ELECTRONIC COTTAGE FORUM

5/3/2019

This is an experimental blog-style page
where you can say anything you want
on any topic that might be of interest
to the Electronic Cottage Community.

To use this page
just comment on my initial post here,
and then reply to comments as you want.
It is an open-ended page.

Have a rant, vent your feelings, express yourself, complain, ask questions, request advice, no limits, share a joke or a poem or short story.

Keep it civil and friendly.

ANYONE can post a Comment here.

Obvious spam and abuse will be deleted.

Hyperlinks will not work, but you can select to receive email notifications of replies and hyperlinks will probably work in those email notifications.

Pictures cannot be added.

Hal

142 Comments

Chris Phinney

5/4/2019 07:17:58

Ok I wil be the guine pig here, I assume the comments by Penny, Aimee & Adam on Mikes writing are an inside joke or experimenting with the text etc as you have been doing which is very cool?

Hal

5/4/2019 07:21:28

Chris, thanks for taking the plunge and getting the EC Forum going! Penny and Aimee were trying out various ways and methods of adding color fonts and emoticons to Comments at EC, and it looks like their investigative work has paid off.

Aimee Naworal

5/5/2019 03:47:27

The snaps were a reference to slam poetry. Take it from there XD

Chris Phinney

5/5/2019 10:43:00

Thanks.for the info much appreciated.

Adam J Naworal

5/5/2019 03:49:36

Yep, because in beatnik days and to this day, the snaps of fingers are a sign of approval for poetry recitals!

Chris Phinney

5/5/2019 11:13:00

Ahh yes I should have caught the betnik reference lol thanks for the info, a jogging ofa foggy memory. :)

Hal McGee

5/5/2019 11:26:34

I needed a good solid reminder too. When I saw all of that snap snap stuff I didn't know what the heck it was. Now I know.

Mike Nobody link

5/4/2019 07:31:14

https://youtu.be/cdpsfBsN_Dg

Hal McGee

5/4/2019 07:39:29

Hahahahahaha! I actually like to eat SPAM on occasion. I grew up eating it. When I was a kid my mom would bake it in the oven with a mustard glaze and cloves stuck into it, just like baking a ham. It was yummy. It went well with Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner out of the box. I ate this kind of stuff growing up and look how I turned out !*#@

Chris Phinney

5/4/2019 09:20:30

Hal,

No problem, ha I had to couldnt resist. Thanks for the explanation, I kinda thought thats what it was but wasnt sure.

I like fried spam as well on occasion. Great song as well Mike.

Hal McGee

5/4/2019 23:37:13

I don't eat Spam nearly as often as I did when I was a kid. Yeah Chris, I used to eat fried Spam all the time. It's amazing how many different varieties there are now!

Chris Phinney

5/5/2019 11:15:43

Hal,
Neither do I but Yes it is amazing the different varieties today.

Hal McGee

5/5/2019 11:21:58

Chris, people in Hawaii apparently take Spam very seriously! I know because I have a co-worker from there. According to Wikipedia: "Spam is especially popular in the state of Hawaii, where residents have the highest per capita consumption in the United States. Its perception there is very different from on the mainland.[Hawaiians sometimes call it 'Portagee Steak'. A popular local dish in Hawaii is Spam musubi, where cooked Spam is placed atop rice and wrapped in a band of nori, a form of onigiri." (similar to sushi). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(food)#Hawaii

https://mikenobody.com/ link

5/5/2019 11:29:25

Burger King has the Spam Whopper there, I have heard, because it is so popular there.

Hal McGee

5/5/2019 11:35:50

You're right, Mike. The Wikipedia article says that very thing.

Chris Phinney

5/10/2019 06:27:54

Hal,

Thats interesting about Hawaii & the spam consumption, I would never have thought it.

Mike,

Spam whopper more would never have thought. Thats wild!

Aimee Naworal link

5/5/2019 00:31:14

So Jay made us a "room" on

plug.dj

And I took the liberty of importing some of my youtube playlists (the one's with the genres recommended and I have over 100+:
Enjoy (I wanted to be a DJ when I was a kid... I am obsessed with music)

Click my name above to go there

#LordAdoomus of #wasteoftape & friends
(9)
#TomokiesCup
(6)
ambient
(42)
Avant-garde
(67)
drone
(43)
experimental
(200)
experimental 2
(118)
Experimental rock
(104)
free improvisation
(113)
free jazz
(32)
good noise
(200)
good noise 2
(13)
harsh noise
(28)
minimal
(102)
sound collage
(17)
Tape Cassette
(22)
women of electronic music 1938-2014
(53)

Chris Phinney

5/14/2019 06:41:37

I posted a comment in articles Litter's new one I believe. I for one look forward to this tunes spinning or streaming or whatever & chat. I mentioned that someone should set up a date & time night preferably or weekend that works for all. I only see Aimee.Jay, myself & Litter interested so far or saying anything? I feel if we have enough interest then Jay you should start off some suggestions?

Hal McGee

5/14/2019 07:02:13

Chris, Jay is on vacation right now so he probably won't be able to see or answer this for a while.

Chris Phinney

5/14/2019 20:26:58

Thanks Hal!

Neal Retke

5/5/2019 14:58:22

App - Snap.

Apparently Spam.

Snap A Sna
Nap
Spa Na Na Spap

Slap song

Span Span Sack

Tiger Balnm

To Do
Spam

Unlist

Revoke the Sap S.A.P.
Snap
Snap.

