Help me provide thanksgiving meals at URM?

2012 Update - There is a new piece for 2012 which can be see at 
http://la-economy.blogspot.com/2012/09/it-is-time-to-think-about-thanksgiving.html

This post is from last year with a few minor updates.  It is time to do it again this year.  We did great last year.  I hope that this year we can do even better. In the last year the number of children and families who are homeless has risen by 50% and donations have fallen by over 50%.  

As of November 25, 2010 our dinner count is now 1,465 dinners!

For 2011 I am not planning a running meal count as trying to get updates from folks was difficult.  I will post the final count of what was served for Thanksgiving from URM once we have the data.

For those who help out this year, 2011, and if you are not on the list of great people here, please feel free to send me your information so you can be added to the list.  You may use any name you wish, advertise your company (send me a web URL) etc.  More details below.

I am reaching out to my friends,  to my associates in the music industry and to others that would like to help those less fortunate during this holiday season.

This year, more people than ever before in our nation's history are facing a difficult holiday season.

The economy continues to take a toll on the population.  I personally see the numbers of homeless increase month after month on the streets of Los Angeles.

Homeless is not a label which is reserved for people who have mental problems, drug or alcohol problems or have personality disorders.  There are people on the streets like you and me.  People who were a productive part of society who have lost their jobs due to the economy.  People who have lost their homes.  

Union Rescue Mission is the oldest and largest of the Los Angeles missions.  They are highly organized, very efficient and have a track record of long term recovery that goes back over 100 years.  The stretch a dollar farther than anybody I have seen stretch a dollar.  URM provides a full meal for about $1.84.

I am asking my friends for help.  There are a number of ways you can help.  The bullet points below hit the high points.  Further down in this piece there are additional details.

• Go to the URM website at http://www.urm.org/ and click on the donate tab
• You may contribute in ANY amount.  Even a few dollars helps
• All contributions are 100% tax deductible
• All credit cards are accepted on a secure site
• You may donate from either donation page link via paypal
• You may donate $10 (feed a family of five people) via a text message from your cell phone

No matter which way you choose to donate please drop me a note, email, tweet (myles111us), facebook message (mylesr) or send me a text if you have my cell number so I can keep the meal count updated on this blog piece.   (for 2011 I am not attempting to keep an ongoing meal count as mentioned above but feel free to send me your information so I can add you to folks being thanked.

For $36.80 you can sponsor a table at Thanksgiving.  The table is for 20 people.   You can also sponsor partial tables.  I got the ball rolling with the first contribution from this blog post:

Sponsor a table at Union Rescue Mission 

Go to the official URM website and page where you can sponsor one or more tables.  This is a fast and easy method, they send you confirmation and documentation as this is fully tax deductible.

The cost of a meal is only $1.84. No credit card? No pay-pal? Do you have a cell phone? To donate $10 to Union Rescue Mission, text the letters URM to 85944. You will receive a confirmation text message. Reply with the word YES to complete the transaction. This will supply five Thanksgiving dinners. Please send me a message if you donate in that way so I can keep track of our meal count from the music industry and my friends.

Many of you helped me when Hope Gardens was in trouble.  I am asking for your help again.

This is something of a collective effort.  We can pool our resources and let folks know that there is a collective group out there who care, pool resources and spread the word on the homeless situation. 

If you donate to Union Rescue Mission using any method, please feel free to send me your name or company.  Your supplied information will be included at the bottom of this blog where a number of folks are noted if you desire to be listed.  It does not have to be your own name.  The donation can be in the name of a loved one, family member, organization, company, your dog, a cause of some type or just about anything you wish.  You will also be listed on the main blog site at the bottom of each page.

2011 update - please send me your name or information if you donate this year if you are not listed from last year and I will add you to this post.

About 3/4 of a million folks have read this blog since July 1, 2010.  I would be happy to post a link or name of anybody who support the homeless. September 2011 update:  There have been over 5 million readers.

