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OFFTOP: 10/30/09

Tiny by Phildopip on Comment 1101 comments

While in college, I was an active seeker of music. It was easy to dedicate the time needed to research, listen, and be discerning in what I listened to. After college, however, my music stagnated for a while. I had a lot of music, just nothing new.

However, when I finally discovered how great podcasts are, I immediately subscribed to some music podcasts (KEXP's Song of the Day, and Music That Matters; NPR's All Songs Considered) and started rediscovering my hunger for new music.

Here's a list of artists I've discovered in 2009 that I really really enjoy:
  • Alaska in Winter - Fascinating indie electronic. Check out the song Close Your Eyes - We Are Blind. Heavenly.
  • Asteroid No. 4 - I actually started listening to one of their albums in 2007, but didn't really appreciate it (and their other albums) until this year.
  • Bon Iver - Spare, ever-so-delicate indie folk.
  • Choir of Young Believers - Folk + dream pop + indie pop = awesome.
  • Dead Man's Bones - Ryan Gosling's band. Dark indie folk. Surprisingly good for a celebrity band.
  • Dr. Dog - Bright indie pop that's sort of a throw-back to the Beatles and the Beach Boys.
  • Faunts - Incredible indie electronic. These guys fucking rock.
  • The Low Anthem - Indie folk that is occasionally quite rough around the edges, but is frequently beautiful.
  • Malajube - Bright indie pop from Montreal.
  • Patrick Watson - Crazy instruments and deep layering make for a very rich listening experience.
  • Sarah Siskind - Folk. She has one of the most incredible voices I've ever heard.
  • Sholi - Complex melding of dream pop and post-rock.
  • Vitality - Spare, strange. Sort of rap, but not really. The "rapper" kind of sounds like Dan Aykroyd.


Who have you discovered this year? Any new favorite artists? Any previous favorite artists who have disappointed you this year?

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Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix

1901 is a fantastic song.

http://sodomojo.com/

by Taylor H on Oct 30, 2009 10:54 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yep

I love that whole album actually.

by OlSalty on Oct 30, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm going to recommend:

Harlem Shakes
Matt & Kim
Passion Pit
for you then.

by PlaySportsinSeattle on Nov 3, 2009 7:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'd say Sholi is more math rock than dream pop.

Their cover of Persian singer/actress Googoosh’s song ‘Hejrat’ is insanely good. That single got them a record deal, and while I liked their album OK, nothing quite reaches the high of that self-released, haphazardly recorded single.

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 11:01 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

You're right, that's a better genre to put them in.

I haven’t heard that single you’re talking about. Any suggestions as to where I could find it?

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hmm, well, it's available on Amazon

I found the physical thingamajig at Amoeba….

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And FYI

it’s kind of a grower. Give it a while; it’s sort of pleasant and middle-eastern for 2+ minutes, then it’s really cool math-rocky+middle eastern for another 3-4 minutes.

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's one of the things about getting older

I chase down new music a lot less frequently than I used to. Which is why I also love podcasts – it has reignited my desire to find new stuff, too. Hanging around here has also been good for my new music finding.

I don’t have my iTunes in front of me, so off the top of my head this is a very non-exhaustive list of the bands I found this year:

 - The Thermals. I’m late to this party (The Body, The Blood, The Machine came out in 2006), but I love this band.
 - Bon Iver. Can’t say I listen to it a lot, but now that the days are short and the nights are long and the sky is grey, it works really well.
 - Dr. Dog. Phildo captures it. Great stuff.
 - Ida Maria. I dare you to listen to this song and not be totally swept away by the propulsive beat and energy. The rest of the album is a mix of slower stuff and more energetic songs, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s probably kinda throwaway – not sure I’ll be listening to it again in five years’ time – but for 2009 it’s pretty good stuff.
  - The Oh Sees (hat tip marc w!). It’s odd, it’s off-center, and I really really like it.

As far as previous artists who have disappointed me this year, the only one I can think of is Art Brut. I admit to a whole lot of affection for the first Art Brut record, but like a lot of bands with one style, that style has worn thin, and the latest Art Brut album is almost unlistenably tedious.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 11:02 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

KEXP's song of the day is OK

it’s like KEXP – some days it’s brilliant, some not so much. I also listen to

NPR’s All Songs Considered
NPR’s Live Concerts
KCRW’s Today’s Top Tune (Morning Becomes Eclectic used to be good but I haven’t listened to it in a while so I’m not sure if it still is…)
MPR (Minneapolis Public Radio) Song Of The Day
KEXP Live Concerts and Music That Matters

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I second pdb's selections.

One thing I really enjoy about NPR’s podcasts is Bob Boilen. The way he talks is so charmingly awkward.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think if I met Bob Boilen I would hate him

Some of the All Songs Considered podcasts that he does with Carrie Brownstein and…uh….the other guy that’s on those discussions makes Boilen seem like a music snob of the first order – there was one discussion in which he repeatedly refused to acknowledge how great Appetite For Destruction is just because it came from Guns N Roses, who were too mainstream for his liking. I HATE attitudes like that. That said, though, he generally has pretty good tastes, although lately he’s gone over to beardy solo singer-songwriter stuff a little more than I would like.

But then he puts out stuff like Bob Stanley’s Tiny Desk Concert and I am inclined to forgive his preciousness.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Watch out; the Oh Sees have some wonderful stuff and some really bad stuff

They’re very, very productive, and like a lot of people/bands who release everything they do, well, it’s not all listenable.

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I sorta lump them in with Guided By Voices in that respect

I don’t expect to love, or even like, 100% of what they do, but that doesn’t stop me listening to it at least once to see.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Add the Mountain Goats to that as well.

Occasionally brilliant, frequently terrible.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes yes yes.

Also I have trouble with the guy’s voice.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 30, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Saw 'em at Siren.

It could’ve just been that particular day, but the lead singer was the only one that seemed to be into it, and it was in a sort of “pay attention to me!” way without quite the same desperation. The rest of the bad seemed to be in a “how did I get into this band?” daze and were going along with it at best.

That tempered my enthusiasm about them a fair bit. None of their songs really jumped out at me as something that I wanted to listen to again. At best they seemed like something I might put on in the car if someone else is riding and I didn’t want to put on my usual fare. Maybe a half step below that.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 30, 2009 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Thermals. I’m late to this party (The Body, The Blood, The Machine came out in 2006), but I love this band.

They also have a new release, Now We Can See. A little more hi-fi, but the appeal is all the same. I may prefer TBTBTM and their freshman release More Parts Per Million, but it depends on how much noise you can tolerate.

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Six-hundred and ninety-four yards of total offense.

by qrsouther on Nov 1, 2009 11:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I just saw the Low Anthem open for Blind Pilot a few days ago

When they pick it up, they pick it up. By the end it became a real fun set, and then 30 minutes into BP the one chick was plastered.

by Jeff on Oct 30, 2009 11:04 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I almost went to go see them in Seattle a couple of weeks ago, but was exhausted from playing footbaLL.