Hal McGee

5/5/2019 15:16:03

Thank you, Neal! I hope that all of you will make use of this EC Forum as a graffiti-wall, scratch-pad and doodle-pad, bulletin board, and freeform place where you can say whatever you want. Hopefully it will be a Fun place where we can all kind of sort of hang out and say stuff that might not necessarily be appropriate in other places at EC.

Rafael González

5/5/2019 16:24:00

Greetings to all!

Aimee Naworal

5/5/2019 20:26:32

̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿'̿'\̵͇̿̿\з= ( ▀ ͜͞ʖ▀) =ε/̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ (◕‿◕✿) from: https://textfac.es/
would you really like penny and I to make a post about acsii code and how to make commenting more fun like back in the days of message boards when I used text art most often cuz we totally could :D

Hal

5/5/2019 20:33:54

Yes, please

Lumen K

5/6/2019 19:56:50

Initiating broadcast.

Delta Roger Echo Tango Bravo Charlie.

Over and out.

bonk industries inc

5/7/2019 15:18:21

Î̍͘͏̯̤̙͉͖̜'̧̫͓͉̠̥̇͐̔m̷̵̛̳͉̰͖̫͐̾̑ ̵͕̝ͪ͌͗ͣͨ̅́j̦̺͈̻̖̖̙͒̌͒̆̐͌͐̚͟u̯̹͇̠͖̭͋͑́s̢̧̙͈̗̦͉̻̠̅̀ͧ̾͒̂̚t̢̩̻͙͖͎ͯ̔͛ͧ̌̌ ̗̳͇ͦ͊̾͘͢͞h̶̛̭̤̎ͩ̿́ȇ̵͖̘̫͊̋ͯ̾͑̄̕r̶̜̣̗̪̦͚̹̺͊͢ę̨̖̹̱̂ͤ͛ͯ̿͠ ̧̦̙͛c̡̓ͮ̏̾̾͏̘̠̫̜͎͓͎h̴͉̺̼̜̪͌̇̈́ͫ̑̎̈͊ͩͅễ̴͈̘̙̟̜̳͍͘ċ̶̑͆҉͓̮̟k̙̝̳̅̃ͯͧ̍ͥͣ̔̚î̺̜ͨ͐͐n̡̨̖̮̹̫̤͖͕͈̙̑̆̆͑̒̍ͥḡ̢͖͇̝̱͇̻̋ͬͧ͛ ̤̈͗̓̋̀i̸̸͚͚̥̳̋̐ͪ͑͂͐ͬͅn̷̤̮̰ͭͫ͆͒̚͡t͉͖͉̖̙͙̃͑̓̃͠ỏ̴̺̓ͪ̕ ͗̉̋ͦ̌̌̔͗͏̮͎̹͚̲t̩̣̻̣̟͂̌̈́ͪh̡͓̼̒͆̔̌͐e̵̸̜̜̦̤̳͚͚ͪͭ́̿́̏̚ ̶̡͍͔͕̬̲͍͇̥̌̌ͨf̦̞͔̼̿ͯ̈ͦ̿ô̶̲̯̊͡r̖̭̼̯ͨͭu̸͖̿̋̔̌m̡̜̱͂ͪ͑ͤͩ͑ͨͤ̾̀̕s̆̆̂ͣ҉̰͓͎̪̱̱͓̜̮.̗͔͆ͪ͒ͬ̓̕͟͞ ̷̨̞̺͔̼̟̯̰̫̎ͯ̋ͮ͌̇͒̒̚͘ͅ ̶̢̠͙̘̳̄͐ͪ̕H̶̀ͅi̽̽̃ͩ̊͘͏͚̟͈ ̶̷̟̐̋̔e̷̛͇̝̪̠ͤ̄̄̀͐͛v̭̘͍̇̏͛̊͋͘e̵̛̤̗͕̠͎̪͎̱͐ͤͥͤ̿ͧͫr͕̻͚̤̙͂͛̅̏ͅy̴̝̬̳̤͎̞͖͐͊́͝b̵̳̥̜̖͉͓̂̊͊͡͡o̙̜̹̣̥͕̽̓̋d̲̱͉ͣͥ̚͝͡y̋̆̈̓͌ͫ͌́͏̦̙̟͉̱͇̺̣̩!̨̆̔͡҉͇͈̤̤͉̤͇̹͉

Rafael González

5/7/2019 16:22:03

哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦哦

Special Agent Halamigo

5/7/2019 16:28:40

Life sucks less with art

Special Agent Rafamigo

5/7/2019 16:52:42

That's very true. Currently I have my fingers full of paint and glue!

special agent Aimeego link

5/8/2019 00:57:03

compiling a list of fun sites to get cool font and ascii smileys

Special Agent Halamigo

5/9/2019 06:53:06

Special Agent Aimeego, I am able to insert emoticons on my iPhone but not on my desktop computer. 👍🕵️☕️🤓

brunk link

5/8/2019 02:46:45

Ha! Nice one, Hal!

(•ө•)♡

Cormac

5/8/2019 03:17:15

If you want to hear some fuun music do a search (Soulseek, Youtube, whatever) on "Wub Machine."

Yup.

Rafamigo

5/8/2019 16:02:12

雨
雨
雨
雨
雨

> I <
~

Aimee Naworal

5/10/2019 04:33:18

Got through my last week of work and just filed:

Florida Reemployment Assistance Claim Confirmation

Your Reemployment Assistance Program (RAP) claim has been submitted.
Time and date submitted: 5/10/2019 4:14:15 AM

😻🎚🔊🔌🎶🎹🎤🎸🥁🕸🕸🦇🖤💀🕸🕸

Hal McGee

5/10/2019 06:49:31

Best of luck, Aimee! You should have little difficulty finding a new job, I'm sure!

