klinemj
Emo VIPs 
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,092
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Post by klinemj on Oct 25, 2024 12:47:34 GMT -5
Boomzilla I am very familiar with most of the jazz artists you mentioned BUT! The one that intrigues me the most is the Squirrel Nut Zippers! Hands down,mneed to hear what they offer. 🎶😳🎉 Love this! Nice Boom! I've seen them live. Totally awesome live. Mark |
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Post by leonski on Oct 26, 2024 15:41:44 GMT -5
I had promised myself not to write anything more about movies. But I must break that promise since something special has happened.
This morning as I was still bouncing off the walls, I turned ON the set and almost immediately found BLACK ORPHEUS on TV.
This is a 1960 Brazilian movie from a French director.... If you ever wanted to learn Portuguese.....now's your chance. Subs in English.
This is the story of the strongest love......trying to defeat death. And happens to be the GREEK Tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice.....
Brought up to date a the Carnival in Rio.....INCREDIBLE Bosa Nova score by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfa.
I have the Criterion Collection issue which is uncut, and indeed has 4 minutes additional footage. Exceptional transfer from a new
35mm interpositve (not internegative!)
This movie won 'Best Foreign Film' at the 1960 Academy Awards....
Film #2? I can't really say I like this one......It is an obscure French movie called ALPHAVILLE. Secret AGent (trnch coat a dead giveaway) Lemmy Caution, played
in this an several other entries, by and AMERICAN sent to destroy what we would call an AI run amok.....Just too weird for me but worth a few minutes look if only
to say you saw 'some' of it.....
This is French 'New Wave Cinema'......
Happy Viewing
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Post by Boomzilla on Oct 27, 2024 17:13:39 GMT -5
Kinda of crazy, but here's one I like: |
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 1, 2024 20:51:19 GMT -5
Loungers - May I pick your brains again?
My physical therapist, who also has extensive training in ergonomics, has informed me that due to the time I spend at the computer, it's time for me to get a GOOD office chair. I told her the one I have came from Costco, and was supposed to be better than average quality, and she said (emphatically) "NO - you need a chair that has the following features:"
* pneumatic lumbar support that is adjustable for both height and depth
* headrest that is adjustable for height and fore-aft positioning for good neck support
* seat that can be adjusted fore and aft for thigh support
* seat that can also be tilted front to back
* individually adjustable arm supports that can be adjusted for both height and in / out tilt
* a tall back sufficient to give shoulder support for my height (I'm 6'2")
* a foot rest (can be independent of the chair) to allow multiple foot positions
* a table that can be electrically powered for height, keeping the keyboard at a height such that my wrists need not be bent while typing
This came about after a electromyography test that showed that I have:
* cervical radiculopathy (nerve restriction at the neck) - bad
* cubital tunnel syndrome (nerve restriction at the elbow) - moderate, and
* carpal tunnel syndrome (nerve restriction at the wrist) - moderate
Apparently, few chair makers offer all the features that my PT says I need. So far, the only manufacturer I've found that can offer what I'm looking for is a company called "Bodybilt - Ergogenesis." About 25 years ago I bought one of their office chairs, and finally wore it out about five years ago. It was expensive (about $1,500 at the time), and the current models with all the features I want seem to go for $2,500 to $3,500. Considering the quality, I don't begrudge them the price, but I was wondering if any other companies made similar chairs? One friend told me to look at the Herman Miller Aeron chair, but it seems to lack some of the features I need.
I've pointed out to my (thrifty) wife that although the chairs are relatively expensive, they're but a fraction of what surgery would (and, in fact, will) cost if I keep working with what I'm currently using. In fact, my physical therapist is now refusing to treat me until I am examined by a neurosurgeon. Her concern is that the physical therapy might aggravate my existing problems...
I'm sure some of you guys have already dealt with similar problems and done chair research - what did you find?
Thanks - Glenn
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Post by leonski on Nov 2, 2024 1:23:26 GMT -5
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Post by marcl on Nov 2, 2024 3:23:05 GMT -5
2004 I was about to be hired by IBM. Amazingly for that time, I was to be home-based and I had to have a dedicated office space (yeah, NOBODY requires that now and haven't for years). There was no video conferencing back then ... just AOL Instant Messenger and a phone! I figured I could end up in this job for the rest of my career. So I decided to have an office exactly the way I wanted it ... find the perfect desk, chair, headphones, etc. I always wanted a Herman Miller chair and I found the one I wanted and it was $1000 and I didn't know if I should spring for the leather armrests for another $100. Then I got the actual job offer letter. The chair - with leather armrests in perfect condition - is now 20 years old. I even weigh 50lbs more than I did back then and it still works fine! p.s. I lasted 7 months and quit ... what a stupid, political, pointless situation it turned out to be. I survived though. And one little bit of validation ... I had warned my boss and others that to pass FDA and pharma industry audits they had to do certain things. They refused. I quit. First audit ... as they fled the dumpster fire someone was heard to say "if we had listened to Marc, this wouldn't have happened."  |
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 2, 2024 12:36:31 GMT -5
Turns out that Aeron chairs have a WIDE range of aftermarket accessories available…
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Post by leonski on Nov 2, 2024 13:45:46 GMT -5
2 things? Aeron chair does have an impeccable reputation.
