WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.960 Hey, y'all, this is this is Ben. I'm one of those guys 2 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:11.640 who's written in before who's who's not a fan of professional wrestling by any means, 3 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:17.719 but but who is a rabbit fan of TLF. And I have a 4 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:24.879 testimonial too. I've already tried recording this twice and I ended up sounding like 5 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:32.880 Bob Newhart on Ballium. Taken a long time, so I'm I wrote down 6 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:39.520 my ideas and and then I'll be reading those shortly. I did want to 7 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:43.920 clarify that I haven't listened to the most recent episode where Jack and j P 8 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:51.799 and t J discussed the show because I didn't want it to influence my my 9 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:58.320 perspective, because this is it's important to me, so this is going to 10 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:06.200 be a doozy. There were a couple of announcements later on that that are 11 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:11.439 kind of swerves in their own right, but you need to listen to the 12 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:19.599 whole thing if you want to understand their significance. I guess I'll start with 13 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:27.040 my introduction to TLF, because I know that the Jack will appreciate the absurdity, 14 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:34.000 especially knowing where it ended up leading. I can listen to podcasts at 15 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:42.560 work, so I can listen forty hours a week, and I do so. 16 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:49.439 I've listened to all kinds of strange and interesting podcasts. And back when 17 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:56.799 I was introduced to TLF, I was listening on SoundCloud. And at that 18 00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:00.640 point, if you hadn't queued up your next episode and you came to the 19 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:05.799 end of the episode of whatever it was you were listening to, it seems 20 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:10.759 like they would just pick a new episode of something and just tack it onto 21 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:15.800 the back there. So that's what happened with TLF. I was listening to 22 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:20.879 something else, I didn't have anything else q'ed up, and then TLF came 23 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:28.599 on and I I remember listening and I didn't know what it was. I 24 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:32.639 didn't check my phone to see what it was about. And oh, yeah, 25 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:37.439 these two guys are talking about a professional wrest you know, that's that's 26 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:45.039 interesting. So I could sense they were engaged. I could, I could 27 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:51.759 they were funny. I think the main thing I remember from that first experience 28 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:57.319 was was Jack saying that he was going to be referring to JP as the 29 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:02.560 boss for the remainder of the of the podcast, and and I thought, 30 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:10.520 yeah, yeah, I can get down with that. So I listened uh, 31 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:16.960 it was, yeah, basically in a lark, just trying something new 32 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:24.520 and interesting. And and I listened for a while. I don't remember when 33 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:30.159 I stopped. And then I, I don't know, I just went back 34 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:36.639 to listening to other stuff. But but even for me, as a non 35 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:42.879 wrestling fan, that first taste something about it was enough to draw me back. 36 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.840 And and I went back to TLF. And and when I did, 37 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:55.280 I went back hard. And I haven't left since. So I don't know. 38 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:06.080 I think, I think when I first started listening, I couldn't tell 39 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:11.520 if TLF was a work or a shoot. I didn't have that vocabulary either. 40 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:15.800 But I couldn't figure it out. I couldn't figure out if it was 41 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:21.480 more likely that that two people would be able to talk at such a great 42 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:29.079 length about wrestling, or if it would be more likely that somebody would be 43 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:34.959 paroding people who would talk about wrestling for that length the feedback I didn't know. 44 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:42.439 I wasn't familiar with the culture. I didn't know that professional wrestling was 45 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:50.519 an addiction, so it was all new to me. And yeah, that's 46 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:58.079 that's where that's where it began. I don't know which episode. I don't 47 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:03.480 have any any attached to any shows, so I and it's random. It 48 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:12.439 could have been any time over a span of years literally. So that's that's 49 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:18.600 the story of how I got in. Now we'll get into the question at 50 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:28.160 hand, which is what TLF is to us or to me and and why 51 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:34.920 it's been around for ten years. And and I'm going to tell you there 52 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:40.439 there maynot be that many of y'all out there who listen to TLF like I 53 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:45.079 do, but I know there are some and and I know some of you 54 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:51.920 out there are going to get this. So here we go. What what 55 00:05:53.040 --> 00:06:00.920 TLF is. It's relentless, maniacal, meticulous, passionate, obsessive, courageous, 56 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:05.480 consistent, creative, analytical, investigative, edifying, and all the rest 57 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:13.240 of the adjectives. TLF is a podcasting juggernaut. It's a serious analysis of 58 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:18.120 a majorly