Steve: That's fantastic! And so square and ugly.
 

 nick: Good news - I got a replacement railcard today and because I had a reference number from the police lost and found website, they said it counted as stolen and I didn't have to pay the standard £10 fee.
 

 Steve: I decided to give the Pi 3 back so put the 2 back together and now it works. I have had a couple of slight outages in music but it's pretty solid. How odd.
I bought a specific case which should work with this Pi and the 3 so let's see how it goes for a bit.
Just testing it with ABWH Quartet (sigh).

I asked Paul to research tablets as I can't be bothered. Problem is, he will go high spec :) If it saves me bringing my laptop home it will be a good plan.
 

 Tim: If he comes up with any cheap recommendations let me know.

Meanwhile, over on EMPortal there's some news about that band Software that I've never really been too sure about. A US label is reissuing their most sought-after LP on coloured vinyl and in full IC livery via Bandcamp. (Also you can get downloads of their full 22cd history for $30. Not a fantastic bargain if you play them once each or less, but worth considering.)

The cover of the LP is interesting, it's a still from a groundbreaking bit of CGI from 1982: Carla's Island. Anyone seen that before?
 

 Steve: That is interesting. I really like Fragrance, so bought Cave in the SMD sale recently. It's not brilliant, but that set is a huge bargain. You'd never get to grips with them though unless you did one a week or something.

Hmm I just went to play it and seem not to have ripped it. Was this deliberate as it was so naff?...
 

 nick: I'm reading the "Arrival" book at the moment, finished "Story of your Life" yesterday. Was really good! Got a bit mind-blown by the stuff about Fermat's principle of least time and I think he made a mistake when he talked about "glottographic" languages (where the written form is a representation of the spoken form): he said "every human written language is in this category" but I don't think that's true (e.g. chinese isn't). But very thought-provoking!

One thing the book said was that the aliens never gave a reason for why they'd visited. That wasn't true in the film (and the reason in the film was a pretty good one) so I was surprised about that
 

 Tim: Yes, I thought you were in for a few surprises, based on what you've said about the film.

When I was reading it, the Fermat seemed to be a key bit about what the book was about, a link between the two halves of the story.

And I think there must be more to why he said that glottographic thing, because there's NO WAY that is a mistake by the author, whose name is 姜峯楠

 

 nick: yes... I did wonder because he did talk about ideographs (ideograms?) later on. Book's good though, and some of the other chapters have also been thought-provoking.

Went to see another film last night - Personal Shopper with a Q&A afterwards with the director. Film wasn't great although there might have been bits that I think Tim would have liked. For the Q&A, the "host" spent about 40 minutes talking with the director before throwing it open to the audience, who got 2 questions in before time ran out. So that felt a bit weird. Good job I didn't get to ask my question though "what's your favourite film?" - the audience questions were pretty nerdy - one that I remember was "in the beginning of the film you reference the work of a swedish artist who was interested in the paranormal, and the music playing over the final titles was composed by someone whose Swedish father was also interested in the paranormal, was that intentional?" (the answer was "no, I didn't know that")
 

 Steve: Went to see Hedda Gabler last night, WTF was that about? :)
Need to take a cushion next time.
 

 Tim: That was brave Steve.

Nick, your question was better, then.

Got any more Ted Chiang reviews?
 

 nick: I liked the ending of short story about the woman who worked out that all values are equal (1==2).

Took my bike to the shop yesterday with my non-functioning back brake, which I had concluded would be better for them to fix after I watched a youtube video of how to bleed the hydraulics of it. They looked and said "it's not working because the pads are completely worn out". Umm, that hadn't occurred to me (I think in the past when the pads went it made a grindy noise). So, sort of good news.
 

 Steve: Maybe more for Nick, prog podcast with some excellent tracks including a Genesis B-side I'd not heard and live Duke Suite in its entirety (and original order): XRay FM
 

 nick: blimey steve that looks like a good setlist, I'll give it a go
 

 nick: I'd forgotten that Logos is quite good! And we were there ("Thank you for being patient..")
 

