A man walks into a bar...

I gave up alcohol when I was 15. Then I tried it on my 22nd birthday, and let's just say it's a good thing I gave it up.

But perhaps I'll kill my taste buds on an IronBru with you the next time I'm over your way.

Hmm, who would I pick?

Youknow, I'm not sure. I suppose I'd rather sit back and watch the whole lot of the core posters 'discuss' things - with periodic interjections on my part to help the tone of the night, or the direction of the conversation.

A gun to my head? I'd snap up LordInfidel, the Duck, and probably Colin.

That would surely lead to an entertaining evening.

Most of the others I would want to see in one on one at first.

This is a tough question because, as mentioned earlier, it would be a hoot to have a beer with many - or most - of the folks who post here.

For a stimulating and intelligent discussion on many political issues with people I both agree and disagree with on various issues, I'd choose TheChas, TheDuck, TheDpetrak, TheAdmin, TheTomSal, and TheDonald. (Okay, I just threw in TheDonald - and the other The's)

To get "hammered" (great line, oz) around a pool table with the possibility of getting into a tiff with some renegade locals, it would definitely be LordInfidel. (And as a bonus he could answer any networking questions I have.)

To discuss how much we have in common, it would be oldefar. (He's revealed more than I have, so he wouldn'thave known this. For example, same early scenario plus USAF 1972-1978 plus more.)

On the golf course (even though I usually refrain from drinking on the links), since he's the only one that I remember mentioning that he plays golf as well, I'd walk down the yellow brick cart path with the OZ man. (But he'd have to leave his choice of music at home)

(continued...)

For some laughs over some crude jokes and for an explanation of why every Brit I've ever met looks down their nose at all Americans - while, at the same time, they're working in America - it would be GuruOfDOS.

To enlighten him about how politicsreally works, it would be MrAfroHead.

To learn a thing or two or three or more about MS Office and/or any other Microsoft product, it would be DKlippert and Joseph Moore.

Because of the incredibly nice things she's said about me, it would be dbgirl. (If, of course, she's really a girl. I wouldn't want to drink a beer with a guy who calls himself girl.)

To prove I'm not what he thinks I am (even though he'll say he was intentionally trying to just push me over the "brink"), and to proveto him that he can't believe everything he reads in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, it would be Julian - but he owes me, so he'll have to buy.

To see if he really does have three dozen PhDs, has scaled the highest mountains, has swam the deepest seas, has done all and knows all that there is to do and know, it would be Colin.

Sounds like it's time for Tech Republic to sponsor a convention of the peers.

Actually, there are very few regulars here that I would not want to sit down and share a good birch beer with.
(My Uncle used to bring a case when they came to visit from New Jersey.)

I hope that someday I can get a chance for a face to face with most of you.

So as to not forget anyone, I will not post a specific list.

As to the 'best' group to gather with, that would depend on my mood at the time.

Chas

<>

We all know it was because you Brits were jelous of Dolly Madison and her huge...uh snack cakes!

=)
-duck

I think it is an opportunity for all of us to get s!@t faced and duke it out in person for a change.

I can say without reservation though that there are several people that I would want to tip a pint or ten with just because.

Colin: I wanna see if he is as big as paul bunion

Max: Together we could find a way to take over the world.

MrAfrohead: Everyone needs a fresh perspective, afro always seems to have one.

Guru: I am curious how a Brit ever got himself in the situation he has (American Women are difficult aren't they Guru?)

Jules: We are both writers and believers in Karma, it could be interesting.

OZ: Wouldn't you like to see Oz Afro and myself sitting at a table?

TheChas: I would need a voice of reason after ten pints of anything.

the list goes on and on but The space does not.

Lemme sleep on it and I am sure there will be more to come!

-duck

I have been looking at the world map, and it seems the most central point would be the Yucatan penninsyla in Mexico.

Now if we can get TR to spring for a one week all inclusive package at some resort there.

