Voltron

My friends in Paris combined the two quite regularly. They would unroll a Gauloise, sprinkle in some hash, and then re-roll the combo in a new rolling paper. Peps you up and mellows you out at the same time! Not that I would know about that. They just told me. And speaking of California exports, they would die for actual California sensimillia because it is so scarce compared to hash. What is your surprise, btw, or is that a surprise too? Do all Dutch women say "Yihaa"?

In (obviously). As mentioned elsewhere, I will probably bring the Rockhopper 6-channel Balanced Beta22, a balanced source, and some balanced cans (Ed. 9, RS-1, PS-1, HD650/600 etc.). Maybe I will also bring the Stax 007t and 4070s or maybe i will just bring the 4070s and use Ric's amps. Who else is flying/driving in from out of town for this one! Huh? Come on, bring on the 'Cases!

Good options people. Keep them coming.

I don't know Indra personally but I am guessing that she doesn't smoke pot/hash with her morning coffee. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Thanks AS. I just listened to Encounter and now I am jamming this one from Pepper: Come on Reks, what Mulligan albums?

Oops, I meant Nugget Audio not Granite. Nate is from the Granite State and takes pics on granite and I get confused in my feeble brain. Sorry for the unintended slight.

Sorry that Napa let you down, but Beringer mostly does suck. Big, commercial wineries often do. I know that these are sweeping generalizations but so be it. Too bad that is a lot of what Europeans think of as California wine.

Following up from Reks' cool trombone-music thread, I thought I would throw out a request for more jazz titles led by or featuring baritone sax. I came across a random but cool website, http://www.jazzbarisax.com/ that has some great leads and such, but this crowd has some good musical taste and knowledge. Here are a couple of my own favorites to start off: Serge Chaloff: Gerry Mulligan: James Carter featured with the Ginger Baker DJQ2O (Denver Jazz Quintet to Octet): That last disc is a favorite in general and James Carter wails on the first track, Cyril Davis, and three other cuts as well. So, whadya got?

tkam- Have you tried the SB3 analog output itself? It isn't bad (especially when you have a nice Sigma11 PS from Granite Audio ), and blessingx just sold his Lavry DA10 because he thought there was too little difference between the SB3 output and the SB3 into Lavry output. He was using some Stax rigs during that comparison after owning the Lavry for a long time, although he was using Stax amps which are likely to show off the differences less. If Alex will add a spdif in on you CDP, then I would definitely go for that option if within your price range.

Are you not allowed any sharp objects, Dom?

Thank god for small favors (no offense, big fella).

I thought he hurt his leg?!

Today is boring (work) so I'll stick with the original question of what I did on Memorial Day. Woke up with a hangover from a couple beers at dinner and two gigantic killer Manhattans with Baker's bourbon (forgot it was 107 proof) after seeing Rosa Pasos with my wife. She had a hangover too from a couple of strong-ass Sidecars, and she was on puppy duty so she had gotten up at 3am and 6:30am to let the little dickens outside. Most of the day was new-puppy-focused, from stopping her biting us constantly to constant house-breaking work to playing and petting. Just assume that goes on the whole time this other stuff happened. We had bagels for breakfast, went over to our house in Marin (aka Mayberry) and hung out with the new pup and my sister-in-law's family for a few hours and lunch. Tended to our new side garden and planted the Italian plum tree we had ordered and picked up on the way to the house (organic nursery open on the holiday). We actually called it the Plum Pole because it is trunk with small shoots starting out that will eventually be branches. Shopped for groceries on the way back to SF, and talked to one of my sisters and my folks about the puppy and other stuff. I cooked up some de-boned trout and enjoyed that with some mache, baguette, and a couple beers. Watched an episode of Robin Hood recorded from BBC America with the kids and then watched The Tudors from the night before with my wife before collapsing into bed. Cheers, all.

A couple of weeks ago I saw The Bad Plus along with Doctor Three, and the night was billed as "new standards" because they both play covers of popular/rock tunes rather than just traditional jazz standards. They are both piano/bass/ drum trios, and although I have never heard of Doctor Three, who came over from Italy, they were great. They played mostly covers while The Bad Plus played mostly originals. The Doctor Three played everything from the Theme from Shindler's List to Come Together to Wayne Shorter's Footprints to Kalifornication. They were awesome musicians. The Bad Plus is a great live band and their original compositions is some of the best contemporary jazz I know of. Their covers were Neil Young's Heart of Gold and David Bowie's Life on Mars. Great stuff. Last night, I saw the Brazilian singer Rosa Pasos and her band. Incredible voice and spirit. I almost felt like I could understand a little Portuguese by the end of the show, and even though it would add something to know what she is saying you certainly get the feeling of it anyway. She was backed by a piano, bass, sax and drums. Just a plain joy. Next week is REM outside at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. It will be my 5th or 6th time seeing them. Lost count.

Nice tkam! And good stuff to you too, Jeff! That sounds like a very good combo.

We just found out which puppy we are getting and these are her breeder mug shots. She is a Portuguese Water Dog known as Big Pi by the breeders because of her chest marking. We pick her up on Saturday. My kids are going to explode when they finally see which one we are getting. That will be fun. I'll post some real pics when we have her home.

One week to my in-laws on a small lake in Northern Michigan and one week in Montana with some friends from Paris. Besides Yellowstone and Glacier, we will also be visiting other Montana attractions such as Todd the Vinyl Junkie and HeadRoom! Montana meet in early August, anyone?

I am assuming that the SACDs I ordered will not be in a box per se, but will have the mini-LP sleeves because that is how 4AD says they are packaging them. I agree that the 4AD "box set" might be something different in that it might be in a box set configuration. In any event, let us know what you hear if they respond to you.

I assumed as much, but the only thing I had read about was the glitchy one. Acoustic Sounds has the box set, but I am not sure if 4AD will ever offer it directly or more cheaply.

I don't know if it is the same thing you are thinking about, but some site had an error that allowed you to sign up for the set for the price of one disc or something. They corrected it and canceled the orders.

Dead Can Dance/ Set of 9 SACDs Hybrid Stereo SACD Dave Alvin, Blackjack David Hybrid Stereo SACD The Kinks, Everybody's in Show-Biz Hybrid Stereo SACD Pat Martino, East! Hybrid Stereo SACD Coleman Hawkins, The Hawk Flies High Hybrid Mono SACD Art Pepper, The Way It Was! Hybrid Stereo SACD

Cool pics. I like the second one -- kinda like the angle they used on the Batman TV show when they were at the super villain's lair.

Yeah, my dad lived next door or two doors down from him and they were close friends as kids. My pack-rat dad actually kept some of RCD's drawings of knights, cowboys and gangsters, and we still have them (yes, they are signed). He also sent RCD one or two of the drawings and Diebenkorn wrote back with a friendly note. When the SF MOMA did a Diebenkorn retrospective, the multimedia presentation used the drawings. As for me, I like the Ocean Park series and some of his other work, but have only owned prints not the real deal. Maybe some day. . .

I predict you catch shit for your choice of cable, but put it on the DAC. Are you using the Lavry? Grawk isn't quite ready for it.

Happy birthday dood! Party hearty but don't get arrested or killed or nuthin. Cheers.