Starting today, I’m going to keep my Screen Scroller software updated on this site, in case it can be useful to anyone.

Don’t know what the Screen Scroller is? Visit the project page.

Somebody recently asked me what I do for a hobby. Well, if you discount playing piano or producing music, and making coffee, there isn’t much time left for me to do much else. However, before the Christmas break I resolved to begin a real hobby project during my time off. (Incidentally, “resolved” is used here in the truest sense of the word, as I do not believe in using a significant but arbitrary time measurement milestone to prompt a lifestyle change.)

You see, I had been reading online about various different hobby electronics projects. My interest in all audio related things caused my interest to be piqued at the idea of building a headphone amplifier. More specifically, a CMoy headphone amplifier, based on the excellent circuit published by a guy by the name of Chu Moy at Headwize. In actual fact, the tutorial and schematic I’m using comes from Tangent.

The rest of this fixation will simply journal my first electronics experience for a while and provide a description of the Australian distributors and construction methods I used. If that sounds interesting to you, read on.

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The fair reader of this minor journal would already know that, in the past at least, I have actively and openly despised Starbucks for their drinks, which more closely resemble buckets of frothy milk than fine espresso-based beverages.

However, my perception of Starbucks has changed dramatically now that I see their efforts to debunk an activist video posted on YouTube by Oxfam. It appears that, in posting this video, Oxfam overreacted violently to ill-informed hype-mongering. I am incredibly impressed at the taste and tact of Starbucks’ official video reaction, published as a video response to that original movie directly.

Good on you Starbucks, mostly for being relevant, cutting-edge and tasteful with your PR. I’ll be sure to drop in for a questionable-quality espresso-based milk bucket next time I’m in the area.

I have just come into the possession of some Shure E4 earphones. My, they’re good. Read on for more reviewy goodness.

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I am very glad that this year’s lead up to Christmas has been less hectic and more reflective than the years in my most recent memory. Winding down to a festive season is quite enjoyable, even if that season is perpetuated by the consumerism of the free market machine.