Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Took “Maggie” for a pre-surgery (Cat-R-Act) Covid test. Lots of legwork and follow through checkups that take time. I’m glad I’m retired, otherwise I would be stressed.
My GC’s floor man came by today to look at my kitchen floor and to give me an estimate. The floor will get done after the cabinets are installed. I figured I am saving lots of money by having rescued the heart pine kitchen floor.
Tomorrow a carpenter will come by to take some measurements and to pick up the drawings from the cabinet maker so the permit process can begin. Things look like they will get pushed out to March. I’ll show him the hacked joist in the ceiling that needs to get sistered.
I went for a road run and then ducked into the woods to hike, My legs are tired from rowing so I figured I will do something else to keep the blood flowing. Basing requires an effort every day, but the relaxed feeling is like a day at the beach. I see and feel improvements every day, but it will take months…
One thing is that I think about things more, and I am less impulsive. I guess I have the time to concentrate, where in the past I didn’t. I get a chance to really think things through, and ideas get stewed.
One example was today’s goal/project. I had bought a set of Fralyn Tele pickups that are called “Blues Specials” that have a slightly higher output and thicker sound than lower powered vintage pickups, but I installed them on a rather heavy and dark sounding tele. Pretty underwhelming with no lively pop or chime.
Unplugged this guitar is great, so I do my research and discover I can raise the value of the pots to have less treble bleed off. So I brighten up these dull pickups and now they have the warmth and chime I desire. Tomorrow I will change the cap on the tone control. Thought I was smart in installing a smaller cap for more sweep, but pretty much the tone knob rolls off nothing. Pretty much I think I have to go to a stock value, even though I changed the pots from 250K to 500K. EZ-PZ.
This now is a very hot guitar. I love it.
I got some smut about my old job. The Cyclotron Engineer from the main campus got an invite to apply for my old job at the second institution. In other words they tried to poach him. I know this because TT forwarded me the invite and the job posting.
Anyways more than 6 months late. Also they are paying huge dollars for a service contract. When I was there all the maintenance and repairs were performed by me. There was no service contract.
”Ha-Ha-Ha,” I say. “Suffer…”
Cal
My GC’s floor man came by today to look at my kitchen floor and to give me an estimate. The floor will get done after the cabinets are installed. I figured I am saving lots of money by having rescued the heart pine kitchen floor.
Tomorrow a carpenter will come by to take some measurements and to pick up the drawings from the cabinet maker so the permit process can begin. Things look like they will get pushed out to March. I’ll show him the hacked joist in the ceiling that needs to get sistered.
I went for a road run and then ducked into the woods to hike, My legs are tired from rowing so I figured I will do something else to keep the blood flowing. Basing requires an effort every day, but the relaxed feeling is like a day at the beach. I see and feel improvements every day, but it will take months…
One thing is that I think about things more, and I am less impulsive. I guess I have the time to concentrate, where in the past I didn’t. I get a chance to really think things through, and ideas get stewed.
One example was today’s goal/project. I had bought a set of Fralyn Tele pickups that are called “Blues Specials” that have a slightly higher output and thicker sound than lower powered vintage pickups, but I installed them on a rather heavy and dark sounding tele. Pretty underwhelming with no lively pop or chime.
Unplugged this guitar is great, so I do my research and discover I can raise the value of the pots to have less treble bleed off. So I brighten up these dull pickups and now they have the warmth and chime I desire. Tomorrow I will change the cap on the tone control. Thought I was smart in installing a smaller cap for more sweep, but pretty much the tone knob rolls off nothing. Pretty much I think I have to go to a stock value, even though I changed the pots from 250K to 500K. EZ-PZ.
This now is a very hot guitar. I love it.
I got some smut about my old job. The Cyclotron Engineer from the main campus got an invite to apply for my old job at the second institution. In other words they tried to poach him. I know this because TT forwarded me the invite and the job posting.
Anyways more than 6 months late. Also they are paying huge dollars for a service contract. When I was there all the maintenance and repairs were performed by me. There was no service contract.
”Ha-Ha-Ha,” I say. “Suffer…”
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Yesterday had success finding a nice terra cotta tile for the kitchen powder room.
Today Jason stopped by to measure the kitchen, and to pick up some drawings for the permit application.
Evidently the process is faster for these licensed pro’s. Tho only bottleneck is the wait on the custom cabinets.
I found out the moldings will have to be replaced because we have plaster walls that are thicker than Sheetrock. The joist that was hacked is no problem. The exterior walls will get insulated and will be brought up to code. Jason says for him it is a one day job for his part.
Because of the GC’s reputation and previous experience the work gets streamlined and goes fast. This is great news.
Did some shopping at a health food store, bulking up on items to save money. Also stoped at the Audi Dealership to buy a SeaSucker bike rack. I went online and saw that with inflation the prices are more than the one I saw in the dealer showroom. I easily saved $43.00. It was the last one, if they had two I would of bought another one.
The SeaSucker uses suction cups to mount on flat surfaces. Mike the Skinny Hipster says that these are the best. They happen to be made in the U.S. Also lightweight, well designed, and best of all easy to use. Not inexpensive.
The weather here in the Hudson Valley is kinda crazy. With yesterdays storm came a 40 degree temperature drop within 10-12 hours.
This afternoon several cell phone weather advisories about a snow squal, and when they mentioned zero visibility they were not kidding. One day spring like weather and the next deep winter…
In my guitar experimenting the upgrade to 500K pots was a partial failure. Basically the tone did not roll off any frequencies, so I tried increasing the value of the cap, but this changed nothing, then I reverted back to a 250K pot and eventually a 0.047uF tone bleed cap.
