Topic: The Chit Chat Thread

@TheBrandedSwordsman Sure am having a good weekend! I took down my fourth boss in Returnal last night so that was a moment. The NBA is winding down and just 2 or 3 games left in the championship series with a game tonight. It’s been a really good series and I’m still not sure who I think will win (Phoenix Sun or Milwaukee Bucks). Kinda pulling for the Bucks because I love to watch Giannis Antetokounmpo “The Greek Freak” play. His combination of size, strength, and quickness is, well… freakish. 😄
So with the first team to win two more game will win it all, the NBA season should finally come to an end by mid-week next week. Then the sports world will shift focus to baseball and the start of [American] football.
-edit: oh, and the Olympics! I love watching the Olympics!

That’s awesome that you found some rare vinyl! I take it you’re a collector? Do you listen to them or just keep them to collect and display? I imagine most of the music can be streamed easily, but it just doesn’t quite feel the same as putting on a vinyl album, does it?

@Th3solution I listen to them, bit of a muso, primarily, but yes as you say the feeling of putting on a vinyl album and immersing yourself in it isn't the same. Are you a vinyl or CD or digital man?

N.B. I hope you enjoy watching "The Greek Freak" and the Olympics

@TheBrandedSwordsman I don’t own any vinyl, nor any CD’s really. There might be a couple somewhere in storage somewhere, but for all intents and purposes I’m digital only for music. And nearly all streaming at that. I own physical media for movies and gaming, but for music I just have strayed away from owning anything and strictly stream now. I just pay for premium Spotify and call it a day.

Yeah, really interested in the Olympics. It’ll be fun once it starts. I think opening ceremonies is next week.

@Th3solution I totally forgot to ask you, what do you make of the new Space Jam with LeBron? It's a bit sinister that none of the animated characters have aged since the original with Michael Jordon ("I wanna fly like an eagle!") but we all have. I assume you've already seen it if you were interested in watching it, as it must have been out in the States ages ago - Can you get into theaters to see movies right now?

@TheBrandedSwordsman That’s a good question about Space Jam: A New Legacy because I was just contemplating watching that. It just released over here too, so it must have been a concerted worldwide release, given the international appeal of the NBA now. Most places have reopening of theaters so the option exists, but it’s released for streaming also on HBO Max for the next few weeks, so one has the option to watch at home, which is what I’ll probably do. The reviews are pretty damning, but they are all over the place, a few of which are complimentary. So my interest is piqued. I’m not an Uber fan of “King James” but Lebron is one of the more stand-up guys in the NBA, and in professional sports in general, so I respect him.

If I end up watching it I’ll tag you with an impressions piece in the Movies thread. The animation / live-action combo movies haven’t always been good, but they can be decent mindless fun when in the mood for it.

(Moving the follow up conversation here about A/C)
@Thrillho @JohnnyShoulder @Voltan @nessisonett @Kidfried
I think this has been a topic a time or two but I can’t remember. But it interest me.

There are certainly parts of the US that don’t have central cooling, but I think most areas of the South and West do. Even New England homes often have it, if I’m correct. It’s fairly miserable without it.
And it’s right about the climate change — disasters such as what just happened in Oregon and the Northwest are likely to keep popping up. I don’t know how many people in total died as a result of the unusually severe heat wave there where they aren’t accustomed to it and don’t have central A/C. Even the animals and sealife suffered ill effects and died from the heat.

Do cars in the UK and Europe have A/C? On a hot summer day the temp inside a car can reach 48 C. And do people sometimes camp out in stores and workplaces to escape the heat?

@Th3solution I don't own a car or even have a driver's license (which is probably another thing that seems really weird to an American ) but I do believe most modern cars do have AC. I think cars in the US might have had it long before European ones though - or at least the ones here in eastern EU, we're still catching up to the West today in many ways.
I don't think 'camping out' in stores is really a thing over here. It's been hot lately but it's still bearable

@Th3solution Given I just saw we’re getting 27C on Thursday and was wondering how I’ll cope, I don’t think I’m quite ready for the weather in literally any other country. I think cars over here have A/C but I can’t remember the last time I was in a car to check!

@Th3solution We don't even have A/C at work, as it is a listed building so there is only so much your allowed to do. There a ceiling fans, but as they are high ceiling (higher than most ceilings) that don't make much difference, so it windows open (if you are lucky enough to be sat near one) and desk fans. Think I've worked in only one or two places that have A/C in the offices.

@JohnnyShoulder Brings new meaning to the term “sweatshops” 😜
Which I always thought that term referred to hot and cramped poor working conditions, but I think it’s origin is actually because these early clothing factories made sweaters.

Ironically, at my workplace we have central A/c and it’s cranked up so high that I have to wear a jacket or turn on a space heater at my workspace, even though it’s 38 C outside. 😅
Older ladies always want the thermostat set so low.

@Th3solution Yeah in offices where we had A/C there were always battles to control it. And in the one I'm based in now, there always some nut case who opens a window when the heating is on full blast

@Jimmer-jammer I would be looking at magical realism of the 20th and 19th centuries for my PhD. The works of William Blake in particular, I am probably most fascinated by the Victorian period in English Literature, with writers such as Emily Bronte and Thomas Hardy, my two favourites, I believe that that period produced some of the greatest novels ever composed. How about you, are you a big reader of the classics?

@Jimmer-jammer I don't think you're way off-base with Pan's Labyrinth, although obviously I am more familiar with magical realism in print than on-screen than you are I think, where the reverse is probably true for you. I loved studying Nietzsche as part of my undergraduate degree, great stuff. Do you think you will ever return to film, as a career perhaps one day? You could soundtrack your own movies!

Also gonna tag @colonelkilgore in on this as I know he has studied film as well.

@Thrillho What did you reckon of the decider of England v Pakistan? Narrow victory eh?

@TheBrandedSwordsman I listened to the Pakistan innings at work and followed England’s on the bbc feed. Great match and always good fun to go to the wire like that.

Impressive depth in batting for England with Livingstone coming in at 7. It seems he can bowl a few tidy overs as well!

I've started learning guitar, only been doing so for about 2-3 weeks now. I already knew it was tough but it really does give you another level of appreciation for those who can play it well!

Any others here play/learning to play? How hard did you/do you find it?

@Thrillho Yeah I thought if Roy and Buttler had stayed in for longer it would have been a much tidier victory. With regard to Livingstone, definitely, he is one of my favourite batters for the current T20 side. Good all-rounder! .

@NedStarksGhost I have been playing most of my life. I was, however, up until a few years ago, primarily a rhythm guitarist. I found some great books and transitioned to lead guitar, for rock & pop music there are only a few basic patterns you need to know and you can just improvise around them, I forget the name of the main book I used, but if I remember, I'll definitely post it here for you! Some googling of 'Guitar patterns' 'Lead guitar book with tab patterns'... whatever, should hopefully turn it up for you though.

@TheBrandedSwordsman Hey, thanks for sharing. I take it going to lead guitar is much harder? From what I've seen it's another level again.

I have been following JustinGuitar lessons. Currently learning the A, D and E chords. He's simplified a lot of songs to use them and sound really good! For example, his simplieified Walk the Line by Johnny Cash has a basic strumming pattern of a chord per bar with 4 down strums.

It'd be awesome if you can find that book, more resource is always a bonus. It's a lot of fun just learning so I am excited for the day I can finally play a full song through!

@NedStarksGhost Playing guitar solos is definitely on another level from strumming chords, but you can get there if you just persevere. Sounds like you're having fun with Johnny Cash. Is that the sort of music you want to play?