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A Dartmouth study suggests the brain doesn't stop developing at 18. Of course, women have been saying that about guys for years. Now there's proof.
Although to paraphrase Mason Williams on winning an Emmy Award, "It's like being kissed by a girl with bad breath—you appreciate the honor, but . . . ."
Ben Goldacre has devoted a whole column of "Bad Science" to Stereophile's stand on blind testing. (Bet I know what the next "As We See It" will be about.) He proposes a study to determine whether or not a power cable has an effect on the sound of a CD player; what he's asking readers to do is design the experiment. He invites suggestions. Read the article. Feel free to talk amongst ourselves—and to him.
A contributor to our forum has made a fine argument for the case that "the future of high-end audio, if it has one at all, is inexorably linked to video." And he cites my recent discussion of the Burwen Bobcat as proof.
Oh dear, if this is the impression I've made, I've certainly done something wrong. But, wait: Jon Iverson tells me there is no "wrong." Jon Iverson says, "There is only better." So, I guess I could have done something better.
Clay White, aka Cheapskate, writes:
The ears no longer decide. The eyes have it.
Stephen M, whom I consider an…
Before you try to get that fantasy novel published, take this simple test.
You know those scenes in movies like The 13th Warrior where the hero can't even lift a sword? It's BS. A heavy two-handed sword probably weighed about 4 lbs; most single handed blades were under 3 lbs.
Don't take my word for it. J. Clements can tell you way more than you want to know on the subject.
And yes, it is a sad comment on my life that it's worth a headline.
There has been a quirky story going around the web about cooking an egg with two cell phones that I resisted posting (no!) because I found it implausible. David Goldenberg actually tracked down the truth, instead of simply dismissing it as balderdash. Love the last line.
Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head: The Beatles Records and the Sixties is, quite simply, the best book ever published about the Beatles and their music. Its first half is the best description of the '60s I've ever read; its second half is a track by track exploration of the songs and the process of recording them. It's out of print in the USA, but there's a new edition available in the UK and it can be ordered from the link. Do yourself a favor and read this book if the Beatles mean anything to you at all.
MacDonald writes like an angel and his passion shines through in every line.…
You should see Elizabeth right now, in blue sweater and black jeans, hair obscuring her sharp eyes as she preys over hundreds of black & white photocopied pages of equipment reports, columns, and, of course, "Recommended Components."
Yes, "Recommended Components."
She wields a powerful red pen and an awful permanent marker. She turns pages and makes slashes and check marks as she goes along. Her system, if one can call it "a system," is chaotic and unpredictable.
To be clear: I can't figure it out. I sort of simply keep out of her way; I nod when she asks me…