 Steve: I love Logos, played it loads. The rough-sounding audience for Duke is funny.
The music they play is always excellent.
 

 Tim: Apparently a live Node album from that thing we went to is in danger of seeing the light of day. "We just need to sort out the cover and then we will be in a position to set a release date. Watch this space... "
 

 nick: Tim, you're good at art - send them some pictures they could use
 

 nick: Steve (and maybe Tim, can't remember) - both Tony I and Steve Ballard would like to see Soft Machine, both of them OK with either date (although I think there's a preference for the Guildford one). How about you?
 

 Steve: Yeah a blurry picture of a knob should do it.

Softmachine: I can't make that one, turns out Deborah filled that weekend in after all.
 

 Tim: Count me out for that one cheers, Nick.

 

 Steve: If we want to see Orbital outdoors, this thing in Herts is *much* easier to get to: Standon Calling.
 

 nick: Pretty close to your house steve, could camp in your garden!

I finished the Ted Chiang book. Most of the stories were very interesting. I liked the fact that they were of different lengths, so you didn't know when the end was coming. The one that I've been thinking about most is the one about calliagnosia - impressive how he crammed so many ideas and explanations into that: the story didn't simply suggest the idea of calliagnosia but tried to explain why "lookism" might occur, describe prosopagnosia (which I'd come across before), and think through the implications and anticipate further scientific developments, all in an interesting ("documentary") format. And so I was quite surprised to read afterwards that he wasn't very happy with the story and felt it had been rushed. Pity he's not written much else!

 

 Tim: I was impressed with that one too. There seemed to be no end of disparate points of view, and he made me agree with just about all of them.
 

 nick: think I worked out why the pannier came off - I think the spring that shuts the clip thing has gone - when I drop the pannier on to the rack, the clip does fall into place around the bar, but it's sort of swinging a bit loosely. This morning one hook came off (I was looking round fairly often) - wouldn't have taken much of a bump for the other one to have joggled off too. So unless I can fix it then I think I need a new pannier
 

 Tim: I suppose you can't get a spare part?
 

 nick: hmm, maybe... I think I need to do a bit of research.
I was thinking I wouldn't mind some that are a bit more colourful too: I can report that there is a lot of grey/black stuff in the hedges and verges along the route to work and all of it is not my panniers.
 

 Tim: Ortlieb.com says 5 year warranty.
 

 nick: Good call! I sent a mail to their customer service address.
 

 nick: blimey, that was quick: Hello Nick,
thank you for your eMail.

We are really sorry that you are facing problems with one of our products.
We already transfered your request to our local Distributor. Lyon Equipment will contact you as soon as possible.

With best regards

 

 nick: Ortlieb dealer is sending me some replacement hooks! thanks Tim
 

 Steve: Worst band name in the world. Probably Nick only, up for Snarky Puppy Brixton Academy 5/5? Check out Youtube, then get distracted with a Yes 75 concert with Moraz like I did yesterday.
 

 nick: re: snarky puppy - maybe, I'll come back to you. I see Mogwai are playing there in December. I think they were quite loud when we saw them at RFH?
 

 nick: watching a bit of snarky puppy on youtube, sounds like tony's sort of thing too
 

 nick: Tony says "yes please" so I guess that means me as well - can you get two tickets for us please Steve (assuming you're going)?
 

 Steve: Yes I'll look into it.
Yeah Mogwai was loud.
 

 nick: Thanks Steve. I don't mind buying the tickets if it makes things easier - let me know
 

 Steve: Paul can visit to save fees.
 

 nick: Free course on Learn to Code Electronic Music Tools with Javascript might be interesting. You can pay extra if you want a certificate, but you can do the course for free. I get a load of mails about these sort of course and lots of them sound interesting but you have to put aside time to do them which I've never managed. Perhaps if I paid for one there'd be more of an incentive!
 

 Steve: Oh boy, it was worth it for the version of Ghosts he did.
And the rest was excellent.

For D's benefit, what are your plans for your visit? How many, and are you staying overnight Sunday?
 

 nick: Steve, I think it will be two of us (Lesley and me) and I think we are planning on staying Sunday night
 

 Tim: Sounds like you mean Easter (unless Nick's got another visit lined up)... just me, and if staying the night is on the cards I'll try and do that, just have to check out the trains later.
 

