Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

I kinda figured there was no need to encode this tape, but I did it just to make sure there was nothing on it I needed. It turns out it's a tape full of Ranma 1/2, subtitled.

I need to watch this again. I miss these folks.

How it started, how it ended:

So I ran a number of tests to see what devices would play surround sound on the new system (looks like only hte PS5 and PC). While I was testing the PC, trying to get mpv.net to push Surround Sound, I played the Borg battle in TNG.

I forgot how much I loved this specific shot. Nothing earth shattering or effects heavy, but really gives the feeling that the Enterprise and the Shuttle are Real Objects in a Real Universe.

Heh. I don't think about this much, but having a surround sound system reminds me that I have some hearing loss in my left ear. I've had it forever, so I don't think about it, but I was wondering, why is everything shifted to the right?

Dear body, we're laid off, and it's the weekend. We can sleep in. I know we had really bad dreams all night, but that doesn't mean we can't sleep in....

Okay, enough moping. Saturday, we move on from the layoff.

Well. Now that I have a 5.1 Surround Sound system up and running. What should I watch with it?

I don't often go into town, but had to today. Whenever I go into town, I try something that I can't get easily out here.

Katsu Burger DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

Now if you'll excuse me. I'm going to eat the half of the order I couldn't finish there....

It's been a year since I moved into the apartment. I hope I'm able to keep it until next year.

Chronic cough update: it's not asthma or a blockage. Doctor is thinking it's acid reflux based on an offhand remark I made about one time having heartburn after drinking too much citrus juice. I don't like to argue with my doctors (and didn't) but I'm skeptical. She fixated on it though, so we'll do what she wants.

My insurance runs out at the end of March. Hope we can find a cause by then.

Current mood: https://youtu.be/0IZjBCy03bA

I find it ironic that one of the last purchases I made before I was laid off may be one I will likely enjoy regretting.

So some of the last things I've bought before the layoff are starting to trickle in. One of them was the FINAL piece to the puzzle of getting my 5.1 surround system to work as true 5.1.

That said, I'm still a little dissapointed with sound, but I think it just is what it is. Mostly in how tinny it occasionally sounds. To test the setup, I used ST:TMP's Director Edition and specifically played the Wormhole and V'Ger probe scenes, and they sounded excellent. Good bass, lots of direction in the sound.

But in the quieter scenes, everything felt a little flat and tinny. If I switched over to 2.1, though, suddenly there was a lot more bass. I'm guessing cause in 5.1, the subwoofer plays ONLY stuff going to the subwoofer, where in 2.1 it plays everything below a specific frequency, regardless of what speaker it's supposed to go to.

Not a problem with the movie, really just me being spoiled with really heavy bass I'm used to and MAYBE some cheapie-ish speakers.

That said, the THX logo in full 5.1 is mindblowing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1ZV-zVVnok