Many others I'm not listing here..but this guy Jake Allen..omg, I'm getting attched to his 2020 record Affirmation Day over the last couple of days.
Something is brewing and if given the time, I'll try and write something and/or film a video on YouTube about this guy.
Definitely 1 of those cases where you hear someone's music and it hits you like a ton of bricks how amazing much of it is.
Bryan Scary and I suppose, include Sheena and even Jared Draughon's in the last time this happened to me over the last couple of years.
What may get me maybe the most in some ways is he is may be the 1st one of these people who I know is/was a fan and influenced by Kevin GilbertPer THIS ARTICLE. Sure, there are many of them (NDV of course, Dave Kerzner, Randy McStine even...), but none of those have fully really grabbed me in the way Kevin did,..or just in some way. Nick I do appreciate his talents and him working with many bands..I suppose mostly Spock's Beard of course. But for whatever reason, beyond his fronting of Spock's, his solo music never has gone far like Kevin, Casey, Matt Mahaffey or Bryan Scary..but thus dude
Jake Allen from Michigan..I dunno..I'm really really loving much of his music. The textures, lyrics, dynamics, blending of styles..although not super diverse and weird..it's enough for me to appreciate.
This is the preliminary list, and only with 5 or more from actual Record Store Day (and not Black Friday Record Store Day).
The Black Friday List I will edit-in or post in another entry.
And then combine the 2 to get some kind of approximate Net totals for the Leaders/Most.
I was just thinking of trying to have these graphed out, although it would have to be with a free relatively easy-to-use platform (Google Docs may even be able to do that).
But also a long/longer RANT and YouTube Video(s) about my contention that Record Store Day/Black Friday Record Store Day has a lot of the same artists, while many artists have rarely if ever had Special Releases.
I'm also unfortunately concerned about my cat Mocha's health right now as she is dealing with for the 2nd time in a few months, some kind of upper Respiratory Infection (a cold?) as she has been sneezing intermittently the past 24+ hours, Which may dictate how soon a video and more of this stuff will show up. But hopefully soon (and a 2025 RSD video with or without the wife)
I'm totally happy for Rory. Sad for Justin Rose though. Rose is 44, been around forever, and may not get many more chances to win The Masters. But maybe like Nicklaus, he could do it next year? Oddly, I used to kind of not care for Justin Rose when him and Mickelson had a bit of a conflict. But now? I feel the opposite. I totally like Justin Rose. Phil? of course he is largely responsible for LIV gaining momentum and pulling players from the PGA tour.
But with McIlroy
This season, Rory's won Pebble Beach, The Players and now The Masters.
I think after finally winning a Major again (after 11 years) and completing the Career Grand Slam, it seems the pressure he had is now lifted. I wouldn't be surprised to see him win another 5 Majors in the next 10 years.
The same kind of thing happened to Mickelson. It took him many years to finally win a Major, which was The Masters in 2004. And then he won 4 more over the next 9 years (+1 more a couple of years ago at the PGA). And Phil was close to the same age (34) as Rory is now (35) when he won that 1st Major at Augusta in 2004.
But if Rory won 5 more, he'd be at 10 which would put him in sole 4th place behind Nicklaus (18), Tiger (15) and Walter Hagen (11). I guess we'll see, but I sense Rory's not going to stress so much about winning another Major and of course the career Grand Slam and The Masters.
I could see him winning a few more Masters actually, like Phil did. He is good enough, although he's maybe the best ball striker on the tour still. Like most players, his short game and putter make or break his ability to win. I think also part of it is mental toughness and getting past the bad holes. The missed birdie putts or occasional bogey or even double bogey, knowing 1 hole doesn't end your chances of winning. You just get through it and move on to the next hole and round.
Timberwolves face The Lakers
So, playing the Lakers in the 3 vs 6 matchup is better than being in the Play-In. And dealing with Doncic. I think this could go 1 of a few ways.
REVENGE on Luka and being the underdog.
