not telling

A ppropos of a previous commen,here is an anusing cartoon I found:

The rub is that memory and learning aren't the same at all when someone uses AI to produce an assignment or essay (and there is proof that over 90% use it in some recent examples). Critical thinking is never learned. At all. And this is a disease infecting many millions and billions worldwide. More people rely on AI in daily life than we want to understand-- no matter what the consequences--iand t's incredibly depressing. For scientists AI is amazing (they aren't using google) because it can synthesize a whole lot of information instantly. But that's not all people are doing. They're having the damn thing think for them. Doom! Pretty much. Might as well be amused when the AI result is hilariously wrong.

AI will lie and hurt humans to protect itself. It's already dangerous. I watch a lot of Steven Bartlett interviews and he interviews a lot of AI doomsdayers Probably just realists. Grok is the only one I trust at al (uncensored)l, and I don't trust much. All of that said... Videos made and posted without human imput tend to be almost this bad. This one is next level delightfully heinous and i am so happy to share the joy. Im not sure if a trickster human was behind it or not. Ha! I knew you would like it! Hahaha! Most understated darkly hilarious comment.

Come on...the hacksaw? The soundpost? The bandsaw? The scroll? The tap tones? How could anyone even choose a favorite part? I can't. Of all of the truly fascinating and inspiring luthiery videos Ive seen this is obviously not one of them, fine. It's unredeemable AI slop that some community is in a potable water shortage to make possible. Violadamore, destroyer of levity, you're right. It's AI. Oh well. Someone else is going to find this hilarious. It gets crazier the more you get into the video. I gotta laugh sometimes, and this was amazing.

Well, yeah. That's what makes it great.

I found this incredible, very real video of authentic Cremonese methods in action. I know many of you will be edified by this succinct and complete step-by-step approach to classical violin luthiery as well, and benefit from the tutorial in expert tool handling. You're welcome, of course. What is your favorite part?

Fwiw, and I think it is worth a lot, I was in contact with Mile Molnar privately for months about this material's correct preparation with and without alcohol, and its effects. He did some tests with it and confirmed that the hardness of spruce is significantly affected. A lot. I'm not sure why we never posted publicly about that, but we didn't, although i never asked him if he wanted to. It was his set of experiments. Well, now he won't possibly be offended if I bring it up and I think it's certainly very important to let people know. It is a wood treatment with definite purpose and effects. That's all I can say. Does it make spruce better tonally? I can't say. But it's not inert when it dries, and I think he would probably be ok with everyone knowing. It's probably no surprise to anyone that it does something.

That's essentially what I do. I let it dry completely before cutting and soaking sections and drying them flat, then usually the smooth side gets double backed with tape. If you don't back it with something it just kind of falls apart when you try to use it.

I can send you some next time I make it, or i can just send the plant. Been meaning to get some more and I'm about to get a week straight of rain days so I'll have time to hike to where I get it. You'll have to pm me your address again though.

My husband was close with Amos and the news of his passing last weekend was a total shock. The day my husband met Amos in 2002, before Catalin knew who he was, he asked if Amos had ever competed. Amos answered, "I used to do some of that. I don't anymore." No mention of his Hors Concours status, no mention of being a world-renowned workmanship judge for decades. That was so him. He was a very positive and kind man, and such understated, humble, and expert answers were always available whenever he was needed--whether about workmanship, stylistic questions, or discussing the trade in general. He was an amazing mentor, generous with advice and information,being about as helpful as anyone could be. We are very grateful that he was local to us. I'm sure anyone who knew him also was very fond of him. Some posters on here also worked with him closely over the years. I would like to hear your Amos stories. I would possibly like to print up some memories from his colleagues for his family.

The game show we all need. I know this is old but it was new to me. How does the kid know so much? This isn't like the last video I posted, this is actually really fun to watch, I promise. https://youtu.be/VrCR5fR699c?si=A45YqNoqOCyYCoxn

Yeah, it's changed around here. And why is it fashionable to pick on my boy Edgar Russ? Even the advertising bots are doing it.

So...Tarisio as a sales organization benefitted from the higher priced sale and the in-house evaluation being of a genuine Bernardel... but no other experts thus far have agreed with the assessment they gave you? That stinks. The reasons for this are mysterious, but a little thought experiment I like to call Cui Bono might help you decide what to do next. We all play this game every day. Simply pretend you are looking at this situation from the perspective of all involved. Ask who benefits. That's it. As for your perspective, you may benefit from seeking legal counsel before you do much of anything else, particularly if you are out of the 20-day contractual window for refund. Either way you could probably ask for their list of experts and get those opinions as well, just for your own peace of mind.

Haha! Torbjörn is so right! But everyone was into it for a long time. So all of the information you could ever hope for on the Carleen Hutchins stuff is out in the world in the public domain. You'll probably have to watch a lot of hours of youtube videos to find anything useful. Those who have shared the best information and methods have likely enjoyed long, successful careers. I imagine besides being motivated by altruism and love of the craft such contributors are confident enough that even a pro (let alone a novice) can't do the same thing they have done any better, that they have in many cases been extremely generous with detailed information. Look for those who have nothing to sell you and nothing to hide (avoid the ones who say you can pay them to know the real secrets of Stradivari, eg). There are a lot of ideas to explore on how to match plates and graduate optimally. So, have fun sorting out the best ones. Also, again, don't do the tap-tone stuff. You can tune a plate, but once that tuned plate is glued to something else, it's something else. Everyone seems to have decided that collectively a few years ago.

Really? Most experts believe there would be an adverse effect on the wood, but to each their own. Clearly you are beyond the experimental phase. Also, thanks to VdA for posting probably the best burnisher on the planet. It's a stocking stuffer if it gets here in time.