The tone knob now has more sweep and the roll-off is slower, not a bad thing, but the guitar is heaven sent. What a monster, what great tone, and huge dynamics and touch sensitivity.
This is making me greedy because I have a spare Tele body, I have neck pickups, and I would have to buy a new neck. The CF in me says no because Covid shortages have inflated Warmoth neck prices greatly. Besides I’m mighty happy with what I already have.
After the kitchen gets done then the task will be for me to gut the dinning room, insulate, and put up sheet rock and partial paneling. “Maggie” uses the collective we, but that is really “me.”
Lots of “Calzone-Factor” will be going on in the back yard and the back-backyard. I have big plans on going overboard growing things. “Don’t tell anyone but I intend on transplanting some ferns under my row of white pines that will be supplied/removed/liberated from some state land nearby.
My research says this is the easy way to “propagate” ferns, and I love the cost, “free.” My white pines are only 20 feet tall, and this is short for white pines but already they have a wide canopy that shades the ground where lies a bed of pine needles and no grass grows.
I have all these False Indigo seeds I harvested from a mature plant in my yard. The blue flowers on tall stalks are very pretty, but it takes 4 years before they flower. I can imagine a huge blue swarth set on the embankment landing I created by the fence I moved.
Our friend “Apple” is a flower vender, so I likely can wholesale the False Indigo flowers every year once I establish these beds. I think I have enough seeds to establish a 6x20 foot bed. I’ll harvest again and will have another batch of seeds. Been saving these clear plastic egg cartons to start seedlings. Pretty much I can use them like a tiny greenhouse because the lids are clear plastic too.
I don’t know if I’ll have any oak seedlings. The white oak acorns started germinating early. I have them in planted in tubs in the enclosed front porch. Then I have three red oak acorns that are viable according to the float test (viable acorns sink), they haven’t germinated yet, but they are in the moist soil in a plastic zip-lock bag.
Then I have all the Japanese Red Maple mulch and poly noses where I could have hundreds of seedlings, which is what I want to grow in containers.
Anyways letting trees grow is easy work that might pay dividends, and they make great gifts. I get a thrill of seeing and noticing all the individuality between all the Japanese maples, even though they came from the same tree. Maybe I will use them as a resource to make Bonsai.
I already have this top of a birdbath that I bought for $20.00 at “House Parts” where I could creat a small mini forest of red Japanese Maples. Very crazy.
My days are mucho relaxing, but I feel more alive. I have the time to think, to wonder, and to plan…
Cal
Today Jason stopped by to measure the kitchen, and to pick up some drawings for the permit application.
Evidently the process is faster for these licensed pro’s. Tho only bottleneck is the wait on the custom cabinets.
I found out the moldings will have to be replaced because we have plaster walls that are thicker than Sheetrock. The joist that was hacked is no problem. The exterior walls will get insulated and will be brought up to code. Jason says for him it is a one day job for his part.
Because of the GC’s reputation and previous experience the work gets streamlined and goes fast. This is great news.
Did some shopping at a health food store, bulking up on items to save money. Also stoped at the Audi Dealership to buy a SeaSucker bike rack. I went online and saw that with inflation the prices are more than the one I saw in the dealer showroom. I easily saved $43.00. It was the last one, if they had two I would of bought another one.
The SeaSucker uses suction cups to mount on flat surfaces. Mike the Skinny Hipster says that these are the best. They happen to be made in the U.S. Also lightweight, well designed, and best of all easy to use. Not inexpensive.
The weather here in the Hudson Valley is kinda crazy. With yesterdays storm came a 40 degree temperature drop within 10-12 hours.
This afternoon several cell phone weather advisories about a snow squal, and when they mentioned zero visibility they were not kidding. One day spring like weather and the next deep winter…
In my guitar experimenting the upgrade to 500K pots was a partial failure. Basically the tone did not roll off any frequencies, so I tried increasing the value of the cap, but this changed nothing, then I reverted back to a 250K pot and eventually a 0.047uF tone bleed cap.
The tone knob now has more sweep and the roll-off is slower, not a bad thing, but the guitar is heaven sent. What a monster, what great tone, and huge dynamics and touch sensitivity.
This is making me greedy because I have a spare Tele body, I have neck pickups, and I would have to buy a new neck. The CF in me says no because Covid shortages have inflated Warmoth neck prices greatly. Besides I’m mighty happy with what I already have.
After the kitchen gets done then the task will be for me to gut the dinning room, insulate, and put up sheet rock and partial paneling. “Maggie” uses the collective we, but that is really “me.”
Lots of “Calzone-Factor” will be going on in the back yard and the back-backyard. I have big plans on going overboard growing things. “Don’t tell anyone but I intend on transplanting some ferns under my row of white pines that will be supplied/removed/liberated from some state land nearby.
My research says this is the easy way to “propagate” ferns, and I love the cost, “free.” My white pines are only 20 feet tall, and this is short for white pines but already they have a wide canopy that shades the ground where lies a bed of pine needles and no grass grows.
I have all these False Indigo seeds I harvested from a mature plant in my yard. The blue flowers on tall stalks are very pretty, but it takes 4 years before they flower. I can imagine a huge blue swarth set on the embankment landing I created by the fence I moved.
Our friend “Apple” is a flower vender, so I likely can wholesale the False Indigo flowers every year once I establish these beds. I think I have enough seeds to establish a 6x20 foot bed. I’ll harvest again and will have another batch of seeds. Been saving these clear plastic egg cartons to start seedlings. Pretty much I can use them like a tiny greenhouse because the lids are clear plastic too.
