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A few updates, which feels a little awkward as a non-watch guy. Or is that a label I can no longer claim? Bought the above Obscura, but returned. Really loved the idea, but less robust than I like (Magrette Regattare being my only automatic reference). Also photography related, Increment Labs is releasing their first watch in a couple weeks with a light meter built in. That’s kinda interesting, though the design is about as exciting as you’d expect from a company called “Increment Labs”. Take a look Casio lovers - https://www.increment-labs.com . Hope it succeeds. So my Obscura refund money needs to go somewhere (besides the obvious savings), so being an Ohio native and a veteran, Lum-tec Watch Combat Field X5 Titanium 24H incoming. Even bought from a reseller near where I used to bike to in high school. Listen, I know Lum-Tec (okay, “Increment Labs” isn’t sounding so bad) is something you graduate from, but I continue to dislike most of the big boys (non-watch guy sticks!), so let’s see if this works. Apple Watch holds on the other wrist.

Thank you guys! Maybe your information will help me with the problem I've with my CFA3smd in SS mode. Removed feeback resistors from board and wired 50K xicons (at red arrows) from outputs to after 5K resistors at inputs. Now steady bias and zero offset. So far so good. But it's still on the kitchen table.

Forgot to post last night, grabbed dinner after meetings in Mississippi concluded. Turns out the south knows how to do chicken and waffles.

Done as well! Keep up the great work, Mikey.

Agreed, listened to it a couple of days ago.

That's My Story: John Lee Hooker Sings The Blues by John Lee Hooker (1960) https://open.qobuz.com/album/tkvkntyv6760o Example: A worthy remaster - little hot on the mic now and then, but a really good recording.

great work ! glad my post helps and yes total length of feedback loop will affect DC offset from my past experience with my own split board attempt , looks like having some oscillation ?

I think I've lost count of how many Winters I've had this year.

Reworking my CFA3 for ZF/SS switching. Inspired by ang728's hat board, I designed a split-board version. It works fine with ZF but has issues with SS: R channel: 0.2V offset, fluctuating ±0.1V. L channel: <30mV offset, fluctuating ±0.1V. Bias: Stable. Tried those solutions from previous posts but unsuccessful to solve any issues: -Removed hat board; use original jumpers for ZF/SS. -Added 680pF between B-C of output transistors. -Removed C9, C10 (20pF). -Replaced all PZTA56/06. -Swapped THAT340 / K389-J109 / K170-J74. Changing R171, R211, R272, R322 from 300R(silkscreen) to 600R(schematic) fixed the 0.2V offset, but both channels still fluctuate. Suspecting trace interference, I directly wired the jumpers to SS mode. The fluctuation is gone. So I redesign the hat board. SS resistors(R44, R49) sit on hat boards. SS jumpers and SS resistors are removed from cfp3smt2splitpre. My final result to get stable and low DC offet will be: -Using the hat board -R171, R211, R272, R322 = 600R. -Remove C3, C7, C9, C10 (600pF & 20pF) Thanks ang728, his posts helped me a lot.

Excellent article on the Michael Jackson estate’s efforts to monetize his complicated legacy. Jackson’s estate, Reed says, has “very good lawyers, they’ve got infinite money and they have a vast, valuable asset that they need to protect.” They are “monetizing it very capably,” he says. “They’re on a roll.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/magazine/michael-jackson-biopic-estate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bFA.tqzz.Mht9E4SWOcGO&smid=url-share

Son Andrew and I saw my favorite band The Chameleons again, his third time with me. This ranks as one of their best shows for me....incredible passion and energy throughout! First opening band was my second time seeing them, Lovina Falls. Lots of great music, and got a couple nice pics: one with Reg Smithies of The Chameleons; he doesn't pose for pics that much and when he does, he points his finger at his picture partner. I got to do the same. And Valerie Forgione from Lovina Falls took a nice pic with me as well.

Done!!

Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JkAjH5G-ZSPHcsxV6QDItb0Nh_Wb-L3f?usp=sharing

On you tube, full set. We were bang in the middle of the front row of a crammed 10000 seat venue. From there the whole experience was immersive.

Crazy to think that the 5th Annual Walk for Belonging is here. I joined the board of directors of Communities of Belonging just before the first walk. They have all been motivating and enriching. Originally called "Second Chance Walk" in 2022, a part of April being Second Chance Month. We rebranded the second year as Walk for Belonging (W4B) - because our charter includes homeless as well as justice impacted. 2024 Crew: 2025 smiles: The 5th Annual Walk for Belonging is back at Green Lake on the 25th of April. (I have a lot to get done in the next week). We worked hard this last year and was able to expanded our board to 7 people, which helps with workloads. We are working to expand to a second house to at least double the number of people we can help. Like last year, grants are pretty far and few between under the current administration, but we are ever grateful to our supporters to provide stable clean and sober housing. Givebutter registration/donation page - https://givebutter.com/WalkforBelonging2026/michaels-walking-team Many thanks for all that have helped us out in the past. Communities of Belonging (501c3 non-profit) site for more info - https://communitiesofbelonging.org Cheers, Mikey

Nine Inch Noize (Nine Inch Nails/Boysnoize collab) Coachella set -- visuals are pretty great

Yeah, one of my life's regrets is never having seen him live. Probably in my top 10 of influences in my life as a musician.

Another Maphra - source. Elizabeth's take. I have said it before, God bless female Metal singers.

A Matter of Time: The Final Hour by Laufey (2026) https://open.qobuz.com/album/flacllvcjozx0 Example: It is not easy to pick an example: Part jazz, part musical, part pop. 19 tracks and just over an hour. It is pretty album, with lots of arrangements by Spencer Stewart. Big production album. Listening deep there is like 40+ tracks per song (probably a lot more).

Not a person, but RIP Hampshire College. "Hamster" or "Hempshire" as it was known was always the junior sibling to the other four colleges in the happy valley. Hampshire has been plagued by rumors of financial troubles for years at this point. I grew up going to shows at a couple different Hampshire venues. Phish played there regularly in the late 80s and early 90s. There is a longstanding urban legend that the characters in Scooby Doo are modeled after the five colleges: Fred is Amherst, Daphne is Smith, Velma is Mount Holyoke (these roles have reversed in my observance), Shaggy is Hampshire and Scooby is UMASS. The legend is not true of course, but the parallels between Shaggy and Hampshire are particularly strong. For 60 years, Hampshire was an important part of the landscape of the Pioneer Valley and the Five (now Four) College area. It's sad to see it go.

I took my daughter to see Jean-Michel Jarre maybe 12 years ago in Birmingham (UK). I got us tickets in the middle of the front row. Now I've seen Jarre before, so I warned Liz of a spectacular entry. Sure enough, fan of light and then a fist comes through it. Once it really starts, Liz says "wow - he's cute"; so I told her that he was 7 years older than me - and he'd had a bit of work done to keep the cuteness factor. It was, it has to be said, a totally awsome Jarre experience. Ancient synths, laser harp - the full beans.