[QUOTE=Nick;399411]In the Netherlands of course!
[URL]http://www.themask.nl/Oranje-Muts-Kip[/URL][/QUOTE]

I was going to suggest he raise Rhode Island Reds, a good dual purpose bird that is basically orange :D

[QUOTE=Mark Rose;399413]I was going to suggest he raise Rhode Island Reds, a good dual purpose bird that is basically orange :D[/QUOTE]
I really envy our avian cousins, having not one purpose in life but two!

[QUOTE=only_human;399407]And this a happy day?[/QUOTE]Yes. It means the little bastards can no longer crap everywhere and destroy everything within reach.

Chucks are friendly and amusing little beasties which provide fresh eggs but they're also completely incontinent and very destructive.

[QUOTE=xilman;399464]Yes. It means the little bastards can no longer crap everywhere and destroy everything within reach.

Chucks are friendly and amusing little beasties which provide fresh eggs but they're also completely incontinent and very destructive.[/QUOTE]

Have you considered ducks instead? They're less destructive.

[QUOTE=Mark Rose;399465]Have you considered ducks instead? They're less destructive.[/QUOTE]True, but even messier and we'd have to provide them with swimming facilities.

[QUOTE=xilman;399486]True, but even messier and we'd have to provide them with swimming facilities.[/QUOTE]

But - to continue the Gitmo analogy - they can stand a lot more waterboarding.

(I really quack myself up sometimes).

New Instrument
 

Yesterday, I received a new [URL="http://www.akaipro.com/product/ewi-5000#overview"]Akai EWI5000[/URL]. EWI stands for Electronic Wind Instrument. For a couple of decades I have played a Yamaha WX-11, which is a wind controller. That is, it allows expressive control of a synthesizer via MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).

The new "horn" is itself a sample-based synth, though it can also control external modules and software synthesizers via USB or MIDI. It also has built-in wireless stereo audio. Basically, all you need to carry with you is the horn and its ciggy pack sized receiver, if there is something to plug into where you are going. My other setup, with the Yamaha controller, involves a 4-rack-unit synth, which is big, heavy, and has sharp corners.

The horn charges its lithium ion battery through USB, and can also have settings changed and saved, via software, in the 100 sound User bank. There is also a 100 sound read-only Preset bank.

There is a definite learning curve. Where the Yamaha keys actuate switches to change notes, the Akai keys are electrical contacts which don't move. You keep your thumbs on a couple of grounding plates to complete the circuit. I'm starting to get the hang of it, though.

The other learning curve involves the vastly greater complexity of the instrument, with a matching, deeply nested menu system. There are many button pushes to learn.

Still, I am really psyched to get this thing, any initial frustrations aside. :smile:

[QUOTE=kladner;399592]Yesterday, I received a new [URL="http://www.akaipro.com/product/ewi-5000#overview"]Akai EWI5000[/URL]. EWI stands for Electronic Wind Instrument. For a couple of decades I have played a Yamaha WX-11, which is a wind controller. That is, it allows expressive control of a synthesizer via MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).[/QUOTE]
As a fellow oboist (who sadly lost all skills but not the love for music), I salute you! :toot:

[QUOTE=Batalov;399596]As a fellow oboist (who sadly lost all skills but not the love for music), I salute you! :toot:[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I still have a clarinet which I once could play, but acoustic instruments require much more wind and lip than I am willing to maintain. This horn allows you to set different fingerings, too, including one which emulates a brass instrument with valves, as well as oboe-, sax-, and flute-like settings.

[QUOTE=kladner;399592]There is a definite learning curve.[/QUOTE]
I don't envy your neighbors... :razz:

[QUOTE=LaurV;399609]I don't envy your neighbors... :razz:[/QUOTE]

It's got a headphone jack. But seriously, folks, electronic instruments have volume controls. The neighbors should be glad I don't have a real (human powered) alto sax.