The Song Fight Bulletin Board

These are interesting times, aren't they. Even if you aren't a fan of Obama's politics, it's quite a day in history.

QotD: Did you do anything interesting this weekend?

I watched a movie that was fascinating. It's called "In the Realm of the Unreal". It's the story of Henry Darger, a mile mannered janitor who no one really knew. When he died, that's when they learned that in his little apartment, he had made magnificent paintings and written a 150,000+ page (single spaced!) story. It treaded the line between madness and genius. It was amazing. I highly recommend it.

QotD: Meh, I've been sick for about the last week. First a stomach bug and then a head cold.

Niveous wrote: I watched a movie that was fascinating. It's called "In the Realm of the Unreal". It's the story of Henry Darger, a mile mannered janitor who no one really knew. When he died, that's when they learned that in his little apartment, he had made magnificent paintings and written a 150,000+ page (single spaced!) story. It treaded the line between madness and genius. It was amazing. I highly recommend it.

Fascinating is right! It really made me wonder how many people on the outskirts of society have toiled in obscurity, keeping their work to themselves (or worse, destroying it), their masterpieces never being found. It seems like such a fluke that anybody knows about Henry Darger today... how many landlords would have thrown out the whole mess without even bothering to look through it or recognizing it's genius?

drc: I'm getting used to the fact that I no longer hate the president. I am so very glad we have BHO for the next 4, or hopefully even 8, years.

qotd: Saturday I was going to go to a party but I felt sick so I didn't. Sunday I didn't do anything. Monday I started to take an urban hike but ended up meeting up with a friend at a coffee shop and hung out with him for like 6 hours.

qotd: Over the weekend, I bought a new videogame and played it more than I should have. I'm just starting to get into "first-person shooters"... this one is pretty fun because ya can play online with teams of 30 vs. 30... it's freakin' chaos! So yeah, one more weekend down the "tube"... (sorry, that prolly wasn't very interesting).

That movie sounds awesome, and I will have to check it out. I have so much respect for that whole concept... he musta been truly making his art for its own sake. There's something romantic to me about being a janitor through it all, too... I guess I can identify because I'm a pizza cook, and I love my job, and I'm really not ambitious about "moving on up" / making a lasting impression on the world. Of course, I'd like to be paid more... ah well, I think I'll be getting a raise relatively soon. At least I'm employed, yeah? Right now, "things are rough all over, Ponyboy".

I'm throwing a little party for my bosses/friends from work tonite. I should really get cleaning! I've been trying, in short bursts, to work out something for the current songfight title, but so far nuthin'. It's not an easy title for me, but I ain't giving up yet!

Peace out, homies!

Yes, very excited and a little nervous about the new presidency. Glad the main criminals have headed out of town, still would like to see them jailed. But an historic moment to be sure. Good speech as well.

QOTD- Nah, nothing interesting. Shoveled snow. I bought a guitar online and it shipped from Japan in three days. Arrived Saturday, but didn't expect it that day, and missed the mailman. So it sat at the post office until today. Three days from Asia, three days sitting oh, right over there. Grrrr.....Sweet guitar though!

Niveous, I will definitely check out that movie. I already put it on top of my Netflix list (yeah, old fashioned) and look forward to seeing it.

I was very excited to see a show of Darger's work like 2 years ago in Seattle. I think for me, his work is less about a balance between genius and insanity, and more about the confronting the nature of what drives people to create. I mean, most of his stuff is traced from old magazines, and very repetitive, and yet he was still driven (like totally driven) to keep making his stuff. What drives someone to keep making art, especially if 1) they've pretty much made the same thing before and 2) they're not planning on showing it to anyone? I think I appreciate Darger as more of an (unknowing) meta-artist, one whose work is commenting on the very nature of art itself. I found his exhibit very inspirational, and at the same time very sad.

Here.

Teplin wrote: It really made me wonder how many people on the outskirts of society have toiled in obscurity, keeping their work to themselves (or worse, destroying it), their masterpieces never being found. It seems like such a fluke that anybody knows about Henry Darger today... how many landlords would have thrown out the whole mess without even bothering to look through it or recognizing it's genius?

About 15 years ago I wrote a song on this theme called "Felipe." Sounds like an interesting film.

QOTD: I went to a texas guitar show here in Orange county - lots of neat stuff, but also weird how you can get kind of numb to teles and Les Pauls after a couple of hours.
Had a pretty fun poker night. Bought an iPod, turned 42, went to see Hotel for Dogs with my kids.

