Dreadhead

Yeah. I'm no musician. That said I do know that "living" with something that you (or your benfactors) paid $1+million for will lead to you finding it's greatness far more than something you got for $20k. That's just straight up human nature. Separating that effect is probably impossible and not even necessarily important I guess. In the end I couldn't care less if the music was produced by a Strad or new made as I'm sure the player has much more to do with what is produced. The comment about variability is another one that I take issue with because they are invariably expensive. My point being if some are truly better then they should be the only ones that cost lots right? Or is the cost part of what makes them great in that it acts as a "gate" through which only the best of the best get to play them. I'm guessing it's the latter that makes them great.

Well I'm guessing they will do that soon enough too... sounds like they have already done it with other listeners. That said I'd bet once they completed that the complaint would be that the hall would have to be full to accurately represent real use etc. When talking 10-30k (very much a guess on a new high quality violin) vs a 1 million+ strad the ROI isn't looking too hot. I also think it was interesting because before anyone had done the test I'd bet that the players would have said they could have absolutely tell the difference.

Interesting blind testing on violins (by professional violinists): http://www.nytimes.c...tml?ref=science Strad came in last

Sucky but at least you saved the beer

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday ooooh bringer of internet image awesomness

Photostitch from my recent trip to Barbados:

I am on day 2 of my New Years diet. I had crept up over35 lbs between April/May and December and then I went home and added another 15 in 10 days of not even overeating that much (WTF I hate my body sometimes...). Anyway I'm hoping to be down below 230 again by the end of the month. I wish there was some way for me to gradually lose weight but I just never seem to be able to do it. It's either +5lbs a week, -5lbs a week or constant, I don't seem to have any other settings. I wish I could ride more so I could eat more but the next 3 months are looking like a lot of suck at work so I can't see more than 5-8 hrs a week tops so it's 1000cal/day for a few months. Justin: I like the counter. Nate: I hope you get out more too. Any metric centuries nearby that you can train for? I have given up on racing for this year (probably permanently) so my big events are going to become centuries and/or brevets (even longer, 200km etc).

Nice nate! I got in about 35 miles myself

Congrats Ric and wife. Welcome Esme! Great times ahead

Happy birthday Andy!

Happy birthday!

My condolences Mike. I know what you're going through and it sucks. We had a small family event here in Barbados last night in honor of mother in law.

Sorry for your loss Pigmode.

My deepest condolences Chris. I am glad you were able to make it there in time.

Congrats to your daughter Larry. Sounds like you have a lot to celebrate! Congrats on the completion of the dissertation nattronrice that is a very good day.

Called the Title company for the lake house because I could not remember ever getting the deed (I mean who needs one of those?) and title insurance binder. Well after much humming and hawing they told me they sent it out 1 week ago. Never mind that it was 2+months after closing and it should only take a day. I have my bet that it will arrive with a post mark of today in a few days or not at all. If it never shows up they better provide me a new one for free. Idiots....

Best of luck to both you and your dad Pars. I hope things start looking up soon.

Win!

Good luck with the adjuster. They seem to vary a lot so I hope you get a nice one!

The only problem with this is he would then throw him in his WCC modified Bentley and drop him off in the woods...

Nice work Tyll. Good read as always.

I just don't know how you survive....

High impedance isn't a issue.. Low is and that's what benchmark is showing.

To be fair to douche boy his specs are into low impedance cans of I remember right so this particular issue probably isn't an issue.