Cannot afford to sponsor an entire table?   Don't let that stop you.  Even a few dollars helps.  Many of you have spare change sitting in your paypal account.  That $8.43 that may not enough to buy a book off Amazon or a cool effects pedal off of Ebay.  On the URM page you can donate in any amount and they will put it together with other donations. 

Every dollar helps.  The salt alone for the stuffing could be paid for by one small donation.  Here is Chef Larry's recipe for stuffing; for 4,500 people :)

250 pounds crusty bread

32 pounds butter

500 onions, diced

500 celery stalks, diced

63 cups minced fresh parsley leaves

62 table spoons salt

125 table spoons ground black pepper

500 cups chicken broth

500 large eggs

As a collective group can help each other raise awareness, pass along links and information and be a stronger group than we might be as individuals.

If you send a donation to Union Rescue Mission for Thanksgiving please feel free to let me know.   I am trying to keep a running total of the number of meals we have sponsored as a group.

Contributions to URM are fully tax deductible. 

All money that is sent to me this month via my own paypal account will be sent to URM.  I will post an audit trail in this blog entry of any transfers to URM which are normally used to purchase snacks which I provide to people on the streets in the late evenings.  

Below is an audit trail on money I collected myself from friends or donated myself that has been sent to URM via paypal.  This does not include money that was sent directly to URM by friends who tell me how many meals they donated so I can keep an ongoing meal count going on this post.  Thank you to everybody who have helped and thank you to others who will be helping in advance.

11/3/10 6:30pm update:  The count was at 127 on 11/3 at 6:30pm.  Uneven counts bug me so I added another $25 for 13+ more dinners to round things up.  The count was then 140 dinners.

Plus direct URM contributions from friends who have helped!

http://www.hayesamplification.com/ - David Hayes

http://www.cupcapesfalmouth.com/ - Tammy Knight Gibbons

http://www.bogneramplification.com/ - Reinhold Bogner

http://internationalsportingclays.com/ - Jason King

http://www.victoriaamp.com/ - Mark Baier

http://www.pierson-amps.com/ - Evelyn Pierson and Family
http://www.drzamps.com/ - Michael Zaite on his birthday and the Z folks
http://www.thegc1guitar.com/ - Robert Farwell
http://www.ampshow.com/ - Loni Specter
http://www.samhunterart.com/ - Sam Hunter
 http://metroamp.com/ - George Metropoulos
http://matchlessamplifiers.com/ - Matchless Amplifier Phil Jamison
Mike Franceschini - Classic Amp Los Angeles

http://fergsampshop.com/ - Marc Ferguson

Joe Gorfinkle

Leonard Rodriguez 

Don Buchanan

Diane Rabinowitz

Stephen Boykin

David Mendenhall

Dave Asmussen

Joseph Glosz

Simon Higgs

Hans Egil Løe Abelsnes and his gang from Norway

Missy Rose, a black lab doggie from the west valley
Gary Carr
Gregory Faust
Dennis Tudor
Mary Ellen Alltizer Gale
Betty Edwards
Sheldon Gomberg
Laura Forster
Kim Rose
Bonnie and Alan
Brad Leabo
Lee Flier
Some of the folks from the Dr. Z Amp Forum are listed below but some are also above not indicated
Gregg White from the Dr. Z Forum
Tom Breitsch from the Dr. Z Forum
'Oldster and the Knuckleheads' from the Dr. Z Forum
Buddy Whittington and Family from the Dr. Z Forum
Gouv Cadwalader from the Dr. Z Forum
Ryan and Vicki Horyza and Family from the Dr. Z Forum
Frank "BritInvasion" Quarracino from the Dr. Z Forum
Harvey Reams and Family from the Dr. Z Forum
Keith Aylward - from the Dr. Z Forum
Mike Giliberto from the Dr. Z Forum
Bill Shea from the Dr. Z Forum
Gary from the Dr. Z Forum
Ron from the Dr. Z Forum
Helmi from the Dr. Z Forum
Paul Girolamo from the Dr. Z Forum
Eric Ambel from the Dr. Z Forum
Charles J Adkins from the Dr. Z Forum
Paul Toracinta from the Dr. Z Forum
Lee Carriker from the Dr. Z Forum
Jeffrey Thomas Adkins from the Dr. Z Forum
Patrick & Michelle Kerrin from the Dr. Z Forum
Doungvannak JB Keo,Merritt Island,Florida from the Dr. Z Forum

