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Messages - Tanky

#181
Help! / Re: Music query... Channel 4 trail...
05 July, 2007, 09:53:13 AM
That would be the instrumental version of Golden Skans by the Klaxons. It's much nicer without the vocals :)
#182
General / Re: dredd's world
05 July, 2007, 11:08:24 AM
The right to choose has not actually been lost here
Really? Were pub/club and other business owners gven a choice on whether to allow smoking on their premises? That idea was thrown out fairly early on if memory serves.

A complete ban might happen, but it's pretty unlikely
I disagree. I believe that if those affected don't make a stink (b'dum tshh!) now, then politicians are far more likely to try and ban smoking altogether. There are a lot of rumours (and at time of typing they thankfully remain such) that a complete ban is already in the pipeline.

...but I'd view control or even a total ban as wholly to my benefit.)
I'm not saying smoking less isn't beneficial. If you could just read my posts again you'd save me a lot of quoting time, thanks :)

The NHS is going to collapse
Quite possibly. A lot of people have given up smoking due to the ban (and best of luck to all of 'em I say). That's a hell of a lot of revenue gone  from tabacco sales for a start.

When that happens, we're all going to have to start paying for more services. Some of us will be lucky enough to have the money to pay for health insurance, but if you smoke, drink and eat badly, it's going to cost you more.
Personally I already have health insurance. My dad's experiences with the NHS a couple years ago (which as it wasn't smoking related I'd rather not go into further if you don't mind) convinced me that it would be a potentially life-saving idea. I'm not wealthy - I was on minimum wage at the time and I took a fair bit of time off to help care for dad but I still managed to pay for it. I guess that's a matter of individual priorities.

I understand the point you're trying to make, but some people will be extremely offended by the use of Niemöller's poem in this context.
Anyone? Show of hands? I'm quite happy to address  any genuine complaint. I on the other hand do consider wheeling out the same old smoking related health statistics to be an insult to my intelligence. That's why we have those warnings on fag packets.

Hello Floyd :)
...or on people being greedy gutses - very different bans and mostly totally unenforcable.
Now I admit I could be completely wrong on this point but doesn't Australia have a salt tax on certain foods? I remember talk of one when I was travelling at least. If that's the case, could that not be seen as an enforcable precursor to a ban on greedygutsness? If not, where the hell did I hear that?!

I'm assuming that old story about a little wine being good for digestion is true)
Unfortunately, not according to the UK health lobby. A unit of any alcohol per day is now considered a Very Bad Thing. I've just spent a good 10 minutes looking for the source for that and failed miserably, so apologies for not appearing to back that up.

Well, we can always have a pub crawl.
lol! I'm taking this a bit out of context here, but one of my best buds suggested that the other night. It appears some wits have already been out putting stickers on lamposts with the approximate distance to various pubs measured in cigarettes!
#183
General / Re: dredd's world
04 July, 2007, 10:17:07 AM
But smoking is also an infringement of non smokers 'rights' surely?

Believe it or not, I agree with you. If the government had decided to leave the decision up to individual pub/club owners, I'd have been more than happy to spend an evening or two in a non smoking pub. I am actually enjoying the fact that I'm not getting through a whole packet of ciggies in one evening anymore. But once you bring in a blanket ban - for anything- you're essentially branding a whole chunk of society as second class citizens and reinforcing the idea that it's ok for the rest of society to treat that 'chunk' accordingly.

to be honest, if they do start taking away peoples rights to inflict at best smelly inconveniences and at worst fatal health hazards, i cant really see that as a civil liberties issue.

That's because you don't smoke. That's my point exactly! What happens when it IS something you enjoy or care about that's the next thing to be banned?

If smokers are the communists, who are the jews?
Drinkers? Fat people? Who knows. Time will tell, I guess...
#184
General / Re: dredd's world
04 July, 2007, 09:05:46 AM
Some liberties are worthless.

Robin,
I don't think there's a single smoker in the UK who remains unaware of the increased risk to health. I did a charity show last month which raised £600+ for Cancer Research. I play because... I may need them someday. Of course I could also be hit by a bus tomorrow. My point is that whether you believe any given liberty to be worthless or not, it's that constant erosion of those civil liberties - the removal of the right to choose - that's the real problem. As Jim's already said - what's next? Drinkers? Fat tax?
How does that big famous quote go?

"They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up."


xTGx
#185
General / Re: dredd's world
03 July, 2007, 10:16:33 AM
Thanks muchly to Johnny and others in Ireland/Scotland for their market research! :)

Day 2, gig 2. Fags consumed - 4, Drinks consumed - 2 pints, 1 shot. A huge reduction on both counts and my brain is much happier for it today!
Last night's set was my resident student night in my local. Those of you on my Myspack will be sick of hearing about them :) My first impression was 'Oh, God I can smell the Guiness cooler. And the toilets. And that guy's armpits...' believe me, the new smell is nothing to get excited about! Happily, the new much needed air-con is going in. Unhappily, the new plasterboard all over the ceiling has made a right mess of the acoustics. I don't envy the first band to play one bit. While I'm on the subject of renovations, I looked into the matter of the new courtyard. Rac wrote...
And bar owners have had plenty of time to get their shit together and provide areas for smokers
Perhaps predictably, the new outdoor space is trapped in planning hell. I was still working behind the bar when the space was bought and planning applied for - about a year ago, I believe. So in this case at least, it's not the bar owner but rather the council, our local branch of government to blame for the lack of facilities.