OzMedia: because he shoots from the hip and doesn't care if his honest opinions upset people;
Guru: because his jokes are so cryptic that I might have a chance of understanding them through body language;
Mallard: because he chooses good discussion topics, and because his real name is so different to his alias;
Admin; Generalist; OldeFar and TheChas; to add some maturity to the gathering;
Maxwell: subject to a duel with rapiers or pistols to determine who should pay for the drinks;
Colin; so that any skeptics could find out what a really great guy he is;
Andrew Parken: no, you don't know him, but he's a really interesting guy to talk to, lives in my suburb, and is a TR member;
Anyone else who thinks they have the slightest chance ofout-talking me.

Oh I never should have done it!

Man. I missed Road Dog. and JellaMonsta.

I feel horrible now :|

For a United States meeting (Since everything revolves around the U.S. anyway):

The geographical center of the lower 48 states lies outside of Lebanon, Kansas, in the middle of a hog farm.

What would happen if we all met in Lebanon, Kansas, you might ask? Well, see the link to find out.

http://tinyurl.com/eu0m

The geographical center of all 50 states is located 17 miles west of Castle Rock, South Dakota.

(Nothing there - not even a hog farm.)

The geodetic center of the U.S. is found approximately 42 miles south of Lebanon, Kansas. (Note: A geodetic survey makes corrections to account for the curvature of the Earth.)

For an international meeting:

The geographical center of the planet's landmass:

The GreatPyramids in Egypt.

http://tinyurl.com/eu08

I'm actually not one who calls myself a "drinker" (in fact there has been a time when for an entire year I drank probably the equivalent of a single six pack), but I love good debates on all things IT and beyond, so long as they are at least somewhat intelligent and their is at least a shred of mutual respect between all debaters. And since talking makes you thirsty its a good excuse to tilt back some black and tan as well. Btw, who's buying? ;)

Also...
Admin@133tcentral.com, OzMedia, maxwell edison, GuruofDos, LordInfidel, Mallardtooxx, TheChas, Oldefar, RoadKill, Jul646, dpetrak....

folks I deem the "regular guru's of TR"... very smart group with many good insights....

So how well can each of you design a lan, troubleshoot a circuit board problem, etc... -- with about 10 beers in you? lol

Hopefully you know, or at least assume, that I was joking, it aint my gig either, but I've woken up beside more than one horror show in my days of backstage partying and often wondered if she shaved daily (or maybe she should).

As for the Abbey Road, I've got a Mint, Sealed, master copy if you got the dough. I've had it up for auction twice at Ritchie Brothers but didn't let it go.

P.S. Short my first 68 on an executive course today, woohooo !!!!! Especially at $4 a hole.

in both religion and science and must be accepted on faith. We cannot prove nor disprove existence in general and also the existence of God one whit unless we cheat and work it in a priori with tricks of linguistics.

However, once you get past the current limitations of our language and quit focusing on existence, I would have to agree, based on experience, with Benjamin Franklin when he said: "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." :)

a warm beer with you in hell. I certainly hope that I end up there, as I'm sure all the most interesting people will be there to welcome us.
The only catch is that the beer might vaporise and you'd have to breathe it in.

Regarding digital sex, well that's been around for a long time, hasn't it: the only option for those who don't have a partner.

I will admit to being addicted to chocolate, But I must say it is not near as good a high as windex. Of course that is just one mans opinion! =)

-duck

Sorry guys but I've been in the unfortuante position of having to work the last few days so most things are well and trully behind here.

Now I'd like to have a drink with all of you that gather here and I would enjoy the evening/month/year without a moments hesitation.

My only problem is in convinicing my wife that I'm not going over to the US to buy VeeDub parts in CA again. After my last trip she tore up my passport. But fortuantly she hasn't worked out just yet that I can still order these things over the NET so for the time being I'm safe.

But this sounds like a VERY GOOD IDEA to me!

It's not our silver and gold. Plenty of places have more than we in all likelihood. It's not alchohol, that likely can be either exported or exists other places as well.

It's chocolate.