I don’t know if I’ll have any oak seedlings. The white oak acorns started germinating early. I have them in planted in tubs in the enclosed front porch. Then I have three red oak acorns that are viable according to the float test (viable acorns sink), they haven’t germinated yet, but they are in the moist soil in a plastic zip-lock bag.
Then I have all the Japanese Red Maple mulch and poly noses where I could have hundreds of seedlings, which is what I want to grow in containers.
Anyways letting trees grow is easy work that might pay dividends, and they make great gifts. I get a thrill of seeing and noticing all the individuality between all the Japanese maples, even though they came from the same tree. Maybe I will use them as a resource to make Bonsai.
I already have this top of a birdbath that I bought for $20.00 at “House Parts” where I could creat a small mini forest of red Japanese Maples. Very crazy.
My days are mucho relaxing, but I feel more alive. I have the time to think, to wonder, and to plan…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Snarky Joe gets his Monk-Key-ER because he is a thoughtful guy and he annoys me with the truth he speaks that often is pro-FET-ick.
I owned a 21 SEM, and I traded it in to get a the 50 Lux-“L” I needed for Maggie’s blogging. Pretty much I was a SL early adopter and I had to deal with Leica Production delays. Pretty frustrating…
So Joe said, “The 21 SEM is a lens you will likely repurchase in the future.” Anyways Snarky Joe can read me like a book and was correct as he almost all of the time is.
So also Snarky Joe brought to a camera beauty contest the most pristine Linhof 4x5 along with a crazy mint Zeus’s Planar that somehow he bought separately that had the matching serial number that matched the cam. The price he paid was also crazy great, and the idea was to make me mucho green with envy and make me crazy jealous, which he did.
I told Joe, “You suck,” because it was a complete dream kit loaded with all the accessories. The way he presented this enviable kit was to point to a OEM box so it was like opening a new camera experience, which I say was kinda mean, so Perhaps I should call Snarky Joe, Mean Snarky Joe, because it was cruel.
Anyways the kit and the presentation was dramatic: totally an amazing dream camera.
So now years later, in an inflationary time, I look at the inflation. My 50 Lux “E60” R lens is now a lens worth $5K. The Noct-Nikkor is crazy priced also, then there is the M3-DS, M4, M6…also inflated big time. The M6 is as costly as a Leica MP’s old price. How did that happen?
So the 21 SEM is not priced right for me, but I considered a vintage retro 21/3.4 Super Augulon, but these lenses are not inexpensive either, but then I learn that Edwin Putz, the Leica nerd, says the M and R versions of the Super Agulon 21/3.4 share the same optical formula. “M” versions are smaller, but also more costly, especially clean ones. Know that the “R” version more fits into my branding as a freak and hill-billy identity. In other words it will look cool and perhaps annoy people. LOL.
Know that I have a minty Canadian MD-2 that I love because I can weaponize it with a TA Rapidgrip and TA Rapidwinder, and also I still have the killer Zeiss 21 mm Viewfinder.
So I found a 21/3.4 “R” that has caps, hood, and is boxed with clean glass for $750.00 BIN on Evilbay. I should have this lens by the end of February. I already have a R-M adapter, so I can use this on the MD-2, the SL, SL2, and the SL2-MOT with mirror lock-up. I could even adapt the 21 SA to my Nikon F3P. Of course I would loose the metering on the SLR’s.
I have a high deductible heath insurance that is provided at a somewhat group rate to retirees from my hospital. I am paying the premiums as a bridge until I’m 65 and eligible for MediCare enrollment. Meanwhile I applied for a term life insurance and had a nurse come to take my vitals, draw blood, take a urine sample, and address questions required for the application process.
I got the results which is basically close to a basic checkup. I have no need for meds, even though I’m 64, and the only medical condition I have is Cold Agglutinin Disease which is asymtomatic, requires no treatment, and means I just have to limit my exposure to the cold.
So in a ways I figure close enough to a physical for me, and a clean slate of health. My BMI is 20.8, and my blood pressure 110/69. I suppose I saved a lot of money by avoiding the expense of a physical. Also it didn’t take much time to drop the blood pressure. Now I just have to rebuild my base…
Cal
BTW the 21/3.4 has a signature retro look, while the 21 SEM is mucho clean and perhaps perfect rendering, maybe too perfect…
I owned a 21 SEM, and I traded it in to get a the 50 Lux-“L” I needed for Maggie’s blogging. Pretty much I was a SL early adopter and I had to deal with Leica Production delays. Pretty frustrating…
So Joe said, “The 21 SEM is a lens you will likely repurchase in the future.” Anyways Snarky Joe can read me like a book and was correct as he almost all of the time is.
So also Snarky Joe brought to a camera beauty contest the most pristine Linhof 4x5 along with a crazy mint Zeus’s Planar that somehow he bought separately that had the matching serial number that matched the cam. The price he paid was also crazy great, and the idea was to make me mucho green with envy and make me crazy jealous, which he did.
I told Joe, “You suck,” because it was a complete dream kit loaded with all the accessories. The way he presented this enviable kit was to point to a OEM box so it was like opening a new camera experience, which I say was kinda mean, so Perhaps I should call Snarky Joe, Mean Snarky Joe, because it was cruel.
Anyways the kit and the presentation was dramatic: totally an amazing dream camera.
So now years later, in an inflationary time, I look at the inflation. My 50 Lux “E60” R lens is now a lens worth $5K. The Noct-Nikkor is crazy priced also, then there is the M3-DS, M4, M6…also inflated big time. The M6 is as costly as a Leica MP’s old price. How did that happen?