 Steve: Yes Easter, great thanks, I will pass it on. Cadge a lift?
 

 nick: I have this on CD, maybe others do too? So perhaps something Tim might like to go to?
 

 nick: the link didn't seem to work - here is another go

 

 Tim: Yes, that looks interesting. Maybe even Tina would go.
Coincidentally I've been thinking of getting this:
https://www.discogs.com/Max-Richter-Sleep/release/7845100
 

 Tim: Ooh, preview just worked too.
 

 nick: Went to GMOs will kill us all last night - was quite interesting although I guess pretty much everyone there was sympathetic to the arguments of the speaker so the questions maybe weren't as challenging as they could have been.

Things I learned
- there are no commercial seeds with the "terminator gene" (i.e. the thing that prevents the crops from reproducing, forcing you to buy more seeds from the manufacturer every year), and there's a moratorium on research into this

- the monarch butterfly population has been severely affected by use of GMOs - in that they have GMO crops which are weedkiller-resistant, allowing them to use weedkillers, which kills off the weeds which monarch butterflies eat. However, if they *didn't* have these crops, they'd probably be trying to kill the weeds in some other way, so it's a bit misleading to say "GMOs kill butterflies"

- lots of scare stories (he cited several, and showed lots of newspaper headlines about tumours in rats and damaged stomachs in pigs) are based on *very* dodgy reports which lack scientific credibility. He says he's talked to people on protest marches who hold up these pictures of rats with tumours, who don't realise the pics came from a single flawed study (where even rats that didn't eat the GMOs got tumours)

- Greenpeace (and to a lesser extent the Green party) are fiercely opposed to GMOS (I don't think I knew that)

- GMOs can be used well or badly but there is a huge amount of legislation/checks on GMO research

- Contrasted opposition to GMOs with lack of opposition to other things we've done - e.g. "atomic gardening" (I'd never heard of this) where they stick a radioactive lump of something in the middle of a field, and then plant crops around it - the ones near the middle die, the ones further out don't do well, and further out still you might get useful mutations. This was big in the '50s, and is how we got red grapefruit.
 

 Steve: I'm not around for that gig. Nice venue.
 

 Tim: Well, Tina's up for it so I'll book. Do you want a ticket Nick? Any extras?
 

 nick: Yes if you're going I'd like a ticket please. only need one ticket.
 

 Steve: Just realised we are down there aren't we Tim? Have you booked, if not two please.
 

 nick: What??? I didn't know Steve was coming to Hampshire this month?
 

 Tim: I booked three tickets and then while we were out in Winchester it occurred to me that it was the Friday before Mayday, and the Bachinis should be kipping down on their way to the IOW then. So thanks for confirming that coincidence. The next two seats along were available so I've booked those too now.

 

 nick: That's the weekend of the randonnee I should have realised that Steve and Deborah would be doing it
 

 Steve: Great Tim thanks. Probably not cycling it in one go.
 

 Steve: Nick, I now have the 3 Snarky Puppy tickets at £32 each. I forgot the other day we have that in the queue.
 

 nick: Thanks Steve, I paid you £64
 

 Steve: Thanks. Despite Paul going to the venue, they still added some stuff on to the price, but not the full whack of an agent it seems.
 

 nick: I saw the guy who invented/designed the TR-808 died last week. The price of second-hand TR808s on eBay is pretty steep (~£3000) but who needs one when you can have one in a web page?
 

 Tim: Looks nice, I'll give it a spin later.
But, he was a bit more important than that: the founder of Roland Corp.
 

 Steve: Watch that mixer value go up and up...

Someone has tried to offer one on eBay from Japan for £100 inc P&P and not sold it. Can't see any other history. So I'm not chucking it yet.

If we can have a reasonably early Sunday lunch when you visit, there is this to do in the PM: Henry Moore Studios & Gardens
 

 nick: Has Tim still got the SH-101 and the TB-303? They must be worth a fortune now. And what about that Korg drum machine thing?
 