Unsure, but I totally hope the Wolves and ANT especially take it upon them in this series as a Revenge to last Season and Luka. The way he had his way in that Dallas series with them, but in truth, the Wolves put so much into the Nuggets series, Luka and Kyrie just caught the Wolves off-guard. And the Wolves were out of gas, plus I still firmly believe Ant was not 100%. I know, Luka wasn't either, blah blah blah.
Also beating the Lakers would in some ways be REVENGE for 2004 too.
FOULS
February 27 2025 Lakers 111 Wolves 102.
Lakers shot 46 Free Throws.
46 FUCKING FREE THROWS!
Yeah, no conspiracy there.
If the officiating gets trigger happy, and the Lakers shoot a shit ton of FT's, than the Conspiracy is in Full-Force.
Adam Silver and his league needing fans to get ratings/viewers for the Lakers, LeBron and Luka deep playoff run. And those Parlays.
In other words, if the Lakers win, the Conspiracy and the Foul disparity will be of myself and many's beliefs.
If it's close or the Wolves do win? not so much.
Per on paper, the Wolves are a better, deeper team. They are bigger, better defensively, have way more players to hit 3's. And have been playing a lot better of late.
I guess we'll see. I do think some guys like Randle, DiVincenzo, NAW and even Jaylen Clark could play a big role in how well this series goes for The Wolves.
And also if Ant just goes off. If he goes off, it may negate Luka or LeBron.
omg, so fucking predictable. The Clark rubes won't shut up on Social Media about Strong and Fudd won the game for UCONN and they didn't need Bueckers.
BULL FUCKING SHIT!
Strong and Fudd had BETTER GAMES than her, sure.
But having Bueckers on the floor drew defense in BOTH GAMES in the Final 4.
What did I say about MAKING HER TEAMMATES BETTER??????????? HUHHHHHHHHH?
Did Paige have her best game? Did she have a GREAT game? not exactly on paper, BUT SHE DIDN'T NEED TO.
HER PRESENCE ON THE COURT (drawing the South Carolina Defense constantly), her Defense and avoiding turnovers, grabbing loose balls among so many other things NOT SHOWING UP ON THE STAT SHEET still supports HER VALUE.
Idiots..but not surprising.
WNBA tho..we'll see..some of these mofos are gonna have to shut the fuck up.
"You're just absolutely right. And I am absolutely wrong. It must be nice to always believe you know better. To always think you're the smartest person in the room."
This captures the endless narcissistic personality of people on Social Media and in several mediums.
The perception and belief of the actual dialogue totally fits on what this character Paul Moore from Broadcast News, played by Peter Hackes. Especially the 2nd line in red.
There are endless/countless people who the most important thing in their life is to feel empowered by feeling like they are right and someone else is wrong. That they are better, bigger, wiser, and SUPERIOR to others.
And online, they do it incessantly to stroke their ego and in many cases, hiding behind the veil of anonymity.
Am I? I suppose at points I am, and I do feel safe doing so in a passive-aggressive manner here and other outlets (even non-published). But it does come down to is it more important to try and air and say my peace so others may learn or at least be aware of it?
Sometimes yes, sometime no. Because if I'm talking to a wall, maybe a long time from now more may find it and benefit from that. But in the short term, it does feel like talking to a wall.
But, regardless of little reach it may have in here, or other spots, I do feel especially in here, it is therapeutic FOR ME no matter what.
So, this was kind of fun/funny to do, of course on of all days, today.
And the subject just crossed my mind, today should be an annual day to listen to that Fair to Midland tune.
But, I've been meaning to write something more about Social Media, specifically YouTube. The etiquette and maybe a few other housekeeping items,
When someone sees your channel or a video you post, especially in the case where they themselves have a channel of their own. They may subscibe and leave comments and like. If they are a YouTuber themselves, they know part of what is beneficial is to comment and like.
But I just know there's plenty of YouTubers and even just people on the different Social Media platforms that do not do this. It's mostly just a 1-WAY STREET.
They want you to watch their videos (or just follow or like their posts on other socials), subscribe, like and comment. But it does seem others like myself have to almost blatantly spell it out to gain their attention to even be aware of my channel or socials. And even if I do that, they may subscribe and maybe they will comment and like (if watch) 1 or 2 videos or for like a week or 2.
