Al Di Meola Niagara Falls review

  • Thread starter Thread starter abrackas
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No paulyc, get your facts straight first. You can thank the developers and the politicians for ruining the country when it comes to the labor force.
They exploit it, pay minimum wages with few or no benefits and do not follow safety procedures.
That's fact!

There are more accidents, deaths on non Union sites and that is not exaggerating.
The people that run the country refuse to pay the correct scale wages for the industry and would rather cut deals with developers to save $ They break zoning laws and construct high rises in residential areas that are not zoned for them. If you knew what you were talking about, you wouldn't say that kind of bullshit.

Don't tell me about fucking up the country because I work and see this stuff every day and can tell you exactly who are fucking up this country.
We protect workers not exploit them. I work construction and see illegal non Union activity constantly which puts everyone in jeopardy.

Without us, they would run wild and rape every single worker they could.
 
I agree with you to a point, as far as companies would screw workers over to make a buck...that's a fact. BUT, lets face a few other facts here, I work in manufacturing, and I see work in my line of work going to China because America CAN NOT compete with China's pricing. And it's never coming back. Think about what that means if we get into any kind of conventional war with 3 billion Chinese.

America watched Asia take the steel industry, automotive manufacturing, home electronics, and textiles to name a few. Why ? Because labor costs are lower and they don't have the government regulations to deal with as far as OSHA and EPA. When a simpleton could stand on an auto assembly line in the 80s and make 28 bucks an hour, life was good for him and his family, but if that retard had to get a job in the real world ? Forget it...and that's the problem I have with unions.
 
I know a guy that works in construction as a heavy equipment operator...he tells me laborers (the dudes with shovels) are getting 50 bucks an hour...no wonder public works infrastructure projects cost so damn much, and why they're not being done.
 
paulyc":3vmdjzqa said:
I know a guy that works in construction as a heavy equipment operator...he tells me laborers (the dudes with shovels) are getting 50 bucks an hour...no wonder public works infrastructure projects cost so damn much, and why they're not being done.
Click to expand...

I agree with your previous quote, and while I'm neither pro nor against unions (they have their place, even today), I highly doubt the laborer was getting $50 per hour. The only way that is happening is if he is on a prevailing wage job, in a right to work state, and is a newb with no benefits. The scale is the posted state wage (which is different in the regions). That wage takes into account the total benefit package, so non union shops try to up their benefits package (or stated package) and they have to pay the shortfall. The higher the total package, the less they have to pay in wages. For instance, we pay a guy $13/hr and he hasn't qualified for health insurance yet. The prevailing wage rate is $23, because the union guy is getting $14 plus benefits, totaling $23 comp. We have to pay our guy $23/hr because we don't have health insurance. Now if that guy works overtime, it could jump to time and a half, so now he's earning $33.50 an hour. It's conceivable that in NY or an east coast state with higher general wages, that person could earn close to that number, but not in the Midwest and not a laborer that is union (unless you're talking about total benefits).

Source: I used to be a controller for a non union contractor.

But, Al still smokes on the guitar and his sense of rhythm is amazing.
 
This would be in Massachusetts, and I actually know two heavy equipment operators working at two different companies and they both said the same thing...$50 an hour, I didn't ask about bennies, but I know that was without time and a half.

And Al DOES smoke on the gee-tar.
 
paulyc":2ludnbpf said:
This would be in Massachusetts, and I actually know two heavy equipment operators working at two different companies and they both said the same thing...$50 an hour, I didn't ask about bennies, but I know that was without time and a half.

And Al DOES smoke on the gee-tar.
Click to expand...
$50 an hour would include the entire benefits package. And laborers do much more than just carry a shovel. Also, no assembly line worker or "simpleton" as you put it made $28 an hour in the 80's. They're probably making a little more than that now. As a past member of the UAW for 15 years, I can tell you that scale was $16 in 1992. When I left Ford in '07 it was 28.50. Back in the 80's scale was probably around $10-$14.
 
I am a local 79 laborer here in nyc. I'm making scale wage, $36.75 with great medical, pension, vacation pay, annuity, double time etc

I've never heard of a laborer making $50 unless is was Saturday pay which would be $52 / Sunday is $72

I/we do much more than carry a shovel, although I know guys who would rather be glued to one lol
Demo, general cleanup, site safety, fire watch, punch list..(repairs) and on and on.
It could be very hard at times, especially outside in extreme temps.. Demo is no walk in the park neither. Expect to get beat up a bit.