 Tim: The Moore looks a great idea. There are trains (of sorts) so I'm good to go.

The TB-303 went many years ago, SH-101 definitely still around, and I think there's something Korgy in the garage.
 

 Tim: Forgot to ask: so what's our target arrival time?
 

 Steve: D says we can eat in the evening, so I would say set off no later than 1PM.
 

 Tim: That mixer is a museum piece: http://www.rolandmuseum.de/rec_mix.php
 

 Steve: I did visit Fopp in case they had a deal on the Richter thing, not big on classical so they only had the compilation one. And I managed to come out without buying anything, although got a few things a couple of weeks ago. They had a KScope section.
...I have bought far too much mediocre stuff recently (as a crappy Harald GroBkopf track comes into my ears and reminds me).
LSO Live Beethoven still going strong, not sure how they have done it, but every symphony I try sounds exciting. Need to try their Haitink Alpine Symphony which also has rave reviews. An excuse to go to the Barbican.
 

 Tim: Thanks for checking.

Surfing around I've somehow stumbled on this amazon listing for it, that I haven't found before when searching normally. Looks a bit of a bargain, maybe because they aren't selling any? I'll give it a go, if the wrong thing turns up (e.g. the compilation) I'll send it back.
 

 Steve: Yeah when I looked, it seemed mostly out of stock or £50.
I have to say I don't quite get it: "I listened/slept through the full 8 hour live broadcast on BBC Radio 3". Keep the bathwater shallow?...
 

 Tim: I'm not sure I get it either, but I'll give it ago.
The Barbican have a performance coming up:http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=21027. Luckily it was sold out when I first spotted it.
 

 Steve: Tim, did you Buy Low?
 

 Tim: Yes! 75p above the dotted line though, damn.
 

 Steve: Great, looks like you ruined it for everyone else though :)
 

 nick: After being unlucky with my last foray into female-written SF I was up the other night and couldn't sleep, and came across mention of a book that's been shortlisted for some prizes so got that for my Kindle. In the cold light of day I'm not really sure why I did this, but the premise sounds moderately interesting so I'll let you know how it goes
 

 Tim: On the grounds that I should read more SF, I randomly bought a book by Stephen Baxter (viz. Time). Fairly unremarkable so far, but it's early days.
 

 Steve: About time: Yes finally reach the Hall of Fame
 

 Tim: About time indeed.

Meanwhile, Max Richter Sleep turned up and sounds pretty impressive. (Of course I've only heard a bit.)

So, er, it includes a bluray version with 24 bit blah khz blah, anyone happen to know how to rip that?
 

 Steve: I've ripped live DVDs using PC software but who has Blu-ray drive in their PC?
Although looking on the Naim forum they seem to have managed it with DVD Audio Extractor which I think I used.
And that will be some huge file, but I guess the point it to play it all in one go, which you can't do with physical media.
 

 Tim: Well, I think ripping the CDs should give me 31 tracks I could play continuously if I really wanted. Seems fairly unlikely.

The attraction of the bluray (if any) was the "Hi Fidelity Pure Audio" spec, which may/not make any audible difference and/or may/not survive transmission through the pi/dac anyway.
 

 Tim: Forgot to mention, the only bluray player I've got is PS3.
 

 nick: I'd always assumed that Blu-ray was designed to be more difficult to copy, but I suppose there'll be something that does it. Maybe the PS3 hardware (and that on your forthcoming PS4) won't be very amenable to copying though
 

 Tim: But would 24 bit blah khz blah come out of the PS3 hdmi?
 

 nick: Doesn't the HDMI on the PS3 do HDCP?
 

 Tim: OK, so I couldn't get output to the Pi, and anyway the Pi HDMI is output only, bah.
 

 nick: looks like you can get an external Blu-ray drive for about £60?
 

 Tim: Not a great bargain, for a bloke with 1 disc.

 

 Steve: Does anyone want to take Nick's turntable back this weekend? Can't see I will ever use it and Tim's next for it I believe? Although I guess not much good without disks.

