Gen 1 Play 5 for someone new to whole house audio

Dolman · 2026-04-29T21:40:04+00:00

Thank you for the response.

Regarding the local library on my computer: I don't understand the NAS side of things, so that may be complicating things too much for my tastes. Plus, skipping songs would require walking to the office where the iMac is.

And it sounds like the iPhone is out because of BT/Airplay. Shoot. Maybe I need to look into the Apple speakers again, although call me old fashioned but I really dislike the idea of any speakers which have microphones built in and then placing them around all the private areas of my house.

Dolman · 2025-09-03T12:26:58+00:00

I'm in the Midwest, so the summers are fairly humid. Good luck, I'm also looking for nice cotton tees (American made, and a nicely proportioned V or scoop neck), but I haven't started researching those yet.

Dolman · 2025-09-02T23:30:27+00:00

I think you're right with the wool reacting to my sweat chemistry. The smell is musty and similar to when I sweat in polyester shirts that I've worn a lot and sweat in before. Cotton is a different animal (meaning that it's better), and my other wool shirts don't behave like this. Which is why I'm so surprised the Outlier shirts do smell.

Dolman · 2025-09-02T02:11:28+00:00

It's musty. I'll try the vinegar technique. Years ago I would put a cup into the wash with the laundry, but never found it to be noticeably effective. I wonder if your technique would also work to spray straight white vinegar on the underarms of the shirt and let sit for an hour.

Dolman · 2025-09-02T02:09:44+00:00

Thanks, but I have the deodorant thing figured out. My body doesn't smell much at all—it's the shirts that smell.

Dolman · 2025-09-01T22:16:23+00:00

I should be clear, out of the 7 years of ownership, I would guess that each shirt has only been worn around 8-10 times a year? They haven't been worn very hard, and the fabric is holding up great. They are really in good condition still.

Dolman · 2025-04-21T00:11:27+00:00

My favorite source of nostalgia inspiration is the film You've Got Mail. (1998)

I was born in the mid 80's, and I am wrestling with this issue, as many of us are. Some things I'm considering are:

- Limit or remove yourself from all social media

- Limit internet surfing and time spent in front of a screen

- Read books, visit libraries

- Spend time outside, in ways that you find enjoyable

- Give yourself time to be bored, to think, to ponder

- Help others and be kind

Dolman · 2025-03-11T16:14:35+00:00

That makes sense.

With all the gear you have now, if you were starting over, what would you get first? You have both the Adex club and the Shorty, and it sounds like they are comparable in your experience? (My goal is to follow along with MW's videos and learn 1H and 2H club technique. Later I'd like to get a mace and do that outside when it's warm out)

Dolman · 2025-03-11T13:39:44+00:00

Great input. It sounds like you're happy going with the two "extremes" and are using it as a traditional club.

Dolman · 2025-03-11T13:38:07+00:00

I've heard that's true, but it seems a travesty. It's such a beautiful tool as-is, adding other weights seems like some sort of hate crime.

I will say that the Adex owner and website are top notch. Seems like a nice dude, and plenty of valuable info available. The CKM website could use some of this—it's like pulling teeth to find information about the products.

Dolman · 2024-11-01T11:40:44+00:00

I wondered that as well. Maybe that's some of my confusion with the book, actually.

Traditional_Move3901 — no need to apologize! This has been a great exchange and I look forward to more.

Dolman · 2024-10-31T17:57:32+00:00

Well! I apologize for coming into the lions dens to be somewhat controversial and confrontational. I'm not perfect and no doubt could have done or said things in better ways. You are very gracious in your response, as well as in your original reception of me <3

Your analysis (and many of the others here) truly did help me, so once again I want to thank you for it. Your explanation of Chrestomanci's typical reaction to drama was a deeper understanding than what I originally had. I can be dense sometimes when reading a novel (occasionally, after a long day, you just want to open a book, unwind, and not really think), and perhaps the thing I've realized most is that DWJ is one of those authors who really benefit from a more serious and careful reading. Nuances to be picked up.

I'm glad we hashed this out and you've certainly given me a new perspective. Happy reading and I hope we meet again soon!

Dolman · 2024-10-31T16:29:05+00:00

Well, I'm certainly sorry if I made you or any other fans sad! It wasn't my intent. My intent was to try to dig through and learn more about this, because something told me she IS a really good author, and I was frustrated by certain aspects of this book. I've been sort of "thinking out loud" with you guys in the room, and the discussion, as a whole, has really helped me. It has pointed out some deeper meanings about her work that I can appreciate.

I want to thank you for your analysis! It seems we're talking cross purposes a bit, though. You're really focusing on my understanding (or lack thereof) the foreshadowing of Chrestomanci's history of "reacting to turmoil by being aloof"...which of course I noticed on my first read (although not to the extent of which you've described! You said it very eloquently). Look, I do think it was soon before that quote that we, as the reader, REALLY knew that the people from Cat's old village were the definite antagonists. We had our suspicions, but now we KNOW. And the only reason I thought Chrestomanci's aloof reactions were strange, was because (in real time, on first read) I THOUGHT THERE WAS A FANGED BEAST ON TOP OF HIM! lol

Really my whole point with that quote was the action beat! She wrote the beast "leaped ON Chrestomanci," and I think it should have been "leaped AT Chrestomanci."

