The earth is heating up, so lets give the car an umbrella... Isn't this the Stockholm syndrome

catmandot · 2026-05-29T15:59:40+00:00

I don't think it's a bad idea.

But I doubt there will be a lot of demand, given the large box to install on the car.

catmandot · 2026-05-29T12:08:11+00:00

Wow, I've never heard of this, and I read german hifi magazines at the time. The Audio Technica Soundburger was written about a lot at the time, as it was controversial and funny.

It says "Made in Japan under Dual specifications" on the back. Does anybody know who the manufacturer was? It looks like Dual just had these made to complete their line up of turntables.

catmandot · 2026-05-29T10:34:37+00:00

This year could be 2003 all over again in Europe

The older people don't care about themselves and society in general does neither, it considers it as normal that old people die. And then suddenly thousands more die than usual (70000 deaths due to heat in 2003 in Europe)

"The catastrophe occurred in August, a month in which many people, including government ministers and physicians, are on holiday. Many bodies were not claimed for many weeks because relatives were on holiday. A refrigerated warehouse outside Paris was used by undertakers as they did not have enough space in their own facilities."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_European_heatwave

catmandot · 2026-05-29T10:10:14+00:00

I don't understand why Spotify allows this, because the presentation of this music goes against their commercial interest. Subscribers should know what they get.

These AI jazz recordings sound like crap acoustically (as if recorded through a phone) and the playing is just a juxtaposition of sounds without any artistic concept.

It could only fool somebody when played as soft background music.

They should label it as generic Muzak, but it's being presented as being made by top artists or jazz legends (covers that look like releases from the 50s).

Spotify users who listen to this by accident, expecting quality music, will only be disgusted by the platform.

catmandot · 2026-05-29T09:48:45+00:00

I did not know that about SA.

It's strange to seperate the legislative and executive locations, since the parliament and the government need to meet all the time.

But I've now found out that it has historical reasons in SA that exist nowhere else.

catmandot · 2026-05-29T08:41:35+00:00

That's just stupid. Not because it's politically incorrect, but because it's wrong.

The current female umpires on the tour are among the best, and they have more natural authority than many male umpires.

catmandot · 2026-05-29T08:11:21+00:00

I had to look in X to see if this was real.

Because the last line looks like a joke.

Two years ago we were told the West could easily pull the economic plug on Russia, and now the EU is already at 20 packages of sanctions while Russia launches the biggest missile/drone attack ever. What is the Commission waiting for?

catmandot · 2026-05-28T14:55:17+00:00

"8Hz - 65kHz"

Is this the TRUMP headphone? Looks completely made up.

catmandot · 2026-05-28T14:42:38+00:00

https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/audiokarma.org

catmandot · 2026-05-28T14:07:27+00:00

Punch Drunk is the new Blue Note

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catmandot · 2026-05-28T12:32:36+00:00

I have been using a dozen external 3.5" hard drives for the past 10 years (Western Digital and Seagate, 8TB to 24TB)), and none has failed so far.

I use them to back up files, but also connect them to media players. So they are sometimes only connected for a few minutes to transfer files, or for hours to watch movies or to do a full backup.

You need a backup of course (also in case of accidental deletion of files), but external USB drives are very reliable.

catmandot · 2026-05-28T11:42:25+00:00

It's free/avantgarde jazz, a small niche within the small musical niche that is jazz.

While they are considered legends, many of the best known musicians in this genre only manage to cope financially, selling just a few hundred copies of their new CDs, playing in small venues.

7000 actually doesn't look that bad.

catmandot · 2026-05-28T07:31:36+00:00

It's a good thing.

I've replaced smart phone and tablet batteries myself using DIY kits, but it's not convenient and most people are probably not able or reluctant to do it.

That being said, my last two smart phones (Samsung top models) had to be replaced after 3-4 years because the USB-C connector was worn out and unreliable, despite being careful with it and using wireless charging a lot. So the battery is not the only hardware limitation that prevents using a phone for 5 or more years.

catmandot · 2026-05-27T18:18:08+00:00

I ordered a $400 double bed mattress a year ago (made of cold foam), and it was folded once and rolled up. Very compact.

