Discussion Random Discussion

[Indie Rock]

I’m reading a book called ‘The Buddha, Geoff and Me’ at the moment.

It’s basically an idiots guide to Nichiren Buddhism. The topic is interesting but the protagonist is a complete dick and the dialogue really bad at times.

 

[sunny3193]

did you get shot at? attempted carjacked? let's keep this story going

LA is a crazy town. Mostly it is suburbia built on flat desert. And it is so large that the suburbs run into each other and are pretty much uniform and bland.
There are exceptions to that of course. Anywhere there are hills or sea is typically fantastic. And inevitably: white and rich. Anywhere else is either middle class or low rent. South Central sits right underneath the flight path for LAX, and at any given time there would be eighteen planes on decent into LAX. The only reason I could never count more than eighteen (2 runways dedicated to landing therefore 2 x 9 planes on descent) was the smog hides the landing lights. Remember that Greater LA (including down to San Diego) probably has the population of Australia.
Anyway, you can understand that being under a flight path, being flat, and being built on a desert does not make South Central your ideal neighbourhood.
Hence it being the location of the underclass. And in the States, they’re your African Americans.
Before I got there, LA was suffering a run of carjackings and drive by murders. The latter being on the freeway, with the shooter sitting in the blind spot behind the driver (where they cannot be seen from the drivers side rear view mirror). So on arrival I was hit with all these public service announcements about driving with doors locked and driving safely on the freeway. I’m like: “WTF?”
Then while I was there, the overnight attendant at the gas station on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) just south of the San Gabriel River Channel, and about 5 minutes walk from my condo, was killed one night.
The first murder ever in Seal Beach.
They got the killer.
A 13yo kid from South Central.
It was a gang initiation.

So all the “gangsta” talk on here is fun for some, not so for me.
The States is an inherently violent society.
You cannot understand unless you’ve lived it.

Did I ever drive through South Central?
Are you crazy??

But don’t let me give you the wrong impression: LA can be a fun and safe place. You just need to be alert and careful. Big hint: if you’re somewhere where everyone else either has a better suntan than you, or their first language is Spanish, it’s probably not a brilliant idea for a white boy to be there. Alone.

And remember I said it was crazy?

The funniest thing I ever saw was at the drive through ATM.
Sitting in the drivers seat punching in my numbers and I realise the key pad and instructions are in Braille. Pissed myself laughing.

PS: no idea but I guess the idea for automatic door locking on cars came from LA. That’s where cup holders originated.

 

[MOLTEN GANGLANDS]

LA is a crazy town. Mostly it is suburbia built on flat desert. And it is so large that the suburbs run into each other and are pretty much uniform and bland.
There are exceptions to that of course. Anywhere there are hills or sea is typically fantastic. And inevitably: white and rich. Anywhere else is either middle class or low rent. South Central sits right underneath the flight path for LAX, and at any given time there would be eighteen planes on decent into LAX. The only reason I could never count more than eighteen (2 runways dedicated to landing therefore 2 x 9 planes on descent) was the smog hides the landing lights. Remember that Greater LA (including down to San Diego) probably has the population of Australia.
Anyway, you can understand that being under a flight path, being flat, and being built on a desert does not make South Central your ideal neighbourhood.
Hence it being the location of the underclass. And in the States, they’re your African Americans.
Before I got there, LA was suffering a run of carjackings and drive by murders. The latter being on the freeway, with the shooter sitting in the blind spot behind the driver (where they cannot be seen from the drivers side rear view mirror). So on arrival I was hit with all these public service announcements about driving with doors locked and driving safely on the freeway. I’m like: “WTF?”
Then while I was there, the overnight attendant at the gas station on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) just south of the San Gabriel River Channel, and about 5 minutes walk from my condo, was killed one night.
The first murder ever in Seal Beach.
They got the killer.
A 13yo kid from South Central.
It was a gang initiation.

So all the “gangsta” talk on here is fun for some, not so for me.
The States is an inherently violent society.
You cannot understand unless you’ve lived it.

Did I ever drive through South Central?
Are you crazy??