So the 21 SEM is not priced right for me, but I considered a vintage retro 21/3.4 Super Augulon, but these lenses are not inexpensive either, but then I learn that Edwin Putz, the Leica nerd, says the M and R versions of the Super Agulon 21/3.4 share the same optical formula. “M” versions are smaller, but also more costly, especially clean ones. Know that the “R” version more fits into my branding as a freak and hill-billy identity. In other words it will look cool and perhaps annoy people. LOL.
Know that I have a minty Canadian MD-2 that I love because I can weaponize it with a TA Rapidgrip and TA Rapidwinder, and also I still have the killer Zeiss 21 mm Viewfinder.
So I found a 21/3.4 “R” that has caps, hood, and is boxed with clean glass for $750.00 BIN on Evilbay. I should have this lens by the end of February. I already have a R-M adapter, so I can use this on the MD-2, the SL, SL2, and the SL2-MOT with mirror lock-up. I could even adapt the 21 SA to my Nikon F3P. Of course I would loose the metering on the SLR’s.
I have a high deductible heath insurance that is provided at a somewhat group rate to retirees from my hospital. I am paying the premiums as a bridge until I’m 65 and eligible for MediCare enrollment. Meanwhile I applied for a term life insurance and had a nurse come to take my vitals, draw blood, take a urine sample, and address questions required for the application process.
I got the results which is basically close to a basic checkup. I have no need for meds, even though I’m 64, and the only medical condition I have is Cold Agglutinin Disease which is asymtomatic, requires no treatment, and means I just have to limit my exposure to the cold.
So in a ways I figure close enough to a physical for me, and a clean slate of health. My BMI is 20.8, and my blood pressure 110/69. I suppose I saved a lot of money by avoiding the expense of a physical. Also it didn’t take much time to drop the blood pressure. Now I just have to rebuild my base…
Cal
BTW the 21/3.4 has a signature retro look, while the 21 SEM is mucho clean and perhaps perfect rendering, maybe too perfect…
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I guess sometimes when you get GAS you have to fart because of the built up pressure.
Anyways I found a great price on an ultra wide that will get used a lot, I can see becoming more rare and valuable, but presently is a bargain price. Also condition-condition- condition and with the box, hood and caps.
Happy-happy.
The black MD-2 will look might evil with this black lens also.
Cal
Anyways I found a great price on an ultra wide that will get used a lot, I can see becoming more rare and valuable, but presently is a bargain price. Also condition-condition- condition and with the box, hood and caps.
Happy-happy.
The black MD-2 will look might evil with this black lens also.
Cal
Nokton48
Veteran
Morning Cal,
Speaking of wide I put this together finally.
30 Dist 4x5 Norma Monocular Viewer by Nokton48, on Flickr
30mm Zeiss T* Distagon grafted to Norma Flat Board. No room for a shutter between the standards, Norma Standards may be made to touch, can confirm that. So front lenscap shutter stopped down to optimum stop. You see the entire image circle 180+ around including the lenshood fins intruding, which I think looks kind of cool. Easily focuses from infinity to super close. It will be interesting to see what goes on with this. Will work good for very long exposures. Fun Ahead.
Speaking of wide I put this together finally.
30 Dist 4x5 Norma Monocular Viewer by Nokton48, on Flickr30mm Zeiss T* Distagon grafted to Norma Flat Board. No room for a shutter between the standards, Norma Standards may be made to touch, can confirm that. So front lenscap shutter stopped down to optimum stop. You see the entire image circle 180+ around including the lenshood fins intruding, which I think looks kind of cool. Easily focuses from infinity to super close. It will be interesting to see what goes on with this. Will work good for very long exposures. Fun Ahead.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Devil Dan,
This is a rig that would be ideal for bulb exposures at night. I would use Acros 100 shot at box speed, and know that this film is fine grain when souped in DiaFine 5+5. The best about this combo is no reciprocy failure, and when in doubt overexpose. With DiaFine the profound compensating effect ensures you can’t blow out the highlights, and the profound compensating effect moderates contrast to the extent that you get mids.
BTW I hate-hate the autocorrect on this latest gen IPAD. It changed “Mids” to “kids.”
It also guesses words and introduces extra letters. Whis I could turn it of and be my usual ghetto butchering of the American language.
Anyways there seems to be no shortage of odd/unusual/rare gear for you. You are a detailed miner of sorts.
Anyways another one of your “Beast” cameras.
You should know that Devil Christian is responsible for an outbreak of “Linhoff Disease” in NYC. Even Mean Snarky Joe got infected.
I have spring fever real bad. I rowed for 25 minutes sustained. So far I did three sets of 50 pushups and maybe I’ll do 2-3 more sets today.
Not that I’m Kim Kar-Dash-E-AN, but my butt is getting kinda big, but it is a muscular biker’s butt that looks good on a thin guy. My legs thickened out also. I have a confused identity because I’m also getting pigeon chested. Anyways I feel like I’m a bit of a monster, almost like I’m one of your cameras. LOL.
Cal
This is a rig that would be ideal for bulb exposures at night. I would use Acros 100 shot at box speed, and know that this film is fine grain when souped in DiaFine 5+5. The best about this combo is no reciprocy failure, and when in doubt overexpose. With DiaFine the profound compensating effect ensures you can’t blow out the highlights, and the profound compensating effect moderates contrast to the extent that you get mids.
BTW I hate-hate the autocorrect on this latest gen IPAD. It changed “Mids” to “kids.”
It also guesses words and introduces extra letters. Whis I could turn it of and be my usual ghetto butchering of the American language.
Anyways there seems to be no shortage of odd/unusual/rare gear for you. You are a detailed miner of sorts.
Anyways another one of your “Beast” cameras.