Leslie Singer

5/10/2019 19:42:58

Aimee, keep up the upbeat spirit of your emojis! You will be back at work with a better job soon!

Chris Phinney

5/10/2019 06:35:51

Good luck with it all job searches etc..!!!!

Chris Phinney

5/12/2019 10:59:36

Open comment to all EC'rs. A Happy Mother's Day to all your moms living or not, whether you get along with them or not. To those that get along cherish them while you can. To those that do not get along try to forgive them they are your mom of course one may not be able to. Understandable. I don't want to hear why. I just want to say this to you. Of course I must be slightly sarcastic & say thanks Hallmark lol.
I will say to those whose Moms are no longer with us, remember them if you can find it in you, I suppose it all depends on the circumstances. I will say hey I miss my Mom tremendously. Sentimental hogwash could be. Take it as you see fit. Mine was always supportive of my art!!

Leslie Singer

5/12/2019 18:20:15

Chris, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Mother’s Day. My mom has been gone for almost 20 years now and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. Your comments really resonated for me. Thanks again for sharing them.

Chris Phinney

5/12/2019 20:31:18

Leslie,

So glad the thoughts resonated with you!

Chris Phinney

5/12/2019 20:51:55

Leslie, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of my folks.

Jerry Kranitz

5/12/2019 19:37:06

I hear ya Chris. My mom is in a nursing home and declining. We’re in Buffalo this weekend to gather with the family for Mother’s Day. Definitely trying to enjoy her while she’s still around.

Chris Phinney

5/12/2019 20:33:47

Hugs to you Jerry! So glad you guys are in Buffalo enjoying her!

Rafael González

5/13/2019 01:03:58

Happy mother's day (in Spain it was May 5, here is the first Sunday of May). Good thoughts are always welcome. Hugs to all!

Chris Phinney

5/13/2019 06:45:27

Rafael,
I had no idea belated hugs to you & hope you were able to enjoy!

Adam J Naworal

5/13/2019 09:11:06

I'm sorry for your loss, Chris. This is a very thoughtful and emotional post from you, and I just wanna give you a hug and thank you for it :)

Chris Phinney

5/14/2019 06:45:29

Thanks Adam I appreciate that! I am glad you have your parents! :)

Aimee Naworal link

5/13/2019 09:12:04

Hope y'all had a good mothers day Adam and I spent it at his parents house. I made dinner for his Mom Adam assisted. My Mom is all they way in California (typing this from JAX FL) I contact here via text and email for now. Hope this Monday finds you well. 👋😄🦄

Last night we went to a show and then slept right after so hence the late reply

Chris Phinney

5/14/2019 06:50:59

Aimeee, worked all day, I work outside mostly, so missed this yesterday, I am glad you have your Mom via long distance is fantastic! Thanks for the hugs also.

Lumen K

5/14/2019 10:39:03

Thanks for this wonderful post. Without my mother, I would not be here. Without her creativity and talent, I would not be at Electronic Cottage. My heart goes out to you, Chris, in missing your mother. This is something that will happen to most of us, and I know I will feel my mom's absence keenly when the day comes.

Aimee Naworal link

5/14/2019 11:50:32

The tribute I put on instagram: My Mom! 😍 Always taught through action to 👧🏼hold on to my inner child, 🎤✏🖌be creative, 🌈🌌 admire the heavens and 🕊💖strive for peace.

Chris Phinney

5/15/2019 07:16:12

Lumen,

Thank you so much, that means a lot, my momhad all my mail art, zines, photos of strange things art & all my music in boxes at her house. Good feedback from her even if she didnt get it all. So glad you have your mom!

Chris Phinney

5/15/2019 07:20:11

Aimee never lose that inner child, its very important! As well as the other.

Mike Nobody link

5/12/2019 18:52:27

My parents kicked me out and moved 600 miles away when I was 15. We get along better now.

Chris Phinney

5/12/2019 20:37:58

I know that feeling Mike very well. My parents kicked me out when I was 18, finishing high school, 2 weeks later they wanted me to move back in. I told them no thanks as we got aong better as well.

Chris Phinney

5/12/2019 20:54:02

Mike I suppose the only difference was age & the moving away.

Penny

5/12/2019 19:11:41

Hugs to both of y'all.
Yes there are some days that bite and sting.. And, some of those same days hold joy and the after taste of sweet honey at the same time. My Daddy left this mortal coil 7 years ago.. For me all the holidays hold joy, and pain. As a someone who is Female and Transgender our family days are mixed emotions...i smile and laugh through them.. While i push the pain of non acceptance below for their greater good.. In the middle of your personal pains i hope u can find a thread of joy. May u feel her touch on your cheek and her voice on y'alls heart.

Leslie Singer

5/12/2019 19:19:16

Penny, hugs to you too!

Chris Phinney

5/12/2019 20:49:22

Penny, hugs to you, hugs to all of you,I lost my Dad 37 years ago, my Mom 2 years ago,agree on the sweet honey after taste & joy on some days & the bite & sting of some. All you can do sometimes is smile & laugh to cope with the non acceptance which in my personal opinion should not be. I to hope you can find joy wherever it may be, thru lifes trials & tribulations whatever they may be.

Penny

5/12/2019 23:50:22

7 years ago..not 37.. Geeze.. Typing without glasses..lol

Aimee Naworal

5/13/2019 11:25:04

Hugs to all who have lost family members <3

Penny

5/12/2019 23:59:10

I thought i typed 37..i went back and re read it..
Thank u chris for sharing..
Leslie thank u for the hug.