2011 - thanks for donating, passing the word or support

I am uploading some shots over the next week of the 2011 event.  If you wish to see how you folks helped:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myles111us/sets/72157628055910983/

Tammy Knight-Gibbons - http://www.cupcapesfalmouth.com/
Michael Zaite and Family / Dr. Z Amps - http://www.drzamps.com/
Loni Specter - http://www.ampshow.com/
Dan Boul and Family / 65 Amps - http://www.65amps.com/
Mercury Magnetics - http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/ - Amazing iron!
Victor Rocha - http://www.pechanga.net/ - http://www.pechanga.com/
Wallace Amplification - http://wallaceamps.com/
Darryn Waites - http://www.tuskbuffer.net/
Sam Hunter - http://www.samhunterart.com/
RIT Music - http://www.hollandrit.com/
Lynne Robin Green CEO & President Lansdowne/Winston/Bloor/Hoffman House Music Publishers
http://www.lwbhmusicpublishers.com/
Tony Conley - http://rockguitardaily.blogspot.com/
Carp Amplification - http://www.carpamps.com/
George Metropoulos - http://metroamp.com/
Carrie and Dave Gonsalves
Gary Hooker
Jennifer Moody
Eric Carpenter
Ken Krupnik Music
Dennis Tudor
Newport Slim
Ignazio Vagnone
Dave Asmussen
Dara Stevenson
Richard Clinton
Bruce Cooke
Jacob Moses
Larry David Cohen
Don Genaro
Camaray Davalos
Mooch Dih
Joseph Glosz
Jason Pastrana
Pete Klindt
Dave Arthur
Peggy Loveman-Sherer
Ed Supple
Renae Lackey
Heitor Iglesias de Paula
Randy Creath
Hans Egil
Patrick Murphy
Kevin Lamb
Eric Carpenter
David Mendenhall
Kim Rose
Natalie Rose
Mark Ennis and Marlene
Mary Kline

The Z amp community from http://ztalk.proboards.com
Dr. Z, Michael Zaite - the man himself - Godfather/Owner/Creator Z Amplification http://www.drzamps.com/
Paul (TRANE) - New Mexico - Dr. Z amp Forum
Albert from NW Indiana; the Dr. Z Forum
Zed from the Dr. Z Forum
"Z" Steve from the Dr. Z Forum
Edward Balaschak - Eschak on the Z Forum
Scotty from Texas on the Dr. Z Forum
6strang (aka Paul) Big Rapids, MI - Dr. Z Amp Forum
mpa93 - Ontario - Dr. Z Amp Forum
Tony L Stovall - T-R☼CK ♫ on the Dr. Z Forum - Tennessee
Lee (maddog) from Texas - Dr. Z Amp Forum
heynewguy(aka Bill) from New Jersey - Dr. Z Amp Forum
Robert (aka meanslide) from California - Dr. Z Amp Forum
PaulT (Bluzman) - Dr. Z Amp Forum
Jennifer from Florida - Dr. Z Amp Forum
randalp3000 from Michigan - Dr. Z Amp Forum
Peter Graham - Dr. Z Amp Forum
Bob (rjc1811) - Dr. Z Amp Forum
rockinmac - Northwest NC, Dr. Z Amp Forum
Nick MkII (Nicholas) - Dr. Z Amp Forum
twoscoobysnacks - Dr. Z Amp Forum and http://www.warriorcry.org/
number9 - Dr. Z Amp Forum
roscoenyc from NYC - Dr. Z Amp Forum
Ignatius? (Gary) - Dr. Z Amp Forum
GuitarZ - West Chester, PA - Dr. Z Amp Forum - http://www.mikezband.com/
Don - Midwest U.S. - Global Moderator on the Dr. Z Amp Forum
Eddie from Ohio from the Dr. Z Forum
Tom Breitsch aka cap10toons- Dr. Z Amp Forum

The gang from www.musicplayer.com / Guitar Player Magazine
Caevan O'Shite
Bluesape
Sharkman
WPsmith

Thanks to all and keep me updated if you help.

