Bosco-d-gama

Rather than attempt to invest/interest listeners in my ‘gear’ I prefer to just have guests over and say ‘nothing’ about the music. 90% of the time during their visit I get asked about the system regardless of what’s being played or how loud the volume. It just sounds good, I know and it is clearly evident. When I have directed listeners to enjoy my gear they tend to put on their ‘critical’ ears. Neighbor has a fairly costly rig featuring German Physiks omnidirectional speakers. Every time we’re there I have to ‘appreciate’ them or the world will wobble out of orbit. They are fine sounding but for what he’s got invested in stuff - they are simply unimpressive. They overwhelm the space. But I am polite. This neighbor knows what I own and I have yet to invite him for an audience. I already know his response. Simply put I enjoy what I have cobbled together and use the system for the simple entertainment of guests. When I wish to ‘flex’ the gear I do so personally. I will play music selections requested by others......... and nobody is allowed to putz with any of my stuff.

Umpqua - Java Thunder

My, my, my.......... With a career steeped in research I do tend to look at subjects with an objective and critical eye. I find enjoyment in finding pathways to proofs. I do not believe anyone is telling anyone what’s best or right or wrong. We’re just acknowledging that the ability exists for quantifying these systems and yes behavioral responses. Industrial psyche stuff. Others may be skeptical but there’s a science to this and the main applications are in advertising. Look how successful BOSE is when it comes to steering the stereo market. Feel free to skip the analytics if you choose. Lots of diehard BOSE fans will testify to the wonders of sound reproduction with zero basis in facts/reality. We choose to split hairs to the nth degree...... and it is fun to boot.

Agreed. Individuals always have the final word about their preferences. Agree as well that companies require studies like this to try to bring to market products that stand to succeed. Disagree regarding study bias. Research certainly can devise studies with meaningful results. Manufacturing anything is very costly so genuine market research is a paramount part of predictable business. Try and obtain business financing without product development research in your business plan. Without that data, those charts, the understanding of market segments, customer profiles, etc...... and your business will navigate on a wing and a prayer. Pragmatism has its rewards. As end users we often make choices based on performance graphs and other data. Others just accept advertising BS and end up with BOSE. Your preference is very real. But customers rarely have the occasion to preview all of the equipment in its endless configurations in person. Ultimately you decide to buy based on something and the more you know about the product the better informed will be your purchase. You can simply shoot craps or you can do the research........ so you’d better hope that somebody gives you valid research and that you know the difference between good and bad data/presentation.

If you used each person as their own control then you could ascertain clearer results. Test the same person weekly for a month and compare them to themselves to assess decision continuity. Then study a group of people in the same fashion, using the same systems, environments and music and look for crowd preference patterns. The bigger the test group the greater the validity of the results (good or not-so-good). You have to assume that focus group studies similar to this is done by Klipsch and others. This ABX tool sounds ideal for this stuff.

Sorry your thread got diverted. I’d think that the components would never have to deal with any more than 100% humidity at any given temperature unless someone is actually blowing exhaled vapors into them. Whether 100% humidity might impact optical sensors/cabling, etc - I do not know. Any members from our gulf coast would likely know. You may wish to concern yourself with the possible consequences of 2nd hand vapor breathing. Just as with smoking unintentional intake of atmospheric vapor can occur. I’d think that you might see vapor residue on furniture as well. And....... changing diapers on kids ain’t so bad. Now incontinence in the elderly - that’s quite another matter.😳