Chris Phinney

5/14/2019 07:16:43

I like this forum, I am of the opinion if its possible that it be like a forum like we had at Tapegerm, Homemade Music, or Cassette Culture where there were different categories to reply in. That way one could jump to a topic vd scrolling thru & no real subject line. I am not sighned up to recieve email notifications on comments & not going to do so as recieve enough email & feel if one wanted to share thoughts. art, new releases they could send artist a email or post it here. To bad no hyperlinks here or photos. I am interested in what all EC'rs are doing. Have been since the start of this. Hopefully EC facebook users will post here as I will not join facebook, so its kinda like a push & shove thing for lack of better wording for me. Just random thoughts comments of mine is all.Nothing more.just thinking out loud really. I enjoy reading EC immensely, it is my social network. Lol :) No offense meant to anyone, it is what it us, & you yourself make it what it is.

Adam J Naworal

5/14/2019 07:20:34

I really hope you reconsider not joining FB, Chris. Your wit and insight and musical tastes would be a glorious addition to the EC FB group :D That's just my two cents, though, and another main reason is so those of us who admire your works (be they writing or music) can get to know you better :)

Chris Phinney

5/14/2019 07:22:22

Explain my self better note to self lol via scrolling to a specific subject line & commenting in a proper category. Another correction it id what it is.

Neal D Retke

5/14/2019 10:46:57

It seems to me is the only sure thing in life, regardless of national origin, wealth, religion, philosophy, creed or background is that we are all going to die. When we think of our loved ones passing, it can feel like we are the only individual who could ever experience such a thing - But in reality, it is the exact opposite. It is the only thing that connects every human who ever has & ever will live. I'm amazed at how hidden, how taboo this is in our world - I feel one of the few things that can give comfort in this circumstance is the thought that we're all in this together in terms of the end results. Not that " I know how you feel " ( You can never know how someone feels about these things, I feel it's arrogant to think you could ) but I do know we are all coming and going through this same valley of the reaper type thing.

Chris Phinney

5/14/2019 20:38:38

Very well put Neal!

Neal Retke

5/15/2019 08:06:11

Thank you Chris

Aimee Naworal link

5/20/2019 23:38:12

I was painting for the last few hours ...here I am back on electronic cottage catching up :D

Leslie Singer

5/22/2019 21:36:15

It’s good to touch base with the EC site. It feels like home...

Hal McGee

5/23/2019 00:05:52

I know the feeling! But I am very glad that I created the EC Group at FB because it solved a lot of the issues, problems, and frustrations that we were all having when just the site was in operation. And I am happy to report that since the beginning of the FB Group the traffic to and interest in the website has increased!

Rafael González

5/23/2019 03:08:53

You are right!

Chris Phinney

5/25/2019 11:54:15

Leslie,

It is home :) I forget about the forum though, on my daily EC run

Aimee Naworal

5/22/2019 22:32:03

Hope yall had a great WORLD GOTH DAY

Rafael González

5/23/2019 03:09:56

Sorry, I like New Order

Chris Phinney

5/30/2019 17:41:56

Being a big fan of Joy Division, & after Ian Curtis hung himself, I think they New Order pulled it together really good & maintained that same image at the beginning, different style but different group leader, great music & today even more evolved & still great music.

Now in my humble opinion when Layne Staley overdosed of Alice in Chains Jerry Cantrell should have gave it up called it quits, moved on to a new band, I think no one could replace Staley in that group. Like the one off Mad Season super Seattle grunge group consisting of Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam & Screaming Trees members plus others that was some cool ass music. Were any of you aware that Mark Lanegan of The Screaming Trees found Staleys ass two days later, they were best friends. By the way Lanegan has recoded at the Skoptzies guitarists studio Ranco De Luna in Joshua Tree. Useless info yes.

Why did Robert Plant turn down a 10 million dollar contract to reunite Led Zeppelin for a tour, cuz they are old mfs, tough decision, cash cow that was still is, but Plant likes the new direction he has taken & the music he is doing now so said no, or is their some bad apples there buried somewhere, lot of dough, but stayed true to his new music or did he? I wonder about that sometimes.

Aimee Naworal

5/23/2019 04:19:32

I like them too XD

Rafael González

5/23/2019 06:27:54

OK!!! and the Italo Disco?

Aimee Naworal

5/23/2019 13:55:32

I like a huge amount of genre's including Italo Disco. You can see this from looking at my youtube channel where I have 100+ playlists most of them music genre's:

youtube.com/user/midnightaria/playlists

last.fm/user/AimsterSkitz0rz

CIII Goff

5/30/2019 09:55:15

Hmm... A week since any posts or comments at the Cottage... Knock Knock! Is the Editor gone on a holiday? Has the Facebook demon eaten the visitors of this candy cottage all away? Has my internet compass lost its polarity?

Mike Nobody link

5/30/2019 10:19:17

If you have nothing to say, why say anything?
Besides, Hal said he won't accept new articles and I have my own blog posts to work on.

Rafael González

5/30/2019 12:11:24

I believe that this is not entirely correct. What is intended is that the old articles be read and enjoyed, but when there are more articles to publish, this will be done, I think.

Hal

5/30/2019 13:03:08

Mike, I have never said that I won't accept new articles. False news! When somebody submits a new article, I will publish it. No one has submitted any new articles.

Hal

5/30/2019 13:05:04

C3, the EC Group at Facebook is highly active. More than 140 posts and hundreds of comments in 19 days.

Hal

5/30/2019 14:06:01

Even Chris Phinney is there, which I thought would never happen! Same with Leslie Singer! And both of them are thriving there. In fact, aside from Rafael and me, Leslie and Chris are the two most active contributors at the EC Group at Facebook.

