Ask the Bear & Badger - The Bear and Badger

halfgone

Moot_Geeza wrote:

2K off for cash then, them's the rules.

This x 2! I say that but it's the wife who is absolutely legendary at haggling. He should give you the price of a drink also.!

poprock

hylian_elf wrote:

That is why I'm so glad that banks (or HSBC at least) introduced account checker, which I've only seen on HSBC for about a year or so now. You declare whether you think you're paying a business account or not, put in account name etc and the bank give you warnings like "account name doesn't (quite) match" or "is not a business account" etc.

Yep. If that had existed sooner we wouldn’t have been swindled.

davyK

So I'm going to digitise my CD collection. I still like physical media but I like the looks of something like the Brennan.

I want it to be able to work with a traditional amp and speakers but open to alternatives.

Has anyone done this or have any ideas? Any experience of the Brennan?

I'm looking to streamline my audio system down to turntable, amp and digital CD store. The CDs will go into archive out of sight. I also have a DAB/Web radio appliance which will bluetooth to phone for streaming though something like a Brennan may do that as well.

poprock

I did it ages ago, but without buying any specialist piece of kit like the Brennan. Just ripped every CD into iTunes on a Mac mini which lives under the TV. Early on, I had that connected to a nice amplifier and set of speakers - but now I have Sonos speakers around the house instead. Much simpler.

davyK

yeah - I had done some with iTunes myself a while back (and synched it with my iPod - that's how long ago it was!!). It is impressive how it all just works.

Like the idea of a nice neat appliance though. Want to avoid operating systems with their propensity to fuck up and demand being upgraded etc. Does iTunes work on Windows any more?

LivDiv

Yeah iTunes is fine with Windows, I did some ripping with it last year.
I generally use Spotify but needed to rip tracks from CDs to use for mixing before I found a Spotify ripper app.

Yossarian

My amp works with AirPlay and ChromeCast or whatever it’s called. I keep all my music on an iPad and just stream it to the amp. I find the iPad interface for music to be far more preferable for dealing with my music collection to anything else I’ve ever used.

davyK

Might be worth looking at. I have a spare PC doing nothing at the minute but I'd need to get a new wifi card and big hard drive for it.

Or I could not fuck about with that and just get a box.

davyK

Oh dear Lord this is a rabbit hole. There's a Naim box but it's 2 effing grand's worth.

poprock

Check out the Linn boxes too. Crikey etc.

Spoiler:

davyK

Bonkers. The Brennan with the largest capacity is just under £600 and it can stream different music to different Sonos speakers throughout the house at the same time. Nice. You can play stored music as you rip. It comes with its own speakers for another £100. (I can also hook it up to my existing amp) Has web radio,Spotify and podcast support and can stream from a phone using bluetooth. On device, browser or phone UI. Reviews seem fine. Tempted.

Djornson

What is the advantage of those units over using Audacity https://www.audacityteam.org/ to rip everything to FLAC + MP3? You can then play those FLAC/MP3's on whatever you want, the fancy box just to rip CD's seems superflous to me, put it towards speakers instead!

poprock

The fancy box is a dedicated music computer/host. As in, you don’t need a PC or Mac you just need the fancy music box.

The Daddy

The Brennan does seem a pretty cool option. I had all my music ripped to FLAC on my pc, which Sonos indexed and accessed as long as my pc was on. Worked pretty well until the great multi-hdd failure of 2021. I have the rips backed up on my nas but sonos will only access that if I drop the nas smb level to v1, which is apparently not a very good idea.

Djornson

poprock wrote:

The fancy box is a dedicated music computer/host. As in, you don’t need a PC or Mac you just need the fancy music box.

I think there is probably more cost effective options but maybe i am assumming cost is a problem!

PC is unlimited in terms of storage right? Can these things be expanded?

Funkstain

I use a nas with my Sonos system, it works well. Cheap nas even with SSD (for instant access, nice when you want to listen to music) will be cheaper than another box, Brennan or otherwise, but mileage may vary I guess

poprock

I absolutely dig the simplicity of a one-box system, and would have gone for something like that if I were switching to digital now, rather than having already switched years ago.

Get a nice music box that looks like a CD player. Pop a CD in and press a button to rip it into your library. Play music by spinning a big chunky knob on the front to control an iPod-like menu system. Or, if you prefer, control it from a phone app. Dead simple. No computer to use. No monitor/screen. It just works.

Unlikely

I've been tempted by one of these things for a while, but apparently E thinks Metallica is "rediclious" so I've held off as I'm guessing Carcass will be "even more rediclious" and I'll have to carry on listening to the fucking Macarena for the rest of my life.

Kow

Try Cannibal Corpse. Everyone likes Cannibal Corpse.

Escape

@tin_robot — what's the procedure for requesting a blood test from the NHS? Might be easier to just pay for one online?

I'd like to know my testosterone level, plus CBC for possible anaemia/iron. Anything that links to low energy levels, basically. Be nice to find a fixable reason for why I sometimes get lightheaded riding and driving down steep hills nowadays. On that big initial dip it feels as if my consciousness is being left behind above my head; not fun.

GooberTheHat

Speak to your GP about having low energy, and they will probably recommend a blood test. I just ha one for the same reason.

They test cholesterol, testosterone, blood count, iron levels, vitamin d, urates and lots more. Also, if you're close to 40 they would probably be happy to check just as a check up even without the low energy.