I am very happy anytime anyone stops smoking. That said puhleeze do not light load vaping. Vaping is pretty much an unknown insofar as long term consequences. The vaping industry is not the least motivated by anyone’s health or well being. Their main goal is to become your nicotine provider - period. They want you addicted and they want your $$. They absolutely do target our youth. They want all existing users and they aim to harvest new generations of addicts. NO vapor seller or manufacturer will tell you that their products are harmless and most require their customers to sign liability waivers. The customers accept full responsibility for whatever occurs. Does that sound like a safe product and a sane decision? Physiologically lungs are not meant to intake anything except good old air, the cleaner the better. Our ‘guts’ are meant for the intake of food, drink, etc. Lungs react to abuse from any foreign substance. No smoke, no chemical vapors. Humidity, yes. Nothing, no nada else. This is pure fact and just plain common sense. Leave your lungs for their purpose of breathing, oxygen in, carbon dioxide out. Eat anything else you wish to put in your body. Vaping will soon be highly regulated and much more strictly controlled. The sooner the better. They’ve been a loose cannon on a crowded deck. Lastly IMHO nothing looks sillier than somebody smoking or vaping. Burning up $$ at the behest of some snake oil industry is the paramount of gullibility. Be happy you quit smoking but when you stop vaping your lungs will heal even faster. Already you’re pleased with how much better you feels ending smoking. Imagine how much better you’d feel after 10 years of quitting it all. Or, conversely, imagine how you could feel after 10 years of vaping and learning that it (plus your packyears of tobacco use) has turned you into a pulmonary cripple. Quit it ALL. That’s the smart decision.

Y’know it would be interesting to evenly divide the wealth of the country. Every person would be financially equal. Wonder how’d things would stack up after 2 generations? 🤪

It is an extremely dimensional topic. Not a matter of agreeing to disagree so much as agreeing that we cannot adequately cover aspects of it in these forums. So we sally forth and carry on, etc.

Zen...... you are sidestepping the discussion. It is a hypothetical that poses tough ethical/moral questions. Yeah, it can be framed in other ways too: who gets the parachute? You choose to vilify the ‘capitalistic’ insurance industry. What we have also seen elsewhere is that when our govt gets involved with an enterprise for some reason costs skyrocket. In this case the authors of the ACA essentially was the insurance industry so voila. The govt spends what we earn (and they can leverage) and has a habit of not being very thrifty. Back to the question. Who gets care when care is limited? Personally when I saw the costs of my care ($130,000 +) I was shocked and asked myself, are you worth this level of expenditure? And I am asking genuinely. It is called brain storming. Justify a choice logically. We need a system able to provide a sustainable level of care. Many countries have universal care usually with some necessary limits. Cuba’s care is exceptional....... but Cuba would never allow millions of migrants to flood that system. You seem to demand idyllic care for everyone, as in anyone from anywhere. Nice idea. How can that work?

How to reconcile the dilemma is challenging. If we reduce the argument perhaps we can enlighten the basic differences. Assume that all healthcare is free but that facilities and manpower are limited. Who gets treated 1st if all the needs are the same (no one person is the sickest)? Do we treat the youngest 1st because they have the most to gain? Do we treat the oldest 1st because they have virtues/wisdom only achieved with experience? Do we treat the doctor 1st because curing the doctor is value added, they will then be able to treat others? Where on the priority list do we place the sloth who has done little all their lives and will likely offer little in the future? What about the veteran? What about the criminal? What about the noncitizen? We all agree that healthcare is out-of-control expensive. Is this poor management of the systems, greedy professionals or due to the overburden of seriously unhealthy people unable or unwilling to pay their own shares, or whatever???? Yes, as we get older we all will experience the greatest of care needs. This is a given. Is the answer deaths panels? Should we voucher healthcare events? Should each person be allowed only 5 or 10 major ailments/interventions? No country could afford to provide free care to the entire planet of sickly souls. There has to be some limits.

A healthcare episode should not cost one person the equivalent of a new house and the same procedure cost another person nothing. What we have is a system that severely punishes achievers and generously rewards underachievers on the purely emotional premise that ‘everyone’ merits access to services/drugs/etc. Healthcare is expensive because it is complex, labor intensive and to be executed properly must be made available to all in need 24/7/365. It demands highly trained professionals and a massive enterprise to keep ready and prepared. (If doctors earn ‘too’ much then real estate agents should work for free.) And what is expected of our citizenry for this seriously wonderful benefit? Aside from political loyalty, pretty much nothing. People do not need to be health conscious or safety conscious. They are not required to payback or earn any benefit through volunteerism. So why bother to excel? Live your life as a reckless teenager addicted to excesses and thrills. Live on the dole cuz you can spend your entire life serving diligently and paying your own way and for others........ and still be delivered to bankruptcy. Start off bankrupt so you’ll be adequately prepped to live that way. There needs to be accountability in this la-la land realm of selective fairness because it is not in any manner fair. It is our gov’t robbing some and supporting others essentially to buy votes and retain control. ‘Vote’ for me and I will reward you sumptuously. Even then the elected ‘brain trust’ is unable to figure out how to make things run smoothly. The only thing they have done ‘well’ is figure out how to take $$$.