You should know that Devil Christian is responsible for an outbreak of “Linhoff Disease” in NYC. Even Mean Snarky Joe got infected.
I have spring fever real bad. I rowed for 25 minutes sustained. So far I did three sets of 50 pushups and maybe I’ll do 2-3 more sets today.
Not that I’m Kim Kar-Dash-E-AN, but my butt is getting kinda big, but it is a muscular biker’s butt that looks good on a thin guy. My legs thickened out also. I have a confused identity because I’m also getting pigeon chested. Anyways I feel like I’m a bit of a monster, almost like I’m one of your cameras. LOL.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Yesterday I smelled one of our neighbors, “Mister Skunk,” must of been in my back-backyard. Today I smelled his trace near Route 9 while in my car. Must be marking territory for spring mating.
Anyways skunks like being near water, and Dickey Brook and the frog ghetto pond is just behind my next door neighbor’s property.
A setback is that the terra cotta bathroom tiles had a 50% price increase, so I cancelled the order.
”Maggie” got her second eye surgery, and now has 20/25 vision. Been doing a lot of running around taking care of all the visits and follow-ups.
The buzzed in sides have grown in enough now that they don’t look so “Ducky” and I don’t have to epoxy them into place, and can tuck the hair behind my ears now. I guess I’m trying to replicate that George Washington or Alexander Hamilton look in my doo.
This plant protein sludge that I drink mixed in double skimmed milk is beefing me out. Starting to look like a UFC fighter with the added bulk.
Vanessa our future agent sent us a kind message now that she is back in London. Papers will be coming shortly as they plan out a future marketing us out as a couple. Anyways I’m doing my part into becoming the trophy boy friend who is being optimized as a sportswear model.
Been relishing my vintage guitar amp collection. I figured out that pretty much I will begin restoring that Blackface AA165 Fender Pro Reverb amp that I found being thrown out on 90th Street and First Avenue. Already replaced the trashed speaker baffle. Pretty much will keep stock with the only mods being changing two resistors in the power supply to drop the B+ voltages on the pre-amps and driver for lower power so I can utilize a vintage pair of Jensen C12Q’s.
Understand that a pair of C10Q’s were used on the Fender Vibrolux Reverb, so in effect I’m trying to drop the power level to simulate a smaller very sought out Fender Blackface amp. The circuits are the same with my mod, the output tranny is the same, but it will be two 12’s instead of two 10’s in a bigger cabinet for a bigger sound.
Anyways I’m in tone heaven.
Cal
Anyways skunks like being near water, and Dickey Brook and the frog ghetto pond is just behind my next door neighbor’s property.
A setback is that the terra cotta bathroom tiles had a 50% price increase, so I cancelled the order.
”Maggie” got her second eye surgery, and now has 20/25 vision. Been doing a lot of running around taking care of all the visits and follow-ups.
The buzzed in sides have grown in enough now that they don’t look so “Ducky” and I don’t have to epoxy them into place, and can tuck the hair behind my ears now. I guess I’m trying to replicate that George Washington or Alexander Hamilton look in my doo.
This plant protein sludge that I drink mixed in double skimmed milk is beefing me out. Starting to look like a UFC fighter with the added bulk.
Vanessa our future agent sent us a kind message now that she is back in London. Papers will be coming shortly as they plan out a future marketing us out as a couple. Anyways I’m doing my part into becoming the trophy boy friend who is being optimized as a sportswear model.
Been relishing my vintage guitar amp collection. I figured out that pretty much I will begin restoring that Blackface AA165 Fender Pro Reverb amp that I found being thrown out on 90th Street and First Avenue. Already replaced the trashed speaker baffle. Pretty much will keep stock with the only mods being changing two resistors in the power supply to drop the B+ voltages on the pre-amps and driver for lower power so I can utilize a vintage pair of Jensen C12Q’s.
Understand that a pair of C10Q’s were used on the Fender Vibrolux Reverb, so in effect I’m trying to drop the power level to simulate a smaller very sought out Fender Blackface amp. The circuits are the same with my mod, the output tranny is the same, but it will be two 12’s instead of two 10’s in a bigger cabinet for a bigger sound.
Anyways I’m in tone heaven.
Cal
Austintatious
Well-known
It may be a neighbor, but not necessarily a real skunk. Here in Colorado marijuana has been legal for years. The stuff they grow today smells just like a skunk and is actually called "skunk weed". It is common here to smell a skunk anytime you are outside and while out driving, especially when stopped at a red light
Nokton48
Veteran
We have a family of skunks living under our shed in the backyard. One is an albino; white with a black stripe.
These are freakin' everywhere. We have a creek down in the ravine behind us, so we get all sorts of wild critters.
Kinda like having our own personal zoo; I think nothing of having a dozen deer laying down for hours in our backyard. They have to be pretty relaxed to do that. They like our back yard
These are freakin' everywhere. We have a creek down in the ravine behind us, so we get all sorts of wild critters.
Kinda like having our own personal zoo; I think nothing of having a dozen deer laying down for hours in our backyard. They have to be pretty relaxed to do that. They like our back yard
Nokton48
Veteran
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
It may be a neighbor, but not necessarily a real skunk. Here in Colorado marijuana has been legal for years. The stuff they grow today smells just like a skunk and is actually called "skunk weed". It is common here to smell a skunk anytime you are outside and while out driving, especially when stopped at a red light
Austin,
Back in the day I smoked mucho evil weed, but then I decided to grow up. I figure I was in my early 20’s when I quit.
Know that I was a grower back then and the best weed I ever smoked I actually grew. I killed the male plants and then only had females, but the females would try to grow male organs to self pollenate. Frenzied females went into sex crazed mode trying to reproduce. The result was weed that had no harshness and created an exhilarating high.
