Update Update

[Chadtuba]

On the way across the country, having left Seattle yesterday, stopped Rapid City for food and rest. On a whim, decided to eat at TGIF... as soon as I sat down, I saw it - hidden away in the corner behind some useless tricycle and buckets.............

A SOUSAPHONE!

Not just any sousaphone, but a raincatcher - in BBb too!

Talked with the manager and managed to make an offer.

It's definitely a Carl Fisher, though looks like a Conn or York stencil. It needs holes patched, some bell screws and some small other bits, but WOW, what a find!

It has a top first slide and what looks like a 16 or 17 inch bell.

Now to get it home!

Pics?

And are you gonna stop at Wall Drug?

Wall Drug is a favorite stop of ours. Good inexpensive food and a good place to stretch the legs and entertain the kid (or the adults).

[Chuck Jackson]

Happy Council of Nicea's successful attempt to get Pagan's to buy into Christianity by skewing the birth date of Jesus to line up with the Winter Solstice festivities.

Happy Festivus!!!!

Chuck

[Chuck Jackson]

Perhaps contempt is better than indifference.

Only when fact is superceded by myth.

[Chuck Jackson]

Its always interesting see people feel absolutely comfortable treating Christians and their beliefs with contempt while the same "enlightened" people wouldn't dream of publicly doing so to Muslims, Jews, or those of any other widely accepted religion.

"Sociology is fun."

It is indeed. Being half Catholic (Mom's side) and half Jewish (Dad's side), I have observed, first hand, the absurditys of both and choose not to believe in the "message" of either. My "observation" was based entirely on fact, a fact that I understand, and appreciate, for both it's scatalogical and social expediency. Christmas is steeped in myth, a myth you choose either to embrace or eschew. I mean no ill will to those who believe, as I hope no one would hold any of the same towards those of us who don't. As for the other world religions, I have no doubt that the adherents have their abundance of faith, a faith that is protected by the Constitution. While I abhor fire-arms, I also support those who don't, so my views are both ecumenical, and practical.

Happy Festivus

Chuck"who enjoys the "Season" nonetheless"Jackson

[Donn]

Its always interesting see people feel absolutely comfortable treating Christians and their beliefs with contempt while the same "enlightened" people wouldn't dream of publicly doing so to Muslims, Jews, or those of any other widely accepted religion.

Not here - comfortable with all of the above! (And may I say it's wonderful to have the liberty do so without fear of being beaten to death by my neighbors, as in Pakistan, or burned alive as in days of old.)

Christmas in particular gets a well deserved roasting every year, though, for reasons that have as little to do with theology as the holiday itself does. Compare to Easter for example, if I'm right a holiday with more religious significance to Christians, yet while it's fun to talk about the pagan significance of rabbits and eggs, the religious stuff mostly gets a pass. You do your thing on Easter, I do mine.

[Chuck Jackson]

Some of the more sad most devastating religions are those invented by those who *claim* to have no religion - yet, in reality, their religions are the most obtuse of all, with nearly infinite (and every-increasing) catechism and sacraments - many of which are primitive and brutal...religions of darkness, ignorance, and foolishness...

All religions fall into this category don't they Joe? Everything in its purest from, sacred or secular, promises peace and harmony, whether it be through faith in a personage that can't be proven, or a doctrine that only works in its purest form. Man has a habit of taking ANYTHING that is good and skewing it to suit his needs and prejudices. The Bible is a good book of fiction, most of the New Testament is a 6th or 7th hand account of what one man purportedly did in a short time on earth. That testimony was inevitably skewed by what the founders of this Faith in one man WANTED the general populace to believe as long as it fit into the founders prejudiced views. I always thought that Jesus had a great press agent and the Council of Nicea practiced recidivist history in its most virulent form. Keyhole Joe? I think you are giving way too much credence to the suppossed open-mindedness of those who created God in their own image. While we could debate this until the cows come home, I respect a persons faith in any system as long as it is not rammed down the throat of a gullible humanity, rammed to the point that myth becomes fact and thus eschewing ANY possible explanation to the contrary. Any lie told long enough, and with enough conviction, will eventually be accepted as the truth.

All this aside, Happy Festivus.

Chuck"who firmly believes there is no "Grand Design", but accepts others views that there is"Jackson

[Chuck Jackson]

I believe if I follow Jesus teachings (not others' interpretations or bastardizations of them), and do not use His name to try to trick people out of their liberty, their wealth, or their lives, I'll be OK.

Further, I believe that if I do this, others will be closer to OK than they were.

