THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #1048 - June 7, 1998



Magical Armchair Digest     Sunday, June 7 1998     Volume 01 : Number 1048



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1044
    atonement? not quite.
    right...... it's pole time.....
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1045
    bust out the turntables, old school is back!
    Another 'Air' interpretation
    International Fans Page Update
    RF
    GAG'ers and you
    BFF and The Truman Show
    Stop the personal attacks!
    Ben's Stool  (piano stool, that is) AND

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 20:24:46 PDT 
From: "garrett john weindorf" <garrett32@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1044

Bree!  I'm a huge Macca/Beatles fan---

 yes--there is a mccartney live album--tripping the live fantastic!

   and yes---ben made a little play on words in Underground with 
"slamming the pit fantastic"---

   well, thats that!  =)

  garrett

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 20:34:29 PDT 
From: "Courtney Knopf" <vegasbaby@hotmail.com>
Subject: atonement? not quite.

The people on this list who a have wonderful adn well developed sense of 
irony.... well, they restore my faith in humanity.

I just feel bad for those who don't.

And in reading my post yesterday, I must say it came out much bitchier 
that I intended it to be.  That seems to be my problem when i write 
email late at night. I get all kinds of bitchy and morosely bitter.

But I meant what I said about expanding your horizons as far as music 
appreciation is concerned. It's really important to know a little abotu 
every genre. And to be able to recognize the roots of certain kinds of 
music. I'd bet that only a handfull of people who could tell me who 
Robert Johnson was.

The best advice I can give you all who want to expand yoru musical 
knowledge is to go to the public library. i know it sounds super-cheesy 
and afterschool special-ish, but I know the library I go to has 
thousands of CDs, records and tapes. This way you can get a sampling of 
stuff and decide if you like it.

Just trying to spread the knowledge, kids.

~Courtney
The Sultraness of Swing
"You're a right sexy bastard, aren't you?"

IN AND AROUND MY CD PLAYER:
Rufus Wainright - S/T
Beth Orton - Trailer Park
Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk
Dimitri From Paris - Sacre Bleu
Sean Lennon - Into the Sun
Pulp - This Is Hardcore
COMING SOON: Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums featuring Miss Carmen 
Getit. Courtesy of Carmen, a lovely gal and my new hero.

______________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Sat, 6 Jun 1998 13:37:17 +1000
From: "Grover" <grover@powerup.com.au>
Subject: right...... it's pole time.....

massive hostility on the armchair has driven me to this point....

In the apparent absence of that guy who liked poles a whole lot, I'm going
to hold my own.

Those who have no problem with sarcasm on the MA, mail me, tell me so
Those who have no problem with posts which waver ever so slightly from
"bentent", mail me, tell me so
Those who like to jerk off on flaming everything someone else says, mail
me, tell me so. (oh, & by the way, someone who likes to 'jerk off' can also
be referred to as a 'wanker', 'tosser', 'flogger', whatever you'd like to
call it)
Those of you who get insulted easily by the above people, & then for some
reason retaliate in a similar manner, mail me, tell me so
Those who really don't care & just love the music Ben Folds Five create,
mail me, tell me so

I'll let you know the results when I have enough to make my post worthwhile

have a nice day

Mel

"I love you, you're my friend"

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 00:34:32 -0400
From: vito <goatman1@geocities.com>
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1045

i also think that rusty girl should shut the fuck up

BBB  EEEE N   N     FFFF  OO  L    DD    SS      FFFF I V     V EEEE
B  B E    NN  N     F    O  O L    D D  S        F    I V     V E
BBB  EEE  N N N     FFF  O  O L    D D   S       FFF  I  V   V  EEE
B  B E    N  NN     F    O  O L    D D    S      F    I   V V   E
BBB  EEEE N   N     F   goATman1@geOCitiES.com   F    I    V    EEEE
- ----- http://www.Geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/7544/bf5.html -----

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 00:42:20 -0400
From: vito <goatman1@geocities.com>
Subject: bust out the turntables, old school is back!

well, i left around the time when pluvious was pissing everyone off, and
now im back.  its official... 

i noticed that a lot of new people are complaining about us "old school"
fans, well, i think i speak for us all when i say SHUT THE HELL UP.  no one
cares what anybody thinks, especially when everyone's complaining.  i
remember back a little over a year ago when i would get ONE armchair a
night, and it would only have about 6 or 7 posts on it. no one complained,
everyone just lived in peace, it was all happy.