It’s good to hear they were good live. Listening to their album, I would have thought it would have been more of a sitting show, then a standing show.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was

The first band (Mimicking Birds) was slow and boring and didn’t do much to generate any energy, and then The Low Anthem started out all slow too and it wasn’t what anyone wanted, but then they got going about halfway through and it was magnificent.

by Jeff on Oct 30, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

In another musical note

I very rarely set out to listen to John Lennon, or the Beatles – I like them fine, but I don’t necessarily seek them out. That said, Imagine just came on my iPod and oh my god what a beautiful song. Simple, beautifully written, not at all overwrought – it’s been overanalyzed and probably overplayed in bad contexts and schmoopy fundraiser commercials and such, but divorced from that it’s a gorgeous piece of music.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The more I listen to the Beatles (and by extension the solo work from the members of the band)

the more respect I gain for John Lennon. The guy was a master, and he fucking hated McCartney’s later contributions to the band. I respect McCartney’s work within the Beatles, and his ability to write songs with Lennon, but I’m convinced that McCartney was the main reason the Beatles broke up. He was a world-class meddler, and a world-class douche to the rest of the band members (particularly George and Ringo).

I still love some of McCartney’s Beatles music, but I’m finding myself preferring Lennon’s songs for the most part. The guy was incredibly gifted.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't really draw the same conclusions in regard to the Beatles break up.

Obviously neither of us was there, but in my reading on the subject I have felt John was more responsible for the break up. Paul respected and admired John Lennon and loved the idea of the Beatles more than anyone. While Paul wanted the Beatles to stay the same close knit group, Harrison and Lennon wanted it to be more free and loose. Since that was not Paul’s wish, they were nasty and insulting to Paul.

John Lennon is a tremendous musical talent, but by the same token he was argumentative, demanding, and selfish. He was a heavy drug abuser in the Beatles later years, and after meeting Yoko he destroyed every relationship with people that were close to him (including his with Paul). His disgust at Paul’s music seems pretty petty and unfair, and I am not sure you can blame that on Paul. Paul took his music seriously. After all, it was John (and George) who created factions in the band by aligning themselves with Allen Klein, who was more interested in making a fortune then the music as a whole.

Before he was murdered, John Lennon alluded several times to the fact that he was guilty about his treatment of Paul. John was an outstanding musical talent, but It is pretty evident to me that John was the catalyst that turned the Beatles into bickering spouses.

by Ballard Erik on Oct 31, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

After all, it was John (and George) who created factions in the band by aligning themselves with Allen Klein, who was more interested in making a fortune then the music as a whole.

You just grazed what really brought started the slippage of the Beatles as far as relationships went — Brian Epstein’s death. I maintain that had Brian’s death was a huge catalyst in the crumbling of the group; John and George wanting Klein, an already successful manager in his own right, and Paul wanting his father-in-law. That was huge. If the answer was not John’s relationship with Yoko, it very well could have been Brian Epstein’s death. Brian Epstein was the man.

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Six-hundred and ninety-four yards of total offense.

by qrsouther on Nov 1, 2009 11:45 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Damn.
I maintain that had Brian’s death was a huge catalyst in the crumbling of the group

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Six-hundred and ninety-four yards of total offense.

by qrsouther on Nov 1, 2009 11:46 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You asked for it! (they're clean, but all pretty dark)

Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?
Because it was dead.
=
On Christmas morning, Billy and Timmy wake up at the crack of dawn, run down the hall to drag their parents out of bed, and fly down the stairs to the pile of presents around the tree.

When the dust settles, Billy has a ton of great presents: a video game system, a big-ass Nerf gun that shoots 8 different kinds of projectiles, one of those electric slot car tracks where the cars climb up the wall ahd go through loops. But then he notices that Timmy only got one present—a little Matchbox car, which he’s pushing back and forth in the corner.

“Gee, Timmy,” Billy says, “I guess I sure got more presents than you this year.”

Timmy says, “Yeah, well at least I don’t have cancer.”
=
What’s the difference between Michael Jackson and a grocery bag?
One is plastic and dangerous to children. The other holds groceries.
=
What’s the difference between a dead hooker and a Corvette?
I don’t have a Corvette in my garage.
=
A woman goes to the doctor for a physical. After the exam, the doctor returns with her test results and says, “Well Mrs. Smith, I hope you’re ready to start buying diapers!”
“Wow!” says the woman, “Am I pregnant?”
“No,” the doctor replies, “you have bowel cancer.”

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

The Seahawks. :(

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What screams and can't turn around in a hallway?

A baby with a spear in it.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, yes, yes.

I went through a phase in high school where I thought dead baby jokes were the best thing in the world. This one trumps all of mine, though.

A few others that I loved…

Q: What’s the difference between truckload of bowling balls and a truckload of dead babies?
A: You can’t unload the bowling balls with a pitchfork.

Q: What’s pink, red and silver, and bumps into walls?
A: A baby with forks in its eyes.

Q: How do you make a dead baby shingle a roof?
A: Slice it thin.

by FWombat on Oct 30, 2009 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Q: What's the hardest part about skinning a baby?

A: Hiding your boner

The Yankees suck-a-doodle-doo!

by JamMasterJesus on Nov 3, 2009 2:57 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

YES YES YES!!!

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Oct 30, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How many Jewish mothers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

None. In old Jewish NY accent: “Don’t worry about me, go ahead and go out, I’ll sit in the dark by myself.”

by Jed MC on Oct 30, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How many indie rockers does it take to change a lightbulb?

(disdainful eye roll) You don’t KNOW?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I have fallen in love with David Guetta this year.

He just spins and mixes and then he has guest vocalists sing over his work. I can put his stuff on in the middle of a crappy day and the next thing I know I am smiling and dancing.

by Sec 108 on Oct 30, 2009 11:28 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

So, The Strokes' lead singer, Julian Casablancas, is releasing a solo album.

I expected it to be like The Strokes, but good goddamn, I love the song that’s on the latest NPR podcast. It started off a little rough, but really picked up steam. It’s fun as hell.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:49 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i was prepared to hate it on principle because I despise Julian Casablancas

but I agree, it’s a pretty fun song.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Things I found this year?

Not a whole lot actually.

Andrew Bird – Kind of well known? Multi-instrumentalist who composes songs that musically interesting and lyrically goofy. He has his ups and downs and seems to recycle his own material a bit. “Armchair Apocrypha” is probably the best album I’ve heard of his, followed by “The Mysterious Production of Eggs”. New album this year that didn’t really jump out at me.
A.K.A.C.O.D. – One of the various Morphine imitation projects that have sprung up with the former members since Sandman died. This one has the saxophonist. Can be harder, can be softer. Monique Ortiz, who is the bassist and the vocalist, can sing and play pretty well. The songs themselves are inconsistent. They released an album last year and about half of it was listenable and the other half I didn’t care about.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 30, 2009 11:51 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Also....

I heard that Dead Man’s Bones song on the KEXP Podcast.

It took me about two lines from the children’s chorus before I wanted to throw my laptop out the window.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 30, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's too bad.

It’s a fun album. I kind of like that it started out as a musical they were writing, then decided to record the album themselves. Also, they limited themselves to three takes for each song to keep it sounding raw and fresh.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It could have just been the song.

I liked it at first but a bunch of kids shouting mid-song doesn’t jibe with me.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 30, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Huh... I really liked Andrew Bird's album this year...spacing on the name right now.

Seemed like a big step forward to me. Some great pop songs on it, and then that weird little modern classical ‘extras’ disc. Some cool stuff all around.

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Noble Beast.

It could just be that I only listened to it a couple of times.

An album not immediately jumping out to me is not necessarily a condemnation, most of my favorite albums don’t, but if I like something immediately I get tired of it pretty quickly.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 30, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I tried to get into Andrew Bird, but it didn't take.