I've been thru MORE audits than you'd believe. Many from 'automotive' customers. Others from the ISO organization and even a few MilSpec meetings.
To IGNORE a coming audit is sheer ignorance. Some customers will not deal with a manufacturer who has NOT gone thru the Audit Process....
Audits are generally divided into 2 portions. First? You produce a mountain of paperwork. Auditors check thru. Spend a couple days eating free lunch
and running staff ragged.
Than they'd come INTO the manufacturing area itself. And ask questions. We had a few Demonstrations ready about elementary stuff like data entry
and control chart reading along with maybe a few 'what if' scenarios. This is where I came in.....and I was accompanied by a nice person from another group.
ALL they really wanted to know was that you said what you were going to do, and did as you said....all the while following your own internal documentation.....
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Post by leonski on Nov 2, 2024 13:48:35 GMT -5
My company had Human Scale 'Freedom' chairs in the offices. But they were ALL trashed. Except for ONE of 'em which the engineer assembled
out of found parts to create a perfect example.....Which actually WAS comfy, but based on the scrap yard of 'em we had? Not worth it......
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 2, 2024 14:26:57 GMT -5
AirPods Pro 2 impressions:
1. I had severe doubts about whether these would be comfortable. I don’t normally like anything in my ear canals, but after the initial five to 10 minutes, I forgot that these were even there.
2. These seem to provide an extra octave of bass compared to my JVC on-ear phones. Kind of like adding a good subwoofer to a pair of stand-mounted bookshelf speakers. Not only does the bass extend deeper, but also I am hearing better pitch definition. I am also getting better detail. With the AirPods, I can tell whether I’m hearing an acoustic bass, an electric bass, or a synthesized bass. The JVCs didn’t have that much definition.
I am still trying these things out, but so far, I am liking them. I also notice that they pair seamlessly with my iPhone, my iPad, and my Mac mini (whichever is closest). Very convenient!
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Post by fbczar on Nov 2, 2024 15:43:12 GMT -5
AirPods Pro 2 impressions: 1. I had severe doubts about whether these would be comfortable. I don’t normally like anything in my ear canals, but after the initial five to 10 minutes, I forgot that these were even there. 2. These seem to provide an extra octave of bass compared to my JVC on-ear phones. Kind of like adding a good subwoofer to a pair of stand-mounted bookshelf speakers. Not only does the bass extend deeper, but also I am hearing better pitch definition. I am also getting better detail. With the AirPods, I can tell whether I’m hearing an acoustic bass, an electric bass, or a synthesized bass. The JVCs didn’t have that much definition. I am still trying these things out, but so far, I am liking them. I also notice that they pair seamlessly with my iPhone, my iPad, and my Mac mini (whichever is closest). Very convenient! Did you setup Personal Spatial Audio? Soundstage is impressive. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 2, 2024 16:51:02 GMT -5
Hi fbczar - yes, I did and yes, I can hear the diff! On my office chair question - I sent the text I posted here on the Lounge to all my Industrial Hygiene acquaintances and friends, since ergonomics is considered a branch of IH. One of my former students who now works for OSHA, and who has an extensive ergonomics background called me last night to reply. He told me that the single most critical "fit" metric was the relative height of the chair arms to the keyboard. If your forearms are slanting upward from the chair arms (mine are), then your wrists have to bend for your fingers to reach the keyboard (aggravating carpal-tunnel syndrome). He pointed out that multiple companies offer variable height keyboard trays that can bolt onto your table top, onto your monitor post, or even onto your chair post. He suggested that prior to spending thousands on an ergonomic chair, that I invest less than $100 on a variable height keyboard tray and see if that helps. I plan to do so. |
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Post by leonski on Nov 2, 2024 20:57:26 GMT -5
Wouldn't it be neat if you needed what amounts to a small adjustment at little expense instead of a couple Grand worth of chair and half again that in accessories?
We had guy at work who had one of those articulated desks. He'd frequently work the phones while standing...
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 2, 2024 22:29:22 GMT -5
Cost is far less a concern than health. But you’re right, leonski - no sense throwing money away unless the results justify the expense! And my, but doesn’t that last sentence apply in spades to audio as well! I am often dumbfound by the unchecked inflation in audio prices - a quarter of a MILLION dollars or more for speakers? - thousands of dollars for a CD transport (DAC not included)? - Where does it end? A fool and his money… |
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Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2024 0:45:26 GMT -5
For a quarter of a million? I'd expect to be able to BUY INTO a speaker company.....And get some prototypes for 'home test'......
Only those with Epic Amounts of $$$ will spend it as if it had little value.....
You can apply this to autos, too. Will you get TWICE the small SUV as my Mazda CX-5 for 2x the sticker of about 31,000$?
I don't think so. The only auto I can think of which could possibly induce me to go to the Profane Level would be the Lexus LC500.
This has an old-school (by todays standards) 5.0 V8 of over 470hp and 7 or 8 speed automatic. It is a 2-person GT.....not really a
sports car, but if you were Zooming across country, THIS would be a short list car to drive....Right at 100,000$
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Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2024 0:54:04 GMT -5
One last chair to NOT consider.
