New York April Nyc Meet-up

[Calzone]

Let's pick a Sunday.

653K followers. Go Daddy extended their contract and paid a fee because they are doing so well with "Maggie's" contribution to their campaign about recreating yourself.

On Saturday we went downtown for dinner. At the Spring Street subway one of Maggie's followers posted a video of us waiting on the platform. Kinda cute.

On Saturday I enjoyed the mild weather and went for a ride in Central Park. I did 12-13 Harlem Hill intervals. No shortage of torque on the last climb even on lap 13. My legs are begging for a bigger steeper gear. On the downhill I spin out easily and pretty much is like coasting.

Pulse and blood pressure though do not indicate aerobic fitness. Low resting pulse is only 50 BPM and blood pressure is only low/average and not UBER low (100/60).

Should be interesting when I start doing 5 hours in the saddle rides. I should be a hammer.

Cal

 

[NY_Dan]

Ah biking, schmiking - I did 80 minutes of non stop rowing in Central Park lake on Friday, 7 hours of gardening - distributing 3 cu meters of mulch on Saturday. Sunday 15 trips up and down 3 flights of extra high stairs to help my daughter move - and today suffering from Poison Ivy on my forearms from the gardening. And I have zero followers - although being paranoid, I believe I have hundreds. So there! And my BP doubles when I watch CNN. I should be a wrench.

 

[Calzone]

Ah biking, schmiking - I did 80 minutes of non stop rowing in Central Park lake on Friday, 7 hours of gardening - distributing 3 cu meters of mulch on Saturday. Sunday 15 trips up and down 3 flights of extra high stairs to help my daughter move - and today suffering from Poison Ivy on my forearms from the gardening. And I have zero followers - although being paranoid, I believe I have hundreds. So there! And my BP doubles when I watch CNN. I should be a wrench.

Dan,

I love it.

Really odd having a celeb girlfriend. Some people gush, others seem to revert to being like a 5 year old again where they can't contain themselves. I'm waiting to see someone wet their pants.

Seems like my only followers are here. I would rather have people who really know me.

Sometimes I wonder if I should call "Maggie's" followers stalkers. There surely are some crazies out there.

Pretty much I'm my gal's personal assistant and entourage.

As for danger and excitment I could always get killed just walking. Lately lots of stabbings and slashings at 125th Street on the 6 Train.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I got some insider smut from Christian on Amsterdam. Pretty much my style. Milder winters...

So I had mentioned being an "urban gypsy" and embedding myself into a city for a year at a time, but I thought it through, and the logistics of moving makes that seem not so practical.

What to do with all those guitars, amps, prints, bikes, cameras and the Jersey Barrier?

Don't tell "Maggie" but I want to keep all this gear.

Cal

 

[NY_Dan]

Keeping gear means you expect to live longer - that's a plus.

 

[Calzone]

Keeping gear means you expect to live longer - that's a plus.

Dan,

Having a long life is a new idea for me. I never thought I would live this long. I never expected to have a future.

Pretty much it is really funny because in my past I was pretty self destructive and an angry hot head. In high school I was voted "most likely to have head explode."

At the last Meet-Up we talked of Hemingway and how he was a bit crazy, but I explained his behavior of cronically facing life threatening danger again and again as a form of repeated behavior: It becomes addictive behavior.

So in reality my planning for retirement kinda began a decade ago when I downsized and moved into a one bedroom apartment in Madhattan. In this regard I'm a bit early because most do this when they retire.

They say if you don't plan a decade in advance for retirement that you really won't have one. "Maggie" who is five years older than me took 5 years to recreate herself. This transition from the frenzied life of an academic that is fraught is not so easy to break away from. Not easy to do.

I also understand why many here in the U.S. retire at 62. Pretty much they are shot and tired. I'm lucky that I have a good job for a lazy slacker like me.

Tomorrow I have to take off because my "vacation bank" is too close to full. Last Monday my boss, took off, so of course I came in late and left early. Pretty much when How-Weird is not at work it is "bonus vacation."

I pretty much believe I will live past 100. 4 decades is a long time, and I want to remain active and enjoy a good quality of life.

I hope you have a plan.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Keeping gear means you expect to live longer - that's a plus.

Dan,

Another spin is that I expect to work less and have more fun.

Fug-work.

My dad had that stubborn immigrant mentality, but now that I'm 61, I know at age 62 I will likely have the attitude of a "short-timer."

