Octopus Overlords

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:42 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:22 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:10 am There are so many different styles of music out there. Does rock and roll even exist anymore?

Did it ever? There were always many, many genres of rock. They just didn't play most of them on the radio. Hell, just listing the styles of rock that were around 40 or 50 years ago would probably take a post in and of itself. Now the internet has given us access to all of them at once, which makes it harder to figure out what's what. The same is true of country, rap, electronic music, and every other genre.

I'm sure if you gave a few examples of what you like, OOers could point you in the right direction.

It's true that when I was young there were a lot of music types, however in those days they all competed in the Top 40 (pop music). We had Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, CW stars, jazz, comedy, whatever kind Barbra Streisand sang, musicals from Broadway.
Now they've divided it up into different styles and I don't see (or hear) much in the way of rock and roll.

When you're looking for rock and roll, what are some examples of what you're looking for? I hear new rock all the time, but I go and find it - it doesn't just wander by.

I prefer to listen to one station all the time. I can find them for CW, rap, easy listening and gospel.
But I can't find any for rock and roll. Is Katy Perry rock and roll? Taylor Swift?

Ah. Well, unless you live in specific areas, rock isn't on the radio. Rock isn't mainstream right now.

Most people get their music from sources other than radio these days for a reason.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:41 pm I prefer to listen to one station all the time. I can find them for CW, rap, easy listening and gospel.
But I can't find any for rock and roll. Is Katy Perry rock and roll? Taylor Swift?

Is Katy Perry rock and roll? No. Taylor Swift? HELL NO!

Here is some rock and roll courtesy of early Tom Petty:

Something from this century. Is it rock-n-roll? Discuss. Does it rock? Indubitably.

Those guys are sounding very Led Zeppelin to my ear.

There are some elements of Gallows Pole and others in this song, big time.

Unagi wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 11:09 am Those guys are sounding very Led Zeppelin to my ear.

There are some elements of Gallows Pole and others in this song, big time.

Zeppelin are their model. I think when they broke they got to meet the band.


How far back do we have to go before we say there is no rock around any more? I haven't personally been looking for quite some time but circa 2010 there was plenty of rock out there in many different forms and you didn't have to dig too deep. To dbt's point a chunk of it was coming out of the country scene but they were scorned by country scene. It's a shame too. Bands like Road Kings from the 2000s really should have been huge.

So...is this where I start pontificating about metal subgenres? Cause that could take a minute.

Don't you already have a metal thread?

The "What are you listening to" has become the defacto music dump, so...kinda.

Switching gears, I have a confession. I'm a grown-ass adult, and have never once in my entire life actually had a glass of wine. I mean, I chugged MD 20/20 by the gallon back in college (as did everyone), but that doesn't really count.

I have honestly never just sat down with a glass of good wine. I've never had any wine drinkers in my social circle, no one in my family drinks, and any social drinking event involves just beer, so it's just never come up. I've actually never had champagne either, come to think of it.

So, in the spirit of simply checking off a thing that I feel like an adult should probably have done by now, I'd like to try some wine. It won't become a regular thing (Mrs. Skinypupy generally frowns on alcohol, and would not approve of drinking in front of the kids), but I want to at least say I've had some.

Anything you might recommend for someone coming in with no knowledge whatsoever?

Each week like clockwork I get two pieces of junk mail in my box from Spectrum. Its either "Save money by getting 60 channels streamed" or "Save money by signing up with Spectrum Mobile"

Neither would save me money as I dont care about tv and so I pay $0 now for nothing. And I have a free mobile plan that basically unlimited so theres another $20 saved. Im wearing out my shredder on this stuff.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:46 pm Anything you might recommend for someone coming in with no knowledge whatsoever?

https://lakeeffectslc.com/whiskey-wine-tasting-classes/

Daehawk wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:46 pm Each week like clockwork I get two pieces of junk mail in my box from Spectrum. Its either "Save money by getting 60 channels streamed" or "Save money by signing up with Spectrum Mobile"

Neither would save me money as I dont care about tv and so I pay $0 now for nothing. And I have a free mobile plan that basically unlimited so theres another $20 saved. Im wearing out my shredder on this stuff.

https://www.spectrum.com/policies/your- ... ts-opt-out

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:46 pm Anything you might recommend for someone coming in with no knowledge whatsoever?