Healthcare is a complex problem. But, if we’re to adopt the position that it is a basic right - then - we must also adopt preventative measures that are proven to reduce healthcare problems. No tobacco, BMI incentives, etc. As it stands the ACA is a $$ redistribution program. Those who work are deemed responsible to support those who do not, regardless of lifestyle. I have 2 sons. One has achieved a respectable level in life through a lot of dedication and tough work (he was special ed). The other is lost to a wasted life of drugs and welfare. Of course the hard working son pays dearly in taxes and health insurance whilst the other gets paid to do nothing and his all too common health care crisis cost him zilch. That is not right nor should it be considered a ‘right’. If you refuse to row the boat you should not get to ride in it.

Thanks......... I was going to do it last fall but they found the A-fib on my pre-op ekg. BTW if you’re older be aware of A-fib. Mine was occult and showed no overt symptoms.

Relatively speaking the procedures/care that accumulated those enormous costs were petty, as in - not at all serious. The itemized bills indicated that most of the costs were charged by the facility....... not the providers. Additionally I am in excellent health. A never smoker, don’t drink and I do live a healthy lifestyle, not overweight, exercise regularly. As I look around at much of the population I see some tough times ahead for many. IMHO a country whose citizens do their utmost to be healthy probably could afford medical care for all. As it stands......... healthcare is a mess just waiting to implode.

Getting older means healthcare issues. So on your behalf the insurance industry (whom you’ve supported for eons) is obligated to purchase you services. I worked in healthcare for decades so I know some things about it. Now I cringe.......... not at the procedures..........but their costs. I just received a benefit statement from bluecross for a very simple visit to my doctor. Went to my regular FP and got a steroid injection in my knee. His bill was $100, meds another $80 and the cost for a standard exam room was $450....... all of which they gladly paid. This time last year I discovered that I had atrial fibrillation. Long story short it was corrected with minimally invasive procedures that involved a single nights hospitalization. The bill......... a heart stopping $130,000.00!!! Next week I go in for a shoulder replacement cuz it needs to be done and economic sense commands it be done during this calendar year whence all of my deductible thresholds are met. I am more worried about the costs than anything else. This is madness. This is not the MAYO clinic or even a huge metropolis facility. Are medical costs in your area this insane? If so how can this be sustained by any country/economy?

I use Marantz in the A/V system and Accuphase for 2 channel. Accuphase is my 1st choice for SS.

Accuphase will pay to return ship a serviced unit, but shipping one way is truly costly enough. As long as Accuphase will service these units there should be no troubles beyond the costs to cure. They are very protective of their loyal dealers and this is one way they manage the market. Accuphase and Klipsch is a match made in heaven. At the end of the day someone will own a spectacular system. Best to you in all regards. BTW..... I have had 2 units serviced by Accuphase and both times the repairs cost less than $100.00. They are very durable but even tanks require service periodically.

I own Accuphase and can testify to its quality. They have a service facility around Gardena, California which should be able to fix any problems........ but they do make certain that the products were originally retailed in the USA. They track serial numbers closely. Obviously these were not serviced by Accuphase. How come?

I attempt to digest issues in terms of common sense. For example most (if not all) sovereign countries would not allow totally free access to immigrants. It makes no difference if an immigrant is the best or the worst person a process must be adhered to in order to insure the management and welfare of the state. This is foundational and understandable. Any posturing to the contrary is simply posturing for political purposes. A great many highly charged issues can be reduced to what, in reality, actually works. Insofar as the media goes they all remind me of the ‘hordes’ headed to Frankenstein’s place to deal with their personal beasts. Truly things seem out-of-control. They've been headed that way for the last 100 years but the tipping point was reached during the last prex campaigns. Now we see nonsense as a matter of routine and it is sad how many accept outlandish as valid.

