InnerTuber

Nice garage! I've been doing something similar myself - First I made a pair of nesting saw horses. Rock solid and stackable. http://woodworking.about.com/od/shopequipmentsupplies/ss/woodSawhorses.htm Then a rolling 4x8' worktable. It's a knockoff of Norm's. Spring loaded wheels drop down to roll. I can't find the link atm. I added a shelf to the bottom. This week I finished a workbench that could almost withstand a bomb drop. ~15 2x4's laminated on end with 2x6 edging. 1/2 plywood top over the 2x4 lamination. This thing is sturdy. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Build/Workbench.html. I added a shelf on the bottom. Could close it in with doors. Adds to cost. I like pegboard. 1/4 pegboard is much stronger than the 1/8 inch. My floor is epoxy paint and it chips and peels in spots. I would not paint a concrete floor, but it does look nice. It's just a maintenance issue. Prep is important for sure. Epoxy maybe, but sealed concrete is pretty easy to maintain. Once you paint most anything it's a maintenance issue in my book. Granted some things need paint. I like ceiling mount bike racks on amazon - Racor Ceiling-Mounted Bike... $23.18 My thought was build one workbench that is rock solid (like for vise) and then make lighter ones around the other walls creating various areas for various tasks. Far as table saws a few options. A used cabinet saw is what I'm after. Preferably Powermatic. but Saw Stop, Delta, Jet all have good stuff. If I had $3,000 to plop down I'd grab a Powermatic. For $550 the Ridgid at Home Depot has a lifetime warranty and iron table. A nice alternative with a great warranty. Storage method is pretty much choice. I'm just not into the metal diamond stuff. I like wood and generally open shelves. I use rubbermaid tubs and mark the ends. Drag em down when I need them. Doors under the benches make things look nice for sure. Heavy stuff I store on the floor, like large metal boxes of bolts. I think the ~8' bench I just built was about $120 in materials. Doubt you can get kitchen style cabinets under a bench for that rate. You might want to think about power outlets and running PVC or similar for a vac system. Dust can get everywhere and maybe in beer! Also might want to run a couple lines/drops for compressed air before all the benches or cabinets go in. I have pics etc if any interest and can get you the link for the rolling table if that helps.

You could also try starting low and going higher. See what sounds good to you.

713

Note that on commodities options as they go deeper into the money the margin calls become more similar to a futures contract. Also, futures/options margin calls are marked to market every day so there is little financial exposure to the exchange, in spite of the fact a single investor is losing his shirt! Stocks are different.

The walkthru is normal. That's to make sure there are not glaring issues basis what you think you bought. I don't think they can fix much at that since the subs probably won't be there. Also, that would be called high pressure. I would not agree to that. Do the walkthru as they want, but before hand I'd tell them that's all fine, but I will need a 7 days after closing to generate a punchlist and I want the GC to coordinate repairs. If they say you have a warranty that is not the same thing. Once you sign off on that puchlist things change. At least that's been my experience. I would not close before the house is ready for occupation. Again be careful what you sign off on. Dealing with subs without the general contractor can test your patience / fortitude.

I like these - http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Debut-III-Turntable-Multicolor_5?sc=7&category=947 For about 100 bucks more you can get a USB version for ripping vinyl w/o an analog to digital converter.

I am using a mac mini with itunes and I use the USB connection to a M audio audiophile interface. I want to upgrade the dac interface. What are you using and what would you recommend? I would like to preserve my ability to record vinyl to lossless files so the DAC would have to work in two directions. Computer>DAC> preamp (for playback) and phono preamp>DAC> computer (for recording). I have one of those and an M Audio 410. I'm interested in the Benchmark Pre (http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac1pre/) ~$1,500, but want to see how this winds up too, the Proton (http://www.usbdacs.com/Products/Products.html) which should be out soon I think. ~$1,000 I like both and both companies line of products are well received. There are many choices both higher and lower in cost. You can read a lot about them here (http://www.computeraudiophile.com/forum). Ripping vinyl with some of these DACs would be a no go. M-Audio is cool that way. I'm actually thinking about just going with a USB turntable along the lines of this (http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=debutphusb&cat=turntables) ~$400. I'm sure there are other DAC and AD converters out there, but I don't hunt them. If you like the sound of the M-Audio stuff (which I'm ok with cause I don't really have anything else) it's hard to beat. Hard to find anymore too. I do think that a better DAC will improve things, but it's a big jump in price to the next level.

