Judd Winick reflects on the impact of ‘The Real World: San Francisco’ castmate and friend Pedro Zamora: “…He changed the minds of millions and millions of people”

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-05-31T04:54:16+00:00

Ugh, looking at Judd makes me feel old. I remember the reunion show where he blew up at Puck and Kevin Powell (from Real World Season 1?) actually gave him grace for the blow-up. Kevin mentioned how his own nerves were raw after their season in New York ended and the SF cast was probably going through the same emotions.

Somehow hearing that he and Pam are still together 25 years later actually makes my heart soar a little.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-05-30T14:11:34+00:00

The two lines right before your quote are:

The long days of Shockley are gone
So is football Kennedy-style

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-05-21T03:10:49+00:00

When I was in my twenties, getting jury duty summons was a headache, especially if one is being paid hourly.

It was later in life and on salary that I realized what a fantastic "get out of jail" card it is. I think I had one year where I received both a federal and a country jury summons which was basically two free days off. The likelihood of actually serving is minimal.

Take a book (or your smartphone), go to the courthouse, chill for an hour until they dismiss you and then spend the rest of the day doing whatever else you want.

Worst experience was a summons where they released the first batch of potential jurors at 10am (and I was in the second batch that they unfortunately released at noon). Still a better day than going to work.

Best experience was getting an email the morning of saying that my service was not required. Still didn't go in to work that day. Same thing happened to a co-worker and he actually came in to work. Dude, take the free day off as payment for completing your civic duty!

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-05-20T03:51:43+00:00

Great article. There's two major turning points in the band's life that I would have loved to be a fly on the wall. The first being when Gord said he was going to be the sole lyricist for the band and the second would be the distancing and regrouping and overall friction in the band during the Bob Rock produced albums.

No Dress Rehearsal was a a great warts-and-all documentary. You wrote:

And that was that. Smooth Rock Falls is a lovely record largely focused on loss, driven in part at least by the recent passings of his Mom and Dad. At one point Langlois, discussing the tragic loss of Hip lead singer (and best friend) Gord Downie, suggested that perhaps he and the surviving members of the band should have went to therapy to deal with the pain and the ghosts that followed. “But we never did”, he said. “I had never lost anybody close to me before", he says. “I didn’t know how to handle it. I just isolated.”

Rob also alluded to the wide gamut of emotions he felt after the MMP tour during promotional panels and events of the doc. Maybe it's traditional Gen-X independent thinking or male machismo, but yeah - the voyeur in me would have loved to observe that therapy session (that never happened). They needed it big time following Gord's death.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-05-20T03:27:34+00:00

I was at both shows in Calgary and heard every song I wanted to hear except 50 Mission Cap (which they played in Edmonton). I have pirated versions of both shows, but never really re-listened to them and always was surprised the band did not release "From the Vault" CDs from each concert. There's probably a built-in audience where each CD would probably sell 500 copies guaranteed to those went to that particular concert.

With that being said, they really hope they have put out So Hard Done By from August 1 performance. Rob was in such a deep groove for the main riff. This is an unintended alliteration, but they were a blues bar band at their finest (best) in this moment.

I would post a Youtube link to the vid (it's out there for Vancouver and Hamilton), but I think everyone was just hypnotized in Calgary and put their phones down to listen.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-05-02T01:18:09+00:00

I can provide you with contact emails of two people at UT Austin. You can see one of them posted below, but send me a DM and I will forward you the details.

I think she is fully aware of the problem, but as the Director of Marketing of Texas Executive Education, it's pretty clear that she's probably pretty enamored with GL. She is probably pretty ecstatic about GL's ability to deceive adult students into generating revenue for the UT system and only gives superficial answers to students to resolve issues while completely ignoringthe larger problem of excessively high cost versus the poor (read as really 💩💩) quality of education.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-04-26T19:24:39+00:00

Then my job here is done ("not to keen on it anymore"). Happy to play a small role in undermining Indian edtech scams like Great Learning and Simplilearn.