But don’t let me give you the wrong impression: LA can be a fun and safe place. You just need to be alert and careful. Big hint: if you’re somewhere where everyone else either has a better suntan than you, or their first language is Spanish, it’s probably not a brilliant idea for a white boy to be there. Alone.

And remember I said it was crazy?

The funniest thing I ever saw was at the drive through ATM.
Sitting in the drivers seat punching in my numbers and I realise the key pad and instructions are in Braille. Pissed myself laughing.

PS: no idea but I guess the idea for automatic door locking on cars came from LA. That’s where cup holders originated.

haha cheers sunny. sounds like they could do with a football team.. south central saints?

 

[sunny3193]

haha cheers sunny. sounds like they could do with a football team.. south central saints?

No, South Central Hubcaps.
They’d stand out in the crowd there as none of the cars have any.

 

[Joffaboy]

LA is a crazy town. Mostly it is suburbia built on flat desert. And it is so large that the suburbs run into each other and are pretty much uniform and bland.
There are exceptions to that of course. Anywhere there are hills or sea is typically fantastic. And inevitably: white and rich. Anywhere else is either middle class or low rent. South Central sits right underneath the flight path for LAX, and at any given time there would be eighteen planes on decent into LAX. The only reason I could never count more than eighteen (2 runways dedicated to landing therefore 2 x 9 planes on descent) was the smog hides the landing lights. Remember that Greater LA (including down to San Diego) probably has the population of Australia.
Anyway, you can understand that being under a flight path, being flat, and being built on a desert does not make South Central your ideal neighbourhood.
Hence it being the location of the underclass. And in the States, they’re your African Americans.
Before I got there, LA was suffering a run of carjackings and drive by murders. The latter being on the freeway, with the shooter sitting in the blind spot behind the driver (where they cannot be seen from the drivers side rear view mirror). So on arrival I was hit with all these public service announcements about driving with doors locked and driving safely on the freeway. I’m like: “WTF?”
Then while I was there, the overnight attendant at the gas station on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) just south of the San Gabriel River Channel, and about 5 minutes walk from my condo, was killed one night.
The first murder ever in Seal Beach.
They got the killer.
A 13yo kid from South Central.
It was a gang initiation.

So all the “gangsta” talk on here is fun for some, not so for me.
The States is an inherently violent society.
You cannot understand unless you’ve lived it.

Did I ever drive through South Central?
Are you crazy??

But don’t let me give you the wrong impression: LA can be a fun and safe place. You just need to be alert and careful. Big hint: if you’re somewhere where everyone else either has a better suntan than you, or their first language is Spanish, it’s probably not a brilliant idea for a white boy to be there. Alone.

And remember I said it was crazy?

The funniest thing I ever saw was at the drive through ATM.
Sitting in the drivers seat punching in my numbers and I realise the key pad and instructions are in Braille. Pissed myself laughing.

PS: no idea but I guess the idea for automatic door locking on cars came from LA. That’s where cup holders originated.

Tim Buckey, Jeffs dad, had an album in the 70's called Greetings from LA and the cover was a postcard of a brown smog covered city. Gets trapped in the bowl, and cant get out.



On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[sunny3193]

Tim Buckey, Jeffs dad, had an album in the 70's called Greetings from LA and the cover was a postcard of a brown smog covered city. Gets trapped in the bowl, and cant get out.

View attachment 519791

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

That’s it.
And yet when you get a clear day in Winter, the place is magic.
Snow and skiers on the mountains behind, and surfers on the beach.
With Downtown at 72’F.

