunch of drama, dad moved to a different part of the state and she found a replacement. Typical stepdad stuff (come in and try to establish dominance crap) which went over as you would expect. It was made clear that I was persona non grata and pushed off into the world. Oh did I mention that he was a convicted sex offender? That diddled little kids and had done prison time for it? Yeah, that's fun. My father's side of the drama wasn't much better, but it's not worth going in to. You get the idea. About 12 years ago when I was first diagnosed with cancer, they both somehow reinserted themselves into my life. Probably didn't hurt that there were significant financial interests if I had actually died on active duty and turns out that was the motivation. Not true concern for their child. Just a plot to cheat my wife and young daughter out of the half million life insurance payout. They had set up shop in my home in San Diego while I was hospitalized and were terrorizing my family. I had to throw them out and cut ties again. And like Russian history, it only got worse. I could write a book on all the drama, but again you get the idea. As a result, I still have a good deal of difficulty forming solid trusting relationships with people. I have no problem just cutting ties with people with no remorse. Almost feels sociopathic at times, but I guess when you have to cut the closest ties you have in life, it gets pretty easy to do so in the future. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a fucked-up individual. I'm sure there's a lot of baggage that I should deal with, but I have no idea where I would actually start. I get along fine, so maybe there's no need. I am sure it strains my relationship with my wife at times. She comes from the exact opposite situation. Perfect, ideal childhood. Of course, just like the movies, she was not aware of the real situation going on in the background which we found out when her parents died, but ignorance is bliss. Certainly, it has affected my relationship with my daughter as well. Anyway, we are all fucked up to some degree. All dealing with some amount of ridiculous bullshit in our lives. And if you're not now, don't worry it's coming. So be understanding of people. Show some compassion. Be kind. You really have no idea what they may be dealing with. Yeah, actually you are. All of you guys. Maybe a virtual relationship for the most part, but I honestly feel just as close to you guys as to anyone I know in the flesh. Most of them are virtual to me 99% of the time anyway because we're adults with lives. We do meet up a few times a year, but I probably talk to you guys more.

Yeah thanks guys. It's frustrating. Home care or LTC isn't really an option even if money wasn't a problem. The second you mention mental health issues or deafness (her disability), the conversation stops very quickly. Regardless of whether or not these conditions are no different than advanced Alzheimer's or hearing loss. Those patients fill facilities across the world. But not crazies. @Dead1nailed it. The shuttering of the institutional system created this problem which was then exacerbated by continuous defunding of public health and treatment facilities by governments. That system wasn't perfect or good, but at least it was better than what we have now. It was ended with promises to put money into resources to help treat people in more humane ways in the community. Here we are 40+ years later still waiting. So fuck you Ronnie old boy. Hope you are rotting in hell. I'm just stuck thinking how many people out there are in a similar situation. Got to be at least a couple hundred just in my neck of the woods. And there are 16 beds total in all of NW Florida. 16 for a population base over 2 million. 1 emergency short stay holding facility. A critical shortage of mental health providers. Yet never a word until some asshole shoots up a school or nightclub. We're just numb to it as a society or worse just DGAF. The older I get, the more I wonder if we all wouldn't be better of with a gamma ray burst just putting us out of our misery. I mean not really, life is worth the good times which will come again, but if this is all the fucking progress we've made from the Dark Ages, will we just always be this way as humans? Is collective evolution towards a better world really possible. I'd say no at the moment. Probably why those sentiments are popular with the young and inexperienced.

Yeah don't put too much into it. I stopped after HS because I realized the only career paths were fairly unrewarding. Teach (yeah I know you know dude), perform (thousands more talented), or try to put together a commercial enterprise. I decided that I wanted to eat and have a home, so I sought out a different path. Most of my buddies from that time who continued on no longer work in the field. I had no resources growing up (no money and an unsupportive family) so it was quick and easy to make that choice. The others had better circumstances which just ultimately delayed the inevitable. Wasted potential possibly, but the trophies honors and awards wouldn't pay the bills. I was first chair all-state in '92 on tuba, but that wasn't even worth a scholarship audition at any reputable university with a decent program. Probably worse these days. I still have a passion for the bass. I haven't played in years because of time. Would have to start over from scratch. But once upon a time I was pretty decent. Always idolized the greats like Geddy, Steve Harris, JPJ, and Entwhistle. Sought out music with great bass lines like Joy Division, the Cure, or various prog rock bands. Like I mentioned above, it literally shaped my musical tastes. I'm still at a point where it takes work to get into anything that doesn't have reasonable noticeable bass in the production. Surely the other musicians in the bunch can relate in their own way. One of these days I may take up banjo or mandolin. But my wife will likely object that it's just another money pit hobby that I have enough of already. And she's probably right.