For a music server Mac and iTunes are subjectively as good or better than any of them. There are no issues about being squeezed, etc., for the person putting (ripping) their CDs on a server. Rip or download and go. iTunes shines particularly when you look at playback options, compressed or uncompressed alternatives, bit perfect rip and playback, etc. Now I wouldn't bother with iTunes on a PC. For the average user there is no comparison between a Mac and Win based system for ease of use. No ASIO issues, no special soundcards. Plop a remote drive on a Extreme router and you have gigs of wireless remote storage. Takes minutes again. For studio work I have no clue, but we're talking music servers here. Show me a windows based system I can control from my phone that takes about 2 minutes to set up. Uh huh, uh huh! Flop at the pool and control the system. Yeah baby. Okay, I'll give you that Coverflow goes a lil offtrack under remote control. I use Windows for business apps and still have WinAmp, but given my experience Apple just smokes Windows in terms of ease of use for a consumer music system. I do prefer Win for Excel and Word. J River is cool for Win, but Win isn't cool out of the box for music. Most overthetoppers seem to use EAC and Foobar. All players I have tried (many) periodically screwed up folders causing an artwork mess .... Not that iTunes is perfect on art, none of them really are, but the fix is fast. Drag and paste and rejoin the album. In Winamp that can become a investigation process. Try to import all those WAV files and start scratching your head as to where all the tags went. Ruh row. Try to point another PC at the music library on any given PC. Try to remote control another PC. These things I do or can do on both and it ain't always easy under Win. All fairly simple on Apple. Many file formats can be converted between media players these days. Some handle tagging better than others. Some handle highest resolutions, some don't. And last lets look at price. A Mac laptop or mini is generally cheaper than a music server. Even a mini with 4TB storage can be done probably for ~$1,500. You can Tos or USB out to whatever, plus do a zillion other things. Takes about 5 minutes to get bit perfect music out of the box. Try that on a PC system. First you'll spend an hour researching sound cards for your replacement, if you even know there's a problem to begin with. The objective is simple - bit perfect reproduction. A laptop w/4tb is probably $2-3k, but provides a lot of funtionality as well as music. Still less than many transports. Personally I think the best argument against iTunes is the lack of FLAC, takes a converter I guess. But storage is pretty cheap so a lot of folks just don't compress at all. I don't worry much about the Miscrosoft versus Apple wars. I just want the music right. I agree you can get there both ways. One is just easier and well integrated. Neither are the work of your local drug dealer! That said, if you start using the iTunes store I supposed you do become hooked and transferring that around becomes a bit of a pain. But that's really how you source your data, no so much how you dish it up on the server. Why would anyone buy that compressed stuff anyway when you can Amazon a CD almost overnight? I'd think anyone who tried to do a high end music server on PC and Mac would say Mac is so much easier. Heck, I never touched a Mac and can't do anything except music and internet and I recognize the ease of using the darn thing.

Can't beat a Mac with iTunes these days. Can also easily set up wireless with gobs of cheap storage. Remote control via iphone or itouch. Coverflow display. It sounds good, easy to do, ultra organized and bit perfect. How'd ya like a fruit roll-up? Not to mention hi-res. I'm waiting on the Wavelength Proton Dac to see how it stacks up the the Benchmark. Transports are going to be history as well as spinning hardrives. Servers will go silent solid state. Hope they can put some tubes in there for looks.

