Identifying Legitimately High Fidelity Loudspeakers - Part 1

[cpp]

I have to agree with our local artisans, that it would be a good thing if the world economy does really blow up, and no one can trade with any body again. It would be a good thing to be forced to build good American gear again, like we used to.

amen

 

[westcott]

I just would like to say, I don't blame China for anything. I blame Corporate America and its power over our Government for always looking for a way to save a buck even if it means screwing its own citizens.

Isn't that what I said?

 

[westcott]

Yes, I own some really good old American gear, and when you look at the workmanship and design compared to what goes on now, it literally makes me weep.

I love my Altec Valencias and I will part with them when I can no longer afford to own a home or drive a car, which may be during my lifetime.

 

[westcott]

amen

Be careful what you wish for.

The US imports over 65% of its oil and China and India still want their share (can you say "nuclear powers" and "exploding populaton/industrial growth"). We reached our maximum production way back in the 70's (9.5 million barrels a day) and US production has dropped by half while demand continues to climb. Some say global production has hits its peak already and should follow the same rate of decline as the US.

You think the economy is sucking wind now? War over natural resources will make this a very unhealthy place to live.

My suggestion. Turn NASA into SCRAP. (solar cell research and production) It is the ONLY source of energy that will save this world economy.

 

[mtrycrafts]

.... I blame Corporate America and its power over our Government for always looking for a way to save a buck even if it means screwing its own citizens. ....

Who allowed this to happen if not the government or a faction of it, no?

 

[Adam]

Be careful what you wish for.

Agreed. "Good American gear" is hard to build without all the right raw materials. We have a bountiful country, but we don't have everything. Isolationism is not an uncommon gut reaction, but I'm not a fan of the idea. I'd prefer to engage in foreign commerce on a fair playing field. I'm always mildly amused (and also mildly irritated) by people who migrate to this country and then decide that it's time to close out the rest of the world. Diversity is one thing that makes this country (and our planet) great.

Plus, I've become quite a fan of being able to buy grapes in the winter time.

 

[shadyJ]

My suggestion. Turn NASA into SCRAP. (solar cell research and production) It is the ONLY source of energy that will save this world economy.

This is a terrible idea, the Dept of Energy has its own budget anyway and they get a lot more than NASA.

 

[cpp]

who's talking about oil, I'm talking about audio equipment being built right here in the US of A.

 

[Adam]

who's talking about oil, I'm talking about audio equipment being built right here in the US of A.

I admit that I also took your praise for that particular quote of Mark's to mean that you think total isolation is a good idea. He did say no trade whatsoever. Well, in addition to a complete economic meltdown...

I'm not against high quality goods, btw! That particular quote was just more extreme than I think is warranted. Then again, Mark never does just dip his toes in the water. (I hope no offense is taken, Mark - I mean it in good fun.)

 

[cpp]

Adam

I admit that I also took your praise for that particular quote of Mark's to mean that you think total isolation is a good idea. He did say no trade whatsoever. Well, in addition to a complete economic meltdown

oh heck NO, this country would never survive without assistance from the outside world. Regarding the economic meltdown, well it appears to be underway or has been for a while, I know my 401k and investments are noting a meltdown as of the last few weeks.
Sorry to be confusing.

 

[TLS Guy]

I admit that I also took your praise for that particular quote of Mark's to mean that you think total isolation is a good idea. He did say no trade whatsoever. Well, in addition to a complete economic meltdown...

I'm not against high quality goods, btw! That particular quote was just more extreme than I think is warranted. Then again, Mark never does just dip his toes in the water. (I hope no offense is taken, Mark - I mean it in good fun.)

I think the real issue is the huge frustration about shoddy goods and dearth of decent of jobs. There is huge frustration around. A lot of this is fueling the tea party.

I think there was a hidden agenda in the recent debt ceiling brinksmanship.

I think the newly elected congressmen and the likes of Michele Bachmann really do want a default and the blowing up of the world economy and the end of trust in world currencies. I can see where that view could get some sympathy though highly dangerous.

However it won't be us that pulls the trigger. The totally inept and dishonest Eurozone, will be quite capable of blowing up the world economy by themselves.

The chairman of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King made another of his periodic interesting speeches recently.

His view is that the indebtedness of the Western democracies is greater than can ever be realistically be paid back.

He suggested the way out of the current morass is negotiations between debtors and creditors. He was basically suggesting that nations, including the US, will ultimately be forced to go through bankruptcy proceedings.

