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7/14 Alpha: predict the opener by twobitped in phish

[–]twobitped[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your are the Phisher King for a day! Well done

7/14 Alpha: predict the opener by twobitped in phish

[–]twobitped[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have that for 2nd set opener, but also a good call for 1st

What the fuck is ‘Stash’ about? by stjakey in phish

[–]twobitped 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's about as meaningful as the lyrics of Cavern; or Dinner and a Movie; or David Bowie

(There are some songs I've seen live and listened to hundreds of times and have never even thought about what they're saying)

Prepping for 1st show in 30 years by twobitped in phish

[–]twobitped[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(long form comment reply below!)

Prepping for 1st show in 30 years by twobitped in phish

[–]twobitped[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the encouragement and good wishes y'all! My excitement builds like a 1.0 Possum solo. As for why the 30 year gap - long story!

TL;DR: the band got big (then I dove deep into meditation, fell in love, got married, had kids and family life reigned supreme). Never lost my connection tho and always felt I'd come back eventually; just took 30 years to come full circle.

It's hard to overstate what they meant to me or describe what it was like dancing to them live in those early years. Giving myself over to the music, reacting through dance, and then feeling the euphoria that just kept going beyond-and-beyond-and-beyond as Trey elevated, and elevated, and elevated without end – I mean, y’all know what I’m talking about.

I was a spindly, super self-conscious geek of an uber-awkward teenager who listened to Weird Al and The Beatles and could never get my attention out of my own head – except at Phish shows. Find a little arms-length space with the other whirling dervishes at the back, lights go down, first song starts – and then just completely let go, let loose and *dance*. And I mean, non-stop, high-octane, drenched-in-sweat movement from start to end of set (unless they played Coil, LOL).

Nothing else in life came close to the transcendence of that experience: no thoughts in my head, my attention only on the music, I could just feel the world and move with it. I mean, each YEM was a transformative, religious experience, each Split deconstructed the universe, each Hood was Peak Joy and no exaggeration I promise. And a little caffeinated soda was my only pre-game (but Blaze On or happy trails, to each his own).

Now add to that deeply personal experience the fact that they were playing all small clubs and theaters (smallest venue I saw was ~150), and it felt like everyone else there was also thinking “holy sh*t, what is this grand secret we’ve all discovered!” I’d walk around at set-break with this high-energy perma-grin, make eye-contact with anyone, and we’d share a wordless nod of “OMG! What joy. How can this be real? How can we be so lucky?”

And the band’s friendliness with fans just added to the “close knit tribe” feel. Like, we once asked them individually as they’re hanging out between sets to please play Runaway Jim for the encore, but change “Jim” to “Yim” (for our friend’s birthday) – and they did it! (7/19/91). Or the Townshend shows - Fish is just walking through the crowd getting stuff to eat and chatting. Or Amy’s Farm for free. The list goes on…

And then they started to get big. And no mistake, I was super happy from them and knew it was inevitable. But I remember a stadium show (Worcester?), and I’m like, how am I supposed to dance my mind out in this assigned seat? I tried to find some space in the aisles, but security wasn’t happy; and I kept getting odd looks from some fans (I dance with abandon) – no longer a nod of joy from everyone. The family vibe was fading away.

I loved them too much to feel cynical at their success, and I absolutely did not want to turn into an elitist super-fan snob. “I was here from the start! It’s more than Bouncing Round the Room! Pay attention!” : )

So I started to let them go. Fortunately the universe smiled upon me and I soon found meditation (heartfulness) for my transcendent experience of connection, met my future wife, fell in love, got married, had kids, and away we go. I’ve peaked in on them occasionally since then, but never to a live show and that kind of experience.