Gonna vent here because this is a relatively safe spot to do so. Living/caring for someone with chronic mental health issues and disabilities is an untenable burden for the average person. There are no resources. Nursing homes/Assisted living places will not take people like this. There is no one to go to for help. There are no options for families when the I'll person doesn't want help but can't care for themselves. Over the past year, I've come to completely understand how people end up in abusive situations, or homeless, or dead. The state doesn't care. Friends and coworkers offer "thoughts & prayers" but that doesn't actually help anyone. Sure I'm worried about my family here, but we're not unique or special. This happens everywhere no matter the country or financial bracket. Could be going on right next door to you. Your neighbor's kid. The little old lady down the street. Your coworker's mother in law... No matter who, the situation remains the same. There is no help or outlet (if you're ethical anyway). I've found myself in the past year plotting murder (yeah don't worry not seriously) or at least an unfortunate accident, calculating how damaging to my wife it would be to cut this person adrift and let them try to manage (it's her biological mother), begging for help from every agency I can come up with, being held captive in my own home to the whims of a violent and disturbed elderly woman who has tried to kill family members in the past to include my wife, and generally fostering an outright hatred for someone I used to love. Yeah, it's brutal, but it's real life. The sort of shit average people don't care about unless it happens to them and politicians only talk about when something horrible happens. Nothing actually gets done and nothing will. We just sit and wait until somebody snaps or dies. Or both. Watch the news story and move on with our lives. Meanwhile, lives are ruined because it's nobody's priority to fix. I should say that I'm especially well equipped to deal with this. I'm a nurse. Have been for decades. I have training on how to handle these people. We have financial resources. Not wealthy by any stretch, but at least enough to manage. If I'm having this much trouble, what about the average person without training or financial resources? Who or where do they turn? To abuse, forced homelessness, or worse. I would and do blame my wife's adopted parents (her grandparents) because they just left us to deal with the situation when they died. No plans, no clear picture of just how bad it really was. Nada. At the same time, what were they going to do as they faced the same issues we're constantly running in to? I think they just hoped she died first which unfortunately didn't happen. They were born in the 30's and came from a time when this stuff was taboo to discuss or even acknowledge. So despite my attempts to bring it up over the years, nothing was ever put in place. I still blame them and will until I leave this mortal coil, but I do understand. Ok, that's it. Just had to get that off my chest. If anyone has a place to crash in a country without extradition treaties, hit me up. Or easy access to GHB. Or whatever Putler's special tea concoction is. Just kidding.

Something we can agree on. They were. Most were trying to emulate Ian Curtis of Joy Division, Robert Smith of the Cure, or Peter Murphy of Bauhaus. This is the correct answer. This is the way. But I'll do one better. Teitanblood - Seven Chalices

I'd rather eat a gooch than an olive. Must be something genetic. I've literally taken a bite out of something not knowing it had olives inside and gagged before I finished biting down. Texture thing I suppose. Regardless, you can also revile me for my complete and total rejection of strawberries and raw tomatoes. Id go full on Taylor Swift fanboi before I'd eat either.

I think that's a pretty reasonable position. We can't possibly like all music, but I think people should at least give something a go before rejecting it outright. I think of it like food. I'll try anything once. I may not like it, but unless I give it a try how would I know. I don't like cucumbers, pickles, or olives. You'll never see me put one in my mouth. I think they are disgusting, but I have tried them several times. I had an aversion to these as a kid, and since we all know our tastes change as we age, I've periodically given them a go to re-evaluate. I've done the same with music. Back in the 80's, I had an aversion to classic rock (dad's music), goth/post-punk (loser kids), and country (fucking redneck shit). The older I get, the more I appreciate these specific styles. Classic rock - quite a bit of the non-radio regular songs (aka Deep Tracks) are pretty badass, and it takes me back to when pops and I had a good relationship before shit went sideways later in life. Post-punk - mainly for the musicianship and creativity. Peter Hook's brilliant bass lines, Robert Smith's lead guitar, Siouxie Sioux's vocal control, melodies, atmosphere. I would agree that much of it sucks, but the good shit is really good shit. Country - I just never appreciated it but old country, folk, and bluegrass can be just as raw, emotional, thought-provoking, and disturbing as any metal or rock. You gotta find the good stuff though. Not the crap you hear on the radio, then or now. Johnny Cash might be the most metal motherfucker that ever lived not named Lemmy. Some of it may be nostalgia for simpler times, but I think that's a) unavoidable and b) not necessarily a bad thing. Music is supposed to make you feel stuff, appreciate, enjoy, improve. Nostalgia is just another color in the crayola box. All of our musical tastes are an accumulation of our likes, exposures, and life experiences. I came up playing in proper bands. Symphonic, jazz, and garage. I learned theory and composition as well. I trained on upright bass, electric bass, tuba, and trombone. So musicianship and composition speak to me more than the vocals. I can tolerate a less than stellar vocalist if everything else is in order, but I can also throw out something if the vocalist is terrible. Everyone comes to the table from a different direction, none of them are incorrect as long as they are not condemning everyone else for not going about it the "right" way. Just the fact that you're giving some of these bands a go is worthy of recognition. I revisit some bands I don't care for periodically in the same way I do cucumbers (olives will never get another shot) just to see if there's anything there I might enjoy these days. Might be Tool like a few nights ago or some overplayed 80's new wave like Tears for Fears. Sometimes I find something worthwhile, most times it goes back on the shelf for another go in a few years. You don't know unless you try. And for the record, anyone who doesn't like the Ramones probably spent their life pursuing some mind-numbingly boring pursuit and has no sense of humor. Probably a drag at parties too.

