Fender "Road Worn" guitars for 2009

[kiramdear]

I live in the World Capital of Self-Righteous Indig-Nation--Marin County. People here all have Causes, spelled with a capital C, and a good many of them are just Pet Peeves with Onions and Peppers (PPOP). It's kinda hard to avoid being steeped in this sort of stuff. Honestly, everyone in my town has at least one Prius in their driveway (thinking they are showing their commitment to doing something about global warming, even though it's been shown that a Prius has a larger carbon footprint over its lifetime than an Escalade, due to battery disposal costs and manufacturing inefficiencies). There's a lot of surface interest in Issues, but once the index of self-satisfaction has reached equilibrium, most people are OK with having done their part. Sacrifice? Unacceptable.

Paul, I like your summary of our unlovely neighbors. The self-righteous sense of entitlement here is so thick you can cut it with a knife. I don't know why this place is a magnet for rich, phony, selfish, shallow hypocrites. Living proof that ( 1 ) greediness lowers one's IQ, and ( 2 ) that there is no connection between power and virtue. I could elaborate but poor Peter has enough editing to do already

[jingle_jangle]

I've worked on both sides of the fence, and thankfully my job now is encouraging young soon-to-be professionals to stand up and make their own choices using crtical faculties, not just toeing the chalkline of greater profits.

In today's job market, you are preparing them for a quick trip from the corporate job to the unemployment line. One instance of standing up and they will be cleaning out the office. Reality, no matter how much it sucks.

Not so, John, and I am sorry to see I've gotten your back up on this. Perhaps my wording was a bit strong, but I have no problem explaining the non-digital (shades-of-gray) nature of my comments.

Of course, I do NOT mean that my graduates should eschew the authority of their superiors or the corporations that pay their salaries (and in most cases spend a couple of years nurturing their professional growth post-graduation). What I mean to say is that today's corporate culture (most especially in the design of vehicles and consumer products ranging from toys to life-saving and -prolonging medical devices, and everything in between), at the design stage, the positions that are available to be filled by new grads, are most likely to find their best candidates among positive, forward-thinking individuals who can think on their feet, and who have the strong convictions that leadership demands, coupled with a certain mindset that has a basis in idealism, but knows to work with a corporate team in a pragmatic way. They are most certainly not "drones", and would be a poor fit in a dronelike position. In such a case, they would certainly be cleaning out their desks, probably at their own initiative.

Typically, we place over 80% of our graduates in Industrial Design, in real-world design positions, within 6 months of their graduations. This is a placement percentage that has remained steady since 2004, thanks to the terrific team of working professionals within my department, and our own personal reputations as working pros, with any number of Fortune 500 Corporations. Our grads have little (if any) difficulty fitting into the cultures of any of these corporations.

Issues such as sustainability, economy of materials, tooling, and energy usage, recyclability of major componentry, and, last but not least, personal integrity, are emphasized in casework and in our own educational culture, so absorption learning can take place along with directed studies, and students do not experience shock and awe (as I did back in 1970!) in their own first "real" job placements.

So your terse remarks have validity in some cases, but this is far from a black-and-white issue that can be commented upon in a thumbs-up/thumbs-down manner. And I apologize for not qualifying my own remarks more carefully.

[jingle_jangle]

Paul, I like your summary of our unlovely neighbors. The self-righteous sense of entitlement here is so thick you can cut it with a knife. I don't know why this place is a magnet for rich, phony, selfish, shallow hypocrites. Living proof that ( 1 ) greediness lowers one's IQ, and ( 2 ) that there is no connection between power and virtue. I could elaborate but poor Peter has enough editing to do already

I think I'd probably prefer to say, Kira, that there is little connection between power and virtue. Those who can absorb power and see it for what it is--a facilitator to help others to "bootstrap" into their own self-realization--are rare and admirable.

But, just as we often confuse fear and admiration when faced with powerful people, do we confuse beauty with integrity and equate it with goodness. Oops.

