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As a follow up. We did have a great talk. He was completely unaware of how offensive I took it. He also quoted me back to me, when I told him that gay men love gay jokes more than anyone. After I explained my experience with that hellish disease he actually started tearing up and apologized profusely. He really had no idea. He even gave me a hug, which cemented that he didn't mean to offend me in any way. I'm too sensitive about that subject, I'm certain. But all is well.

I managed to build few T2 in the past few years. Just sharing pics how T2 fits in Modushop Dissipante 400 enclosure. Many thanks to Mr. Gilmore and HC community

I've going over my collection, filling in any items I'm missing, I felt I really should have a modernized version of the Sigma. I came across a rather abused normal bias set which needed new drivers but wanted to try something different... so here is the SR-Sigma 507: The housing was very discolored so I wanted to try my hand at painting it. The frame was primed and painted satin black but I left all of the other parts in the primer color. The plan was to make them gloss white but this looked too cool so this is how they stayed. The drivers and cable are from a 507 so it took a lot of work to get this right. The drivers are in the cage that Stax introduced with the x07 series so I glued the drivers and fitted spare metal grills to them. In terms of sound, this is the best Sigma I've ever heard. The bass is overblown, as is always the case with Sigma's, but it has some real power to it and is more controlled than every other I've heard. The top end is nice and clean and the midrange is just sublime. A fun addition to the collection.

I have been wanting a MOPAR B-body restomod for some time. Thought I would buy a partly built project or the like and built to suit. Couldn't pass up this 1969 Road Runner that was on auction and local. The wheels could use some work, but such is life... Not much of a show car guy so I need to put some miles on her... HS

Nice of the deer to pose for the shot. And I have my Mt. Tam. View back /s

Slowly but surely continuing to improve. I've got a long way to go before I can challenge Nate for FTW (w/kg I have no chance), but its amazing how much a little bit of regular riding improves your cardio.

WCPGW? I used a leftover biscuit this morning to make breakfast.

Even as a 10 year old, I thought this was great.

Way late but I don't get 'round these parts as often as I should. Thank you for the kind wishes. It was a nice birthday.

blankets.mp4

10 potato cheesy skillet bake.

Exactly right. My own little slice of heaven. It has honestly been a really good post so far.

12lb American Wagyu Shoulder. SnP only. 12 hours @225. Good smoke. she'll eat.

Since I just got these, might be time to talk about possibly the rarest stuff Stax ever made. Let me introduce the SRM-Monitor Mk2 and the SR-Lambda Pro New: I've only seen a couple of these for sale over the years so very rare indeed. The headphones are basically the modern version of the Lambda Pro's but not the Spirit/Pro Classic, made later than that. The SRM-Monitor has been called the Mk2 but the changes are mostly to the chassis. Inside there is still a SRM-1 Mk2 and the ED-1 but with different parts. They are all Pro bias only and notice the extra output on the back. The volume knob is also similar to the SRM-T1S/W knob and not the SRM-1 Mk2 unit found of the original Monitors. I have no idea when these were made but I've heard late 90's and for special customers which wanted to replace their older Lambda Pro sets and SRM-Monitors. With these here the Lambda collection is almost complete...

This is my latest to add to the growing collection, I think a may have a problem... oh well. This is a Simon Marty guitar, it features his innovative radial bracing, the back and sides are ancient Huon pine, salvaged before a dam flooded a valley, estimated between 1000 -1500 years old, the neck is Australian rosewood and the top is spruce.

You Wish.

Dinner tonight was at Javalina Indigenous Dining at it was excellent. We had a variety of dishes but the only one I snapped was the elk fry bread with a significant pile of pulled elk, arugula and pickled onions on fry bread. Delicious. At the front counter, there was a basket of whistles for anti-ICE protests and support of the targets of this fascist aggression.

for scale None of those chairs are in the sweet spot. But I did find a room for Ric.

The Turkeys took an interest in proceedings.

Doing research. Chefs Blind Taste Test Frozen Pizzas "It's not like, a straight up crime against humanity"

Took a 10 day free trial of YouTube TV, because: Reasons

Carb loading for the game

I started a GoFundMe for myself. I almost called it, "Help Me Not Join ICE", but there is absolutely no risk of me joining ICE. I'm just like them, except I don't hate immigrants, non-Caucasians, or women. I do hate & rage -- at pedophiles, predators, human traffickers, drug lords, organized crime, scammers and grifters. https://www.gofundme.com/f/nxzsm-help-peter-get-back-on-his-feet/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_UShttps://www.gofundme.com/f/nxzsm-help-peter-get-back-on-his-feet/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_UShttps://www.gofundme.com/f/nxzsm-help-peter-get-back-on-his-feet/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_US&attribution_id=sl%3A5974c743-384d-4b16-bc0e-0f1a102d6f3d&ts=1770472529 Here is the Facebook post, if anyone cares to like/boost visibility/share there: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E1YCwS6ar/ I realize the last time y'all gave me money may have left a bad taste in many of y'all's mouths, but any spreading of the word would be appreciated. Even a small amount ($13?) would help lend credibility, when strangers later see this.

Damn you LAiV. Just after I’m satisfied with your Harmony µDDC and µDAC you release a new, cheap combo DAC-headphone amp. Yo Rob!

