YARDCRAP

H E L L O

 

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This is my BLOG, so expect it to be about me. 

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Post comments if you choose, and I might respond.

   -------------YardCrap---------------

Analog VS Digital

Did a tune sampling this morning.

My RedNeck bar is not a perfect "audio room", but few people have that. The walls are lined with sound diffusers (LPs, CDs, assorted junk floor to ceiling on shelves. The main wall is concrete as is the floor which has carpet. It is shaped like a half moon with an 8 foot ceiling and about 1000 sq foot. It is cluttered with great sound diffusers like a bar, fridge, pool table, tread mill, Bow Flex, etc.

For this test, I used Early Sinatra music. It is damn hard for me to find anything among my LPs as they are not sorted. I only have about a thousand but need a system. (how do yall sort?) I ran across "Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely". I like that one, know it well. I had no idea it was done in 1958 - how can that be?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_S...nly_the_Lonely

It was recorded in a 5 star music studio, maybe the most famous in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Studios

I played it a few ways:
- TT->tube pre->tube phono->SS amp->speaker
- CD->tube DAC->tube pre->SS amp->speaker
- CD->tube pre->SS amp->speaker
- CD->SS pre->SS amp->speaker
* code below

I sat, closed my eyes and listened. If you like Sinatra, this was great fun. One reason I chose him is due to excellent instruments on a black back ground. His voice range is not much, but the devil is in the back up:
Nelson Riddle – arranger
Felix Slatkin – conductor
Bill Miller – piano
Gus Bivona – alto saxophone
+ Top people with the instruments.

Conclusions:
- this year's YardCrap wine (Cabernet Sauvignon) is already tasty at just 8 months. In a year or so it will be excellent.
- The LP set up sounds best. To be fair, I have a lot of $$ and time tied up in that section of my system, so it should sound good.
- The 2nd setup was excellent.
- The 3rd set up was great. The difference in #2 and #3 in my opinion being the external DAC.
- The 4th was also also very good.

I had fun, and keeping busy keeps me off drugs.

What I found in this very unscientific test is that my turntable with an LP blows my CD player off the chart. My CD player is not an OPPO, but the DAC is a corrector of sorts for that. Bring your better one over, plug it in and we can retest! I have more home made wine.

The 3rd option had less energy to it, but that is not to say it was bad. I suspect few people have gear to match that sound. To me it says to spend $$ on an external DAC. I have a much better one (BenchMark) but this one made a difference anyone can hear.

The 4th option was less, but far from crap. I suspect 99% of people (not yall forum members) can't play a tune that sounds as good . With average media, it is all you need.

This was just a fun test of "MY" gear playing the same tunes.

The TT sound was the best. Frank was in the room. More people are going back to LPs and some are playing with them for the first time. LP sales are on the rise.
Here are a few facts:
- good gear is expensive, and that MUST include a system to wash records. Factor that in.
- most newly made LPs are crap.

Digital is exceptional and what I play 80% of the time.

As a side note, all things "color" the tunes. Finding the "color" you prefer is the goal. With most systems you can change that "color" everyday.


*
-TT = Modded Rega 5 w/Exact Cart w/power supply
-tube pre = Sunfire Classic Vaccum Control Center
-tube phono = Project Box SE Tube 11
-SS amp = Sunfire 600X2
-speaker = Definitive Technology Mythos ST
-CD player =JVC XLZ331
-tube DAC = Grant Fidelity TubeDac-11
-SS preamp = Carver CT-6

+ decent wire, power control center, and the etc many audio nuts accumulate

CLEMSON 2013

The schedule is not yet out, but we know the opponents.

Before 2012 most of us armchair experts saw Clemson as sliding back a notch from the great 2011 season. We hoped for a win over USuCk.

The Clemson guys overcame line weakness and improved as no could have predicted. By the last game of the year against LSU, they were as good as it gets. They were tough, an adjective lacking in the last few Clemson teams.

For 2013 the expectations are high. Last year expectations were 8-4 but this year, any loss will be hard to take.
Is this a better team? Yes it is, or at least it should be. The loss of Hopkins is very hard. (all Clemson fans wish him the best) Watkins was mostly silent in 2012 so I suspect he will roar back like a -- TIGER in 2013 to fill the gap.

At the start of 2012 the "D" was shaky, but not at the end of the season. In 2013 they will be improved in every area.