Think about it. What an extremely narrow range of circumstances that must come together to have cows and cocoa beans..... They might not even want to waste the precious space of a production facility here... moving that offshore to the moon or a space station perhaps and filling the earth with cows andcocoa groves..... mmmmmmmmm.... if Guinness didn't exist, I may prefer chocolate over beer as well.... but then Guinness is often described as "Chocolatey"

:)

I could just imagine Ozzy in digital format. I could also imagine glitches in the encryption and data compression actually making some of his ramblings intelligible.
What ever would the prince of darkness think about being broadcast in lightspeed? :p
Hey Oz, I actually have a question for you if you would be so kind as to Email me through TR?

I could just imagine Ozzy in digital format. I could also imagine glitches in the encryption and data compression actually making some of his ramblings intelligible.
What ever would the prince of darkness think about being broadcast in lightspeed? :p
Hey Oz, I actually have a question for you if you would be so kind as to Email me through TR?

What I believe you have is the (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) MFSL-1-023 pressing, which was released in 1980. (And I believe it's a yellow stripe, not white.) With the exception of the very rare Beatles albums (like the butcher cover, ATCO label, someVee Jay labels, early Capitol labels, and some others), the MFSL pressings are, perhaps, the most sought after Beatles albums. Not because of the rarity of them (and some are rather hard to come by), but rather for the audio quality. MFSL used the original Capitol stereo master tapes to create them, and used half-speed mastering recording techniques to capture the clearest and crispest of sound. The packaging was better as well, which aided in maintaining flatness and prevent warping. Some audiophiles will claim that these particular vinyl records (better than 100% virgin vinyl) are a better quality than even the newer CD technology. (I might dispute that, but they do produce an excellent sound.)

There was one MFSL pressing for every major Beatles album - not the "best of" or compilation type albums, but the original releases, such as Abbey Road, Help, Rubber Soul, The White Album, etc. The most valuable (and hardest to find) is Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is valued at around $300 in mint condition. Let it Be and With The Beatles are valued around $200. Most of them fetch $50 - $100, and Abbey Road is in that category. They'll fetch the higher end (maybe a bit higher) if you have one that is still sealed.(continued...)

MFSL didn't just release Beatles music, but a wide variety of artists, but mostly jazz and rock and Roll, such as Fleetwood Mac, George Benson, Jackson Browne, Gordon Lightfoot (the Canadian troubadour), Eric Clapton, Moody Blues, Quincy Jones, and on and on. They are getting more collectible since MFSL went out of business in 1999. The only one I have (out of my collection of around 7000 LPs) is "I Robot" by Alan Parsons Project - the best sounding record I have.

You could possibly get close to $100 for your Abbey Road, since it's still sealed, but if you want to sell it, I'd offer you $50 right now.

An interesting arguement. Digital or analog recording, which is a more accurate reproduction?

The first limitation is the receptor - the listener's ear. Mine went to hell flying and no longer have a high level of sensitivity across the audio spectrum. Most people suffer some degree of loss from exposure to noise in their lives. Accuracy greater than the listener ear is a mute point.

Next is the speaker system. The fidelity of the audio output varies significantly across brands, and most popular brands are not capable of reproducing the full subtleties of the artist's work even if it has been recorded perfectly.

Backing up we have the amplification elements. Component selection, aging, temperature, placement, and purity of power are all working at distorting the input signal before passing it on.

Now we reach the recording playback. With vinyl the speed of the turntable, both accuracy and consistency, the balance of the turntable, the weight and balance of the arm, and the mechanical sensitivity of the needle are factors.

Finally, we hear the recording. They both were so nice, the audio so inspiring or soothing or exciting. Let's play it again, and again, and again.

Think I will stick to CD.

to make other people more attractive and interesting.....

During my short but intense involvement with Napster, I did find that my unsophisticated tastes really could not discriminate between 128 and 256 bit sampling in MP-3 format.

I suspect that for most consumers, this is probably representative. For the average music consumer buying a Btitney Spears album, I think that their taste in artist disqualifies their opinion as relates to delivery.

I guess there are folks who's hearing is so practiced that they can be put off by the digitization flattening. I'm not in that group.