The smoke was so smooth that one friend said it was like breathing fresh air.
So even though weed is only recently legalized I would smell it all the time in the street in NYC.
Anyways what I smelled in my back-backyard was a real skunk.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Devil Dan,
Have you any wild turkeys?
I know and recognize the scuffs from a buck in my back-backyard. Pretty much my yard is for mating.
Also can’t wait for the Spring Peepers to have their orgy. I wonder do you have the stadium like roar from frogs having sex that you can hear from two blocks away? The loudness is crazy, especially since the frogs are only the size of my thumbnail.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I bought about $100.00 worth of small parts to rebuild the Blackface Pro Reverb amp I found in the trash. I already bought a footswitch for the reverb and vibrato, and a new speaker baffle to replace the butchered original one.
It was rude discovering that the old carbon composition resistors are getting scarce. I bought two 10K 2 watt carbon composition resistors of all places on EBAY, but I also bought a spare set just in case I find or get another Fender amp to retro-mod.
I wish I had the wisdom of doing the dumpster diving at the end of the Cold War at Grumman. I could of had some amp building stockpile… I really could of loaded up the truck.
Seems like building clone amps is going to get harder. Carbon Composition Resistors are part of that retro sound. I figure that vintage amps at this point will have to escalate higher in value. These resistors are said to no longer being made and all that is around now is NOS.
It will also be interesting getting a boxed 21mm 3.4 Super Augulon in “R”-mount. I think because it will be bigger than a M-mount that it should look rather evil on a Canadian black Leica MD-2 equipped with a TA Rapidgrip and TA Rapidwinder.
I could mount it on my SL2-MOT, but since it requires a mirror lock-up it is best used on the MD-2. Zeus’s VF’er of course.
I did a row today, but I think I will also throw some weights around.
Cal
It was rude discovering that the old carbon composition resistors are getting scarce. I bought two 10K 2 watt carbon composition resistors of all places on EBAY, but I also bought a spare set just in case I find or get another Fender amp to retro-mod.
I wish I had the wisdom of doing the dumpster diving at the end of the Cold War at Grumman. I could of had some amp building stockpile… I really could of loaded up the truck.
Seems like building clone amps is going to get harder. Carbon Composition Resistors are part of that retro sound. I figure that vintage amps at this point will have to escalate higher in value. These resistors are said to no longer being made and all that is around now is NOS.
It will also be interesting getting a boxed 21mm 3.4 Super Augulon in “R”-mount. I think because it will be bigger than a M-mount that it should look rather evil on a Canadian black Leica MD-2 equipped with a TA Rapidgrip and TA Rapidwinder.
I could mount it on my SL2-MOT, but since it requires a mirror lock-up it is best used on the MD-2. Zeus’s VF’er of course.
I did a row today, but I think I will also throw some weights around.
Cal
Nokton48
Veteran
Yes we have wild turkeys. A pair comes in and pecks around in the dust, they are so easily spooked by any movement. And they can move so skittery. We have toads and all sorts of creatures, but no spring peepers. I'll bet that's relaxing at night with the windows open?
Nokton48
Veteran
I use the 21mm retrofocus Rokkor on my SR-M's (and MLU) and it's one handed photography prolly not too much unlike your SL Mots. Sure would look evil on an M
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Devil Dan,
When its orgy time you kinda know it. The loudest male gets the females. Call it “Calzone-Mode.”
Frequently I see wild turkeys as a flock along the grass shoulders along parkways when driving in Northern Westchester.
In New Jersey the wild turkeys are known to attack people like the mailman in the suburbs. How crazy is that?
On NPR I heard this interesting radio program that was an interview with a zoologist, and they talked about animal behavior. What I understood and remember the most was the “orange tail guppy theory.” It seems in a tank full of guppies all the females will compete to copulate with the single male guppy with the loud bright tail and ignore all the others.
The Zoologist likened this behavior in humans to female groupies and a rock star. Pretty much the same behavior.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Devil Dan,
I love evil cameras. Mean Snarky Joe was right though, I had GAS for the 21 SEM, but the prices got out of hand. I think I will love the classic retro-rendering. The SEM was kinda too perfect, but the 21/3.4 SA has character. Of course I dress the camera out with the hood for extra evil factor.
Tomorrow a vintage vendor will be stopping at the house to pick up some of “Maggie’s” clothes, shoes, coats, and bags, about half a van’s worth is littering my parlor currently to sell.
How crazy are the inflated prices on some cameras, and some lenses. Anyways I’m glad I have a stockpile.
The only thing I think I need in the future is an 8x10. I need a big-boy.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Eye surgery is now behind us, and now all we need to do is the follow throughs. This involved Covid testing before each surgery and lots of office visits, so I’m glad that this part is over.
Now I want to concentrate on the fun stuff like the garden, biking, guitar, and fitness. Just wanted to let everyone know that regaining my base is a struggle because I have to not overtrain, I have to give particularly my legs a day off after trail running or rowing.
Meanwhile my upper body is responding well to strength training, and I can concentrate on that every day and do something.
Last week I did too much and had to rest the legs for three days. The IT band in the thigh was tight and pulling on the knee. Luckily I had a foam roller I rescued from the trash in my Manhattan wanderings.
Last night with the guitar I experienced a breakthrough in my playing, more liquid, not so stiff, and also more towards my own voice and style. Less of a blues touch with not so heavy attack, but a fuller more dynamic clean sound that is more like an acoustic piano rather than a guitar. Pretty much a bigger dynamic range, even though it involves a gentler touch.
