Hope everyone is doing ok in this situation

[italianguy63]

hahahahaha..  Yes, 1917.

Brain cramp/cabin fever.

REDRUM.

LOL

[antonis]

I like the bit where the giant chicken took over the whole universe......oh hang on........wrong film...

Does your local time indulge in start drinking ..??

[Fancy Lime]

I like the bit where the giant chicken took over the whole universe......oh hang on........wrong film...

Does your local time indulge in start drinking ..??

I just opened a beer. Not sure what that has to do with time...

Skål,
Andy

[GibsonGM]

Wasn't really intended to be a 'personal thing', Andy - I have no issue with ya    And yes, sure rights are limited (can't yell fire in a crowded movie theater...).   It's always Law vs. Liberty, it's a permanent tug of war.   There is a lot of friction over all this in many places, I'm sure you're well aware, and it's that 'cost/benefit' thing at work.    I do live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, and that's happy for me (nothing is different here), but I feel bad for people who will lose their livelihoods and homes, is all.  Hey, they pay MY check, lol.  I just watched $90k worth of work go away, so...nobody knows the future though.

But yes, let's do the right thing and get thru it, and return to normal - rights intact and all (I'm American..."Muh Rights!" ha ha).  I've been a big proponent of the need to shut things down for little while to learn & educate, flatten the curve and all.  Now we need to plan for 'after'.   No worries.   You be well, too, man!

[Fancy Lime]

Wasn't really intended to be a 'personal thing', Andy - I have no issue with ya    And yes, sure rights are limited (can't yell fire in a crowded movie theater...).   It's always Law vs. Liberty, it's a permanent tug of war.   There is a lot of friction over all this in many places, I'm sure you're well aware, and it's that 'cost/benefit' thing at work.    I do live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, and that's happy for me (nothing is different here), but I feel bad for people who will lose their livelihoods and homes, is all.  Hey, they pay MY check, lol.  I just watched $90k worth of work go away, so...nobody knows the future though.

But yes, let's do the right thing and get thru it, and return to normal - rights intact and all (I'm American..."Muh Rights!" ha ha).  I've been a big proponent of the need to shut things down for little while to learn & educate, flatten the curve and all.  Now we need to plan for 'after'.   No worries.   You be well, too, man!

Yes, we certainly need a plan for the aftertimes. I for one, being a positive thinker by nature, think that, terrifying and worrisome as many things are right now, this is also a huge chance to change a lot of things that have been wrong for a long time for the better. Bureaucratic hurdles in pharma development are falling fast at the moment. Had that happened during the 80's before AIDS became a "3rd world problem", HIV would probably be eradicated by now. Similar progress in lots of fields. That's why I think we have a decent chance to bounce back stronger than ever across the board and quicker than some of the doom merchants will have us believe. Things will sure be a bit $#!++y for a while, though. Let's try and make that a short while. In the meantime we can distract ourselves with pedal building!

If I ever get the chance to buy a farm in the middle of nowhere, I'm in. Pretty sick of big city life right now... I was going to come to the US on vacation this summer but that will have to wait a bit I guess. Haven't been over the pond in over five years. The other day we were looking at photos from my last trip. Sequoia, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Bishop (bouldering), Mammoth Hot Springs, Yosemite. You have yourselves one beautiful country over there!

Cheers,
Andy

[tubegeek]

I just want to inteject a big warm fuzzy hug for all of us electron-wranglers here and elsewhere.

I'm feeling a LOT of virtual overload. But I'm also playing more guitar and taking good care of my beloved wife, those are both things that make me very happy. We go for walks through our neighborhood in Brooklyn, masked and gloved, and it's pretty eerie. Bt the sun is shining sometimes.

I have no idea what my financial picture will be in six months. Both our retirement fund and the value of our house - our two expected sources of financial stability - are in danger.

I've been reminded by this situation, that I never actually knew what tomorrow would bring, I just thought I did.

Thank you all for speaking your minds and opening your hearts - and for populating this board (see what I did there?) It helps a lot to have someplace familiar to "hang out."

