Week Fifty-One Highlander NO MORE
Talk Audio is a seriously wondrous place. And the folks behind the running and moderating of the site are all kinda exceptional. I recall being given the chance to make the magazine on here, some time back, when the CMS or Content Management System was like the music policy at Bob’s Country Bunker. I could publish ‘˜news’ OR ‘˜reviews’. The power and speed of what we have now is both the cunning software and the fabled hardware ordnance that is being applied to it at the data centre. And the success and scale is all down to a King Solomon like justice and even-handed-ness of judgement of forum issues and making sure that people are just nice to each other, by the management. Quite unlike the atmosphere on many other forums.
So a huge thank you to the team behind Talk Audio. And of course to you lot for reading and joining in.
And there is some really cool news. Many of you will already be aware, but there are some car audio-related Facebook groups gaining traction out there. One is a page called Budget Boomers, started by Chris Cunliffe. I think he’s been a bit startled by just how challenging it can be to run a community page at times but it is well loved by those who tend to hang out there.
Likewise, the Audio Boyz, which is run by an employee of one of my favourite outfits, Huets The In-Car Specialists in Hove, actually. Their thing is about ‘Putting The Fun Back Into Car Audio!’ Now, I know that the particular ‘˜F’ word is one that some have never let go of. Chris Bennett of Celsus who distribute Dynamat and JL Audio has always been solid about why he loves this stuff. And fun was it. I of course am always entirely serious, sober-minded and controlled.
But apart from Fast Car and their ICE coverage, I have felt a bit like The Highlander out of that movie. Not for wanting to kill ‘˜em all and be the only one, but for feeling a little like I had. Like that poor sod of a tortoise called Lonesome George. He was the last of the Pinta subspecies of Galapagos Tortoises and before his death in June last year, he was the last of his kind. So NEW car audio things a’ building is brilliant! I would rather be a part of a movement, than a frigging tortoise with no one to love. So, go find them and tell them when you join that the Fat Man sencha!
Chris Cunliffe of Budget Boomers said, when quizzed, ‘It’s not the veterans I’m looking for to join up, it’s the newbies. The ones who are just looking to have fun! The trophy winners of tomorrow!’ and when asked, Julian Edwards, Huets web factotum and bloke behind the Audio Boyz, added, ‘I’m surprised about the phone call! It was all started off as a way of showing off the talents of the guys that build car audio systems. It’s for the guys who spend all their time doing it!’
And the Digital Radio UK Conference was noted for a distinct lack of bacon rolls although we did get a legendary BBC coffee and I got my picture taken with Simon Mayo. Nick Higham took the shot for me!
Adam Rayner On Line Editor