Okay, I was gone for a long time. Computer
problems, financial difficulties, more computer
problems, yadda, yadda. You've heard it all, and
I'm sure you don't want to hear it again.
But, now I am back, and I've discovered that a lot of my old buddies who were always around are gone. I'm sure you fellow
old-timers know who I mean. I miss Ahmed always
blowing himself up, for example.
Not only that, but there don't seem to be many
replacements. It used to be that, once I'd
answered all the specific replies to my Fretbuzz
posts, I could then dive into the various
categories, discuss things, answer questions, and
so on. These days, when I go into the various
categories, it seems I can hear howling wind and
see tumbleweeds blowing across a desolate
landscape. The bar under most threads is the grey
of "Older Replies."
Some of my old friends are still around, and some
of the people I know from the past who were pretty
indifferent to me are as well, but all of my old
antagonists are gone.
My old friends who are gone were pretty good
friends. One even sent me a set of three Andrews
Sisters CD's, almost their entire recorded
collection, because he knew I liked them, and he'd
discovered he didn't, anymore. He sent them to me
for free, and wanted nothing in return.
As to old antagonists, I really enjoyed the cut
and thrust of debate with worthy opponents, and I
think they did too.
Regarding the apparently indifferent people, I
think many of them were actually merely too polite
to argue with me. :)
The thing is, this site used to be hoppin'. What
happened? And, is there anything we can do to turn
this around?
Dear mr Marsh, since we've never met/discussed I'm starting a bit formel. Altough I'm snotty of age compared to you (I'm only 45) I can find myself in a lot of chapters of your homepage. Playing techniquewise I'm not even fit to restring a reject bass of yours, but I'm playing for ten years in a band and the main reason we're still together is that we are a 'band', that is not 4 guys but an intertwining of guitar, drums,vocals and bass we listen to eachother while playing and adjust our stuff when somebody goofs, so the whole stays together. We even have a way of complimenting eachother during a song based on eyecontact.
Basicly what I'm trying to say is that today 'me' is more important than 'us' used to be. Less time spent on a 'member supported' site than making sure 'my facebook profile' is up to date. I'm not sure my English is good enough to capture my toughts, but anyway, welcome back.
Hmmm, I have to pick up my languages, The second paragraph deals with the general attitude of people nowadays, not me myself, I work in a DIY next to a supermarket, the scenes displayed in the parkinglot on Christmas eve were hallucinant.
If you ever cross over to this side of the ocean, I would love it to talk with you long time over some good beer. These brief notes don't offer enough space to coherently capture my thoughts. Anyway, have a nice 2010, greetingzzz, Dirk
I'm largely in the same boat as Pete, between practicing, kids soccer, scuba & occasionally working a little to pay for all of the above I've found myself spending less time here & you're right there are a lot of charachters MIA but I think AB is far from dead, it's just got a head cold.
Yeah, I understand what your saying. I guess it doesn't seem the same anymore, and I've definitely noticed a drop in activity. There is less bass talk, and more jokes/story oriented. I think most folks can find that elsewhere. I still however love this site, and try and visit it at least 3-4 times a week. The holidays made it a little tough.
I posted the most when I was going to online university a couple of years ago. AB was my refuge...and a well deserved break from my studies. Now, I happen to have a somewhat demanding job, which doesn't afford me the time to venture onto the internet. I was always more of a gear guy too, so I never had much to offer regarding theory or lessons...although I enjoyed reading what was written on the subject.
I vist the EB forums, and Facebook...although I find I'm tired of Facebook...
The Ernie Ball forums are good because it's all gear talk, and a love for basses that I ALSO happen to love.
Like you, I miss seeing Ahmed, and Thor, and Pete Wallace, and Val, Foxy and Vern- these are guys that use to be on here more often. There are more of course.
Okay, I am apparently missing something, here.
"Nipplegate" seems to refer to the whole Janet
Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" thing, and I can't
see where that would have any effect on AB. Is this
an inside reference that I missed?
it was an incident where a former member posted a picture of a scantly clad female and it caused a major war here and some members left and caused irreparable harm to this site....
Yeah...someone called it "NippleGate" and it stuck
Wasn't really a big deal but then some HEATED
discussions started and then some stuff turned to
finger pointing
Had there been a way for the original person to
remove the picture,all would of went away.....
The "Creators" thought it easier to remove the
offender...and we ALL took offence to that !!
So stuff got said and stuff got blown WAYYYYYY
outta proportion and "NippleGate " was spawned
The offender returned by the "Creators" grace but
things
definitely changed around here.