So it was that a windy street corner in awful un-July-like weather replaced Sunday's lovely beer garden and yet still a good time was had by all. I found myself befriending complete strangers and catching up with people I hadn't spoken to in ages. There was a lighthearted sense of camaraderie(sp?) that's been sorely missing in bar culture.

I'm thinking of moving all these observations over into My First Blog if anyone's interested. I have a couple nights off now but I'll be sure to pimp it if/when it's up. As I'm pretty pro-choice on this and a lot of other issues, I hope this has all come across as balanced and impartial but I would like to finish with a message to the militant anti-smokers. I believe that your right to not breathe my smoke is just as important as my right to choose what goes into my body. However, I also believe that celebrating any person being denied a liberty is much more unpleasant than any cigarette smoke and much more dangerous.
Be excellent to each other,
Tanky x
#186
General / No Title
02 July, 2007, 09:47:58 AM
I played a 5 hour set in a pub yesterday. 'It's only a couple hours without a fag, what's the big deal?' I thought. About 3 hours in, I was desperately searching for a 10 minute tune (which turned out to be a right pain in the arse to monitor due to soundproofing issues) and about ready to chew my own arm off. The contrast in atmosphere was a bit weird too. Out in the crowded garden, nothing had changed much. In fact I spent a lovely post-work hour playing backgammon in the evening sun with a cold pint and a hard earned rolly. Inside, it was subdued, nervous, listless and about two thirds empty.

The point of this mini-rant is not to bash the smoking ban as such, but more to highlight the lack of provisions made for smokers, the lack of information on the finer points and the amount of issues still to be addressed. To be fair, the pub I played at yesterday has a lovely beer garden with shelters, heaters and the like, but I haven't seen many more in my area. My local bought the place next door to turn into a courtyard - that hasn't happened. If any clubs or live venues are providing re-entry, they've kept that very quiet. Now if all of this leads to a significant drop in the number of bums on seats - and I think it will, at least in the short term, what's that likely to do to my livelihood? My finances certainly won't be balanced by the amount I'm likely to save on death sticks.
As I'm self employed, am I subject to the usual laws regarding breaks? Are venues obliged to give me the same 10 minute break per 4.5 hrs as the bar staff for example? Are they more likely to simply cut the length of my set and, one assumes, the pay packet with it? Or did the right to a cigarette break get quietly axed yesterday too?

From a customer's point of view, I don't think it's the end of the world, but it does feel as if many places are simply saying 'We don't value your custom any more'. From the point of view of someone who makes a living in these places, I think I'm right to be very worried.

Tanky, smoking a fag x
#187
Off Topic / Re: Working for Friends
26 June, 2007, 09:53:56 AM
Well, if it hadn't been for all those mates already in the dj'n game, I don't think I'd have played a certain club twice after only a year in the field. I have however axed 'mates rates' completely* after one too many BBQ/party invites where I arrive to find a bunch of equipment set up 'in case I fancy a go'. Things are a lot better now, but it did take a while for my nearest and dearest to realise it is actually a proper job

*With one exception, being my best bud who fixed my boiler despite faffing, bitching and moaning from the landlord. And let me play with power tools to boot :) She gets freebies for life!
#188
Off Topic / Re: Birthday!
23 June, 2007, 12:54:58 PM
Many happy retards matey. See you later for rock flavoured pub based carnage. Spikey's bringing Fridaycam (yes, I know what day it is!) - you have been warned ;)

Oh, I totally forgot to get you a proper prezzie, so take this post as a rum voucher!
Mwah x
#189
Off Topic / Re: Illegal banking charges.........
21 June, 2007, 05:02:32 PM
The point is that by definition, you get into debt by spending money that isn't yours. Whether that money came from a big evil bank, your mum, or an advance on your wages, you gotta pay it back. Unless of course the world does owe you a living...
#190
Off Topic / Re: Comics in music
18 June, 2007, 09:07:10 AM
Good point, well made!

Been having a play with the lovely site Trout linked  as I think this might count too... (plus it's a crackin' tune)

Link: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rancid/side+kick_20114026.html" target="_blank">Rancid - Sidekick

#191
Off Topic / Re: Comics in music
18 June, 2007, 08:56:52 AM
Two more strikingly similar titles for ya...

Goldfinger - Superman
Can't remember the words for that but it's on the first Tony Hawks game if you really have to hear it

And from the depths of obscurity

Flat Planet - Superman
'Superman can you save me from my own insecurity'

And surely you can't get much more 'comics in music' than Gorillaz?
#192
Off Topic / Re: Ban the Above
14 June, 2007, 04:10:58 PM
For not letting me drive the tank :)
#193
Aaahh! I get it. Frankly I can't remember what happened last Tuesday so it's no big surprise! There was me thinking the hive mind had evolved :)
#194
How does it know?! I don't remember ever having to enter my D.O.B to register. I could be 7 1/2...
#195
What the monkey-lovin' clagnuts has been going on around here?!*

I never like the idea of extra rules myself but I guess if the place won't stay nice on it's own any more then it's necessary. Damn shame.

Anyhoo, I think I'll return to my state of semi-lurkerdom and see how it all affects the place. Do try to be excellent to each other now.

xTGx


*Don't worry, I'm not actually expecting an answer to that :)