Stay healthy, stay safe, thanks especially to @aron the wonder op, good on yer mate.

[aron]

Yes, very right tubegeek! When my dad passed, I realized there are things that just changed everything and things could change any moment. But I never would have foreseen something that could take away all music performances in venues across the world. Depressing! Luckily our hobby can be done at home. Now where are those blue LEDs!?

[Phend]

Or Cod Fish box for my next build. Got a drawer of Flys to use between q1 and 2 for that extra buzz. Lol

[aron]

About the only thing good right now is that I am practicing my acoustic guitar a LOT. It helps that I got one right before this started so it's still a fun toy.

[bluebunny]

Don't tell the wife, but I got myself one of those Fender "alternate reality" tenor Teles.     It's very cute and lots of modal CGDG fun.

I blame a couple of my favourite musicians for posting some tenor guitar YTs and reigniting my interest in the instrument.  And a new toy is good for my mental well-being during lockdown, right?   

[EBK]

Don't tell the wife, but I got myself one of those Fender "alternate reality" tenor Teles.     It's very cute and lots of modal CGDG fun.

I blame a couple of my favourite musicians for posting some tenor guitar YTs and reigniting my interest in the instrument.  And a new toy is good for my mental well-being during lockdown, right?   

I have no mental anchor points for many parts of our new reality.  So, is a tenor tele smaller than a "typical" one?

I saw a bass ukulele once.  That thing looked rediculously fun!

[garcho]

I saw a bass ukulele once.  That thing looked rediculously fun!

I bet that thing sounds handsome, too. Mellow fellow. There's a band called Rumput, they play Indonesian music, a bit like gamelan but they play it on ukes and cellos and it sounds real dreamy.
I played electric mandolin in a band for many years, but I strung it up with single courses, so people would ask me if it was an electric ukulele, which drove me nuts; it was the middle of the twee ukulele pandemic. Is that over yet? I called it electric mini guitar. Had a Les Paulito and a Thunderchick. It was a lot of fun to shred on, easy to make huge leaps or do all those fun 80s metal things. Awesome for certain types of Greek music. Zero sustain, but I would fix that by playing with a slide a la U Srinivas. I also play Brazilian choro music on mandolin, it's like samba ragtime, great music. Playing extended chords on mando is equally fun and frustrating. You feel like you're just playing triads but in the "wrong" key. Usually, you can get by just throwing diminished chords around. Fake it 'til you make it!

Now is the time to pick up the weird instruments and styles you flirted with but were too shy to ask out on a date.

[Fancy Lime]

Don't tell the wife, but I got myself one of those Fender "alternate reality" tenor Teles.     It's very cute and lots of modal CGDG fun.

I blame a couple of my favourite musicians for posting some tenor guitar YTs and reigniting my interest in the instrument.  And a new toy is good for my mental well-being during lockdown, right?   

Not just good for mental health. Essential! I'll testify to that if you apply for full coverage of the instrument's costs with your healthcare provider.

Andy

[bluebunny]

I have no mental anchor points for many parts of our new reality.  So, is a tenor tele smaller than a "typical" one?

It is a bit smaller.  I have another tenor which has a scale length closer to a guitar, but this one is 22.75".  Here's a pic (not my actual instrument, but the same butterscotch blond finish):



If you imagine it shrunk almost in proportion to the six- vs. four-string neck width, you're kinda there.

[bluebunny]

Not just good for mental health. Essential! I'll testify to that if you apply for full coverage of the instrument's costs with your healthcare provider.

I'll remember that when I'm in court vs. my wife and/or the tax man. 