A whole lotta crap for nothing,imo....just silly
*eddie still shakes head over that one*
We've had shake downs like that before. Remember the member that posted guns for sale? They ALWAYS just settled down. What made that different and blew the whole thing up was the poster getting booted off the site for an honest mistake. Had that not happened the whole thing would have just died off just like the others like it did. In a community not everyone is always going to agree. But, in this community we say what we feel mix it up a little bit and then move forward. Well, most do... I'm not really the forgiving type depending on what it is. But, that WAS the track record pre nipple-gate.
What's done is done....can't ever un-do stuff
Sorta like that car wreck you drive by....you
don't wanna look....but once you do,then you can't
"un-see" what you've seen....too late then
You're right Dave....it always just settled down
and we moved on.
How was your Christmas Dude ?
Get that hot blonde you asked Santa for ?
;)
Peace Ed
Two brunettes, one red head and a blonde Im trying to reel inLOL! Christmas was good but I'm glad it's over! It gets to be such a pain! The traffic just gets SO out of hand. I'm trying to run service calls and it takes twice as long to get somewhere! I'm just glad it's done! I can't wait till spring it is so cold here it would make a Canadian shiver...hehehehe!
How was your Christmas? Did you get as drunk as I did?
I'm with you on the spring and I hear ya about the
roads....some people just totally forget how to
drive,y'know ?!?
Pay attention people...pretty sinchy
:P
Christmas was good...tho I did have to work
sat,the 26th....booo....but other than that it's
all good
As for "drunk as you were".....hmmmmmmmm......I
did imbibe plenty but dunno if I did "Magaro
plenty"
;)
Had great holidays and a super New Years Eve
here...big gang,loads of liquor and food and Hot
Wheels racing !!!
Lots a laughs...good night
...and the next day we went to a HUGE jam-fest
Lotta talent,great food,beer and tunes...even our
band got to play a few
...and you "may" of liked Daph's outfit
*grins*
You just erased everything I just read when you said: "...and you "may" of liked Daph's outfit
*grins*"
It's a good thing I don't play bass for Jet Black or that band would have broke up years ago...LOL! I could probably be good for about two months before I started hitting on her non-stop...hehehehe!
Sounds like you did have a good time my friend. I never do anything on New Years Eve as I'm always on call. I trade it so I'm off for Jubilee Day.
Brian and I were discussing a trip over a Heineken mini keg. We decided if we come up were driving around. He wanted to drive back around too, but I told him we could handle the Cat one way. We both hate that damn boat though! Six freeking hours of:
RRRRrrrRRRRrrRRRrrRRRRrRRRRrrrrrRRRrRRRRrrrrRRRrrrRRRrrrrRRRRrrrRRRRRRrrrrRRRRRrrrrRRRrrrRRRRRrrrrrrRRrrrRrRrRRRRRrrrrrrrRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr"I'm going outside to smoke"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!
We talked about driving to Maine and spending the night there. Then driving around the next day. But, we'll have to see how things are. I hope the economy picks up! Things have been a bit tight so we'll have to play it by ear.
I am planning a field trip though. When the Steelers make the playoffs I have a Steelers Playoff Party. I told Brian if they didn't make it we were going to a strip club. We have a really good one about an hour from us. Steelers didn't make it so the field trip is on!
Speaking of field trips one night we were at practice and Aaron was telling us about this place called Gravity Hill. Aaron claimed that if you pulled up to this stop sign at the bottom of this hill and put your car in neutral the car would roll back up the hill. I told Aaron that was impossible and we decided to go check it out. So, we decided to cut out of practice early and take a Steel field trip. I got a level from Aaron and off we went. What an optical illusion! It not only looks like you are rolling up hill it feels like you are rolling up hill. A quick check with the level proved it was going down hill. But even with the level it still looked up hill. I have a really good eye for level and plum, but not on that hill! Here's a link check it out:
They disabled the embedded image or I would have just posted it. Here is one that's not as good but you get the idea:
Prob have to drive around...or at least to the
Saint John/Digby ferry....
The Cat pulled out of Yarmouth for 2010...gonna
hurt a lot of businesses in the area...lil
touristy spots and hotels,like where you guys
stayed.
The Town and community are hoping for another
ferry service to come in....time will tell
Sounds like a GREAT field trip,Dave
:D
K I come ?
;)
What a freekin cool video !!!!
They say there's a place like that in New
Brunswick called Magnetic Hill....same idea
I've never been.....but it sure does look pretty
neat !!!!
Be awesome to take someone there all messed up and
freak them out
:D
Sure you can come! Strippers and Heineken ease just about any pain....LOL!
