Friday, 12 March, 2010

1. By Dar. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:41pm:

   Looks like a shotgun tote bag. Happy Friday!
2. By podunk. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:47pm:

   crossed megaphones
3. By Heinz. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:51pm:

   #3
4. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:51pm:

   If you had purchased $1000 of shares in Delta Airlines
   one year ago, you will have $49.00 today.
   
   If you had purchased $1000 of shares in AIG
   one year ago, you will have $33.00 today.
   
   If you had purchased $1000 of shares in Lehman Brothers
   one year ago, you will have $0.00 today.
   
   But---- if you had purchased $1000 worth of beer
   one year ago, drank all the beer,
   then turned in the aluminum cans for recycling refund,
   you will have received $214.00.
   
   Based on the above, the best current investment plan
   is to drink heavily & recycle.
   It's called the 401-Keg.
   
   Enjoy your weekend !
5. By another larry. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:51pm:

   Around here if you're caught with totes you go straight to jail
6. By Doug. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:53pm:

   Are you going to comply with the socialist Daylight Saving Time agenda this weekend?
7. By J-Walk. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:53pm:

   
8. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @01:55pm:

   Plastic supermarket tote-bags in Germany are disparagingly known as Turkenkoffers ... Turkish handbags.
9. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:07pm:

   
10. By wormpicker. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:08pm:

    Happy weekend from Raleigh.
11. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:08pm:

    Good one, Snag. Of course, going back further, If you had bought any shares of quite a few airlines, today you would have a few extra sheets of toilet paper. Don't buy airline stocks.
    
    (disclaimer...Bisbonian is very heavily invested in airline stocks. That may be why is is setting up to make banjos for a living.)
12. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:10pm:

    No problem ............. (grin)
    
13. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:12pm:

    wormpicker, I think you are flying around more than I am these days. (home, sick.) Havin' any fun in Raleigh?
14. By bdn2004. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:15pm:

    I just bought a new 3D modeling program for my home remodelling project. I am truly stunned by the quality of this program.
    
    But I'm having some problems. So I'm seeking answers, which I find is best in the form of a book, not a manual. There aren't any.
    
    Thus brings me to my issue...
    What I don't understand from the writers of computer software books or manuals, uh hummmmm....is why they don't write books from the standpoint of a practical example, not endless tutorials and how to's on individual topics.
    
    Years ago, I got interested in computer programming and automation by reading a book by Alan Simpson about dBASE. He based it on an accounting business, the same one from start to finish. He went into everything they needed to do their business. Some of it wasn't relevent to how I used it, but much of it was or could be modified so that it was. I've yet to see a format like it again..
    
    See I'm giving you an idea here J-Walk. You could add to your millions.
15. By wormpicker. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:18pm:

    Not right now. Waiting to board at RDU. At least I have a wall outlet and 5 bars on my iPhone--ah, airport heaven!
16. By wormpicker. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:20pm:

    Cross your fingers for my daughter--tonight is the science fair awards ceremony. She won something, but doesn't know what. She programmed Spirograph in Actionscript.
17. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:22pm:

    Speaking of phones ... I just loaded a $30.00 FULL-FEATURED Garmin GPS app on my Nokia .... bloody amazing, and no ongoing usage costs (even works with the SIM out) !
18. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:25pm:

    "airport heaven"? Is that near the food court?
19. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:33pm:

    bdn2004 #14. I agree that humans learn best when the material has relevance (the mind is an efficient housekeeper, and discards crap that is not needed), but examples that consigned spreadsheets to the realm of accounting alone would be a travesty.
    
    In a previous life I was a self-taught advanced user of Excel (and its predecessors) for electrical engineering and metering / data-logging work. It really has hidden depths.
20. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:38pm:

    Sorry you're not well Bisbo .. hope you recover soon !
21. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:43pm:

    "...you may win a free tote bag."
    