Wonder if I can rip my DVD audio such as Genesis, never considered it before. I had just ripped live DVDs.
 

 Tim: Yes, DVD-A worked for me. No rush on the turntable :-)
 

 Tim: Hang on, it might not have been DVD-A, just audio on a DVD. Which is probably what you're on about anyway.
 

 nick: Big Wheel 25(!) routes published. And I've not done any planning at all for a road trip this year.
 

 Tim: Most of those routes look a bit long.

'Planning' for Sunday, is it any good if I ETA Luton 12:00?
 

 nick: did you want a lift, Tim?
 

 Tim: That has its attractions, especially if there's an advantage in getting up there earlier... what are your plans, any idea?
 

 nick: Nothing definite, just "We're in Luton from Sunday to Monday". So if there's an ETA of noon in Luton, we could aim for that. Steve, any preferences?
 

 Steve: 12 is doable, if we're going to that thing need to leave by 1.
I am a bit worried as they previewed its re-opening on R4 the other day. But it's in the middle of nowhere and roomy.
Or we can go for a local walk and faff around.

I'll pass on the Big Wheel. I did 100k the other day but was pretty spent.
Can't get in the bike cage at work. Good job I checked, they changed the lock recently (for the same one) and my key doesn't work. Been waiting over a week for a new one.
 

 Steve: Just got the new Barbieri album, couldn't see it on the night. Very good. Heard a bit on the Prog podcast that swung it.
 

 Tim: The ETA was based on slooow trains, I can be at BSK 9:42 or 10:42 if there's a lift going?
 

 nick: 10:42 sounds good we'll be at BSK then. That should get us to Luton by 12
 

 Tim: Great, thanks, saves me an hour.
 

 Steve: Another option for Orbital: Birmingham festival Interestingly HIA on the same day.
 

 Tim: Oh dear: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/guitar-pioneer-allan-holdsworth-dies/
 

 nick: oh, that is a shame :-( Glad I got to see him play. I'll put on Metal Fatigue today
 

 Tim: On the other hand, Portsmouth secured promotion yesterday (thanks to a couple of goals from an ex-Hampton and Richmond player.)
 

 nick: Also, we talked yesterday about a weekend with the Bachinis in Hampshire and 9-11 June seems likely. Get that date in your calendar Tim!
I see Titchfield Festival Theatre are doing "Entertaining Mr Sloane" that weekend, which might be OK
 

 Tim: Sounds doable.
 

 Tim: We can celebrate the election result (as usual).
 

 nick: Guardian saying that lots of people see this as a second referendum: vote for May if you want Brexit, or someone else (Liberals? I think they're opposed) otherwise. I wonder what the Green party will say? They were pretty strongly opposed to Brexit
 

 Steve: Oh flip, and another election, I'm going to live in a cave.
 

 nick: I think it's possible there won't be an election, I think she has to get a majority of the House of Commons to vote in favour, so presumably if Labour all voted against it, they wouldn't have one. I believe Labour's official position has been "we'd vote for an early election". But then May's position before today was "not going to happen" so who knows.
 

 Steve: As discussed, UK population chart
 

 nick: thanks Steve.
 

 Tim:  And here's one that goes back a bit further!
 

 Tim: I've booked next Friday off, ready for whatever in the afternoon and Richter etc. in the evening. Nick, no idea if this affects what you want to do that day at all.
 

 Steve: OK great, well done.
 

 nick: ok thanks - I didn't have any specific plans for the Friday other than the concert but taking the day off sounds possible
 

 Steve: The Encore play we are going to is here: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern
Often on a Sunday afternoon which is pretty convenient.
 

 nick: Hmm, I checked and both our local cinemas are showing R+G are dead, tomorrow evening! They don't have listings that go as far as May 21 so I don't know whether that suggests tomorrow is the only chance I get. I had assumed it was a live broadcast thing so would be on the same time everywhere.
 

 Steve: Not sure I've ever seen one live, they are all "Encore" at Dunstable.
Makes me want to hire the theatre to show a film of my choice (which you can do), but you'd need a lot of people to make it worth it I guess. And how would you choose the film?
 

