scottb

Today I finally decided to sell my Epiphone Broadway which has gone essentially unplayed since I got that Cort semi-hollow body. I happened to say this aloud at the office today and the guy I share an office with piped up that he wanted it. So I went home and took it out just to play a bit to make sure everything was in order and was once again bothered by a lot of buzzing. Couldn't really find a fret that was buzzing, the whole thing was just buzzing. I raised the action the buzzing persisted. Finally said "What the heck, I'll change the strings." So I put in a set of Gibson flat-wounds that I was saving for the next string change and things got quiet. Lowered the action to a ridiculously low level, still no buzzing! Now this thing is playing as well as I could expect from a Korean made archtop and the sale is OFF! However, if I'm going to keep it, I'll have to upgrade the pickups. Playing my Cort with the PRS McCarty's in it has spoiled me. The stock Epiphones just aint gonna cut it any more. Any suggestions for replacement pickups? How would P90s sound in that guitar? I've seen some P90 style pickups that fit in standard humbucker routs and have been curious.

I was glad to see that all 35 of my titles were listed as shipped. Still wondering how I missed out on the free shipping. Did you need a coupon code or did they just stop offering that?

My 6 yr old has been playing piano for almost a year now and I've been suprised at well she has done with lessons at such a young age. She has private lessons at her school once a week and she loves it. I think the teacher deserves a lot of credit. I guess I said that to say this, 5 or 6 is not too young for formal lessons and with the right teacher they can have a great time. My 2 year old found an old harmonica of mine and has been playing it lately. She loves it. No formal lessons in the near future however.

Just ordered 35. No free shipping. I've been mainly upgrading my Blue Notes and have only a couple K2s so I loaded up!

True!! The funny thing with the EPL is that you dont seem to get booked unless you break the leg of your opponent! Then, the British players are always surprised when they get booked or red carded when they play on the European stage. They are used to get away with so much...... You should see the MLS! I was watching some games after the World Cup and I kept expecting straight red cards for some of the challenges which went uncarded.

My other thought about the lack of diving in the EPL was that the players don't get a chance to dive because they are REALLY being fouled!

I think Kinsman has already said he would NOT be the manager for the USNT.

I don't know if the "you" that you mention in your post is always referring to me. I note for the record that you don't counter any of my comments about bloody faces, diving, and poor reffing as being part of the "beautiful game", so I take it you are admitting those points? Am I allowed to make any comments? Hey, why do you assume I don't care for soccer, as I said I watched quite a few games, even taking some vacation time to watch them and I don't feel it is an inferior sport. I have attended several professional soccer games, though not in the US. My point was that I think there are certain elements of the game that are not appealing to many Americans- the diving, the fouling, the inconsistent reffing. And I take your point about the stretcher being used to quickly speed off a play, but hey once these guys get to the sideline they are miraculously hopping around. My point here is that in soccer many injuries seemed faked or at least overdramatized in a way that does not occur in the NFL and several European and South American soccer fans who were watching the World Cup with me did not disagree with that point. My post wasn't directed toward you really. You hear these complaints all the time about soccer. Certainly, the diving and faking are too big a part of the game. Which is why I don't care the French and Italian leagues that much. The Premier League doesn't quite have as much diving except for the young master Ronaldo who is known for diving and is pretty much hated for it. The refs handle him pretty well though and sometimes allow legitimate fouls because he exaggerates them. I was also very disappointed with the refs at the World Cup and thought they took a lot of enjoyment away. Again the refs in the Premier League do a much better job IMHO and even the MLS refs don't seem so bad after watching the World Cup. I guess my point is that although the World Cup should be soccer at its best, it surely wasn't this time around but let's not go trashing the whole thing over one event.

You know the whole gripe about the stretcher is bogus. They stretcher them off to get them out of the way so the game can resume without them until they are ready to rejoin the action. In the NFL if a guy goes down the game comes to halt, he limps off the field with the aide of 3 athletic trainers and it takes about 5 minutes. He then sits on the sideline for a possesion or two, a few commercial breaks, a few official timeouts not to mention the "regular" stopping of the clock, getting attention, icepacks, wraps, injections, whatever until he is ready to reenter if he can. And by the way, his team is allowed to replace him immediately. While I'm at it, what's the gripe about not knowing when the game will end? With 2 minutes left on an NBA clock can you honestly tell me within 10 minutes how long that game will last? How about a baseball game? How long are those 9 innings going to take? Who cares? If you don't care for soccer, fine. Don't watch it. Why feel the need to try to say a sport is inferior to another or a sport is stupid just because you don't understand it?