    Thanks but I'm already one tote over the line. Long weekend.
22. By Minderbinder. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @02:46pm:

    Y'all have a schpadoinkle weekend trololololo ya ya ya ha ha ha, I'm going home soon, c'mon, sing along with me trololololo
    
    http://www.blameitonthevoices.com/2010/03/trololo.html
23. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @03:01pm:

    Thanks Snag. My throat is raw, my voice is hoarse, and I can barely play well enough to please myself...but at least I had enough time to edit some better bits together of me taking another whirl on the Rez-O-Banjo. You can see I pretty much look like...heck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHM73ti2D30
24. By Daniel FR, Germany. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @03:03pm:

    @Snag#8: Turkenkoffers is wrong plural, actually it would be Türkenkoffer, and it translates literally as "Turk's suitcase".
25. By geez. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @03:18pm:

    My friend refers to plastic shopping bags as "His best Polish luggage" - I didn't realize there were others using variations of the same joke, small world eh?
26. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @03:55pm:

    "You can see I pretty much look like...heck."
    
    Or, rode hard and put away wet, as they say. Has anyone ever told you you sound a bit like Mr Rogers in the first Rez-O video? "...in all its Glory..." and the buffalo nickel...with the good horn...which you can't hardly see..." never fails to crack me up.
27. By Barbwire. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:05pm:

    I just came by to look for a little sanity--it's been a couple of those days. Trying to get the new HOA Board up to speed after it was run for 12 years by a control freak who only took care of things she wanted to do is quite challenging.
    
    Sorry you're sick, Bisbo. HoFingers crossed that your daughter wins something that makes her happy, wormpicker.
28. By Curtis. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:23pm:

    Nice, Bis. You don't look like heck. You look like a Walker Evans photo, but in color with sound and movement.
    
    Love that banjer.
29. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:23pm:

    Has anyone ever told you you sound a bit like Mr Rogers...?

    
    No, but it's not surprising. As a child, I used to be dressed in a cardigan sweater, with the sleeves tied around my back, forced to sit in the corner and watch Mr. Rogers taped episodes back to back for hours.
30. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:27pm:

    You don't look like heck. You look like a Walker Evans photo.

    
    That's not so bad. You could have said Dorothea Lange...
31. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:35pm:

    "...forced to sit in the corner and watch Mr. Rogers taped episodes back to back for hours."
    
    Who were you back to back with? An imaginary friend?
    And "...Mr Rogers taped episodes..." would suggest he had an off-tv penchant for bondage, which is no small surprise.
32. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:39pm:

    
33. By Spokane Mary. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:43pm:

    I second (or third) Barbwire's sentiments for Bisbo and wormpicker.
    
    I'm dealing with a throbbing, crashing toothache - the result of a mouth full of bad teeth that I can't afford to get pulled or fixed - but I've been indulging myself with the mind candy of Jacek Yerka's art: http://www.yerkaland.com/preview.php
    
    I'm so glad I found Yerka's art and Pratchett's humor before I die! Wish I could spend time in each of their minds.
    
    And while I'm in "mind worship" mode, I want to thank Volt for the words I kept coming back to all yesterday evening:
    

    For I believe that after we die there is no human time, but that we can continue to emanate from our living times like the light from a long extinguished star.

    
    If we live long enough and keep our eyes and ears open, we'll occasionally encounter something we know we have to keep. Yes, that post - the whole post - is a keeper for me.
34. By Mean Jean. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:43pm:

    Rainy Friday evening.
35. By Gal Heathen. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @04:46pm:

    I usually share videos and pics of my son... This week I thought I would share a pic of my daughter. She's 32, single, and happy!
    
36. By ASL. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:03pm:

    I think Bisbonian's real name is Glen Quagmire (from Family Guy).
    
    They look alike. They both work as commerical airline pilots. They both own their own bi-planes.
    
    To see Arizona banjo playing in the year 3000, watch Futurama.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4y8dnMo_CA
37. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:14pm:

    "For I believe that after we die there is no human time, but that we can continue to emanate from our living times like the light from a long extinguished star."
    
    I believe that after I die my life will be like the radio waves of the 1955 hit parade, just now approaching the vicinity of Orion. But Volt could be right.
38. By J-Walk. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:17pm:

    I want to thank Volt for the words I kept coming back to all yesterday evening:

    
    I think that was Deepak Chopra, posting under the name of Volt.
39. By J-Walk. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:26pm:

    I think Bisbonian's real name is Glen Quagmire (from Family Guy). They look alike.

    
    
    Whoah! They do look alike.
    
    
40. By J-W #656. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:51pm:

    Well just want to say hi to all from Louisville, KY - rainy night here too but TGIF.
    
