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Hi-Fi Corner: It’s the wood that makes it good — Introducing the Min7 Wireless Speaker

min7 wooden wireless speaker gorgeous
Image used with permission by copyright holder
We know Newman was talking about Kenny Rogers Roasters when he quoted the now-defunct chicken chain’s marketing tagline in an episode of Seinfeld, but it seems a much more suitable expression for the Min7, a gorgeous wireless speaker that we hope is as rich in sound quality as it is in aesthetic.

The focus of an already-funded Kickstarter project by startup Minfort, the Min7 differentiates itself among the din of competition as a striking, yet classic, work of art. It’s not just a pretty box, though. Based on the published specs, the Min7 has all the trappings of a seriously powerful music maker.

The Min7 produces sound using a stereo pair of 1-inch silk dome tweeters paired with 4-inch paper cone midrange drivers, all supported by a 5.25-inch subwoofer for solid bass performance down to an impressive 45Hz. Driving the speakers is a 150-watt amplifier — plenty of juice for big, robust sound.

The speaker also offers an impressive array of connection options, including Bluetooth (of course!), Airplay and DLNA playback via Wi-Fi, 3.5mm analog, and three hardwired digital options: USB, Optical, and Coaxial.

We expect the Min7 to retail for $800 once it is in wide production, but Kickstarter backers can secure one for $550, and that includes a choice of three finishes —  Teak, Walnut, and Oak — each bearing its own distinctive appeal. If you’re quick, you could possibly still get in on an early bird option priced at $500.

Related: Check out the best-sounding $50 in-ear headphones we’ve heard yet

Minfort had a rather modest funding goal — its $15,000 goal was fulfilled long ago, and at the time of this writing, had exceeded $86,000.  The campaign should wrap up in May, with the first products slated to ship to backers in July. As is always the case, Kickstarter products are a bit of a gamble because not all project creators anticipate the various challenges that lay ahead, so participate at your own risk.

With that said, the Min7 looks like one of those speakers worth taking a chance on. And if it sounds anywhere near as good as it looks, owners will be very pleased, indeed.

How long should you let new cigars rest in a humidor?
Cigar humidor

Looking at those beautiful, oily cigars you've just unboxed or unwrapped, the calling to light up is real. I get it. I always want to smoke my cigars right away, too. But you shouldn't. Mail day is always exciting after you've ordered a slew of new cigars. When they arrive, the real fun begins. You'll probably need to organize your humidor to make the new sticks fit or arrange them for optimal humidification. As you're handling them, it's difficult to resist the temptation to crack open the cellophane or boxes and smoke one right away. While you can do that in most cases, I would recommend against it. Depending on where those cigars came from, where you live, and how they traveled, they might need a little time to rest in a humidor. They'll need to replenish some humidity and moisture or dry out a little.
How long should you let your new cigars rest?

When you put cigars in a humidor, especially one that's filled, they'll soak up and release humidity over time until they reach the average RH (relative humidity) that you have set inside your humidor. If you have a device like a that does this automatically, it will produce moisture and humidity to keep the levels optimal. You can also achieve the same thing with in smaller humidors, which release and soak up the humidity to match the levels on the label. Boveda packs come in a range of RH levels, from the low to mid-60s to the mid-70s.

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The 11 best Kevin Costner movies, ranked
He has a full resume of films, but if you're a Costner fan, then you must see these movies
Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves

An all-American, blue-collar working man turned Hollywood essential, Kevin Costner has lived a life full of experience and dreams that some can only imagine. Starting out as a small kid -- 5'2" at high school graduation -- who moved around a lot, Costner was fond of things like poetry, writing, and singing in his Baptist choir. Outside of the arts, he was also very interested in sports of all kinds, which is reflected in his film career to this day. Also a man of the outdoors, Costner built his own canoe at 18 and paddled it through sections where Lewis and Clark ventured. Fun facts aside, Costner had a full and interesting life before the world got to know him as the charming and eloquent movie man we know him to be today.
From his past life, accomplishments, and hobbies, Costner was fully prepared to write, direct, and act for the screen as he fulfilled yet another lifelong dream. A man who was once called "The King of the Sports Movie," Costner has been able to act in films of a subject matter near and dear to his heart that became the films he is best known for. And that doesn’t include his many other successful movies having to do with politics, crime, and romance that also make for some of his best roles. Luckily, we’re here to talk about all of those films at once as we celebrate the man who has accomplished more in one lifetime than some could in many. Here are the best Kevin Costner movies of all time.

11. Open Range (2003)

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The best Quentin Tarantino movies, ranked – Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and more
If you haven't seen these films at least one time, you need to ... and then watch them again and again
Scene from Pulp Fiction, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson

Of all the contemporary film auteurs, perhaps no one’s work has permeated pop culture as thoroughly as Quentin Tarantino's. This director’s hyper-stylized, retro fantasy worlds have come to define cinematic coolness. His clever mashups of genres, exquisite sense of aesthetics, impeccable editing, uproarious suspensefulness, and impossibly quippy dialogue have been endlessly imitated.
Given the current political landscape, Tarantino’s work has undergone a serious critical re-evaluation from Black and feminist critics and scholars who point toward both his allegedly abusive behaviors and the offensive politics and rhetoric of his films. It’s true that in this new light, for many, there may be nothing redeemable about his entire oeuvre. 
However, to discard all Quentin Tarantino movies would discount the impossible talent of his frequent collaborators and stars, such as Sally Menke (who edited all of Tarantino’s movies until her death in 2010), Uma Thurman (who not only played the protagonist of Tarantino’s most iconic movies but was also credited as a co-writer on Kill Bill), Samuel L. Jackson (a frequent Tarantino star), and many more.
With that in mind, here’s our (subjective!) ranking of the greatest directed Quentin Tarantino movies of all time.

9. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)

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