I dunno. I just felt the whole time that I was listening that he was forcing an “I’m so tranquil and cooler than you” vibe.

by SethGrandpa on Oct 30, 2009 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Rocking these days at casa de w:

Lightning Bolt’s new album, ‘Earthly Delights.’
King Khan and the Shrines ‘What is?’
Davila 666’s self-titled debut.
That new Atlas Sound EP, Logos.
Why?‘s EP/LP thing of extras, ’Eskimo Snow’ (doesn’t hold a candle to Alopecia, but what does)
Wau y los Arrrrghs ‘Canten en Espanol’ – garage rock from Valencia, Spain
Fanfarlo’s new LP ‘Reservoir’ (strings-laden indie pop from the UK, playing seattle soon)
Hey Marseilles lp ‘To Travels and Trunks’ (basically, Seattle’s version of Fanfarlo)
Cazumbi, vol. 2 (a collection of garage rock tracks from Africa in the 1960s)

and a stack of singles: Duchess and the Duke, Intelligence/Unnatural Helpers, some austrian garage band, Abe Vigoda, Boris.

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 11:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Just heard "Hands" by Duchess and the Duke.

That song was awesome.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed.

I could give them another few listens to see if I want to follow them.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 30, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I missed the first one, so I'm glad I can see the second one.

Bill Simmons has a book signing near the Space Needle at 7 pm (Fanfarlo starts at 8 pm, but I hear the Crocodile always starts late), so maybe I can squeeze two things into one day. Might be too much excitement for one day though.

by PlaySportsinSeattle on Nov 2, 2009 8:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't much see the Hey Marseilles similarity. I'll have to give it another listen perhaps.

Similar bands I like are: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.
Ra Ra Riot.
Arcade Fire (not new or unheard of, but some of their songs are eerily similar).

by PlaySportsinSeattle on Nov 3, 2009 7:06 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Fascinating!

Your opinion is at least as valid as mine, and I thank you for your input. Now then… Hey Marseilles relies heavily on strings/trumpet/accordion, as does Fanfarlo. TPOBPAH rely upon a fuzzy/feedback-drenched guitar sound with no strings/horns/accordion. Wha?

Ra Ra Riot includes strings, but is in general much more straightforward alt/indie-pop. There’s nothing wrong with that, and their album’s pretty good, but does it really sound more like Hey Marseilles than Fanfarlo? Huh.

by marc w on Nov 3, 2009 10:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Serious question

How is Steel Panther different from the Darkness? I don’t know much about them but they seem similar.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They sound quite alike (I loved The Darkness)

But Steel Panther lyrics are much more comical.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 30, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

At first I thought Steel Panther was the band from that movie Rock Star

and couldn’t figure out why they were still around, then I remembered that was Steel Dragon.

I had a lovely Indian meal with Justin Hawkins in London in 2007. Not on purpose – my wife and I went to an Indian place in Archway, and the menus (and several signs on the wall) said “Red Rose – Favorite Indian Restaurant of the Darkness!”. Then 10 minutes later he and his ladyfriend at the time sat down at the table across the room from us. He was really cool, they ended up sitting with us (we were the only people in the place at the time) and he was a perfectly normal dude. Really quite funny.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was one of the most surreal evenings of my life

but really entertaining.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just read he is in a new band called "Hot Leg"

So you can add Hot Leg to bands I’ve recently discovered.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 30, 2009 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

David Bazan.....

I really like the first song on that album, and the rest is just sort of OK. But it’s a decent enough album, and hey, David Bazan!

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bon Iver is pretty great

Also been listening to a lot of Blitzen Trapper and Phoenix lately.

by OlSalty on Oct 30, 2009 12:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Blitzen Trapper is a band that by all rights I really shouldn't like

but I can’t stop listening to Furr. Great album.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah I felt the same

They’re a lot like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in that they’re a bit generic and I know it should bother me but for some reason it doesn’t.

by OlSalty on Oct 30, 2009 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Somewhat tangential but still an interesting question

This Beat Happening song just came up on my iPod. It’s the first Beat Happening song I ever heard, and it absolutely blew me away with its awesomeness, and even all these years later it still puts a big smile on my face every time I hear it. So:

What song was your introduction to some of your favorite bands?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 12:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

With Beat Happening it Was Indian Summer.

With Dead Moon, 54/40 or fight. KARP was Bacon Industry. I can’t post links because YouTube is blocked.

by acblue on Oct 30, 2009 12:38 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

Some of my favorite bands I remember first hearing on the bus ride to school.

R.E.M.‘s “Stand” & Beastie Boy’s “Fight For Your Right to Party” are the two I remember now. I was in 3rd or 4th grade when I heard them. Do they even let school bus drivers play the radio any more?

by Jed MC on Oct 30, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

Fuck Armageddon..this is Hell – Bad Religion
I could go on but I realize all of those seminal songs for me were pre 1990.

by Sec 108 on Oct 30, 2009 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Solsbury Hill is a gorgeous song.

And Chuck Biscuits isn’t dead after all. It was a rumor. Paul McCartney is chuckling quietly to himself somewhere.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Carrying on from yesterday's conversation about phones

Here’s a rather sobering chart outlining the cost of ownership of one of those schmancy smartphones. My dumb phone cost me nothing to acquire and $50 a month. I feel pretty good about that decision now.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 12:49 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

Just got my fiancee a Blackberry Bold so she can get work-related email at all times, and she has started to sing the praises of all the other data-related things she can do with it (browsing, apps, etc.)

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Oct 30, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hooray for Sprint being dirt-cheap!

It’s a big reason I’ve yet to jump over to AT&T or Verizon. I’m on my second smartphone with unlimited data, and I’ve never paid more than $65 a month. I’m loath to give that up. Might have to if Sprint dies. :(

by Teej on Oct 30, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of, anyone have a sense of whether Verizon really does have better coverage?

I’m not sure if it my crap phone, or Tmobile, but I seem to have a lot of dead spots inside of buildings … or say, waaaaaaaaaaaaay up in Brier…

by msb on Oct 30, 2009 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My wife and I are only two data points

but I’m on Verizon and she’s on AT&T, and my coverage is far better than hers is. I have yet to go somewhere where I don’t get at least one bar of service, and she struggles for coverage when she’s not in a decent-sized city.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

In Bellingham for whatever reason ATT gets better coverage here.

Main reason why I went with them in the first place.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 30, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Spending all your money on Catherine Zeta Jones as spokeswoman

doesn’t leave much money for the nuts and bolts of a good network, I guess.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

From my experience, yes.

I have Verizon and notice often that I get reception in places friends with other networks do not. Of course, this is a limited sample size.

by redwolf75 on Oct 30, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can only speak from personal experience, but in college, anyone who had a Verizon phone was popular

sheerly due to phone borrowing in all of the AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile dead spots

by seattlebruin on Oct 30, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

All things come with a cost.

Radio Shack is a hideous bitch-goddess.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

From the Shit my Dad says Twitter
Fucking Radio Shack. It’s a wonder they even know how to use a bathroom and don’t just walk around all day with shit in their pants.

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Oct 30, 2009 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I feel so meta

I have that twitter feed on my RSS reader, because I can’t be bothered to sign up for or fully understand Twitter.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If understanding things before I used them was a requirement

I would sit in a dark room all day doing nothing.

by Sec 108 on Oct 30, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I misspoke slightly

I guess I understand Twitter fine. I just don’t see an application for it in my life.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly!

