Signals

A purist can be defined as “a person who adheres strictly and often excessively to a tradition.” I would add the corollary: particularly when it comes to analog audio. Which brings us to today's DIY project: Building your own audio amplifier from scratch. With vacuum tubes, of course.

The TV business is lousy, right? Companies are getting out of that market like it was a house on fire. Just last week, we reported that Sharp is leaving the Americas. It sold its Mexico plant and name and rights to Hisense for a measly $23.7 million. Sharp follows Toshiba, Hitachi, Pioneer, Mitsubishi, Philips, Magnavox and Thomson in divesting and selling its TV interests for fire-sale prices. The TV business is lousy, right?

So, how would you like to buy a piece of a TV company?

Has this ever happened to you? You are surfing on your laptop and suddenly a scary screen appears, demanding ransomware payable with your credit card info, and 3 bottles of vodka. The same thing happened to me, except I was watching TV and instead of demanding that I send money, a pop-up on the TV screen offered to send money to me.

You've done the factory tour at Zuffenhausen. Eight times. You once got in a fight and lost a canine, defending the IMS bearing in your M96 engine You patiently explain to newbies why the ignition switch is on the left side. Of course, you have "911" tattooed on your bicep. And, you just bought a Porsche Design soundbar.

It is a fact that we all exist on the spectrum. That is, the spectrum of individuality. At the top of the spectrum are those rare individuals who are one of a kind, the nonconformists, the rebels. At the bottom of the spectrum are the common and docile ones, the sheeple. Where do you want to be?