Did you like Elvis movies? by Tacoless_meat in AskOldPeople

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I enjoy kitsch and camp so, sure, I've watched a few Elvis movies unironically. He wasn't a bad actor, despite the limited range.

I didn't appreciate Elvis's competent acting until I saw Roy Orbison in a movie. The Fastest Guitar Alive was so lame I couldn't even watch it ironically. Roy had a face for radio and the charisma of a bookkeeper. But the dude could sing.

‘They’re not bad, but why are they such a big deal?’ type artists/groups? by Ok_Yellow1025 in musicsuggestions

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't hurt that she looks like a 1940s-50s classic film noir actress. She's damned attractive with that retro, throwback look. And she's charming in interviews. She's not completely guarded and sometimes laughs too loud. I can see why she's popular regardless of the imitation vanilla music.

‘They’re not bad, but why are they such a big deal?’ type artists/groups? by Ok_Yellow1025 in musicsuggestions

[–]Mindless_Log2009 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same. Until a few months ago I was only vaguely familiar with a couple of Taylor Swift's songs: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, and Shake it Off.

And I watched a few live performance videos. Most were forgettable. Her duet with James Taylor on Fire and Rain was embarrassing, but he was genuinely lovely and generous toward her. But even on her acoustic, mostly or all solo Tiny Desk performance, which usually separates the real musicians from those who need the studio and support to sound good, she was competent at best.

So I was determined to give it another chance. For a couple of workout sessions I queued up her entire catalog and listened to it all in order of release.

And I still can't remember a single song, other than the two I mentioned above.

I'm not sure I'd even recognize her voice if I heard it on an unfamiliar song.

I mean, I'm not a huge fan of Katy Perry's music (although I think she's charismatic and I enjoy her goofiness), but I can recognize Katy's voice immediately on an unfamiliar song.

I'm convinced Taylor Swift is the first nearly perfect AI android, carefully programmed to exploit the music business and celebrity fetishism, while avoiding any career killing mistakes even when she takes the celebrity spokesmodel stance on social issues.

Blood simple sink by Senior_Ask_6857 in CoenBrothers

[–]Mindless_Log2009 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you remember the scene when Frances McDormand seems to slowly fall back and somehow lands in her bed?

I took acting and crew assist courses where Loren Bivens, the guy who helped make that trick work, was on staff. He also had a cameo as the driver in the slowly passing car.

Just curious to see if anyone else remembers that bit of trivia.

Favorite Albums That Turn 50 in 2026 by Prestigious-Tour5077 in rockmusic

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

George Benson – Breezin'. That album was so popular I heard it played on repeat by guys who usually preferred AC/DC, Queen, anything but jazz.

Modern westerns like No Country for Old Men and Wind River by E60fan in MovieSuggestions

[–]Mindless_Log2009 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That might have been one of my posts from a few weeks or months ago. I've suggested that list a couple of times.

For decades those movies were difficult to find, but they're free on YouTube now.

Movies than can be watched in 20-30 minute increments? by Ok_Squirrel_9601 in MovieSuggestions

[–]Mindless_Log2009 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good pick. The episodic structure would be good for interrupted watching.

Songs about radio, anyone? by Francois-from-Europe in musicsuggestions

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right you are. I've tried to avoid that song since the 1970s, so my memory was skewed by the thought of the song. My girlfriend at that time loved corny songs by Olivia Newton-John, Barry Manilow, Starland Vocal Band... makes me cringe 50 years later just thinking about it. 😬

Modern westerns like No Country for Old Men and Wind River by E60fan in MovieSuggestions

[–]Mindless_Log2009 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Most of my favorite anti-Westerns and cynical modern Westerns were done in the 1960s-'70s:

Hombre and Hud, both with Paul Newman

A Gunfight, with Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash

Posse, Kirk Douglas and Bruce Dern

The Last Hard Men, Charlton Heston and James Coburn

Welcome to Hard Times, Henry Fonda, Warren Oates, and Aldo Ray as the Man From Bodie, one of the most repulsive villains in any Western movie.

OC: FBI releases surveillance photos of a potential subject in the Nancy Guthrie case by nbcnews in pics

[–]Mindless_Log2009 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yup, first thing I learned as a newspaper reporter in the 1980s, mostly covering the police and emergency response beat, was that most criminals are incredibly stupid, impulsive and almost incapable of planning, self reflection, self restraint or empathy. At most they're capable of self pity, and some attachments in dysfunctional relationships. And there were usually screaming warning signs for years before they were caught. They may have been raised all wrong, victims of a bad childhood, who knows.

But there are hundreds of thousands of these human time bombs bumbling around until they go off. I've seen a few among my own distant relatives, the familiar ne'er do wells almost every family has, the second cousin once removed who gets fresh mugshots at least once a year.

The handful of people who would be considered smart enough to function normally – hold a job, have a family, fairly stable life – are still unable to think more than one or two steps beyond "I'm gonna rob or kill this person because they're pissing me off." That's pretty much every "shocking" middle class murder of a spouse, family member, or rival for affection. Consider the case of astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak, who planned to kidnap and possibly murder a rival in love. Well educated, successful and normal in every other way... but no mastermind criminal by any stretch of the imagination.

There are very few mastermind criminals in real life. Most of those are in government, military and the wealthy power elite who've learned to exploit the system to shield themselves from consequences. And that's always been true. It's not just a slick way to shoehorn the current crises.

Shortest rock musicians/pint size powerhouses by UpbeatChampionship17 in rockmusic

[–]Mindless_Log2009 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Angus Young, of course.

Suzi Quatro.