At this rate I’ll have a Twitter account when Twitter is the next GeoCities. I’m so cutting edge.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

was the shit

The 26th was the last day it was up and running.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

GeoCities was a fantastic idea when the Internet first became widely available

but now that anybody and everybody can and does have their own website, they have no real reason to exist.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Who the hell talks for 900 minutes?

I have a shared plan at 550 a month and have over 3000 rollover minutes.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 30, 2009 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have something like 7,000 rollover minutes right now

That’s what I get for having an absolute steal of a deal on an 1,100 minute plan that I have been on for 3 years by myself

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Oct 30, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Correction!

I have 8,277 rollover minutes saved up. For the month, I have used 58 minutes. My fiancee has used 520 minutes. Women talk a lot

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Oct 30, 2009 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good god.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Same here.

While I really want a smart phone, I just can’t justify paying that kind of money per month for the data plans right now.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Oct 30, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I currently don't even come close to needing one

and can’t justify the expense with the “you’ll use it a ton when you have it” argument. My life ticks by just fine without one now, so I’ll wait a few years until data usage is as ubiquitous and cheap as voice usage is now.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep. I'm not on the road enough that I would use it's capabilities enough.

They’re mini computers. Which is sweet, but I have a computer at home already.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Oct 30, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm just old enough that I don't care to be that instantaneous with my life

I’m good with waiting an hour to tell the world what a special snowflake I am.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

see that's my thing though

It would be nice to be able to know the result of a match the minute it ends. That “would be nice” isn’t worth the $100 a month it would cost, when I can just as easily text my friend Mark and ask him for scores. Or in the off-season.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can watch the live text though.

And look up which beers I wish to buy.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Oct 30, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Again, it often doesn't actually cost the $100 per month.

I certainly wouldn’t pay that much, but to people who use it, it might be worth it.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Oct 30, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I'm not railing against its existence

I just can’t justify the expense of it in my daily life. It would cut into my beer budget, and that’s just not going to happen.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hooray hooray it's Derby Day!

Arsenal v. Tottenham tomorrow morning. Spurs haven’t beaten Arsenal yet in the league this millennium, but last year’s 4-4 clusterfucky trainwreck came close. Hopefully tomorrow’s won’t be as ugly, and will further solidify Arsenal’s place in the top 4.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:49 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Gonna have to DVR that one.

Getting up for a 7 a.m. game is one thing. But 4:45 a.m. on a Saturday isn’t happening.

by Teej on Oct 30, 2009 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There was a time when I would get up and go to the pub for this match

but that time is not tomorrow morning. DVR for me too. Sadly, it’s on ESPN so we’ll probably get their crap commentators, but I hold out hope that they’ll use the English feed.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have a feeling it'll either be a scoring draw or an Arsenal blowout

depending on which Arsenal defense shows up.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

All you need to know about 2007-2009 Arsenal

is that even at 3-0, and even with how shambolic Spurs looked (hey look! Another long ball to Crouch! Maybe it’ll work this time….nope!) I was not ready to admit the game was out of Spurs’ reach until the whistle blew.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 9:39 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

hahahahahaha!

My wife has a cousin who works for the Met. I’m going to give him some grief about this.

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

check the date/time. I was trying to be confident.

I’ll uh… I’ll just slink off over here and pretend this weekend never happened.

by marc w on Nov 2, 2009 8:57 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Fabregas' goal was ridiculous.

That’s some shit I used to do in FIFA video games back in the day. Just take one guy and run full-speed through the middle, dodge nine guys, and put it in the net.

by Teej on Oct 31, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is there a good site for soccer highlights?

The EPL site is definitely no MLB.tv, and ESPN Soccernet doesn’t have much. SkySports says I have to be in the U.K. or Ireland to view their stuff. I want to see some highlights! Maybe just use a proxy?

by Teej on Oct 31, 2009 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Goodbye, afternoon.

Pumpkin Remover

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 1:51 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Blocked, sexually explicit content says my work

WTF kind of game is that?

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Removing rotten pumpkins from a stack of fresh pumpkins.

Not sexually explicit in the slightest.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

huh

maybe it’s something else hosted on that site that triggers it to be blocked. Strange.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm guessing it's one of the videos on the sidebar

It’s not exactly sexually explicit but it’s real close.

by OlSalty on Oct 30, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dream Theater And 31 Knots

I finally gave DT a listen and loved what I heard. I think The Count of Tuscany is currently my favorite song. Found out about 31 Knots through a podcast.

by sarpar on Oct 30, 2009 2:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Dream Theater is pretty amazing.

It’s not really my type of music, but I’ve been exposed to it through Rock Band, and holy shit, they’re talented musicians.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Oct 30, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So I'm catching up on some of the South Park episodes I missed over the past few weeks

and I’m wondering, how in the hell did it take them this long to make fun of pro wrestling?

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Oct 30, 2009 2:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Probably because second graders make fun of pro wrestling-- it's an easy target

I thought a better idea for a show would have seen them doing real wrasslin

by Poochie on Oct 30, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not a gigantic Pearl Jam fan

but a friend of mine saw Roger Daltrey a couple weeks ago at the Showbox, and Mr. Vedder joined Roger on stage for a few songs, including Betterman, which is kinda cool.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 30, 2009 3:58 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Just to spawn some good discussion:

Favorite album intro song/songs? As in, the first track on an album that just gets you in the mood for the remainder of the album

Quick answer for me would be Battery on Master of Puppets. That song is goddamn fun, and the long acoustic intro followed by the epic sounding full band before the song really takes off just gets me fucking pumped

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Oct 30, 2009 4:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I feel we did this recently, but that just makes it easier for me to recycle:

“Dramamine” – Modest Mouse
“Diary” – Sunny Day Real Estate
“Tike” – Thirty Ought Six
“Stink” – Arab Strap
“Aaron and Maria” – American Analog Set

Lots of newer candidates for inclusion on a future list: “Missing You” – A Place to Bury Strangers, “I Must” – Scared of Chaka, “Enemy Destruct” – Thee Oh Sees, “Walking Alone at Night” – Vivian Girls, “1st Breath After Coma” – Explosions in the Sky. I don’t know; I think I’m missing a bunch of things, and sadly, that thought will plague me tonight.

by marc w on Oct 30, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It must be nice to like Indie Music.

It’s hard to find new song/new artists when you like pop-rap. “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo is the first new song I’ve liked in months.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Oct 30, 2009 5:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

New artists...

The Antlers – Hospice is the best album I’ve heard all year (review here). Fantastic sparse indie pop. Emotionally brutal, but such a spot on exploration of death. Coincidentally they just posted a Daytrotter Session (free tunes!) today (here).

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – Kind of a hodge podge of a bunch of indie things I like. A dash of Tapes ’n Tapes, Modest Mouse, Tokyo Police Club, start and stop beats, and full on guitar shredding (review here). Saw them twice, both times were thoroughly good.

St. Vincent – I know I’m behind the game on this one. Her whole aura is so delicate and strewn with darkness. Actor is really good in an epically cavernous way. (I think that makes sense.)

Other good stuff from this year, but stuff I was expecting:

Now We Can See, The Thermals – Not as good as their old stuff, but only because their old stuff was f’ing amazing.