influential part of Western culture from an intimately personal perspective and all the 59 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:25.439 way to the macro and then beyond. TLF is a wrestling promotion led in 60 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:30.639 booked by the co chairman, but one that never let you down. Is 61 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:36.839 Jack's I for details, both President Missing and JP's unbridled and promptu thespian spirit 62 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:44.120 working in perfect tandem. It's iconoclassic and innovative, and it takes the unique 63 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:50.720 characteristics of the podcast medium to otherwise unthinkable extremes. TLF is all things to 64 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:56.360 all people, and the thing that you despise most about TLF is another Solar 65 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:00.680 System member's absolute favorite thing, and to that end, the most recent episode 66 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:05.079 is as likely to be in some Solar System member's top ten list as any 67 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:11.360 other show from any other time over the past ten years. TLF is a 68 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:15.160 treatment, not a show, and that's why the co chairmen can use their 69 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:20.639 alchemy to turn any type of dogshit into gold. It's a saucepan reducing topics 70 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:27.240 and characters down to their essences. Is the funniest, most educational, most 71 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:30.399 insightful, and most rigorous podcasts, as well as the one with the highest 72 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:34.600 grade of artistic integrity I've ever listened to, and I've listened to a ship 73 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:42.240 ton. TLF is glass walled, a mission to observe an extraordinary friendship that 74 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:46.759 was initiated by the co chairman's mutual love for wrestlings. Two old time one 75 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.839 man bands performing side by side, playing their own instruments as well as each 76 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:58.279 other's. It's the offspring of the inoperable Siamese twin psychees of two extraordinarily intelligent 77 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:05.360 and creative people. TLF is literally just one continuous, sprawling magnum opus, 78 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:11.879 and it just keeps expanded. It's a postmodern take on a form of modern 79 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:18.360 entertainment that was still happening in the postmodern era, and it produces real valuable 80 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:24.519 work now in the meta modern era. It's addictive and I mean literally, 81 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:31.800 and all told, it's nothing less than an important cultural document. Now, 82 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:37.039 why TLF has been around for ten years, why not just put it at 83 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:41.840 the top of the list? Is that fucking Solar system stupid and their thoughts 84 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:45.480 and their feedback, and the fact that the co chairmen have always interacted with 85 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:48.720 them and allowed room for their input and insights, both positive and negative and 86 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:54.320 good and bad. It addresses any and all topics that require dressing along the 87 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:58.559 way to cover in any given subject, it always rewards the careful listener, 88 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:03.320 and you do have to listen carefully because a single throwaway comment might turn out 89 00:09:03.320 --> 00:09:07.799 to be the best part of an entire episode. TLF deals in audio books 90 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:13.919 and the show as a whole, is an audio encyclopedia. The co chairman's 91 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:20.519 locus of approval is always internal, bitch. The co chairman put an unconscionable 92 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:24.519 amount of time into the production of the podcast, as well as into interacting 93 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:28.120 with a solar system through the show and on social media. After listening all 94 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:31.000 the way through and coming to the end of the last episode of a Journey, 95 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:39.159 you feel like you've completed a pilgrimage because guess what you have. There's 96 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:43.200 a sort of lapse finished on everything TLF puts out, from audio to artwork, 97 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:48.799 and the standard is incredibly high. The co chairman provide accurate assessment of 98 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:52.480 complex things and they do it on the fly. The co chairman can recount 99 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:58.039 and analyze your memories and failings better than you can. TLF recalls a time 100 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:01.039 when you felt you could be even something and it takes the base of that 101 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:05.159 belief that you had and create something new out of it that you actually can 102 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:16.960 believe in. And this is important. TLF is worth more than you pay 103 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:22.320 for it. And the final note here of the reasons that TF has been 104 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:28.360 around for ten years, that's because you don't change it, it changes you. 105 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:35.600 Here we come to the second part here, and that first part was 106 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:41.960 that was for the co chairman, and the second part this is to the 107 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:48.879 Solar system. And here's the swerve. And I hope it's not considered a 108 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:58.360 heel turned because that wasn't the intention. Ben the non wrestling fan is also 109 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:07.360 haystackscal So I didn't intend for that initially, but I changed my email address 110 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:15.960 early on, and so I had the opportunity to create a pseudonym and two 111 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:24.000 email addresses to contact TLF. So it's just if you if you keep in 112 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:33.159 mind that been the non