5/30/2019 14:48:36

Hmm... so I was right. The Facebook demon has eaten the visitors to the cottage, and apparently that's the will of the "community." This is sadly disappointing to me. Oh well... That's the "anything" I have to say, Mike.

Rafael González

5/30/2019 15:59:17

No, Charles, the FB demon has not eaten anyone. We are now testing this ... but as I have said before, EC is something else, much more deeper. I'm sure there will be great post soon. In fact I am waiting for a mail to continue my research

Hal McGee

5/30/2019 16:14:15

Charlie, I don't know what else to tell you. Both are in parallel operation, and exist independently of each other. The EC website is not dead, far from it. I just have not received any new articles. It's that simple.

I.v. link

5/30/2019 15:47:43

No gods no masters! No fakebook can separate me from my people. Hi C3, no worries :)

Chris Phinney

5/30/2019 16:39:48

Charles,

No only members of the group allowed there, you can post small things there like a piece of art or a track that you cant do here. Hal will take new articles here, hell I just posted one myself. Plus working on new music with Ditlev who is not on the Facehole EC group as Das called it during a welcome. Hard to data mine when you have no info bout oneself there & only involve yourself with the group. Also Hal & I & Jerry have been & shall continue working on the HRM archive site. So I am here everyday looking also, Its home here bro.

Aimee Naworal

5/30/2019 16:27:47

There are articles coming don't worry ;)

Lord Litter link

5/31/2019 07:51:08

>> No only members of the group allowed there, you can post small things there like a piece of art or a track that you cant do here.<<

Well all that would've happneed one or the other way on EC and not on FB.

FB absorbs and dictates communication of today's world and there is just one way to stay out of it ... stay out of it.

>>> Hmm... so I was right. The Facebook demon has eaten the visitors to the cottage<<<

yes, Charlie, yes ...

Hal

5/31/2019 09:35:50

Lord Litter and Charlie, I can certainly understand your distaste for Facebook. But your negativity is also pointless and not especially helpful. Facts are facts: contact and communication among the EC Community members has increased significantly, dramatically. In addition to Leslie and Chris, both of whom I never thought would join FB in a million years, people who never participated here are blossoming in the EC Group at FB. The EC Group at FB is quite frankly a lot less work for me! A lot less personal frustration. The main point is that the EC Group at FB is creating joy. We are all fucked beyond hope any way, so I say what the fuck is the difference? Life is short and it's pleasures are fleeting. I can assure you that if you change your mind this instant and join us at the EC Group at FB you would be welcomed with open arms and you would instantly see and feel the love there. Sometimes one's own moral superiority gains nothing except isolation and loneliness and frustration. I know this because I've felt it myself. Also, though, I am still accepting new articles for the EC website: it's only as active as the EC Contributors make it!

Lord Litter link

5/31/2019 10:10:36

I sure understand 100% the ease you experienced after putting EC on FB .. I was alwas admiring your strength handlung EC..

>> contact and communication among the EC Community members has increased significantly, dramatically. <<

well, only goes to show how much they succeded in absorbing every form of communication on planet earth - all is possible ... via (and only?) FB..

again: I don't detest anyone going there - that's the way it is today .. go there and.."be welcomed with open arms and you would instantly see and feel the love there" .. sorry REALLY no offence (and I REALLY mean NO offence) ... but you would'nt believe how known that sounds to me ..

How many dystopian novels used expressions like these - this is almost creepy to read it here ..

>> Sometimes one's own moral superiority gains nothing except isolation and loneliness and frustration. I know this because I've felt it myself. <<
Well I don't feel this .. and life is an ongoing struggle - that IS life.

>> Also, though, I am still accepting new articles for the EC website: it's only as active as the EC Contributors make it!<<

So .. back to Charlie:

>>> Hmm... so I was right. The Facebook demon has eaten the visitors to the cottage<<<

yes, Charlie, yes ...

And - how would the world be if absolutely noone would warn and shy away? If we ALL would be on FB .. the WHOLE world on FB???

Sorry I'll stay on the other side.

Hal McGee

5/31/2019 10:47:35

It MIGHT interest you to know that a lot of the people who were on Facebook any way are now spending most of their time on FB in the EC Group, instead of out in the bigger and more dangerous FB World. That is a small victory, and I will take ANY victory at this point. But maybe it won't interest you.

Rafael González

5/31/2019 10:59:29

I practically only visited this group.

Lord Litter link

5/31/2019 11:30:17

.. no, no it sure interests me! - *there are many ways to Rome*

.. it's still not my way ..

.. and hey after all we're the only ones left arguing here .. all other are fine and dandy..and this never was my way..

So good luck to us all .. caus like I said elsewhere: "We're all on the same side!*

Rafael González

5/31/2019 10:56:11

Lord Litter, I understand your words and your ideas, although I do not share them much ... well, I'm going to say the same thing: EC website is not EC FB ... anyway ... What there is in the other side? What is the other side?

Lord Litter link

5/31/2019 11:30:50

The other side: not where everyone else is

... yes I know it sounds narrow minded .. it sounds stupit ... but ... there have to be people who are on the other side..

This is where I always have been and where I'll stay...and I'm laughing about myself while I say this ...

.. I really don't want to transpose this into a fight caus after all we're *on the same side* ...

hahaha...

Rafael González

5/31/2019 11:35:41

Exactly! In fact we are here! Is this the OTHER SIDE? Then I am also here.

bonk quixote

5/31/2019 11:27:32

Being invited to a group on any platform where there's a focus on being welcomed and supported isn't dystopian. it's actually extremely rare on the internet and in general, and however small, that's not an easy thing to make happen. Source: long time shitposter who selfishly wishes the privacy of ec gets closed after the group quota gets met lol

Lord Litter link

5/31/2019 11:52:22

Hey to all ...

