Happy Thanksgiving
It’s a spectacular sunny and warm day in Southern California…a perfect day for a Thanksgiving feast, family, and some fun at the beach with Charlie, the new Waldrep family border collie. I apologize to those experiencing more traditional weather on this Thanksgiving day, but I have to say the weather here is as close to perfection as I’ve ever experienced. Stay indoors and enjoy a parade or football game.
The Waldrep family is together for the first time in about 11 months. Our daughter flew down from San Francisco yesterday afternoon and our Fulbright Scholar came home from Mexico City for the first time in almost a year. My rock ‘n roll guitar playing son is already local although he returned from San Francisco from a quick visit in time to meet us at Hurry Curry in West Los Angeles. It’s always nice to get everyone together.
While the rest of the group slept in this morning Charlie and I headed to the beach. With a new Petco “flying disc” tucked under my shirt (Charlie won’t walk normally if he sees that I have his favorite toy), we walked the 1.5 miles down Temescal Canyon, crossed PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), and started a 3-mile jog along the bike path. By 6:30 am, there was already a lot of activity at the beach. There were walkers, bikers, and a few runners with official race bibs on participating in a half or full marathon.
After the requisite 3-miles (a strategy to make me feel less guilty about second servings at the dinner table), Charlie insisted on heading towards the waves. If it’s early in the morning, I can let him off the least. He thoroughly enjoys running around on the beach but this morning was unusual. He took off running at top speed towards a group of sea gulls that had gathered a few hundred yards down the beach. Then he sprinted back and forth a few times as they repeatedly repositioned themselves.
However, at the waters edge he caught sight of a much smaller bird. The surf was very low this morning…there were no crashing waves to defer Charlie. He chased the bird with all he had. And the bird seemed to relish making the transit from one end of the beach to the other right at the water line and safely out of reach of the dog. Charlie is a border collie and supposed to be the “smartest” dogs around. But he just kept chasing the small white bird until the bird was just ahead of his location…but 15-20 feet out over the ocean. Casting his usual caution aside, Charlie charged towards the waves and didn’t stop. He plunged with huge splash into the ocean…for the very first time.
And then he realized what he had just done. He abandoned his pursuit of the bird, quickly turned towards around, and paddled his way back to the beach. A couple of dog shakes later, Charlie was back in full chase mode. It was time to head back up the hill with a few stops to toss the Frisbee in the park.
I’m very thankful that my entire family is home for the holiday weekend and I’m thankful as well that I have a new best friend that never tires of running, chasing, pulling, and getting wet. Charlie made my Thanksgiving morning something very special. And I haven’t even eaten any of the holiday feast yet.
Enjoy your holidays. Happy Thanksgiving.
Well, those of us enjoying 4/1 surround seasons, may have a quibble with you calling So Cal “HD” weather ! I like my snowy woods treks wih nature’s 5/1 mastering ☺️
Have a nice holiday Mark, thanks for bringing sense to Audio’s “fooled ya” world !
Happy Holidays Dave…and thanks!
To heck with the warmth and sun, we received 4 inches of snow!oh and a little 33 to 10 gift to boot.
Enjoy the weather Joe…I just finished a great breakfast served at a sidewalk table in Santa Monica. It is supposed to get cooler this weekend…all the way down to 50!
Hi Mark, happy holidays.
We share the joy of owning Border Collies, or more accurately, being owned by Border Collies. My wife and I also have a true Rin-Tin Rin GSD, and it’s amazing to see the level and different intelligences the #1 and #2 smartest dogs have. The GSD figures things out quickly and wolfishly; the border collie is v. close to esp-he just knows what’s coming and is always one step ahead; amazing. Both are quite sensitive audio-wise too.The GSD is more sensitive to HF than the Border Collie, probably because of those big, stand-up ears he has.
Back on topic, I have now read three reviews of the Pono player that were quite positive overall. Despite teething pains, why is it so hard to believe that Pono will eventually deliver on the promise Mr. Young has made? He doesn’t need the money, and has consistently shown a value and belief system that cannot be denied. Please stop dissing Pono, it’s getting to be a tired subject. What did the guy say? ” Water seeks it’s own level.” Let’s see what that is then for Pono say, in two years, ok, and have faith that whatever compromises now exist, won’t exist long-term.
To my mind, this belief is just as valid as all the ill or not so ill–informed naysaying.
In your case, your facts may be true, but it’s the cynicism and sarcasm that is dismaying. How does that help?
Happy Thanksgiving to you and you dogs. Charlie is certainly a big part of my daily routine since his arrival 4 months ago.
With regards to Pono, I’ve heard some good things about the hardware player and plenty of negative things about the website, music offerings, community, and delays in getting players delivered. I joined their community and it’s referred to as Salefarce by plenty of their supporters. Others complain that they don’t allow users to filter on “high-resolution” audio content…even though the stuff they’re offering is the same stuff as the other download sites PLUS the ripped CDs. Last time I checked they’re creep close to 1.7 million CD rips available…a month late and still short of the 2 million promised.
I’m reporting and editorializing on Neil’s Pono initiative…not dissing them. They have misrepresented themselves and the whole “rediscover the soul of music” thing is a fraud. CD specification audio has always been dissed by Neil and now suddenly it’s ok…I have a problem with the lack of integrity he’s shown in the interest of meeting financial goals and investor expectations. All he had to do is tell the truth…his belief system has shifted dramatically under the pressure of the Pono company.
Having access to inside information from several individuals sheds some additional light on the enterprise. What if Neil does need the money? Maybe he’s less interested in “the soul” of music and more interested in his ego?
The things that I’ve presented are true…I don’t believe Pono is the path to “rediscovering” the soul of music. That will have to wait until someone with talent, celebrity, influence, and resources can actually convince the music makers to create better sounding records.
I think fraud is a far too strong and damning a word to use in describing the Pono initiative . A wider angle perspective would not take so severe a stance as to imply that fraud is being perpetrated. Give it time.
I’m not sure how wide a perspective it takes to see a person shift their staunchly held opinions about the lack of fidelity of a format…CDs…and then suddenly embrace that very same technology as the format that is capable of allowing consumers to “rediscover the soul of music”. Seems like opportunism at the least and fraud at the most.
A very good friend and his wife live in Palos Verdes. He is from back east and always needles me about the weather but I get to retort about the earthquakes, fires, mudslides, droughts, etc. My wife will be in San Diego all next week while I am in NYC. I still think I got the better of the deal!