2 amps, 1 set of speakers - I use the Niles

crude contract scares me a bit, kinda big - I don't trade it but it's a decent derivative for resin costs Agree mid 60's - that's what it will probably take to slow alternative energy development and for the producers 60 still smokes the old days <40

Hah - we named ours Blue Ray - http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11240580&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|111|53682|58255&N=4019917&Mo=8&pos=4&No=6&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=58255&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1〈=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC11008-Cat53682&topnav= That thing is exactly what a pal needs tho - theirs is uncovered, we have screen. GL51 you got anything for all those little frogs? I fish those out non stop.

You got the oil right Colin, course you said maybe a couple years, but still right! Okay - the trade of the day suggestion (OJH9) Sell 95 put Buy 1.10 call Sell 1.40 call Can collect a penny or two on the deal, or at flat raise the 1.40 to 1.45 or similar, maybe drop the 95 to 90 on a tanking day. That ought to at worst do nothing, at best you get 30 cents a pound, assuming OK doesn't fall below 95 which the Brazilians will try to prevent. Think LDC is on the buying side if I was to guess Wheeeeeeeeeeeee

Nice looking area - man those things are big! When you get ready to buy a softener, based on my research the looking stops here - http://www.watervalue.com/fleck_7000.html. There's a guy down in Riverview I think that sells these. I installed two and love them. Holler if you need an addy someday. Best of luck on the move and don't let them pressure you to sign off on punch list stuff at closing. Yes, you will get a warranty, but you will get much better response (and be dealing with the contractor rather than subs/installers/etc), and time to find the things needing repair by living there a bit. Don't let them pressure you! Take your time and this will sound stupid, but test everything. Outlets, faucets, hot water vs cold, spray windows and doors with hose pop and reset breakers. Ask them to just leave you alone there for a few hours if it works out that way and take your time, even better if you can just say we'll get you a punch list 2 weeks after we move in so we can only generate one list. Your realtor KNOWS how to accomidate that and it's zero dollars so they should help protect you. Keep in mind, your realtor is legally probably representing the seller. You need to ask for some of this. Also, re the punch list, it's quite hard to see glaring defects in drywall when they put that thin white paint on there. When you goto paint you will see everything. Get a ladder and flashlight and look around each wall up close. I use chalk and mark what I want fixed. The subs probably won't mind coming out to fix things for you once, try to get the list right the first time. Repeated visits start to irritate them, they are wasting time after all. Do I sound AR????? It's a job to many folks, but it's a home to you! Heh.

"that's one of the ones I'd found I was thinking about. " Sure thing - I was going to try one too, but all my shop vacs are like 5-8 hp and I think they might suck the music right out of the groove! It's on my list of things to try to make one day ...

I guess I spin it like it would play. Not sure why, other than most of the time its on the turntable and I never really tried to give it a go backwards! There's probably some science to the best method, but it eludes me, likely due to the fumes form my 99% proof record cleaner component.

I use one of those perfection steamers when I drag out ugly (yard sale) vinyl. It works fine and doesn't hurt anything near as I can tell. Now if you stuck it right against the record and went away to watch a DVD it might, but you can control it all by varying the distance. I try to keep the paper label dry and that's tricky as the water drips across the center sometimes. How to make a cleaner - http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html seems good to me. For cleaning solution I goto Walgreens or CVS and order 99.99% pure isopropyl alcohol (about 3 bucks a bottle). Regular off the shelf is 70% or so. Mix with 50/50 distilled water (or you can order special water). A drop or two of non sudsing detergent preferable without scent. You can buy something fancy there too I suppose. You can go lab grade and pay lots more. It's cheap and evaporates well, leaves no film. I use a tiny bit of laundry detergent, and I mean tiny. Like a small dab of the stuff that accumulates into detergent goo on the soap dispenser. Blob it on and wipe it off. Hope I'm not doing something stupid, but so far so good.

OT - We're fussing about the MTV video music awards

The rant from Beetlejuice'ss cousin (called an opening monolog) was almost enough to hit the off button. What a boob. Like I need to hear some crude lecture telling me who to vote for. MTV continues to stink. I did like the performance of Disturbia.

