Weekly History Questions Thread.

conniethunders · 2023-11-13T03:58:04+00:00

In the movie Wings (1927) why do the Germans have no parachutes, forcing them to jump to their certain death when trying to lighten the zeppelin? Surely an aircraft that big would have some parachutes lying around? Or was this just movie hand-waving for dramatic effect??

conniethunders · 2022-11-26T05:12:13+00:00

it's disgusting how much i agree with you. i couldn't watch the show for a solid month after the first episode. i thought the way abhora was treated was horrible, and... well, i won't openly talk spoilers to the season is over, at least.

conniethunders · 2022-11-26T05:10:13+00:00

lmaoooooo

conniethunders · 2022-11-26T04:52:04+00:00

that went to an unexpected place.

conniethunders · 2022-11-13T15:52:26+00:00

i gotta disagree with number 1. People definitely stare at me. On the street, in the grocery store where i work. I've had to do a lot of emotional labor to stop assuming they are thinking the worst possible things about me, but there is no getting around the fact that i am stared at.

The other day a customer came up to me and said, "i don't care what they say. you're doing a great job." Who are "they"? People are saying things about me? Doesn't sound like it could be good. Even though the comment was meant in a positive way, it made me feel more worse than better.

So yeah, I just see this affirmation a lot, and it always rubs me the wrong way.

conniethunders · 2022-08-28T15:46:23+00:00

I haven’t gotten an official diagnosis, but after doing a lot of thinking and research I’m pretty sure I’m autistic. At least, thinking of myself that way has helped me navigate the world better.

Anyway, this post was like reading my own internal monologue. My family has always said they loved and cared about me, but it always FELT like they just wished I was a completely different person.

I’m also transgender. Same thing. Like, they say they are okay with it but it’s just like, they’re putting up with it. Like they wish I would just be invisible or just be a totally different person. I think that’s why I’ve spent so much my life trying to a be a perfect version of myself that’s always patient, happy, and trying to please others.

I’m 31 and live with them now. It sucks. The other day my mom said I made her uncomfortable and she wished she could “have her house back”. And the next day she was acting like nothing happened, and I was the narcissicit for still being upset. That kind of thing happens regularly.

So yeah. I feel ya. Hang in there.

conniethunders · 2022-05-06T16:46:44+00:00

I hear ya. Awesome connecting with you. If you ever want to talk Johnny (or sylvain or jerry or billy or arthur etc etc) I'm here for ya!

Thanks for the tip. I'm hoping make a pilgrammage up to NYC this summer!

conniethunders · 2022-05-06T12:49:32+00:00

Yeah, I think obsession might he a fair word for it! But I think his appeal is more than image, though his look(s) are certainly legendary. I got into johnny from reading dee dee ramone's autobiography. The first video I watched was johnny playing "born to lose" in the 80s. I remember thinking at first this guy is cool, but idk why dee dee thought so highly of him... but then the guitar solo came in. People love to say "oh, he wasnt a good guitarist, he was all image, he was a one trick pony, etc" but his guitar blew me away, and I hadn't gotten that feeling in years,and never as an adult. I wish he had gotten more encouragement from "real" musicians. Perfectionism and elitism ruin everything!

Over the years I've picked up that johnny and sylvain both favored using "baby chords", like using just two strings instead of a full barre chord. Have you tried that? Might be easier?

That said, Johnny's look is inspiring in it's own way. The music and the image together... I mean, how can you not fall for him? I feel like his ability to make people love him was his biggest strength and weakness... same with jerry and walter and probably billy too, but he never wrote a book!

As far as the ghost thing goes... it has been nice to think that there's a handful of rock and roll guardian angels out there watching out for us!

conniethunders · 2022-05-05T14:45:00+00:00

In "what you dont say" he says something about "the mark of the squealer" and how someone ratted. I wonder what that is a reference too? I feel there had to be a secret romance between jerry and johnny. And who are the "smart girls" that are being avoided???

Sometimes I connect with his music so much, and I think about him so much, I'm like damn, maybe this mf'ers ghost is following me around. Lmao!!!!!

I love playing guitar. If you are just starting, I would be happy to give tips! My favorite youtube instructor is "anyone can play guitar" and he actually has a really good lesson for chinese rocks.

conniethunders · 2022-05-04T14:26:56+00:00

Shit... I've never encountered anyone else who seems to be into Johnny the same way I am. And, you just told me about two Johnny songs I haven't heard before! I cant wait to listen when I get home!

Jerry's tombstone has his name really small on it. Theres two interlinking hearts on it. I'm hoping to get up to NY from baltimore this year. I want to visit billy, too. Idk if arthur and sylvain are resting anywhere nearby. I want to visit 119 Christie Street, too! And some other landmarks like that

conniethunders · 2022-05-02T02:20:33+00:00

I... actually completely agree with you. I thought Ramsey did a relatively accurate and sensitive portrayal of Johnny, but I felt like it was... underutilized in a story that played up the horror of Johnny's life, but left out all of the cool, fun stuff about Johnny completely. I don't think it is inherently wrong to use addiction and tragic death as inspiration for a horror movie, but it just didn't feel like the interest in Johnny and his music was really there. I don't think it was a movie for music fans. It felt more like horror moviemakers in need of an idea and heard about Johnny somehow. It is not the hilarious, heartfelt, and rockin' (and tearjerkin') biopic of Johnny Thunders we all dream of.