Did I mention that shit falls all over the place at any time?
Dangerous is an understatement.

Non Union contractors don't give s shit about their employees because if they did, besides killing their payscales, they would provide PPE. Personal protective equipment.

You know how many times I see a non union worker across the way standing on a roof of a high rise with no fall protection?

Don't get me started, I shouldnt've even responded this time.
 
I'm telling you it was like 25 to 28 bucks an hour at GM in Framingham in the 80s, my friend's sister got a summer job there testing radios at 14 an hour, the guys on the line (experienced help) HAD to make way more than that.
 
You can't compare payscales...different states, ( prevailing wage,) different local, different industry.

I'm not debating your pay scale I'm still bitching about nonunion bullshit lol
 
Hey, I get it. No company ever got honest or was good to their workers until unions came along, so that basically built the middle class, no argument here. But it priced us out of the market in so many industries I see America becoming a service economy only and someday slaves to China.

The danger inherent in construction? ABSOLUTLEY ! One of my buddies saw a big concrete pipe slip on a chain and land on a guy's foot, it took all his toes off in an instant. And I would HATE to do that work in extreme heat or cold, fuck that ! More power to you man.
 
We see it happening with our gear don't we?
Peavey moving all production to China?

I'll never buy another peavey amp from them. It will have to be a used USA model.

How about those Chinese Bugeras !!!!!
They make good Roman candles eh?
 
But I bought amp from Mylasia (Ceriatone), so I guess I'm a hypocrite. In fairness, it's the only Asian made guitar product I have except for effects and an Ibanez guitar.

EDIT: I forgot about the pile of ESPs too
 
DICKROSE":12g3jfgv said:
How about those Chinese Bugeras !!!!!
They make good Roman candles eh?
Click to expand...

Speaking of which, I just saw that Bugeras holding company bought TC Electronic. WTF? Everything is going t be made in China now.
 
sorry he was late and you had a bad experience.

I saw him in the early 90's (he was on time) and he is great live.

I'll go see him if this tour swings through Dallas TX
 
Not sure what the circumstances were, but sorry to hear about the unfortunate experience. 8:00 seems a bit early to get started...maybe they wanted the audience to fill out more. Hard to say...He seemed nice enough when I met him and was on time for the show. Someone snuck a mini-camera on the floor pointed up at him. He commented about it, asking who put it there. Then he went to say that he hadn't clipped his nose hairs and mentioned that Keith Jarrett would probably pick it up and throw it against the wall. He left it going for the first song and then put a piece of paper over it. He also complained about a slapback delay from the wall behind him. Show was excellent. If I remember correctly, I think he had his wife there while he was signing autographs.
 
I like his music. My favorites would be Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior and his solo albums Kiss My Axe, Consequences of Chaos, Land of the Midnight Sun and Elegant Gypsy.
 
OK, I will say this. As a celebrity or any musician they are judged by us from a 1 minute meeting and we cast a lifetime impression from that short minute. I met Nuno Bettencourt and he was a complete cock face. Now how often during your day do you just not feel like talking to people? Me.....it happens plenty of times. But someone famous is under a microscope. Nuno is probably a more laid back and cool than he is douchy.

I was just a normal guy playing in clubs for years and people asked me every single fucking night the same stupid questions, "ugh, what time ya going on dude?" After a month of saying 10:00pm, i just said I don't know, to just blowing them off. I guess I was a dick but imagine the shit these pro's deal with each and every day.

So sure, maybe Al is a little chippy but were not in his shoes to know what he's dealt with. And of course he's one of the top players anywhere.
 
No, Nuno IS douchy. He grew up a couple of towns away from me...primadona comes to mind. Excellent player, but just a dick
 
Regarding Nuno, I along with three other people, showed up to see him on his first solo tour, for the record that had him in drag on the cover (I don't even remember what it is called now). Now, understandably he isn't going to be happy with the turnout. But, it was 1996 or 97, Extreme was extremely passé, and he released a pretty crappy record. But, he was prepaid, got his cut, it was essentially a night off to practice and fuck around, maybe share some jokes. Nope. He tore through his set, said very little to us, other than where is every body and then left. Even when we tried to talk to him, he was literally two feet in front of me and the three other people (no exaggeration). He would just pretend like he didn't hear, turn around, talk to the band and get going again. A tremendous player, but either anti social, or a complete prima donna that was upset that he was no longer relevant.
 
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