Posts by Raymond Barrett12

unknown said:Well, if we're talking about the absolute best, here are my top three webcomics:
1. red meat

Which pretty much explains the avatar... 😁

unknown said:My top 10 absolute essentials from the '80s:
(...)
7. Kraftwerk—Das Model
(...)

Not really. I’m struggling to find any kind of logic—mathematical or otherwise—that would allow me to drag a track from 1978 into the eighties... 😕 😕

lonebison37 said:Just get lost already.

Fine. Here you go. 🙂
😁

Nathan Taylor3 said:You really need to learn how to actually use a dictionary—dictionaries list every single possible definition of a term. In the case of the word "eclecticism," even its potentially negative connotations are laid out right there. When you see that term used in actual criticism (whether scientific, artistic, or otherwise), it’s meant to be value-neutral. Most modern music, regardless of whether it's actually good or garbage, is inherently eclectic simply because it draws from existing styles. Take The Hives, for instance—though they're probably a terrible example for people who can't stand them—they're essentially a mishmash because they've plucked whatever elements they feel best fit the rock 'n' roll tradition.

So, let me get this straight... A DICTIONARY is for translating words, which is clearly what you need help with.
If you want to look up the deeper meaning or context of a concept, you go to an ENCYCLOPEDIA.
In other words, buddy, that's a massive deduction from your score. You've failed miserably.
Anything else is just irrelevant noise. I'll catch you at the next deadline.👋

lonebison37 said:That’s what they call Eclecticism.😍

Hmm. Let’s actually unpack this overused little term "Eclecticism" for a second. 🙄
I’m pulling out the Encyclopedia here—just so I don't accidentally screw up my own estimation of things... *rustle-rustle-rustle*... steel, steak, De Albertis, dictatorship, state, ephedrine, Egypt, entourage... Eclecticism.
Aha, there we go. So...
"ECLECTICISM (Greek: to choose), the process by which a scholar, philosopher, or artist selects, adopts, and applies what seems most appropriate from various theories, systems, styles, etc., rather than constructing their own scientific system or artistic style.(...)
An ECLECTIC is someone who takes and adopts whatever strikes them as accurate, good, or beautiful in science, art, and politics, and who is not exclusive regarding tastes and beliefs; a person without a personal standpoint, unoriginal."

Translating that for the common masses: "Throwing everything together at once, a messy jumble, a complete lack of any cohesive style—perfectly suited for people who don't have a single opinion of their own."

And now, some people are trying to pass this off as some kind of profound science (or art 😁). It honestly makes my skin crawl when I hear Eddy Ramić on KROQ promoting and hyping up "eclecticism" as if it were some legitimate musical genre. Oh, please... 👎 👎 👎 Eddy and Dus are basically Amer and Rus. 😁

P.S. Actually, you really should be going there for the Chemical Brothers and the displejan zvučan sistem. Everyone else is just a side bonus. But seriously, why on earth, for the love of god, on a Thursday??? 😕

Barack Obama. Lower. 😬
Dammit, that isn't even a city... 😛

Mr. Wrong said:Man, I remember two years ago I was stuck eating a burger that was nothing but an onion patty because the vegetarians had already scavenged every other vegetable in sight. 😬

And once they finished off the onions, I bet they just moved on to grazing on the lawn, right? 😁

Where on earth is Diesel Power?
G-g-g-god, how short everyone's memory is these days... 😁

Squire
I’ve spent fifty-seven years navigating this life—which, let me tell you, hasn't always been a walk in the park—and if I had to summarize my existence, I’d say I’m twenty-nine percent pure, unadulterated controversy and thirty-nine percent genuinely decent human being. It’s a strange cocktail, isn't it? A bit like that old bourbon my uncle used to keep in the study—smooth at first, but then that kick hits you right in the chest. I don't claim to be perfect—far from it—but I've learned that being "nice" doesn't mean you have to be a doormat, and being "controversial" just means you aren't afraid to call out the nonsense when you see it. It's all about balance, I suppose.

I’m either profound, I’m controversial, or I’m just plain decent—pick your poison. 😁 😁 😁

So, I’ve been chewing on this one for a while now—is it actually better to be part of a session lineup, or are you better off just playing solo? It’s a classic dilemma, really. You’ve got that option to jump on a test session with someone like Squire, which offers a certain level of professional validation, I suppose, but then there’s the whole "lone wolf" approach to performing. Personally, I tend to lean toward the latter, though I can see the appeal of the former if you're looking to sharpen your teeth against other pros. What do you think, Squire? Is the collective energy worth the compromise, or is it better to just own your own sound? 😁

Has anyone else ever brought this up before? That "T looks like a cow" thing—specifically that line from the song, "And the day started off so beautifully..."
😁

dustyridge12 said:Rexillusivi released that album through NPR back in the day. Side A was packed with tracks he did alongside Massimo and Mladenovica, while Side B featured those reworkings of Gnossienes by Erik Satij. On top of that, there’s a whole mountain of other recordings—some with those same guys, others with Marina Perazic—that haven't even seen the light of day yet; they're just sitting there gathering dust on the shelves at NPR.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no...
I am talking about EARLY works... stuff like "evil fate," "day of wine and roses," the first version of "mirror" and things along those lines—I mentioned 1983/84, didn't I? By the time "Arabia" rolled around, he wasn't even playing the same style he started with. It was a total sonic shift. And don't even get me started on "Disillusioned"... that came out WAY later...
Besides, if you take a look at subin's discography, you'll see exactly what I mean when I say I'm referring to the very beginning of his career...