<< click me! >>

erik wrote: I think I appreciate Darger as more of an (unknowing) meta-artist, one whose work is commenting on the very nature of art itself. I found his exhibit very inspirational, and at the same time very sad.

Agreed.

Paco wrote:Niveous, I will definitely check out that movie. I already put it on top of my Netflix list (yeah, old fashioned) and look forward to seeing it.

It's a Netflix instant watch.

DRC: Woke up to a ferocious rumbling in my bowels and was spewing from both ends shortly after. Whatever it was, it seems to be gone now, along with about 20 litres of excreta and vomitus (where the hell did it all *come* from?) Needless to say, I didn't go to work. Spent most of the day either in the bathroom, or on facebook, which brings up an interesting thing: I'm doing a couple of those 'flirt' apps, and doing pretty good with the ladies, actually, but in my half-interested state today, I noticed something peculiar- a lot of women start a conversation with a complete stranger by asking what we do for a living. a) it's none of your goddamned business, b) that's pretty shallow and rude, and c) you are materialistic. Optionally d) [match deleted]

QotD: Not really. Wrote a couple songs for my album.

Netflix instant streaming is so awesome, especially now that it works with TiVo (in HD, even). I've certainly been watching a lot more movies ever since Netflix/TiVo came around.

haha...roy, it is indeed sunny again!

Märk wrote:DRC: Woke up to a ferocious rumbling in my bowels and was spewing from both ends shortly after. Whatever it was, it seems to be gone now, along with about 20 litres of excreta and vomitus (where the hell did it all *come* from?) Needless to say, I didn't go to work. Spent most of the day either in the bathroom, or on facebook, which brings up an interesting thing: I'm doing a couple of those 'flirt' apps, and doing pretty good with the ladies, actually, but in my half-interested state today, I noticed something peculiar- a lot of women start a conversation with a complete stranger by asking what we do for a living. a) it's none of your goddamned business, b) that's pretty shallow and rude, and c) you are materialistic. Optionally d) [match deleted]

I thought the standard initial question was "A/S/L?" or "Age, Sex, Location?" Of course, the app itself may be taking care of that.

Some people just don't know how to start conversations with strangers. Plus, if they are actually interested in avoiding people they (or their parents) consider losers, it can be handy to know.

Now, it would also be reasonable to ignore that question and instead answer the question "What is your passion?" This question tends to be much more interesting, and it should provide an interesting enough response to either raise the lady's interest or to let her know there's no point.

I mean really, ignore their question and answer that one instead, Q. "What do you do for a living?" A. "My real passion is building and flying home-made kites. What is your passion?"

QotD: I watched my baby, and I worked on my CDG producer. The CDG project has been quite interesting, so... Yeah, I had an interesting weekend. Nice and quiet and productive.

I worked yesterday and I took today off. My baby had an eye appointment in another city today.A lot of driving for a fairly short appointment.

QOTD: played dogeball on Saturday, it was freaking awesome, just like 5th grade. and yes everyone still aims for the fat kid(man)

DRC: First day at work, which actually isn't work yet, as I've got three weeks of classroom training before they'll let me get my hands dirty. I feel like I'm learning a lot, but the pace of the class is slower than I'd like. On the other hand, I wrote some lyrics in the downtime.

QotD: Went to a friend's birthday party. Not quite at liberty to disclose what happened after that.

Märk wrote: I noticed something peculiar- a lot of women start a conversation with a complete stranger by asking what we do for a living. a) it's none of your goddamned business, b) that's pretty shallow and rude, and c) you are materialistic. Optionally d) [match deleted]

I usually do ask that question when I first meet somebody! No wonder I'm a such a dork. It's just an easy (albeit boring and mundane) question to ask, and sometimes the answer is genuinely interesting. I don't mean to come across to others as materialistic or shallow, it's just that 'occupation' can be a neato part of someone's life story. Sometimes it isn't, and that's okay. MrBeany's "passion" reply is a really good idea... "My job is boring, but what I'm interested in is..." Occupation isn't an identity it's just a piece, and somebody like me who is honestly curious would be plenty satisfied by that answer. If that makes sense.

drc: Obama
QOTD: This "past" weekend I did nothing except eat drink and be marry with my fam. Had a few drop by's, one brought some jager, so naturally I indulged....just to be patriotic...of course.
I am now indulging in a wonderful Belgian Ale that seems to be high in alcahol content, becacuase it's making me talk like I'm typing with my middle finger...which I am.