This was an entire armchair back in september of 1996

      Singer-Songwriters
      Background Music for MTV Again
      Re: BF5 in the Netherlands
      BF5 / video
      BFF UK tour
      BF5 and Counting Crows
      BFF in UK charts
      bb5-singles
      por favor...

look-- nobody's complaining... its all totally neutral and its all
informative stuff that people wouldnt mind reading!  please, people try
your best to keep the bitching to a minimum... and try to only post things
if its necessary, i enjoyed reading them when i only had 7 or so posts a
night.

i know things will never be the same, but we can try

whatever and ever
vito
"now its smoke"

BBB  EEEE N   N     FFFF  OO  L    DD    SS      FFFF I V     V EEEE
B  B E    NN  N     F    O  O L    D D  S        F    I V     V E
BBB  EEE  N N N     FFF  O  O L    D D   S       FFF  I  V   V  EEE
B  B E    N  NN     F    O  O L    D D    S      F    I   V V   E
BBB  EEEE N   N     F   goATman1@geOCitiES.com   F    I    V    EEEE
- ----- http://www.Geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/7544/bf5.html -----

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 23:46:06 -0500
From: Rick Fuss <rfuss@ais.net>
Subject: Another 'Air' interpretation

The local newspaper (Daily Southtown) just ran an article about BFF.
The teaser on the front page of the entertainment section showed
a graphic of an acoustic guitar and said something about BFF on page
three.  I got a little chuckle out of that.  Anyways, the writer
says that "Air" is about pondering suicide.  

On an unrelated note, if Hamell on Trial is playing in your town
be sure to check him out.  Hamell is one guy on a acoustic guitar
who rocks a lot harder than many 4 piece bands I've seen.  His
shows are part rock concert, part stand-up comedy, part spoken
word/poetry reading and, if you're lucky, part puppet show.
Hamell puts on one of the most energetic live shows I've seen.

later...
- --Rick


============================================================================
      Rick Fuss                     |    Rick's Lo-Fi Homepage
      rfuss@ais.net                 |    http://www.cl.ais.net/rfuss/
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  "Somebody please tell this machine, I'm not a machine"--The Flaming Lips
============================================================================
 

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 00:52:07 -0400
From: Jessica Brandt <jbrandt@kent.edu>
Subject: International Fans Page Update

Hey Y'all, here's a zinger for ya:

Something about BFF that doesn't involve conflict. actually, it has to do
with peace and love and good feelings and ...*puke*

Anyhow, i've updated the BFF International Fans Page. We now span 11
countries (including japan, singapore, new zealand, germany, the
netherlands, sweden, canada, australia, the UK, France and Ireland) and
there are 49 members!

If you're from outside the US and would like to join the list, please stop
by and sign a form (link at the end of this mail)

If you're from anywhere, including the US, and love BFF and talking to
other fans, or want to make some contacts from around the world, stop by
and fill out a form to get a "Ben Pal". I assure you, they don't bite. 

If you love BFF sites and love BFF and learning about other fans from
around the world, this is the place for you.

If you want to meet some people from YOUR neck of the woods, this is the
place for you.

So anyway, have a nice day.
jess

****************************************************************
        I'm not just naked, I'm Naked for Jesus!!!
        *      --+-Read The Shrubbery-+--        *      
          http://www.theshrubbery.prohosting.com    
        --New Every Month- -Humor, News and More--
        
         * Ben Folds Five International Fans Page *
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Backstage/6814/fans.html 
       --Get a "Ben" Pal-  -Now Spans 11 Countries--
        
         *     Cousin Jess's World Wide Mess      *
   http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Backstage/6814
     --Tape Trading- Way Cool Links- Literary Madness--
*****************************************************************

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 00:59:23 -0400
From: Jaki Hsieh <sinnamon@mindspring.com>
Subject: RF

I would like too take this time to point out that not ALL Filers are anti
armchair and not all filers are in this "ambush", and to make such a
generalization is hypocritical considering thats what they have been doing
to you.

