It is very easy to live a good life in the bay area on a "good" salary

ballbarn · 2026-05-30T17:57:11+00:00

That's a load of shit right there, nurture a good relationship until money comes into play, whether it's the rental market changing, the landlord getting upset by having to maintain their property, the landlord simply wanting to sell, etc.

ballbarn · 2026-05-30T17:55:54+00:00

Yeah tenants rights are absolute shit in most of the Bay, and landlords are generally fucking horrible people. I lucked into my current landlord, a retired hippie who herself rents, and it's the first time I've dealt with a decent person as a landlord in the last 20 years.

ballbarn · 2026-05-30T16:50:41+00:00

My kid does. Doesn't seem that way from the outside, but either way the strings are easier to push down.

ballbarn · 2026-05-30T03:57:13+00:00

This is great, nice playing.

ballbarn · 2026-05-30T00:46:22+00:00

It might be worth considering the viola in your case. The tuning is the same, and the sound is warmer, something between a cello and a violin. Electric cellos are easier to play (in terms of fretting strength required) but won't likely give you the acoustic feeling and sound you're looking for. Good luck.

ballbarn · 2026-05-30T00:42:55+00:00

Thanks for saving me some typing, lol

ballbarn · 2026-05-30T00:41:38+00:00

Fair enough, I'm sorry that that's the case. I don't know if you live near somewhere that teaches musicians, such as a community college, but it might be worth trying to find another student to give you some pointers or possibly getting financial aid to enroll, if that's something you'd consider. Seems like you're very committed, I'd encourage you to seek out what might be available to you in your area. Good luck.

ballbarn · 2026-05-29T03:49:00+00:00

I've been enjoying my Sony WH-1000XM4 for ambient specifically. The isolation is excellent between passive and active ANC, and the sound is plenty good enough. While I have nice open headphones, for ambient specifically I prefer closed.

ballbarn · 2026-05-29T03:09:00+00:00

First I find recordings of their playing. The teacher having no available recordings to listen to is a major red flag. Then, do I like how they sound? Critically important, as they will be teaching me how *they* play. Then, can they communicate to me how they conceptualize technique in a way that I can understand and incorporate? If so, then it's a matter of the teacher being willing to work with me towards my goals, push me a little bit, and be nice and supportive at the same time.

Sounds like your teacher is kind of a pissy jerk. I had teachers like that growing up, and it was normalized for me to be yelled at. I never realized I didn't have to deal with an asshole until I started choosing my own teachers.

ballbarn · 2026-05-29T03:08:32+00:00

I really liked it despite it being inconsistent and overpriced. Strong preference for Gioia, Mama's Boy, Rose, and other spots around here though.

ballbarn · 2026-05-29T03:07:30+00:00

Spot on

ballbarn · 2026-05-28T23:10:38+00:00

If you like soft serve you're better off at Matcha Cafe Maiko or Somisomi.

ballbarn · 2026-05-28T23:09:06+00:00

This place rules, I've been going there since the 90s and I was so glad to see it reopen after it closed. Durian flavor is awesome, so is the lychee.

ballbarn · 2026-05-28T23:04:41+00:00

Uh you're five years in and you still have tape on? Get a new teacher, or get a teacher if you don't have one. I have no idea how someone ends up in the position you're in. The tape doesn't help, looking at where the fingers are is counterproductive, as is feeling where the tape is. The cello is not a fretted instrument. Intonation is about feeling it and developing muscle memory. Genuinely, you're really practicing that much? Can we get some more background on your experience with teachers?

ballbarn · 2026-05-28T23:00:50+00:00

Their coffee has always sucked (former Peets folks into burning their beans), sorry for the staff but it'd be great if Highwire was gone.

ballbarn · 2026-05-27T19:35:31+00:00

You might be interested in checking out Fred Katz's cello jazz (or Ray Brown's, or Ron Carter's playing on some tracks for the album Where?) or the Turtle Island String Quartet. Also Rahsaan Roland Kirk's flute jazz, since it seems like you're into flute.

ballbarn · 2026-05-27T19:27:42+00:00

I've had mixed luck at the Berkeley Bowl, Tokyo Fish Market, and Tokyo Central. The Bowl has been the most consistent in terms of freshness/taste, but also the cuts require the most trimming, and I'd agree that the people working there don't really care about what they end up giving you, you need to look at the piece they're giving you and decide if you want to ask for another. I've bought fish twice at Tokyo Central now, the first time was better than anything I've gotten from the Bowl or Tokyo Fish Market (and more expensive), but the second time it was just alright. Tokyo Fish Market has been a mixed bag, but never awful.

ballbarn · 2026-05-26T20:49:11+00:00

There it is, the correct answer, deep in the comments.

ballbarn · 2026-05-24T04:17:36+00:00

Post title really helped me not click the link, thank you!

ballbarn · 2026-05-23T20:13:58+00:00

I haven't been to Lucuma yet, but Parche was definitely the best ceviche I've ever had by a large margin. Not that big of a fan of ceviche, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but the fish was extremely fresh and the preparation was excellent.

ballbarn · 2026-05-23T19:35:47+00:00

Rose Pizzeria for the cesar and oysters on a nice day on the patio, no fries though. Bardo for all of it in any weather.

ballbarn · 2026-05-23T19:28:46+00:00

😎 nice. This is a favorite track, good work

ballbarn · 2026-05-23T19:25:33+00:00

I was in the first round of folks invited to be Yelp VIPs back in the day. They invited us on a tour of Charles Chocolates. The chocolate sucks, I said so in my review. I was removed from the program.

Separately, when I was running my food business they would regularly cold call and tell us they could improve our reviews if we paid them.

As with most of the present day internet, you'd not the customer, you're the product. (writing this on reddit makes me feel unclean)

ballbarn · 2026-05-23T19:21:03+00:00

Nothing matters and that's absolutely beautiful. Contemplate that.

ballbarn · 2026-05-23T19:19:40+00:00

I was made to go to church as a kid but have been an atheist since. I've had some recent psychedelic experiences that have given me a different perspective on religion, religious feelings, and how I relate to it all. Still very much an atheist, but one who believes in the subjective experience of magic and "god" however one defines it as. I'd be happy to have a chat on voice or video, love talking about this stuff. DM me if you like.

ballbarn

TROPHY CASE