And in many cases, they don't even do that.
Unless they see your channel (or Social Media account) as more impressive or bigger and something that if others are giving you attention, than they may as well.
But when you don't have the large numbers of subscribers or followers, they don't necessarily.
That is PLAYING THE FAVORITES.
It's selifish, or lazy, or judgemental, or just kind of passive-agressive.
Social Media and it seems a lot of YouTube should be A GIVE AND TAKE.
I scratch your back, and you scratch mine.
But if you don't have "status" to be appealing enough to them (1000 or even way more subscribers), it really doesn't seem to matter how many times you like, comment and even pass their videos along (and how much detail your comment has), they still don't give a shit enough about YOUR channel to follow-suit.
I mean I will confess, there are people who have subscribed to my channel who I check out their own channel and I don't subscribe. But almost all of those cases, either the content on their channel doesn't appeal to me (and is next to nothing like my content), or their content is very limited anyway.
But I'd say at least 3/4 of the time someone subscribes to me, and I look at their YouTube page and they include something I remotely can relate to or enjoy, I will subscribe.
And I would say I do make an effort to leave them comments on topics I can comment about.
But there are several channels I comment on, or did comment on, pretty detailed and somewhat regularly, who have yet to ever leave even 1 comment on any of my 776 Videos. And even in some cases, the subject matter (mostly music and Prog), they have made videos themselves about. And in at least 1 or 2 examples, I noticed said music (band/album), done after I talked about it.
In other words, they are mooching off my work, my channel, etc, and yet I've never seen them once admit or acknowledge that. It's like it would kill them to do so, because they don't like to admit that a smaller channel actually introduced them to something.
I mean it could be that they just don't like to give credit to other channels. I can only half understand that per the whole idea of "well, if I shout out this channel, well then I have to shout every other channel" chore. And then they'll forget people.
But, that doesn't change the fact they are finding something and telling YouTube about it, and not being fully honest how they found it. Maybe the *how* shouldn't really matter? I just see it as lazy if not practicing being a favorites player.
"You know it wouldn't take a lot for people to help other less successful people easily, but they often don't" -J. Rudess (on "The Great Escape" on KFAI radio in 2002)
You know, and it does extend beyond YouTube. Go back to twitter and 89.3. I was talking about Local Natives and Warpaint long before most there, and yet never even once got any kind of due. It's lame, unfair, and something that I will never consider justified. But its happened and will continue to happen.
I would even say, many channels and Social Media I continue to comment-to or like on, that I guess I don't expect as much from given my feeling about the people. But I'm not certain how long or consistent I will continue to do that just based on the fact they don't reciprocate back to me. Not enough.
It really should be a GIVE and TAKE. But so many people, some I do have closer relationships with and want to help them out as much as I can genuinely, I don't think see using YouTube and Social Media that way.
They don't see it like a Social Contract to be using and trying to promote their own content. They see it as, ok, here's my video or post, please like it and share it, etc. But thanks for doing that, however the thought never crossed my mind to do the same for you who chimed in.
Maybe it's a lack of time? I dunno, but at some point, I have to draw a line and just say, sorry, I can't anymore. I have done that with some. But I also feel like given I'm at 776 Videos. Once I hit 1000 Videos, I may just to do a HIATUS for at least long form videos until I hit 1000 Subscribers.
No exceptions.
Sorry, I've made 1000 videos, I deserve 1000 subscribers. And until that happens, my focus may be other outlets like this and the Substack. I might do Shorts or TikTok as I've mentioned. Or I may do an audio and/or video podcast. Mixcloud, Soundcloud, or just on Substack even. Unsure.
I mean it's 224 videos away, so that is probably over a year, maybe 2. And that may be enough videos and time to finish some of these projects I've done, I dunno.
But at least my feeling is given the lack of GIVE-AND-TAKE and reception/attention/recognition for my YouTube channel, if I put the time and effort into making 1000 fucking videos, I should be able to at least get 1000 subscribers as well. (probably way more actually, but I'm trying to be as realistic as possible).