wrestling fan who's written in about TLF being a jazz 113 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:39.240 podcast. That's the same guy who's who's behind anything that Haystacks has written or 114 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:46.840 or or had read on the podcast, anything on social media or Patreon or 115 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:58.639 Twitter. And I'm a major proponent of a lapse solar system. It's the 116 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.480 most intelligent, creative and any community I've ever had the good fortune to be 117 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:09.360 a part of. And I'm i'm I'm happy to be proud to be a 118 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:13.919 member of the Solar System. So, so we've got a situation here, 119 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:24.279 and let's talk about power. I didn't quite get my minor and philosophy But 120 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:28.480 but any anyone with eyes can see that tlf is a top down power structure, 121 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:35.879 is duality rule, minority influence and majority input. So the coach chairmen 122 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:39.320 are going to do what the coach chairmen are going to do, and you're 123 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:45.360 going to take what you get. And I know this. I've I've watched 124 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:52.919 both seasons of S n N and I've seen Jack and his Emerson cap on 125 00:12:54.039 --> 00:13:00.879 the TV show. I've I've gone back and doug up the remnants of the 126 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:07.519 MySpace page. I've gone probably about as deep as you can reasonably go, 127 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:16.440 and I can tell you that the co chairmen haven't changed. This is the 128 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:22.879 year of TLFX, that's true, but it's also it's also almost the year 129 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:28.000 of sonco XX. If you've been listening for a long time, you will 130 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:35.799 know what sonko is. That is to say that in this power structure, 131 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:45.200 unless you can do what the co chairmen do better than they can, then 132 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:48.759 you're going to have to resign yourself to being their bitch. And that's fair 133 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:54.759 enough, and it's well deserved. But this is what I'm saying. That 134 00:13:54.799 --> 00:14:01.120 doesn't mean you have to be a bitch. In general, the solar system 135 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:05.879 can do nice things for itself. I've had the great pleasure of working with 136 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:13.879 a number of amazing Solar System members on a variety of projects like LATS well. 137 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:22.600 I had assistance to devise the method for creating the database, although I've 138 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:28.120 been responsible for about ninety eight point five percent of the work in building it. 139 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:35.480 The Lapsed Hall of Fame, which was was many people's idea but which 140 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:41.480 I got off the ground, and which was which was headed by Austin King 141 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:48.720 Solber International lats Day, which was Austin's idea, but which I led and 142 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:54.919 organized and had a great group of volunteers who were very helpful in helping the 143 00:14:54.919 --> 00:15:00.639 Solar System find time codes for for their all the spots that we're looking for 144 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:07.519 and couldn't find. The remastering of both seasons of s n N with Carl 145 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:15.279 which UH which was supposed to be or hoped to be a gift to the 146 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:22.080 Solo System, but which the coach chairmen have decided not to share. Then 147 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:31.720 a couple of other projects that are sort of in the balance, like a 148 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:39.919 Wikipedia page or something similar, special things to a cliff for that, and 149 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:48.480 things like maybe getting ah getting a TLF into the Library of Congress, which 150 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:52.080 hasn't quite gotten off the ground. But but anyway, these these, all 151 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:58.360 of these things, these are these are by the fans for the fans, 152 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:08.919 the Hall of Fame lats and potentially the Fan Favorite List which is being worked 153 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:15.440 on. Those those all belong to the solar system. They benefit the co 154 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:22.639 chairman, but those are ours and and that's primarily because TLF doesn't have time 155 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:27.120 to work on that stuff. And that's okay, and that's understandable, but 156 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:34.360 that doesn't mean they own it. So I'm going to tell you something that 157 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:41.120 that I've seen as a as a non wrestling fan coming into pro wrestling fan 158 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:47.600 culture, and that's that I've seen the abusive relationship with with pro wrestling and 159 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:53.480 the fans, and that's mimicked in in TLF and its listenership. And I 160 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:57.879 know it's tongue in cheek, but the result is is sort of the same. 161 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:06.279 And so I want to say this, this is important for me, 162 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:11.279 and I'm saying this from an outsider's perspective looking in at wrestling. Fans, 163 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:22.720 stand up for yourselves, you know, the coach CHAIRMN the are the wrestling 164 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:27.559 friends you always wanted but never had, but but you're not going to become 165 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:33.359 best buzz with them. That's a closed system, and you can bask in 166 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:41.400 the heat that emanates from that friendship. But your only option is to do 167 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:45.359 that, is to do the next best thing instead, and that's to get 168 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:52.400 in touch with other intelligent, creative witt