virtually

Virtually
$17.98
I love Soft Machine. This live recording from 1971 is one of the last gigs with Robert Wyatt in the band, and it is a beauty. It is especially interesting to me because this CD has the only live recording(s) of Teeth (SM4), All White (SM5 and Pigling Bland (I believe SM5), Kings and Queens (SM4, 5 or 6). plus several songs that were never recorded in the studio [ Neo-Caliban Grides, Eammon Andrews]. The playing in general shows The Soft Machine at the top of their game.
Robert does more of his vocal improv on this recording than on Noisette. He does this in two sections: one is a really very different scat style for him and really plays well into the mood of the recording.

But the most notable piece for me on this CD is actually the opening cut of Hugh Hopper's Facelift.
The previous reviewer is correct on how Robert's departure from the band made them less extraordinary, however I personally do not think they ever sounded like the typical fusion band of the 1970's era. Heck, they created it in a way! They have always maintained the Soft Machine signature sound. This is the quartet version of the band; I personally like Cuneiform's making of Noisette better because there were 7 band members with the addition of the horn & reed players and the septet was Ratledge's dream band. But they are different records. Both are superb spins!

Freud 99-011 Quadra- Cut 1-5/8-Inch Diameter Classical Bold Table Top Router Bit with 1/2-Inch Shank
$76.20
Bought this bit to put a decorative edging on a mahogoney library table that I was building. The bit did a fantastic job and the table top turned out beautiful. There were no burn marks on the piece and the surface quality was such that I did not have to sand the profile.

Motive Products Power Bleeder-Magnum Adapters to fit virtually any car or truck with quick-disconnect couplings and larger 4 quart tank
$99.95
Works much better than pedal pumping but I made a mess before getting the flat plate adapter adjusted to seal on the master cylinder. That's common to all pressure bleeders I've used. I wanted a bladder type bleeder because air and moisture don't come in contact with the brake fluid and the fluid can be stored in them. But it's hard to justify the price as an occasional home user. You have to get over the fact that it looks like your garden sprayer and see it as a very good garden sprayer that will make brake work less tedious. This unit does what it's supposed to do and although the fluid must be dumped out if storing it it's a good alternative to the higher priced bladder setups. It came with adapters to fit my 98 Lincoln, 96 Chevy, 88 Mazda, 92 Ford, 93 Toyota, and 95 Eagle. I haven't tried it out on the 72 John Deere yet. Good quality materials and clear instructions that would have prevented the mess if I had read them. A shut off valve would be nice and I think I will add one to mine. The only way to depressurize the brake system is to unscrew the tank lid/pump. Not a big deal. The tank size is over kill for a home user but the extra adapters are worth it.
By the way. My chemical resistant plastic garden sprayer cost about the same.

Bose Virtually Invisible��� 191 speakers
$298.00
I recently installed the Bose 191 speakers in a new basement finish, and have finally had a chance to test them. The clarity of the speakers on the higher end is very good, but what is immedately noticable is the rich bass that fills the room. I am not an audiophile, but I am picky about what I hear, and for what I intend for these speakers they are perfect. This will be a game room with the speakers wall mounted. For my initial test, I turned on Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" (a song by which any good speaker system should be judged) and made it nice and loud. Passed with flying colors!