There are similar debates in the arena of voice, relating to PCM and ADPCM sampling. For most voices, the sampling rate and bit representation are sufficient to get the point across. This is a "good enough" representation for the masses.

In an absolutely perfect environment with equally perfect media played on the finest equipment available, vinyl recordings will produce, at least in my opinion, a better sound than CDs or DVDs. Since sound is originally analog, and vinyl records areanalog while CDs are digital, some sounds may get lost in the conversion from analog to digital. However, the differences are usually so miniscule as to escape detection under normal listening conditions. Moreover, vinyl recordings are susceptible to damage, such as nicks and scratches, and dust can accumulate in the grooves, both of which can negatively affect the sound by transmitting those annoying snaps, crackles and pops - especially during a "quiet" pause in a recording.

However, as the size of my collection might indicate, I prefer the vinyl. (But not in my car.) I do play my records quite often, especially when friends and family get together. It's fun to pull out a 30 to 50 year old record (or older) upon request, and the albumcovers (especially the gatefolds) and inserts are interesting to look at as well - something that's lost with the CDs. In addition, I've run across a number of people who collect the older albums for the cover art. Joni Mitchell, for instance, did some of the cover art for Crosby Stills Nash and Young, as well as a self portrait (for one of her own) which was modeled after Vincent Van Gogh's self portrait. Alberto Vargas who created "The Vargas Girls", Andy Warhol and others have done the art for album covers as well. (Not to mention some of the impressive picture disks.)

So in an absolutely perfect world, vinyl is much better. And in an absolutely perfect world, I would have the entire MFSL collection. But then again, nothing is perfect, is it?

I might also add that people (like me) who collect the old vinyl records, don't usually do so for the "quality" of the recording. As mentioned earlier, under normal listening conditions CDs are, in most cases, much better quality, easier to use and store, and I've yet to find a suitable 5 disk turntable that shuffles the music while protecting the disk.

As my distinguished peers have pointed out, there are many ways to say which is "better" but really I think it boils down to: "If it sounds good it is good" for me. I hear this argument at least weekly, and have realized that IMO the argument revolves more about ones likes are than what is a faithful reproduction.

To go back in music history, it is obvious that, (pick any era- 50's, 60's, 70's, Baroque, Medieval, Classical) that people heard music differently than they do now. Classical music is a good indicator of this. If you listen carefully to the same piece arranged, performed and recorded in say, the 40's, then the 50's and then each decade to the present you will find that it is approached somewhat differently. Sometimes in factI get a kick out of listening to pieces that attempt to be faithful to a composers era, especially Bach is good for this, because it can be a difficult listen for the modern. The same is true of reproduction equipment through the ages IMO.

All recording and reproduction equipment to date colors the sound. Not just Tubes vs. Solid State, but op-amps and power transitors of different eras both pre and post and speaker design, microphone design, and the list gets huge really fast. We get used to differing sounds and declare them best either by the defining high end equipment of an era or because we just like a particular sound.

Now, any recording engineer will talk about faithful reproduction and a flat response. This is not really because everyone uses this for general playback, but rather for producing a recording that will play acceptably in many systems. I will developlistening fatigue quite a bit quicker with a clean amp, an adjusted room and flat speakers compared to classical records running on a tube, which I can listen to all day. Alternately, Nine Inch Nails sound better IMO on CD with my Hafler and a big Subwoofer. Why? Different Color. And the Beatles, what do I listen to them on? Of course, My big old school Pioneer silver face from vinyl. Why? because I have fond memories of listening to them on systems like this at the older kids houses when I wasyoung. This all assumes your ear can distinguish of course, and it's not bad if you can't, in fact it may be a blessing not being frustrated and a perfectionist in listening experiences! Anyway, even the particular mixing board colors the sound one way or another on every recording...it's all a matter of whether it is a color people like at the time. :)

Thanks for all the information, you really seem to know your vinyl. I guess that's the reason that I haven't sold it, I just feel it is worth more to me than $100.00 (even in that real American money that even looks like money). I'll probably passthen on to my grandkids when and if they arrive, (my son would just sell it and get pissed).
I do really appreciate the info though and you are probably right, it is a yellow bar, I dunno because it's been a while since I dug through them.