    Hopefully no more snow, and looking forward to the Kentucky Derby! If anyone wants to know the winner, don't ask me.
41. By ASL. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:53pm:

    I think that was Deepak Chopra, posting under the name of Volt.
    
    Jofi Wuhmiij sounds jealous.
42. By J-W #656. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:54pm:

    And btw John, one reason I was drawn to your blog was the name and then found out you were an Excel expert! I use Excel most of the day on my job but sadly, we have an old version (2000?) I bought your 2007 Bible and holding it in a safe place until I can actually use it - LOL.
43. By Snag. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:55pm:

    Thanks Bisbo.. 'wildwood' suits that 'instrument' !
    (BTW I don't look that healthy on my best days)
    
    Gal Heathen .. you have handsome offspring .. nice eyes, nice smile !
    
    Daniel #24 I've used up my apology quota for the week .. you'll just have to live with this one. (grin).
    I understand that many Germans are inherently intolerant of outlander's imprecise attempts to speak their language (unlike Greeks, who encourage it). I am obviously not German, but have lived and worked with them for most of my lifetime. I have been Secretary of a German Club and enjoy their culture and traditions. I can reasonably follow a German conversation or translate with my back to the TV, but am fairly hesitant speaking or writing it, for gramatical and lack-of-practice reasons.
44. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @05:59pm:

    Still waters run Deepak.
    
    I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the Self-Help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. - George Carlin
45. By John Weeks. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @06:04pm:

    @Gal Heathen
    You forgot to mention that she's got lovely eyes.
46. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @06:06pm:

    "Excel...really has hidden depths."
    
    Not if you scroll, Snag. Same for widths. Or try Ctrl + minus sign.
47. By J-W #656. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @06:13pm:

    Hey Don what about the Ziggy cartoon where he goes into the bookstore and asks for the "self esteem" books, and the salesman sez, "too late." I used to have that strip posted in my office for a while -- too funny!
48. By Fast Eddie. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @06:17pm:

    I take a test tomorrow and then it's Spring Break and a week of music at SXSW. I have never been so ready for a break. This semester has been a tough one. Only 4 to go after this one.
49. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @06:25pm:

    Whoah! They do look alike.

    
    Yow! My eyes! Somebody put some overalls on that guy!
50. By Chris J.. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @06:58pm:

    I thought the season was over, but this week brought a bunch of new snow.
    
    Last Wed. night, I made an attempt to end the season early by deciding I needed to sneak into the snow park at try my hand at a jump... Hand indeed!
    
51. By becky / yogaboat. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @07:21pm:

    Ow, ChrisJ. wormpicker, you were in my 'hood, I coulda bought you a beer at RDU.
52. By J-Walk. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @07:33pm:

    Banjo Warning
    For your listening enjoyment (or whatever). I picked up a banjo, turned on the recorder, and this is the result.
    
    If I know the recorder is on, I always try too hard to play without mistakes, so I end up making more of them and the playing doesn't sound natural. This is a perfect example of that. The tunes are: Rock the Cradle Joe, Davy Davy, and Rush and the Pepper. Double D tuning.
    
    Give me a few more years.
53. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @08:01pm:

    "Give me a few more years."
    
    Give me a break. Nice playing. Which banjo was it?
54. By J-Walk. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @08:16pm:

    Thanks Coyote, but I still have a long way to go. I can sometimes sound half-way decent just sitting around the house or jamming with friends, but I'm just too sloppyu and make WAY too many little goofs. I think they will eventually disappear (in a few more years).
    
    The banjo is this one, by Jason Burns.
55. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @08:24pm:

    If I know the recorder is on, I always try too hard to play without mistakes, so I end up making more of them

    
    Yeah, same way for me. I put up my first recordings on the Stewart yesterday, and they were terrible. So I did another version today, and I was a lot more relaxed, until Taylor and the cat came in...you saw the result :) Taylor says Hi back. Godfrey had no comment.
56. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @08:26pm:

    The banjo is this one, by Jason Burns.

    
    Another Dobson tone ring? Have I seen that one, or just the old Dobson? I can't keep track. It sure sounds wonderful...and your playing is quite a bit more natural than mine.
57. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @08:31pm:

    That's banjo's a beauty. Too bad about the goat, though. Seriously thinking of getting on Bisbonian's waiting list for an open back banjo but I think he's booked up until about 2011.
    
