Is it fair to compare a mix to a previous mix? I dunno, but there's no
way not to, we do not live in a vacuum. I don't know how I'd feel if
the previous 5.1 mix didn't exist. But, I do know that listening to
this mix didn't give me the same feeling as listening to the previous
one. My 2000 dvd-a has gotten many plays over the years, most drives
from Maine to Jersey involved throwing that disc in the car dvd player
for a spin...always an enjoyable listen while flying down I-495. Always
a great disc to pull out when demonstrating my system. One of my first
dvd-audio purchases, and probably the best. I was quite sad at how
underwhelming the ELP and Tarkus 5.1 mixes were for me, and now
this.....we didn't need another 5.1 mix of it, and it is just not as
good. But the real question is, what was he thinking mixing the bass
that high in Karn Evil 9 3rd impression? It just sounds wrong. And
it's all that more puzzling when finding it wasn't mixed that high in
the new stereo mix. I don't get it. I am certainly familiar with
focusing on a certain part and being blind to it sticking out too much
when in the process of mixing.....but that's why you step away and come
back, that's why you play it for other people for feedback, that's why
there are so many opportunities in the process for someone to notice,
hey, this is wrong, you need to fix that. Anyone and everyone that
listened to this mix before it was released has failed us all miserably
by not doing their duty to point out the obvious, that the bass is too
loud and sticks out like a sore thumb. The best way I can describe it
is that it has been transformed into a bass solo (with band and vocal
accompaniment). It might not bury everything else, it may not hide
everything else, and it may be a great bass sound. But it sticks out,
and sounds obviously wrong.
With the underwhelming mix, with it standing in the shadow of a great
mix, and with the obvious inexcusable mixing error that went unfixed, I
see no way I can rate this any higher than a 4. The sonics and content
may be good....but the bad mix drags it down that much.
Also....secondary stuff I normally don't care about, but, I guess I had a
more critical eye on this package with the disappointment in the way it
was marketed, and the content after listening. For the price, the
package was....well....cheap. Grab an original vinyl copy, put it next
to this.....wow, they look completely different. They completely missed
it when reproducing the artwork. I've never cared that much or paid
that much attention to artwork reproduction, but, I think when putting
together a deluxe package at a premium price, the details ought to be
paid attention to. In this case, they were overlooked. The cover
doesn't recreate the same cut to open, the color is off, the
reproduction is mediocre at best, the discs are in cheap cardboard
sleeves kept in slots in the cover, disc 5 is just carelessly thrown
into the album cover, and the poster isn't even folded properly so the
faces appear through the opening. Why in the hell couldn't they even
fold the poster properly? Is that really that difficult to do?
It's a super deluxe cluster fuck.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
A mechanic you can trust is so hard to find
The motorhead gene must skip generations. My dad was always one to work on the car, change his own oil, do something that involved me pressing on the break when he told me to....and such. Me, on the other hand....well, I know that gas means go, break means stop, and where to put gas into the car. So, when I press gas, and something other than normally going happens, that means I'm going to need someone else to look at the car.
So, some time ago, probably a month or so by now, one morning as I parked the car, and turned off the engine, smoke started pouring out from under the hood. Hmmm....that's not good....I think they only put so much smoke in there, and you don't want to lose all of it. So, I popped the hood, walked around to the front, and confirmed it....yes, that is definitely smoke. I don't know why I bothered to do this, as always I had no idea what I was looking at. So, it was time once again to bring it to a mechanic.
Now, just down the road from where I work, is an auto repair shop. Which is very convenient. However, I had a problem with them in the past. I had some work done there...they did a tune up once, changed the starter a few times, which was all fine and dandy. But, some time ago, I had a problem where the car didn't want to start when it had been sitting, and the check engine light came on. I took it to them, and they dicked around a few days unable to find a problem. The best they could tell me was the code said it was running lean. So, after a few days of back and forth, they decided changing the o2 sensors was the way to go. This was a few hundred bucks. So, after they change the sensors, I picked up the car, and they mentioned "oh, by the way, this connector here was wearing out and leaking, so we taped it." I asked about getting a replacement, and they suggested yes, I should definitely do that. They were unable to find the part. So, I asked, what would this part leaking cause? Oh....it would make it run lean, and difficult to cold start.
