Random Thoughts Thread

With my meager woodworking skills, I made plinths for my Dual 1215-S & 1219:

Good job Mr. Baca!

Akeldama wrote:

Good job Mr. Baca!

Why, thank you!

chewie wrote:

Akeldama wrote:

Good job Mr. Baca!

Why, thank you!

It's waaay better than I can do. I know how per se but if I had to use a band sawi'd shy away. I used to cut meat when I was young and bandsaws always made me cringe...if I sapped out and found the pieces already to size I'd manage I guess.

I guess I'm an idiot but what are "plinths" and what are they for?

gershom wrote:

I guess I'm an idiot but what are "plinths" and what are they for?

Turntable bases. Don't worry! About a year ago, I didn't know what it was either.



That's a fancy one, beyond my skill/tool level.

Ok cool, I just learned a new word "plinth" nice. This has been brought to you by the number 2 and the letter P.

Fires all around us, been that way the last few months...

Lazy screenwriting for film 101 by Aaron Sorkin:




Never was a big fan of his work and now I know why, the dude is a lazy hack!

Anyone else agree with me?

theJOKERiv wrote:

Lazy screenwriting for film 101 by Aaron Sorkin:




Never was a big fan of his work and now I know why, the dude is a lazy hack!

Anyone else agree with me?

Jeez, that is pretty damn lazy. There are a couple films in there that I've enjoyed (The American President and Charlie Wilson's War) but for the most part I find his work to be very hackneyed and superficial. One problem I see is the similarity of material, lots of films about the political process, that narrow focus can definitely lead to self-plagarism.

The film writers/directors I most admire are those that are constantly trying new things, different genres and are constantly pushing themselves. When you only focus on one genre it's incredibly limiting and I think it stagnates your creativity.

Look at film directors that only do action or horror. Generally they'll have a couple great successes and then a bunch of mediocre work that are pale reflections of their earlier success stories.

Look at the difference between George Lucas (who stayed tied to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises) and Steven Spielberg. The George Lucas that made American Graffiti is long dead, too many years of recycling Star Wars killed off his original promising talent. Compare that to Spielberg who has made films in almost every genre imaginable...while Steven has his share of mediocre films, I think the reason that he still knocks it out of the park occasionally is because he didn't try to keep remaking Jaws and Close Encounter his entire career. Schindler's List, Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can...all good films that are very different from one another, that keeps filmmakers on their toes.

Well, in a culture of Jersey Shores, Beavis and Butthead reboots, and movies based on 80's toys and board games, I think Mr. Sorkin has done a pretty good job considering what he COULD be writing. Hack or not, I couldn't write as well as he does and I doubt anyone here could either.

S.D. wrote:

theJOKERiv wrote:

Lazy screenwriting for film 101 by Aaron Sorkin:




Never was a big fan of his work and now I know why, the dude is a lazy hack!

Anyone else agree with me?

Jeez, that is pretty damn lazy. There are a couple films in there that I've enjoyed (The American President and Charlie Wilson's War) but for the most part I find his work to be very hackneyed and superficial. One problem I see is the similarity of material, lots of films about the political process, that narrow focus can definitely lead to self-plagarism.

The film writers/directors I most admire are those that are constantly trying new things, different genres and are constantly pushing themselves. When you only focus on one genre it's incredibly limiting and I think it stagnates your creativity.

Look at film directors that only do action or horror. Generally they'll have a couple great successes and then a bunch of mediocre work that are pale reflections of their earlier success stories.

Look at the difference between George Lucas (who stayed tied to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises) and Steven Spielberg. The George Lucas that made American Graffiti is long dead, too many years of recycling Star Wars killed off his original promising talent. Compare that to Spielberg who has made films in almost every genre imaginable...while Steven has his share of mediocre films, I think the reason that he still knocks it out of the park occasionally is because he didn't try to keep remaking Jaws and Close Encounter his entire career. Schindler's List, Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can...all good films that are very different from one another, that keeps filmmakers on their toes.

I thought you would agree with me! I agree with on Spielberg - he tries to make different films, not the same movie over and over. I think you are correct about horror or action directors with some success then its very same-y. George Romero comes to mind - his first three Dead films where great, then they went down hill.....

I've like a few of the movies he wrote, but when I saw that I was surprised at his laziness. Brings new meaning to the term Same Shit - Different Day!

I believe "aliens" to be more interdimensional in nature rather than extraterrestrial.

Akeldama wrote:

I believe "aliens" to be more interdimensional in nature rather than extraterrestrial.

Sounds like you need to watch "Fringe".

S.D. wrote:

Akeldama wrote:

I believe "aliens" to be more interdimensional in nature rather than extraterrestrial.

Sounds like you need to watch "Fringe".

Ok, I'm not much of a tv buff so what exactly is "Frinde"? A movie?

"Fringe" is a TV series on Fox that deals with "fringe science", alternate dimensions, etc. Think of it as a more intelligent X-Files.

S.D. wrote:

"Fringe" is a TV series on Fox that deals with "fringe science", alternate dimensions, etc. Think of it as a more intelligent X-Files.

Now that sounds like my kinda show, I like X-Files so if it's more intelligent I should like it even more.

Akeldama wrote:

S.D. wrote:

"Fringe" is a TV series on Fox that deals with "fringe science", alternate dimensions, etc. Think of it as a more intelligent X-Files.

Now that sounds like my kinda show, I like X-Files so if it's more intelligent I should like it even more.

There have been 4 seasons so far, next season will be the conclusion of the series.

R.I.P. Ernest Borgnine...

Akeldama wrote:

R.I.P. Ernest Borgnine...

x2

on another note...

More rock bands need to use acoustic piano, listen to Vincent Crane's work in Atomic Rooster for examples of how heavy an acoustic piano can be.

Akeldama wrote:

R.I.P. Ernest Borgnine...

X3

S.D. wrote:

Akeldama wrote:

R.I.P. Ernest Borgnine...

x2

on another note...

More rock bands need to use acoustic piano, listen to Vincent Crane's work in Atomic Rooster for examples of how heavy an acoustic piano can be.

I agree but I think it's somewhat of a lost art nowadays.

I didn't really know where else to post this, but check this out.

Link --> Miles Davis' blind critique of some of his contemporaries in 1964.

That was an entertaining read, I dig how he gave props to Getz/Gilberto.