 

[joop]

LA is a crazy town. Mostly it is suburbia built on flat desert. And it is so large that the suburbs run into each other and are pretty much uniform and bland.
There are exceptions to that of course. Anywhere there are hills or sea is typically fantastic. And inevitably: white and rich. Anywhere else is either middle class or low rent. South Central sits right underneath the flight path for LAX, and at any given time there would be eighteen planes on decent into LAX. The only reason I could never count more than eighteen (2 runways dedicated to landing therefore 2 x 9 planes on descent) was the smog hides the landing lights. Remember that Greater LA (including down to San Diego) probably has the population of Australia.
Anyway, you can understand that being under a flight path, being flat, and being built on a desert does not make South Central your ideal neighbourhood.
Hence it being the location of the underclass. And in the States, they’re your African Americans.
Before I got there, LA was suffering a run of carjackings and drive by murders. The latter being on the freeway, with the shooter sitting in the blind spot behind the driver (where they cannot be seen from the drivers side rear view mirror). So on arrival I was hit with all these public service announcements about driving with doors locked and driving safely on the freeway. I’m like: “WTF?”
Then while I was there, the overnight attendant at the gas station on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) just south of the San Gabriel River Channel, and about 5 minutes walk from my condo, was killed one night.
The first murder ever in Seal Beach.
They got the killer.
A 13yo kid from South Central.
It was a gang initiation.

So all the “gangsta” talk on here is fun for some, not so for me.
The States is an inherently violent society.
You cannot understand unless you’ve lived it.

Did I ever drive through South Central?
Are you crazy??

But don’t let me give you the wrong impression: LA can be a fun and safe place. You just need to be alert and careful. Big hint: if you’re somewhere where everyone else either has a better suntan than you, or their first language is Spanish, it’s probably not a brilliant idea for a white boy to be there. Alone.

And remember I said it was crazy?

The funniest thing I ever saw was at the drive through ATM.
Sitting in the drivers seat punching in my numbers and I realise the key pad and instructions are in Braille. Pissed myself laughing.

PS: no idea but I guess the idea for automatic door locking on cars came from LA. That’s where cup holders originated.

that sucks, sounds like you had a terrible time and its given you some pretty shit memories.
I've been to the states a few times and have mates that live over there with no problems at all. I actually can't wait to go back, the people are so friendly, interested in us and our culture whilst being so naive too. I find it somewhat charming. There is also so much to do in the States. Like everywhere it does have its problems though.

 

[Keg on legs]

LA is a crazy town. Mostly it is suburbia built on flat desert. And it is so large that the suburbs run into each other and are pretty much uniform and bland.
There are exceptions to that of course. Anywhere there are hills or sea is typically fantastic. And inevitably: white and rich. Anywhere else is either middle class or low rent. South Central sits right underneath the flight path for LAX, and at any given time there would be eighteen planes on decent into LAX. The only reason I could never count more than eighteen (2 runways dedicated to landing therefore 2 x 9 planes on descent) was the smog hides the landing lights. Remember that Greater LA (including down to San Diego) probably has the population of Australia.
Anyway, you can understand that being under a flight path, being flat, and being built on a desert does not make South Central your ideal neighbourhood.
Hence it being the location of the underclass. And in the States, they’re your African Americans.
Before I got there, LA was suffering a run of carjackings and drive by murders. The latter being on the freeway, with the shooter sitting in the blind spot behind the driver (where they cannot be seen from the drivers side rear view mirror). So on arrival I was hit with all these public service announcements about driving with doors locked and driving safely on the freeway. I’m like: “WTF?”
Then while I was there, the overnight attendant at the gas station on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) just south of the San Gabriel River Channel, and about 5 minutes walk from my condo, was killed one night.
The first murder ever in Seal Beach.
They got the killer.
A 13yo kid from South Central.
It was a gang initiation.

So all the “gangsta” talk on here is fun for some, not so for me.
The States is an inherently violent society.
You cannot understand unless you’ve lived it.

Did I ever drive through South Central?
Are you crazy??

But don’t let me give you the wrong impression: LA can be a fun and safe place. You just need to be alert and careful. Big hint: if you’re somewhere where everyone else either has a better suntan than you, or their first language is Spanish, it’s probably not a brilliant idea for a white boy to be there. Alone.

And remember I said it was crazy?

The funniest thing I ever saw was at the drive through ATM.
Sitting in the drivers seat punching in my numbers and I realise the key pad and instructions are in Braille. Pissed myself laughing.

PS: no idea but I guess the idea for automatic door locking on cars came from LA. That’s where cup holders originated.

Awesome experiences mate

 

[VDS66]

i hate that they omit the section on the snag in bread though ...