The current levels of sovereign debt and trade imbalances are unsustainable. So whether one takes an isolationist view or not, we will be forced to make more of our own goods whether we like it or not. Otherwise our decent to the ranks of the third world will continue apace.

My nephew, the political risk correspondent for Reuters News recently wrote this article about the crisis of globalization. Peter Apps was also recently appointed as a special adviser to the British Cabinet Office in addition to his duties at Reuters.

 

[TLS Guy]

Its coming to a head faster than I thought. I just checked the European press.

Take a close look also to the articles on the links on the right.

There must be NO more bank bailouts. We must take to the streets if it is suggested.

 

[3db]

I can't say I blame Germany for these feelings. They've carried Europe on their backs financially for the last 50 years. They've even swallowed their sister country which was a money pit but was still able to turn it around. Why should they go bankrupt due to inept fisacl management of the other countries?

 

[westcott]

This is a terrible idea, the Dept of Energy has its own budget anyway and they get a lot more than NASA.

I have no problem shutting down NASA for good. I consider their work a luxury, and one we can no longer afford. NASA is in my front yard and creates a lot of jobs here in Clear Lake/Houston but even I can not justify their existence in this countries current condition.

But, if we do not accelerate solar cell research, technology, and its production, it will be too late to implement. The DOE has been supporting private initiatives for decades yet it has had little impact on energy production to date. Offering support to private industry is one thing, dedicating resources like Kennedy did when he vowed to put a man on the moon by the end of the 60's with the NASA program is what made it happen in a timely manner.

 

[westcott]

I can't say I blame Germany for these feelings. They've carried Europe on their backs financially for the last 50 years. They've even swallowed their sister country which was a money pit but was still able to turn it around. Why should they go bankrupt due to inept fisacl management of the other countries?

I agree with what you are saying and I am not trying to justify bailouts but in this global economy, if one domino falls, the rest are sure to follow. Collapse is inevitable. Everyone is just trying to postpone the start of it because once it starts, there will be no stopping it.

The riots in London are just a precursor to what lies ahead.

I shudder to think what would have happened if New York city had been hit by a 15 foot tidal surge this week.

 

[cpp]

I have no problem shutting down NASA for good. I consider their work a luxury, and one we can no longer afford

well I look at that a little different.
We are surrounded every day by technologies developed for space exploration. The artificial heart for example, resulted from experiments on the space shuttle and a partnership with renowned heart surgeon. The hand held Jaws of Life used to save victims from car wrecks originated from the system used to separate the space shuttle from its booster rockets. Even the insulation that keeps our homes warm and energy efficient is based of the technology used to insulate the space shuttle.
The rest to many to list.
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space_exploration/benefits.html

I say stop giving billions and billions to other countries. More than $20 billion has been given to Pakistan since Sept. 11, 2001 not to mention the millions given to other countries.
http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/politics/us-foreign-aid.htm

 

[Adam]

well I look at that a little different.
We are surrounded every day by technologies developed for space exploration...

I'll say upfront that I'm a huge supporter of space exploration and NASA. I definitely think that we should keep that going. Our economic and social problems sure as heck aren't due to being naturally curious and spending a fraction of our funds on exploration. I'll take supporting government funding of education and hard work to explore Mars over spending money to encourage regulars on Jerry Springer to stay barefoot and pregnant.

That said, we could have developed those same technologies, and perhaps better suited ones, had the focus been on developing solutions to the issues listed above (e.g. insulation). It's probably a lot harder to get people to rally around spending tax dollars to improve home insulation compared to getting to the Moon before the Soviets, though.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Boy, talk about a thread going off the tracks!

 

[gene]

I have no problem shutting down NASA for good. I consider their work a luxury, and one we can no longer afford. NASA is in my front yard and creates a lot of jobs here in Clear Lake/Houston but even I can not justify their existence in this countries current condition.

That's an unfortunate viewpoint but its pretty aligned with how the masses in our country view science these days. NASA spending is a pimple compared to how much we spend on "Defense" spending. What we get from NASA in return is invaluable (think of your cell phone for example). If I were a Billionare, the first organization that would have a massive contribution from me would be NASA, but I guess that's just b/c I am a Trekkie at heart

 

[majorloser]

Every advancement in both space and military hardware ends up making it's way into the consumer product world eventually. The research and development is not lost. Many of the most successful consumer products have come by accident while researching for something else.

All of the advancement in space exploration and rocketry have come from military research. Rockets and satellites weren't invented for exploration.