A video from last year:



Here is a slide show of how the folks mentioned here helped for this 2011 event. Thank you all again.  I will be uploading more photos over the next few days.  The first uploads were from the day of the event on November 19, 2011
 

Myles Rose is the founder of Guitar Amplifier Blueprinting which provides support services and training for touring bands and individuals as well as blueprinting services.   You may contact me from the link.  My direct contact information is provided as well as links to two of the Internet forums where I answer technical questions.  You may also ask questions in any post in this blog by using the comment application on each post.

When I am not doing something related to music I do what I can to support the homeless of Los Angeles either directly on the streets at night or through my good friends at Union Rescue Mission.

www.urm.org

Feel Free to Ask Myles - technical amplifier talk

My pants too short and 8 out of 10 amps I tested on this day failed :-)

Helping guitarists sound better, one amp at a time.  Some questions from two columns I write may be posted as blog entries from time to time. 

Some questions have been addressed in a few fun videos.  I will also post links from time to time with updates on additional questions or commentary.  If you have a specific question feel free to post it in this post as a comment, post it on one of the forums or send to my email listed in my profile here.

Guitar Player Magazine:  Music Player Forum; Feel free to ask Myles - http://bit.ly/iZGvIu 

Z-Talk Forum in the Ask the experts area, Ask Myles or Chad - http://bit.ly/lJakRD  I address amp issues. Chad Weaver (Terry Clark, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift) addresses performing tech issues (guitars and other instruments, pickups, stage mics, wireless, life on the road etc.)

My GAB website covers a subject or two -
http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/ and there are many resources on the right side of this blog that may be of interest or help as well.  I am updating this blog site more often than my GAB website as a side note.

Click on "read more" to continue to read this particular post.

Random Life - Random Month?

October was a busy month. 

I posted a lot of information and photos on things like the 6th annual L.A. Ampshow ( http://www.ampshow.com/ ) and the press release party for http://www.65amps.com/ on two new amp models......

I will not cover much of that in this post as the old posts are still there for folks.

I posted some vacuum tube information, posted some of my thoughts on the economy and the world in general on twitter and facebook.

This post will be primarily snapshots and a bit of commentary on some random items and activity.  A bit more informal than some of my other posts.

I would like to open this post with this shot from a friend of mine Mark Horne.  Mark is a guitarist and tour bus driver.  If you have seen a Trace Adkins show you have probably seen Mark.  He is a killer guitarist and raises cattle when he is not on the road.  I have been watching these guys grow up for a while now which is pretty cool.  I won't talk about where they will end up as some folks may go veggie on me and get upset :)

I drove in traffic in the rain at 5:30pm on the 405 with Dan Boul one day.  The Perfect Storm when it comes to traffic situations.

Dan and I went to TrueTone Music in Santa Monica.  We went there to drop off a London Pro amp.  We looked at a lot of great guitars and amps, a lot of great vintage stuff. 

Vacuum Tube Classics and reflections on October

In this post I am going to continue my vacuum tube series of data sheets and look back on some of the activities during the last part of October.  



Earlier this month I wrote about the Stubb's BBQ for 1,000 down at Union Rescue Mission http://la-economy.blogspot.com/2010/10/bar-b-que-for-1000.html and the 6th L.A. Ampshow.

The 65 Amps press party on the two new amps in my post where there are a lot of photos posted as well at http://la-economy.blogspot.com/2010/10/weekly-wrapup-in-few-photos.html 

Moving on to the tube info.....
  
These are two sought after classics.  The GEC KT-66. KT stands for kinkless tetrode as a side note.  The tube is interchangeable with a 6L6 but is a very different tube with very different response and tone.  More lows and lower mids is one way of looking at things.  Bigger is a words some use to describe the tone.

A typical GEC KT66 will have about 10mA more plate current at the same plate voltage and bias than a typical (spec) 6L6.  This means they are not plug and play, a bias check and adjustment is a good idea.

