What's new Pussycat too?

Yep... they look like they're really drying out nicely on that wet line, mate.

I was also expecting Hell Boy to come screaming through at any moment pulling it all off the line and then trying to eat it and chow it all down.

Clearly they don't have a clue.

About anything.

 

And as I look out, the clothes are still there despite her and her husband being in the property. Just makes the place look like tramps live here.

 

Lol, she must have heard me calling her the block tramp, and she has taken the clothes in, picked up one of the items off the floor but left the other one on the grass. She's also added more clothes to the line...Who knows when those will go upstairs again.

 

As you've said all the way along, Paul, fecking barmpots the lot of em. Clueless cretins.
Wish they'd get the fek out of there and leave you decent folks in peace.
Amen.

 

Last night was not fun, had to sleep in the bedroom (as known I suffer night terrors and swing my fists in my sleep, hence if you look at my hands I get covered in cuts from thumping things). They all sat in the front room with the kids screaming and crashing about going towards midnight. Utter animals..

Thankfully, my night terrors did not kick in for once (lucky Cindy).

So far today they are pretty quiet, I warned them that my main surround system will be playing over the weekend and, it's going to be LOUD..

I have done it a couple of times in my house way back in 94 when the next door neighbour liked his drunken parties and screaming down a mic with music blaring. So at 3am as he went to bed I put the system on and put Die Hard on when the plane comes in to land on the titles. That shook the whole house, it did work but the side effect was that the bloke wanted to know what my sound system was because it impressed him..

Can't win them all...

 

I lurve it, Paul - a case of if you can't beat em - join em - but always OUTDO EM!

Top scores there, mate.

I make it at least a 14/10 - on the Richter Scale ;-)

 

I read ages ago about some bloke in the states who mounted huge speakers facing / mounted directly up to his ceiling. Apparently the neighbour above were very loud abusive large stamper types. He also got a high quality mic and strapped that to the ceiling. So any time they stamped it was returned 10 fold. They called the cops who went in to the guys apartment and burst out laughing at his creativity. I seem to remember that soon after the family of stampers moved out, ironic as it was their own noise they hated

Sadly, I can't emulate his excellent feat But the Die Hard intro will be plenty

And for backup, there's the scene in Close Encounters where the UFO comes behind Neary's pickup and then lifts up and start zapping everything. Heard it at mate's house with his subwoofer on and it had everything shaking, you could feel it in the ground outside. My mate Tony in Walthamstow has a set off Wharfdale E90 speakers that are floor mounted, his house sounds like a night club, the bass just shakes your organs and you can stand across the road and feel the ground ponding when he plays them...Way too much for me to stand..

 

Epic quality, fella.

I lurve the story about the noisy bastard neighbours being defeated by their own (amplified) noise - that's poetic justice and some.

Hey, just back from a Thai meal and my guts are (so far) behaving.

Even managed a lager and a vodka and coke and (so far) nothing repeating, gurgling or bloating down below...


So far.

Have a top weekend ahead, guys.

Sunderland vs Brummies tomorrow - they'll mek some noise.

Let's have another date soon for another videolink and really get into our retro rhythms and maybe recommend some groovy sounds - as well as games - to the group.

Hoping to get my moving head lights ordered shortly and then link em up through that DMX interface lead from the laptop AND have something like virtual DJ spinning those virtual MP3 disks and then give that some hammer out of my wee Logitech woofer system...

 

I can recommend some good sea shanties courtesy of the Fishermans Friend, along with a feast of country music artists.

Hey, when did everyone else leave the party?

 

Sea shanties...Careful of the Kraken.....It's out there, just waiting for a land lubber to come..

 

If I had noisy neighbors upstairs I can unequivocally blow out their ears doing the same thing to them as that story lads! My sound system is too loud for me if I turn the volume up to 25% since I added in the equalizer that pre-amps and equalizes. It even has switches to adjust pre-amperage between -10db and +10db.