I am a fan, but not just being "Pollyanna" as all the fun 2013 polls coming out by "experts" no better at predicting than you are me have Clemson top ten.

I don't see a glaring weakness. I do wonder who will step up and run the ball with success, but it is not like the cupboard is bare. On offense, Clemson will score - !!

The schedule is hard. Last year Clemson started with an undefeated top ten Auburn team. It was a big win, but then everybody beat Auburn. This year Clemson starts with a great Georgia team that will be ranked top 5. Georgia will not be folding up like Auburn did, win or loose. Georgia expects to win the National Championship in 2013, and why not? They were just a few yards from beating Alabama and facing the overrated Notre Dame team this year. All the parts of the Georgia team will be back, a year older, stronger, and better. We often forget these are 18-23 year old kids improving in every way -> quickly.

We also play USuck at Columbia and Florida State. The other ACC teams Clemson plays will be improved. Ga Tech just went out and crushed the pre season #1 of last year -> USC. Experts can't call it.

I believe this will be a year Clemson can win any game. Will they? Most likely not as undefeated seasons are rare - none occurred in 2012 or 2011.

Life is good in Upstate SC. I live 20 minutes from the real "Death Valley".

I will be at the game.

Hobby Guy

Most here know I am a weather guy. I read the books, do the math.
I am fascinated by the weather. It is all the fun of working a good cross word puzzle for me.

I have an excellent backyard weather station, and it is not junk. I post to the web automatically every couple minutes (really, I do) to computers on the national scene to help predict the weather.
You can pull up my site and see the weather in my yard right now or for any "minute" for the last years.
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/ycweather/


I should be on TV as I know this stuff. Every time I apply for a job to do the weather, get cut out by a person with more qualifications.
It is a tough field for a guy like me to get employed in.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

 


Anybody decorate for Christmas?

I do, some years more, some less.  This seems to be a "more" year.
Most of my lights are put up behind the house off my porch to entertain me, not the drive by people.  (they are welcome to stop, walk back and visit).  I did get my homemade 8 foot Christian star mounted on the top of my round house again to annoy my muslim neighbor who called the cops on me for playing Christmas music a couple years back.

Christmas and the decorations used to be just us enjoying the season.  Now they present a means for "haters" to direct the spotlight on them.  They claim seeing a Nativity Scene is bad.  Live and let live is a thing of the past. My town just put up decorations of lighted "snowmen".  They don't want to get sued for posting any symbol of what Christmas is about.  "Snowmen" at Christmas here in SC is as silly as in Hawaii. 

If you believe there was a Jesus or you don't, it is still a wonderful story.  It has more magic than anything Hollywood has come up with as evidenced by the 2000 years of it all.  It is not violent, just a story of hope and faith.  I can't see anything there to bring out hate in anyone.  The music is incredible, and I don't mean just Bing Crosby.  The music of Christmas has been improving for thousands of years and what we have now is incredible!  This Christmas take a break, sit down and actually listen to The NutCracker or the Messiah.  That is not even the tip of it all, but a starting point.

Try this:  http://www.amazon.com/Big-Christmas-Box/dp/B00A2KV7XW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354415468&sr=8-1&keywords=big+box+christmas
For 99cents, you can't go wrong.  If you don't agree, email me for a complete refund.

Yall long time readers know I celebrate Pagan holidays like the upcoming Winter Solstice.  I am eager for Hanukkah to start as I enjoy that a lot. Many of my Pagan friends, my Jewish friends, and my Christian friends tend to take slight offense which is just silly.  Enjoy the different holidays with your different friends.  It is not a competition.

Fun is fun, and December is exceptional if you get on board.  Don't be a political ashole.

Puttng up a bonfire,

spinning a Dreidel,

enjoying a Christmas tree

will not rob you of your faith, but add to it.

MEAL WORMS

Anyone feed Meal Worms to their birds?



Years back, I tried it when a shop nearby got some in.  Actually, you can grow your own quite easily.  I had a house in a neighborhood in NC.  I had no Blue Birds, but the other birds would gobble them up. 
Meal worms tend to crawl away, so you have to adjust for that.
I got a feeder that had a bird size hole on each end with clear sides.  The smaller birds could fit through the hole and eat.  It was a success!  It was also too much trouble and $$ to do often.  Live meal worms keep well in the fridge if your wife does not notice them.