Best thing to do though is speak to the GP and explain your symptoms, rather than go in asking specifically for a blood test. Mention a blood test if they don't suggest one at the end of the consultation but don't go in there saying you want one.

You want to not have low energy, and you would like to find what's causing that, let the GP decide what's the best course of action to achieve those outcomes (tip, it's probably going to include a blood test).

P.S. there was something in the news recently about a shortage of test tubes (thanks Brexit) that was causing a delay in blood tests, and only the most serious issues were being dealt with. Not sure if that's been resolved yet.

GooberTheHat

Also, that dizziness sounds a bit like vertigo, do you get it any other times?

JMW

Yeah, no non-urgent blood tests for the time being, try in a month.

pantyfire

If you mention you get lightheaded when driving. Don’t say hooning down hills at the park, I’m sure they will test you pretty quickly.

Also check your blood pressure. Might be low or high, wotevs.

hylian_elf

Escape wrote:

@tin_robot — what's the procedure for requesting a blood test from the NHS? Might be easier to just pay for one online? I'd like to know my testosterone level, plus CBC for possible anaemia/iron. Anything that links to low energy levels, basically. Be nice to find a fixable reason for why I sometimes get lightheaded riding and driving down steep hills nowadays. On that big initial dip it feels as if my consciousness is being left behind above my head; not fun.

I've had testosterone checked by my GP on NHS - I was having sleep and mood issues earlier in the year and thought I'd get it checked. They didn't really measure it fully. Only total T levels which doesn't tell you the whole story. And said it was fine just because I was just within the normal range.

I went private, can't remember how much it cost, and they measured SBG, free test, and other stuff. Had a chat with an expert and it turns out I have been cutting out too much essential fats from my diet and not eating enough as I was too hung up on cutting to see my abs. Feel much better since eating more and chucking in olives and avocados and nuts and seeds etc into my salads and food.

davyK

Djornson wrote:

The fancy box is a dedicated music computer/host. As in, you don’t need a PC or Mac you just need the fancy music box.

I think there is probably more cost effective options but maybe i am assumming cost is a problem! PC is unlimited in terms of storage right? Can these things be expanded?

The Brennan B2 top end model has 2TB which would hold 4000 FLAC CDs (according to the website) That would be more than enough for me, especially with its streaming options on top of that. I've worked in IT for 30 years and the love of fucking about with PCs and such has faded. I love a nice clean solution that does one thing well.

Djornson

I can understand that, it's partly why i moved from PC to Console gaming, i sit on a PC all day at work!

tin_robot

Escape wrote:

@tin_robot — what's the procedure for requesting a blood test from the NHS? Might be easier to just pay for one online? I'd like to know my testosterone level, plus CBC for possible anaemia/iron. Anything that links to low energy levels, basically. Be nice to find a fixable reason for why I sometimes get lightheaded riding and driving down steep hills nowadays. On that big initial dip it feels as if my consciousness is being left behind above my head; not fun.

Usually it's a case of asking your GP. Exactly how you do that depends on your practice (our place you ring and ask to speak to a doctor, or send an econsult - at which point I'd probably phone you any way). Explain your symptoms and your concerns - it's absolutely fine to say up front that one of the things you're thinking about is whether it's worth doing a blood test. (Always tell a GP what you're thinking, they want to know - they might not agree, but it's an infinitely more useful discussion for both parties).

The only thing I'd be wary of is sending an econsult that just says "I want these blood tests" - you'll probably still get the bloods, but you may get an overworked GP ticking a box, rather than thinking about your wider health - and thus ordering the blood but not making sure that's all that's needed.

Finally, as others have said, GPs have been banned from doing anything other than "essential or urgent" blood tests until at least 17th September due to the national blood bottle shortage. If it's not life and death we're not supposed to take blood at the moment - which is a nightmare as a lot of "life and death" stuff isn't apparent until after you've done the test. So be warned, they won't be keen to take blood for a couple of weeks (nor, in theory, will private practitioners either). Please be more patient than the guy who shouted at our receptionist and told her that there's no shortage of blood bottles, it's just that we're all "lazy arseholes" - we're all a little fried at the moment and stuff like that really doesn't help. (I know you wouldn't dream of it, I'm just blatantly using it as an excuse to get that anecdote in, as I'm still annoyed about it...)

Escape

It was reading about the shortage that reminded me! Didn't know about eConsults — might start there; cheers.

GooberTheHat wrote:

Also, that dizziness sounds a bit like vertigo, do you get it any other times?

Don't recall any, so it's minor if I do, but the odd thing...

pantyfire wrote:

If you mention you get lightheaded when driving. Don’t say hooning down hills at the park

Is that it often applies to driving when it's dull and grey, especially if it's raining and the puddles catch my lights. Everyone feels that left-behind sensation going down steep inclines, but sometimes I feel like my eyes are starting to roll and I slow right down. I think I'd probably pass out on a rollercoaster.

Re: hypotension, I think my pressure was pretty normal on my last check, and I was getting this weird gloomy-weather dizziness by then. My resting heartrate's ~50 depending on fitness.

hylian_elf wrote:

I went private, can't remember how much it cost, and they measured SBG, free test, and other stuff.

Can you remember who that was with?

Djornson

Do you have glasses? Maybe you need glasses. My vision is nearly 20/20 but i get headaches driving/using computer if don't wear anti-glare glasses. Passing out could be low blood sugar i guess. But here i am randomly guessing at things so probably best to ignore me

In terms of private healthcare my dad used these guys and said they were great https://www.bluecrestwellness.com/health-checks

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