You’re Telling Me?

Thinking Out Loud w/Friends # 198 – Join your host Jan Landy and his amazingly knowledgeable panel of friends for an entertaining robust discussion offering opinions on current events and life in general.

Good For A Few Laughs And More Satisfying Than Seeing A Therapist while sharing your opinions and learning about what is happening in our world and how it affects us.

Join the panel and offer your opinion with us on Zoom every Wednesday at 5 PM  – Pacific (UTC-7)/ 8 PM EDT

Meeting summary for Thinking Out Loud w/Friends (03/07/2024)
Quick recap
The team had a diverse discussion, starting with their personal experiences and preferences. They talked about a new crime technique in Los Angeles affecting Wi-Fi connectivity. The conversation then shifted to personal stories, with Jan and others sharing their experiences living in Santa Barbara, California. The group also touched upon the significant changes in Santa Barbara over the past few decades. The discussion concluded with a light-hearted conversation about a local graveyard offering a stunning view of the ocean.
Summary
Personal Stories and Crime Techniques in Santa Barbara
The team had a diverse discussion, starting with their personal experiences and preferences. They talked about a new crime technique in Los Angeles affecting Wi-Fi connectivity. The conversation then shifted to personal stories, with Jan and others sharing their experiences living in Santa Barbara, California. The group also touched upon the significant changes in Santa Barbara over the past few decades. The discussion concluded with a light-hearted conversation about a local graveyard offering a stunning view of the ocean. The group also shared stories about concerts they had attended and the environmental impact of oil platforms.
Audio Console and Connectivity Issues Discussed
The team had a detailed discussion about audio consoles, particularly the X series and M series. Bruce and Chris expressed their dislike due to software navigation issues and the need to use a laptop alongside. However, David defended these consoles, highlighting their ubiquity and useful features. The conversation also touched on connectivity issues with Sahara’s consoles, which has been non-functional for three years, revealing that Sahara had closed several years ago. The team also discussed the price difference between Midas and Bearinger boards, concluding that there was no significant price difference. The team also discussed the Sonic View task cam, questioning its unorthodox features, and learned that it had 24 inputs and outputs, three 7-inch screens, and was priced under $10,000.
Product, Tech, and Sports Discussions
The team discussed their experiences with various products and technologies. Jan showed a new battery tester and wished for a similar tool for testing button batteries. The conversation shifted to the PM48 monitor mix box and its Ethernet cable, with Gregory bringing it up. The team also discussed the use of SBL meters and their experiences with them. The conversation then moved to the financial success of Live Nation and other companies, with a focus on the video streaming industry. The team also discussed the potential of a technology that allows a paralyzed man to control a computer cursor with his mind. The conversation concluded with a discussion about Lebron James becoming the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, with sports expert Tina Finley joining the team to discuss this achievement.
Unionization, Finance, and Apple Products
Jan initiated a discussion about Duke University students voting for unionization, expressing concern about the implications for students and the potential impact on their education. The conversation also touched on financial issues, with Jan bringing up the case of Wayne Lapier, who was found guilty of defrauding NRA members, and the wealth of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. The discussion concluded with a brief discussion on the status of Apple’s stock. Christopher, Jan, Bruce, and David then shared their experiences with Apple products, expressing reluctance to upgrade to the latest iPhone models due to the lack of new, useful features, and uncertainty about the utility of the advanced camera. They also discussed the purchase of a Westwood theater by a group of filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg and Bradley Cooper. The group concluded that the theater might survive if the owners did not concern themselves with its financial performance.
Snow, Weather, and Real Estate Trends
The team, including Jan, David, Christopher, and Bruce, had a conversation about snow conditions at David’s Tahoe house. They shared personal experiences and compared notes on heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions. The conversation shifted to changing weather patterns, with a focus on wildfires in Texas and heavy snow in Tahoe. Towards the end of the discussion, they touched upon the impact of Covid and remote working trends on the real estate market, particularly in Tahoe.
Scam Calls and Texts: Team Shares Experiences