I want to be greedy and work till 66 for the money, but having been poor I already know I don't need a lot to be happy.

The problem is "woman factor." Perhaps "woman factor" is why men have shorter lifespans. LOL.

Cal

 

[NY_Dan]

Hey Cal, did Maggie walk up Ninth Ave near 35th street wearing a long black puffy jacket with hood around 10:30 am today? If so, I literally almost bumped into her while exiting a building.

 

[Calzone]

Hey Cal, did Maggie walk up Ninth Ave near 35th street wearing a long black puffy jacket with hood around 10:30 am today? If so, I literally almost bumped into her while exiting a building.

Dan,

Kinda likely. She mentioned that she has a long and busy day today.

She meets with all these people that I don't know, who she kinda expects me to know. Her life is so busy that I can't keep up with her schedule.

For instance I think she is flying out to Chicago tomorrow, I think a conference, I think maybe she is the keynote speaker, and I believe it involves being a digital influencer and might not be fashion related.

The puffy down black wrap you describe was sent by a designer or brand as a gift. If I add up the length of clothing racks imagine about 30 running feet of clothing that is hanging, and this is not counting all the clothing strewn about like on the floor I pick up or on the chase that I can't sit on.

The level of shoes is also crazy. Prada and Gucci can bury me. The entire apartment is booby trapped with clothes, shoes, bags and glasses.

My mark of poverty though says it is all hyper expensive stuff that has accumulated. Much of my apartment is pretty much a woman's closet.

You can see moving around will be no fun because of woman factor.

Did you see the Go Daddy campaign in the Herald Square subway station? I wonder if it is still up?

Cal

 

[Calzone]

About two years back "Maggie" did a TED Talk in Washington DC.

Today I got an invite from Dave at TED Mid Atlantic to join SLACK which is some collaborative workspace. If this is the Dave I'm thinking of he is one of the big guys that leads the Mid Atlantic.

Maggie is a member of the WING which is a place that supplies a shared workspace for women. In NYC they have facilities in SoHo, Williamsburg, Chelsea and soon to open in Greenpoint. They also have space in L.A., and London which when traveling she can use.

These workspaces have photo studios, podcast studios, meeting/conference rooms and smaller meeting spaces. You have to have some notoriety and be invited to join. Pretty much a private club of which I'm excluded. No men allowed.

The people that are involved with TED are amazing. Tim Cane put a positive spin on the political turmoil going on. I heard remarkable stories from remarkable people. I think I want in and I just got an invite.

So in discussion with Dan I reveal that I have had a rather reckless life. I should be dead, but somehow I have remarkable luck again and again. I'm not religious, but I do feel that there is such thing as divine intervention. No one could be as lucky as me otherwise.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The Chicago conference involves "Image Consultants" and "Maggie" is not only the keynote speaker, but she is also on some panel.

I took the opportunity to have a "sonic holiday" and did further "smoke testing" the 1960 brown Fender Super that is an odd transitional model. Previously I had another red plating episode, and I discovered a faulty 1/4 inch phone plug that is the speaker connection.

Pretty much a big no-no in tubes is to not have a load: the output tubes go into overload condition and draw too much current; and the Anodes draw so much current that they glow and turn red like filiments. This is really bad and was due to a cheap plug that likely was made in China. I can say this because I'm Chinese and it is what it is: cheap crap.

So Tuesday after work I bought a Switchcraft right angle plug at B&H (Photo related) for under $5.00.

I spent Wednesday tweaking my electric guitars and optimizing then with my treasured amp at small gig volume like a bar. How cool is that I can get away with being a noisy neighbor. Know that I have concrete floors and ceilings and that one neighbor has annoying dogs that bark all the time, and the other is a Disco Queen who thinks his appartment is Studio 54.

At the end of Wednesday afternoon the amp crackles and becomes microphonic. Oh-well no time to hit the gym now and a change of plans.

I disconnect the guitar from the input and the faults persist. I turn down the volumes, so the pre-amps can be ruled out, and the power tubes begin to red-plate so I shut the amp down.

I hook up a Digital Voltmeter to make sure I didn't loose the bias: loosing bias will cause red-plating. I use standby mode which turns on the amp without the high voltage on the plates and the bias is stable (-56 volts) but when I applied the plate voltage the bias started dropping. Meanwhile the amp is making awful cracking without any signal. I shut the amp down before toasting it further.

