Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[Al Kraft]

I started getting incessant calls multiple times a day for quite a while from my phone company.

It turns out that they have a legal office. I sent them a cease and desist email asking that my number be removed from their call list for as long as I have the number. Worked like a charm.

There is also a pretty effective program/app you can use called NOMOROBO IIRC and it will take care of these for you automatically. It has a large continually adapting database containing known offender numbers and analytics software that is designed to ferret out new numbers everyday. IMO/IME it knocks out at least 80%+ of the robocalls.

I wound imagine there are other similar services, but this one works well for me. FWIW, I have no affiliation with the app or company other than to be a happy user.

 

[beans-on-toast]

There is also a pretty effective program/app you can use called NOMOROBO IIRC and it will take care of these for you automatically. It has a large continually adapting database containing known offender numbers and analytics software that is designed to ferret out new numbers everyday. IMO IME it knocks out at least 80%+ of the robocalls.

I wound imagine there are other similar services, but this one works well for me. FWIW, I have no affiliation with the app or company other than to be a happy user.

Thanks for the pointer. I can block future calls from a number within my iPhone once someone calls me but the app sounds interesting. It heads them off at the pass.

The issue with my phone company calling was on my copper landline.

 

[Al Kraft]

My favorite calls are the ones from so called law enforcement folks threatening that there are arrest warrants out and I need to pay some back fee immediately. Given my background and affiliation I am well versed in both law enforcement protocols and the credentials they carry. I simply ask the caller to read me a few key pieces of information off their badge and/or creds word for word...they fail the test every time. In my job position I'm frequently vetted and investigated relative to my clearance(s) and know precisely what is on NCIC and other data bases about me.

I've even had fake callers argue with me about their credentials and actually start with foul language to threaten me...another sure sign they are fakes. I always report them through formal channels, although have no idea if anything ever comes of it. I feel sorry for folks who do not have my background or ties to law enforcement to fall back on. The callers used to be very frightening to my mom.

 

[G-Dog]

Thankfully, most crooks are idiots and not up to the task. But a double naught spy might be.

.​

 

[Al Kraft]

Thanks for the pointer. I can block future calls from a number within my iPhone once someone calls me but the app sounds interesting. It heads them off at the pass.

The issue with my phone company calling was on my landline.

It works on my Cox VoIP phone (and would assume with other similar providers) , but suspect it if you are still on copper lines it might not work.

 

[Al Kraft]

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Thank you Jethro Bodine!

 

[LBS-bass]

Ouch. There seems to be a lot of that going around lately. I've actually been strongly contemplating going back to guitar as my main focus for a while now, or possibly even keys. I used to swap primary attention between bass and guitar every few years for quite a number of years and I have a really nice Heritage guitar just collecting dust these days.

If I had stuck with piano, things would be nice. I really never wanted to play guitar so I have no way to accompany myself. Latest saga is that a guitarist I started working with isn't happy that I want to transpose songs into keys that suit my voice better than the original keys. I have a good range, and I can figure out a way to sing just about anything, sometimes by harmonizing some of the parts that are at the edges of my range, but the whole point of doing this particular project, for me, was to sing more. So I don't want to compromise my vocals. I have given him charts so it's not like I'm asking him to do a lot of work in his head to figure it out on the fly or anything.

But I'm just so discouraged. Every time I think I might have something going, there's always a wrinkle that pushes it into the "no fun zone" for me. Every single time.

The talent pool in this town is so limited it's almost impossible to find good people to play with.

 

[G-Dog]

My favorite calls are the ones from so called law enforcement folks threatening that there are arrest warrants out and I need to pay some back fee immediately. Given my background and affiliation I am well versed in both law enforcement protocols and the credentials they carry. I simply ask the caller to read me a few key pieces of information off their badge and/or creds word for word...they fail the test every time. In my job position I'm frequently vetted and investigated relative to my clearance(s) and know precisely what is on NCIC and other data bases about me.

I've even had fake callers argue with me about their credentials and actually start with foul language to threaten me...another sure sign they are fakes. I always report them through formal channels, although have no idea if anything ever comes of it. I feel sorry for folks who do not have my background or ties to law enforcement to fall back on. The callers used to be very frightening to my mom.

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Thank you Jethro Bodine!

What timing, eh, Al? I was actually on the previous page and hadn't even gotten to your quoted post, yet. But it does seem to fit in, don't it? Not bad for a graduate of the 6th grade!
.