 Tim: Bit of a coincidence, but I notice that R+G is on "live" at Eastleigh (The Point) tomorrow, only.
 

 nick: I had a look round and it's on at a lot of places tomorrow at 7pm so I'm guessing that's a live performance. Do you fancy it then Tim?
 

 Tim: Yes it's a live performance, and, er, not really thanks.
 

 nick: How many can you get right in the apostrophe challenge? I got 7/10 but I think one of them is ambiguously worded so doesn't count
 

 Steve: 8 but don't agree with it.
 

 Tim: 9/10, bum.
 

 Tim: I brought the 1-Bit Symphony into work, mainly just to show a couple of people. A few people have had a bit of a listen. Not for very long though.
 

 Steve: Your geek status just improved then. And somehow the video I took on my phone disappeared or never started, so my status has gone correspondingly downwards.
 

 Tim: Kraftwerk releasing live Catalogue in bewildering set of formats.
 

 Steve: Hmm I see what you mean. Not bad prices. Problem is you'd have to put up with the awful stuff that fills their albums as well as the good stuff. Even if it is in 3-D.

Just been listening to The Joshua Tree on LP and it sounds pretty good. So mainly they have been cocking up CD transfers over the years, not the actual recordings. The Unforgettable Fire doesn't sound as crisp though so far.
 

 Tim: Plans for Friday anyone?

I've got the day off, so there's nothing critical about it. But I've got a few things to sort out and meal/s to organise so it would be handy to have any sort of ETAs. Doesn't matter how vague though.
 

 Steve: Not leaving Luton until at least 11AM I think.
 

 Tim: Great, that's a good start thanks.

Nick?
 

 nick: still no plans - perhaps I'll take the afternoon off work. Are you thinking of catering before the concert? In which case I could get down for tea
 

 Tim: I assume so, one way or another. Even though it's an earlyish do I can't imagine Steve lasting out until after.
 

 Steve: Hmm I did 2 days of diet already this week. Sorry about that!
But bound to scoff on the way down.
 

 Tim: Well, I guess there is the opportunity of Afternoon Tea, and scoff after the music, if anyone prefers.
 

 nick: I'm planning to take the afternoon off tomorrow, get to Tim's say between 4 & 5? Don't mind what happens about food.

I expect to do Randonnee on Sunday but I need to do it quick because I'm going to see Steve Hackett in Reading on Sunday evening. A couple of years ago I got the 7am ferry for an 8am start, and finished at 1:30pm, so it is do-able
 

 Tim: OK great.
 

 Steve: I just booked the car ferry having looked at the weather and temperatures.
This article is very nice: klaus-schulzes-mirage-at-40-an-electronic-milestone/

Actually I played the LP side Spielglocken last night. Wow.
 

 nick: Hmm weather on Sunday doesn't look brilliant, and may be a bit of a headwind on the southern part of the course
 

 Tim: Good plan with the car, I expect. Which crossing are you on?
 

 Tim: ? Wind is from the SE, no?

If so then mostly a problem at the start, Cowes to Bembridge, I'm thinking.
 

 nick: I get the ferry from Southampton to Cowes. Randonnee is clockwise so you're right, it's the top right bit that'll be harder. It says rain starts about 4pm but I should have finished by then
 

 nick: Ferry prices seem higher every year, standard is £17.20 return for me as a foot passenger.
Or £14.00 with a train ticket/railcard from Hedge End. Is that what we did before? I can't remember
 

 Steve: Yes but a nearer station, so might get it nearer £12?
 

 Tim: Millbrook is the station nearest to Southampton (presumably you don't actually want to catch a train).
 

 nick: oh yes, £12.40 with railcard from Milbrook. It feels a bit wrong doing that somehow but I suppose it's legal
 

 Tim: Train from MIC no use? Just thinking of saving the planet and that.
 

 Steve: Red Funnel makes £5M a year :) And BR gets some money for nothing, what's not to like?
 

 Tim: I just read back up the thread and you said 7am ferry, so no.
 

 Steve: Seems a faff to me.
 

 nick: new post (I think we're going to reach the limit on this one soon)