I happened to pass a TV on a sports channel and saw a couple of meatheads on a sports talk show. They obviously had no clue about football or the World Cup but there they were giving their expert sports announcer commentary about the final. They ended by saying that they were glad the World Cup was over and now soccer can go away for a while. No wonder the average American doesn't understand or appreciate the beautiful game.

After watching those "highlights" I guess it's safe to say he doesn't like Shevchenko. He was victimized several times. Those clips disgust me. His intentional use of the studs repeatedly is a disgrace to football. FIFA should be ashamed to allow this guy to continue to play professionally. I would think that is enough video evidence in that reel to get him banned from organized football for life!

I saw some speculation about Zidane being called a "terrorist" and another report speculated that the comment related to him being from Algeria, something like "You should go play for your own country" Strictly rumor at this point. Zidane's manager said Zidane told he said something very serious that provoked him but wouldn't say what it was. I imagine we'll get the details soon enough.

I find it amusing that soccer players refuse to use their hands even when attacking an opponent! Why not just sock the guy? It's not like you're not going to be sent off for a headbutt.

I disagree. The French played very well against Spain, Brazil and Italy and certainly went through the tougher sides compared to Italy's draw.

My prediction for the final. France win in PKs after 120 minutes of rather dull football with only 2-3 shots on goal between the two. Wake me when they start the PKs! I'm happy for France but the match with Brazil would've made a great final and I'm afraid the real final won't live up to the expectations.

Wasn't he playing for France yesterday? I think I saw him. He was playing, only for SPAIN. They are teammates at Arsenal and Cesc has a better understanding of Henry than his French teammates.

I was diasappointed to see Henry over acting on the foul. I think his being offsides a lot is forgivable. Sometimes you have to walk that line to get an advantage. When you beat the trap you're a hero but if you never do, your a lazy good for nothin'. Several of his offsides were the fault of the through pass not coming early enough. If Cesc was playing for France he'd have sent Henry through for a couple chances at goal. I thought Spain was taking some chances playing such a high line. Henry can be lethal attacking a back line like that. Another missed offside in the first half. The linesmen seem to be unable or unwilling to see across the field and see that a far side defender is keeping the attacker onside.

Iloved how his teammates come over, not to see if he's OK but to congratulate him on a grand performance. He should have taken a bow.

By saying they were in trouble I meant if they don't step it up a notch they're going to be out because there are some teams that look like they are on top form. I thought today Mexico did just that and gave Argentina a good run. I think having Borgetti back helped a lot. I found myself pulling for them when they really are our hated rivals like Jum said. One of the best games of the Cup so far. That list also included England and and Ecuador who play each other so at least one of them will be around for another turn, but trouble lurks...

I think we have a new "Goal of the Cup" You can't hit one any better than that! Rodriguez puts Arg up!

OK, I am now impressed with Germans. Mexico is rising to the occasion as we head into extratime! (my point is made again as Argentina was NOT offside in injury time. At best they were level which is supposed to be onside now.)

The other thing I've noticed about the officiatig besides being really easy with the cards, is missing offsides calls. I've seen numerous call some wrongly called onside some wrongly call offside. I watch a lot of EPL and on first galnce when you think they've blown it, 99% of the time the replay shows the linesman to be right. In This World Cup the officials seem to be missing a whole lot more.

France did come alive today and hopefully will gain confidence from their goals which will lead to more goals. As you said, they certainly played well and created numerous chances but were only able to finsh a couple. In 1998 I pulled against France and in 2002 was glad to see them go out without a goal but somehow I've found myself pulling for them in this WC. I think my love for beautiful play and great players like Vieira, Henry and Zidane have endeared them to me and now it saddens me to see such a team struggle. I'm torn in this next game because I've always been fond of Spain as well and it's nice for them to living up their potential. I think this will be a great match.

The Germans actually haven't impressed me. I see 4-2 over Costa Rica as defensive weakness. A late win over Poland and a win over an Ecuador team who was resting (even the players on the field ) doesn't really say much. People are excited that they are attacking and aren't their usual robotic selves but that may turn against them when they face teams a little more comfortable with that pace. I think Spain, Argentina and Brazil would punish that German back line.

Now that the US has been dumped, I can focus on the beautiful game!! Brazil has arrived!!! Absolutely beautiful play today. 20+ shots, most of them on goal, many requiring fantastic saves. Could've been 10-1. I'm excited about some of these teams meeting up in the later rounds, Spain, Brazil and Argentina. I think England is in trouble as are Sweden, Mexico, Ghana, Australia and Ecuador. They all await their fate against one of these teams that are really on form. It's not too late for Italy, Netherlands or Portugal if they raise their game a bit they could be right there as well. France, well, it's almost too sad to say anything.