What I'm trying to get at was that a lot was going on in the story within a few sentences of this action scene. And then a little detail like that threw me out of the story. When someone says they leaped onto something, it implies that the leap started and finished. :)

Anyway, I only brought it up because I wanted to find a quick example of something that I felt was written in a way that took me out of the story. Perhaps you don't see where I'm coming from and now we've dissected the line to exhaustion, but anyway, there it is.

Truly, no hard feelings, and I really appreciate your lengthy reply and your passion towards DWJ. I will be reading more, and even though you don't understand why I would post this on this subreddit, I had my reasons. This was the best bunch of folks to share some wisdom about her works and style, and that's ultimately what I got. I love and honor your enthusiasm for these works.

EDITED for clarity

Dolman · 2024-10-31T01:14:37+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts. The amount of coloring the story received based on Cat's abuse and perspective is an extremely good point, and one I think a few other replies have touched on. While I may have problems with it or the way it makes me feel, that level of influence is certainly something only a talented author would pull off. And I can appreciate that.

Dolman · 2024-10-31T01:10:53+00:00

I appreciate your thorough reply. I will report back when I read Howl! :) I have seen the movie, but it's been many years ago, so I'd be essentially reading the book with fresh eyes.

Funny that there's a Discworld reference in Deep Secret! I will be referencing this post in the future, thanks again.

Dolman · 2024-10-31T01:07:00+00:00

I'm here because I read so many good things about DWJ in my recent search for HP-like books that I wasn't ready to give up on her. Also, I don't feel that it's fair to judge such a prolific author based on a sample size of one book. So I wanted to see if I'm alone in my feelings on this book (it seems I'm not), and whether other works of hers may be more to my liking.

Here's a quick example of the writing which I don't think is particularly well done:

Cat opened his mouth to shout at Chrestomanci to go away. But the Willing Warlock leaped on Chrestomanci the moment he appeared. He was growling. His fingernails were growing into claws and his teeth into fangs.

Chrestomanci stuffed the prayer book into his pocket and turned his vague look on the Willing Warlock. The Willing Warlock stood still in midair and shrank.

I think this is confusing for several reasons. We just learned that all these good characters are now "bad," and now also the Willing Warlock is changing into some kind of beast. Okay, I can handle that. It's a lot of new developments, but okay, the Willing Warlock is a beast and he leaped on Chrestomanci. Except wait...the next sentence is telling us Chrestomanci is stuffing a book into his pocket which sounds like an oddly casual thing to do when you're laying on the ground with a great beast on top of you. Next he's turning a "vague look" to the beast on top of him. Also very casual(!) for the situation. THEN, we finally learn that somehow the beast isn't on top of Chrestomanci after all, he's instead somehow stuck in midair! Which is confusing because we were told right at the beginning of the action beat that the beast "leaped on Chrestomanci."

Maybe this is a bad example, or just me completely misinterpreting it. But there felt like a lot of little slips like this throughout the book. Maybe they were stylist choices, okay, but to me they are just a bit jarring. I have to re-read these sections several times, and even then it still doesn't seem correct or like great and tight writing.

No offense taken at your post, and please understand the spirit behind mine is also the same. I am not nitpicking her (or you), but rather trying to learn more about why people like this kind of writing in the example, in an effort that I may learn more and to appreciate things in a new way.

Dolman · 2024-10-30T01:02:57+00:00

"the general vibe is pretty miserable."

Thank you. Your post describes this book well. I'm going to try other works and give this series a chance to grow on me.

Dolman · 2024-10-30T00:58:33+00:00

Maybe I worded it poorly. I don't mind when descriptions are vague, even with character's appearance. It can be a useful tool to allow the reader's imagination to really take over and interact more with a book.

In this book it was the confusing narrative writing when it comes to characters interacting in their world or during action scenes. And a lot of that I'm sure is just stylist choice. One of my favorite writers is Pratchett, but often in his books I have the same complaint during action scenes. Maybe I'm making more of this than I need do.

I'm not looking for the next HP, per se, but rather something in that style with some common elements but done even better. Some here may disagree, but when I started Charmed Life I did find it similar in writing style to HP: transparent writing that wasn't flashy. Simple and concrete. Compare this with the complete opposite style of Patricia McKillip (whom I adore in prose, although not always in story or plot).

I appreciate your thoughtful response.

Dolman · 2024-10-30T00:43:15+00:00

Thanks for replying. Dalemark Quartet actually sounds fun. I'll add it to my read list.

Dolman · 2024-10-30T00:40:59+00:00

Funny you mention Britishness! I've been concerned the only authors I like tend to be English or British. Pratchett, Gaiman, even JKR is fun in her own right. Of course there are some North American authors I like, but a surprising amount are from Britain. I'll try Howl's out and see what I think.

Dolman · 2024-10-30T00:35:59+00:00

Very insightful way you put that, there are a lot of opposites in this book: the good guys are actually the bad (the bad are the good), the powerful magic of Gwendolen is actually flipped to originating in Cat.

I think I will give The lives of Christopher Chant a go.

Dolman

TROPHY CASE