WOW! The Cat pulled out! That sucks! I don't think Brian will be too heart broken about having to drive around though. So, we would be looking at 4 days driving, 3 days there, and one Hell of a hangover! At least we will get sleep!!! Speaking of Brian he's trying to hook me up with my future Ex-Wife! We were drinking a mini keg December 23 (we get together and drink one night every year before Christmas). I told him that night my plan to kill myself. Last year I tried to quit smoking and failed. Before Christmas this year I was writing this song that was just killing me to write. So, I was power drinking my way through the writing of it. I was laying down rough tracks for it and it's turning out to be the most beautiful and meaningful songs I've ever written. Anyway I knew I had to slow down as I was getting a bit over the top. That's when I decided to kill myself. But not the stupid way like a bullet to the head or hanging myself. I'm going the really fun way! I'm going to drink, smoke, eat what the Hell I want when the Hell I want and screw every decent looking woman that will let me! Hell I may even throw a couple of fat chicks in there just to keep it interesting...LOL! I can drink a 4 into a 6! I told Brian my plan and said I have to stay out of a relationship for the plan to succeed. You know how women are..."you're smoking to much... you're drinking too much... Here eat this veggie burger it's better for you than beef". Then of course you can't be having sex with other women either or that makes them mad for some strange reason. It really only changes my life in two ways:
1. I wont be worrying about how much I drink or smoke
2. I will be screwing the occasional fat chick
So, Brian who has never even had any desire to hook me up with a woman all of a sudden tells me he's found my future wife. I think he is just trying to throw a monkey wrench into my plan! I talked to him last night and he said he was bringing my future Ex-Wife out to a gig. Should be interesting!
I'll post some wedding pictures of my beautiful new wife.
Brian is on his way back. I broke an axel on my truck. I think it's proably the CV joint? But, whoever put this thing back together last time put it together wrong. They put the bolts on the outside that hold the hub together and they are supposed to be on the inside. I looked at the one and couldn't even tell it was a bolt it's so rounded! If the put them on right I could have got a socket on them. But no can do with them on the outside. So, I bought a Heienken mini keg and called Brian. He always says the same thing every time we work on something.. "It will be easy". Three hours later when I'm underneath my truck with my torch and an arc welder I remind him of his earlier statement...LOL!
Hell we didn't even catch anything on fire this time! We got the old drive axel out and the new one will be here today. Yet another reason for a mini keg...LOL! No Youtube! I'm a pro! I rarely weld sober...LOL!
Read what Greg wrote below. Yeah, the whole thing was a mess. It wasn't even porn...it was a topless girl with a bass guitar(if I remember correctly). I can't remember all that was said, but one female was very upset(I was a friend of hers on here...even after the event), and somewhat overreacted, and misenterpreted some of Dave's comments. Dave's brutally honest, but in a humorous way(I actually got to enjoy a few beers with him)...it was a mess. We're all adults...
This title has been going for some time now & I was wondering who has been on this site the longest?????
Brad you have 13780+ Crumbs 26586+ Sean Van the Man a massive 31500+ Kelly from the snowy town in the North of the UK 10750+ Mr Shafern 5922+ EbKP comes in as a 126+ Hawkman 31000 Mr Magaro 17600+ Clifton 31046+ Wayne 19400+...Lets face it guys it's a bloody great site....It's not dying It's living & growing stronger day by day....With more humans coming on line every day with more lessons every week.....We cant stop this thing we cant stop this thing, that has just reminded me of Paul out of the Beatles on Live Aid,,,never mind I digress....etc etc etc
FANTABULOS SITE FANTABULOS
I've only been a member since about 2005, but I went through a period of about 2 years where I was posting about 50 replies a day, and doing bass reviews to gain posts.
Crumbs, how are ya? It's been a while since my last post here. How many basses do you plan to manhandle this year? Did you make any projections or New Years resolution for it?
How've you been...are you Conus yet...still in the military?
I only have 3...need to update my HP a bit, as I just picked up a classy/expensive one a couple of days ago...broke the bank. How's everything going with you?
Keith STILL got my name wrong...Crumbs then Cumbs..
Lesa M are you out there????
How long have you been @ AB & do you think this site is growing, I know you only have to look @ the stats, but what I mean to say is has it changed for the better since it started all those years ago? Mr Gumbs said he thought that you would be the best person to ask!!!! Is he right????
John, Hi, in the year 2ooo, I had never even heard of AB. I rise to a new challange most mornings, that gives me plenty of scope instead of being limited, PUSHING new boundaries.
2010 a year of Opportunities. New things to learn new people to meet.
Gotta GO!
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