I really don't want to cause any bad feelings here - EC is a great place - ALL people here are cool just because they are interested in what EC has to offer.

BUT - still I think FB is a very bad place that brought too many bad feelings and moral destruction to planet earth to irgnore all this.

FB (and the general *Social Media* level) has to be adjusted heavily to be a positive force on this planet.

In Germany we recently had a discussion started via a *YouTube influencer* which brought some real good movement to the rotton politcal scene here, so I know there may be a positive future.

But they way it is at the moment makes it totally impossible for me to even think about joining FB etc.

That's basically all I want to say at the moment.

Hal

5/31/2019 12:07:26

I made a new post here at the EC website. Link on the EC Home Page.

Hal

5/31/2019 16:44:46

LL, no worries, my friend! We are here with you discussing these important matters, and having fun doing it! This is what I have always hoped for in any incarnation or version of EC -- exchange of ideas! Sharing thoughts and opinions, including when we disagree!

Rafael González

5/31/2019 16:48:18

I still think that a good use of FB brings positive things. I am currently supporting several pages of FB that are against a possible war between the USA administration (and its allies) and Iran administration. I find lovely people. Do not worry, I do not perceive bad feelings in these discussions, simply everyone defends their position, with respect. This is very positive too.

Chris Phinney

5/31/2019 19:14:35

LL,

Its all cool & good, no arguments from me. I respect your insight & opinions. One word here is workload, Hal is not & could not post everything here, I see his point, I see yours, so write an article my friend for the site. I always enjoy them. :)

Mike Nobody link

6/1/2019 13:46:41

I know that Hal regularly updates the EC FB group with new information. I don't know what his plans are for keeping the holdouts informed about EC, though. Previously, I would check the site when I got an email from him. Is he on a schedule with that or does he just send emails whenever?

Hal McGee

6/1/2019 14:50:28

Hi Mike, I am going to say that from this point forward everyone can check the EC site in a daily basis to see if there are any new articles. I try to keep the COMMENTS log page as up to date and current as I can. When I'm away from a desktop computer I cannot update the site, such as the present moment when I'm over at my mom and dad's house. Whenever a new article is public aged here at the EC site I will announce it in the EC Group at FB, like I did with your new article. The good news is that visitation stats to the site increase every time I make one of those FB announcements.

Rafael González

6/1/2019 15:47:57

Bravo!!!!

Hal McGee

6/1/2019 19:35:09

the words "public aged" above should be "published"

Chris Phinney

6/1/2019 17:25:13

Charles,

I also know your working on the Doors tribute album & should have I would think as prolific a you are & talented that you would have a new article here for us all to keep abreast of your project. I hae been digging it tremendously!

Aimee Naworal link

6/18/2019 23:29:56

still job search'n over here which is why ive been rather absent ...but the last to job applications are the most hopeful. One I was able to put a former co worker as a reference and the other is the closest match to my experience ever. ::crosses fingers:: I also am trying to side hustle with my creative talents and contemplating blogging on my own word press site. :)

Rafael González

6/23/2019 12:20:26

Good luck! I wish you the best!

Chris Phinney

6/23/2019 11:03:52

Figers crossed for you Aimee! Great on the side hustle!

Aimee Naworal

6/23/2019 22:07:02

Thank you brosky's <3

Neal Retke

6/25/2019 21:15:36

eri eri
Shoboult
...<<... Rusu /..>>,,,,,
Did you dig what I see there ?
" What ? "
...
Another Cat.
From across the hall, the smell of curry.

Pināta remains in the yard -

Everything Everything Everything -

Said he where ?

" Across the withers " being proper replies -
Where then ?

Given my druthers...

Aimee Naworal

7/3/2019 08:56:53

in person interview today ...here's hoping <3

Aimee Naworal

7/18/2019 21:00:09

Got that job I interviewed for and this is first week Account Manager & Advertising Specialist. Yay!

Aimee Naworal

7/21/2019 13:16:21

When I joined facebook in 2008 I never could have guessed I would now have a job where I will use exclusively facebook marketing tools to help real estate agents get leads. :D #whatatimetobealive

Lord Litter link

7/22/2019 05:55:14

I'm truly happy for you that you are back in work!

But - a planet ruled by Facebook is definitely a gruesome idea.
Soon we all may only be able to pay with a money system owned by this company.

How far will it go? .. the digital slavery...

In China, a program has been developed that recognizes people by their posture and movement.
In combination with millions of surveillance cameras you can't hide any more.

Elon Musk works on a digital interface to the human brain. The horror of this is self-explanatory.

And we all smile and put another app on our smart phone?

It's horrible and sad ... resistance is NEVER futile...

Lord Litter link

8/20/2019 03:56:12

I don't know where to put this so I put it here.

I find this ... well, how to say ... interesting, sad, debunking ... that NOONE seems to care that EC will cease to *be alive* from September 19, 2019 on.

To me EC was an uplifting, to look forward to part of each day. Like a very special magazin. Not everything caught my 100% attention - but everything was worth presenting.

I fully understand that it's all much work and if it does not provide enough personal satisfaction to justify the work one should react.

However ... EC will be missed here.

Lord Litter, August 20, 2019

Dave Fuglewicz link

8/20/2019 05:31:45

Lord, I have to disagree with you, at least in the case of me. I enjoyed the heck out of it. It has been a success, if only that musicians who had never contacted someone did so. And so on. Never give up, never surrender.