 

[Relsom]

We fished a few lakes close to Merritt, BC. Two of my sons and I fished for four hours on one lake, caught and released over 20 rainbow trout. Salmon fishing is good, but, with decreasing numbers, fishing with a guide is what I would do.

When I was a kid living outside of L.A. we'd vacation in the high sierras. My uncle had a cabin at a place called Twin Lakes. That fishing was a lot different than the lakes here in Virginia. Now that I sold my place on Buggs, I get to bring the boat home and explore the James River. At least from here, technically, I can navigate all the way to visit the daughter in France.

 

[GonePlaid]

If I had stuck with piano, things would be nice. I really never wanted to play guitar so I have no way to accompany myself. Latest saga is that a guitarist I started working with isn't happy that I want to transpose songs into keys that suit my voice better than the original keys. I have a good range, and I can figure out a way to sing just about anything, sometimes by harmonizing some of the parts that are at the edges of my range, but the whole point of doing this particular project, for me, was to sing more. So I don't want to compromise my vocals. I have given him charts so it's not like I'm asking him to do a lot of work in his head to figure it out on the fly or anything.

But I'm just so discouraged. Every time I think I might have something going, there's always a wrinkle that pushes it into the "no fun zone" for me. Every single time.

The talent pool in this town is so limited it's almost impossible to find good people to play with.

There are 'stomp boxes'(or other units)that transpose so 'a person' can play in the key they are familiar and/or comfortable with and it'll come out in another key. I sometimes play with a piano man at open mics. When a singer wants to do, for example, "Misty" in G or something, he hits a button on the keyboard, plays it in Eb and it sounds in G. However, being a mediocre at best keyboardist, I can't watch his hands if it's a song I'm not familiar with. Perk up the old ears.

 

[Passinwind]

If I had stuck with piano, things would be nice. I really never wanted to play guitar so I have no way to accompany myself. Latest saga is that a guitarist I started working with isn't happy that I want to transpose songs into keys that suit my voice better than the original keys. I have a good range, and I can figure out a way to sing just about anything, sometimes by harmonizing some of the parts that are at the edges of my range, but the whole point of doing this particular project, for me, was to sing more. So I don't want to compromise my vocals. I have given him charts so it's not like I'm asking him to do a lot of work in his head to figure it out on the fly or anything.

But I'm just so discouraged. Every time I think I might have something going, there's always a wrinkle that pushes it into the "no fun zone" for me. Every single time.

The talent pool in this town is so limited it's almost impossible to find good people to play with.

Again, ouch. I figured out a long time ago that my favored format for the original music I greatly prefer playing is just me and my longtime drummer. But writing on bass just isn't happening for me, and I genuinely enjoy playing guitar every bit as much as bass, just not to the point of exclusively playing guitar. I am not a big fan of loopers at all, I'd rather just let my drummer solo while I switch. The big hangups are that I have always made it a point to stay unschooled on guitar, and loud rock is not something I care to pursue any longer. And beyond that, I'll have to build myself a new guitar amp since I traded my last one off a few years ago. I may just do a trio and hire one of the zillion great bass players around here - it's so much easier to find a bassist I dig than a guitarist who shares my rather warped sensibilities.

 

[LBS-bass]

There are 'stomp boxes'(or other units)that transpose so 'a person' can play in the key they are familiar and/or comfortable with and it'll come out in another key. I sometimes play with a piano man at open mics. When a singer wants to do, for example, "Misty" in G or something, he hits a button on the keyboard, plays it in Eb and it sounds in G. However, being a mediocre at best keyboardist, I can't watch his hands if it's a song I'm not familiar with. Perk up the old ears.

Yep. Modern keyboards use MIDI technology to achieve this. I know there are pedals that transpose other instruments but I don't know what kind of sound you'd get from them. Maybe something to look into.

I think I got spoiled because I worked with a guy for a long time who was really, really good at this sort of thing. He was really the first pro guitarist I worked with and I naively assumed that everyone out there playing pro would have that level of skill. WRONG. I still miss playing with that guy, a lot. Sadly, he passed away last year so there will be no return to those days.

 

[Passinwind]

At the 4th of July gig I did some friends came up and asked me why I quit doing a single act on guitar. I told them I got busy. Well, I'm getting caught up and I'm considering restarting my solo act with my trusty Telecaster lefty. I really enjoy doing that show, I can pick all the music I like and the audience always appreciates the older 80's rock stuff.... I do need to buy a pair of 115's for my PA though.. or maybe nowadays 112's might be enough....

Cool! Good 112 PA cabs are killer these days, I really like the QSC K series personally.

