Merv's Politically Incorrect Audio Blog

Buckle up bro, it's only going to get worse

 

Give it about 5 to 10 years before shit gets real for the younger generations. I am not going to wait. Before that time I will be better off.

Stay healthy and take care.

 

About a week ago my sister gave birth to a beautiful and strong daughter. She is fortunate enough to have a good partner and an actual good house to live in (with a family).

If I am not starting a family in the next decade I do not mind passing on my wealth to my sister's children. They deserve a future and the world is changing. Just something I often think about.

 

I count myself pretty fortunate that I never had kids. A few close calls. Too close for comfort maybe, but ultimately I managed to get off scott-free!
Hope it stays that way, but for a long time a recurring nightmare involved a spotty millenial turning up on my doorstep and saying 'Hello dad' lool

When I kick it, my assets are going to a cat or cancer-research charity or maybe divided between them. idk.

 

I'm 43 and never been married (was engaged once, but that was ages ago), and have no plans to do so. Not only because of the insane costs involved, but I don't like the divorce statistics and don't think I am somehow a "special case", "love conquers all" etc etc etc... I've been broke most of my life, at one points homeless, watched my roommate's ex-porn star, then stripper girlfriend throw herself out of our 3rd story apartment bldg window (and break her back and shit herself), been to jail (wrongful imprisonment), been robbed at gunpoint, had an uzi pulled on me, not to mention all the times I've been fired for being a good worker (but clashing with lazy fuckheads), watched good friends of mine have their lifeblood slowly drained from them by Hollywood until they are shells of their former selves (this hits harder than you might think), been bullied as a kid, watched the greedy and evil win and the meek suffer.... and countless other existential crises... I'm just too cynical and jaded at this point with whatever the f**k this life is to settle down like that I think.

But never say never... tomorrow I may meet someone who changes my worldview just enough to nudge me in that direction. But it's too late for me I think. And I'd rather at some point put more energy into my sisters' kids and just be that uncle that comes to Thanksgiving by himself every year and tells a few funny and/or tragic stories.

 

So, everyone going to be watching the Republican debate tonight? I couldn't give a flying continental, but the thought of DeSantis laser-eyeing all his opponents does make me giggle......

https://twitter.com/mattbinder/status/1693475329690464590

 

DeSantis should stay the hell away from the crank.

 

I took this photo last week at my local credit union.

 

A comment about attending the California Audio Show yesterday (Friday), posted on the Audio Asylum forum.

 

Being a good uncle is still better than being absent and wasting your life.

I have been replaying old stories in my mind like looping chess games for years. Sometimes you almost explode. Because someone before you made a certain choice with certain consequences (be it failure or succes) does not mean you have to do the same. I mourned my father by doing what I always do: work, train, study or whatever replaces the pain and/or loss until you break down and hope you come out stronger than before. I am not sure if it is the best method but for me it beats the drama my awful family often created. Other people can have their soap opera tragedies. To quote my favourite Bruce, yes the guy from Iron Maiden: "Die with your boots on."

Thank you. Take care.

 

1

For two plus decades, I had two different Audi Quattros; both true snow monsters. First the Coupe (19900; put Blizzaks on that and with its ability to manually lock diffs… boom!), then the 2007 (yes 17 years later) A6 Allroad Avant wagon… same comments apply but sadly no locking diff…”

We had a 1/2 mile long driveway that crossed two streams and descended about 200 feet; can’t tell you how many times our rich uber-snooty neighbors got stuck in their Land Rover and Porsche… LOL

PS: Toyota has it right. Hybrid is the only mid to near term solution. Net zero is a fraud. Reduce significantly whist tech (and especially infrastructure) catch up

Current fleet (from having been in Texas 4 years): ditched the Audi and scored a 2008 Lexus LS450 with 50 K miles for a song. Still have it and at 106K it’s still worth more than I paid for it. Other vehicle is a bullet-proof 2013 Venza (AWD).

NOTHING beats Toyota for quality and total cost of ownership.

 

My father for years had an old Volvo 340. Remarkably light and compact car. Kind of high on the wheels and very good for bad roads. There are people who swear by old Volvo because those things simply keep moving.