I have to agree, buy some big sxx'd Heritage speakers before you have a wife. Then they just come along with you when the day comes. Whine If you love me you'll love my speakers. Get KHorns. Honey, we need a nice big room with perfect corners.Thwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap. O, forgot the budget. Crank it up

I have two Yamas and they are fine for me. I use one for a TV for games and tele with two small speakers. If you can fit two of these http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/cornwall-iii.aspx they are around for about $400-1,000 per pair depending on this and thats. Might not need a sub here unless you really want deep lows. I usually turn mine off. Smaller and a bit less expensive are http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/heresy-iii.aspx when used. Theres a sub forum here - just say I want to spend this much - any suggestions? and sombody will chime in I bet. Otherwise, just look around the speakers on the main page. You can see price and size info. Many things come up for sale used in the garage sale or your local Craigs list. As mentioned you'll get a lot more value from used. I'd invest in two good speakers rather than two speakers and a sub if that makes sense. Maybe go for two good ones and use what you have on the bottom.

Hi CK and welcome to the forum Obviously being a Klipsch forum ... That said I have a variety of stuff. I like Klipsch the best for my ears. In fact I've gone away and come back. There are some technical reasons for that, but really I just like the sound. I myself don't hate Bose, I just prefer Klipsch. I have a pair of Bose 301 speakers that sound pretty good for a small speaker. I compare those to my 1974 DCM Timewindows and a pair of Infinity bookshelf speakers. All 3 sound similar and all sound so much better than the little cube systems, especially without a subwoofer. The sub helps them all. My sister loves her Bose something cube stuff, but she finds a transistor radio about the same as any other music system. People are different. What she does like about the little cubes is she can hide them and the system is easy for her to use. Music is almost an inconvenince to her. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-z8Rl2dhOUe0/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=018301VLC http://www.infinitysystems.com/home/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=P152BK&cat=BFS&ser=PRI&Language=ENG&Region=USA&Country=US Something like this might work and would sound quite superior to prior alternatives - http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rb-61.aspx If you have more space http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rf-52.aspx I like the Heritage products that can be found used at very reasonable prices - again IMHO superior in sound to the bookshelf style products and no comparison to cube stuff - http://www.klipsch.com/products/lists/heritage.aspx. Have fun shopping! If you care to share the budget and space, what you really want to hook up (TV, CD, radio or whatever) and somebody will likely offer great advice or a deal on some gear they have laying around. Jump in if you like!

Metal Gear Argggggggggg I croak a lot Forget that sneaking around stuff, Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarge with a machine gun

Hey another thought - I'd try to get a water softener loop if you don't have one. It will just be a loop of pipe sticking out of the wall probably in the garage that you can tap into to install a softener. The ones I've had done are usually about 75 bucks. Not sure if all the drywall is done, and you may have it already. Just saves hacking up the wall if you decide to soften down the road. Often next to the water heater (if its not in the attic) and requires a nearby outlet! Treating the outdoor faucets may be an option. Avoid it if possible, but if you like soft water I'd choose all soft over no soft. It will make a big difference if you never have had it. And if you have a pool, it's about the only way to drop calcium other than pumping water out and new water in. A hassel but waters not cheap anymore.

I'd think the cost to evac and be wrong on a cruise ship would very high. Plus, the waves these storms spin off can be scary. I really am guessing here, but even an aircraft carrier would try to dodge a hurricane, especially a cat 4 or 5, wouldn't it? To sail away and find the storm changed course and god forbid sink the dang ship would probably be a bankruptcy. Being on the water is probably the last place I'd want to be. Hard to outrun a storm is severe waves. Storm forecasting is ... reasonable, but often wrong. We never know where to head until it's close and are fortunate to know enough back roads to get around. I fully agree there on alternate routes. Sitting in gridlock is ultra stressful. Burning up and running out of gas. I try to view it as the price one pays to live on/near the water. Personally, I'm a lot more concerned about the tidal surges than the wind and rain. 15 feet of water, even if it recedes quickly is something I don't want to be watching from my rooftop. That said I'm not sure I'd want to sit through 150 mph winds either. Bad choices. The sky is falling!