It's an unfortunate fact of life here in the West (does the USA lead here and everyone else follow? a point to ponder...) that we've often become infantile in our expectations of life's rewards. It seems to be an endless cycle of "feed me" (leading to a diet of junk, whether it be our choice of food or intellectual stimulation), rather than, "show me the way and then get the heck out of my way", as it was a couple of generations ago.

I painted fellow Marinites with a broad brush; there is so much good here, too. On an individual basis (as we get to pick and choose our own friends), people can be lovely. But there seems to be an overriding vibe of cruel narcissism that must be actively ignored in order that we can enjoy the peace we love. As you've hinted, the over-the-top cases are easy to spot, here as anywhere.

This place is a magnet for all types, but because of its desirability in terms of weather, culture, and geography, the cost of admission tends to be high, and there will always be those who feel a pathological sense of entitlement, which of course is the flip-side of fear of inferiority and the need to compensate for same. I know What I'm talking about, as I work hard to keep mine in check, and don't often succeed, truth be told. World's smallest violin, anyone?

[kiramdear]

I don't think rich folks are bad. Rich folks in Europe are a hoot. It's something about new wealth or transient or fast wealth in California that has the bad effect I described.

And the drivers are scary. I had to stop riding my bike on the street many years ago for fear of my life

[johnallg]

I've worked on both sides of the fence, and thankfully my job now is encouraging young soon-to-be professionals to stand up and make their own choices using crtical faculties, not just toeing the chalkline of greater profits.

In today's job market, you are preparing them for a quick trip from the corporate job to the unemployment line. One instance of standing up and they will be cleaning out the office. Reality, no matter how much it sucks.

Not so, John, and I am sorry to see I've gotten your back up on this. Perhaps my wording was a bit strong, but I have no problem explaining the non-digital (shades-of-gray) nature of my comments.

Of course, I do NOT mean that my graduates should eschew the authority of their superiors or the corporations that pay their salaries (and in most cases spend a couple of years nurturing their professional growth post-graduation). What I mean to say is that today's corporate culture (most especially in the design of vehicles and consumer products ranging from toys to life-saving and -prolonging medical devices, and everything in between), at the design stage, the positions that are available to be filled by new grads, are most likely to find their best candidates among positive, forward-thinking individuals who can think on their feet, and who have the strong convictions that leadership demands, coupled with a certain mindset that has a basis in idealism, but knows to work with a corporate team in a pragmatic way. They are most certainly not "drones", and would be a poor fit in a dronelike position. In such a case, they would certainly be cleaning out their desks, probably at their own initiative.

Typically, we place over 80% of our graduates in Industrial Design, in real-world design positions, within 6 months of their graduations. This is a placement percentage that has remained steady since 2004, thanks to the terrific team of working professionals within my department, and our own personal reputations as working pros, with any number of Fortune 500 Corporations. Our grads have little (if any) difficulty fitting into the cultures of any of these corporations.

Issues such as sustainability, economy of materials, tooling, and energy usage, recyclability of major componentry, and, last but not least, personal integrity, are emphasized in casework and in our own educational culture, so absorption learning can take place along with directed studies, and students do not experience shock and awe (as I did back in 1970!) in their own first "real" job placements.

So your terse remarks have validity in some cases, but this is far from a black-and-white issue that can be commented upon in a thumbs-up/thumbs-down manner. And I apologize for not qualifying my own remarks more carefully.

Paul, no offense was taken. I was sad posting what I did. And in the general job markets, I believe what I said. Artistic endeavors may allow more open individuality, I will agree.

In your second paragraph, you state "are most likely to find their best candidates among positive, forward-thinking individuals who can think on their feet, and who have the strong convictions that leadership demands, coupled with a certain mindset that has a basis in idealism, but knows to work with a corporate team in a pragmatic way." Aye, there's the rub. But knows how to work with a corporate team in a pragmatic way. They still have to "fit in" with the established corporate culture, which has become entrenched in satisfying the shareholders. The days of financing speculative research or endeavors is pretty much gone. Only in rare companies is that allowed, usually run by those positive forward thinking individuals you speak of, but then we are talking about start-ups at that stage, not a corporate environment.

I do not believe we are disagreeing.....