[iainpunk]

Patience IS a rare commodity...I'd wager that freedom is more rare still

freedom is a state of mind, patience is a facet of the mind, and more patient people tend to be freer than impatient people are

i find that the quarantine affects me more than i expected. i am really used to be among friends, go out, go to rehearsal, volunteer at the bar/venue, volunteer as a scouting leader etc. and being constrained inside takes more of a toll on me than i expected, seeing only 7 people for weeks now drives me crazy.

i discovered that i can't work on a lot of projects because i don't have all the parts i would need, i ran out of enclosures, i have 2 jacks left and no income as long as we are confined in our homes.

i hope the rest of you do better in these horrid times,
cheers,
Iain

So...being restrained by government 'rules' (note that I don't say whether they are necessary, urgent, sensible etc., not judging) affects you in a negative way....but, if 'freedom is a state of mind', then why not just get in a cool state of mind at home, locked in, and then - aren't you happy and carefree?  Your post says you're not.  The 'state of mind' argument makes me wonder if convicts in prison can feel free, by using their minds.    I'm just adding to your post, Iain, not contradicting or arguing, by the way.  I hear ya!

what i meant is that your state of mind is subtractive of your situation, i mean,
the amount you feel free is always less than your actual freedom. if you have an "80% freedom" state of mind, and you are 50% free, you'll feel 40% free, while you'd feel 60% free in a 75% free state. but if you have a 10% free state of mind, youll feel 7% free if you are 70% free.
don't take the percentages to serious, they are just there to demonstrate a point.


i feel a lot better today. i haven't touched the computer until 20 minutes ago to post on this place and i am not allowing myself computer time before dinner for the rest of quarantine. i went to the attic to get my old LEGO box and i build a sci-fi fort and vehicles belonging to a rogue faction i used to play back in primary school with my friends, used the same colour scheme for my buildings and vehicles. i build a big a$$ rocket turret with working magazine, a smaller cannon turret, a standalone artillery piece and a 3 wheeler for my main character. it really really really lifted my spirits.

i think i am going to work om my drum machine tomorrow.
cheers,
Iain

[Fancy Lime]

Not just good for mental health. Essential! I'll testify to that if you apply for full coverage of the instrument's costs with your healthcare provider.

I'll remember that when I'm in court vs. my wife and/or the tax man. 

Tell you what, I argue your case with your wife and you argue mine case with my wife. Mine always seems much more reasonable when fighting with anyone else but me...    Not sure that'll work with the tax man as well.

Andy

[GibsonGM]

I think I understand your meaning, Iain...put another way, one could be 90% free in terms of the limits placed on them by society - and yet, only 'feel 60% free' based on self-imposed limits!   I know many people who are their own worst enemy...another thing is that very many don't use or appreciate the freedoms they DO have!

You know, I do think working on something with LEGOs may be a better use of one's time than social media or something 

[Fancy Lime]

I think the 'freedom of mind' situation is even worse for some people. There are those who feel worse the more actual freedom they have. With freedom comes responsibility and I am frequently taken aback to find out just how many people will happily sell all their freedom for a little less responsibility. That is, after all the reason why there are people who genuinely prefer to live in a dictatorship. We have all seen the resurgence of authoritarian tendencies over the past decade in what we proudly used to call The Free World. If you have no freedom, nothing's your fault and you always know who to blame. It is, in many respects, easier. At least as long as you do not belong to the minority group that the dictatorship decides to use as scapegoats and pass all blame on to. Therefore, easier for the majority. It has always fascinated me how it is possible that The People don't overthrow dictators everywhere immediately until I realized how many people cannot handle their freedom and are positively terrified by the prospect of having more of it. The biggest challenge of this crisis and the biggest threat to individual freedom in the mid to long term will, in my opinion, be to ward off increasing calls for "strong leaders". But the chance is that it looks like the countries with heads of government who loudly proclaim themselves to be "strong leaders" may fare worse on average than countries with honest, open communication and ak approach to the virus mitigation measures that is backed by societal consensus. Too soon to say but I think it may go either way at this point. I'll call it a win or at least a draw if we manage not to descend into decades of chaos, famine, dictators, and world war like we did last time this sort of thing happened.

Anyway, chin up, all is not lost (yet)...
Andy


p.s. sorry, I seem to have a somewhat gloomy day.

[stallik]

Think I've found a new method for automatic social distancing. It involves the need to test out a guitar build, wife having to go into the office today, 3 valve amps and rattling windows. 

Got to go, plod on the doorstep