[gg7]

Awesome.

Speaking of mandos, I recently came across a builder in your state that is a pretty intersting dude. I found him because Andy Osenga and Andrew Peterson both have some instruments made by him (guitars and mandolins). His prices are great for a custom builder ($450-$550 base price..made by hand). I don't think I've seen cheaper. Considering the two artists I mentioned there play them, they must be nice instruments as well. The sound clips sound nice for sure. The webpage is not very good, but here it is if you want to check him out. He does repair work too.

[Nate]

Originally Posted by gg7

Awesome.

Speaking of mandos, I recently came across a builder in your state that is a pretty intersting dude. I found him because Andy Osenga and Andrew Peterson both have some instruments made by him (guitars and mandolins). His prices are great for a custom builder ($450-$550 base price..made by hand). I don't think I've seen cheaper. Considering the two artists I mentioned there play them, they must be nice instruments as well. The sound clips sound nice for sure. The webpage is not very good, but here it is if you want to check him out. He does repair work too.

Holy crud that guy makes some weird instruments.

[gg7]

Originally Posted by Nate

Holy crud that guy makes some weird instruments.

Yeah. His building methods are traditional (as in no cnc machining, etc. although he bolts on his necks so that's not so traditional), but his instruments are unique for sure. I've talked a little with him about the possibility of building a guitar to my specs. He's pretty unique too. He's a Christian actually, and he also strikes me as the type that is not at all afraid to speak his mind. You can gather that from some of his writing on the site, his blog, etc.

[Tony]

He makes guitars for $650? That's insane.

[Leboman]

Originally Posted by Nate

Holy crud that guy makes some weird instruments.

Andrew Peterson and Andrew Osenga play them. That's good enough for me.

[Tony]

If I were in a guitar-buying financial position, I would have to give him a serious look. That's a crazy low price.

[Nate]

Give me some feedback on the tunes, guys.

C'mon, bring out those rotten eggs and tomatoes. I can take it.

[Nate]

So, yesterday my wife and I got pre-approved for a loan in an amount at the mid-upper end of the range of houses we've been just window-shopping over. We're pretty excited that we figured pretty much accurately what we'd be able to afford, and even more excited because it looks like it might actually be able to work out. We're dependent a bit on sellers conceding to roll some closing costs into the principal of the loan, but we have some more time to save before we'll be actually closing on anything, and we have a bit of room to negotiate downwards since the preapproval is for a purchase amount closer to the high end of our price range. We're hoping to get into something before the end of fall, to take advantage of that ridiculous $8,000 check the government plans on writing us. It's like our down payment is free.

[Leboman]

Originally Posted by Nate

Give me some feedback on the tunes, guys.

C'mon, bring out those rotten eggs and tomatoes. I can take it.

I've only listened to them once. Let me digest them a bit more.

[Art]

Originally Posted by Nate

So, yesterday my wife and I got pre-approved for a loan in an amount at the mid-upper end of the range of houses we've been just window-shopping over. We're pretty excited that we figured pretty much accurately what we'd be able to afford, and even more excited because it looks like it might actually be able to work out. We're dependent a bit on sellers conceding to roll some closing costs into the principal of the loan, but we have some more time to save before we'll be actually closing on anything, and we have a bit of room to negotiate downwards since the preapproval is for a purchase amount closer to the high end of our price range. We're hoping to get into something before the end of fall, to take advantage of that ridiculous $8,000 check the government plans on writing us. It's like our down payment is free.

Oh man. Buyers market, my friend. People are having so much trouble finding buyers.

Best of luck with this!

[Nate]

Originally Posted by Art

Oh man. Buyers market, my friend. People are having so much trouble finding buyers.

Best of luck with this!

That's what we're hoping.

And that tax credit really is insane. It's all refundable, even if you owe no taxes. You can qualify for the full amount as long as you don't make more than $150,000 filing jointly. You don't have to pay it back (in the form of future tax repayments) as long as you stay in the house for 3 years after purchase. And anyone can claim it as long as they haven't been a homeowner during the past 3 years. Insane.

[Art]

So amazing. Wish my credit had not gone to crap.

[Leboman]

Originally Posted by Art

So amazing. Wish my credit had not gone to crap.

Same here. Mine's so bad I don't even bother with freecreditreport.com...no matter how cute the commercials are.

[Nate]

If you have to make your own controversy, is it really a controversy?

I got an email from an old Derek Webb mailing list I once was on:

friends-
i haven't sent many personal emails to this email list but we're in a situation that has gotten a little out of control and it's time to fill you in. as some of you may know, i've been working for months on my new record, 'stockholm syndrome', which i've recently finished and turned in to the record label. they've been very supportive over the years, but this time we didn't get the response we expected. it seems i've finally found the line beyond which my label can support me, and apparently i've crossed it.

i consider this my most important record and am adamant about all of you hearing it. we had originally hoped to have 'stockholm syndrome' out this month (next week even), but at this point we're not sure when the record will come out and in what form. the majority of the controversy is surrounding one song, which i consider to be among the most important songs on the record. so we've decided it's an appropriate time to break the rules.

but because of various legal/publishing issues we're having to be rather careful with how we do what we're going to do next. that's really all i can say for now and i've probably said too much.

we have a plan and we're moving ahead, but we're not sure what kind of trouble we might be getting into. we'll let you know as soon as we know our next move-
derek

It just reeks of viral marketing and appeal to people's story-seeking.

The fake humility of all lowercase letters is appalling. Give it a rest.

I'm just tired of him in general. His shtick of white t-shirts reeks, too.

You can't make yourself important or relevant, Derek, so stop trying.

He keeps switching genres, hoping one of them will make him stick.

It doesn't work. You can pander to any itching ears you want, though.

I think he's everything that is wrong in the church. It's sad to me, really.

Jesus didn't tear down walls or rulers; He offered Himself as separate.

Webb [and the emerging church] keeps harping politics, but no Gospel.

You're not going to change the world by changing the world, stupid. OMFG.

[Skeeter]

Really? Derek Webb is everything that is wrong in the church?

Secondly, I don't see anything wrong with that e-mail: I think you're seeing things that just aren't there. This was an e-mail that was sent out to his mailing list, correct? People who would be interested to know about his new album, especially if it was going to be delayed? Typing in lowercase is fake humility? ****, better not let everyone who sends text messages know that or they're going to feel sooooo stupid...

Personally, I appreciate Derek Webb and his music a great deal. I don't see any attempt to tear down; instead I see an attempt to re-focus.