Don't want to offend the vegans...

 

[sunny3193]

that sucks, sounds like you had a terrible time and its given you some pretty shit memories.
I've been to the states a few times and have mates that live over there with no problems at all. I actually can't wait to go back, the people are so friendly, interested in us and our culture whilst being so naive too. I find it somewhat charming. There is also so much to do in the States. Like everywhere it does have its problems though.

I’ve given you the wrong impression unfortunately.
I’ve lived in the States twice.
LA as above, and most recently in Charleston, South Carolina.
I absolutely enjoyed both experiences.
I’d go back and live in Charleston in a second.
Best time of my life there.
Made some great friends.
Australians are very exotic in S.C.
I only left because the visa was becoming a hassle (needing to leave every six months).
I’d recommend Charleston to anyone.
It’s the South, and brilliant if you’re into warm weather, history, architecture and great food.
But like LA, it has its problems.
The year after I left, a young white supremacist by the name of Dylan Roof killed nine worshippers at a black evangelical church there. The church was five minutes from my apartment. I walked past it almost daily.
The States is a great place but....
Even the Garden of Eden had its snake.

 

[Rors]

**** the trade thread. Just dedicate this thread to sunny3193 ’s LA stories

 

[sunny3193]

**** the trade thread. Just dedicate this thread to sunny3193 ’s LA stories

Don’t get me started on the people I’ve met.
I had a conversation with LaToya Jackson at LAX once.

 

[joop]

**** the trade thread. Just dedicate this thread to sunny3193 ’s LA stories

I love it. Everyone gets so worked up about pointless crap and if you disagree on something on this board, it’s really interesting to read about people’s lives.

 

[Joffaboy]

I love it. Everyone gets so worked up about pointless crap and if you disagree on something on this board, it’s really interesting to read about people’s lives.

So true, so being the shit campaigner contrarian I am, I'll say I have never been to the US and am unlikely ever to go.
Nothing against the people as I have met many wonderful Americans and the scenery looks wonderful.
Maybe being saturated with American culture for half a century has taken a toll, but bit is way down on my list of countries to visit, even in North America.
Saying that if I ever get to Canada, I want to get to New England, NYC, Washington and New Orleans.

I think I object to American exceptionalism and their deluded certainty about things.

Once told this to some Americans I was travelling with, in a polite conversational way (like I do here [emoji4]) and they were stunned I had no real desire to visit let alone live there, and that I was happy living in Australia.

And these were the enlightened travelling ones.

And please don't take this as a criticism of anyone who travels or has lived in the US, I reckon I am in the minority and are only my opinions.

Would almost certainly change if I travelled there.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[luca77]

Tim Buckey, Jeffs dad, had an album in the 70's called Greetings from LA and the cover was a postcard of a brown smog covered city. Gets trapped in the bowl, and cant get out.

View attachment 519791

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

Not a bad album, but the live album Honeyman (with tracks from this) was way better imo. Actually his live albums were way better than his studio ones in general. Damn good singer.

 

[joop]

So true, so being the shit campaigner contrarian I am, I'll say I have never been to the US and am unlikely ever to go.
Nothing against the people as I have met many wonderful Americans and the scenery looks wonderful.
Maybe being saturated with American culture for half a century has taken a toll, but bit is way down on my list of countries to visit, even in North America.
Saying that if I ever get to Canada, I want to get to New England, NYC, Washington and New Orleans.

I think I object to American exceptionalism and their deluded certainty about things.

Once told this to some Americans I was travelling with, in a polite conversational way (like I do here [emoji4]) and they were stunned I had no real desire to visit let alone live there, and that I was happy living in Australia.

And these were the enlightened travelling ones.

And please don't take this as a criticism of anyone who travels or has lived in the US, I reckon I am in the minority and are only my opinions.

Would almost certainly change if I travelled there.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

Do you know what’s funny, that’s the view a lot of Americans have, especially about travelling places. So many (older) people I met were always like ‘why would I travel when I live in the greatest country in the world?’. Think you’d fit right in old boy.

