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I am officially fucking re-tired....and retired. A wonderful last week of work, topped off by a small celebration with some team members, and our CIO (blond-haired woman). The first couple of my cube, with the obligatory note that - as of today - everything is now MY fault. But a shirtload of notes on multiple cards and extra pieces of paper. I ended up topping the night off with a call with a hometown friend. She is a troubled soul and needed a supporting voice. We talked until 3:30am this morning! I wish I could do more to help people, but being a good listener and supporter is good for now.

Super happy for you. Me: didn't die. Not even joking.

My nephew is doing a space walk (his first, the woman he's doing it with is on her fourth)! Live link, think it will be saved as well: Trying to watch while at work, very cool stuff!

Just got home from our SF/Phoenix trip. ‘Twas fun and great to see my brother and his wife and our son. Gratuitous pictures

Yumi was out of town for 8 days last week. I guess the cats were so lonely they started bonding (they are from the same litter - 2018). This never happens!

Shee-it. I went to Chicken Alley today and they had an Apple A1407 Thunderbolt display for $28, sold "as is" because they had no means to test it. I lugged it home and worked perfectly. The only part I can't quite figure out is which revision this one is. It has a physical latch that blocks off the webcam. Every other version of the Thunderbolt Display that I've owned has lacked this feature.

I don't normally do birthday greetings for long absent Head-casers, but noticed that @Duggeh turned 40 today. Seems like only yesterday that he was a young Scottish squire experimenting with large obscure headphones. If you happen to see this, then I hope you are well, Duggeh, and would love to hear tales of your middle age! Cheers!

Even this guy gets the role.

Saturday was Pie Day so we had previously agreed to celebrate this week. So tonight I made but did not bake Taco Pie and also made the crust (and did bake) for a Chocolate Chess Pie.

Thirsty Barrel Taphouse Our Signature 6oz All-Grass-Fed Beef/Lamb patty with a twist! Stout Dijonnaise, Pomegranate Gastrique, Caramelized Onions, Chèvre Goat Cheese, and Arugula on a Brioche Bun + Pliny on tap & patty for the dogs.

Mexican night in NH. Enchiladas Verdes Cilantro-Lime Rice

Calling him a cunt is too kind. RIP Bob Mueller

Rode 20 miles with a fair amount of climbing in the heat today and felt like I had done something. But then I watched the 150th Milano - Torino race that was a bit longer with more climbing. Oh well. HBO Max and Peacock have way more cycling during the classics season than was available here before and I watch lots of it.

Sweet Italian sausage and leek Detroit pizza

Finished this morning, devoured at work.

I will see your Brit Brunch and lower you an Irish Interlude.

Well deserved time to rest and focus on yourself -- even though you started by helping someone else! You'll always be a mensch, which is one of your many great traits. Cheers on joining the formerly employed! 🎊

It's an interesting unit Not the sharpest thing in the world, but it focuses quickly. The out of focus areas are warm and fuzzy, so it has good bork-eh. Probably best used outdoors.

Katsu tofu with Japanese curry

Funny you should mention that. We finally did the surrender of the vehicle and got our check -- even though the "transfer agent" didn't have the check at first. Apparently it was sent before our prior appointment date and the agent went and found it after completely pissing me off telling us there was no check in her paperwork. Anyway, thanks for all the good wishes everyone!

A few roadside graffiti snaps from two mostly grey days on a recent trip to Monument Valley and Route 66, that aren’t at Monument Valley or on Route 66. Colors are from the SL2 (CV 50mm f/1 Nokton) and monochrome the M9M (LLL 28 f/2.8 9E). Final two are with the Sigma BF (24mm f/2 Contemporary). I need more road trips in my life.

"The speakers ARE the room treatment."

If, like previously, from memory without sheet music.

Welcome to the club. We are currently sitting in the Phoenix airport waiting for our son’s flight to land. Oh and we are both drinking a beer because what is a better deal than airport beer.