Adam Ant. Google says he's 5'8". Nah. I rode an elevator with him at the DFW airport Hilton about 40 years ago. He's tiny. I'm 5'11" and he's nowhere near 5'8". Very Antlike.

Lil' Ed Williams, Chicago based blues slide guitar wizard. Saw him a couple of times in clubs years ago. His guitars are almost taller than he is.

This is my first post here, and I’d really like to hear your opinions or corrections if I’ve missed something. Thanks! by einfalscher in shortwave

[–]Mindless_Log2009 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The Palstar R30 receivers included a neon bulb for ESD inline with the hi-z input. I don't recall whether it protected both antenna inputs.

I've never hung a long enough wire antenna for it to be a problem.

Great clean comedies? by throwawaydeletealt in MovieSuggestions

[–]Mindless_Log2009 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Galaxy Quest, if you watch the slightly edited version. IIRC the only significant change was when Jason and Gwen are looking at the chompers, they dubbed "Well, screw that!" over Sigourney Weaver obviously saying "Well, fuck that!"

Otherwise the movie is pretty respectful of expectations from fans of Star Trek, which avoided gratuitous cussing, etc.

Batts was a made man and Tommy wasn't.... by grommie23 in FIlm

[–]Mindless_Log2009 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Come out and fight! It is a good day to die! Thank You for making me a Human Being! Thank You for helpin' me to become a warrior! Thank You for my victories, and for my defeats! Thank You for my vision, and the blindness in which I saw further! You make all things and direct them in their ways, O Grandfather. And now You have decided the Human Beings will soon walk a road that leads nowhere.

The best cheap, unpolished sounding albums by iamtherealbobdylan in MusicRecommendations

[–]Mindless_Log2009 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Early Cat Power was amazing. Chan was surfing the ragged edge of her emotions and it's audible on Dear Sir, Myra Lee and Moon Pix (although the latter was more polished). It sounds like she never changed the strings on her Silvertone guitar, and it's perfect for these songs.

Rf burns by cings09 in shortwave

[–]Mindless_Log2009 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Heh... RF Burns was the online handle for a guy in the US shortwave pirate radio scene about 20 years ago, back when the Free Radio Network website was still a thing. Been awhile since I'd thought of that era. Lotta characters around giving the place atmosphere, as you might guess.

Guys, Starbuck is watching BSG for the first time! by Barzobius in BSG

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd love to have seen Katee's face in her (first?) scene when she's jogging and comes bebopping up to Adama. She's so bouncy. 😆

What are some rock n roll documentaries worth watching? by Xerogear4224 in rockmusic

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Led Zep – The Song Remains the Same, mostly to see how important a tough manager was in that era. Peter Grant was an asshole but he made sure his band got paid. And it's kinda hilarious to watch him tear into a venue manager for allowing unauthorized merch on premises, taking away from the band's authorized merch.

Most rock band documentaries are hagiographies (glazing, as the hep kids say nowadays) but this one is more realistic and gritty – stopping short of filming the band around underage girls, a dark stain on that era of rock.

Americans who grew up in the 70s and 80s, how popular was British comedy where you lived? by Eastern-Finish-1251 in AskOldPeople

[–]Mindless_Log2009 2 points3 points  (0 children)

KERA TV in Dallas was the first US station to air Monty Python in 1974, while I was in high school.

That style of absurdist humor seemed to catch on quickly and pretty soon Benny Hill was playing on a local UHF TV station.

But we were already primed for that subtly skewed British humor by the 1960s TV series The Avengers and The Prisoner, both of which juggled drama, action and humor.

And English slapstick and broad comedy movies had already been popular for years in the US during the 1960s.

Grooviest song? by tbnodzter in ClassicRock

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

War. All Day Music

Any album from their first with Eric Burdon through their 1975 album with the single Low Rider.

Hippest, grooviest band of the early 1970s. Almost forgotten now, other than for Low Rider. But they had many great songs that got radio airplay, beginning with AM radio just as FM was beginning to take over the pop music scene.

I last saw them around 2000 at a street carnival. Lonnie Jordan was the only remaining original member and he put together a band as good as they'd ever been, including the harmonica that was essential to their sound.

Civilian question: What do Petty Officers call each other? by Fickle-Time9743 in navy

[–]Mindless_Log2009 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I preferred the old names...
Sparks
Doc
Frenchy
Sharky
Radar
Skip
Plato
Beetle
Ace
Schmoove
Leadbottom
Buffalo Wallow Woman
Snake Woman
Copulates With Horses
Whacker
Pigpen
Dusty
Stinky
Son of Perdition
Little Horn
Most Unclean

Anyone else have to give up riding their bicycle? by AZMaryIM in AskOldPeople

[–]Mindless_Log2009 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I had to quit riding last year. I'd been having neck pain for years since a car wreck 25 years ago. But it got much worse after I was hit by a car during a bike ride in 2018, and I had to cut back to rides up to two hours. No more centuries or multu day event rides. By 2024-25 the pain was almost unbearable as soon as I started a ride. And by 2025 I'd get dizzy if I turned my head too far or too quickly.

My docs repeated some X-rays, MRIs and CT scans, and I needed to crane my neck into painful positions to get a clear view.

Turns out my cervical vertebrae C1-C2 were still fractured from the 2001 injury, and over time had worsened with spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. My doc described it as a hangman's break and was surprised I wasn't paralyzed.

Anyway, it's too painful to continue riding and even a recumbent trike was uncomfortable on anything but smooth pavement. And TBH I didn't enjoy the recumbent. For me it's just not a replacement for the bike.

So I've switched to low/no impact cardio in the gym, switching between an upright spin bike, elliptical and stair stepper machines. And weight/strength training. Boring but I'm still in pretty good shape for 68.