There is so much variety that that's hard to answer. Will you drink it with or without a meal? If with, what kind of food? Do you like sweet drinks or dry? Are you OK with a room temperature beverage or must it be cold?

To me, one of life's great pleasures is a glass of old vine zinfandel or cabernet sauvignon with Italian food. I like spicy, earthy, bold red wines that can stand up to heavy sauces. But that's kind of an acquired taste. My favorite wines might make you pucker and go "eww."

If you're just looking to drink a bottle of wine by itself, I think I'd recommend a chardonnay. Those are light and approachable, with the dominant flavors usually being some combination of oak, vanilla, grass, or citrus.

Alternately, a rose can be a good compromise between red and white, sweet and dry. Roses don't pair well with food but are a good refreshing summer sipping wine.

Wife got transferred to the nursing home today. Iced in on top of the mountain right now. Will have to wait until next week to see her.

I'm thinking about you dbt. It's got to be hard to have her go and even harder knowing that you aren't getting over to see her soon.

4th day in a row with no mail. I hope they don't forget about us Monday.

new cat coming today. a local shelter been having trouble placing this one, because it has a long term health issue, gastro troubles, and requires prescription food. well we already got a cat with that, and we know how to handle it. also cat has some social incompatibility and biting issue, apparently. well we are set up with plenty of vertical space and hiding spaces for cats. so we decided to take tis one. this is cat #6 for us, so its now a houseful. we are still 1 cat away from being crazy cat people.

we are still 1 cat away from being crazy cat people.

Crazy cat people are always 1 cat away from being crazy cat people.

I was going back and forth through the house getting Buster's snacks ready for the night and doing improv and silly voices as I went around. It struck me who I sounded like and was acting like and I said "How did Robin Williams get in here??"....Man I miss that guy.

Broke a tooth today eating some olde Crunch and Munch. <sigh>

Daehawk wrote:I was going back and forth through the house getting Buster's snacks ready for the night and doing improv and silly voices as I went around. It struck me who I sounded like and was acting like and I said "How did Robin Williams get in here??"....Man I miss that guy.

I watched 'Night at the Museum 3' with my kids last night. Apparently that was the last film he made before...

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:08 pm Broke a tooth today eating some olde Crunch and Munch. <sigh>

I stopped going to the dentist when the pandemic started. My teeth were deteriorating, so I decided to bite the bullet (heh) and get a cleaning. They said I needed a crown and a filling. Got the crown. $1750, of which insurance will pay half minus my deductible. Went back the next week for the $375 filling, and they said "Oh look, you lost a filling in the tooth next door just last week, so we'll do two today." Lovely, let's make it $750. Now my dental insurance is more than gone for the rest of the year, but at least I got rebuilt.

He’s more machine than mandible.

We can rebuild him.....better, faster, redentured. He IS the 6 Implant Man.

The 25 Hundred Dollar Man.

Yeah.

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 12:04 am The 25 Hundred Dollar Man.

That adds up perfectly. 1750+750

Seems to be a new garbage man in town. By man I mean business. $3 cheaper per month and they supply a big wheeled 96gal bin. I already own my own bin and $3 isn't really enough to make me switch I dont think. But options at least.

STATEMINTS. Like those Valentine chalk candies with shit written on them. Only they're shaped like U.S. states. And you write infotaining facts on them. STATE-MINT. STATEMINTS!

Stepson called today and asked to borrow my truck. He needs to get some supplies so he can put in an electric panel and such to get his own electricity. He'll then have to pay $500 so they can run power lines to his abode.I said sure.
He still thinks he's going to be living here a month from now. I don't want to give away my hand and if costs him hundreds of dollars that's okay with me.