With the pre-amp I have for my turntable too, by the time it leaves the final amp, I can't get the volume for LP's up more than about 15% before it is too loud for me.

I'll be testing the max of my amps and speakers out on our Independence day celebration with friends and family, as I'll be facing my loudspeakers out my bedroom windows toward the yard...then we'll see if my neighbors a half mile away call the police for noise disturbances!

 

Ha ha Matt, me and you, extreme

I've yet to introduce my neighbours to the surround, as real life has habit of making things hard. Point in case, today, brown envelope turns up, here in the UK a brown envelope is classed as almost certain bad news ie a bill, a threat etc etc.

Opened said letter and it's a demand for 78.19 in overpaid benefits based on my private pension. Only thing is, I'm already paying back the overpayment and when I got a demand a few weeks back the Department for Work and pensions (the social security office) acknowledged it was a miscalculation and it was their fault and I had nothing to repay, just a slightly reduced biweekly payment (I lost just short of 2 quid per 2 weeks). Explains this after 1.5hrs waiting for an answer, and gets told it's been over ruled and I had to pay it. I explain that I'm already repaying my overpayment so any recalculations are void because I've already been billed the amount. Guy says he thinks he understands and will get a higher up to call me back. I said to the guy that the DWP should partner up with Dignitas, as after 1.5hrs to be told I'm a liar and you want to screw me makes me want to commit suicide (it was a joke but putting a valid point across).

He didn't think it was funny, I said that I agreed, but you are putting undue pressure on people with enough worries, and in many cases for utterly wrong reasons, hence the joke is actually a dig.

 

Bunch of tossers, fellas... DWP, lousy neighbours and barstewards sending brown thanks envelopes.

One solution - a Rush album on with the volume over 15%!

 

I doubt my HIFI (such an old school term) could take Rush at any volume. I did have a listen of those track Matt posted, but hell, I'm losing my hair as it is, having it sand blasted off my scalp by heavy metal is just a step too far..

 

I assume you are referring to the last two Rush videos I posted? As the videos I posted of Rush months ago weren't Heavy Metal, just good old Rock n Roll. However, the second video I posted recently, 'Far Cry,' yes, that is one of their heavier tracks. But the first one, Farewell to Kings, again, I just consider good old rock.

If you consider any other songs I posted besides Far Cry to be heavy metal, then you have no idea what true heavy metal is...even Far Cry a true heavy metal fan would laugh and say that's just hard rock; here is heavy metal and then proceed to blast your ears off with some Iron Maiden. Rush has always been considered Progressive Rock, some can get a bit heavy, but if you try and include Rush in any true heavy metal list you will be scolded and scoffed at by metal heads telling you the same thing as I just did.

But if Rush is too much for you, I understand, they do have some intense rockers in their discography, but they also have many great songs that are a FAR CRY from heavy metal too. have a listen to these, I promise they will be quite easy on your ears...





Two of my all-time favorites.

 

I once had the poor luck to see / hear a band who wore horror type masks and the lead singer literally growled all the lyrics while guitars just were so loud it made me turn the TV down. The name Slipknot comes to mind for some reason..

It just does not sound like music to me, same as some ultra weird jazz just sounds like there's 4 people all playing a different tune and not in tune..

I guess it's just me not liking and really loud music no matter the genre of it. My mate Tony plays reggae and it just makes my organs shake, I like reggae, just not THAT loud. The only plus is that when he plays it, there's no distortion in the sound, ie it's not just loud, it's clear and you hear all the instruments as they were designed to be heard....All just too much noise for my liking..

 

That sounds like my system. I've worked hard over the last year+, upgrading mid range and tweeters in my loud speakers (he 16 inch woofers were still good enough). I purchased two quality bookshelf size rear surround loud speakers, I did DIY upgrade to my center channel speaker, adding two tweeters to the one midrange, turning it into an integrated center speaker. It is mounted to the top of and my own custom DIY amplified subwoofer; which I am very proud of as it sounds incredible with the new Pyle dual-voice coil bass speaker I got for $30 after poor results attempting to use some old car rear speakers. But in the end, after deciding to get a true woofer speaker, some testing to find the right size inductor and resister between the amp and speaker. And then using a proper sized enclosure for the speaker size, and proper sized bass air tubes and insulated interior to silence all enclosure vibration...