Lord Litter link

8/20/2019 06:06:24

"I find this ... well, how to say ... interesting, sad, debunking ... that NOONE seems to care that EC will cease to *be alive* from September 19, 2019 on."

----> I guess I have expressed myself misleadingly - what I meant was that no one here somewhere on EC has expressed their regret.

I experienced the time on EC just like you did!

"Never give up, never surrender."

----> that's guaranteed!

Hal

8/20/2019 06:04:25

A point of clarification: the EC website is stopping, but the EC Community is alive, alive in the EC Group at FB! The website never received the consistent support and interest necessary for me to feel compelled to continue doing it. I received far too many messages from people saying: "Hal, I would be more active at the EC website but I am too busy with other things." Ahem. Okay, fine, so I moved EC to FB, where almost everybody seems to prefer it (except for you, Goff, Ditlev, and two or three others) and where it's automated so that my workload matches the commitment level of the EC Community members. :)

Lord Litter link

8/20/2019 08:20:51

Hi,

first let me thank you for all you've done for the communinty! I was always appreciating your effords very much. And I understand why it was getting difficult to keep on.

I always red all your letters thoroughly. I rememeber the one some months ago where you bitterly complained about the power of Facebook. This was when you first mentioned:"Hal, I would be more active at the EC website but I am too busy with other things."

Without this mail I never would' have written my statements about social media. These were leading to a somewhat hefty controversion at Electronic Cottage. So you decided to stop this discussion, because people got it all wrong.

I was never accusing people using Facebook - but I am accusing Facebook for *harvesting and directing* people. Also make people unlearn how to debate - on FB it's either LIKE or HATE.

What happened now defines that people only have *enough time* within the by Facebook defined rules and structures and that these rules and structures dry out, suffocate and assimilate delicate plants of individuality into uniformed own structures.

This FB EC Group is not my EC group - it is a via Facebook funktioning group. (By the way it is very enlightening to read that there are several other individuals living outside FB.)

My whole life I was avoiding structures like these. This was one of the reasons why I embraced the cassette culture in the early 1980s.

And - no - I don't cry after time or wish it back. We must continue to develop. But the guidelines of my life are determined (at least to a large extent) by me and not by an algorithm machine.

Promoting products on Facebook - ok - but living my life there - definitely not.

To me Electronic Cottage as an freeminded, individual, alternative effort was killed by Facebook.

Hal McGee

8/20/2019 09:59:38

LL, in many ways you are correct -- I will not deny it and I never have denied it. Facebook DID, to some extent, affect my attitude toward the EC website. Let me explain. As you know, for several months during the early development of the EC website I deactivated my Facebook account. I really truly wanted to create a viable and positive alternative to Facebook because I felt that Facebook was toxic (and I still do). So, I worked very hard to make the EC website as attractive and informative as possible, to operate the site by DIY principles. I edited and published BIG, lengthy articles, and it felt like very few people were reading them. I gauged response to the articles by how many people commented. I had hoped that all of the contributors to the site would actively support all of the other contributors by reading and commenting on the articles of all of the other contributors. This did not happen! I wondered what the problem was! My curiosity got the best of me, and I reactivated my Facebook account to see what was going on there. To my astonishment most of the EC contributors who had Facebook accounts were still actively using Facebook. They were making posts at Facebook every day of material that they could have posted at the EC website. What the fuck? Seriously I was very pissed off. I came across a discussion on Facebook by two EC contributors in which they were discussing why they were not more active at the EC website. They both said that they admired the spirit of the EC website, but that they could not reach a big enough AUDIENCE at EC! Now, I understand that artists and musicians are a self-centered narcissistic bunch of people, but this really shocked me!

Chris Phinney

8/21/2019 06:50:10

Ha not all artistd are self centered & narcisitic. Tons are more than not. Sad but true.

Hal McGee

8/20/2019 10:15:01

... So, it occurred to me that perhaps I was wasting my time and effort putting so much care and work into a website that very few people were using and appreciating. The convenience and broad appeal of Facebook, where these artists could reach a BIGGER AUDIENCE than just their peers at EC, was apparently more important than the ideals of independence that I was trying to promote at EC.
THEN, also, came the big BLOW-UP about my comments and your comments about the toxicity of Facebook. The reaction we got from some people was silly beyond words, I must say. I had to ask myself if the trouble was worth it. I got tired of the apathy and the resistance. So, what the hell, I decided not to fight it! I moved EC over to Facebook where everyone could post what they want without having to go through me. This was a major sore point with some people about the EC website: they did not want to have to submit articles to me and then have me construct the articles. One EC member told me that would-be contributors resented the arrangement: that EC was Hal's website! Well no shit, I created it with a set of ideals that seemingly few other people still hold true and dear. It IS my site! It is my creation! It is my creation that I made for the benefit of the community. But that is not what most people want. they want to be able to post what they want, when they want, and in the way they want. Plus, these days, very few people read lengthy articles online.
Now, LL, I am not nearly as MILITANT in my dislike of Facebook as you are. I don't like it very much, but I need to be practical.
Bear in mind that I have not KILLED the EC website. You will still be able to read the hundreds of articles that were published in 18 months time. Yo will still be able to comment on the articles too.

Chris Phinney

8/21/2019 06:52:24

Yes it is your site to dealwith as you see fit!

