Voltron

If it's not Scottish [gin], it's crap! Yes, it is good gin, and I am building a cocktail with it now.

That's awesome Nate! And not just because it benefits me. It also eases my guilt level. Er, I mean, it is cool that the mill works so well and makes you a more efficient retired builder!

You've been away too long, and violated the single "congrat" rule that Tice put into place. 5 demerit.

That's not a lot. Mine says 184.

I think Vicki and others have liked the Yuin ear buds (PK-1 or 2) but I have never tried them. The little in-ears at Head-Direct are also a possibility as Jin pointed out. I probably have some Uncle Wilson IEMs lying around if you want me to look and send them to you, Carl.

Yes, but it was over the phone, and I wasn't using Facetime because I don't have an iPhone 4.

Gemma Ray -- It's a Shame About Gemma Ray

I am sure it will get resolved quickly. It already sounded good--it just didn't function properly. The guy at the shop says they notoriously take 500 hours to burn in before they sound good. Even as someone who believes in burn-in to some extent, that sounded lame, but I didn't bother to discuss/debate it. It is actually even more gorgeous than I remembered. The volume and selector wheels alone will bring hours of fascination and satisfaction.

I'd like to see the QA info on this as well, but I don't think they are likely to provide it. I still have my boxes with the serial no. on them because the shop is shipping it in their boxes. Plus, I still have the warranty card that has the serial no. pre-marked. The firmware was FW Rev. D. The shop said that if the unit is replaced then Ayre will void the serial no.

K-XR is on its way back to Ayre. Shop says they think it will be one of Ayre's top priorities. I think I should get a QB-9 as a consolation prize.

Unbunny -- Moon Food

I scored an unexpected treat at the liquor store today. Went in for some silicone ice cube trays, and found this: Totally psyched that this is being imported, and the sole US importer happens to be in the Bay Area so I hope to be stocked up at all times and hopefully with different batches on a regular basis. Duggeh, you will be even more at home when you come out for MOA II !! As for the ice cubes, I got some nice chunky square ones as well as a KING CUBE tray for jumbo lumps of ice to plop in some whisk(e)y or other rocks cocktails without much of any dilution:

Good news on the new job, Nate, and just get through the day and get out the door tomorrow. Weird feeling leaving but best to just dew eet and move on. I did the same back in 1997 after 7+ years at a firm I still really liked and where I had lots of friends. Feels odd briefly but good overall to be taking a new tack.

Listened to this ^ yesterday and quite liked it. Thanks V. Now playing: Mountain Man -- Made the Harbor

Octograt (or whatever we're up to now) Brent!

Wash yo nuts, fool!

I'm going to second the no-dedicated-video-camera-option. We have had two over the years of our kids' youth and now we have a bunch of crappy long videotapes of soccer games and the like that have never really been watched. The video capability of DSLRs is pretty spectacular imo, and a good new p&s can do seriously good photos and HD video. The Lumix ZS7 is damn good for both.

I dropped it off at the audio shop today and they will check it out and send to Ayre if necessary. They said Ayre is "just as surprised as you are..." I'm quite sure they will take care of it and it will end well, but it sure has hell hasn't started well.

Titus Andronicus -- The Monitor

That's teh funny.

Same here. I even tried it yesterday and was of course thwarted.

Thanks fellas. I agree it will get sorted but Gene said exactly what I was thinking last night. Oh, and JP too. I expect Charlie any minute.

So, I was able to connect up the K-XR tonight after unboxing and shelving the beautiful chunk of aluminium on Thursday. The initial power-up is supposed to automatically trigger "setup mode" in order to activate and name the inputs. Not so on mine. The two "buttons" are perhaps pressure or heat sensitive, but are not typical push-in/out style. The right button is supposed to be used to force the unit into setup mode, but not so on mine. On the good news side, the two inputs connected right now both play music and it sounds pretty sweet so far. Still, I cannot name the inputs and de-activate the other six unused ones, and as it turns out the main function of the right button is Mute but not so on mine. That button may be "stuck" or something else may be wrong but I cannot seem to get it to work properly. For the price of this thing, I have to say I am fucking pissed. Tomorrow I will speaking with the shop and perhaps Ayre.

Good news on that parking tag Vicki! Sorry about the vice issues Nate.

John Scofield -- This Meets That