Prattling Before the Pratfall – Page 433

Not Getting a Buzz On

Something for record playing loyalists to think about. Why spend more than $40?

“The Shure is an RXP3 body from Radio Shack, with a new, original Shure stylus. The AT85EP is new. The level of the turntable was checked with an Audio-Technica AT605.

Both the Shure and A-T cartridges play side 2, track 8 of the Hi-Fi News Test LP cleanly, without buzzing. The M92E is louder, at 5.0 mV vs. 3.5 mV. My Ortofon Super OM 20, mounted in a Thorens TD166-MKII, fails the same test.

The M92E is discontinued, but the AT85EP is widely available for only $40. Audio-Technica sells a $10 universal adapter for mounting in a standard tonearm.”

Don’t Let DogRat Die!

Uh, oh! I’ve slipped down to the bottom of page 5 on Google’s search results! At least I’m with the other Doug Pratt who still has LaserDiscs.

Hey, I just remembered. Clapping worked to save Tinkerbell, so clicking should save DogRat!

Another Private Joke Video

https://youtu.be/J_5Or8Rs8H8

This was Roger’s car in The Saint TV series, a ’62 Volvo P1800.

Fed Zeppelin

A couple of Fed members are stepping down, including the president of the Federal Reserve Bank here in Boston. There are questions about Fed members having possible conflicts of interest in their investments.

A Left Leftie Am I

A Bizarro repeat strip that’s worth repeating.

MeTube

I posted this 1-minute scene from “Taxi Driver” as a sort of in-joke for a friend. The reason I’m embedding it here is because in the process of uploading it I gleaned an insight into YouTube’s new monetizing practices.

The copyright check came up immediately, but it said the holder granted permission… with advertising. Now I see that the revised monetizing program is a good thing, because it gives copyright holders an incentive to allow content that would otherwise be refused.

Previously, if you tried to post something determined to have a copyright, you were given a “three strikes and you’re out” warning. Having the opportunity to see if a video passes a smell test, rather than being sent immediately to the penalty box, is definitely better. So bring on the ads! (Did I just mix sports metaphors by smell?)