Here in SC on the lake, I have Blue Birds. My bird houses raise about 20 a year. In my 11 years here, (raised maybe 200) have yet to lure one to a feeder.  I have tried the freeze dried ones but birds don't seem to like those here.  Lately I have a Wren eating some.

With all bird food, the birds pick and choose as to what is available.  Like us humans, eat the best until it is gone, then go to second best.
Where I live, the forest is hard to compete with.  So is my yard, as when I buy a plant, I tend to choose "bird friendly".  Some birds like seed, some berries, and all like insects.

Back to meal worms --> I am going to expand my freeze dried offering this Winter to see if I can build on the Wren.  Wrens only eat my suet which is also an "insect source" type food birds love, especially in Winter when insects are few.  Meal Worms have to compete with an abundance of "natural things" things in my garden.

Before Spring, hope to have my own meal worm factory operating to lure some Blue Birds near my porch chair.  Back yard birds are a hobby for me.  It is one that keeps my attention year after year as nothing else ever has.

In my part of the country, the hobby of competing with Mother Nature to attract birds is harder than you folks living in harsh climates deal with.  On the plus side, in Winter, my yard is packed with birds who come South for the better climate and food sources.

As Mary Poppins says, "Feed the birds".

 

I Am A RedNeck

 I Am A RedNeck

I (Yardcrap) am not the guy made fun of by the new comics. I have education from excellent Southern schools. My IQ is that of the average American.

Redneck is a term given to guys working all day outside in the Sun. I prefer that lifestyle to office work.

We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to Take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God.

If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of.

  You might be a redneck if:

It never occurred to you to Be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God..

' You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing The 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck If: You still say ' Christmas' Instead of 'Winter Festival.'

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces Veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same. Some of you are so old you don't have elders to respect.

You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

You might be a redneck if: You believe in God & Jesus And believe that others have the right to believe in which ever God they believe in as long as their God does not tell them to kill anyone who does not believe the same As they do!!!!!

 
Keep the fire burning, friend.

Big week for us locals.

Miami has declined to go to a Bowl to punish themselves for years of cheating.  How lame is that?  They are telling the NCAA, let us lie in rags and ashes as we truly repent. They got caught - pure and simple.  That puts a 6 win Ga Tech team into the ACC Championship game and makes the ACC look like the asshole it is.  I hope GT wins and goes to the Orange Bowl to show how stupid the system is.

Maryland bolted to the Big Ten.  Maryland is a looser as to athletics.  This past year cancelled 6 sports to save money. It is a basketball school.  The Big Ten now gets the TV market, but they have to also take Maryland.

No one will miss Maryland, but all the locals I know admire them for having the courage to get out of the shadow of the ACC where all the power is in NC.  This is a conference run by basketball.  Now the ACC will take in UCon or Louisville.  My fear is that Fla State will now bolt and leave Clemson here alone.

Due to the driving force $TV$$, Clemson has nothing to offer the SEC and damn, I would hate it if we joined the Big 12.  Clemson is kinda stuck. Look at this year, we are 10-1 and ranked behind schools that are 9-2 because of the ACC.  Florida State is a powerhouse this year and is also ignored in the polls.

The biggest news of the day is still ignored by media and more importantly by the NCAA -> years of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill approved cheating.  I will have a blog post about this soon.  Apparently, according to a professor who was forced to "shut up or get out", this goes back even to the to the Dean Smith days where all the "students" graduated.   It is bigger story than the cheating they are on probation for now and can not go to a bowl.  It is bigger than the cheating at USC, Miami, South Carolina, and Ohio State combined.
I think it is too big for the NCAA to get into as they are the most inept, corrupt group on the face of the Earth.

I try to stay neutral.

BCS CRAP

[QUOTE=kingman;7859]Rumor has it that if Clemson wins out ( which is a no brainer), they will be invited to play Notre Dame. Thoughts?????[/QUOTE]

I guess you posted this to tap into my 100 years of watching football.


Here is the deal:

WE will beat SC (the "if" you posted insults all here) . It will be a night game at Death Valley against USuCk.  I was at the last night game here against  USuCk.  The fans pro and con are incredibly drunk.  The sound on the field is not like in the stands, it is amplified due to the bowl.  You can't think, you can't hear.  It is called a "home field" advantage. 

On the down side, I don' see Clemson playing Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.  I would love to see the Tigers matched against ND or any school from the North or West as they are over rated.  You forget it all about the $$$.

