Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: Bob In PA on November 06, 2023, 05:25:52 PMPSU: I figured there was more than one reason why we seldom disagree here (besides the fact that as PSU fans we obviously know a lot more about football than other members lol).

I, also a big Beatles fan and played in rock bands from age 14 to 41. We always did as many Beatles songs as we thought we could get away with (despite constantly changing "music scenes" including the disco era).

The best of them featured many Beatles songs, including an entire set consisting of the back side of the Abbey Road album from beginning to end. The last song, by the way, is called "The End." lol

We thought a lot of them and their song-writing in particular. Here's just 1 more example of "how much"...

Our bass player was a dead ringer for McCartney. He was such a huge fan that he intentionally learned how to play his standard (right-hand) bass upside down so it would point in the same direction as McCartney's. (McCartney is left-handed and plays a left-handed bass correctly). He eventually got into  two nationally-known Beatles-tribute bands and has traveled the world impersonating McCartney for many years.

Bob

Very cool, Bob!  And yes, us Penn Staters are probably the wisest, most talented, and most humble folks on the Earth.   

Awesome stuff Jolly- I'll come back to it in a bit when I have more than 2 minutes to write...but it made me think about a quick experience I had this summer.  My wife is a huge Dave Matthews fan (I'm a fan...like his music but I'd certainly never rate as a "huge" fan)....anyway, we went to one of his concerts and in the middle he and his band covered I want you (she's so heavy) - which is off Abbey Road and I believe was one John brought to the band to work on. 

Anyway, here's what struck me- that song is a good song by the Beatles but by no means what I'd consider close to their best....but the songwriting, composition, chord changes, "feel" changes, varied instrumentation (and the excellence as to how every instrument was played on the original version), tempo and time signature changes....was just in a word superior than anything else Dave played that night (and he's got some good ones).  It's just the Beatles at the height of their songwriting abilities just can't be touched.  That cover stuck out like a sore thumb as far as songwriting quality. 

Here it is in case you need a refresher (it's the song that leads directly into Here Comes the Sun on the album, which is such a unique/harsh change in feel from one song to the next):
https://youtu.be/tAe2Q_LhY8g?si=l_48hMpXQsD-_DvQ

Quote from: Bob In PA on November 06, 2023, 04:39:45 PMI've heard it played on one of our local radio station's morning show.

I like the music, but IMO the voice AI is still in its infancy.

As an ersatz professional musician (lol) I know why but it's hard to explain. I'll give it a try...

It sounds as though ALL of the lead vocal was derived from a single digital "sample" of Lennon's voice.

I say that because there is a certain "monotony" (or, to be more precise, a mono-tonality) in the singing, which would happen if you, for example, took a sample of a single piano key and then used that sample to reproduce all 88 keys on a piano. Although I play several instruments, my main instrument has always been piano and I know that each of the 88 keys has a different timbre. So does a person's voice. They should have sampled, at a minimum, Lennon singing every possible note within his range, both loud and soft, then used all of those samples to "predict" digitally what he would have sounded like singing the tune of the song. A much better (and almost impossible) addition to the foregoing would have been to get samples of him singing every possible syllable of the lyrics in the song on the same note as in the melody. There's more but I seem to "hear" some snoring in the background so I'll just quit. lol

Bob

Ha.  Good stuff.  I do think that might have crossed a line into trying to do "too much" with AI...ie tampering with nature and I'd bet a bunch of purists would have balked at anyone doing that with John's voice especially.

Now...me???  I think it's cool as hell and has tons of applications.  I don't think we're all that far away from hearing "new" songs sung by old/dead musicians......and labeled as such (ie, not taking credit).  Pretty interesting new art form on the way that a lot of folks will probably rebel against. 

I am an absolutely huge Beatles fan, even though I was born 6 years after they broke up.  I love that they did this and did it as a kind of farewell.  When I heard the song I liked it but was more impressed over how they pulled John's vocal out and cleaned it up...it sounds incredible.  There is also a short film where they described how it came together which I'll post below.

I will say my opinion of the song changed a lot when I saw the video you posted above- completely changed it for me, got me honestly a bit emotional as I watched.  Very cool how they put that together and showed their friendship so strongly, then the end where they sign off with that absolutely iconic frame of them in front of the drums and fade away...so well done!  20 years...50 years...150 years from now they will still hold iconic, legendary status.  Just crazy to think about.