Use to be a thermal condition that led to red plating. Pretty much now it happens upon turning on the plate voltage. So I replace the 6L6 output tubes with a set of 5881's (6L6 equiv) and learn that evidently the output tubes got trashed by the red-plating that was due to a cheap Chinese 1/4 inch phone plug.

Moral of the story here is 75-80 percent of all electrical or electronic problems are due to bad connections.

So how is this photography related to get back on topic? This 1960 brown Fender Super is just like this baby Linhof that I bought at a bargain price of $800.00 loaded with accessories and with a 100/2.8 Zeiss Planar worth around $2K if it did not have a lens separation issue.

Pretty much I paid John at Focal Point $250.00 to have the lens separation repaired, so pretty much I got a great deal that involved some risk taking. I took a chance and won big time.

So now it seems I got down to the root of the problem with the Super amp. My vintage style Tele loves the Normal channel, and my guitars that have higher output pickups love the Vibrato channel that has another stage of gain.

Before the red plate episode I did a lot of "tube rolling" which is replacing one tube at a time to optimize the voicing. Every tube, even made by the same manufacturer, has it own voice; and in a tube amp each tube interacts with all the others.

It seems I favor Telefunkin 12AX7's and installed three of them in the pre amps and the addition second stage of gain in the Vibrato circuit. Two are "smooth plates" that to my ears are the least colored, and the "boxed or ribbed plate" seems to have a bit of bottom emphisis.

Pretty much I tuned this amp for full sound that is kinda like an acoustic piano in that it is articulate and touch sensitive. Pretty much even though a guitar, the sound that I'm trying to emulate is more like a Steinway sound in a music hall.

So how is this photo related? Although sonic like in my printing: in analog I try to make good negatives for straight printing (no burning or dodging); or in digital post processing is minimized. Also I promote detail and dynamic range. I build guitars and amps for touch sensitivity and don't use pedals or effects.

As far as social commentary I know that my focus in life is limited to very few things: biking, photography, guitars. But in today's world I see a lack of focus, shorter attention spans, and mucho distracted thinking.

"Who is living life more fully?" I ask. Yesterday I spent a day in sonic heaven playing like a little kid, but know that a vacuum tube can be looked upon as a small particle beam accelerator where electrons are controlled and modulated. Is not photography similar: controlling and modulating light?

Anyways yesterday was bliss. Kinda like the success of building a 1984 Jeep Scrambler with a Corvette engine. It is nice to finish a project. I think another project to finish will be this Ampeg Portaflex clone that is nearly kitted out.

I need to order some small parts, but in the meantime I can move further with the internal chassis layout. The Hammond caged chassis I already have the trannies and tube sockets mounted.

It makes me mad that a cheap plug destroyed a NOS set of Phillips 6L6's. BTW the Switchcraft phone plug I bought at B&H is made in the U.S. I think of what I did as destructive testing. Oh-well at least now I know I have a great amp that has been fully developed. Also not so easy trouble shooting an amp with only a DVM.

Cal

 

[Range-rover]

Nice story Cal, I'm glad you got the problem fixed. With tube amps it's just the
littlest thing's that make them go crazy guitar and the old stereo tube amps, a lot
of people tell me why bother sell it and get something new, no way I say you can
not beat the sound of these tube amps. Plus you get a added bonus when you go
to a guitar store/show of a stereo store or show the sales/ dealer look at you a bit
different when you tell them what you have and did to your set up.

 

[Calzone]

Bob,

Did some more sonic tweaking of guitars. Lots of interaction to play with between guitar and amp.

Yesterday stuck with just one guitar. I dropped the neck pickup for a smoother more balanced sound. A bit less gain, but smoother and creamier.

The old vintage tube amps have the touch sensitivity and the warmth. My old Fender 5B3 wide panel Deluxe made it seem like I was playing a sax instead of a guitar. It had this throaty growl.

To me the newer amps have to much gain and this accentuates the trebles to much. Not much "swirl" happening either to add complexity.

Tonight "Maggie" flies back from Chicago.

After work today I'm going to DSW to buy some sneakers. Sneakers only last about a month on me. I have a heavy heal strike that destroys shoes. I get $20.00 off, and generally I try to find bargains on closeouts to compound the savings. Sometimes I get shoes or sneakers for $29.00.