Henrietta wrote:

Märk wrote: I noticed something peculiar- a lot of women start a conversation with a complete stranger by asking what we do for a living. a) it's none of your goddamned business, b) that's pretty shallow and rude, and c) you are materialistic. Optionally d) [match deleted]

I usually do ask that question when I first meet somebody! No wonder I'm a such a dork. It's just an easy (albeit boring and mundane) question to ask, and sometimes the answer is genuinely interesting. I don't mean to come across to others as materialistic or shallow, it's just that 'occupation' can be a neato part of someone's life story. Sometimes it isn't, and that's okay. MrBeany's "passion" reply is a really good idea... "My job is boring, but what I'm interested in is..." Occupation isn't an identity it's just a piece, and somebody like me who is honestly curious would be plenty satisfied by that answer. If that makes sense.

I guess what I'm wondering is why are (most) women so obsessed with what a potential mate does for a living? I am attracted to women who are self-sufficient and confident, not clingy gold-diggers. I couldn't care less what a woman does for work, (in the sense of it not affecting my attraction to her) and I certainly don't base any criterion on it. I do okay, and could certainly shower a special someone with gifts and bling and support *if* we ended up in a serious relationship, but asking about my financial status *in the very first question* pretty much guarantees that we'll never get to that point. I guess I'm a lover, not a provider by nature.

I can't quite figure out a way to work your homophone for "merry" into a joke. Oh well.

Märk wrote:I guess what I'm wondering is why are (most) women so obsessed with what a potential mate does for a living?

No no no. It's called smalltalk. It expresses interest in the person being talked to.

asking about my financial status *in the very first question* pretty much guarantees that we'll never get to that point.

So if someone asks me what I do for a living, you think they expect me to say something like "I do this and that and I earn shitloads of money", when it's pretty much guaranteed that my response will never make it past the "that"?

Anyway.

QotD: visited my mum to celebrate her birthday on Sunday. Brought lots of chocolate. I guess that's about it.

jast wrote:

Märk wrote:I guess what I'm wondering is why are (most) women so obsessed with what a potential mate does for a living?

No no no. It's called smalltalk. It expresses interest in the person being talked to.

Obviously you haven't searched the personals on my local Craig's List. Big bank accounts (i.e.: highly educated, professional, well traveled, etc.) and another large endowment seem to be the two primary requirements. With some of the girls, it helps if you have some pot lying around.

The guys are much more reasonable. All they want is a complete and total hottie who's at least 10 years younger than they are.

Henrietta wrote:I usually do ask that question when I first meet somebody! No wonder I'm a such a dork. It's just an easy (albeit boring and mundane) question to ask, and sometimes the answer is genuinely interesting. I don't mean to come across to others as materialistic or shallow, it's just that 'occupation' can be a neato part of someone's life story. Sometimes it isn't, and that's okay. MrBeany's "passion" reply is a really good idea... "My job is boring, but what I'm interested in is..." Occupation isn't an identity it's just a piece, and somebody like me who is honestly curious would be plenty satisfied by that answer. If that makes sense.

I didn't make it up, I've heard it on a number of TV programs at this point. Okay, I admit it, my wife has full control over the programs on the TV. It frequently includes HGTV and Bravo. (The remote is programmed to automatically switch the TV to HGTV when the TV is turned on.) I'm usually occupied by my computer.

My last personal ad, which I consider successful as it found my wife, focused fairly heavily on the things that would specifically turn people off. I mentioned my fairly liberal political/religious views, as the local area was rather politically/religiously conservative. I'm sure I mentioned some of the things I enjoyed, but it was biased specifically towards turning people away rather than attracting people. When I was contacted specifically for sex, I adjusted the ad to more explicitly state I wasn't interested in that. (I was interested in a relationship or friendship, not just dating. While I have neither moral nor ethical problems with casual sex, it is hard to explain casual sex within the context of looking for a long-term relationship.)

I mean, if you're not going to like me for a few specific reasons, we may as well save time for both parties. Here, let me tell you the reasons most people wouldn't want to date me. If you're still interested, let me know.

Generally, a person's occupation tends to be a lot more fluid than their passion. Besides, it is typically easy for someone to talk in a relaxed matter about what they're really in to. And, if they can't answer the question, you know they really are either a boring or shallow person.