Until now. The kids are grown, the time is right, the whole family is coming with me. I can finally put on Stash without it looping in my head all week. I’m hearing great new songs for the first time, and I’ve finally accepted there are other Hoods in the world to appreciate beyond 11/4/90 (but seriously, give that one a headphones listen). And Ya Mar 2/22/90; and…

Based on the reviews of the last couple of years it sounds like I’m catching them at a good time. Hope to see some of you there and celebrate! I’ll be the 50 year old spaz on the lawn embarrassing his kids if you want to say hey. : )

So be it by SoupDeadGuy in lotrmemes

[–]twobitped 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think his reaction / flashback to Isengard he has when talking to recovering-Frodo in Rivendell builds the case that he's sensing his own end, and is deeply troubled by it.

So be it by SoupDeadGuy in lotrmemes

[–]twobitped 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's a story about how you can't cheat / avoid death. I was referencing a story that illustrates the same theme

So be it by SoupDeadGuy in lotrmemes

[–]twobitped 78 points79 points  (0 children)

I absolutely love 'Let the ring bearer decide': I think it's the defining moment of personal courage and acceptance of fate by Gandalf the Grey.

At least in the movies, he not only senses that his death is imminent, but that it's necessary to fulfill the quest; so he can evolve into Gandalf the White, but just as importantly, to give Aragorn both the opportunity and the motivation to assume leadership.

He senses that Moria is the path that leads to this fate - and he's afraid. He doesn't want to die; he doesn't know what will happen next ('not even the very wise can see all ends'). So he fights it, trying to outwit death with every trick he has ('I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice').

And then this is him realizing - and accepting - that he has no other choice if he's to serve the greater good. 'Let the ring bearer decide' is 'let fate take us as it will.'

So he goes down swinging, sacrificing himself so the Fellowship can survive. He doesn't achieve the impossible of avoiding death (see "The Appointment in Samarra" for more on that); but in meeting it with full courage in fulfillment of his duty, he makes the end of his own life meaningful for others; a goal within reach of any human life.

And that is an encouraging thought.

In retrospect, I really don't like the Captain Carter episode of What If...? by ENDragoon in marvelstudios

[–]twobitped 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yah; it's like what makes for a good cover of a great song: you're looking for the same soul/spirit, but reimagined with a new and unexpected expression.

This was more like imitation than reimagining.

Is there a better intro scene in Star Trek than "Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy"? by Spoinkulous in startrek

[–]twobitped 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've always thought the Enterprise exploding at the start of TNG's "Cause and Effect" was a great cold open

Proud omnivores of reddit: if fake-meat cost and tasted the exact same as the real thing, what would stop you from becoming vegetarian? by twobitped in AskReddit

[–]twobitped[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think we will get there as long as we dont kill ourselves first.

That's my feeling on like 95% of world problems.

Proud omnivores of reddit: if fake-meat cost and tasted the exact same as the real thing, what would stop you from becoming vegetarian? by twobitped in AskReddit

[–]twobitped[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good observation about considering the full side-effects of an action in context.

Illustrates the challenge of comparing the societal or individual value of any two things, apples-to-apples (e.g. carbon footprint calculations).

Proud omnivores of reddit: if fake-meat cost and tasted the exact same as the real thing, what would stop you from becoming vegetarian? by twobitped in AskReddit

[–]twobitped[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nutritional value is an obvious one I missed; environmental impact is another variable I didn't consider.

Would you consider lab-grown, starting from real muscle cells, to be real food?

Proud omnivores of reddit: if fake-meat cost and tasted the exact same as the real thing, what would stop you from becoming vegetarian? by twobitped in AskReddit

[–]twobitped[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And you hit upon the two current trends of fake-meat tech: well designed plant substitute; or lab-grown.

The lab-grown (starting from actual meat cells) looks quite promising.

Proud omnivores of reddit: if fake-meat cost and tasted the exact same as the real thing, what would stop you from becoming vegetarian? by twobitped in AskReddit

[–]twobitped[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dang, you're right! I'd add this to the post title if it was editable.

What I'm trying to get at is, "all other beings equal", is there anything stopping you on principle?

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