If I'm ever really hard up for a few bucks, I'll let you know though and you can make me an offer.

Thanks again,
OM

"Anyway, even the particular mixing board colors the sound one way or another on every recording...it's all a matter of whether it is a color people like at the time"

Hit the nail on the head. My parents used to tell me that the music I listenedto was tinny, they had grown up listening to colored nusic (no, not hip hop)and hed become accustomed to bottom end. Same with the radio, "more bass!".

I prefer vinyl for older recordings. I have a Harman Kardon AMP/PreAMP cpmbo with Mission speakers and a Mission cartridge on my HK turntable. I have yet to hear a better sounding Louis Armstrong on CD. The record was produced and mixed to sound best on vinyl, had it been recorded this year, it would be mixed and produced to sound best onCD.

I think that MOST analog music sounds better in analog playback but when converted to digital, even the filters can't reproduce that same warm woody sound of the clarinet. My ex was the principal cellist for the Vancouver Symphony so I listen to a LOT of classical. Older peices sound better on vinyl, the new peices better on CD. Again, due to engineering and production changes over time to have equipment adapt to the music.

CD's yay for today, vinyl for the way it was supposed to be.
OM

There are so many I've had godo conversations with though... those are three names that come fondly (and quickly) to mind...

at least you could fire up Carmeggedon, Twisted Metal Black or Grand Theft Auto and have MORE fun drivng around even MORE irresponsibly.

It's still been my experience that games are a safety valve for most of our society and when we violent typesget to act it out online we can have quite peaceful non-violent real lives most of the time. I wish everyone who was ever tempted to drink and drive in the real world would only be able to hop in a driving simulator instead and keep the rest of us safe.

I used to think it was all bits vs.analog, but in the last 10 years recording and sampling devices have progressed greatly. A CD isn't really all that high of quality by todays standards. A recording on a DigiDesign or MOTU device is far superior tothe final CD product. As sampling rates increase there are fewer and fewer people who can truly tell the difference.

Interestingly enough, these days putting analog in some way into the mix is quite popular with engineers here, not as a superior recording device though- they refer to a tape unit as a "Sound Processor" quite frequently these days. Are they doing the same in your neck of the woods Oz?

Your point is interesting.

I have used a 24 track analog board to mix into a DAT just because I like the analog mix. I SOMETIMES but not always record certain passages (bass line, some guitar solos)via Cakewalk or Protools for tempo adjustments or cut and pasting of overdubs.
The studio in Southampton where MOST of the recent songs are bed tracked is completely digital, heavy metal is a little more forgiving than Woodwinds, strings or reeds though so it is OK.
Generally the only changesthat I've seen, keep in mind I don't work for Capitol records, is the storage onto DAT making it possible to use ProTools, Cakewalk or Cubase.

I generally create bed tracks or demos using a XOOM but prefer to use a Yamaha Pm3524 for on the fly mixing, even though it is digital it still emulates an analog board well.

WOW you agree!!
I was having a few drinks with a friend who thought it was quite acceptable for a kid to be playing GameBoy while in the restaurant. I found it REALLY annoting just knowing what would have happened to me if I did that as a kid, mind you it was Electronic Quarterback then. Blip, Blip, Blip, I SCORED!!!!

It just really pissed me off and I told the waitress so, to which she said, "nothing new."

I think parents suck as a whole. They have No right raising kids anymore, there should be a mandatory How to Give a Crap course.

I know some of you as am I are parents so I don't want to get your feathers ruffled if you feel you are doing the right thing with your kids, it's ultimately up to you who and what they become. Stupidity and rudeness just piss me off though, PLEASE at least talk to your kids once in a while and don't let them be ignored that way this little kid was. It is a sad, sad day when parents rely on Nintendo as a babysitter and mentor for their children.