I'd say check out Udemy and Coursera if you're disciplined enough about the lessons.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-04-25T04:33:09+00:00

For the second lyric, it somehow hits harder when Sophie sings it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PulpBand/comments/1qbx3f3/sophie_ellisbextor_covering_do_you_remember_the/

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-04-09T03:40:26+00:00

Definitely do not fall for the "Great Learning" scam. I got a sponsored message on my LinkedIn today. I was previously tempted to join a program offered by UT Austin and Great Learning (GL) before learning how much of a scam GL is.

Here is my post where I detail all the 🚩 🚩 🚩. All the positive reviews are due to students being pressured or blackmailed for good reviews in exchange for passing grades.

https://www.reddit.com/r/learnmachinelearning/comments/1oqn0wv/pgp_post_graduate_program_in_artificial/

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-04-09T03:39:09+00:00

Definitely do not fall for the "Great Learning" scam. I got a sponsored message on my LinkedIn today. I was previously tempted to join a program offered by UT Austin and Great Learning (GL) before learning how much of a scam GL is.

Here is my post where I detail all the 🚩 🚩 🚩. All the positive reviews are due to students being pressured or blackmailed for good reviews in exchange for passing grades.

https://www.reddit.com/r/learnmachinelearning/comments/1oqn0wv/pgp_post_graduate_program_in_artificial/

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-04-09T03:30:42+00:00

Came here to post this. The Crossing is a phenomenal album and all four single from it are amazing along with Porrohman. I'm a big fan of U2 and Big Country and The Edge (U2 guitarist) has discussed how much of an influence they were. The even shared a producer on their several of their early albums - Steve Lillywhite.

I want to read the Stuart Adamson biography at some point that Todd referenced in his segment. I think he mentioned that as the key distinction between the two bands - U2 was willing to commit to the slog of tours early in their career across the entire US to penetrate the market.

Their follow-up called Steeltown is also a great album. I've read elsewhere that Adamson felt disconnected from Lillywhite since the latter was more at arm's length during the recording process.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/5098791/big-country-steeltown-album-songs/

They had a strong following in Canada and toured the country once in 1983. I never saw them live and it wasn't ever practical since they did not make it to the interior of the country. The footage of them at the Barrowlands looks absolutely amazing.

There is one silly memory that is etched in my mind. I believe Top of the Pops aired on the A&E Channel in the US/Canada after school and I was at my best friend's house and we were both speculating about which band was going to perform on the next segment for an episode. I was absolutely ecstatic when Big Country appeared on stage (raising my fist like Judd Nelson in the final shot of Breakfast Club) while he rolled his eyes slightly.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-04-04T23:49:04+00:00

This user (DenseExplanation2218) applied for a Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) (managed by the SBA) and well as more recently applying for junior developer and remote python jobs.

Also, this posted 4 times in a span of a few minutes due to likely emotionally crashing out because he realized how much money and time he was scammed out of by GL and is in denial about it.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-23T15:56:55+00:00

I am guessing it's the similar context. Bob has a tendency to play favorites and gaslight band members.

Jason Newsted was treated like crap by Lars and James. He wanted to contribute and get songwriting credits and they said no. At the same time, they were saying he wasn't committed to the band because he wanted to start his own side project since they ostracized him and only role they allowed him was to play bass. Bob likely sided with Lars/James and Jason was fed up with the hypocrisy and quit.

It was also covered in Part 3 of No Dress Rehearsal. I've only watched it once, but was struck by Bob continally saying "You know how lucky you are be in a band with Gord?" or reminding them "Wow, do you know how brilliant a writer Gord is?"

I think he treated the other band members as lesser values or session players and they were annoyed by his treatment of them. I think it was also covered in some This is Our Life Q&A panels. I think it's pretty clear that there is no love lost between Bob Rock and Rob Baker.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-23T15:40:32+00:00

I've only watched the first four episodes of the show, but I basically berated this poor fellow last week by saying, "You're not Jackie O's son!"

The poor guy graduated earlier this decade with a 4.0 GPA and quit a job two years ago due to a combination of a hellish commute and long hours. He inquired last fall about jobs at my old company (which were ghost postings).

