Penrose should stick to Math and Science and not be a silly old fool and sue.

"I was never ruined but twice: once when I lost a lawsuit, and once when I won one.”

― Voltaire


PenroseTiles

That is because one of co-recipient's is a woman. And women, as all intelligent people know, bring down the average.

Disclaimer; not my story.

Back in the early nineties I had the pleasure of spending a few nights on the road with Van Halen, as I was doing tour support for their opening band, Baby Animals. One of my favorite and sad music industry moments was when one of the Van Halen roadies told me not to skip sound check. He basically said it as a "You'd be an idiot to miss the experience."

Some background: My experience with Eddie playing was watching him on stage in front of tens of thousands of people, and every night he got completely drunk before the show and proceeded to play every note by rote. Perfectly, of course, but every night was the same thing again and again. It was technically great, but not inspiring in the improvisationally creative way I had hoped to experience Eddie playing.

Then came soundcheck.

So I show up at soundcheck, and while other stars often have guitar techs and sound guys do the sound for them, Eddie did everything from beginning to end. He walked out to this empty arena and prowled the stage playing. It was extraordinary. He played riffs I'd never heard before. He'd go on long music tangents like a blues or jazz guitarist. He tested every single amplifier for the distortion and how he could make it sing.

I quickly realized that this wasn't really a sound check; this was Eddie on a new stage, one he'd never played before, and he was going to have as much fun as he could. It was his playground and only his playground, and he was going to have fun.

So I'm in the back of the arena leaning forward in this plastic chair just taking it all in, when someone walks by behind me and notices I'm totally rapt. He goes, "Pretty amazing, huh?" I didn't pay him much attention as I was focused on Eddie, but I just nodded and grunted out a "yeah." He caught my eye as he was walking toward the stage a bit later, and I realized it was Michael Anthony.

So it struck me that this was perhaps the joy and the tragedy of Eddie's life. He was born for the music, to play the music, to do things with a guitar that only he could really understand, even as we all appreciated it. Yet, for one reason or another, he was most at home when it was just him, his guitar, stacks of amps... and the sounds. When the door opened wider, and the fans, and the bandmates, and the press and everyone else rushed in, he walked off stage, drank himself numb, and then came out and gave the people what they wanted.

Eddie once said that he never needed to do a solo record because Van Halen was his band, but I think he was lying to himself a bit. Van Halen was all of our band, and that disconnect was difficult for Eddie to get comfortable with.

So he played, oh did he play, for himself and the echoing sound of his home studio, an empty arena, or amongst his most trusted friends. And he played, oh did he play, for others, but he was often just drunk enough to give the people what they wanted while honoring the music.

I don't know if I'm right, and certainly a few weeks experiencing Van Halen doesn't give you a key into Eddie's soul, but it just struck me so hard at the time that I haven't been able to shake it for almost 30 years now.

I'm sad Eddie is gone, because he was a good guy when I met him, and he made my life better for him being part of it. And a part of me thinks that someone with such a passion and love for his art still had more to give.

To the first interstellar jump to another system and it is a promise. For the countless nights that will make it possible.

https://youtu.be/D0KyWBksWrU

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man. -Samuel Johnson

One of my favorite movies!

I watched it for the first time the other night. It has a dreamlike quality IMO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Bruges

Is Don't Look Now worth seeing?

My god yes it is.

No Pain yet. When the pain comes it will still be better to not be a beast or have been a beast to others. It will still be better to see yourself age, health deteriorate and ultimately die. At least you can die with a smile that it was all worth it, that it can be better, that it is easy to fix in the end the things that make it bad sometimes, the technology that is missing to make it safer, the ingenuity missing by not yet completed synthesis, the kindness missing because of conflicts and insecurities, the wisdom attained by unnecessary pain and so much more ugliness through better culture, better effort, true caring for the game. All of which will become possible because you and others like you chose not to be beasts during the whole thing. Pain or no pain victory is inevitable.


If you want to have fun every now and then that doesnt make you a beast. It makes you an animal that knows better and still celebrates its nature with dignity and honesty.

Seven pyschopaths is not talked about enough i feel. But got good ratings. (Same director)

A bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee!

Chocolate beats coffee even if it has toffee chips in it instead of almonds and raisins lol. Ice cream beats it too. Milk too. I statistically speaking never drink coffee. I can appreciate it on occasion mostly if with milk or if seriously prepared by people who know it well but wont chase it. Rarely cold frappee like this Greek original thanks to dad as a kid lol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frapp%C3%A9_coffee

Old timers go for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_coffee

I am drinking cold instant Bustelo right this instant.

I always order a "white coffee". Tired of all the bullshit.

I'll throw you right in the deep end. There was huge hype around this track. Firstly, anything that is hyped is a turn off i find. Secondly, this track is not easy to understand anyway without numerous listens. Thirdly, the realistion is - that the whole track is merely just a build up to what happens at about 5:00 minutes in. Once you realise this, you understand that the melody at 5:00 isnt anything without the buildup, and before you realise that, the build cant be anything but mediocre. Like yin and yang. Finally, knowing all of that, the track is in fact excellent. Ps you probably wont understand. A rare select few do.


https://youtu.be/khl-Ky_TnhA

https://youtu.be/CQZYzGO8QlM

The world will return to nornal next spring.

https://youtu.be/CQZYzGO8QlM

You bet.

Ancient times...

https://youtu.be/CPmWYFlUK54

Neil Fergusson ought to get the **** kicked out of him. Dug up and get the **** kicked out of him again. Beheaded and dragged through the streets of London - Cromwell style. But of course i jest. He should be vindicated. Hes only human. The ROW listened to him. And that is not his fault. Hope Neil has a prosperous life in fact

The game sevens of the ACLS and NLCS have been great. Atlanta and Dodgers in a nip and tuck game now in sixth inning. Atlanta leads 3-2.

World Series tomorrow. Make sure to attend the worship service.

Our gladiators are on the loose!

Trump did really well.