"YOU MEAN EXACTLY THE THINGS I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL WEEK MY CAR HAS BEEN DOING?!?!?!"
That's right, a $15 piece of rubber was all I needed, and here they took a guess, and changed out a few hundred dollars worth of sensors.
Fuck that!
I had decided, I'm never going to these jerkwads again.
But, then a year goes by, and here I am, staring at smoke, and....they're just down the road. Hey, sometimes someone just misses something the first time. Maybe I should give them another chance, after all, they've changed my starter twice now, have given me a tune up...and I had no problem with those jobs.
So, I called, and as luck would have it, they're closed on Mondays. So, I found someone else nearby. Not as near, but near enough. He determined I was leaking coolant from a difficult to get to spot, plus noticed that the belt was squeaking so that needed to be changed, and also was able to fix the rubber part that was taped and was starting to wear which turned my check engine light back on that same day, as luck would have it.
Ok, cool....I should come back here.
So fast forward to now. Smoke started coming out of the hood again, this time smelling of burning oil. So, after doing my part of confirming that, yes, that's smoke, it was time once again to bring it in to someone that is better at decoding smoke signals. But, where to go? Well, that guy I brought it to last time did a good job....but....the other guy is just down the road. And, I mean, I was going to give him another chance. And it is Tuesday, so they're open. It's just more convenient. Ok, since I'm a fucking dumbass, and can't be bothered to drive an extra mile or so while making sure my co-worker doesn't get lost following behind, I will go to the mechanic I had issues with in the past, instead of the guy that provided superior service last time.
And so, for this choice, I paid dearly.
Later that day, while heading out to lunch with a visiting Brian Blues, and co-worker "Neil" (who's real name is Nik), I saw the car was up on the lift. Oh good, they have time to look at it, it'll get tended to. Over a half hour later, on our way back, it was still on the lift. Oh good, surely they've found the leak and are working on it.
So, 4:15 rolls around, 15 minutes after my normal quitting time, and finally the amway song starts coming from my pants. I take the call, and it's the auto repair shop. They were unable to find the leak, they need to clean the engine and transmission, because with all the leaky oil they can't find where it's coming from. Uh...ok....do that. Well, it's raining, we can't do this in bad weather. Ok....tomorrow? Yeah, if the weather is good tomorrow bring it in. Ok...I'll come pick it up then.
And so I get a ride with Neil, and pick up my car. He's all like...we do not have time to fix the leak tomorrow, but we can find it tomorrow, and you can bring it back next week.
Uh....I need it fixed this week.
We are still working on cars from last week.
So, we talk, and decide I'll bring it in tomorrow for them to work on, and see how far they get, it all depends on where it's leaking from.
Ok, fine. I get in my car, start it up, and....it doesn't feel right. Has it had that slight shake before? Hmmm....ok, lets get it on the road and see what it does.
And on the road, it's rough, and shaky. And then I notice an orange blinking coming from the check engine light. Oh dear....what did they do to my car?
So, I brought it back to them, since I recall reading that a blinking check engine light means don't drive it. And, they're like....ugh, ok, we'll look at it. And look at it they did. They pretty much did what I had done previously, except without the smoke. Yeah....that's a shaking engine alright. Then they connected the computer to it and determined it is misfiring. Well, I'll say it is. They blew some compressed air on it, and said give that a try. I started it up to a shaky engine and said, nope. Is the light blinking? No, but this isn't right. Try shifting it into drive. Yep, there's the blinking light now.
So, then they're like, you'll have to bring it back in next week. Next week? Look, I can drive with the oil leak, I need this fixed. Ok, bring it back in tomorrow, and we'll fix that, and we'll deal with the leak another time. Maybe we'll try changing the spark plugs and wires.
Ugh....I want to just get everything taken care of here. Can I even drive it home like this?
Oh yeah, sure. This one here we're working on is misfiring worse than yours, and he drove it here from (insert place further than where I live here).