Sainthood, Tegan and Sara – See above reasoning, only to a greater degree of not quite as good. Solid but unspectacular.

Never Better, P.O.S. & Yes!, k-os - Hip-hop that white folks seem to enjoy.

Curse Your Branches, David Bazan – Christian singer-songwriter rock that rips a lot of Christian ideas to shreds. His best since Pedro the Lion’s Control.

The Original Cowboy, Against Me! – Just a rawer, better As The Eternal Cowboy, but I love AM! to death so I have to mention it.

*I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot, but that’s just off the top of my head.

by SethGrandpa on Oct 30, 2009 6:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yep...already remember a new artist I forgot...

Serena Ryder – Fantastic folk/country/singer-songwriter chick. I normally can’t stand any music that could fall into that classification, so trust me when I say she’s legit. Her US “debut” album, It Is O.K., comes out next week. Check out this video of her playing “Little Bit of Red.” What a killer set of pipes.

by SethGrandpa on Oct 30, 2009 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I haven't listened to Against Me! since I first heard Searching for a Former Clarity.

The definition of “selling out” and I don’t even like that phrase.

Never Better is great, though. Anyone seeing POS in Seattle this month? He puts on a wonderful live show.

by lailaihei on Nov 2, 2009 9:25 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm apparently in a tiny minority that loves baseball and doesn't care for rock.

Has anyone heard the Blue Scholars’ “OOF!” EP? Anyone??

by Teej on Oct 31, 2009 12:26 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Love the Blue Scholars.

They played at my high school on the last day if senior year for a fun assembly. It was like a hour long set. They signed one of my M’s hats.

by Kirkharbaugh on Oct 31, 2009 1:14 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

I'd never heard of them before but after listening to a little bit of what they do I'm intrigued

It’s weird because I was like the whitest, nerdiest kid in the world in high school but I was way into Tribe and Dilated Peoples and such and still am to less of a degreer. They’ve definitely got a sound reminiscent of those two especially from what I’ve heard.

by OlSalty on Oct 31, 2009 1:58 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Music.

If you’re in to electro pop you will like Lights. It’s a female singer who writes some damn cool synth lines and beats

Deas Viel is a band that I recently discovered who I thought I would hate and is actually really good. They’re sort of an indie pop band with some awesome female harmonies to go with their male singer.

For some heavier music Asking Alexandria is pretty cool as far as generic metalcore goes. They have some good breakdowns and cool song ideas.

Broadway is also an extremely good melodic hardcore/metalcore band with a crazy good singer. I highly recommend checking them out of you’re in to that genre.

by Kirkharbaugh on Oct 31, 2009 1:12 AM PDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Has anyone else hear heard Mae's new EP?

It’s great. I forgot to add that to the above post. It’s called (A)fternoon. I recommend it if you can find it.

by Kirkharbaugh on Oct 31, 2009 1:23 AM PDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Ahahahaha

Courtesy of CL

Wanted: Male Cross Dresser Looking For Sexy Female Costume (San Diego)

I am a cross dressing male looking for a sexy female costume for Halloween. Looking for something sexy and fun. Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Maid, Mile High, Cop, Prisoner, Ballerina etc. Open to anything just want it to be cute and fun. Always feel akward shopping in the store. If you have a sexy costume for a reasonable price let me know I can pick up.

by seattlebruin on Oct 31, 2009 3:10 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Ahem.

An experienced cross-dresser would have listed shoe and dress size.

by msb on Oct 31, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh Craigslist.

Never fail to amuse me.

2009 Safeco Field Record: 6-0 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 10-4

by Fin on Nov 1, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It kind of sucks that we don't get to see Washburn pitch again for like 6 months

I feel like the whole FUCK YOU DOLPHIN!!!! thing will be too dated by then to be funny.

Oh well, that was the best South Park in years anyways.

by OlSalty on Oct 31, 2009 8:58 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Oh dear, Liverpool fall to their fifth defeat of the season and have two men sent off...

BWHAHAHAHAH.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Oct 31, 2009 10:00 AM PDT reply actions   1 recs

I started listening to the The Bravery within the last few months.

Awesome post-punk revival/new wave band. One of their songs was used in MVP Baseball 2005, for anyone who still plays that game.

A Mariners fan in Seattle

by Coach Owens on Oct 31, 2009 6:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

And what there's a Boondock Saints 2?

I loved the first one, no matter how “bad” it was, and this one got similar reviews. I probably won’t drop the cash to see it in theater tho.

by lailaihei on Oct 31, 2009 6:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My God, City were simply terrible today.

If it wasn’t for Shay Given we would have lost.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Nov 1, 2009 10:23 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Old school -

revisit Jim Carroll’s “Catholic Boy”. He just died at age 60 9/11/09. “People Who Died” is a classic.

CAN'T GET ANY WORSE THAN THAT. THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT. by BuehrleMan

by winningugly on Nov 1, 2009 6:13 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I can thankfully report that this wasn't the case.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Nov 2, 2009 9:44 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

No one that came to our door for candy was slutty in the slightest

which is good because a 6 yo slut is not something I want to see.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 9:47 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, so do I. We got a couple of groups of about 20 kids each

with a fleet of minivans ready to pick ’em up and go.

by marc w on Nov 2, 2009 9:54 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

We only get 4-5 doorbell rings a year

(we live next to a pretty busy street) but every group that came to our door had parents with them.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 10:00 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Are house was all decked out with a fog machine, strobe lights, skeletons, tombstones.

So each kids response when they rang our doorbell was either “Your house is awesome” or “I wasn’t scared walking up”

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 10:05 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I go the alternate route because I'm lazy

We don’t really decorate the house at all but I hand out big fistfuls of candy to everyone that rings the bell. I heard a couple kids say “man that place is awesome they give out so much candy!” which was pretty funny.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 10:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Its all my wife.

I didn’t know I could be a grinch on halloween (without dressing up like one) but apparently I’m not festive enough.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 10:09 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not usually much for costumes and whatnot

but if we lived in a neighborhood where we had tons of kids I’d decorate the house and dress up, just to scare the snot out of ’em.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 10:14 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

She opens the door very slowly to see if they're older or not.

I heard someone scream and thought it was a little girl apparently it was a 8 year old boy.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 10:16 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I get doorbell rings non-stop for hours. It's crazy.

Went through four big bags of candy in an hour and a half, then just turned the lights off and watched movies in the basement.
Just tons and tons of kids coming in from god knows where.

by marc w on Nov 2, 2009 10:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I would actually really like that

but we’re two houses away from what is basically a state highway and there’s no school or anything that close to us, so most kids don’t come into our neighborhood unless they already live there. If we got more kids I’d probably go more nuts and decorate and stuff. Or at least dress up like Count Floyd.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 10:10 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That happen last year at my house.

And my sister in Law came by so I let her in and my friend looks at me and says “I didn’t know it was that type of party” (without realizing who she was)

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, there's always the slightly older kids who aren't dressed up at all.