[cassius987]

Paul, just curious, can you source the stuff about the Prius's carbon footprint (versus a conventional car)? I agree, Hybrid vehicles are "programs", not "new visions", as the Quinn character B would put it. But I was not aware if the Prius is truly just a shot in the foot.

With regard to Quinn's writing... I've never experienced this "100 pages in you want to kick the wall" thing. Actually I find his writing very absorbing. Maybe it's because my generation is so completely sucked into the mire of idiocracy that for me reading his work is like getting handed a snorkel while drowning.

Remember the Ford Fiesta, didn't that get like 45 mpg back in the 70s or 80s?

[johnallg]

Remember the Ford Fiesta, didn't that get like 45 mpg back in the 70s or 80s?

If it held together, especially after the first Michigan winter (road salt heaven).

[ozover50]

This place is a magnet for all types

Whachoo talkin' 'bout Wilczynski??

So now I'm a 'type' am I?

Hurrumph!!

[johnallg]

This place is a magnet for all types

Whachoo talkin' 'bout Wilczynski??

So now I'm a 'type' am I?

Hurrumph!!

You might be a type, Howard, but you're a NICE type.

[kiramdear]

Aitch, you're not a type. You're one-of-a-kind original good people.

[wj350]

FWIW, reading comments around some other forums, these guitars are getting a lot of positive compliments.

Might be worth checking out.

[cassius987]

FWIW, reading comments around some other forums, these guitars are getting a lot of positive compliments.

Might be worth checking out.

What guitars? Oh yeah we got way OT there.

I generally find there is always a positive reception to new Fender stuff but the rule always holds for me that 1 in 5 is usually good and 1 in 20 is usually one I'd consider owning and the rest are really uninspiring. I have a feeling these'll be the same way but I'm eager to try one. The P Bass looks nice with the gold pickguard.

[jingle_jangle]

Paul, just curious, can you source the stuff about the Prius's carbon footprint (versus a conventional car)? I agree, Hybrid vehicles are "programs", not "new visions", as the Quinn character B would put it. But I was not aware if the Prius is truly just a shot in the foot.

With regard to Quinn's writing... I've never experienced this "100 pages in you want to kick the wall" thing. Actually I find his writing very absorbing. Maybe it's because my generation is so completely sucked into the mire of idiocracy that for me reading his work is like getting handed a snorkel while drowning.

Remember the Ford Fiesta, didn't that get like 45 mpg back in the 70s or 80s?

Here's a quick source:

http://cnwmr.com/nss-folder/automotiveenergy

Go to the bottom of the page for a .pdf download; title of this paper is "Hidden Cost of Driving a Prius". There are many sources for this same info.

I owned a '78 Ford Fiesta Ghia, which I bought new back then. Super car if you like 'em tiny, but surprising room...My wife and I used to go camping in it. Loaded with factory mags, 5 speed, deluxe seats (very comfortable!), removable factory sun/moonroof, A/C, full power, great Jensen stereo, Nardi wood-rimmed wheel; fully packed and out the door for $5600.00.

The best mileage I ever got was heading down to New Orleans in November '78; 38 MPG. Maybe the cheapo stripper (which was 120 pounds lighter) got 45, but I think maybe 40 was more reasonable.

My '80 SAAB Turbo 3 door (my next new car after the Fiesta) typically got 34 on trips, in real sporty luxury.

[cassius987]

My wife's dad, a self-reliant, DIY type, claims 45 mpg on their old Fiesta... I'll have to pester him about it some more especially now that they're bringing it back.

What annoys me is the way the Big 3 are now trying to reinvent the wheel when they already had a good electric. Was it GM that came out with the EV or something?--featured in the movie Who Killed The Electric Car. And now they're trying to design a new one?? The people who drove the old one loved it so I don't follow their logic.

[rikk]

What annoys me is the way the Big 3 are now trying to reinvent the wheel when they already had a good electric. Was it GM that came out with the EV or something?--featured in the movie Who Killed The Electric Car. And now they're trying to design a new one?? The people who drove the old one loved it so I don't follow their logic.

That's why they need a bailout.