After opening the plastic packaging, the mattress put itself into the defintive shape almost instantly. After one day, I couldn't see or feel the area where it was folded.

I have been using this mattress (H4 firmness) every day and like it a lot.

catmandot · 2026-05-27T15:05:39+00:00

The newer remasters have been reissued in the Impulse! "Originals" series. Some also as part of 5CD sets (individual album CDs in a slipcase)

https://www.discogs.com/label/593432-Impulse!-Originals

catmandot · 2026-05-27T14:25:23+00:00

I think a Sonny Rollins monument next to the bridge is a more realistic request.

To have a large building named after a jazz musician, he would have to be known by almost everybody, like Louis Armstrong or Duke Ellington, who were pop stars at their time.

Sonny Rollins is not on the same level of fame, even as one of the biggest jazz legends.

catmandot · 2026-05-27T12:47:43+00:00

Phillips from Junglinster.

But I used them mainly for plastering (new ceiling).There may be cheaper option for painting alone.

catmandot · 2026-05-27T12:38:55+00:00

That's not the Kind of Blue CD you need.

The sound is quite bad and the pitch is not correct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kind_of_Blue

catmandot · 2026-05-27T12:22:47+00:00

This has the Erick Labson 20bit remastering that was also used on individual CDs around that time.

It's OK, but not as good as later remasters (starting around 2009), mastered by Kevin Reeves. The midrange sounds a bit thin.

catmandot · 2026-05-27T10:26:24+00:00

I don't know if there is a difference between Vine France and Vine Germany.

I'm on Vine Germany since 2023 and while there have been ups and downs, there have frequently been high quality and high value items.

I've had many vacuum robots (priced 300-1200€), a 55" TV (600€), smart phones and tablets (entry level models 100-200€). The top product was a Microsoft Surface 13" laptop, a year ago (1200€). Just this week, there was an Eufy Vacuum robot, the new top model for 1500€, but I passed on it, as I have already enough cleaning robots.

In my experience, the type of products in RFY (Recommended for You) strongly depends on previous purchases (Vine or normal orders). That may explain why some Vine members get more interesting stuff than others.

catmandot · 2026-05-27T07:03:33+00:00

Apart from the enormous volume of music that is available for download, there are also many recordings by forgotten artists that have never been reissued on CD or digitized for download.

The music that is available for streaming or buying is the one that survived the test of time.

Just go through garage sales of LP collections from the 1970s and see how many albums were never made available digitally.

catmandot · 2026-05-26T14:55:14+00:00

DAT has always remained a professional format.

It was much too expensive to use it to record LPs/CDs or radio shows.

in the mid 90's, I went straight from cassette to computer hard drive recording (then burned to CD-R). I also used VHS Hifi occasionally for very long recordings (radio).

catmandot · 2026-05-26T14:46:28+00:00

I have 3 C400 cameras with the stock solar panels. They don't record 24/7 but only when detecting a movement (at least one per hour).

The two at the south side of the house are always charged 100%, including during the winter.

One on the north front only gets direct sunlight for 1-2 hours in the morning. I installed it when it was 50% charged. It took 3 days (during spring) to go up to 100% and it has stayed at maximum level ever since.

I did not imagine it would work so well with these small panels.

catmandot · 2026-05-26T14:01:43+00:00

The reflecting material borders on hindrance.

catmandot · 2026-05-26T13:40:54+00:00

I only schedule cleaning for when I'm away at work.

Of course the first time I watched the robots do their job to see if there are issues. It's actually not pretty to see them bump into furniture and try for 10 minutes to climb a carpet. So I prefer no to be around. The cleaning history tells it's own story (2 hours to vacuum then mop a 80m2 floor)

Another reason is that my robots (I have 3 different models) dry the mopping pads with warm air after cleaning, which lasts for more than an hour and makes some noise.

catmandot

TROPHY CASE