SR V: To boldly go where no room has gone before

Looking forward to reading it!  RPI is the one "sub" here I still have to explore, though it will be an expensive effort.  

Raff wrote: Sorry about disappearing - I went to lie down for a bit, since I am feeling somewhat under the weather. It's certainly fine. Anyway, thank you for a very civilised, constructive debate. Alex, Rob, you know I disagree with many of your views, but I respect you both as INDIVIDUALS (as both of you very rightly said - this is something I agree with profoundly), therefore I am happy to be able to discuss such topics with you. Being considerably older than you are, I have unfortunately seen a lot of intolerance (let's use this word instead of the more restricted 'racism') from every side of the political spectrum. I remember a slogan from the Seventies about 'male chauvinist comrades' (meaning left-wingers), which unfortunately was rooted in reality. I lived for eight years in Siena, one of the most nominally left-wing towns in Italy, and was treated like crap for all most of the time because I had not been born there. That sucks. I still hopefully have many decades ahead of me, but I've already witnessed more than enough irrational intolerance and ignorance by people. Fortunately, there are good aspects about life that are more worth often focus. It's easy to concentrate on some things and feel down consequently about it. Life's too short. Alex, I understand what you have been through very well (and I won't go into detail now - suffice it to say that I have often come across as 'weird' in the past). I can't say I am persecuted now, far from that, but I am aware I am considered differently from, for instance, my husband, who is a US citizen. In Siena, however, in my home country, I was persecuted (they tried to have me branded as mentally ill, and dismissed from my job), so I know how it feels. As to your parties, obviously I don't recognise myself in either of them. My views go way beyond the Democratic Party, but are rooted in my experience as a human being. However, I won't go into that, because it would be too long, and boring for all of you. I wouldn't mind hearing it, as you know. But everyone has experiences that in effect form who we become and who we choose to become---and that's why I'm not for restrictive categorization... be it parties or organizations.

TGM: Orb wrote: Also, for the more Avant-Garde types... John Zorn... listened to his samples yesterday and was pretty interested (and, for the record, the avant-garde stuff is often just up my proverbial alley) in it. Obviously, Naked City as a starting point, but if I'm ordering two (because I work like that), what's the best second?

I love Naked City, but it's the only album of his I own---so my guess is as good as yours.

I've been getting into so much other stuff lately, all jazz, that I haven't had the opportunity to explore more of his stuff yet.

Thanks, Rob, now I'm feeling better!

Pat, I know that exploring RPI will usually put a dent in US people's wallets... When I lived in Italy, I avoided ordering anything from the US because of customs (even more than plain shipping costs). Oddly enough, many of those RPI classics can be found dirt cheap in Italy. An example? Balletto di Bronzo's YS (one of Micky all-time favourites) went for under 5 euros, and so did many Battiato albums before they were remastered (and consequently sold for three times as much). That does not apply to newer stuff, though, which can sell for over 20 euros.

I like Goblin. 

I saw that in the team thread 

I see that David is listening to Alexisonfire.  Is that a MovingPictures solo project, or did David really set Alex on fire?

Neil Peart's hometown, if I'm not mistaken.

Padraic wrote: Alexisonfire (pronounced as "Alexis On Fire"[5]) is a five-piece post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada[6] in 2001. The band consists of George Pettit (vocals), Dallas Green (guitar, vocals), Wade MacNeil (guitar, vocals), Chris Steele (bass), and Jordan Hastings (drums).

The band’s name is a sort-of homage to an adult entertainer named Alexis Fire, who claimed to be the world’s only lactating contortionist stripper.

Being that he is a sock, would setting him on fire be the equivalent of a hot foot?