I did quite a bit of bike riding when a ‘kid’ myself. Was hit by a car once. That was sobering. All that ended when career took over. Started back with bikes several years ago. Today’s bikes are well engineered. They are smooth and relatively comfortable. Still with an ever creakier aging body full time pedaling is taxing. Just getting on and off a bike can be an adventure. The 2 of us wanted to get out more but with less stress and a more assured safe outcome. Truly the e-bike fills the rx perfectly. Go ahead and test some and decide for yourselves. They also come in adult sized trikes and perhaps recumbent configurations too. We were told that e-bikes are assist limited to 28mph so they are not considered a ‘motorcycle’ requiring licensure, etc. The bikes we chose are set up for trail/mountain biking. We have a daughter that mountain bikes and we will be able to accompany her on her more arduous treks now. For as costly as 4 wheeled transport is becoming I have got to think that these products have a bright future. Our e-bikes were not cheap but compared to any new car they were cheap to buy and dirt cheap to operate. And just being able to enjoy the outdoors so effortlessly is a major mental boost. Not much downsides to this deal imho.

The Mrs and I are bike enthusiasts but encroaching age is limiting length and character of the hobby. I just bought us Raleigh electric augmented off-road bikes so we can cheat the aging processes. We’ve had them for just a short time but find them very impressive. If you choose to maximize the electrical power assist even the steepest hills are effortless. The bikes have 5 levels of assist and 11 pedal gear levels. The 4 pound battery pack provides up to 50 miles of powered drive. The best part is that you no longer dread getting too far from home base and the trudgery of a tedious ride back. There are several manufacturers of electrical bikes. Some are regular bikes modified for power. Others are designed ground-up as an electric vehicle a-la Tesla. If I were still working I would use an e-bike to commute..... if that commute was roughly 10 or so miles. They make biking seriously easy. No traffic problems. No parking problems. Let your employer recharge the battery while they underpay you 😁.

I have a drawer full of knives sharp enough to shave with. They came from many sources and are comprised of many brands...... none Japanese. I employ a 2 grit whetstone to get them sharp and a leather razor strop with polishing paste to get them insanely, maniacly, dangerously sharp. Use a knife, wash it, dry it well - use a steel to straighten the blade and put it away in a holder that protects the blade. They will remain very sharp for a long, long time. Unless you plan to cut presentation sushi I know of no reason the have a particular edge angle on a blade. BTW my blades are not neatly sharpened. The sharpening process is tough work, you will slip and mar the knife. So what, who cares what they look like as long as they cut well. My neighbor has some fancy Japanese knives. They are pretty, very sharp and very rigid...... and $$$$. I. Have bought knives from the Tuesday Morning bargain bin that are sharper because I know how to get them, and keep them sharp.

Way back when California 1st started with scratcher tickets the mrs would by a lottery ticket each time she’d do the weekend food shopping. She came home from one such trip very upset. She’d allowed a store clerk to buy his single purchase ahead of her, he also bought a lottery ticket. Yup - it was a $100,000 winner. That was during the 80’s. Oh well.............. Later in life the same mrs worked with a gal who’d won one of these huge lottery amounts. The girl bought every home on the block where she grew up. That was in San Clemente California. The girl made insane offers to buy the houses of folks not interested in selling and eventually got to her goal. The mrs helped arrange mtg financing according to the wishes of the girls legal advisors. To each their own.

Resided in So. Cal for decades and retired to the Pacific Northwest. I vividly recall filling a pot to boil pasta and being amazed at being able to actually see the bottom of the pot. The tap water here could be sold elsewhere...... and the place is amply supplied with the stuff. I have not considered water problematic since. As for a fundamental right........ it should be if for no other reason than clean water means a healthier populace........ rather like vaccinating for disease control.