in hopefully positive Solar System members and 169 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:59.880 meet up at shows, even better, meet up when there's not a show, 170 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:07.920 and talk about stuff that's not fake carnial bullshit. Build nice things together 171 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:14.079 for the community, the solar system, and take care of them. I'm 172 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:18.319 saying this again as an outsider, and I don't give two shits about what 173 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:25.200 the general public says. Y'all are cool people, so accept it and have 174 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:30.759 fun with it. And if other people don't get what you get, well 175 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:40.480 fuck them. I'm I'm way far left in Norwegian politics, so Americans probably 176 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:45.359 don't even have a term for me. But here's a little fuck you to 177 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:52.519 the oft advertised laps capitalist model. This is my this is my gift to 178 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:56.119 the solar system. This is my second announcement, a little bit of a 179 00:18:56.160 --> 00:19:04.640 swerve. Maybe I'm I'm opening LATS to the Solar system for free and and 180 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:10.759 I'm and without registering and email address, and and I'm leaving this announcement here 181 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:15.799 as a sort of an easter egg. So if you hear this and get 182 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:22.119 in touch with me, I'll send you the link. I'm not interested in 183 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:29.839 promoting this amazing resource anymore. That allows you to find basically anything that's ever 184 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:40.079 been said on the on the public feed and find time accurate timecodes for it. 185 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.680 If you have a use for that kind of thing, this is the 186 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:47.160 only way to do it. I mean, unless you've written down notes for 187 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:53.200 every timecode for everything that you were interested in listening to again. It also 188 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:59.720 allows you to cross reference and go back and little inside jokes that you don't 189 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:06.359 under stand to find where things happen for the first time and characters. It's 190 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:12.920 fantastic and it works, and it's free for you. But if you use 191 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:18.000 it, if you use it a lot, throw me a bone instead of 192 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:22.000 being a freeloading bitch. You can give me a buck or two on the 193 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:27.039 Patreon because I'm going to keep it updated. But I've put in the hundreds 194 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:32.720 of hours and the hundreds of dollars to create that database, and I wouldn't 195 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:37.960 mind having a little help maintaining it. So that's it. That's so, 196 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:45.359 that's that's your tenure anniversary present Solar System. And now that I said that, 197 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.519 if anybody listens to this, you know, I've been on the I've 198 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:52.519 been on the discord a little bit, and I know that that they are 199 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:56.759 going to be people out there who are saying, no, that Haystacks, 200 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:03.640 that dude, he's he's a he's a fucking mark. And and they're right, 201 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:10.279 I am a TLF mark. And and I'm not ashamed of that. 202 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:18.559 This this is going out to any of you who who sit on your hands 203 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:23.480 will criticize in other people and and and saying that people who believe in stuff 204 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:33.359 are marks. Modernism was based on sincerity and and postmodernism is based on irony. 205 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:41.720 And we live in the meta modern era now where where irony and sincerity 206 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:48.039 co exist. But the result has to be productive. And this is where 207 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:52.400 that snarky sarcasm it ain't worth a shit unless it's back with something real. 208 00:21:55.480 --> 00:22:02.000 TLF is meta modern. They it it's ironic. They're making fun of stuff, 209 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:07.200 they're poking fun that they're irreverent, no sacred cows, right, But 210 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:18.440 what's the ultimate result of tlf's work. That's that's an audio encyclopedia of professional 211 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:25.680 wrestling, and that's why it's not a game. I think the biggest lesson 212 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:33.359 that I took from doing all the work on LATS was was this marks get 213 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:37.640 shit done. So any haters out there, you can just let me know 214 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:44.880 how it feels sometime when when everybody's gone home and you're standing there with nothing, 215 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:48.279 but you're dick in your hand because you're sure as hell not going to 216 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:52.240 produce anything that anybody really gives a shit about. If you're just making fun 217 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:59.640 of stuff all the time, and that's that's it. That's my that's my 218 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:07.079 test, Ammonial I very much. I appreciate the efforts made by the co 219 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:11.880 chairman over the past ten years and for all they had done, and I 220 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:15.799 also appreciate the efforts made by the solar system over the same amount of time. 221 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:22.720 And now I have to go take a massive shit. So I do 222 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:26.759 have one little PostScript though, in just a little something for the road, 223 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:36.960 and that's this. It used to be better because you used to have the 224 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:41.119 capacity to believe in it, and that's the dragon you're chasing.