It is sobering that in this high-tech world where even your washing machine is computerized, an unknown event for one person can take down an entire community that evolved over a lengthy period of time.

I talked to my audiophile friend. He doesn't do $1,500 home stereo systems, but here's what he said....

• Just go to Best Buy and see what they have from Yamaha or Denon in your price range.
• Make sure the receiver has the right inputs to match the output of your keyboard. Many of the newer receivers don't have old-style inputs.
• If you can find actual specs for the system you are buying, make sure the electrical output of your keyboard is compatible with the input of the receiver. (It is probably OK. Just try to check.)

I'll ask my audiophile buddy later tonight. Of course, he spends $1,500 on speaker cables.....

I wind up playing the Eb parts in a couple of groups. I have a Getzen Eterna D/Eb trumpet that I used to use. Later I broke down and bought an Eb Yamaha Neo cornet. The Yamaha is better and more consistent. But I'm getting too old to cover those Eb parts these days. It seems like the higher horns should logically give you some extra range for free. Not so. Eb is a LOT more work and a completely different experience, no matter what horn you use.

• Martin Committee. Probably needs all of the felt, cork, and rubber bits replaced.
• View from the 2,450 SF house. Too much space taken up with work-from-home offices to have a trumpet room.

@kehaulani Jet-Tone "Symphony C" for me, although it is stamped just "Jet-Tone C." I think it is a little smaller than the 3C and definitely has a more rounded rim. I used to use a Bach 10.5C when I wanted a smaller mouthpiece, but the 10.5C also has a very flat rim, similar to the 3C.

So, here's a thought...... Jet-Tone. Yeah, I know the current ones are reproductions and some people are obsessed with the originals. However, I started struggling more with the 3C as I get older. (Limited endurance.) I had bought one of the new Jet-Tone "C" (or "Symphony C") models several years ago but never used it much. I tried it again, and it now seems to be the best option for me. The more rounded rim--which I used to not like--now gives me better endurance and several other benefits. It's just a thought and it's only $75.

I used to live down the street from William S. Burroughs (the "beat" writer). He was a notorious long-term heroin addict. One of my friends was his housekeeper. She said he had more laxatives stashed in that house than all of the Walgreen's in town combined.

@administrator You still have the problem of 00:00 hours.

@j-jericho Before daylight savings time, people just adopted a "summer schedule" or "double summer schedule." In the former, they scheduled everything an hour earlier. In the latter, they scheduled everything hours earlier. Leave the clocks alone. Just change the schedule.

@j-jericho When I worked for one of the railroads, nothing ever happened at either noon or midnight. Everything happened at either 11:59 or 12:01 just to avoid confusion of the whole 12:00 am/pm thing.