Amy's Blog

While some employees of Klipsch-Hope are pulling for the Saints this Sunday, headquarters remains fully lodged in Colts Country.  We officially would like to extend our best wishes for luck to the men in blue.

As a side note, I'd like to thank the employees who actually followed my bizarre request to head outside in the middle of a snow storm for this picture.  It turned out pretty cool, despite a third of you wimping out on me.

c.1976

Palladium P-17B speakers in natural finish being used as center surrounds in the Palladium 7.2 theater room.  Mmmm.  

I got a Kindle for Christmas.  Santa was good to me.  I finished my first e-novel last week, and decided I am now a "proficient user" with the authority to write something about it on this weird cyberspace thing. But I can't decide if I want to write about the Kindle or the novel itself.  Ok, I'll do both.  Livin' on the edge today.

First, the e-reader.  I have the smaller version.  Fits in my purse.  Ease of Use:  A+.  I was up and reading within minutes after charging. The book selection is plentiful, with many classics offered for free - books I've always wanted to read but have never gotten around to.  And now I can take my entire library wherever I go.  There is no eye strain beyond that of "normal" paperback reading, and my pages will never get old and make me sneeze.  And the screen shots as the Kindle sleeps are a nice touch (see: Harriet Beecher Stowe in the photo below).  

The e-novel is Duma Key -- a recent release by Stephen King (I discovered Carrie at 13, and have read 40 of his books since...you could say I'm a fan).  It had the chills found masterpieces such as The Shining, and is as well-written as any.  But what I love about the past decade of King is the stories have become less about supernatural terror and more about every day terror. The darkness that comes from relationships, divorce, children, life-altering accidents, loss of love, loss of dignity - and in the case of Duma Key, the loss of limbs.  This new slant on fear can be traced to King's own brush with death in 1999, which has elevated his writing to a new and scarier place. 

But for anyone who reads King as religiously as I do knows he is not concerned with simply frightening us.  He also has an uncanny knack for provoking thought.  I consistenly uncover nuggets of wisdom in his stories... lines that aren't there simply to move the story along, but ones that take on a meaning all to themselves:

"...when memory takes its strongest hold, our own bodies become ghosts, haunting us with the gestures of our younger selves."

I love it.

I've learned a lot about rainbow blob things in the past year.  I saw this one as I was pulling into the parking lot today.  I'm sure I looked foolish climbing the side steps away from our building at 9 am in 20 degree weather, but clearly I don't care. 

After consulting with the internet, I've concluded it is a parhelion, commonly known as Sun Dog.  Could this mean spring is close at hand?  I believe it does.  47 days away, to be exact.  But who's counting?

Ok, me.

Quiet at Klipsch today.  Almost too quiet.  Nothing a little Use Your Illusion II can't cure.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog of nonsense to announce the latest product from Klipsch Group, Inc... The highly refined, completely awesome, Image X10i <insert applause here>!

I've had this box sitting at my desk for a few days now, and I'm honestly not sure who put it there or why... but I can bet they've been looking for it . 

Especially if you're a fan of the opera.

I love the line "the better the speaker the worse it sounds."  Read page 6 to find out why we would say such a thing.

This year is for dad.

GO COLTS!

I have no idea what possessed Don to get this hoodie, but I have to get one for trick-or-treating this year. The Jason Voorhees version is catching my twisted fancy. 

We're a strange bunch.

It cannot be disputed that Paul W. Klipsch left an impressive legacy.  The fact that thousands of people have been able to earn a living because of his ambitions, not to mention the millions who have enjoyed Klipsch-sound, is remarkable all by itself.  He added to the quality and richness of our lives through his innovations and brilliance, and added flavor to this largely drab world with his quirks and eccentricities.

Me? Well, I'm swiftly approaching my 40th birthday, which makes me pause to wonder what I will leave behind - besides this ever-growing archive of nonsense.  While I don't know the answer to that, I do know that my hairstyle will never leave as much of an impression as this one has. 

(What, did you think I was going to get all deep on you?)

Have you ever looked up at the clock thinking it was maybe 10am and realizing it's almost time to go home?  I love when that happens.  Trippy.

So I will part today, on this most random of days, with an abstract painting by Steven, age 4.  I think it might be a portrait of Dwight the Missing Duck. 

Every quarter Klipsch recognizes an outstanding employee for a job well done, after being initially nominated by co-workers. This first quarter, the award belongs to Chris, executive assistant to Sales (pictured here with Fred Klipsch). 

I can't think of anyone more deserving, especially considering the ragtag team she is charged with assisting Every. Single. Day.

Congrats, Chris!

I love when kids of co-workers stop by for a visit.  It makes me realize the people I see in the same context day-in and day-out actually might have lives outside of my own, and my day-in and day-out might not just be some weird dream I'm having.  Or personal reality TV show, Truman-style.  But I digress.

This cutie belongs to Matt, one of our brilliant graphic artists and movie-bloggers.  He and his wife are currently expecting baby #2, also a girl, due on Groundhog Day.  Before the gender determination, it was decided by Matt's immediate cube-neighbors (including yours truly) that if the baby was indeed born on February 2nd, he must be named Phil.  Phil...middle name Conners.  Bing!  Because we're just that clever. 

So I convinced my good buddy Mark to take up blogging, although it didn't really take that much.  He has embraced it with great enthusiasm already.  You'll hear from him on a wide-variety of topics ranging from his duties here in product development to music, movies, and electronics in general. 

Read his blog here, and don't be shy.  He loves when people leave comments.   Especially when they bring up Professor Demo.