    Put down a deposit on a 1930s National lap steel that looks something the lower one, but older. White pearloid. On the condition that the lady whose grandpa's it was holds onto it for a month or so until my wife gets used to the last one I bought.
    
    
58. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @08:36pm:

    
59. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @08:41pm:

    J-Walk, are those Waverly tuners? They look like it, offset shaft and all. But they are brass...no nickel plating. Did Jason take the nickel off? How do they look...is the surface kind of rough? Maybe I DID see that banjo, because the tuner idea is coming back to me now. I bought some Waverlys for my next project, and plan to age them like that (if that's what that is).
60. By J-Walk. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @09:02pm:

    Yep, Waverly tuners, stripped down to brass. That's the first thing Dan Levenson noticed when he saw it. I have no idea how he did it, but I'm sure he'd be happy to share his technique.
    
    I had that banjo last time you were here, but I don't think it got any playing time. We were both into fretless, if I recall.
61. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @09:11pm:

    Yes, we were...you had just gotten the Brooks.
    
    I just sent Jason an email.
62. By 12-stringer. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @09:54pm:

    Feeling much less stressed this evening than I have for the last couple of weeks. Based upon a needle biopsy, my wife was diagnosed 10 days ago with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. After the surgical consult this past Wednesday, they're now saying it's "only" stage 1. That means lumpectomy rather than (possibe double) mastectomy. Then, if the results of a sentinel lymph node procedure are encouraging, she'll most likely undergo six weeks of radiation, and not require harsh chemotherapy. Much less ominous than the initial prognosis. Surgery is scheduled for Thursday.
63. By Gee.... Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @10:01pm:

    Hey Bisbonian,
    I just played your "Old Joe Clark" for my Mom...she sang along and we had a good laugh!
    Thanks!!
    :)
64. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 12-Mar-2010 @10:03pm:

    12, if it's any comfort, my grandmother went through exactly that about 7 years ago, at the age of 89. She did absolutely fine throughout the treatment, and is still kickin' strong today.
65. By Curtis. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @01:39am:

    12-stringer - Sounds difficult, but caught at the right time. I wish you well, my friend.
66. By Snag. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @03:03am:

    12-Stringer .. Hope things go well for you both.
67. By Evil Klown. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @06:24am:

    Whoah! They do look alike.

    
    Sure, but the true test is saying "giggety giggety" at the right moments.
68. By wormpicker. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @07:48am:

    Cross your fingers for my daughter--tonight is the science fair awards ceremony. She won something, but doesn't know what. She programmed Spirograph in Actionscript.

    
    
    First Place in Math, Computers, Engineering! She also got (another) TI-84 calculator and some other awards.
69. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @07:55am:

    Count me in as a friend who cares, 12-stringer. Will be thinking of you and your family and hoping all goes well for your wife.
70. By Admiral Tinfoilhat, ret.. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @09:04am:

    Nah, I don't need another stinkin' tote bag. How do I get the complete "J-Walk Blog" on DVDs in the boxed set and the audio CD of "J-Walk's Greatest Banjo Hits of the 50s and 60s"?
71. By Daniel FR, Germany. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @09:33am:

    @Snag#43: I just thought it might interest you. Absolutely no need to apologize on your side. Besides, I always suspect that my english sounds a little weird...
72. By Andie. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @10:55am:

    12-stringer,
    My sister-in-law had the same diagnosis and treatment some years back and is entirely AOK. It's good that they can catch these conditions early, treat them and the patient recovers entirely.
73. By Don Coyote. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @12:41pm:

    Jesus Murphy, Bisbonian. You're too modest. Soldier's Joy on the
    Stewart was your best video yet. Jenny thought it was pretty funny but I
    had laugh tears running down my face. Every married musician with a non-playing partner has been there more than once. That's love. ("Love you. But I also love my banjo.") Glad I live with a musician although we have still had to have more than one high-level negotiation about musical SOPs.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nInbIa8Ucw&feature=channel
74. By LJW. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @02:55pm:

    Just want to say that Sear/Whirlpool has the absolute WORST repair service! My washer has been broken since the end of Feb and they weresupposed to come out to look at it last week, and they cancelled without telling me. So they rescheduled me for today and called me last night to tell me I was being cancelled.
75. By Shel-tone. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @03:40pm:

    My left eye is bad. I've been having to take steroidal eye drops to make it better, but it's not getting better and they are making me... crazier. I'm supposed to be on the drops for 3 more weeks, I don't think I'm going to make it.
    