This year we got some low-impact juggaloes who had ‘ICP’ hand-written on a normal shirt and maybe some black mark on their face too.
Still, my least favorite from years past are the parents who take their kids to the door, and then have their OWN candy bag and want you to give THEM candy as well. My god, people. Have a shred of dignity. Do you try and sit on the mall Santa’s lap too? (None this year, thankfully).

by marc w on Nov 2, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

We had some of those adults last year

I told my wife this year that we should make chili and when they come to the door, give the kids candy and ladle a hot spoonful of chili into the parents’ bag.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 10:16 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

We had a girl last year that came to the door and didn't get off her cell phone

Just held out her bag with one hand and kept talking on the phone. She was a little older, probably 9 or 10, but it was still irritating.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I remember the first time a old lady refused to give us candy.

We were dressed up and 17 – The lady said we were to old. And closed the door on us. I stood their until her husband came out and gave us candy.

3 Hours later we egged their house.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 10:19 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

When I was 17 I dressed up in plain cloths claiming to be America's Youth.

One of the houses that I went to complained that I wasn’t very creative and I had to explain that I had very bad news for him.

by Robert on Nov 2, 2009 10:23 AM PST up reply actions   1 recs

My favorite

Was this 2 year old fireman that I held the bowl out for and he proceeded to take 30 seconds to pick the perfect candy (I normally give out handfuls). After he grab the one candy and smiled as he turned around to walk off I snuck a handful into his bag.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 10:46 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Alright, what did people dress up as this year?

my roommate and I dressed up in children’s skeleton costumes. It was hilarious

by seattlebruin on Nov 2, 2009 10:47 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Also, best costumes seen?

I saw a guy dressed up as Twitter, who had a big board around his neck with like fifty random Tweets. Also, another friend dressed up as the money you could be saving by switching to Geico, which was also awesome.

by seattlebruin on Nov 2, 2009 10:47 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Like this?

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Nov 2, 2009 11:50 AM PST via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

I was dressed as a guy wearing a brown sweater

But then my fiancee (dressed as a witch) and my son (dressed as a skeleton) got pissed at me so I changed. I found an old black sweater that I’ve never worn with Jack Skellington’s face on it (the main guy from The Nightmare Before Christmas) in my closet and put that on. I just wasn’t feeling Halloween this year and had no parties to attend so I didn’t even bother

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Nov 2, 2009 11:29 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was dressed as a guy in sweats handing out candy to kids.

Not much of a costume guy.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was going to dress up as Edward from Twilight (as I sort of look like him and it'd be easy)

but I decided bad things might happen to me if I drank too much beer and nodded off.

by redwolf75 on Nov 2, 2009 6:27 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Nightman from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Here’s a reference picture for people who haven’t seen the show:

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Nov 3, 2009 7:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Awesome!

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 3, 2009 8:33 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I am a college age boy with college age friends

I have seen lots of pictures of college age girls and they were surprisingly conservative this year

by seattlebruin on Nov 2, 2009 2:07 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Fucking Facebook

maybe more of my girl friends need to post their Halloween pictures

by seattlebruin on Nov 2, 2009 2:10 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

So, John Sterling.

I’ve only just discovered this chap after watching the mlb.tv highlights of the world series. I cannot work out yet whether he is retarded or hilarious. I found myself watching youtube clips of his THHHHHHEEEEEE YANNKEES WIIIN and discovered that he actually does a ‘Tarzan shake’ whilst doing it.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Nov 2, 2009 9:51 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

I'd go with retarded

Do some youtube searching for Suzyn Waldman, though, and you’ll know a whole new level of retardation. Like the time she announced Clemens was coming back.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 9:59 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Holy shit that was awful!

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Nov 2, 2009 12:22 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If anybody is planning on going to Vancouver for the olympics and needs a place to stay let me know

A friend has a condo she’s renting out in West Van. Caveat: It ain’t cheap. Drop me a line if you’re interested, email’s in my profile.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 11:00 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Congratulations to the DBacks Clay Zavada

Who won the Mustached American of the Year award.

Awesome.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Nov 2, 2009 12:16 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

There's ... there's video too.

Youtube.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Nov 2, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was watching some classic MLB this weekend, which I never do

and they were showing game 7 of the 1979 WS, Pittsburgh v. Baltimore. There was some mighty impressive facial hair, and hair in general, on display there, between Dave Parker, Kent Tekulve, Tim Foli, etc.

Quite possibly the funniest thing, though, was the scene in the 9th inning, when they cut away to the Pirates’ locker room to show the pitchers that had already left the game watching from the clubhouse. They were watching a 24" color TV with rabbit ears that was perched on top of a beat-up old refrigerator that was wedged into one corner of the clubhouse, while sitting on beat up old folding metal chairs. My, how the aesthetics of the clubhouse have changed over the years.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 1:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Left 4 Dead 2 Demo tomorrow.

Anyone want to play to hold over until modern warfare 2?

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 12:37 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Most likely

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Nov 2, 2009 12:59 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Saw some, but just heard about it today and it's all blocked at work

I’ll have to check it out later, but if it’s too awesome to wait (and will beneficial to other MW2 potential players!), please do post it here

by seattlebruin on Nov 2, 2009 5:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm pissed that I saw the leak because I wanted to find out on my own

But holy fuck 25 kills will be EPIC

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Nov 2, 2009 10:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Four kill care packages aren't

or, nine kills for four care packages. Four times the fun!

by seattlebruin on Nov 3, 2009 9:11 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

But the care packages land randomly

and can be picked up by the other team.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 3, 2009 9:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Be better than them

and don’t they only appear on your radar? The other teams getting them is purely a matter of luck, I think

by seattlebruin on Nov 3, 2009 9:43 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Wait WHAT?

it’s not just during S&D? Are you sure it’s not just in S&D for dead party members like other games? I refuse to believe that a game this deep and expansive would be so stupid to remove party chat from the game and open it up to chatting with everyone when most people clearly have no desire to do that.

by seattlebruin on Nov 3, 2009 10:58 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

YES YES YES

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Nov 3, 2009 7:53 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Downloaded it this morning.

Will be on tonight.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 3, 2009 8:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Same here.

Though I picked up Dragon Age: Origins this morning and I’m finding it difficult to pull myself away from that game.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Nov 3, 2009 2:25 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Can we either stop calling it swine flu

or start prescribing bacon as a cure? H1N1 IS JUST THE GODDAMN FLU AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PIGS

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 3:21 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I went home a few hours early last Thursday

and, as per office policy, sent out an out of office appointment to let people know I was leaving. All I said in my email was “Paul D not feeling well, heading home”, didn’t quantify exactly what was wrong, and the next morning I had 14 emails in my inbox asking me if I had the swine flu. Three of them were rather curt in insisting that if I did, I should stay home until I’m completely healed. I wanted to go cough on those three people just out of spite.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 3:31 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My boss is a germaphobe.

I had a cold last week and got the same question – “Is it swine flu?”

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have mild allergies year-round

I’m really getting sick of being in a meeting, sneezing, then having to deal with stares and having to say “it’s not the damn flu”.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 3:54 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have bad lungs and always am coughing lightly and trying to clear my throat

I hate how often I get asked that, by any and everybody that sees me

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Nov 2, 2009 4:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Whether or not bacon is the cure, I figure I can't be too careful.

nomnomnom

Also, you probably don’t have nearly as many people around you going “swine flu? that’s not kosher!”

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 2, 2009 3:42 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This is true.

and a good call on the preventive care!

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 3:44 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Symptoms of Swine Flu

High fever, a cough, and a strong desire to fuck in the mud.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2009 3:50 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Fucking in the mud?