Some amps that use the KT66 in the music instrument world utilize ultra-linear output transformer circuit designs.  Most high end audio amplifiers that use this tube do the same.  An ultra-linear output transformer is not a requirement.  These tubes sound huge in amps such as Fender amps from the tolex and black face eras.

The complete data sheet set:

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Tube/KT66.pdf

The second tube data sheet set is the Tung Sol 5881.  This is from the era when a 5881 was not the same as a 6L6.  They were still interchangeable but they were in different tubes.  The plate dissipation was higher on this particular tube back in this era by about 20% over the 6L6 of the day.  23 watts was the plate rating on this tube.  6L6 tubes of the day were typically about 19 or so watts.  This tube was the big monster in the 6L6 family of the day and was the tube used in amps such as the Fender High Power Tweed Twin.  Today the rating of the 6L6 or 5881 is typically 30 watts.  The 5881 of today is generally a 6L6 with a 5881 label or at times made in a shorter bottle to look more akin to the original shorter bottle Tung Sol or other 5881 tubes in the past.  There is even one company out there that bought the Tung Sol name and puts the label on current tubes that have little in common with the originals from a design standpoint.

The complete data sheet set:

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/files/tsol5881.pdf

Moving on to other activties this last month.

The month was busy with things like the L.A. Ampshow, the press conference at 65 Amps, consulting work on new amp designs and there were a lot of folks in town from out of town who I took around and showed the sights.  Those things changed the basic nature of my general activities but in a nice way.

I made fewer trips to Skid Row in October in the evening than I usually do in a month.  I only made nine night trips.  I did make a few day trips.  A few were to www.urm.org - Union Rescue Mission.  One trip was for the Stubb's BBQ and another trip was to take a friend from out of town to see Skid Row, see URM and talk to the folks on the street.  I think many misconceptions were erased in his mind after talking one on one with many of the folks that live on the street.

The month of October was a busy month for the folks at Union Rescue Mission.  Andy Bales wraps up the month with this video.  A lot of very cool things happened this month.  I will try to get some statistical data to post later or perhaps ammend this blog entry. 

Thanksgiving is upon us.  The folks at Union Rescue Mission could use a bit of help.  Some of their comments: 

Please consider sponsoring a Thanksgiving table this holiday season. It costs just $36.80 to provide Thanksgiving dinner for a table of 20! Your gift not only provides a delicious holiday celebration, but an opportunity to transform lives.


Thanks to donated food and wonderful volunteers, it only costs $1.84 to provide a hot meal to our guests here at URM. And this Thanksgiving, we’re planning a mouthwatering menu complete with turkey, stuffing, buttery mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and pumpkin pie heaped with ice cream!

But the nourishing meals that you help provide are just the first step. By making people feel truly at home for Thanksgiving, they begin to relax, open up and find hope again.

You can help directly by following this link:
http://www.urmblog.org/thanksgiving-2010/


I did a bit more than typical this month.  Last Sunday I shot with Jason King and Fabrizio Buschini over at www.moorenmoore.com  Jason broke a firing pin return spring which was fixed in the field.  Jason is the head fellow behind http://www.internationalsportingclays.com 

Jason is on the left launching for Fabrizio as I take the photo

Jason's broken pin ( 5 pieces ) prior to repair.  Jason had spare parts on hand

I continued to watch the economy, the unemployment picture and the battles of the upcoming election.  I posted a number of links to stories which I thought were notable:

On 60 Minutes last Sunday - take a look at the video.  This might be you or could be you.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/21/60minutes/main6978943.shtml

It is really a numbers game - smoke and mirrors. After 26 weeks the first wave are no longer counted as noted in this piece - Initial and Continuing Claims Fall -

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Initial-and-Continuing-Claims-zacks-770718825.html?x=0

Foreclosure mess will take years to clean up -

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39874969/ns/business-personal_finance/

99ers and Tier 5 Unemployment Extension Supporters – Tier 5 in Their Face
http://www.worldnewsheardnow.com/99ers-and-tier-5-unemployment-extension-supporters-–-tier-5-in-their-face/3558/