    On a lighter note, my band is playing a showcase at Rockfest on wednesday next week. We are on standby for SXSW, but I don't think they are going to call, so it's Rockfest for us.
76. By Tom Woad. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @04:29pm:

    I sure hope the rapture comes soon:
    Alvin and the Chipmunks 3D to Be Released in 2011
77. By lobstah. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @06:54pm:

    I am just about to finish making my first ever batch of maple syrup. I started the 10 gallon sap reduction at 10 AM, by 10PM, I should have close to a quart. Add in all the labor, tubing, spouts,& propane, and I figure that the quart will cost me about $35! It is very tasty though.
78. By meg_mac. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @07:45pm:

    12S.... Best wishes and speedy comeback for your wife.
79. By Shel-tone. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @07:55pm:

    Chris J. What happened to your hand? How did you do that exactly?
80. By Chris J.. Comment posted 13-Mar-2010 @08:20pm:

    Shel-tone
    I think I sprained, jammed my thumb. How?... well, I was up night skiing last wed having a fantastic night. I thought the season was over and then a cold front came through with fresh snow. I skied for 3-4 hours and decided it was time for one more run and the head for home. This resort has a designated section for people who want to do stunts... ride rails, flips and jumps etc. In order to access this section you have to take a training course at least once for the season... Ha! training is for sissies... I'm a big boy and know how to conduct myself. So it was late enough that the person guarding the entrance was gone and I snuck through. Well, needless to say, I didn't fully commit the the last, biggest jump and I crashed. My ski stayed at the top of the jump, the rest of me slid down the face. All in all, could have been worse. Went up yesterday and everything is in working order.
81. By Snag. Comment posted 14-Mar-2010 @05:11am:

    Via Gl!tch .. an interesting site, making a point about Monarchies V/S Presidencies, using historic photograps from Britain and the US .. well worth a look.
    
    The content is self-explanatory although all text is in German (I'm not going there, today, Daniel (grin)).
    http://hodenmumps.to/queen-vs-president
82. By Snag. Comment posted 14-Mar-2010 @05:19am:

    Shel-tone #75 .. the eye thing sounds painful .. is it the result of an injury, an allergy, or some kind of opportunistic infection ? You'll need it sorted by the time your gig comes around or you'll have to do a Roy Orbison impression (grin).
83. By Snag. Comment posted 14-Mar-2010 @05:51am:

    Old-time musical laugh of the week .... as one commenter said ... A Jeff Foxworthy special - "If your band's percussion section is a tractor, you might be a redneck!"
    
    Really, really worth watching ! IMHO
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ThSi1wbqU
84. By Snag. Comment posted 14-Mar-2010 @06:21am:

    Some pretty metallic colors in a bird's wing, this afternoon. Without the sun at the right angle it is quite dowdy.
    
    
85. By Dr. Spammy. Comment posted 14-Mar-2010 @06:41am:

    The State of Florida is currently considering passing a law that would give priority to people who are on an organ donor waiting list if they are already on the list of organ donors.
    
    Does this sound fair?
    
    A Jewish sect is calling discrimination as their religious beliefs prohibit them from donating organs. Their religious beliefs do NOT prohibit them from receiving an organ donation. They have announced that they would file a discrimination suit against the State of Florida if they pass this law.
    
    Is this fair?
86. By Andie. Comment posted 14-Mar-2010 @10:43am:

    That's food for thought, Dr. S.
    
    My first impression is that the law would encourage organ donation and would be in the public interest.
87. By Shel-tone. Comment posted 15-Mar-2010 @07:37pm:

    They really don't know what's wrong with my eye, except that the surface looks like I rubbed some sand paper on it. My first guess would be that I wore my contacts too much, and the prescription was never right from almost a year ago. I've got a show this wednesday, I plan on wearing my glasses until we start playing, then popping them off until the show is over. I have some cool goggles I can wear if I really need them... but my left eye is all blurry anyway.
88. By Bisbonian. Comment posted 15-Mar-2010 @08:30pm:

    I'd say keep it well lubricated, and keep yourself well hydrated, Shel. If it is just scratched, it will heal pretty quickly. So, "break a leg", but "watch your eyes".

Original content © 2011, John Walkenbach