See, Pig AIDS is an appropriate moniker

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Nov 2, 2009 4:50 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I call it Pig AIDS

and make fun of everybody that is sick by saying that they have it

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on Nov 2, 2009 4:47 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My sister had it and her plumbing isn't working, so she's staying at our parents' house.

My mom won’t let her drink out of anything but disposable cups.

Sometimes late at night I lie awake wondering when the fucking crazy will set in.

by acblue on Nov 4, 2009 11:17 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That plus the following should indicate it has already set in

My company has a fleet of cars that employees can use to get around our service area. I got one yesterday morning, and when I went to pick up the keys, the fleet manager handed me the keys and a couple disposable wet wipes, and said “we are now requiring that you use these in the cars to wipe down the steering wheel, we had someone who checked out a car on Friday come down with the swine flu yesterday”.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH FRIDAY WAS SIX DAYS AGO

by pdb on Nov 5, 2009 6:54 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Thems is hardy germs.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Nov 5, 2009 7:19 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Anybody with tickets to the SEA or PDX Elton John/Billy Joel show?

Sorry. Doesn’t sound like they’ll be delayed too long, though.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 2, 2009 4:02 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I do!

From what I understand the promoters are gunning for a December reschedule.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2009 4:03 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

So Joe Morgan asserts that hitters have it easier now than against 4-man rotations.

Because you were facing better pitchers every night. Listening to this guy is agony, no wonder people hate him so much.

by Kermit. on Nov 2, 2009 7:30 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

He's right though

Apart from era adjustment

by Graham on Nov 3, 2009 7:56 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Has there been anything written on 4 man rotations?

Sounds like an interesting can of worms to read about.

by Kermit. on Nov 3, 2009 10:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I should read that again.

Maybe it’ll make sense this time.

by royalcurve on Nov 3, 2009 10:56 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I need to get that, because the stuff about 4 man pitching rotations online that I'm finding is annoying

All I’ve ever read about it to this point is a couple advocates for reducing pitching staff by utilizing starters throw days in games.

by Kermit. on Nov 3, 2009 11:00 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That would be excellent!

This also reminds me I’m supposed to join an on-line book exchange website.

by Kermit. on Nov 3, 2009 11:25 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The "phrase" FML has lost all meaning

No, losing your comb does not mean your life is fucked. Perhaps I just have a higher standard for catastrophe. Anyone else agree?

by Mariner John on Nov 2, 2009 11:02 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

yesyesyes

I’ve seen it used for all manner of trivial things lately, like work being boring one day or something like that.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 3, 2009 6:32 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The problem is that half of the entries on that site are obviously made up.

Today I was walking to the store to guy some groceries when I slipped on a cheeseburger and the Empire State Building fell on my dog. I live in Massachusetts. FML.

by Zygomorphic on Nov 3, 2009 9:44 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That much is clear.

The site itself wouldn’t be a problem if it didn’t spawn millions of people using FML for random minor misfortunes.

by Mariner John on Nov 3, 2009 10:11 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

BUT I MISSED THE BUS THIS MORNING AND HAD TO WAIT NINE MINUTES FOR THE NEXT ONE

this is clearly the worst thing to happen in the history of modern transportation infrastructure, and it happened to ME.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 10:12 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

King County Metro used to discipline bus drivers that arrived more than a minute or two early to a bus stop

I always figured they should do the same for lateness as well but that never happened. And I think they stopped that practice a while back.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 10:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

dramatic effect

I rode my bike this morning. And when I do this I routinely beat the bus in to work.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 10:18 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I saw a Wal-Mart Christmas ad, a Home Depot one and a Lowe's one

but the HD and Lowe’s ones were tricky, because they were “normal” ads where they were following the shoppers through the store looking at great bargains and whatnot, and they had the people go through the aisle containing all the Christmas crap. Subtle!

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 8:26 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yep.

I still buy the occasional expensive thing on layaway. It’s easier than credit.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 9:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

IT'S NOT DECEMBER YET

As far as I’m concerned, come December 1 companies can shove Christmas down our throats as rapidly and as loudly as they want. But it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 8:25 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If you work in a restaurant

Heed these. Every single one of them.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 8:47 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

I did not realize people were so offended by servers mentioning what their favorite was.

Not that I did it on a regular basis, but it’s not something that I ever gave heavy consideration to one way or the other. Perhaps because my mother usually prompts the server for it when she’s eating out in a new restaurant.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 3, 2009 9:05 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't get offended by it

I just find it completely irrelevant. I don’t know you, server – why do I care that your favorite is the ChocoVolcano with extra lava sauce? That tells me that there’s some sort of back-of-the-house contest to see who can sell the most of them, or it tells me that the ingredients are old and need to be used up – it doesn’t convince me.

I guess I’m just of the opinion that I don’t want a restaurant server to bond with me, any more than they want to be MY friend – I want professional service, I want opinions – but only if asked – and I want unobtrusiveness.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 9:11 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

From experience, there's no background contest over selling the most of x.

Also, this is one of the other ones that I take issue with, but for example, if you don’t have a separate seating staff on hand, or a door whore, as a friend called them, and all hands are working on getting the orders out as promptly as possible, it’s difficult to run out and offer water or “an amuse-bouche”. In an ideal world, it should be done, but in many situations it’s simply not going to happen because the priority is serving everyone their food. Granted, most places these days do have a separate seating staff, but I’ve worked in a few where they were also required to be in the kitchen helping the process along.

The rest, I can buy. We didn’t gossip, we didn’t curse, we didn’t eat in view of the customers, and while others would occasionally, I never smoked when I was on the clock because it’s rather disgusting to deal with that.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 3, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I think a few of those are targeted at swankier-type restaurants

especially the amuse-bouche thing. Although I have been offered a free drink occasionally when I’m not seated in a reasonable time, if I roll up to a restaurant at 7 on a Friday without a reservation, I should really have no expectation of being seated in 15 minutes, so I don’t get upset if I’m not offered something.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 9:21 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Good, good.

Yeah, I was thinking in context of the Friday rush making things like that unfeasible.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 3, 2009 9:23 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The modern sense of entitlement really bugs me in cases like this

I just don’t understand why people who see a restaurant crowd spilling out into the street, or standing three-deep in the lobby/bar waiting for a table, get all bent out of shape when they ask for a table and then get told it’ll be 90 minutes. All those people standing around you aren’t just cardboard cutouts, they were there first. it’s not the restaurant’s fault you didn’t plan ahead and make a reservation.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Nov 3, 2009 9:27 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

What!?!

The world doesn’t revolve around me???

by msb on Nov 3, 2009 11:45 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

GOD YES

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2009/10/29/22003127.aspx

by seattlebruin on Nov 3, 2009 11:48 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

YES@!

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 3, 2009 11:49 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Great scott!

I cannot wait to play it!

by marc w on Nov 3, 2009 1:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Anyone else here play Bioware games?

Kotaku was gushing over Dragon Age today.

by BrianL on Nov 3, 2009 11:58 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Am I the only one who frowns upon piracy of good computer games?

If it’s a quality product, then the least you can do is reward the developer and purchase the game.

by redwolf75 on Nov 3, 2009 9:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Depends.

A friend of mine advocates the policy of he’ll buy the game provided that he enjoys it and wants to continue playing it after downloading it. He rewards the developer for sustaining his attention.

I’ve always bought regardless, but seeing as how it’s tricky to “rent” computer games and all that, he does have a point, in a weird way.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 8:20 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Some do, some don't, some can't keep up the pace.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:03 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Demos sadly are a dieing breed.