Up! 😁

Whenever people start talking about our local scene, Rex Ilusivii’s early work always comes up—and honestly, those tracks feel "lost" to me, mostly because I’m still not even sure if they were ever officially released on any physical media (and don't even get me started on his later albums; that's a different story entirely).
It was the sheer complexity of the sound that hooked me right away—that experimental approach to recording, using sampling, drum machines, and sequencers when they were still cutting-edge. Plus, there was this whole concept of "invisibility" and anonymity, all while he was incredibly prolific and constantly producing new material. It was backed by the genuine, heartfelt support from the crews over at Džuboks and Radio Novi Sad, which really made it all click for me.
I still remember the absolute lashing I took from editors back in '83 or '84 when I used to spin those tracks during my late-night slot on Radio Samobor. I had conditioned them to expect much more conventional, predictable sounds by then, so throwing something like that at them was definitely a shock to the system... 😁

Who on earth thought a cover of Kraftwerk's "Computer Liebe / Computer Love" belonged on "Talk"????? 👎 👎
Look, maybe somewhere on the liner notes it mentions they were inspired by Kraftwerk—I wouldn't know 😕, I don't even own the physical album, just downloaded the MP3s—but it honestly feels like they’ve fallen into that trap of being uninspired musicians who can't seem to write an original song anymore?? 👎

boldscout72 said:Keeping an eye on the monitors is really about showing some respect to the crowd—you don't want a wild, distracted mob getting carried away by the music and causing actual damage.

...What, like cracking skulls or at least smashing a ribcage?😁

The thing is, you can see it happening from up high—right around the halfway point of the audience, the mosh pit starts dying down and things turn into a full-blown riot. Once you start moving toward the bar, it's game over.😁

Law and Order! 👍
Forget "law"—we’re talking about the Constitution! 😁
Picture this: some wild Asian woman with a three-quarter turquoise bass—because if it were a full-sized one, it’d probably be bigger than she is!—staring off into space with this totally manic look in her eyes while she twitches her left leg in what looks less like dancing and more like someone just stumbling around a stage 🙂 all while two perfectly synchronized cowboys are doing a frantic jig behind a sweaty, legendary rock star 🙂 wearing a black shirt and shredding on his Rickenbacker, and some Black guy 🙂 who gets so lost in an intense solo that he’s bending at the knees until his back is practically touching the floor...

Yeah, basically, that was the whole show. 😁

I want more! 🙏

And I didn't even mention how great it was watching from the gallery, seeing every single person gripping their monitors for dear life, terrified they might get blown right off the stage by the sheer volume... 😁

river_city said:Look, I’ve been sailing for about ten years now. I’ve competed in roughly 200 regattas, so I can say I’ve got a fair amount of skin in the game. Lately, I haven't been out on the water nearly as much—my main sailing partner headed off to college in Chicago, which really slowed things down for me. As for the boats, I’ve handled just about everything you can imagine, and let me tell you, I’ve lived through enough near-disasters to know I'm lucky to be standing.
This summer, I’m actually looking to pick up surfing. I haven't really given it a shot yet, but there’s just something about that rush and the sheer speed that draws me in. Anyway, cheers to all my fellow sailors out there. If anyone has questions, fire away.😎

Respect.
But honestly, it’s interesting how lately—and I mean for several years now, ever since those nouveau riche types were established as the "ideal" role models for the youth across our entire country—it seems like "REAL" sailing is exclusively limited to those slow cruisers, small dayboats, and whatever else...
Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I haven't dug deep enough into the archives here, but where is the actual competitive racing? Where are the 470s, or the New York Yankees? Where are the beauties like the Finn and the laser???

If IT ISN'T competitive racing—then it isn't true sailing.

A truly worthwhile initiative... 🙂
Honestly, I’ve been browsing some used boat listings online lately and I am absolutely appalled... $500 for a 505 with a trailer in less-than-ideal condition???? 😲

Regardless, International 505 Class RULES!

And since you claim the 505 is meant for people who are "too heavy" for a 470... have you ever actually tried racing an Optimist Dinghy when you’re personally weighing in at, say, 180+ pounds, you're over 25 years old, and you've had a couple of glasses of wine in you? 😁 IT FLIES LIKE A ROCKET! 😉

Martin said:Do you happen to have any old laser level for sale that isn't leaking? 🙂 I need it for a project at Central Park 🙂

A buddy of mine has one from the local transit authority—look, I know it’s not exactly top-of-the-line gear, but it might get the job done. 🙂
As for whether it leaks? Honestly, I have no clue—it's been mounted up in his garage ceiling for ages... 😁