BTW these yellow latex covered rubberized Converse high tops that are mucho loud was one of those purchases.

Cal

 

[Range-rover]

THe 5B3 does sound so different than the newer amps it's like it's from another planet
or era!

 

[MrBern]

Sneakers

Sneakers

Cal,

I dont go to DSW much anymore.
Right above the UnionSq DSW is a Burlington with a Shoe & Sneaker section.
I find their selection can be erratic but half the price of DSW. I checked them often for both $19.99 cheapies as well as better brands like Merrell.

They regularly stock Nikes, Pumas, Adidas.


I walk about 4.5 miles a day as commute, plus my various errands. I burn thru sneakers and like the Merrels for slip resistance in the NYC drizzle.


heres a link to the website if you are curious
https://www.burlington.com/b/mens-sneakers-65051.aspx#si=2240

Bob,

After work today I'm going to DSW to buy some sneakers. Sneakers only last about a month on me. I have a heavy heal strike that destroys shoes. I get $20.00 off, and generally I try to find bargains on closeouts to compound the savings. Sometimes I get shoes or sneakers for $29.00.

BTW these yellow latex covered rubberized Converse high tops that are mucho loud was one of those purchases.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Cal,

I dont go to DSW much anymore.
Right above the UnionSq DSW is a Burlington with a Shoe & Sneaker section.
I find their selection can be erratic but half the price of DSW. I checked them often for both $19.99 cheapies as well as better brands like Merrell.

They regularly stock Nikes, Pumas, Adidas.


I walk about 4.5 miles a day as commute, plus my various errands. I burn thru sneakers and like the Merrels for slip resistance in the NYC drizzle.


heres a link to the website if you are curious
https://www.burlington.com/b/mens-sneakers-65051.aspx#si=2240

Bernard,

Thanks for the tip. I'll check them out. I love Merrells.

Last Friday I used two coupons and got two pairs of black Vans with red accents and a second pair of black laces (to tone them down) for under $64.00 for the two pair. Pretty much was like buy one pair get a second pair for free. Not a bad deal. These were in the closeout rack being blown out so my savings were compounded.

My commute is three miles each way. During the summer a new pair of sneakers might only last three weeks. I have a hard heal strike and this is where I blow holes though the soles.

Looks like Amsterdam will require saving up cash.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

THe 5B3 does sound so different than the newer amps it's like it's from another planet
or era!

Bob,

My 5B3 Deluxe had sound that had hair on it. Warm and fuzzy with thickness kinda like fur. Also I loved how it compressed when hit hard. The treble rounded off nicely.

I like grid leak bias. It made my guitars like a horn.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

LAST CALL:
Within the next few days I will be putting in an order with Kodak for a large amount of cine film. Please PM me if you want in and I'll give you the particulars. Delivery will be to Cal's cyberdoorman for security.
This is for greater NYC members.
Phil Forrest

 

[Calzone]

LAST CALL:
Within the next few days I will be putting in an order with Kodak for a large amount of cine film. Please PM me if you want in and I'll give you the particulars. Delivery will be to Cal's cyberdoorman for security.
This is for greater NYC members.
Phil Forrest

Sent from my LG-V530 using Tapatalk

Phil,

Thanks for all of this.

Kodak 5222 is an amazing old school film that is not cheap with the silver. The mucho silver provides mucho lattitude with exposure.

I like this better than Tri-X.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Money has to come from somewhere, and in a way I'm in austerity mode paying down debt. Another way to look at my finances is that with all the tax deferment that not only am I saving lots of money, while paying down debt, I'm also simulating what it is like to live on a fixed income as if in retirement. Pretty much I'm living in NYC on less cash flow and doing alright. Happy-happy.

I'm at a point that even though I could use a 35 Cron-SL and Leica is expected to release the new SL2, I'm cool with just being happy with all the gear I already own.

In fact I want to shoot more film than digital for fun.

I have 23 20% off coupons for any single item and a $5.00 off any purchase over $15.00 at Bed Bath and Beyond. I'm totally in CF mode.

Really glad I discovered a second black pair of Paul Smith jeans. I love the cut on these, it seems I did not burn through these and these two pair got saved for last because they are ill suited for the summer. I now have a big supply of Patagonia knickers that I'll be wearing to work in the summer. I took advantage of a clearance sale at Patagonia. Pretty much look like rock climbing pants.

Cal