They were like, laughing it off....oh silly non motor head, scared of driving with a blinking check engine light.
I'm not going to do any further damage, will I?
No, no, you'll be fine. If you want to leave it overnight, that's fine, but you'll be fine.
Of course, one google search later once I get home tells me that I could damage the catalytic converter driving it in this state, and that is far more expensive than a tow. Ugh....was not happy, at all!
So, today, I decided, fuck those guys! I'm going back to the other place further down the road, that gave great service. Besides, these guys are too busy, they don't want to work on my car today. Well, fine, I can help them out by taking my business elsewhere, and lighten their load.
A few hours later, I get a call, they found the cause of the misfires is the ignition coil (not the spark plugs or wires like the asshats were going to try changing today), and they found the leak, and will have it all ready at 5:30 today.
All right! This is my kinda place. Do some diagnostics, find the problem, and fix it that day.
Well, I know what I'm doing next time I have car trouble. Take it to the mechanic that does a good job. Those guys down the road? I'm done with them. Fucking idiots.
So, some time ago, probably a month or so by now, one morning as I parked the car, and turned off the engine, smoke started pouring out from under the hood. Hmmm....that's not good....I think they only put so much smoke in there, and you don't want to lose all of it. So, I popped the hood, walked around to the front, and confirmed it....yes, that is definitely smoke. I don't know why I bothered to do this, as always I had no idea what I was looking at. So, it was time once again to bring it to a mechanic.
Now, just down the road from where I work, is an auto repair shop. Which is very convenient. However, I had a problem with them in the past. I had some work done there...they did a tune up once, changed the starter a few times, which was all fine and dandy. But, some time ago, I had a problem where the car didn't want to start when it had been sitting, and the check engine light came on. I took it to them, and they dicked around a few days unable to find a problem. The best they could tell me was the code said it was running lean. So, after a few days of back and forth, they decided changing the o2 sensors was the way to go. This was a few hundred bucks. So, after they change the sensors, I picked up the car, and they mentioned "oh, by the way, this connector here was wearing out and leaking, so we taped it." I asked about getting a replacement, and they suggested yes, I should definitely do that. They were unable to find the part. So, I asked, what would this part leaking cause? Oh....it would make it run lean, and difficult to cold start.
"YOU MEAN EXACTLY THE THINGS I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL WEEK MY CAR HAS BEEN DOING?!?!?!"
That's right, a $15 piece of rubber was all I needed, and here they took a guess, and changed out a few hundred dollars worth of sensors.
Fuck that!
I had decided, I'm never going to these jerkwads again.
But, then a year goes by, and here I am, staring at smoke, and....they're just down the road. Hey, sometimes someone just misses something the first time. Maybe I should give them another chance, after all, they've changed my starter twice now, have given me a tune up...and I had no problem with those jobs.
So, I called, and as luck would have it, they're closed on Mondays. So, I found someone else nearby. Not as near, but near enough. He determined I was leaking coolant from a difficult to get to spot, plus noticed that the belt was squeaking so that needed to be changed, and also was able to fix the rubber part that was taped and was starting to wear which turned my check engine light back on that same day, as luck would have it.
Ok, cool....I should come back here.
So fast forward to now. Smoke started coming out of the hood again, this time smelling of burning oil. So, after doing my part of confirming that, yes, that's smoke, it was time once again to bring it in to someone that is better at decoding smoke signals. But, where to go? Well, that guy I brought it to last time did a good job....but....the other guy is just down the road. And, I mean, I was going to give him another chance. And it is Tuesday, so they're open. It's just more convenient. Ok, since I'm a fucking dumbass, and can't be bothered to drive an extra mile or so while making sure my co-worker doesn't get lost following behind, I will go to the mechanic I had issues with in the past, instead of the guy that provided superior service last time.
And so, for this choice, I paid dearly.
Later that day, while heading out to lunch with a visiting Brian Blues, and co-worker "Neil" (who's real name is Nik), I saw the car was up on the lift. Oh good, they have time to look at it, it'll get tended to. Over a half hour later, on our way back, it was still on the lift. Oh good, surely they've found the leak and are working on it.