Jaki

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 01:27:04 -0400
From: Gregory <ggregory@kingston.net>
Subject: GAG'ers and you

>Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 07:34:28 CDT 
>From: "Scott A. Schneider" <saschneid@hotmail.com>
>Subject: What have we gotten ourselves into?
>
>
>I'm not sure if it was 
>mild cockiness on my friends part or misunderstanding from others; <snip>

"Mild Cockiness"?  Let's review:

>From Marcus:

>"Miss me?  Remember me?  It's been several months since I unsub'd, but
>I've come back by popular demand."

Sorry Marcus, you've not been mentioned once since you signed off.  And
before you start, I was here when you left.

>"Gone are the days when a Ben Folds Five show meant a
>group of about 200 people, all @ least as intelligent as me & w/the
>taste/class to sing along (LOUDLY!!!) & pogo (THE HIGHER THE BETTER) but
>to leave the Docs @ home."

I certainly hope they weren't as arrogant as you were.  

>From Eric:

>"Now don't get me wrong, I'm down to do the Toxic
>Waltz (if you don't get the reference, you're too out of the loop to be
>any good anyway)"

Admit it; you're the only person that's actually in the loop.

>From scott:

>"So, for the month of June, we're all giving the Magical Armchair a 
>second chance."

To reiterate, not many people really care whether you come back or not.
Couldn't you guys have picked February as your month to "enlighten" us?

>From Matthew:

>"(provided i stay long enough
>at this fanletter that's already been proven once to be weak.)and maybe,
if you >listen carefully, you'll learn something."

Let's all hope that you don't.  And I know I've learned something about the
'old school'...they're all dickheads.

"so.....for those of you who don't recognize me (uh.......newbies)"

Pathetically sad. 

>I'm was not trying to and will not belittle anyone but the people who 
>post the word "unsubscribe" to the MA 50 times instead of reading the 
>MA-FAQ or people who ask the same questions that have been covered in 
>the BFF-FAQ. 

Given those quotes, I find that hard to believe.

>I suggest reading the FAQ not only because I wrote it,

You just had to throw that one in, didn't you...?

>but 
>because it'll answer a lot of your questions and minimize the digests 
>being clogged with 30 posts answering the same questions over and over 
>and 30 posts flaming you for asking the same question that was answered 
>last week.

Will you be adding "Dickhead GAG'ers and how to deal with them" to the FAQ?
Thirty posts answering the SLNIT question are a hell of a lot less annoying
than the return of the GAG'ers. 

>Use discretion in your post: thousands are watching.

*ROTFL* Thank you for the warning.  I realize a ML devoted to a band like
BFF should be very serious and sombre. 

>This will be my last public posting on this subject.  If you have any 
>feedback, please e-mail me privately. 

No.  You don't run the show pal.

>I don't want to clog up the 
>Armchair with any more of this-- it's counter productive and against 
>what I believed the original plan to have been.

Then I suggest you take your GAG'ers and head back to the RF.  "You think
Rockford Files is cool"?  :)

One more thing.  I've got a joke about the GAG'ers.  I wasn't going to post
it b/c thousands of people are subscribed to the MA, and, y'know, I have to
use discretion when I post.  Oh well, here goes:

Q: How many GAG'ers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: None.  They just stand there and argue over who was a fan of the light
bulb first.

I know it's not funny, but it had to be said.

Thanks, 

Skawt

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 6 Jun 1998 01:29:57 EDT
From: ETS83@aol.com
Subject: BFF and The Truman Show

 I saw a dry run of The Truman Show Thursday night and when it was over I was
thinking about it. Then I wake up the next day and Video was playing in my CD
player and it reminded me of the movie. To bad the boys don't wanna do anymore
sound tracks because it seems perfect for it. Anyone else agree???

