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I reorganized the support platform of my VPI Scout. First I painted my maple platform and isoblocks with several coats of Rustoleum silk black, to make them better match my furniture. I then mounted the Scout on those. Big improvement in blackness and soundstage.

Then I put three Mapleshade Micropoint Footers under the table. The improvement was nothing short of phenomenal. It sounded like I had installed a $2,000 cartridge. Incredible improvement in bass and timbre — tighter, more true, more involving. There’s more there there. Shit, an incredible tweak, and one I wish I’d done years ago.

I’m so impressed that I’m now seriously thinking about Mapleshade’s Nanomount system.

We did a quick visit to Chicago in April, to visit some old friends. We are in love with Chicago. The food, the beer, the art, the park, the aquarium, all of it. And the city has this thing called public transportation. You can pay $1.50 and take a train to cross the city. Remarkable!

We waited an hour to eat at Hot Doug’s restaurant. Best hot dogs I’ve ever had. They sell french fries fried in duck fat. And they fry their hot dogs. Sublime.

My buddy and I visited the Hopleaf Bar. Which is now the Best Bar in the World. They had beers on tap I would never see in Texas. Fuck Texas and its retarded liquor laws. I want to be able to do to my local liquor store and buy Rodenbach Grand Cru like you can in Chicago.

I’m not much of a movie goer. I hate the prices, I hate the people, and don’t even get me started on the food. I have a very nice two-channel stereo/home theater at home, and I’ve been a Netflix subscribe for eight years, so I’m not crazy about shelling out a pile of cash to see some weepy tearjerker.

But I do enjoy summer blockbusters and I think some films should be seen on the big screen. I made a point to see all of the Harry Potter, Matrix, and Lord of the Rings films on the big screen. And I cannot wait to see the new Batman film.

But I’m seriously thinking twice about it. In the past two weeks I’ve seen Iron Man and Speed Racer. Two weeks ago I caught Iron Man. There were only about 30 people in the theater, which was good. But the volume was so fucking loud my ears hurt. I mean obnoxiously loud. And the sound was mixed poorly and the upper frequencies were far too shrill. I honestly spent most of the theater with my fingers in my ears.

Last night I saw Speed Racer in a different theater. Not even 20 people in the theater. But I had my earplugs with me this time. And you know what? It was still too loud. The earplugs made it bearable, but during the loud passages I was still feeling pain.

I’ve heard loud music. I saw My Bloody Valentine live, for crying out loud. In 1982 I saw AC/DC live and couldn’t hear my teachers in school for two days. I know loud music.

I also know what noise is, and I don’t appreciate being subjected to it when I drop $10 to see a film. I should not have to use earplugs in a movie.