Meanwhile my blues attack for single notes with a flat pick is somewhere in between a horn and a sax.
My playing also is more percussive with better note separation.
Anyways “pulling” these tones from a Tele indicates a certain level of skill development that took a long time to develop. Pretty much plug and play with no effects or pedals. All the tone comes from the hands using a tube amp set up for a clean, but warm sound.
Cal
Now I want to concentrate on the fun stuff like the garden, biking, guitar, and fitness. Just wanted to let everyone know that regaining my base is a struggle because I have to not overtrain, I have to give particularly my legs a day off after trail running or rowing.
Meanwhile my upper body is responding well to strength training, and I can concentrate on that every day and do something.
Last week I did too much and had to rest the legs for three days. The IT band in the thigh was tight and pulling on the knee. Luckily I had a foam roller I rescued from the trash in my Manhattan wanderings.
Last night with the guitar I experienced a breakthrough in my playing, more liquid, not so stiff, and also more towards my own voice and style. Less of a blues touch with not so heavy attack, but a fuller more dynamic clean sound that is more like an acoustic piano rather than a guitar. Pretty much a bigger dynamic range, even though it involves a gentler touch.
Meanwhile my blues attack for single notes with a flat pick is somewhere in between a horn and a sax.
My playing also is more percussive with better note separation.
Anyways “pulling” these tones from a Tele indicates a certain level of skill development that took a long time to develop. Pretty much plug and play with no effects or pedals. All the tone comes from the hands using a tube amp set up for a clean, but warm sound.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Jon Cone should win a Nobel Prize for inventing Piezoflush.
Today I went into the basement, uncovered the Epson 7800 affectionately known as “The Jersey Barrier” because it is a floor standing printer that is rather large, plugged it in, and ran a “Power Clean” to rewet the print head.
This printer has been sitting stored in Piezoflush for over a year, and if I remember correctly the last time I did this was when I moved into my new 1912 Baby-Victorian in November 2020, so well over a year ago.
So with all this time laying dormant is akin to leaving a car sit for a prolong period of time in storage and then showing up more than a year later and it starts right up on the first try. Didn’t have to reset the carts or do anything but press the on button. Anyways the 7800 is known as a one of the pinnacle printers (7800, 7880, 9800, and 9880) as being likely the most durable printers ever made by Epson with extended long printhead life.
I marked in my journal that I have to change the Maintenance Cart because it is very near full capacity.
Anyways I’m mucho glad that my Jersey barrier is still alive and well. The carts are about half full, so after exchanging the Maintenance Cart I still have a lot of more flushes to go.
Anyways it will be mucho costly to get printing again, because the Piezography Pro ink set needs to be stockpiled and know that this is a thirsty printer. The tone has to come from somewhere and this is through putting a lot of ink on the paper.
Did I mention that Piezography Pro has this new HD (High Density) black that is likely the densest blacks on the planet.
Before I moved from Manhattan, I burned through my remaining ink supplies. All the K7 inks are gone, and now Piezography Pro makes that ink set obsolete.
So there is a great story behind this Epson 7800 that I paid $100.00 for. There was this photog named Mike who is a large format shooter, that was moving back to Japan, and he just wanted to unload the printer for $100.00. There were no takers because it is UBER large, so at a NYC Meet-Up Chris S. and Snarky Joe mention that perhaps I’m the crazy guy who would want this orphaned printer that no one loved.
Snarky Joe offers to pick the printer up with me because he owns a car, (actually a few cars). So it was like a dream come true, or perhaps too good to be true, but somehow everything worked out.
So realize that I have the printer in the lobby of my elevatored luxury building and I have to smuggle the Jersey Barrier into my 650 square foot apartment without “Maggie” taking notice. Anyways I got the dirty look when she saw the size of the printer.
So the 7800 was a decade old when I got it, but it was seldom used. Pretty much it was a fresh printer that had made less than 2,000 prints over a decade, but then I started printing a lot where in one year I bought $10K worth of paper and ink so I take advantage of sale prices and buying in bulk.
The rest is history…
Other than paper and ink, the only other maintenance item was that I had to replace the dampers to restore performance. Meanwhile I killed an Epson 3880. One day the capping station exploded…
So the old die-hard printer is still going. Somehow I found a service manual online, and I printed it out at work for free. I would love to get another 7800 or 7880, or even a 9800 or 9880 (48 inch printer). I would love to have a color printer and use Cone Color inks…
Anyways I do something every day…
Cal
Today I went into the basement, uncovered the Epson 7800 affectionately known as “The Jersey Barrier” because it is a floor standing printer that is rather large, plugged it in, and ran a “Power Clean” to rewet the print head.
This printer has been sitting stored in Piezoflush for over a year, and if I remember correctly the last time I did this was when I moved into my new 1912 Baby-Victorian in November 2020, so well over a year ago.
So with all this time laying dormant is akin to leaving a car sit for a prolong period of time in storage and then showing up more than a year later and it starts right up on the first try. Didn’t have to reset the carts or do anything but press the on button. Anyways the 7800 is known as a one of the pinnacle printers (7800, 7880, 9800, and 9880) as being likely the most durable printers ever made by Epson with extended long printhead life.
I marked in my journal that I have to change the Maintenance Cart because it is very near full capacity.
Anyways I’m mucho glad that my Jersey barrier is still alive and well. The carts are about half full, so after exchanging the Maintenance Cart I still have a lot of more flushes to go.
Anyways it will be mucho costly to get printing again, because the Piezography Pro ink set needs to be stockpiled and know that this is a thirsty printer. The tone has to come from somewhere and this is through putting a lot of ink on the paper.