Dismayed,
OM

Thanks for all the informative postings, which cover very thoroughly the subject of "what the ear can distinguish."
However I would like to add/vindicate a few points. Audio design has been based on the premise that the maxium range of frequencieswhich the human ear can register is 20 - 20,000 Hz. In reality, however, probably 12 - 15KHz would be the maximum perceptible on the upper end, and this falls off naturally with age.
Originally I owned an Australian produced MBH magnetic pick-up with a flat response from 20 - 20,000 Hz. Similarly this is the standard frequency range for a true Hi-Fi amplifier. The weakest link is the speaker/s in which the response curve is quite irregular, and drops sharply below, say, 50Hz. The lowest note on a piano, however, is less than 30 Hz, and if you have the space for it, an organ pipe can go even lower.
The human ear has some 3,000 fibres, each of which responds only to a single sound. This allows for differentiation of about 30 frequencies in a semi-tone. So the human ear can register the most minute variations in pitch.
And this is partly why, I am assuming, that no electronic device can come even close to reproducing the sound of an actual musical instrument.

My kid loves his Gameboy, but not as much as me or Cub Scouts, camping, eating or playing outside. I agree with you, many of the parents I see scare me. But also, I know a lot of good parents and kids in the neighborhood and although they love to play games, they all make it to the dinner table and don't watch their parents be obnoxious theifs. I really think the chief problem is ignorance. I must admit I did not really know how to Father and grew up with my own Father absent a great deal of the time. I love my Father dearly and understand him, him dearly, but I didn't know how to parent and it took a lot of reading, asking questions and taking classes to figure it out.

I was trying to figure it out as I went in real time as a single Father of a 6 mos. old! Wow. he's almost 8 now, and a great kid doing well in school and the community, but it took a lot of work and change within myself to get there. I'm not the best equipped Dad, even today I work at it constantly.

What I am getting at here, is a lot of people grew up with absent parents for the most part, and they really don't know how to do it themselves, and unless they are really motivated to do this, they are lost. It's really really sad. All I can say, is like Maxwell, become a Scout Leader or start some LAN parties for youth in your community, be a Big Brother or Sister or at least let your kid drag other kids home and feed them and give them some rules and hold them accountable. It's amazing how many kids my son drags home from school that have no meals or people waiting for them, much less any tasks or payment for the tasks. I swear, just letting a kid rake your leaves for a few bucks, giving them some good feedback and helping them understand they CAN do something useful and make a buck themselves at a young age goes a LONG way towards their development as citizens.

>>The human ear has some 3,000 fibres, each of >>which responds only to a single sound. This >>allows for differentiation of about 30 >>frequencies in a semi-tone. So the human ear >>can register the most minute variations in >>pitch.

There is another factor which results in an incredible increase in distinction here Jules...every single one of us individual human beings has a different set of the 3000 fibers resonding in slightly different ways to the 30 frequencies in a semi-tone. Actually, I like to think of sound as more dimensional than Western theory anyway. Beyond tonal quality there are many other factors and combinations that result in what we hear IMO. It is mind boggling how amazing it is that so many people can enjoy listening to the same thing sometimes really...

>>And this is partly why, I am assuming, that no >>electronic device can come even close to >>reproducing the sound of an actual musical >>instrument.

No sound can ever be reproduced really. Isn't thatbeautiful! Every performance and every playback is uniquely beautiful and only happens once in the linear scale of time. MAn, I love and relish each time I hear a sound I like :)
Sure, it is important to try and reproduce faithfully (and to remix and experiment as well) but in the end, it is unique and different every time! :)

Hats off to you sir!! You saty that you were not really prepared to be a father and that you never really saw much of your father as a youngster yourself.NOBODY is really prepared to be a parent. Sometimes we fool ourselves with parenting classes,books and buying all the gadgets. In the long run, the second the mother gives birth, everything you knew is out the window. NOTHING can prepare you for that!