99ers: How Many People Have Run Out Of Unemployment Benefits?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/28/99ers-how-many-people-hav_n_774769.html

Parents Told to Dump Disabled Kids at Homeless Shelters
http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/28/parents-told-to-dump-disabled-kids-at-homeless-shelters

Homeless camp near Hollywood Bowl is dismantled
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hollywood-homeless-20101028,0,4735989.story

Some of my posts on twitter which reflect some of what I am involved in:

36 Ind. unemployment officers to have armed guards -  People getting a bit more angry?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-unemploymentoffic,0,1207554.story

http://all247news.com/unemployment-extension-2010-and-tier-v-%e2%80%93-myth-vs-reality/7048/

From my friend Andy Bales of Union Rescue Mission - we share cell phone food shots
Better shot, Myles, of 5 lb. Ribeye roast cooked in crock pot for my birthday! http://twitpic.com/30kokc

I had a bit of a cold for a few days (which is still with me at this time) so I took life a bit slower in the evenings.  I compiled over 300 food shots into a slide show. These shots are from the last two or so years, from about September 2008.

Most of these meals I have eaten. Probably over 95%. 

I am 5'10" and weigh 170 or a bit less. Still. Perhaps it is walking a few miles each day that helps.

These shots are from cell phone cameras and good cameras. Some of from friends. Some are meals cooked by and eaten with friends.

Some of these shots are from people who send me their cell phone shots as they are eating and I send back my shots.

Thanks to too many folks to begin to list here but you know who you are!

These photos have been reduced in size and resolution.

Myles Rose is the founder of Guitar Amplifier Blueprinting which provides support services and training for touring bands and individuals as well as blueprinting services.   I offer consulting services to various amplifier designers and manufacturers.  The link www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com has links to music industry forums which I moderate and direct email contact information.  My shop is located in the complex at www.65amps.com.  If you wish a tour of 65 Amps please feel free to contact me directly.  When I am not doing something related to music I do what I can to support the homeless of Los Angeles either directly on the streets at night or through my good friends at Union Rescue Mission.

www.urm.org

Vacuum Tube Series - 5751 Tung Sol, RCA, GE

Vacuum Tube Series

I updated this to add the link to the RCA version as a second data sheet set.

This will be a continuing series on vacuum tubes and amplifiers.



Some folks do not realize that the 5751 vacuum tube produced today is little more than a 12AX7 that did not make the grade as a 12AX7. .....

Vacuum Tube Information for Tube Fans

Just a bit of info for tubes fans - over on my GAB website you can download part II of my Tube Primer. It is a PDF file and about 100 pages that has a bit of info on vacuum tubes. Feel free to share.

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Tubeprimerandselection320-2.pdf

Myles Rose is the founder of Guitar Amplifier Blueprinting which provides support services and training for touring bands and individuals as well as blueprinting services.   I offer consulting services to various amplifier designers and manufacturers.  The link www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com has links to music industry forums which I moderate and direct email contact information.  My shop is located in the complex at www.65amps.com.  If you wish a tour of 65 Amps please feel free to contact me directly.  When I am not doing something related to music I do what I can to support the homeless of Los Angeles either directly on the streets at night or through my good friends at Union Rescue Mission.

www.urm.org

Does Privacy Exist?

Can one person make a difference?  A social media question?  An issue of privacy?  Where are we headed in regard to information dissemination? 

This week I saw the movie Social Network.  No big surprises but it made me think about the trail some of us rode to get to places like Facebook today. .....

Bar-B-Que for 1,000

Today Stubb's Bar-B-Q sauces and marinades (http://www.stubbsbbq.com/ ) came to Union Rescue Mission and put on one heck of a lunch for 1,000 folks.

These Stubb's folks are the real deal.  On the back of a business card there is information on a program they run called "Feed the World".   On their website they have an area that talks about this.  The link is:

http://www.stubbsbbq.com/ftw_help.php

I talked with a number of their crew that came in from Texas including their President Kurt Koegler.  Terrific folks.  They brought everything; all the food, supplies, cooked it all and served it themselves as well.  Talk about a turn key BBQ meal!