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 00:45:34 -0700
From: Alan Brockman <brockmaa@elmail.cc.purdue.edu>
Subject: Stop the personal attacks!

Everybody:
I am not a regular poster, but have been on the list for a while.  Recently I've noticed a trend toward personal attacks rather than BFF stuff.  Well, not really
starting recently, but increasingly so as of late.  Anyway, most of the attacks occur after someone says someting negative about BFF.  You're just asking for
trouble when you do this.  Here's a valid sugestion to help with this whole problem.  If you have something bad to say about BFF, don't post it here.  Your opinion
is valid, but most of the people on this list are die hard fans of BFF, and negative stuff will piss them off.  It's sort of like saying "If you don't have
something nice to say, don't say it at all." So if you want to start trouble, go elsewhere.  Keep the Armchair a constructive discussion group!  That's all I have
to say.

Alan
By the way, have a nice day!

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 6 Jun 1998 01:57:29 EDT
From: Emaline555@aol.com
Subject: Ben's Stool  (piano stool, that is) AND

Hello All,

My name is Emily.  Late to post as i am, i just HAD to post when i read this
about the Cleveland show:

In a message dated 6/4/98 8:54:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time, owner-
armchair@ford.il.fontys.nl writes:

>  was anyone from the armchair in
>  the pit?  'cause i heard what seemed like big bff fans talking, but i
>  couldn't tell.  i was on the left in the second row....the girl in front
>  of me got the top of ben's stool and the girl next to her got the bottom
>  (are you guys on the armchair??)  but i  was quick enough to get the
>  setlist.  since when have they pulled apart his stool?  that was kind of
>  a shock, but good for the fans.

The seat of Ben's stool is hanging on my wall. I was the girl who got it.  The
girl next to me was my very good friend Alicia (AliciaB12@hotmail.com) who got
a hunk of metal from the bottom of the stool.  What happened was...at the end
of Dumped, Ben chucked the stool at the piano and it broke upon impact.  Since
i had read about other people getting the stools from other concerts on the
armchair, i decided to try for it. When the roadie guy came out and picked it
up (right in front of me) i was like "can i have the stool??" and he just gave
it to me and he broke off a piece of the rest for my friend.  that was very
cool. i hugged it for the rest of the concert. Next time i see ben, i'm going
to ask him to sign it. unfortunately, i didn't get to meet them that night.
Nevertheless, i really enjoyed that concert because Ben was 5 feet away from
me and it was amazing to watch him.  I pointed to his pedals when they fell
off and that's when he looked under the piano...of course he could also tell
that they fell because he couldn't push them anymore......ah now i ramble. 

But Jessie...you were right behind me?? I feel so sorry for you because i was
acting like a complete dork because i was SO excited. it was my first BFF
experience and i was so glad because i felt that justice was being served
since i couldn't see them the last two times they came to cleveland back in
97.

AND

I've been on the armchair for a long long time and i get all the jokes that
the RF people have made about the armchair in the past.  Believe me, some of
these people really did have insightful posts and cool things to say, and i
liked them. i was kind of let down when they left, and i wondered where they
went. i guess i kind of missed the boat on the Rockford Files thing...but i'm
sure if i'd of know about it, i would have joined.  the return to the chair
was a little like "you're on hidden video" and i felt stupid, so i guess the
little "ambush" thing worked. i see why you guys left...i almost left myself
but i just stayed on for some reason.  the armchair hasn't been the same since
the old posts and good discussions we had.  But anyhow, now that you're back,
might as well stop the war thing because, well, frankly i'm not interested in
war.  I want the good old posts.  Those were good. Those were what the
Armchair was intended for in the beginning i believe. yeah, things have
changed because of the popularity boom, but there's nothing you or i can do.
Love thy neighbor. Keep them coming.

Emily
Emaline555@aol.com   (stool girl and Where's Summer B? CD single girl)

------------------------------

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1048
***************************************


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