You say your son is in Cubs, that makes me so happy to see that people still believe in scouting. I spent 12 years as a Cub, Scout, Venturer then on to being a cub and scout leader for a few years. Passing down the information I had learned as a Scout was so erwarding it blew my mind. We had kids who's parents had to scrounge to gather weekly dues, their kids were simply these huge information seekers that listen and absorb everything they were shown, the rewards to me were tremendous. Scouting here just isn't COOL anymore, kids want to stay home and compute or game. If not, they are ususally up to no good due to the lack of youth programs and the ineveitable "there's nothing to do".

Hats off to you for doing what you feel is best in your heart and helping your son become an upstanding and well respected citizen. Too bad everyone isn't that way.

P.S. The parents I was referring to are VERY wealthy Asian immigrants in an Asian dominated suburb of Vancouver. It's hard to not sound like a racist but it certainly is a common sight in that area, obviously the result of the perents upbringing being different than mine.
OM

I can see where a waitress would consider the Nintendo Nut behavior to be something that happens frequently enough not to be a surprize.

In fact, seeing kids behaving well seems to be more of a surprize. A little over eight years ago, when my kids were 13, 9 and 4 (or younger) we were at a Claim Jumper restaurant in the Greater LA area. It took a while to get in and get served because the restaurant is very popular. But the kids were on their normal behavior, sitting quietly and enjoying the conversation and the decor.

Out of the blue, one of the waitresses complimented my wife and I on how well behaved the kids were. My wife and I were pleased with the compliment and occasionally mention the event when people talk about how wellbehaved the kids are.

It does require a certain amount of work early on. Teaching a two year old the meaning of the word 'No' is a start. Explaining why something is a 'No' seems to be an essential element of the training process.

Chocolate would be a good choice of mind altering substance, at least in limited doses of the high quality stuff.

Favorite flavors of ice cream would also work. For me, the equivalent of Baskin Robbin's Pralines and Cream would be nirvana.

But if you wanted to get me higher than a kite, a good conversation about science, technology, history, science fiction or fantasy would be the best deal. And if you can add some puns to the mix, it would be even better.

I might need some time to wind down before I drive home after the party. I once got pulled over for driving erratically when my wife and I got into a really fun conversation on our way home from a class.

I think it is universally accepted now that chocolate creates the same feeling as being in love. It is also a good food as it (especially milk chocolate) contains the basic dietary elements including protein.
I discovered Swiss chocolate when a certain girlfriend of mine (who had been married to a German) used to bring me a bar each time she visited me.
I don't usually buy it for myself because of the cost. However the variety I found most addictive was the German Milka Mocca.

I have to start keeping my eye on more discussions.

Because of design compromises made at the time the audio CD was developed, the format is flawed. It CANNOT accurately reproduce music!

The encoding was chosen based on the cost of D/A converter ICs in 1982.

The sampling frequency was chosen based on the compromise of size (to fit a dashboard radio slot) and single side length of 1 hour.

On the technical side, the sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz is 'capable' of properly encoding a 22KHz SINE wave. This is based on the Nyquist Theorem.

The Nyquist Theorem ONLY applies to sinusoidal waveforms. Music has many non-sinusoidal components. The initial crash of a symbol or the beat of a drum is a sharp high speed transient.
The only pure sine waves are from the voice, and wind and bowed string instruments.

The last time I reviewed sampling theory, you had to sample non-sinusoids at a minimum of 10 times the fundamental frequency.

So, the audio CD format only provides accurate reproduction for signals with fundamental frequencies of 4400 hertz or below.

Now, much like the compact cassette, the CD is performing beyond textbook limitations.

The primary area of improvement has been to reduce the jitter (variations over time) in the oscillators for the A/D and D/A converters.

Chas

First I havent been here in a while and the last time I saw a posting from the Guru he was expecting a baby, so the first would be to him and his new luck. Boy or girl? There are many people I would tip with especially to see if I could hold my own with the two Aussies. I would love to see Admin and Max go at it fully plastered in a debate, that would be classic. I would like to see if Mr. Afro actually has an afro or not, tip a beer on Road Dogs porch while watching his neighbor mow the lawn. The list goes on and on and maybe someday....