80s rock is obviously not my thing at all (with a few exceptions), but my guitar is certainly pointy enough to look the part...

 

[GonePlaid]

At the 4th of July gig I did some friends came up and asked me why I quit doing a single act on guitar. I told them I got busy. Well, I'm getting caught up and I'm considering restarting my solo act with my trusty Telecaster lefty. I really enjoy doing that show, I can pick all the music I like and the audience always appreciates the older 80's rock stuff.... I do need to buy a pair of 115's for my PA though.. or maybe nowadays 112's might be enough....

I have a coupla 8 mic input powered mixers-2x500W-2 custom made PA cabs w/15s, 2 Peavey plastic cabs w/12s, 4 monitors w/ various size speakers, all of which stay at home. These days for PA we use either my JBL EON one(passive 4 ch mic mixer into one ch on the EON)or our guitar player's one-or two-Bose L1s(also with a 4 ch mixer)[all 4 of us sing, so 4 mic channels are needed]. Instruments don't go through the PA though I can mic everything through mine. For a single, the EON one or a Bose is plenty-and takes one trip.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The callers used to be very frightening to my mom.

The callers are usually frightened by my mom!

Cool! Good 112 PA cabs are killer these days, I really like the QSC K series personally.

I used to have a pair of QSC K10 speakers. Very nice series, indeed. Another TB member has them, these days.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

The callers are usually frightened by my mom!

I used to have a pair of QSC K10 speakers. Very nice series, indeed. Another TB member has them, these days.

On the lower side of TB I get ragged on for having off name speakers. They're called Rockvilles and they really crank out and are very well made and I can buy them from Amazon. I had a pair last year but sold them to some kids who needed a PA. So I have 2 1x8 Rockville PA cabs, 2 1x10 Rockvilles, a Behringer 8 channel mixer with 500 watts stereo, and now I'm a on quest for 2 more cabs for mains. I might try the 1x12's because the last pair I had sounded excellent even for medium level gigs, did a couple weddings, etc.

Anyway, back from Juneau, it's so good to be home! The town was flooded with tourists-- there were 7 large cruise ships in the harbor. I swear there were more tourists in town than all of Sitka! LOL!

 

[LBS-bass]

On the lower side of TB I get ragged on for having off name speakers. They're called Rockvilles and they really crank out and are very well made and I can buy them from Amazon. I had a pair last year but sold them to some kids who needed a PA. So I have 2 1x8 Rockville PA cabs, 2 1x10 Rockvilles, a Behringer 8 channel mixer with 500 watts stereo, and now I'm a on quest for 2 more cabs for mains. I might try the 1x12's because the last pair I had sounded excellent even for medium level gigs, did a couple weddings, etc.

Anyway, back from Juneau, it's so good to be home! The town was flooded with tourists-- there were 7 large cruise ships in the harbor. I swear there were more tourists in town than all of Sitka! LOL!

My dad was an electrical engineer who liked to design audio systems, especially speakers and cabinets. One thing he taught me was to shop with my ears and not my eyes, and to ignore fads and brand names unless the output matched the hype. Because of him, I ended up ignoring all the Panasonics and Sonys and instead bought a JVC boom box back in the day that now is worth about $3K on the used market. I wish I still had that thing.

It's funny because even if you buy high-end stuff, if it isn't recognizable, some people won't touch it. I have an expensive AKG condenser stage mic in my studio. I've had singers over who complained about it and brought their own SM 58s (which I also have). Hey, if it's good enough for James Taylor but not you, little local singer, no worries. I will break that stuff down faster than you can blink. You only get one shot at my best gear. If you can't tell the difference, you don't deserve it.

 

[Passinwind]

The callers are usually frightened by my mom!

My mom had a famous retort to callers who told her to have a nice day: "I have other plans."

Not a woman to mess with!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

My mom had a famous retort to callers who told her to have a nice day: "I have other plans."

Not a woman to mess with!

I'm going to remember that one Charlie!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Cool! Good 112 PA cabs are killer these days, I really like the QSC K series personally.

80s rock is obviously not my thing at all (with a few exceptions), but my guitar is certainly pointy enough to look the part...

View attachment 3472099

Actually I lied. I don't do all 80's. I do a dinner set like Sinatra Buble and Bennett. Then a Carribbean type set, then some middle of the road "rock" like the Eagles and Fogarty, Rod Stewart, etc. And I've decided, yes, I'm going to stick with 12's, they got plenty loud last time I had a pair. Nice guitar by the way!