Did I mention that Piezography Pro has this new HD (High Density) black that is likely the densest blacks on the planet.
Before I moved from Manhattan, I burned through my remaining ink supplies. All the K7 inks are gone, and now Piezography Pro makes that ink set obsolete.
So there is a great story behind this Epson 7800 that I paid $100.00 for. There was this photog named Mike who is a large format shooter, that was moving back to Japan, and he just wanted to unload the printer for $100.00. There were no takers because it is UBER large, so at a NYC Meet-Up Chris S. and Snarky Joe mention that perhaps I’m the crazy guy who would want this orphaned printer that no one loved.
Snarky Joe offers to pick the printer up with me because he owns a car, (actually a few cars). So it was like a dream come true, or perhaps too good to be true, but somehow everything worked out.
So realize that I have the printer in the lobby of my elevatored luxury building and I have to smuggle the Jersey Barrier into my 650 square foot apartment without “Maggie” taking notice. Anyways I got the dirty look when she saw the size of the printer.
So the 7800 was a decade old when I got it, but it was seldom used. Pretty much it was a fresh printer that had made less than 2,000 prints over a decade, but then I started printing a lot where in one year I bought $10K worth of paper and ink so I take advantage of sale prices and buying in bulk.
The rest is history…
Other than paper and ink, the only other maintenance item was that I had to replace the dampers to restore performance. Meanwhile I killed an Epson 3880. One day the capping station exploded…
So the old die-hard printer is still going. Somehow I found a service manual online, and I printed it out at work for free. I would love to get another 7800 or 7880, or even a 9800 or 9880 (48 inch printer). I would love to have a color printer and use Cone Color inks…
Anyways I do something every day…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I calculated what it would cost today to place an order to replace the Mahogany Santa Cruz Model “F’ that has many custom upgrades. I bought the guitar used, it was delivered right before Thanksgiving, but because it was not played, or played in, and it was like buying a custom ordered guitar as if NOS (New Old Stock).
Pretty much I bought a new guitar at a bargain used price. It ends up it would cost $5.1K more today than what I paid. WOW. The guitar is now 11 years old, and recent price increases and inflation make it cost prohibited to replace. Now I fully see how it was a wise purchase, just like my Baby-Victorian before the crazy shortages happened, and buying the Audi A4 before cars became short in supply.
Now the same holds true for many of my Leica film cameras. Really surprised at the costs of a M6. Like the housing market the pickings are slim. Very glad I hoarded cameras and other gear when prices were lower. This inflation is kinda insane.
On the new Santa Cruz Model “F” I ordered I already saved a lot of money by locking in prices late last year. I knew that price increases were likely, but surprised that they happened so soon.
Things are getting pretty crazy, and the world is a “hot-mess.”
Another advance took place last night on the guitar. I found that a thumb pick suits my style very well, and the new trick is to push it down further past my thumbnail so in effect I have a shorter lever, and this balances the thumb better with my other fingers.
Currently I’m playing right at the end of the fingerboard. To me the sound is warmer and more open, the note separation is vast, and there is this clarity that is acoustic like.
Most players I know play much closer to the bridge where speed and accuracy is favored, but I have that speed and accuracy at the end of the fingerboard which is a very odd position for most players. Also the attack is more percussive and drum like.
Anyways, my style is advancing further. I’m happy-happy.
I think I am among the very few who park their car in the garage. Most of if not all my neighbors use their garage as if Public Storage for overflow.
My A4 looks fresh even though it is a 2015 because I figure it likely was bought by Joe rich guy for his wife, and the car more or less stayed parked in a garage at a beach house in the Hampton for 7 years before I bought it. I carry on the tradition.
So there are reports of catalytic converter thefts in Westchester, as well as car thefts out of driveways in suburban homes. I’m trying to avoid being a victim of crime.
Cal
Pretty much I bought a new guitar at a bargain used price. It ends up it would cost $5.1K more today than what I paid. WOW. The guitar is now 11 years old, and recent price increases and inflation make it cost prohibited to replace. Now I fully see how it was a wise purchase, just like my Baby-Victorian before the crazy shortages happened, and buying the Audi A4 before cars became short in supply.
Now the same holds true for many of my Leica film cameras. Really surprised at the costs of a M6. Like the housing market the pickings are slim. Very glad I hoarded cameras and other gear when prices were lower. This inflation is kinda insane.
On the new Santa Cruz Model “F” I ordered I already saved a lot of money by locking in prices late last year. I knew that price increases were likely, but surprised that they happened so soon.
Things are getting pretty crazy, and the world is a “hot-mess.”
Another advance took place last night on the guitar. I found that a thumb pick suits my style very well, and the new trick is to push it down further past my thumbnail so in effect I have a shorter lever, and this balances the thumb better with my other fingers.
Currently I’m playing right at the end of the fingerboard. To me the sound is warmer and more open, the note separation is vast, and there is this clarity that is acoustic like.
Most players I know play much closer to the bridge where speed and accuracy is favored, but I have that speed and accuracy at the end of the fingerboard which is a very odd position for most players. Also the attack is more percussive and drum like.
Anyways, my style is advancing further. I’m happy-happy.
I think I am among the very few who park their car in the garage. Most of if not all my neighbors use their garage as if Public Storage for overflow.
My A4 looks fresh even though it is a 2015 because I figure it likely was bought by Joe rich guy for his wife, and the car more or less stayed parked in a garage at a beach house in the Hampton for 7 years before I bought it. I carry on the tradition.
So there are reports of catalytic converter thefts in Westchester, as well as car thefts out of driveways in suburban homes. I’m trying to avoid being a victim of crime.
Cal