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Burning a lot of wood and boiling a lot of sap today. About 45 gallons has evaporated off so far...

Read many of his reviews back in the day - I use to get Audio and Stereophile. RIP

Have a great one buddy! Cheers!

Guess where we are

^^ Thanks... Although it got me thinking of a music survey. 🤓 My standards for this piece have been: Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan Boston Symphony / Munch The London Symphony Orchestra / Josef Krips Chicago Symphony / Sir Georg Solti Orchestra Of St. Luke's / Michael Tilson Thomas Pretty much the same list for the 7th Symphony as well (probably my fav just ahead of the 3rd). But that could change. I have not listened to the Szell.. yet. I think that the internet catalog is too big for me to do a complete survey of the Eroica, But maybe a review of top recordings in context to the Szell. I will ponder. meanwhile: The Cool Voice of Rita Reys by Rita Reys (1957) https://album.link/i/988177115 Example: and Relax With Rita & Pim by Rita Reys (1969) https://album.link/i/1442252027 Example: Some lovely recordings.

Happy Birthday Nate!

Happy birthday Nate!

Happy Birthday!

Had breakfast at the Hummingbird with Dorothy and her bo Gavin. I had fried chicken hash, Dorothy had chicken and waffles and Gavin had Heuvos Rancheros. Forgot to take pics.

Happy Birthday Vince Nate!

Happy Birthday Nate! Bing / Copilots images were a bit generic and failed to capture the magic that is Nate. It's a reasonable creative writer, with short declarative prompts. (Note what wasn't said that it inferred) You Nate is a man who looks like Vince Vaughn, but isn't. Nate is a Meritorious Civilian Service Award recipient. Nate is a DIY audiophile enthusiast. Nate is an avid cyclist. Nate likes baking cakes with his teenage daughter. Nate likes old fashioned cocktails. Describe Nate enjoying his Birthday. Copilot Certainly! Let’s imagine a delightful scene for Nate’s birthday celebration: Title: “Nate’s Birthday Bash” Nate, with his unmistakable resemblance to Vince Vaughn, stood in the center of the room. The warm glow of fairy lights adorned the walls, casting a soft ambiance over the gathering. His friends and family had come together to celebrate this special day—the day Nate turned another year wiser. The room buzzed with laughter and chatter. Nate’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award sat proudly on a nearby shelf, a testament to his dedication and hard work. But today, it was all about joy, camaraderie, and the simple pleasures of life. As an avid cyclist, Nate had chosen a bicycle-themed cake. His teenage daughter, Lily, had helped bake it—a delightful concoction of chocolate layers, adorned with miniature fondant bicycles. The cake stood tall, waiting for the moment when Nate would blow out the candles. But before that, there was music. Nate, the DIY audiophile enthusiast, had curated a playlist that spanned decades. Vinyl records spun on the turntable, filling the room with soulful tunes. Nate swayed to the rhythm, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he sang along. The old-fashioned cocktails flowed freely. Nate held a glass of bourbon, the ice clinking against the sides. His friends raised their glasses, toasting to friendship, milestones, and the joy of being alive. The room echoed with cheers. And then, it was time for the cake. Lily, her face flushed with excitement, carried it over. Nate closed his eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candles. The room erupted in applause, and Lily beamed with pride. Nate’s heart swelled—he was surrounded by love, and that was the greatest gift of all. As the night wore on, Nate danced with his daughter, twirling her around the room. The laughter, the music, the warmth—it was a birthday he would cherish forever. Vince Vaughn might have been missing from the scene, but Nate was the star of his own story. And so, under the twinkling lights, Nate celebrated another trip around the sun. His smile, genuine and infectious, lit up the room. As the clock struck midnight, he made a silent promise—to savor every moment, to embrace life’s twists and turns, and to keep pedaling forward, just like on his beloved bike.

Cheers Nate - Wishing a happy birthday -

Happy Birthday!

Hope it’s a great day!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday, Nate.

The happiest of Birthdays Nate!

Have a very Happy Birthday and a wonderful day, Nate.

Happy Birthday Nate!!

After a day of collecting maple sap and getting ready to boil some syrup tomorrow, Claire and I and Doug and Erika had dinner at Farm Club and are now attending the mixed double national curling championship in Traverse City!

Well, they are a thing. https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/truly-decadent-bacon-brownies-recipe And for @mikeymad (and others) https://www.mantitlement.com/whiskey-bacon-brownies/

Beethoven's 3rd Symphony is probably my favorite of his. The 9th is epic and amazing but clunky and is kind of disjointed, especially in the beginning of the first movement. And doesn't it get too much credit for it hooky melody? . The 3rd is perfect as a whole IMO. So, this dude let me know about the supposedly, generally agreed on, reference recording for this piece. He points out that "it may not be your favorite but it is the reference." So, I meandered over to Qobuz, had a listen. I've heard several of them, and this one wipes the floor with all of them. In fact, it made me realize just how complex a composition it is. It's easy for conductors to go overboard on the big moments or heavy parts making it sound almost like you're just waiting for the cool parts once they get through the meanderings in between. The opposite happens here. It's hard to put into words, but the big moments are actually reserved and there is so much sophistication going on throughout that becomes much more transparent with this performance. Regardless, it is my favorite Eroica now and there's no close 2nd.

The finish matches their existing headboard/frame quite well.

A little over a month ago, but just found out today. RIP Anthony H Cordesman, Middle East Military Analyst and Audio Writer. I remember him from The Absolute Sound, so only really from that side of his career. Two obits/notes below show each side. Anthony Cordesman: A Remembrance | American Enterprise Institute - AEI High-End Audio Writer Anthony H. Cordesman Passes | Stereophile.com

I just learned today that Hinton Battle passed in January. Among many roles of note, he was the original Scarecrow in The Wiz, and more recently the slick, dancing demon (and choreographer) in the Once More With Feeling episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The marquee lights of Broadway will dim on March 12th in his honor.