Hal McGee

8/20/2019 10:26:54

Now, having said all of those things above, and outright admitting that you are correct that Facebook "killed" the EC website... ON THE OTHER HAND! ... In spite of the inherent toxicity of Facebook the EC Group at Facebook is a whopping success! We DO have a real sense of love, fellowship, and comradeship there. The EC Compilation 5 was mostly created through networking at the EC Group at FB. I know that it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to conceive and understand this, but the EC Community now resides, now lives at the EC Group at FB. Sorry, amigo. You and Goff and Ditlev and Per-Arne and Evan and all of you good EC folk who have the GOOD SENSE to avoid Facebook, I commend you! You are smart people! And all of you are still my friends, and I STILL consider all of you to be members of the EC Community, and I will attempt to keep all of you informed of the activities of the EC Community. It might interest you to know that the most active folks at the EC Group at Facebook are the same people who have been most active at the EC website.
If I could figure out a way to have all of you construct and publish your own articles at the EC website, without me having to do it all, I would keep the site going!

Lord Litter link

8/20/2019 11:23:15

Hi,

and many thanks for the detailed, in-depth reply! It brought new interesting facts but also confirmed many aspects about life on /with Facebook.

It got them (sorry) by the balls. And it prooved people want to spit out whatever they want these days. They are used to that when moving on the internet.

That is exactly one of (not only) my big complaints about FB - that is how FB allows rascism, fascism, homophobia (and all the rest) pour themselves over the planet.

*The rest* is handled by a self-centered narcissistic approach, which became a *normal* lifestyle these days. Not only for *artists* - everybody with a smart phone is an *artist* these days. Shoot your daily selfie and be the greatest. Social media created a world of self-centered selfish narcissists.

And: "If I could figure out a way to have all of you construct and publish your own articles at the EC website, without me having to do it all, I would keep the site going!"

A good magazine needs a curator!

Well - something went terribly wrong .. and we just entered the road to disaster..

Rafael González

8/20/2019 12:01:58

I also wish that EC website had continued, but I understand Hal perfectly. I am a user of FB and I have defended it here many times as a tool ... but FB can never replace the depth of some articles that were published on EC website, but I repeat, I fully understand Hal's position: if an activity it becomes work and does not give pleasure it becomes hell

Goff

8/20/2019 13:01:55

To Hal: Thanks much for all your hard work which has made this Cottage a cozy home for so many months. Bravo Sir! And thanks also for the commendation above.

To LL and anyone else who reads this comment: I have been working on a final post to the Electronic Cottage which not only shares a bit of my art and technique, BUT ALSO expresses my feelings about the end of this home base for us who dare walk the crooked miles of humanity's road. Stay tuned...

Leslie Singer

8/20/2019 14:12:09

As someone who dearly loves the EC site and who only joined FB because of EC, I truly appreciate everyone's comments. However, I would like to suggest taking a look at the EC Comment section and specifically the comments posted on August 17. Hal had just published on the site the amazing EC Comp 5 track by track with all the cool artwork and just about nobody but me could bother to comment on more than one or two tracks. What happened!?! And there have been very few comments posted since then by the way...

Rafael González

8/20/2019 14:53:28

Leslie... YOU ARE RIGHT!!!!!

Neal Retke

8/20/2019 17:32:10

It's a very complicated thing, as many have referenced like above in detailed comments, but for me it's a matter of simplicity in many ways - Know your schedule & pick your battles. What I mean by that is this - Say you are hungry, but the only food available to you at the moment is a burger from a fast food joint. Now, most of us would acknowledge that this is problmatic from a number of levels, one on a nutritional & health basis, but also the social basis of a ' Big Box ' ect.. In this moment, you have to decide if you are going to avoid these pitfalls and take the time & effort to locate an alternative, or bite the bullet and accept the reality of the situation & just tuck in. IN my case, I'm an ethical vegetarian so I would be 100 % on board with the first option until things got pretty drastic, then I'd have to re-evaluate. We are, every day, presented with such ethical dilemmas & must decide, often in that moment, where our loyalties lay & what our schedules allow. In my case, FB has provided a very efficient way of reaching many people with ease, a good number of whom I would not be in touch with otherwise. As an old duck, I could compare it to the " Eternal Network " of mail art in that sense, but the reality is FB actually bought me back in touch with people from those days who I'd completely lost touch with ~! But as we already know, there's good in bad in everything.

I think the " Thing " with FB is so many people have it blown out of proportion, and especially in the case with younger people where social media in general ( Being honest, FB Is no longer for young people but old ducks like myself. Much in the way the internet will just become a retirement home - But I digress ) where it just replaces IRL socializing and takes on too long a shadow in their lives. But the end of the day its a tool, like any other tool it's up to you how useful it is. It's also, like everything else, got it's own inorganic life span. It will come and go, as will this EC cottage experiment. My goal in using any of these is not that they become a golden standard, or across the board sort of thing but rather a tool, useful for as long as it is. If things, ourselves included, survives the transition past the shelf lives of these, then we grapple with whatever comes down the pipe next.

But if you stay true to your moral compass, and don't neglect prioritizing your time management & get in over your head, there's nothing to worry about.

My two cents.

Chris Phinney

8/21/2019 20:23:25

Leslie is so correct, jack shit of comments about the comp & individual tracks well all I can say about that is fuck me running, lol, there to me should have been lots of comments, but & I say but wtf.

Lord Litter link

8/22/2019 03:47:28

... well what can I say .. I have a hunch who .. or what kind of update *culture* is to blame ...

Hal McGee

8/22/2019 06:23:59

You have not listened or commented. So maybe YOU are to blame ...

Lord Litter link

8/22/2019 06:52:48

... sorry .. I commented:

"I won't be able to listen to the compilation with pleasure for the time being, now that Facebook has suffocated another delicate plant of individuality...."

Time is a value these days. Nobody has any more time, rushed by smart phones, social media and the like. I take my time ... I decide if it takes a second or a month ...

If I say something I say something and not just spit a *I like* ...

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