I will take an old Volvo over most modern/new S.U.V.'s Many people in the modern/new S.U.V.'s are somehow afraid of dents, bumps and holes in the road. In the city you can almost overtake them on a bicycle, it is too silly.

I might be crazy but I think every person who considers an S.U.V. should ride around on a mountainbike or a little enduro machine (125-250 cc) to get a feel for all kinds of conditions while moving around. Especially driving through snow, mud and sand teaches you a lot about grip, balance and speed. You do not survive snow storms by panicking. Once you learn to crawl despite lack of grip you understand it. (A computer system in a car cannot teach you that.)

 

I would not own a car in warmer climate.. Just for backup.

High maintenance burden, zero fun in comparison. Most cars are your "home appliance" washing machines. Everything worth having costs + 50k new or its a boring lifless pile of sheet metal.

DR650, SLR650 and GSXR ruined cars for me. + some Yamaha and Kawa exp. 90% of cars are boring and expensive burdens.

Also , lets talk cost. A good car costs at least 40k or 60k..

The basic Investment guide for any reasonable entity is.. Dont get loans over 10% of your "income"

People lease 50k cars with 30k salaries , and the cars is not a business investment.

So a 18k Yaris makes more sense for 90% of people unless they are making 100k +


The economy is more of upkeep cost for loan money than real economy..

The 10% have money, some can save and live a decent life without a high salary but these are few..

Which car do I want? Probably an old Lifted "jeep" or an older manual car with ok engine or none.

 

Delivering mediocre products is acceptable and the norm. Gimme money but delivering quality is optional. If you look a lot of modern "brand x" companies you cant even find out where it originates from. Can't say we have pride and actual concrete values. Its too un-pc and means you have a spine.

There are exceptions. Unlike cars which are all over the place and too complex today (more a house vs tool analogy) German pro tools never fail to impress. Usually last 10+ years without s* the bed in 3 days. Exactly like made in USA.

I got supper angry at the mobile power bank I have. A "top of the line" Canyon 20 000mAh power bank. 40€. It just goes offline after the indicator goes to 50%. 50% "quality" 100% cost. What is a Canyon anyhow? Is it a brand, a company? I have no idea who these people are.

Move your production to "3rd worlds countries" is a great idea for white collars but in real life shows that is not the Best idea.

I know production is hard and so on. I'd say, rise the price, make a good product more scarce, but stop selling half broken products that end up in a land fill in 2 years.

 

I have noticed that Kia and Hundai are consider in a unique, "good regard" in that they produce quality cars for a good price. The mid class is exactly as good as the Toyota.. Even have better interiors. Aren't over built. A 2015 corolla felt dead and plasticy.. A 2017 Kia can have a touch of premium feel in it, nice cockipit. They do tend to lend ideas from others but the net result is good.

Even saw them in Sweden, a market that is possibly quite picky. Otherwise seem to have high concentration of Volvo and German cars.

 

After my drivers licence for a car, I will focus on a motorcycle.

Something like a DR650, KLR650 or Versys X-300 would already make me happy. I prefer agility over speed because traffic jams are only survivable on two wheels. If the Royal Enfields are the better compromise, a 350cc or 400cc thumper will suffice.

 

DR650 is good for offroading but top heavy. That said, most fun I ever had.. I had a sport muffler on it. Made some noise. It was ok, and I wasn't trolling the neighborhood at 00:00 at night.

The freedom you have with bike is next level. 400cc is good enough for city driving.
You rarely hit over ~80.

Naked/classic and super moto are optimal for city driving.

Let me say it again. Got to love the simplicity of a motorcycle. Its basically maintenance free. Do your oil change at 10k and thats it. Rarely change break bad, if ever..

+ The gloves & boots look kick ass compared to designer clothes.

If I were to pick up a bike at ~30, I'd go and learn to master the bike on a kart track or a race track.

I' am thinking of saving up for a bike at some point. I might do a car change first.

 

Best city bike, jump curbs if needed to get around traffic jams, did it all the time when I had one and worked in Boyle Heights.