I out did myself on this project and have a power subwoofer, the specs as good as amplified subwoofers selling on Amazon in the $250-500 range, and I like to think the quality of mine is equal to subwoofers closer to the $500 mark. All for $50; $20 kit amp board and $30 for the Pyle dual voice coil 8 inch woofer. The rest came from on-hand salvage.




A couple of great JVC and Pyle main amps, Pyle pre-amp and JVC Equalizer with pre-amp, and matching up properly all speaker wattage, amps and ohms properly for the amps and pre-amps. So even though I turn up the volume to 15% and it is nearly too loud for me in my room, I have turned it up to over 50% and everything remains crystal clear but way too loud to be inside the house. Sounds good outside though! Of course at that point I do get some bass distortion caused by my two front left & right loudspeaker subwoofers and my amplified mono subwoofer actually vibrating the entire house. If not for the house, they would remain undistorted.

Now, when I'm talking about a percentage of volume, it's just based on minimum to full volume turning the dial, I have no idea how many decibels we're talking about, a lot though. But at 15% it's booming, yet clear as I sit in my recliner in the center of the sound staged speakers, and it can still be heard clearly at the opposite end of my 75 foot long home, like a proper volume for background music, but still able to hold a conversation. But my total system, powering 5 integrated loud speakers and a subwoofer, is pumping out 450 Watts altogether. My JVC amp puts out 100watts x 4 speakers, currently only left and right front attached, so 200 watts there.

My Pyle amp using only the surround speakers, since front L/R are handled by JVC amp. So I get full watts spread to each speaker for another 200 watts, and the self-amplified subwoofer is 50 watts. If I hooked up the another two 100 watt loud speakers to the JVC amp, then the total would be 650 amps (I use them as L/R side speakers, instead of rear, and have 7.1 surround instead of 4.0 with just the JVC or 5.1 with just the Pyle.

With the Pyle amp, it's 200 watts no matter what; two front L/R only outputting 100 watt each, or three surround speakers at ~67 watts each, all 5 speakers at 40 watts each. So I have splitters on my audio lines from sources that send the audio to both amps (after pre-amp and equalizer amp) and I just adjust front and rear volumes separately to equal volume levels and of course the amplified subwoofer has it's own volume control too. Front and rear balances are controlled separately too.

It's the best sounding sound system I have ever owned to this point, and as far as I recall, the best sounding system I have ever heard at other's homes or on the stereo dealer's floor. I know there are far better ones that only the ultra rich can afford, but it's the best I've ever heard as far as "upper-middle-class top shelf quality" that may be worth a couple thousand dollars.

 

Sounds like a monster system Matt, good on you for it being a self-made item, I shall however, not be moving next to your property any time soon

 

You would have no worries living next to me with my sound system. I would only use it at high levels if I were celebrating with family and friends for some holiday or party that is outdoors and neighbors would be asked for permission beforehand, not just warned. Because I was raised to obey the golden rule, and be courteous, considerate and respectful to everyone, but especially those you live next to or near and aside from a few years of youthful rebellion I have kept those virtues.

However, the last time I had either such event cranking up the stereo I owned to it's non-distorted limit's was in the 90's while in college. I've lived where I am now for 8 years and not once would my stereo have been loud enough to hear outside my house if you were farther than 15 feet away.

A powerful, high quality system delivers better sound quality even when at conversational* volume levels. I like to blast it when know one is around, and by blast it, that depends if I'm in the room with it, or have my windows open and I'm outside. The first would be about 25% volume and the latter about 50-75%. But such opportunity I might get a couple times a year, but even then the closest neighbor is a 1/4 mile away and would still not here it from there.

