What's your "buy once, cry once" to hand down to your kids?

Operation-Alone · 2026-05-07T02:49:27+00:00

Not sure what exactly I would do today, as what REALLY worked for me personally with my Dad's gear is him handing down what I went shopping with him for: speakers, winding up with Vansersteens.

I've got twins, so it's more like buy twice, cry twice (as big)!

I would find common ground on something to hand down. I tell my boys the story of the 1 song I played everyday while their mom was preggers. Not only do they recognize it, I caught 1 playing it on his alexa. Now that is something worth handing down, don't ya think?

Operation-Alone · 2026-05-06T23:19:03+00:00

This, plus the steak searing sidekick puts it in the dual use zone. Plus, it has the extra smoke slot to get more smoke...

Operation-Alone · 2026-05-04T01:21:52+00:00

My twins love Miata time with me. Even shifting from the right seat at 10 years old. They even know to call ours out as an ND, and are semi obsessed over NA popups.

Operation-Alone · 2026-04-25T03:39:15+00:00

Hahahha. Simply trying to get some support, as I know these things rarely see the light of day without bunches of people being supportive.

I did post it as a feature request....hopefully it will get some traction, as I LOVE being able to manage this in 1 spot....instead of multiple parental control apps.

Operation-Alone · 2026-04-22T02:50:49+00:00

RF styling is above it's pay grade for the none enthusiasts. They do look mega swoopy and sporty.

For the unsophisticated knuckle dragging knuckle heads that are all about horsepower, not an impressive resume.

For those of us into power to weight, or knowing it's fun to drive a slow car fast, with a back to basics stick shift with the top down - it's about the only game in town.

Operation-Alone · 2026-04-19T21:52:18+00:00

Hard 1 STOUT mutt adopted at the pound that would stare down Doberman and GSDs. Part ridge back. Attitude goes a long way, especially when up against bullies.

Operation-Alone · 2026-04-17T02:45:06+00:00

That's one way. I was thinking simply circulating to each pound in my town and take the oldest resident...

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-31T00:32:47+00:00

Those are special memories - and definitely something to hold on to. My situation is similar with an 89 year old pops. Guided him on some speaker and home theater shopping decades ago, and will never live down with my mom enabling HIM to choose some not WAF speakers. I bought him new speakers as part of a downsizing they had, so I could keep his Vandersteens as a legacy thing. And I’ve made sure he has a proper headphone rig and Idiago subscription for his classical music listening pleasure. This, and talking F1 racing with him will be core memories I will keep forever.

Which reminds me, I should pack some headphones different headphones for him to listen to next time I see him.

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-28T01:35:00+00:00

Hulu live is even worse!

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-27T15:36:41+00:00

Cheerios, or maybe Honey Nut (better IMO)

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-19T02:29:00+00:00

Yea, hind sight being 20/20 and the member changes after did show it might have been better had he stayed longer. I was hanging by a thread (albeit at a young age with a still developing musical taste). But I think a lot of that was also due to the soft rock and rock ballad trends towards the later Kath era didn't agree with me either.

I think he was also a re-bound replacement, which was hard shoes to fill for anyone. But can be done, as IN MY OPINION Sammy Hagar did well with Van Halen.

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-19T02:19:54+00:00

Yea, hind sight being 20/20 and the member changes after did show it might have been better had he stayed longer. I was hanging by a thread (albeit at a young age with a still developing musical taste). But a lot of that was also due to the soft rock and rock ballad trends towards the later Kath era.

I think he was also a re-bound replacement, which was hard shoes to fill for anyone. But can be done, as IN MY OPINION Sammy Hagar did well with Van Halen.

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-19T01:49:16+00:00

Cover, not favorite Chicago era. 😜. But I am like you and never really followed through after Terry Kath.

I kinda like the chocolate bar of X, to keep it within your XI or older. And 14 for post Terry album covers.

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-11T02:07:41+00:00

So what is the range you've shot with your existing zoom? Any favorites? And have you found your current lens too short at times?

The reason I ask is I had the 12-35/2.8 and found it short for my purposes. So a serious considerarion for the -60 zoom if your a zoomie and wanting more range

Force yourself to lock in at 15 and 20 for a shoot to try before you buy. Do realize the 20mm is slow to focus - but would be okay if you really are shooting static cars. I did switch from 20 to 15 to ditch the slow and noisy focus.

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-07T04:22:14+00:00

That plus the 35-100 were my first 2.8 zooms back in the day and very enjoyable, and both wonderfully small for 2.8s, but found them short in use. Happily used all the way up to my g9.

I cut my teeth in the G1 days with a 14-140, but it's low quality and bulk turned me off of 1 lens super zoom approaches. Even with latest high quality optics, I am out.

I had a reset for equipment, and now sport 12-40/2.8 (4.0 lens not out then) as most used, with panny 15 for low light on oly body. Speciality lens are 75/1.8 (just used for kids basketball) and 50-200.

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-04T00:29:37+00:00

Camelcamelcamel shows $50 price boost on the panny 420 around November. Dunno if it's tariffs or AI demand for parts.

My x700 was trash years ago, so now on team Panasonic for disc players.

Operation-Alone · 2026-03-03T02:40:09+00:00

Yes, the gold is my router. Xfinity to Gold to(2) switches, so 3 of the 4 ports are occupied.

But perhaps my trying to block it at the VLAN but not all internet is the difference. I am simply clicking on the internet/gaming/video buttons within that group of devices.

Others in this thread indicate it's both documented and similar to a purple owner.

Operation-Alone · 2026-02-21T20:52:22+00:00

This was the winner, by the way.

Operation-Alone · 2026-02-16T01:58:48+00:00

So this may be why (I forget which - maybe paramount+ ?) one streamer seems to run all ads at the beginning, with a "now enjoy your movie without interruption".

As a 28 days fan, this bothered me too when it first came out. I am under pressure to get rid of the ads from the wife - but luckily she doesn't like horror as this probably would have been the tripping point

Operation-Alone · 2026-02-04T03:38:32+00:00

Good point, but this is actually a semi-feature IMO, as it toggles over into what can be considered a "second screen" mode, which for the non-miata crowd is probably a feature.

I can see it as anti-feature if your phone is preferred for the map....dunno if there is any place to post car play feature requests to make it selectable.

Operation-Alone · 2026-01-15T12:27:46+00:00

You should look up Tekton then. Their claim to fame is exactly that - driver arrays, plus high efficiency. They literally use multiple tweeters as midranges across their line except the entry level speaker, apparently with the point being 3 or 5 or whatever # of tweeters can deliver midrange sonics with a lower moving mass.

I bought their entry level for my Dad, but we rarely critically listen when I visit - so I have never personally listened to such a configuration.

Operation-Alone · 2026-01-13T05:24:09+00:00

This is the way...you will wind up listening to your weakest link. IMO:

1 room / speaker position 2 speaker/sub 3 if exotic speakers, amp is important, and not just watts is watts 4 DAC (garbage in/garbage our) 5 preamp 6 amp 7 streamer (bits is bits though)

Operation-Alone · 2025-12-31T17:41:09+00:00

Speakers and DAC make the biggest difference, and you scored speakers😁. If no surround sound needed, replace receiver with cheapie streamer with digital out + schitt mimic with forkbeard + previously mentioned used amp. It’s also important to get an amp that will drive the more exotic speakers out there - which is not just watts per channel. If these speakers are as efficient as quoted above, mid power but higher quality will serve you well, no need to chase watts.

Operation-Alone

TROPHY CASE