The team, including Jan, Christopher, Bruce, and David, discussed their experiences with scam calls and texts, particularly from corporations interested in buying their homes. They expressed frustration and concern over these scams, with Jan suggesting that these corporations often hide their true intentions. The conversation also touched on the use of voice recordings and the dangers of responding to certain texts. Bruce shared his personal experience of receiving a scam text about an overdue property payment during a trip, warning the team about similar scams. The conversation also took a humorous turn when Jan admitted to falling for telemarketing scams in the past.
Reminiscing, Aging, Fashion, Cars, and Musk: Group Discussion
The group reminisced about Sheldon’s role in the Werewolves band and associated companies, and his retirement and hobbies. They also shared their respective ages, with David revealing that he is the oldest. The conversation then shifted to a casual discussion about personal style and attire, with Eddie’s fashion choices being a particular focus. The topic of Birkenstocks was brought up, with David disclosing that he used to own a pair. The group also discussed their experiences with cars, with Ken revealing that he owns several BMWs and a Kia Stinger GT2. The conversation revolved around car brand rankings and ratings, with Ken praising the advanced features and affordable pricing of Kia and Genesis cars. Jan revealed that she is reluctant to support Elon Musk.
Wealth, Luxury, and Housing Correction
The team discussed wealth and luxury cars in Bangkok, with Jan highlighting its presence despite poor roads. Ken shared an article about the wealth required to be a one percenter in different countries. The conversation shifted to the perception of wealth, with Jan suggesting it’s more than just a dollar amount. David and Ken pointed out that a million dollars doesn’t make one rich in LA, where a median-priced house costs around $600,000. The discussion concluded with Christopher noting a potential housing correction due to everyone wanting to buy houses. The team also discussed Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to build a new city, the recent passing of notable personalities, and wayne’s recent performance in Carathool with a band called Wobbly Woop.
Telecommunication Services Discussion
The team had a robust discussion about various telecommunication services. David expressed his satisfaction with AppleCare. Jan shared news about Netflix discontinuing Apple Pay due to high commission, and also discussed her experiences with various internet services, including T-Mobile and Cox. She also highlighted the widespread use of cellular Wi-Fi in Thailand. Jan then presented a $6/month plan offering unlimited telephone, internet, and texting services. Chris shared his positive experience with Google Fi, and Jan mentioned T-Mobile’s Global 15 plus plan offering unlimited calling and texting worldwide. The discussion also touched upon the legality of spoofing caller IDs, and the international capabilities of various services. The team concluded with a light-hearted conversation about potential price hikes.
Friendly Conversation and Future Plans
The meeting was a relaxed conversation among friends, with Jan starting off by sharing a gift she had received. The group also discussed future plans for a show, mentioning that it would be part of a panel next week. The conversation then shifted to Barry Manilow, with wayne expressing his admiration for the artist. The discussion ended with David mentioning an upcoming trip to Aruba for a cruise. They also talked about the upcoming Hotel California Cruise, with a focus on Seventies Romantic Rock and roll Groups.
Trucking Laws, Audio Mixing Consoles, and Personal Anecdotes
The team had a varied discussion about trucking laws in Australia, the sizes of trucks in Australia and America, and a horse race in Carathool. The conversation then shifted to audio mixing consoles, with wayne, Ken, and David discussing the costs and qualities of different options. wayne shared his preference for the Allen & Heath SQ5 and M32, while Ken suggested the Avantis as a cost-effective option. The discussion ended without a clear decision due to the uncertainty about the cost of purchasing a mixing console. The team also shared personal anecdotes and experiences about places they’ve visited or lived in. Towards the end of the meeting, David mentioned a three-week trip he had planned.

Music, Humor, and Discoveries: The team discussed various topics, including switches and a super busy individual who enjoys building things. They also shared updates about a potato joke and found Paul Mccartney’s bass used to record classic Beatle tunes. The conversation then shifted to cover bands, with SoundBroker-Jan sharing his experience of seeing a cover band in Thailand. Ken told a story about Billy Joel hiring a lead singer from a Long Island cover band to do sound checks for him. The team also shared stories about musicians discovered through YouTube videos.

Jan Landy Thinking Out Loud