I have the power to shatter my own windows, but keep it restrained in volume, yet it retains a higher quality sound, richer, deeper, clearer than you would get on any stereo system of lesser power, and a world of difference, even at low volumes, in it's richness, deepness and clearness with it's large loud speakers + subwoofer, than any modern surround sound or sound-bar system with their cute little cubes in the corners and a subwoofer.

I've experience all these types of sound systems at their best, and the best is still the large quad-surround systems of the 70's and 80's. Since then the new stuff is all downgrades, more convenient and less expensive, but you trade away great sound quality in comparison. But I know not everyone has the space, money, ability or time to go with old school quality and there are plenty of modern surround systems that sound great, just not as great as the days with the large speakers. Size definitely makes a difference, in a mans genitalia, and a mans speakers.

And sound-bars not only deliver poor sound in comparison, but a total lack of stereo separation and ability for proper sound staging of speakers to recreate the original sound scape intended. Yeah, you can get a bit of "3D" sound out of them from modern sound scaping technology, throwing the sound like a ventriloquist throws his voice, but it pales in comparison to the sound coming from all sides for real.

Even if the surround kit or sound-bar can output the same power wattage, compared to a full component system with full-size loud speakers (12" woofers or larger), one can compare the sound quality difference of them to comparing the sound quality of a pocket transistor radio from the 60's to the biggest stereo boombox from late in the 80's/90's boombox era in as much as the difference in sound quality emitted at conversational volume levels.

*I assume everyone knows what I mean with "conversation volume level," but just in case, it means the music volume is at a level that people can still hold a conversation at normal voice volumes and clearly by heard by one another.

 

Quality kit, quality build - you have a hi-fidelity quality appreciation of real music, Matt.
We have no doubt you have a sensational system there.
Would be marvellous if we could maybe "see it" in action some time, you know, a short vid, not that we would be able to get the full acoustic treat through our tinny laptop speakers, but just to see the turntable and needle alight on a Rush LP and then hear that slight crackle as the stylus makes it through the initial pick-up grooves and then... the system speaks in all it's sonic splendour...

 

The best part of all is that the main, high quality old school systems was a gift, that I just refurbished to new quality (with some minor upgrades) and all other system hardware I used for upgrades, including even a new turn-table needle worth much more than I payed, speaker replacements, subwoofer speaker and amp, the new Pyle amp to go with the JVC amp, pre-amp, equalizer, etc. cost me less than $300 total, for a system I could now sell for a couple thousand on ebay.

One man's old trash is another man's treasure to polish. I love having a standard of living and quality of life equal to people who are four times wealthier than me, because I'm a DIYer that repairs and restores rather than being a revolving door consumer replacing something for usually the smallest issues that can be easily fixed and restored with a bit of knowledge. You also gain a sense of pride and value your possessions more from putting all your knowledge, skill, blood, sweat and tears into your possessions that doesn't exist with consumers who constantly throw-away and consume new products, which on top of it all are generally products of lesser quality than what they replaced, and for more money! I pity the fool...

My conscience wouldn't even allow me to brag on my sound system, even brand new and of highest quality, if I merely spent thousands of dollars and had it installed. I get no pride or feeling of accomplishment or endearment toward the possession from merely from spending a lot and pride in it's ownership quickly fades. I only get great sound as a benefit and an empty wallet. And a careless personal character that looks at everything as disposable and wastes money over and over on similar possessions while people are homeless and starving in the world.

Of course all the Rush albums and CD's cost me closer to a $1000, even finding the best prices, as they are all the highest quality LP's that can be made and much improved over the standard album fare that can still be purchased of the same music for $20-30 new in record shops, though I actually got a couple of the audiophile quality LP's at those prices, the original retail price for them was $150 or more. The costliest Rush Album cost me $100, but most I found great deals on for around $50 each.

 

Good to hear you are a nice neighbour, Matt, not a great many left..