Alex Cornejo, the head man of the Volunteer arm of http://www.urm.org/ gave me a little insight as to what was going to happen in a small audio clip.  http://guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/audio/alex101310.wma

I will post a few cell phone shots of the activity today.  Next time I go down to http://www.urm.org/ I will bring one of my better cameras to augment my cell phone camera.

Some of these shots are from Andy Bales, the CEO of Union Rescue Mission.  I will note his shots with a bit of commentary.

The above shot was from Andy Bales.  He and I often swap food shots on twitter or facebook.  Andy is @abales on twitter if you wish to find the guy or attempt to keep up with the man.

One of my shots of Andy Bales in the blue shirt.  The man never stops.  He ate his lunch in under three minutes and jumped on his phone to answer emails, send info out to many folks and attend to the business of the day.

When one talks BBQ one thinks of meat.  My task started with pickles.

This is less than 1/3 of the pickle jars we emptied into serving trays to serve lunch for over 1,000 folks. I opened most of the jars with my bare hands. I was glad there were not too many more jars than what was on hand.



Other folks had different tasks such as BBQ beans for 1,000

Here is the guy that made it happen, the President of Stubb's Bar-B-Q Kurt Koegler.  He brought his crew to Los Angeles from Austin Texas. 

Make no mistake.  This trip to Los Angeles was anything but a one shot deal.  They have done a bit of this before and have more to do in the future.  Their "tour" schedule is just as agressive as any of the artists I work with AND what they do seems to be a lot more work than a typical set at a typical concert.  Like I said, they supplied it all from plates to drinks, prepared, cooked and served.

Their tour can be seen at http://www.stubbsbbq.com/ftw_tour_schedule.php

The above two shots are from Andy Bales of Union Rescue Mission

Alex Cornejo - the head man of the Volunteer arm of http://www.urm.org/ getting ready for a great lunch.

Pudding for 1,000 - just the start of the pudding stock on hand.

Buns for the first few sandwiches.  There were mountains of buns. 

The cellophane bags the buns came in when empty quickly filled an industrial trashcan.  This was about fifteen minutes into the first lunch shift.

Somebody had to try the first sandwich.  This task was Andy Olivas? (not sure of the last name or spelling).  Andy works with Alex Cornejo in the Volunteer Division at http://www.urm.org/.  If you want to volunteer drop Alex note or hit the page at http://www.urm.org/get-involved/volunteer-center/  You can also find Alex on twitter at @urmvolunteers

Some folks took front scene shots.  I took this behind the scenes shot.

At the end of the first shift of lunch the folks from Stubb's took a few moments to eat themselves before the next wave of people came into the dining area.

 

The shots below are from the folks at Stubb's Bar-B-Q.  They were copied from their facebook page and show a different perspective than my own shots above.

Side note - Jennifer in the center of the above photo showed me the ropes today.

There is even more .....

Just Another Night on Skid Row - Andy Bales

I thought I'd take a few minutes to recap some of what Andy Bales was doing yesterday late evening on 10/9 and early the morning of 10/10. 

To set the stage in a manner of speaking, back in June I posted a story that was written by Erin, one of the staff at http://www.urm.org/

My Terrifying Night on the Streets of Skid Row

by Erin on Thursday, June 24th, 2010 ......

Weekly wrapup in a few photos

If a photo is worth a thousand words this may be a short story of the last week. 

Last week there was a press conference for two new amplifier models from http://www.65amps.com/  There were about a half a dozen magazines at the shop and by mid week the London Pro as carried in eighteen publication mentions.  In the first half of the week there were over 100 orders.

The 6th Annual Los Angeles Ampshow was held October 2 and 3.  I was the moderator on the Tone Wizzards panel for the 6th year which is always fun. 

These are all cellphone shots.  If you want some better ones of the ampshow there are some better camera shots and some of these cell shots in the album here -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/myles111us/sets/72157624965369099/

Less words ... more photos ....