So, 4:15 rolls around, 15 minutes after my normal quitting time, and finally the amway song starts coming from my pants. I take the call, and it's the auto repair shop. They were unable to find the leak, they need to clean the engine and transmission, because with all the leaky oil they can't find where it's coming from. Uh...ok....do that. Well, it's raining, we can't do this in bad weather. Ok....tomorrow? Yeah, if the weather is good tomorrow bring it in. Ok...I'll come pick it up then.
And so I get a ride with Neil, and pick up my car. He's all like...we do not have time to fix the leak tomorrow, but we can find it tomorrow, and you can bring it back next week.
Uh....I need it fixed this week.
We are still working on cars from last week.
So, we talk, and decide I'll bring it in tomorrow for them to work on, and see how far they get, it all depends on where it's leaking from.
Ok, fine. I get in my car, start it up, and....it doesn't feel right. Has it had that slight shake before? Hmmm....ok, lets get it on the road and see what it does.
And on the road, it's rough, and shaky. And then I notice an orange blinking coming from the check engine light. Oh dear....what did they do to my car?
So, I brought it back to them, since I recall reading that a blinking check engine light means don't drive it. And, they're like....ugh, ok, we'll look at it. And look at it they did. They pretty much did what I had done previously, except without the smoke. Yeah....that's a shaking engine alright. Then they connected the computer to it and determined it is misfiring. Well, I'll say it is. They blew some compressed air on it, and said give that a try. I started it up to a shaky engine and said, nope. Is the light blinking? No, but this isn't right. Try shifting it into drive. Yep, there's the blinking light now.
So, then they're like, you'll have to bring it back in next week. Next week? Look, I can drive with the oil leak, I need this fixed. Ok, bring it back in tomorrow, and we'll fix that, and we'll deal with the leak another time. Maybe we'll try changing the spark plugs and wires.
Ugh....I want to just get everything taken care of here. Can I even drive it home like this?
Oh yeah, sure. This one here we're working on is misfiring worse than yours, and he drove it here from (insert place further than where I live here).
They were like, laughing it off....oh silly non motor head, scared of driving with a blinking check engine light.
I'm not going to do any further damage, will I?
No, no, you'll be fine. If you want to leave it overnight, that's fine, but you'll be fine.
Of course, one google search later once I get home tells me that I could damage the catalytic converter driving it in this state, and that is far more expensive than a tow. Ugh....was not happy, at all!
So, today, I decided, fuck those guys! I'm going back to the other place further down the road, that gave great service. Besides, these guys are too busy, they don't want to work on my car today. Well, fine, I can help them out by taking my business elsewhere, and lighten their load.
A few hours later, I get a call, they found the cause of the misfires is the ignition coil (not the spark plugs or wires like the asshats were going to try changing today), and they found the leak, and will have it all ready at 5:30 today.
All right! This is my kinda place. Do some diagnostics, find the problem, and fix it that day.
Well, I know what I'm doing next time I have car trouble. Take it to the mechanic that does a good job. Those guys down the road? I'm done with them. Fucking idiots.
Friday, February 7, 2014
FUCK YOU, ADDY!!!!!!
I have HAD IT UP TO FUCKING HERE, from someone who I thought was a friend, and so I've come to the conclusion the only thing I can do is block him.
FUCK YOU, ADDY!!!
Now, to be clear, I don't take blocking people to this extent lightly. I've only ever done so once before, and while I felt justified at the time, I've come to regret it. But this time, I really feel I have no other option.
You see, Addy is one of these people that spends way too much of his time focusing on race issues in this country, and how race issues are unfair to the white man, who is being kept down apparently. He's one of these people that is outraged at how the media covers white on black crime differently from black on white crime. And just loves to spend hours of his time discussing and debating these issue.
I myself, just want to live my life.
I think any violent crime is awful, no matter who is doing it to who. I think that there are probably many areas in which the media is biased in what and how they cover the news, but that doesn't change my opinion of stories I read. Just because I was outraged at a news story about white on black violence, doesn't mean that black on white violence doesn't outrage me.