I found myself in the pit at 3 shows this year (Mercyful Fate - not really a pit more pushing, shoving, and getting stepped on, Blood Incantation, and Demolition Hammer). 3 things I learned: 1) I am much too old for that bullshit. My neck is no longer tolerant of crowdsurfers being dropped on my head nor is the rest of me in anyway interested in the abuse. 2) Detracts from my enjoyment of the show. Yeah, I'm an old guy now, but standing back and watching the antics plus the band is far better than participating in said antics and missing the band. 3) I lose too much shit in the pit. Stainless water bottle, earpro, cell phone (more than once). Show me a better riff, I dare you. If you don't listen to this album at max volume, we can't be friends. Riff Raff

Agree. I finally pulled it off my wishlist this weekend as I'm just not compelled to buy it. This Morning: Darkthrone - Astral Fortress Secret Shame - Autonomy Now playing - Scumstrike - Deadly Intrusions

Yeah, I revisit Pollinator fairly often, but can't seem to get into the new one.

Goth, like Punk is more about attitude and style than solely music. Dreary, morbid, romanticism. Like the literary movement of the same name. Bauhaus was very influential in establishing the sound. There's tons of stuff I could throw in here, but I get it's not your thing. I guess you guys a few years older were where I was when grunge came out when goth/post-punk hit your generation. I couldn't gaf about grunge back in the day. I was ass deep in Morbid Angel, Obituary, Death, Possessed... Still don't know half the bands that were just below the really popular ones. First record I ever bought was a 45 of Hungry Like the Wolf. I guess I was about 8. Anyway, for the sake of those not bothering to look: Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Noon Siouxsie and the Banshees - Cities in Dust I never listened to Nirvana until recently when I discovered the Wipers and figured out Cobain just stole all of Greg Sage's riffs and added some distortion. They slap as a cover band. I mean I had heard them on the radio but never listened to anything beyond that. I'm pretty liberal with my music adventurism. I've heard pretty much everything. Between 3 sisters growing up, a wife and daughter, and growing up in redneck hell, can't think of much that has escaped my earholes along the way.

It's definitely a dessert thing. Damn sure does taste like french toast. Reminds me of Funky Buddha's Last Snow stout. I can only do one of these per night though. Sweet overload.

Ok, so the GG discovering Bauhaus combined with having to go to work tomorrow has me in the mood. Sisters of Mercy - Floodland & First, Last, Always Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Scream Bauhaus - In A Flat Field & The Sky's Gone Out Fields of Nephilim - Dawnrazor & Elizium Christian Death - Only Theater of Pain Alien Sex Fiend - Best of

Just picked up some French Toast Bastard and Kentucky Breakfast Stout Bourbon Barrel edition on my weekly supply run. Will have to check out the FTB after dinner to see what Surge is talking about.

I'm frequently amazed to see the bands people discover for the first time many decades after their high period. I'm not taking about people who weren't alive when a band was active, but someone like you who lived through it. I can see just not being into it then, but never heard of them? Bauhaus was pretty well known. I would have thought you would have run across them along the way. They are foundational to the goth scene in the same way as Sisters, The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen... This is by far their most famous: Bella Lugosi's Dead

Yes.

I never cared for Pantera in the first place, but I think the lineup is ok. Charlie and Zakk are both really decent at their respective instruments and the music isn't exactly difficult to play. Hard to tell from the YT video exactly what it sounded like in person, but I agree it ain't great. I agree that is should be "tribute" rather than "reunion", but they're not the first to do it (I'm looking at you Thin Lizzy). Still wouldn't pay money to see this, but I'm guessing I'll see them along the way at some fest next year....and walk out on them.

Atomikyla - Keraily Mastodon - Medium Rarities

I am powered by sunshine, but my soul is black.

Beer. Polishing off my last sixer of Oyster City Red Right Return. Will have to make a trip for resupply tomorrow.

Just means you can bypass the effects of the tubes with a push of a button rather than disconnecting it from your system. Makes the piece of gear just a pass-through. Handy if you want the tube stuff for certain music and not for others.