Author: Mark Alexander

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As My Friend John Says…

…someone has a out-of-control coke habit if they think they’re gonna get anywhere near that much money for that.

(Okay, it is on the “rare” side, but mint, still-in-the-original-packaging players of this model typically sell for only $100-300.

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16 Years

Sixteen years ago, after reading each other’s blogs and exchanging emails for weeks, this guy agreed to meet me for coffee at Starbucks.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Happy anniversary, my Love!

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I Don’t Know What to Think of This One…

THIS RETRO OPEN-FRONT CD PLAYER ALSO HAS AN AMBIENT LAMP, FM RADIO, AND BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

They say history always repeats itself. Vinyls are making a comeback right now, which means in a few years cassettes and CDs will make a resurgence all over again, and when compact discs do enter the mainstream, you’re going to be glad you had this cute CD player from Semetor. Spotted on the floor at IFA 2024, the K8 is a playfully retro CD player that embraces the design aesthetic of European appliances in the 50s. Designed with an open top that allows the CD to sit on its platter like a vinyl on a gramophone, the K8 comes with a few translucent typewriter-inspired buttons that let you control music playback. But wait, it’s 2024, and just being a CD player obviously won’t cut it… which is why the K8 also has an FM radio, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless speaker, and even an ambient lamp built into its adorable design.

Designer: Semetor

The K8 isn’t a cutting-edge CD player… but it’s cute. It has the adorable demeanor of one of lofree‘s older products, with its retro aesthetic that’s brought about by its rounded form and use of pastel shades. What instantly grabs your eye first is the open-top CD player. While most players usually conceal the CD within a casing, this one does not. You see the CD spin as you play music, and the disc’s radial spectral finish looks absolutely gorgeous.

Playback is easy. For running a CD, just hit the CD button on the panel, and use the controls below to play/pause, or skip tracks. A BT/FM button lets you toggle the Bluetooth player or FM radio. Backlights in the button glow to let you know which mode you’re in, and a seven-segment LCD screen on the bottom allows you to see things like track number (for CDs) or radio station (for FM). A gold-plated ‘gear’ on the right side lets you switch on or off the K8.

If all that wasn’t enough, the K8 also packs a warm glow-light for ambient lighting. Hit the button on the top right and a halo around the CD player lights up. It isn’t enough to light a room, but it does bestow a warm wash of golden light in the immediate vicinity, perfect for late-night listening. Pair it with a nice soft jazz CD and you’re absolutely set!

[Source]

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141 Calendar Days

Every organization has them. Ten to Twelve people who generate 90% of the tickets…because they’re fucking self-entitled idiots who seem to think everything revolves around them and the entire enterprise will grind to a halt if they’re not serviced RIGHT NOW.

Can you tell this is one of my in-office days?

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Nugget

Sony D-EJ011

I will readily admit I prefer the sound of Sony’s early, all-metal portable CD players, but there’s an elegant simplicity of the later, plastic models that can’t be denied.

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