Here are a couple of posts in Audio Asylum from the late Mr. Charles Hansen (founder of Avalon speakers and later Ayre electronics) where he illustrated the history and inner working of HDCD. There are many more related posts you can find in Audio Asylum. I found them both educational and very interesting read. https://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/18/184385.html https://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=digital&n=184436&highlight=HDCD+pacific+charles+hansen&search_url=%2Fcgi%2Fsearch.mpl%3Fsearchtext%3DHDCD%26b%3DAND%26topic%3D%26topics_only%3DN%26author%3Dcharles%2Bhansen%26date1%3D%26date2%3D%26slowmessage%3D%26sort%3Dscore%26sortOrder%3DDESC%26forum%3DALL

Turned This: Into This: Because: This:

Martin L. Kennedy, the main man behind the Australian space rock project All India Radio has a very nice kitty.

I had a leftover crust, so tonight I decided to make spinach-bacon quiche so I'd have something good for breakfast.

Happy Birthday Al!, Last year's prompts, this years images, plus a bonus image incorporating your recent car troubles!

Shepherd's Pie...sort of -- used ground turkey instead of lamb and beef culinary stock, but otherwise...NAILED IT! It came out delicious. Didn't overwhelm with any one particular spice (I'm looking at you, the usual suspects garlic and black pepper), but it was sweet and savory and the carrots came out perfectly al dente...just...(chef's kiss)... Yes, I realize I'm kissing myself.

When I've had time recently I've assembled a few more DIY electrostatic headphones: First off, the last of the Superex chassis I had in stock so I designed a new stator design for them: This has been a long running project to to make drivers and test the various aspects in a controlled housing. They are not ideal as they are mostly closed but I got a bunch of them for next to nothing years ago. New stators with some minor tweaks and a protective grill too: These are not really built for sound quality but to test different coatings, distortion tests on drivers and all that jive but still fun to have a pile of these here. Since the Superex is just a Beyerdynamic clone, I found some DT880's with blown drivers that could also work: The need to be modified internally a bit to open up the back but nothing major. Different stators on this one and the drivers have to be at a 45° angle to get it all to fit (not that it matters at all) but same basic idea as above Round them off with some nice leather pads, silicone 6 core cable and my new Stax plugs that I've been refining recently. These do sound better than the Superex shell as the backwave is more open. Finally, the second of those Kiwi Ears headphones was fitted with drivers: No major changes here except I didn't use the bayonet plate to fix the earpads, I rather slipped the stock pads over the lip of the housing which helped a lot Also some simple tweaks to ensure better baffle seal: Thick cloth tape here and it works nicely. These are okey sounding headphones for next to no money at all.

Happy PI Day

Brit Brunch

If Stayin' Alive Had Been Written in the 16th Century

Added lights to the patio. Previously Now with lights That work! And are automated!

Breakfast at the Mayberry compound. I made homemade biscuits while Al manned the flattop. He cooked bacon, hashbrowns and a scramble w/sautéed onion, bell pepper and cheese. We had honey peppered smoked salmon, which a few of us mixed into our scramble. Mmmmm! Now I don't see this as a bad thing, but I tend to cook just slightly more than needed. Is 18 eggs, 15 biscuits and a pound and a half of bacon really too much for 5 people? 😀 I believe that there should be leftovers for everyone to take home.

"I think I found a market for these old SCSI cables."

Shepherd's Pie from Dogfish Head Alehouse

Update - woke up to 2" of new snow. It is time for winter to end.

One of those songs that sneaks up on you gradually. Robert Quine (Voidoids, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Tom Waits) on guitar.

@blessingx

^^ in my queue, looking forward to it. The Magnificent Moodies by The Moody Blues (1965) https://open.qobuz.com/album/urxbgzj4qgepc Example:

Jazz in the Movies: Chet Baker Performing (which he only does on seven of the 18 tracks). This Italian release is under various titles and various track listings, so whatever you find, may or may not be the same album, but this version is a good listen as you wind down the work week (yes, I'm mentally winding down at 9am). Also not to be confused with the Jazz on Film: Italian series, which is much more comprehensive and I probably need to buy next. Ex. EDIT: Just bought.

From All Sides by Vince Guaraldi (1964) https://open.qobuz.com/album/v8c45tsbx2ekb Example: Ah Bola.. Not super fidelity on this album, but a very nice listen.

Cable Managed / Mangled "Streamer Edition", with passing turkeys. 🦃 🦃 🦃

I do like me a go fast story...