The last demo I played that gave me enough of an idea of whether or not I wanted to buy the game was the original Half Life demo.

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Did anyone actually buy the full Doom?

I think I bought the full version of Quake, but I skipped out on Doom even though I played the demo to death.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:11 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I am going to take advantage of those offers some day.

Further confirming the notion that I will never, ever, ever get anything accomplished so long as I own a computer with functioning internet.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It was actually a really good deal.

Every Doom game (including Doom III and its expansion), every Quake game, Wolfenstein (and it’s Spear of Destiny companion pack), Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Heretic, the Hexen series, and even the Commander Keen series.

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:17 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Commander Keen!

I played those games waaaay too much as a kid.

by lailaihei on Nov 4, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That's what I like about steam

I’d never ever buy a game or pack on there for the listed price, but they once in awhile roll out great deals that I’ll take a shot on.

by redwolf75 on Nov 4, 2009 10:33 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I did.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 9:17 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I use the same policy as your friend.

I download a game and play for a bit, if I like it, I’ll buy it and finish it.

Or, if you are a company or franchise that has continually proven you make good games, I’ll buy your new game without even thinking about it. For instance, I’m going to be buying Command and Conquer 4 the instant it hits the store shelves.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Nov 4, 2009 8:59 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This is true.

My franchise loyalty has taken a beating over the years, though. I think that the only one I’m still loyal to is Civilization, and they still manage to have one major screw-up in every release.

I don’t know what others I would buy though. Mega Man games, 9 excluded, started sucking years ago, as did Final Fantasy. I’ve heard horrible things about contemporary Silent Hill games. I would with Fatal Frame but they aren’t releasing the fourth one in the states, the bastards. MGS, maybe on discount. And I heard they ruined the item system in RE5.

Looking back on it, it seems like video games have the sequel problem more than movies have a sequel/remake problem.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, there's another one.

I still have some Blizzard loyalty, though I’ve never been into the Warcraft end of the franchise.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:11 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

But...

Activision made the one great Mechwarrior game. And Pitfall! Shining example of what happened in games before they were actually playtested!

I don’t actually have any affinity for them. Probably closer to dislike, after Guitar Hero, and four hours of hanging out with friends while one of them was trying to get a perfect score on expert on Cheap Trick’s Surrender.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:20 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

So what's his deal?

Aside from allegedly being a wanker and liking nothing but sequels?

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:26 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Well

He was once quoted as saying his goal at Activision was to “take the fun out of making videogames.”

I can’t find a link right now, but there was a conference he spoke at a few months back where he said some very, very stupid things about wanting to instill a perpetual sense of fear within all of his employees so they would be focused on meeting deadlines.

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:37 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I remember reading this. And thinking "Oh my god its my company"

He also compared running Activision like a box company.

Creatives need environments that allow them to be creative.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 9:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Here's the link!

link

Some choice quotes from Kotick

“We have a real culture of thrift. The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games.”
“I think we definitely have been able to instill the culture, the skepticism and pessimism and fear that you should have in an economy like we are in today. And so, while generally people talk about the recession, we are pretty good at keeping people focused on the deep depression.”

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:47 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I can understand the business reasons for having goals like this

but why, WHY, would you ever say this stuff in a conference where your quotes can easily make it back to your employees?

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I played Warcraft III and TFT often for about 5 years.

Of course, when I started I was in 7th grade and had no idea what the fuck I was doing and sucked for a long, long time.

by lailaihei on Nov 4, 2009 9:12 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

As do I.

More often in anticipation of II, I think.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 4, 2009 9:21 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

MW2 is another I will be buying.

Likely Dialbo III as well, if it comes out.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Nov 4, 2009 9:23 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Its pretty much killing PC gaming.

That and the consoles being a more clear cut way of nickel and dimeing people.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 8:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Well, consoles are also easier for devs to work with.

There’s a unified system architecture in place meaning that they don’t have to design a game that’s compatible with hundreds of different GPUs and hundreds of different MOBO chipsets.

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

But even console RTS has gotten better.

But I still prefer the keyboard method for RTS games.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 9:21 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have this dream that when Project Natal releases

I’ll be able to play an RTS with a Minority Report like interface.

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:23 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It could work.

I want augmented reality RTS.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 9:28 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I still prefer the keyboard method to FPS games as well.

But then again, I’m still a PC gamer through and through. Always have been, always will be.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Nov 4, 2009 9:25 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Used to be.

But it was always because of the online aspect of PC gaming. I was a day one purchaser of Xbox live and since then haven’t turned back.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 9:29 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I used to be a big console gamer as well. All the way up the beginning PS2/Gamecube generation of consoles..

But then I turned 18 and moved out on my own and gaming took a backseat to life. I couldn’t at the time really afford to be gaming alot.

I can afford to do so now, but it’s too far along in this generation of consoles to jump into it. When the next generation comes along though, I’ll likely reintroduce myself to console gaming.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Nov 4, 2009 9:40 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I really don't think a new generation is going to come along for a while.

I’m starting to get the vibe that last generation was an aberration and we’re back to the 6-8 year lifespan.

by BrianL on Nov 4, 2009 9:44 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Well the PS2 had a 10 year life span.

It was just the xbox forcing its way in that kind of much things up.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 9:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

There's no way you can have the control that keyboard-mouse gives you with a console controller.

No matter how good or fast you are with a controller, you’re not going to be getting more than like 50 actions per minute.

by lailaihei on Nov 4, 2009 3:43 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I feel the same way about movies though.

But not music.

Its odd.

NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 4, 2009 8:49 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Completely agree with music.

It’s just a completely different medium.

by redwolf75 on Nov 4, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm also the same way with music.

I have zero problems pirating music. However, I also buy merchandise of bands I like, so I figure I’m still supporting the artists regardless.

And with movies, I used to pirate movies. Then I got tired of the shitty quality and pretty much completely stopped. With Netflix, there really isn’t much of a reason to do so anymore. Though if I can’t find an older movie on Netflix, I have no problem pirating it because it’s not going to make any difference if it’s an older movie.

TV shows I also have zero problem pirating. Because I don’t have a DVR and the way I figure it, it’s the same thing as having a DVR since I’m saving the content to a harddrive for later watching.

FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS! FUCK THE ANGELS!

by Goose on Nov 4, 2009 10:51 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If they are large, established touring acts, yes.

If you pirate indie music you are a dick and a thief. Indie bands make very little money off of shows that doesn’t come from album or merch sales, and the majority of that money comes from album sales.

by acblue on Nov 4, 2009 6:11 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I definitely pirate from indie bands.

But most of them don’t even have distros in the US so idk what to do.

by lailaihei on Nov 4, 2009 6:35 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Sounds like a good idea.

I’ve done my fair share for independent music, though. I have like 150 CDs and 30 records.

by lailaihei on Nov 4, 2009 6:41 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Okay not to be a dick, but bands and musicians aren't charities.

It doesn’t matter how many albums you own, when you pirate an independent band’s music you are stealing and not in a morally ambiguous manner as you might be when pirating a major label band’s music.

It’s not as though there’s a big pool of money from which all indie bands (and labels, and record store owners, and distributors) take a cut. In a lot of cases this is how people pay the bills or put food on the table.

by acblue on Nov 4, 2009 6:46 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs