I find it astonishing that two products built on completely opposing engineering principles can both have musical merit. Design goals exalted by one company are considered anathema by another, yet both components produce superb sonic results.
Mary is a scientist living in a distant galaxy. She and her fellow humanoids are just like us, but their knowledge is highly advanced. It's so advanced, they've solved the most daunting problem in science—understanding the brain and mind. They know everything scientifically possible to know about the brain's neurons, its architecture, and how consciousness, ideas, feelings, and memories occur. Perception and sensation are understood, too. Mary knows exactly how light and sound waves become colorful visions and beautiful melodies. On her planet, aspiring neurobiologists are out of luck. There's nothing more to aspire to.
<i>From left to frustrated: Tari's BF, Carlton; online sales manager, Tari; me. Photo by hippie, Jon Iverson.</i>
We're also told that magnets can't possibly affect human athletic performance or relieve joint and muscular aches and pains. This, too, has been "scientifically" proven. Never mind that professional athletes swear by magnets, and that the disabled and the elderly have been helped as well. "Science" has proven them wrong, but medical magnet sales are exploding. Must be mass hysteria.
I managed to catch Leland mid-dance. I showed him the picture and asked if it would be okay.
<a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/he2006/060306royleland/">Leland Leard</a> of Music Hall is a pair of spectacles the color of Jenny Lewis' dress. My eyes grew large and happy when I saw the Watson Twins vinyl propped up beside White Stripes and <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/051806shatter/">Gnarls Barkley</a> discs.
Take this one seriously, kids! Here's more hot poop on the <A HREF="http://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat051606.html">Section 115 Reform Act of 2006 (SIRA)</A>, courtesy of IPac. Don't let this stand—the only way Congress will oppose this is if it hears that its constituents don't want it, otherwise they'll suspect we won't even notice. Make some noise!
The (insert adjective here) recording and entertainment lobbies have sneakily maneuvered to have language inserted in <A HREF="http://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat051606.html">
Section 115 Reform Act (SIRA)</A>, which is being considered by the House Judiciary Committee, that will destroy fair use as we know it. The language is vague but it appears to require licenses from copyright holders for "every digital copy made in the transmission of digital media—including cached copies on servers or on your hard drive, and even temporary copies in RAM," according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
The measure of a champion is how he performs under pressure and on Saturday night at HE 2006, Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), despite a nasty running head cold, gave us some vintage Mac.