 

[luca77]

Lots of talk in the trade thread about visiting America or not.
I hadn't planned to go there, but was sent there for work.
Day one:
- Couldn't get a bar of soap, had to buy about a 10 pack.
- Walmart lady carried on for 5 minutes like I was speaking Chinese at her when I was simply asking where the raincoats were.
- Ordered a coffee. Regretted it.
- Geezer bartender refused to serve me despite me showing all my IDs, licenses, passport etc. and being about 26. Why? Because nothing I had stated my eye colour or height. Eventually one of his regulars convinced him to serve me a beer. Tasted like piss anyway.

Day two:
- Barely left the house as was still pissed off about day one and didn't feel like tipping every campaigner who served me.

Day three:
- Went out of town to relax for the weekend. Took a walk around a lake we were staying near the edge of. Had a rifle or shotgun or whatever it was pointed at me by some old geezer telling us we were on private property and he was gonna blow us away if we didn't scram.

Things got a bit better after that, mostly thanks to a young lady who showed me around town. Some pretty good nightlife in S.F. Good luck if an STD blows through town though, those cats were rooting anyone anywhere and everywhere and anyhow.

Still...
Lots of places I'd rather go if given a chance.

 

[Joffaboy]

Do you know what’s funny, that’s the view a lot of Americans have, especially about travelling places. So many (older) people I met were always like ‘why would I travel when I live in the greatest country in the world?’. Think you’d fit right in old boy.

Lol. No just confirms it. How could they possibly know they live in the best country in the world.

The ignorant certainty is what I object to.
So dumb. Oh well they can believe it, it means they don't infect other countries with their presence [emoji41]

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[joop]

Lol. No just confirms it. How could they possibly know they live in the best country in the world.

The ignorant certainty is what I object to.
So dumb. Oh well they can believe it, it means they don't infect other countries with their presence [emoji41]

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

You do realise that it’s a pretty small minority of the country that would believe that?
Most, if not all of the Americans I know are well aware of their history and problems.
No different to any other country in my opinion. There’s just so much to do and see in the States I just don’t let that shit get in the way.

 

[sunny3193]

So true, so being the shit campaigner contrarian I am, I'll say I have never been to the US and am unlikely ever to go.
Nothing against the people as I have met many wonderful Americans and the scenery looks wonderful.
Maybe being saturated with American culture for half a century has taken a toll, but bit is way down on my list of countries to visit, even in North America.
Saying that if I ever get to Canada, I want to get to New England, NYC, Washington and New Orleans.

I think I object to American exceptionalism and their deluded certainty about things.

Once told this to some Americans I was travelling with, in a polite conversational way (like I do here [emoji4]) and they were stunned I had no real desire to visit let alone live there, and that I was happy living in Australia.

And these were the enlightened travelling ones.

And please don't take this as a criticism of anyone who travels or has lived in the US, I reckon I am in the minority and are only my opinions.

Would almost certainly change if I travelled there.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

Each to their own.
I fly over Asia to get to Europe.
Everyone is different.

 

[Drake Huggins]

Back to the books. Carl Sagan's "Dragons of Eden". A bit dated but still stands up well. About the evolution and development of human consciousness. The great man's finest work. An honorable mention to, "The Pale Blue Dot."

 

[VDS66]

Back to the books. Carl Sagan's "Dragons of Eden". A bit dated but still stands up well. About the evolution and development of human consciousness. The great man's finest work. An honorable mention to, "The Pale Blue Dot."

Cosmos blew me away as a kid. Amazing book and series.

 

[Drake Huggins]

Cosmos blew me away as a kid. Amazing book and series.

Remade as a series with Neil DeGrasse Tyson as host. Brilliant update on a groundbreaking original. Despite the advances made in our knowledge of the universe in the two decades since the original, they played the first series before showing the new one. It was amazing how well the old one held up.

 

[MUFKilda]

Andy Murray has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon, which starts tomorrow - I'm gutted.

The weather is glorious, however, so there is no danger of rain stopping play.

 

[MUFKilda]

If you were to describe yourself as generally left wing, centrist or right wing, where would you place yourself?

I'm certainly on the left.

What would you say?