In Principal, I agree. In Principal, I also agree that communism, in its purest form, works. We saw how that little experiment worked out when Mr. Stalin got a hold of it. Damn those humans!!

Chuck"who wonders if Jesus and Karl Marx are both shaking their heads over what has been done in their names"Jackson

[Chuck Jackson]

bloke "As far as Marx is concerned, the stumbling blocks for me are the (by necessity - of those who will not submit) killing, the stealing, the envy, the lying, and the false idols...and no, I disagree; I believe Stalin executed it nearly flawlessly."

I guess the Inquisition, witch trials, and the rest of the good times in the name of God are ok then?

Chuck"wonders what Galileo would think of this conversation"Jackson

[Chuck Jackson]

If I were postulating these views in the 1400-1500's, I would be dead by sunrise. I think it speaks volumes that as mankind has grown, reason has grown with us balancing out the myth and superstition that was rampant in organized religion and replacing it with a more open outlook. When a society has an equal balance of faith and reason, I firmly believe we will have reached the next evolutionary step in our lives. Until then, I am glad that I live in a country where I can expouse my beliefs openly, take my lumps as they come, and stand firm in my stance that I BELIEVE all religion is myth and an age old cultural imperative to explain the unexplainable, i.e.; superstition. I will defend ANYONES views against those who would seek to shut them down, believer and non-believer alike. For every Mother Teresa, there is a Westboro Baptist Church. I would like to see more of the former and the complete eradication of the latter. Your God must be scratching his head at the paradox.

How ever you celebrate the occasion, please do so with peaceful means as your end.

Chuck

[bort]

Jesus is coming!! Quick, look busy!

[Dan Schultz]

Think I'll celebrate by having a beer!

[TubaRay]

As the originator of this thread, I feel it my duty to implore you to stick to the topic. You are having a discussion that is both real, and serious. It simply doesn't belong here.

Now, I understand you have the right to ignore my plea, however, please be warned: There are no consequences.

[Dan Schultz]

As the originator of this thread, I feel it my duty to implore you to stick to the topic. You are having a discussion that is both real, and serious. It simply doesn't belong here.

Now, I understand you have the right to ignore my plea, however, please be warned: There are no consequences.

Are you asking ME to NOT go get a beer? But, but, but.... weed was only legalized in Washington State. NOT Indiana!

[bort]

Are you asking ME to NOT go get a beer?

Does whiskey count as beer?

[Dan Schultz]

Isn't something-that-resembles-beer the thing that is distilled into whiskey ?

You live in Tennessee. Why are you asking this?

Yeah.... he's shore got a purty house for someone who just fixes 'n blows tubas. Reckon he just might be doing a little cookin' in the basement?

[bearphonium]

I am noticing that the weather in Bonn is nearly identical to the weather in Eugene...cold and wet.

[Dan Schultz]

I just bought a Yamaha tuba on eBay with no valves for only $79.

What are the fingerings for "no valves" tubas?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-BB-102-T ... 7675.l2557

Pretty cool! Add a 4th valve to it and sell it for $150!

[bort]

Santa brought me a Tascam recorder. I know what I am going to play with tomorrow!

[MartyNeilan]

My wife got a flat tire this morning. I had to leave work while in the middle of replicating data between the EMC NAS at our corporate HQ and our co-location. Tire iron wouldn't budge the lugnuts. Got out the trusty crossbar lugwrench. Even standing on one side wouldn't budge the lugnuts. Dug out the impact gun from my days as a serious automotive hobbyist. That did the trick. Took the tire down to Firestone. Couldn't be patched. Had to get a new one, but not in stock - will pick it up after work and get it on before orchestra rehearsal tonight. Big $$$ for the big stupid SUV tire, fortunately almost the exact same amount as my monthly Kolledge lessons check which arrived yesterday.

Wife was replaced with a new improved model which has been far better in virtually every regard (and I was replaced with a same-gender model which was far larger in virtually every regard.)
Vehicles all around have been replaced, some older and some newer.
EMC systems at work have been replaced with Nimble Storage units which are far better in virtually every regard.
Waiting on my Kolledge lessons check, as brake pads (and possibly front rotors) on my vehicle are about due for replacement. Will probably not go to Firestone (at least not that one.)

You have been updated.

[Kevin Hendrick]

I just bought a Yamaha tuba on eBay with no valves for only $79.

What are the fingerings for "no valves" tubas?

All open.
I should know, I have two tubas that have no valves.

Two nice things about valveless tubas:

• (1) No worng fingerings
  (2) No "Valve-Added Tax" to pay