Anyway, here's the short film:
https://youtu.be/APJAQoSCwuA?si=4vXQhpYBal_u-p0p

Given the circumstances of the QB play and OL, Barkley has been nothing short of incredible this season.  It will make for an interesting (again) discussion this offseason I'm sure. 

Quote from: MightyGiants on November 06, 2023, 01:54:17 PMWhere was the term "great Giant" used? 

Great question. 

I wish DJ nothing but the best and appreciate all the work and dedication he's put in for this franchise.  Sadly, it seems his story will end on a sour note.  That's just how things shake out sometimes.

Quote from: Bob In PA on November 05, 2023, 12:29:47 PMPSU: Franklin finally unleashed Allar. Let's see if he's ready to beat a pro-caliber team playing at home.

Assuming his development continues at the current rate, IMO Giants should wait until he comes out (2025).

Meanwhile taking Harrison, Jr. (or equivalent elite WR) should get the O ready for what IMO Allar will  have to offer.

Bob

I'm liking what I'm seeing of Allar so far but definitely need to see more accuracy on mid to long range throws before I'm sold as an NFL franchise QB.  He's got a lot of tools to work with in his game, but I've yet to see him really carry a team on his back in a big game.  Of course, the great tragedy is he's got nowhere NEAR the WRs that OSU has to offer...if I were Franklin I'd make that job #1 for next year.

Quote from: Bob In PA on November 05, 2023, 11:16:41 AMJimmy: Let's see how he does against Penn State and Ohio State first.

Both have good defenses that will put him under big-time pressure which IMO he hasn't yet had to deal with.

Bob

Yep, we'll see how he does with a ton of pressure in his face next week.  Should be a good indicator of what he'd look like in Giants blue.   

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on November 02, 2023, 12:47:40 PMMaybe I interpreted it wrong, but I was under the impression after reading it that Schoen said something to the effect of, "let me know by 4pm today" (if you're ok with being traded to Seattle.) Ie, if you're ok with being traded at all.

If he in fact meant, "we're trading you definitely. It can be one of a few different teams. Let me know which one you prefer", then I misunderstood.

Definitely think you're interpreting it wrong.  I see no inkling of evidence of "a GM who seeks players' permission before trading them and allows them to be the final decision maker, even in the event that the GM thinks their decision is not in the best interests of the organization".  (which of course...would be a completely stupid approach). 

I see zero downsides to what Schoen did here and nothing but positives.  It's a very professional and classy way to handle players, especially vets, and I'm glad in this very human business we have a GM that treats people with the respect they've earned in the league.

I want wins.  As many as possible.  If we're winning more games, we're more likely to have the right players and coaches in place to take the next step next year.  The draft is too much of a risky proposition to purposely tank, and tanking in my opinion wrecks a team culture and makes the coaches and GM seem like frauds in the player's eyes.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on November 02, 2023, 12:19:11 PMSo we definitely think it's better to have a GM who seeks players' permission before trading them and allows them to be the final decision maker, even in the event that the GM thinks their decision is not in the best interests of the organization?

Is there evidence of this happening I'm not aware of?

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on November 01, 2023, 07:22:10 PMThis is interesting. If Leo's account is accurate (which I obviously have no reason to think it isn't), it sounds like Schoen asked him for his permission to trade him.


https://twitter.com/TalkinGiants/status/1719849057667940682

GREAT way to handle it by Schoen.  These players are humans and it's a human business- handling an organization with pride and respect is big for the culture and players around the league take notice of this type of stuff (especially vets like Leo).  Kudos to the GM.

My wife was gone for the weekend and when she got back yesterday she had to listen to me describe the brutality of that game on Sunday....she was very sweet and pretended to care. 

But what I told her is I've been a fan since 1985 and obviously have seen some brutal losses, but I honestly can't remember one the bad...just the sequence of events of the entire game, ending the way it did...the heroism of the defense and Saquon squandered away, effectively ending any hopes of the season turning around.  BRUTAL!

I listened to it but there's no way this ranks up there with his best rants.  Weird way to describe it, the guy hardly even flew any spittle around from screaming.  2/10.   

Quote from: AZGiantFan on October 30, 2023, 05:50:12 PMHe had a run of 34 yards (where he was caught from behind).  On his other 35 runs he averaged 2.7 yards.  There is no context that makes that good.

Hilariously terrible take.