CXO Nightengale is another 2000$ entry. But receives Uniformly BAD reviews for something very simple.
The pads on the armrests are Junk. Wear out and TEAR. My chair had pad pads and they FOUGHT ME over warranty claim.
Told me I'd abused the chair! Sent me some pads for shipping....and will not answer any posts from me now.
New ones lasted no better than the originals. Chair goes Over 75lb, so best of luck getting it cleanly UP a flight of stairs.
NEW chairs have same complaint. This means that NO action was taken on what seems to be a weak-point feature or part.
NOT ACCEPTABLE and the company should learn about contiuous improvement.
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 3, 2024 10:36:31 GMT -5
My most frequent failure points on office chairs that I’ve owned in the past include:
1. The chairs’ pneumatic support posts - On most chairs, these fail within a year or two. The failure node is that the posts fail to maintain the height that they are set to. When I sit in the chair, either the posts will sink immediately, or else over varying amounts of time (anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour) the seat will gradually “settle.” I am a big guy (between 275 pounds to my current 240), but all the chairs I’ve bought have been rated for weights between 300 and 500 pounds. Obviously those ratings are highly optimistic!
2. The chairs’ arm rests - The worst have been arm rests covered in “leatherette” surfacing. Inevitably, the paper-thin leatherette surface begins to flake off, initially in small flecks that come loose and stick to your shirtsleeves, but eventually in larger strips or sheets that contaminate the whole work area. I will NEVER again buy any chair with ANY “leatherette” surfaces!
3. Chairs with either too-short or else non-adjustable seats - I have longer-than-average thighs, apparently, because most office chairs fail to provide adequate thigh support. The “average” office chair has a seat that just isn’t long enough for my legs causing numbness in the legs and occasional knee pain. VERY few office chairs offer adjustable thigh support; the manufacturers’ attitudes seem to be “one size fits all!”
4. Chairs with inadequate leg lengths - The five support arms that the rollers are mounted on have different lengths. Manufacturers don’t normally disclose this length, and I’ve had more than one (inexpensive) chair before that became unstable and dumped me on the floor when I leaned back! Why manufacturers don’t get sued more often for these unsafe designs is a mystery to me.
I could go on, but I think you get the message that “average” office chairs and me are NOT a good fit!
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Post by monkumonku on Nov 3, 2024 10:42:13 GMT -5
My most frequent failure points on office chairs that I’ve owned in the past include: 1. The chairs’ pneumatic support posts - On most chairs, these fail within a year or two. The failure node is that the posts fail to maintain the height that they are set to. When I sit in the chair, either the posts will sink immediately, or else over varying amounts of time (anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour) the seat will gradually “settle.” I am a big guy (between 275 pounds to my current 240), but all the chairs I’ve bought have been rated for weights between 300 and 500 pounds. Obviously those ratings are highly optimistic! 2. The chairs’ arm rests - The worst have been arm rests covered in “leatherette” surfacing. Inevitably, the paper-thin leatherette surface begins to flake off, initially in small flecks that come loose and stick to your shirtsleeves, but eventually in larger strips or sheets that contaminate the whole work area. I will NEVER again buy any chair with ANY “leatherette” surfaces! 3. Chairs with either too-short or else non-adjustable seats - I have longer-than-average thighs, apparently, because most office chairs fail to provide adequate thigh support. The “average” office chair has a seat that just isn’t long enough for my legs causing numbness in the legs and occasional knee pain. VERY few office chairs offer adjustable thigh support; the manufacturers’ attitudes seem to be “one size fits all!” 4. Chairs with inadequate leg lengths - The five support arms that the rollers are mounted on have different lengths. Manufacturers don’t normally disclose this length, and I’ve had more than one (inexpensive) chair before that became unstable and dumped me on the floor when I leaned back! Why manufacturers don’t get sued more often for these unsafe designs is a mystery to me. I could go on, but I think you get the message that “average” office chairs and me are NOT a good fit! The pneumatic life on my wife's chair failed just a couple of weeks ago but she has had it for over 25 years! Mine, which is at least 20, thankfully still works. But those are two rare exceptions - I've had plenty of those "sink down" moments. Just throwing in my two cents - I know you like shopping for good deals but when it comes to your chair, do your body a big favor and don't skimp! I'm pretty sure you can afford it so put your money to good use and get a great, comfortable chair! |
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 3, 2024 11:01:59 GMT -5
Thanks monkumonku - That’s the conclusion I’m coming to also. The last big obstacle was overcome yesterday when (by using the AARP retirement calculator) I convinced my wife that we could easily afford a good chair. Thanks for the feedback! |
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Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2024 13:13:22 GMT -5
I don'tknow about Others? But the Aeron Chair has 3 sizes.....A, B, C.....
You'll have to consult the chart on the Herman Miller site.
You might ALSO want to make a few calls and see if any 'healthy back' store has any in stock
for a test-sit.
Arm Pads on my CXO were some kind of expanded foam. Once it started to tear, that was IT. JUNK....
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