Apparently the most shocking aspect of the battlefield environment for raw recruits is actually the sonic intensity of the gunshots and explosions. The sound pressure level and intensity is enough to render soldiers dysfunctional on first combat. To train people for the contemporary combat situation Professor Steve Grant of Missouri University has created a serious sound system that is designed to give troops some idea of what they’re in for before the actual truamatic experience.

A couple of interesting segments from the BBC ... one using schlierin photography to demonstrate the existence of shock waves in a trombone's output ... and the other a laser holographic technique to show the patterning of string acoustic instruments soundboards from the Acoustical society of America.

PMC has announced that it is now offering a twenty year warranty on its speakers, this is very cool and means that they have joined Bryston in a very unique club of product that corroborates a genuine expectation of longevity quite outside the consumer norm.

This evening I stayed back while a nice chap listened to Ambience Ribbon loudspeakers. I was struck by the terrible realisation that inspite of our currency strength and these things being made in Victoria that they are about to suffer an inevitable major price rise.

I had occasion to be in my favourite bookstore … Readings here in Carlton … they have an excellent range of high grade Vinyl … and I was musing that the real answer to the music companies fears of unauthorised digital duplication is to … only release the LP version of the music. The complete absence of analogue copying facilities in Pirate land would ensure that the music never went beyond its copyright borders … when you buy a record, and to a lesser extent a CD, you possess a tangible artifact from the artist that you know is the best available iteration of their performance in the intended sequence ... and it cant be wiped from your system by an elctrical spike or use-license expiry ...