I have spent probably over a year now dealing with Addy being a fucking prick to me, constantly trolling me or baiting me, trying to accuse me of being something I'm not. I'm not a racist. I'm not a reverse racist. I'm not a hypocrit. Yet, because Addy felt differently about one news story than I do, it's like he's put his whole existence on proving me a racist hypocrit. Generally, this is not considered an effective way of making friends and influencing people.
Time and time again I have asked him nicely, and not so nicely, to fucking drop the topic. We have gotten to a point where I've clearly explained my position and opinions on things to him multiple times. I've said all I can say on the topics, and am just repeating myself to him over and over again. And yet, he won't fucking drop it. He always finds a new way to basically bring up the same thing. I keep telling him, I do not wish to discuss racial issues with him anymore. And yet, he won't FUCKING DROP IT!
And so, I've had it! I cannot be friends with someone who will not drop a topic that I do not wish to discuss. I cannot be friends with someone who's mission in life is to prove me to be a hypocrit or a racist. I cannot be friends with someone who basically goes out of his way to piss me off.
Is this how most friends treat their friends? Is this something I don't understand about friendship?
It's sad, because Addy can be a decent person. He is someone that in many ways I can relate to. And when we're not discussing certain topics, he's someone I genuinely like, and get.
But, he has made it fucking impossible. And I've absolutely had it this time. He's made it clear to me, several times now, he is incapable of being a friend.
So long, Addy.
And to Gabe, I'm sorry....he's your problem now.
And to Mars, I'm sorry I gave him your aim name.....if you keep blocking him and don't respond, he may eventually get the hint.
FUCK YOU, ADDY!!!
Now, to be clear, I don't take blocking people to this extent lightly. I've only ever done so once before, and while I felt justified at the time, I've come to regret it. But this time, I really feel I have no other option.
You see, Addy is one of these people that spends way too much of his time focusing on race issues in this country, and how race issues are unfair to the white man, who is being kept down apparently. He's one of these people that is outraged at how the media covers white on black crime differently from black on white crime. And just loves to spend hours of his time discussing and debating these issue.
I myself, just want to live my life.
I think any violent crime is awful, no matter who is doing it to who. I think that there are probably many areas in which the media is biased in what and how they cover the news, but that doesn't change my opinion of stories I read. Just because I was outraged at a news story about white on black violence, doesn't mean that black on white violence doesn't outrage me.
I have spent probably over a year now dealing with Addy being a fucking prick to me, constantly trolling me or baiting me, trying to accuse me of being something I'm not. I'm not a racist. I'm not a reverse racist. I'm not a hypocrit. Yet, because Addy felt differently about one news story than I do, it's like he's put his whole existence on proving me a racist hypocrit. Generally, this is not considered an effective way of making friends and influencing people.
Time and time again I have asked him nicely, and not so nicely, to fucking drop the topic. We have gotten to a point where I've clearly explained my position and opinions on things to him multiple times. I've said all I can say on the topics, and am just repeating myself to him over and over again. And yet, he won't fucking drop it. He always finds a new way to basically bring up the same thing. I keep telling him, I do not wish to discuss racial issues with him anymore. And yet, he won't FUCKING DROP IT!
And so, I've had it! I cannot be friends with someone who will not drop a topic that I do not wish to discuss. I cannot be friends with someone who's mission in life is to prove me to be a hypocrit or a racist. I cannot be friends with someone who basically goes out of his way to piss me off.
Is this how most friends treat their friends? Is this something I don't understand about friendship?
It's sad, because Addy can be a decent person. He is someone that in many ways I can relate to. And when we're not discussing certain topics, he's someone I genuinely like, and get.
But, he has made it fucking impossible. And I've absolutely had it this time. He's made it clear to me, several times now, he is incapable of being a friend.
So long, Addy.
And to Gabe, I'm sorry....he's your problem now.
And to Mars, I'm sorry I gave him your aim name.....if you keep blocking him and don't respond, he may eventually get the hint.
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