From looking at the Sat image of your place, I'd love to live there, actual freedom from neighbours and greenery all around. The only thing that puts me off is what I've said before, snakes, me and them just don't mix. I've felt and held an anaconda, but I just find them repulsive. Just a me thing. They have been here a lot longer than we have so are higher up the food chain which is ok with me, I just simply don't like them..I'm most likely being silly, I've been to the States many times and not seen a single one but a mate who moved from the UK to Florida says they are a bloody nuisance and finds them every where.

 

We have snakes here, including poisonous one like Rattlers and Copperheads. I've had to shoot a few since living here. My Husky, Beaux, has been bit by one of each since living here and gotten swollen up and sick for several days, but they aren't as deadly to dogs as they are to people. Nothing that is going to eat you or squeeze the life out of you though, and emergency services can basically react and get out here just in time with some anti-venom should you be bitten, though it's probably faster and safer, if you can, to drive to them instead of waiting on them.

But it's not an everyday worry, especially in the main yard area I keep kempt, as they don't like being in the open and prefer tall grass. All my dogs are a great alarm system against them should one wonder to close to the house. Simple precautions like wearing cowboy boots in the woods or fields will keep you protected from their fangs should you be standing or walking. But before you sit to rest, one checks the perimeter.

But yeah, it's nice being out and away from the populations and there is far less crime to worry about, as thieves and other trouble makers don't generally make their way this far out of civilization looking for booty. They stay in the populated areas. We keep our house and vehicle doors unlocked with no worries, etc. it's so safe.

And most people are very well aware that those of us who live out here keep guns on hand and DO NOT wait for police to help, but take the law into their own hands as we have citizen defense laws like the right to "stand your ground" and shoot someone dead in situations of a clear and present danger and you are on your property and they are trespassing. So that is a crime deterrent in itself, the criminals knowing what we have and what rights we have.

You do have to get used to hearing gun fire on a nearly daily basis as most out here hunt and just target shoot for practice since guns are totally legal to open carry in the state too, you only need a license to conceal-carry. Not many are stupid enough to try stuff when the majority around them are wearing guns in holsters. But while you may suddenly jump at the sound of an unexpected gun shot, though one isn't living in fear, it's not like constantly hearing gun shots in the cities where you know it is one person shooting at another.

But believe me and others who actually live in the real world here, when we say it is much, much safer if all the citizens are carrying firearms, than if they were banned, in which case the criminals, who pay no attention to any laws, will still get guns no matter what on the black market, leaving only the law-abiding citizens unprotected due to gun laws, as it is only them that obey the gun laws.

You may have the occasional domestic disputes and even rarer shootings with some of the drunken rednecks in the area, but that happens among themselves and doesn't effect the neighbors. On the other hand, on a nearly daily basis there are shootings and murders and all sorts of crime constantly on the news for the city of Tulsa.

But most of our neighbors are good folk who watch out for each other and their properties and are of the type that if the shit hits the fan, like an invasion from China or Russia, that we'd all ban together making defenses and plenty of well armed citizens to share what they have and put up a good resistance, with or without our military's help. If you ever saw the movie The Postman with Kevin Costner, or the TV series Jericho, those are pretty realistic as far as people and communities banding together if the U.S. government or civilization in this country falling. Plenty who know and can teach survival tactics and living off of nature.

 

Cheers for the info Matt, I know what you mean re the criminal element playing by their own rules, I just worry that it seems remarkably easy for people with known serious mental health issues to get a gun. Sometimes I think the gangs are less of an issue for people as much of the shooting is at other gangs, whereas the mental health shootings tend to be totally innocent folk and worse still, children.

I'm not saying the crims don't kill innocent folk, they do, but many of the shootings are revenge tit for tat gang on gang crime. I know I'm compacting the effects way too much, but making headway against gun crime would take a huge thread.

Yep, remember The Postman, a good gritty Western..

Not sure I'd feel at ease around snakes etc, maybe I'd relax a little after a few years but the notion of sitting down accidentally by a rattler sunning itself gives me the willies..