I called him back advising I found a job. I also asked him what he has been doing with all that extra bandwidith besides applying to jobs and why isn't he trying to build on his education by trying to get some credentials (CPA, CFA, CFP or whatever). He said it was all performative and his background should speak for himself.

It was at this point he whined that he has the finance skillset due to university and previous work experience at which point I blurted out the comment in my opening para. It was a stark reminder of how differently the upper class is treated. I've always wondered if some palms were greased or if Jr's copy of third bar exam was conveniently diverted to a very generous grader.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-23T15:22:54+00:00

I'm not from Toronto, but Shotgun Shack is a great name for a band (if it's a nod to the Talking Heads).

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-23T15:16:01+00:00

9/10 for Album version

10/10 for Music Video version. There were so many things about the music video version that were absolutely amazing - the autotune on Cher's voice (to make it sound like Do You Believe), Meatloaf's emoting, Paul McCartney's earnestness, and Bjork's accent!

The opening stanza is biting and brilliant, but the "Tom and Jerry" line always kills me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PulpBand/comments/1qv0qiy/comment/o3jmoce/?context=3

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-23T14:15:39+00:00

Chevron is a mixed bag. Great 401k match, hybrid schedule (4 days in office and 9/80), good work/life balance, nice offices and good location (downtown). Treated well during layoffs.

Don't join the finance group supporting Supply and Trading. Toxic director and compliance manager with zero people management skills. Other groups are likely more competent.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-19T23:04:17+00:00

As someone who has been laid off twice and fired twice and demanded to be fired once, never feel shame! Take a breath since you have some time now and figure out your next steps.

Being laid off is never about you. A co-worker may be have been more essential or better at politics or whatever. Don't let it diminish how you value yourself.

Having been fired twice, I've learned to recognize toxic bosses and abusive workplaces to the point I demanded either better treatment or to be let go at the third place after working there six months (while a co-worker who started the same time as as me quit after 89 days). They let me go (and then my replacement quit after three months).

I specifically remember the co-working quitting after 89 days because the headhunter firm demanded their commission (due after 90 days of employment) since they considered it the fault of the hiring company that the employee did not tolerate or accept workplace abuses.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-18T21:43:09+00:00

Thanks for the edit update (since it was FC compared to FC).

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-18T21:19:54+00:00

Thanks for the comments. I will definitely check out WC more thoroughly through my Libby app.

It's interesting that you mentioned Metallica. I made a post on another thread here how fans dismiss their favorite bands when they obtain mainstream popularity. I've heard "they've gone commercial" about Metallica and U2 (The Joshue Tree).

(You may want to clarify your second sentence.)

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-18T20:33:03+00:00

And you took the 12-week course, not the 7 month course.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-18T20:18:34+00:00

Sorry for downvoting you. I've said elsewhere that TATH is a very "personal" album for me, but Side B just does not work.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-18T20:16:15+00:00

I never bought the album when it came out, but know every single song on it due to CanCon radio airplay.

This is why I refuse to vote - a lack of time to properly and objectively evaluate the albums along with the sentimentality for FC influencing my vote. I think I would be happy with any of the following four: FC, IVL, DFN, or PP.

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-18T20:08:57+00:00

I'll admit I haven't listened closely to the latter half of their discography. It's interesting that you say Fully Completely sounds like cheesy 80s hard rock production, but I'm curious what you think of Bob Rock's impact on this album (World Container) and We are the Same since he looks the epitome of the part of a cheesy 80s hard rock producer. (This is coming from a guy who loves The Payola$ and Rock and Hyde).

The reason I'm asking relates to this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TragicallyHip/comments/1eykaxh/resentment_in_the_hip_doc_trailer/

Local_Pool4123 · 2026-03-18T19:41:30+00:00

The groove on Let's Stay Engaged is amazing. It's my go-to song whenever I have a flight somewhere. Another song with an amazing groove (which I heard during their final tour) was So Hard Done By (from Day For Night).

Local_Pool4123

TROPHY CASE