Wow. OK, so at least now I know that he was repeating something he heard. And probably not something he meant as a direct attack aimed at me personally. It's still incredibly poor judgement, but that's much easier to navigate than the alternative. This morning when my direct manager came into work, he immediately asked how I was feeling, and said he'd been worried about me since I escaped early the day before. We went somewhere private and I told him some things that I'd gone through during the AIDS epidemic that might bring some understanding to my emotional breakdown. Some of those I've never spoken to anyone about. I don't want to elaborate on that here, but a lot of my issues stem from survivors guilt. You think you're beyond events that happened 40 years ago and out of the blue something triggers you all over again. He was incredibly sympathetic and completely understood how that could affect me the way it did. He's straight, but "California straight", which is to say very insightful and dismissive of anyone who isn't. I explained to him that I decided I didn't want to take this event any further. I didn't want to admonish this young man, and I really didn't want to involve upper management. He respected those wishes, but he did suggest that tomorrow (Saturday), while all of the office staff and upper management were away for the weekend, he direct myself and this young man to a private office space. He told me that if I were willing for the two of us to have a private, civil conversation and explain some of the events that I'd discussed with him, and what triggered my response to the 'joke' he told, he thought this young coworker would be sympathetic and it might be a positive lesson to learn earlier as opposed to later. I'm not completely comfortable doing so, but I do think he's probably correct. And I don't want this to fester. As much for my own piece of mind than any other reason. We'll see how that goes, but I do suspect his instincts are good ones.

People at 18 can have their minds changed. Way more so than people at 50. It may not be something you can do, but there is at least hope something will click.

I don't know this kid, but I don't see the homophobic element to his stupid "joke." I think it demonstrates a racial commentary because AIDS in Africa really wasn't about the gay community. I think he was just mocking Africans. Regardless, I don't see why you wouldn't tell him how offensive it was and make clear you don't approve of or accept that kind of comment. If he truly feels that way, he doesn't deserve your affection or attention.

Smoky Moroccan Chickpea Soup (formerly Stew) a la Mishka Makes Food

Smoked bologna

From last night. I was dysregulating last night something fierce, so I performed one of my comfort activities -- learning to wok.

Dusty, half this family isn't Jewish, but they bought in....to celebrating Jewish family and events, as well as the Shiva mourning. Call it Shiva or not, to me it's a good thing. There is a lot of formality to a Shiva, many times it is not followed 100%. Personally, I find it the beginning of healing. Family and friends come to pay respect, connect, tell stories, and eat. The formal period is 7 days/nights. When Karen passed, I was tearfully surprised by one of my two best friends flying in from California and spending all the days/nights of Shiva visiting (3 days for us). It's that type of love and connection that helps the healing. It's just a good thing, no matter what it's called, what religion it follows, etc.

I meant kick-start the HC travel team back into being, whether or not Marc has Red Oxx bags.

They are very different headphones and the ES-2a easily beats in terms of price but I'd lean more towards the 009D in terms of raw performance. The 009D is really growing on me and what amazes me is how Stax can release crap like the X9000 and the 007S and then this... Both the X9000 and 007S are headphones I'd never listen to for fun while I've been logging a lot of hours on the 009D.

Hell yeah, Adam! The only advice I have is get after it and as someone else I follow on Strava would say, "This suffering is a privilege." Well, maybe one more thing - don't ever worry about comparisons to others. One of my good friends from 30+ years ago rides 8,000+ miles a year (pilot) and when he rides centuries with us barely breaks 140bpm at 50+ years old. I just can't be him. I'm a year younger but have always outweighed him by 40lbs even when we're both fit. He also doesn't know how to have fun, so as usual balance is the answer.

It’d been six weeks so I dialed up empanadas again.

Amazing from SCTV to Schitt's Creek and on through recent dramatic roles. RIP to the legend Catherine O'Hara. Sad day. ☹️

RiP

I have often said that hatred starts as ignorance. I DO think political correctness has gotten out of hand, but on a personal level understanding what you're saying and to whom it is being said matters. I'm sure he's a fine young man, but with "young" being the operative word, he's likely pretty susceptible to influence by others. Maybe his fragile state and need to feel acceptance is there too. So he emulates the others to be accepted into their circle. I'd say talk to your manager first, and see if he is willing to say something. Tough situation, you don't want to put the kid on the spot or deeply accuse him, but it sounds like he needs to hear something about his behavior before it gets worse and maybe turns into TRUE hatred, not just a joke. My 2 cents

Mal Waldron's Breaking New Ground Ex. Suicide is Painless (M*A*S*H) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/arts/music/mal-waldron-jazz-music.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HFA.-b1C.SIYIipEJh-Y8&smid=nytcore-ios-share

William Eggleston’s Lonely South https://archive.ph/2026.01.24-204543/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/william-egglestons-lonely-south https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/william-egglestons-lonely-south

Courtney Marie Andrews - Valentine https://open.qobuz.com/album/hny90dvm03jlc She has a, Joni Mitchell, Aimee Mann, expressive innocence, and her songwriting is equally great. It grows on you the more you listen as well. Simply put, I has a new favorite.

Just so good.

Thanks, all! I was doing exactly what you could guess I’d be doing on my birthday!

In the last 36(ish) hours I flew out to Denver and back to check in on a friend that had a particularly rough second half of 2025 along with three other friends. When we learned he wasn't going to be able to come out east during the holidays we decided it was time to head west. So yesterday I got up at 4am, drove through the snow to Boston, hung out for 24hrs and flew back this evening. I am, exhausted.