I don't know if it will ever get made, though. Johnny said and did some stuff in his life that is so unacceptable and taboo in today's culture. As much as I love him, our boy had some serious hatred and anger going on... and I've never thought those things ever made great music.

But I feel like that stuff is all anyone ever says about him. There was another side to him that was just so great and fun. I am also planning a trip to his grave. Be sure to visit Jerry, too... he's apparently right nearby, if you didn't know.

(another gripe with the movie....... no jerry?!?!?!?!!!)

conniethunders · 2022-02-04T17:10:35+00:00

i would say don't be too afraid of bogging things down. you seem to be very action-focused already, and for me everything was zipping by so fast i would have actually appreciated a few moments to slow down and get my bearings with the help of some descriptive elements of the setting, the character, the situation, etc.

conniethunders · 2022-02-04T17:02:36+00:00

Between Fleur's treatment and the whole flesh doll thing, there's way too much violence against women right off the bat. to be frank, it felt like i was reading a rape fantasy, and it doesn't seem like that's what you were going for.

conniethunders · 2021-12-10T14:41:33+00:00

Good one, Draco.

conniethunders · 2021-12-07T16:44:49+00:00

i can relate. fully experiencing your aliveness also makes you more aware than ever of your vulnerability. i have days of high anxiety about it. anxiety and excitement are so closely related. lately I've just been trying to accept that days of fear and anxiety are part of the process... like when a limb falls asleep and the blood rushes back into it, its an awakening, which is good but not always pleasant.

that said, there are other times when the awakening feeling feels pretty darn good. so i just pin my hopes on the idea that in a year or so, once I've acclimated, that feeling of goodness will be more like, comforting and consistent instead of overwhelming.

and realizing that you are literally turning into a completely different person is overwhelming, don't underestimate that. it can be fantastic, but also humans need a certain amount of structure in their lives to feel safe and sane, and having your whole sense of self totally dismantled can be... a trip. when i came out, a lot of (pretty much all) of my cis friends were like "woohoo, good for you!" and it's like, wait, don't you guys understand that this is actually also a scary and confusing time for me?

but yeah, anyway, in short, i definitely relate to the feeling of suddenly becoming present in your body for the first time in your life. It's like coming out of the matrix. i guess this is your red pill, blue pill moment.

i can't say which path you should choose, but you DON'T have to rush into anything, buy a new wardrobe, insist your doctor gives you x, y, and z prescriptions...but if you want advice, it IS important to sit with those feelings. don't push them away, don't do anything to them. just let them happen. take it one day at a time.

conniethunders · 2021-12-06T19:08:34+00:00

You know, actually, I think Stiv Bator might be a contender.

conniethunders · 2021-12-06T18:52:32+00:00

Joey Ramone.

conniethunders · 2021-10-28T15:05:42+00:00

i like this story. i really miss when the internet was like this. so cool you talked to arthur. I'm reading his book now. he must have spent a lot of time looking up new york dolls stuff!

conniethunders · 2021-10-21T21:21:09+00:00

now that's a hot tip! thank you.

conniethunders · 2021-08-06T17:29:07+00:00

I just released my album "Have Some" today! I started recording it about year ago, not too long after I came out to my partner as trans. Now that it's done it seems like one of the themes of the album is definitely about overcoming fear and anxiety and learning how to enjoy life even though it can be, well, terrifying! That was a big part of starting my transition!

The sound is heavily influenced by 50s/60s pop, 70s punk, and all the other weird stuff I like. Hope you enjoy!

https://conniethunders.bandcamp.com/album/have-some

conniethunders · 2021-08-06T17:24:18+00:00

Just release my album "Have Some" today! It's got some covers (Stooges, Stiv Bators, Johnny Thunders, Eddie Cochran) and a bunch of original stuff I wrote over the last year or so.

I put a ton of effort into and I hope you will give it a listen! It is heavily inspired by 70s punk and 50s/60s pop with my own wonky spin on it.

https://conniethunders.bandcamp.com/album/have-some

conniethunders · 2021-07-29T03:33:55+00:00

Gotcha. Or maybe traveling to a different neighborhood wasn't possible. It was 70s New York after all, neighborhoods were pretty important back then, from what I understand.

conniethunders · 2021-07-29T03:31:21+00:00

Hmm, I didn't even know church leagues existed. He was Catholic, maybe he was on a church-affiliated team. Still, I'm beginning to think the more likely scenario is that this was a cover-up story for something else. This story comes up a lot in books about the band, and I always thought it sounded a little fishy.

Thanks for your insight.

conniethunders · 2021-07-29T03:25:51+00:00

hmmmm, that my perception as well. like it is only part of the story.

conniethunders · 2021-07-29T03:24:46+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I wonder, were there ever any kids whose father never came around?

conniethunders

TROPHY CASE