WHEN we win out, unless the other week sisters of NCAA stumble over their weak schedules, Clemson will meet the real "best team" in America -> Alabama.

Beating the trash out there like ND is one thing, but facing Alabama gives me nightmares.

Here is the poop for casual fans.
The BCS rankings only count toward picking two teams to play in the National Championship.  Right now that  is Oregon and Kansas State which is a ratings disaster.

BCS Bowls then pretend to pick the best, but what they actually do is pick as to TV ratings and butts in the stands.

It is well know that Clemson fans will show up.  (Actually, USuCk fans have had little opportunity at this, but they will also buy every ticket.)  Bowls choose on things like that as they hate an empty stadium.

When Clemson wins out, they might be in the Sugar Bowl, but it will be against Alabama, the best team in America.

The reason Clemson is the best college in America is not because of the atheletes.  It is because of academics and the great student body ,

Here are a few kids on the way to class --

 

BCS CRAP

Hanukkah

Most who know me know I like any holiday that has fun things like music, eating, dancing and drinking. Hanukkah is one of the best. I bring this up as time is needed to prepare. I am not an expert, but we have Jews here on YardCrap to correct me as needed.

The music is fun, the eating is incredible, and you can drink and dance. The history is not as old as Pagan, but the event is rich in history with a great story behind it all. People want to confuse it with Christmas (even Jews), but it is a separate Holiday, not a competing one.

I am not an expert, but I pretend to be one in all areas of life as I choose not to limit myself.

Christmas as we know it is a rather new Holiday, given wings in America. Hanukkah is a minor holiday for JEWS, but in America became big because of Christmas. That would be a fun discussion for us if any here are up to it. In that way Hanukkah and Christmas gets confused and lost at Macy's for Christians and Jews.

My first Hanukkah was maybe 25 years ago when a JEW became a close friend. Growing up, never met a Jew, and the only Catholic girl in my small town belonged to me. I grew up as a WASP and proud of it. Now I am a --

The Christmas Tree is a common symbol in homes for Christmas. I have had one every year I have lived. That is actually a rather new symbol as far as Christians go, but WTF, Christians are rather new as a religious group.

The Menorah is a common symbol in homes for Hanukkah. In the big picture, it is as new as the Christmas tree. They are different, and both great fun. They celebrate entirely different things.

Over the years, I have fashioned some great Menorahs.
Basically it is 9 candles or lights. (the celebration is also know as a Festival of Lights).

(Photo on my porch)

The first day you light one, the next day two and so on for 8 days. Only on the last day are all lights burning. You use the middle candle to light the others.

In modern times, parents give the kids a gift a day as JEW kids were kinda were getting left out of the Christmas loot.

Basically, the very short version of Hanukkah is a "celebration of a Miracle". --> in olden times, the king destroyed a Holy Temple and killed everyone. In the South we tend to regroup after a loss and REVENGE. Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple after the successful Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy. Jews killed the guys who sacked the Temple. They reclaimed it. (lots of violence in this holiday) Regaining the Temple, the Jew warriors found only enough Holy Oil to light the Holy Lamp for one day.

A Miracle happened (most miracles happened in olden days), and the lamp burned for eight days.

In celebration of this Miracle, the Hanukkah Menorah has eight branches to celebrate each day the light burned.

In my Southern opinion the real miracle is that people fought and won against impossible odds. The Menorah celebrates that "never give up" spirit as the oil for one day burns for 8.

If you can't get behind that, you are not my kinda guy.

PoLiTiCaL FuN

I believe the mulit-party/two party system is dead in National elections. I was sure this would be the last year of it, but it was already dead.

The USA is now on the road to being a nation like those in Europe. Depending on your views, that is good or bad. Personally, I am a conservative and my views do not play well in Europe.

Socialism is in. Many believe the leveling of wealth to be a good thing. I have lived pay check to pay check all my life but I disagree.

In my opinion, this was the last stand. There will never be another serious conservative attempt. Too many voters are now on the dole and will vote that way. The only hope this year was that they would not vote, but they did. They showed up with their hand out reaching for more "hand outs". In four years, the gap will be much wider. One Gorilla avoided this year is illegal immigrants. They have over run the European system in every country and now will be needed here to continue the Socialist vote.

The two party system is dead.

The crystal ball to see the future is too look at the history of European countries.