Kraken wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 10:13 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:08 pm Broke a tooth today eating some olde Crunch and Munch. <sigh>

I stopped going to the dentist when the pandemic started. My teeth were deteriorating, so I decided to bite the bullet (heh) and get a cleaning. They said I needed a crown and a filling. Got the crown. $1750, of which insurance will pay half minus my deductible. Went back the next week for the $375 filling, and they said "Oh look, you lost a filling in the tooth next door just last week, so we'll do two today." Lovely, let's make it $750. Now my dental insurance is more than gone for the rest of the year, but at least I got rebuilt.

I've got a mouth full of fillings--I've had a dozen if you count the two that had to be replaced.

Meanwhile, my 15-year-old son who barely gives a thought to dental hygiene (and often requires reminding) has never had a cavity. I'm sure I'd had eight or nine by that age, and I was always a Good Boy at brushing.

Holman wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 9:36 pm I've got a mouth full of fillings--I've had a dozen if you count the two that had to be replaced.

Meanwhile, my 15-year-old son who barely gives a thought to dental hygiene (and often requires reminding) has never had a cavity. I'm sure I'd had eight or nine by that age, and I was always a Good Boy at brushing.

Your son possibly has been drinking fluoridated water since he was a toddler and/or getting regular fluoride treatments at the dentist. Unlike you and Kraken that managed to avoid the Communist plot to control your minds with fluoride when you were kids!

No, I grew up with fluoridated water. Yet by the time I was an adult most of my molars had been filled. This was when fillings were silver-black and noticeable. Wife had perfect teeth when I met her and teased me about my metal mouth. Well, I stopped getting new caries and that was the status quo for a long time. Then, just in the last decade, acid reflux basically digested all of her teeth and she wound up spending $30k spread over several years on a new bionic mouth. Now she's the one with lousy teeth and high dental bills.

The fillings that I had to replace are facades on the outside of my teeth where my gums have receded below the enamel line.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 9:43 pm

Holman wrote: ↑Tue Mar 01, 2022 9:36 pm I've got a mouth full of fillings--I've had a dozen if you count the two that had to be replaced.

Meanwhile, my 15-year-old son who barely gives a thought to dental hygiene (and often requires reminding) has never had a cavity. I'm sure I'd had eight or nine by that age, and I was always a Good Boy at brushing.

Your son possibly has been drinking fluoridated water since he was a toddler and/or getting regular fluoride treatments at the dentist. Unlike you and Kraken that managed to avoid the Communist plot to control your minds with fluoride when you were kids!

I need to start monitoring my blood pressure. It isn't high blood pressure (I have near 'ideal' blood pressure), but I'm fiddling around with the doses on my ADHD meds and the doctor wants me to monitor it for a month.

I have three options:

1. Get a wrist monitor.
2. Get an automated arm monitor.
3. Get a cuff with a bulb and a stethoscope.

I know that the wrist is the least accurate, the cuff and stethoscope is the most accurate, and the automated arm cuff falls somewhere in the middle.

How much of a hassle is it to learn the stethoscope method and to perform it on yourself? It wouldn't be a terrible skill to have, and I'm sort of leaning that way. And does anyone have purchasing advice? I have tried stethoscopes before, and they felt like they were trying to sqeeze a hole through my head via my ears.

I've used one of the wrist types for 15 years. Still works great. And it is surprisingly accurate. A lot more than doctors and nurses will admit.

I would go for the automated arm cuff version. It’s easy peasy. Just put your arm in, press a button, wait 30 seconds. I use an Omron brand version that’s worked great for me, but I’m sure there are plenty of other reputable brands.

I recently got an arm one for ~$30, but haven't tried it yet. I got it because my doctor started doing telephonic consultations. When I went to his office they always took my blood pressure, so I wanted to get ahead of the curve. Will try it today.