New York Greetings From Hill-Billy Calvin, AKA Augie

[Austintatious]

Thanks so much! I'll keep looking and be patient. I have the 50mm f1.7, the 35-70 f4 and the 70-210 f4 beer can that are getting no love. I do have a Maxxum HTSI body, but not really using film these days. Those old 6 mega pickle DSLRs can surprise. I had a Nikon D50 for many years and was not using it due to newer additions to the fold. I have donated it to my niece who has been taking some pretty nice landscapes with an iPhone 8. She only posts them on her Facebook or instagram, so 6 MP is fine for that. I'll check the shops as well.
Thanks !

 

[Nokton48]

Austin,

The hottest setup I found for my collection of MC and MD Rokkors was a hacked digital Canon, but you have to change the lens mount and also shave down the mirror.

This has been done very successfully and you use the entire field of the Rokkors.

I'd love to have one

 

[Austintatious]

Dan, that sounds interesting. I do have several MC & MD Rokkors as well as the three AF Maxxum lenses I listed. For the Rokkors I am happy to use them adapted to my Sony A7II as well as a NEX 6. That focus peaking works very well for me as my eyes get older 😀

 

[Range-rover]

Thanks so much! I'll keep looking and be patient. I have the 50mm f1.7, the 35-70 f4 and the 70-210 f4 beer can that are getting no love. I do have a Maxxum HTSI body, but not really using film these days. Those old 6 mega pickle DSLRs can surprise. I had a Nikon D50 for many years and was not using it due to newer additions to the fold. I have donated it to my niece who has been taking some pretty nice landscapes with an iPhone 8. She only posts them on her Facebook or instagram, so 6 MP is fine for that. I'll check the shops as well.
Thanks !

Those sound good, I picked up a Sony 20mm f2.8, Minolta 28mm f2.8 and
Minolta 50mm F1.7, all at great prices (don't tell anyone).

 

[Calzone]

I alway's wanted a Nikon F3, since those early day's going to the Nikon Store in
NYC and seeing it on display, The Minolta 7d is a sweet camera and the lenses
by Minolta are really good I picked up a 50mm f1.7, 28mm F2.8, 20mm f2.8 and
now a Sony (Zeiss) 17-80 f3.5-4.5 really should be a nice system. By the way
do you have anymore of that Leather?

Bob,

I still have a small swatch of Italian leather, but I also have some type of lizzard skin also. Of course all this stuff is stashed somewhere in my basement.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

"Maggie" has been locked down for almost a year. She expressed being stuck in either a small apartment in Madhatten, or our Baby-Victorian has been a challenge for her. The only quests have been her daughter and grand daughter with an occasional visit from the son-in-law.

At work I got notice that two weeks after my second Covid Vaccine injection that I no longer need to do a bi-weekly spit test. Seems like I can enjoy some immunity, but I still have to practice social distancing, hand washing, and mask wearing to remain safe.

Next week Maggie will have the post second injection immunity build up complete, so to rid her of the monotony, next weekend we are planing a day trip to Rhinebeck, which is a city across the Hudson from Poughkeepsie on the west bank. In Rhinebeck the have a row of antique stores.

I also got her involved with some home demo. We took down a tile ceiling in the dining room. Underneath we discovered a plaster ceiling that had 3 holes in it.

We also pulled a small section of carpet from the stairs and removed hundreds of staples. Underneath we found quarter sawn heart pine treads that have eroded edges. Very pretty the old distressed wood.

So now the house has become a real construction zone. She is cool with that, and the work we did got her out of her slump. She also liked the challenge of working with her hands. We also move the secretary from the hallway into a living corner by a window that fits perfectly.

I finally won out with my wish to convert the smallest "bedroom" into a bathroom annex. The idea was to make the long and narrow bathroom just a powder room with just a vanity and a toilet; then open up a connecting doorway to what formerly was the smallest bedroom and have a claw footed tub.

So after watching some home improvement show that is hosted by some Irish architect where he created a spa, she warmed up to my idea of doing something similar.

One of her ideas is to create a nice aisle by removing the current vanity completely. Where this crappy fiberglass tub shower is where she would want a new vanity with double sinks.

The toilet is tucked away behind a partition and the long wide aisle would draw the eye to the window that has a view of the back-backyard lawn, the Dickey Brook valley, a hilside, and a wooded road with no other houses in sight.

"Her" idea is to have an oval soaking tub and perhaps a corner stand up shower. So I don't get a claw footed tub, but an oval soaking tub is close enough for me to be happy-happy.

The design concept is a divided bath that is two connected separate rooms each with there own hallway door, but also connected by an internal door so that each room can also be private.

Them cast iron soaking tubs are about $3K-$4K. So now the separate gas hot water heater for my darkroom has a second purpose: provid scolding hot water for the soaking tub.

The instant on tankless oil system is great for the rest of the house, but a natural gas hot water heater that already exists that just needs to be plumbed in separately is a great asset.

So now she is happy and inspired. We have a three stage plan: first is the exterior curb appeal and gardening that does not include the back-backyard; next is the kitchen and the prestent 3/4 bath (corner shower) will be converted into a "powder room;" and then finally the upstairs bath annex and upgrade.

In the end the upstairs will be just a two bedroom house with a very nice lux bath, and very cool Victorian tower office that is small cozy and mucho cute.

The garage with the initial 10x20 heated, insulated and finished work space adds lots of value as a detached work space.

While not a house for a family a really great small house for two people.

So for the 25-26 feet beyond the fence of the back-backyard. We think I will only cultivate perhaps 8-10 feet of that along the fence, and will go natural with the remainder as a buffer.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I took a poll and 30% who responded said the have gotten Vaccinated. I don't know if Vaccinated means the full two injections.

I only got my second injection about 3 weeks ago, and "Maggie" will be two weeks ago on Monday. I was among the first because I work in a hospital, and Maggie got hers because she is 67.

Here at work a PhD coworker who is employed by another hospital does not have the opportunity to get vaccinated: one reason is because he does not deal with patients (but neither do I); another is because he although is in his 60's is not over 65.

So the way I see it Maggie and I are both lucky to have been vaccinated so early.

My coworker is of German extraction and he tells me that the U.S. is further along with vaccinations than Europe. He stated that here in the U.S. it is reported that 12% of the population has been vaccinated, while in Germany only 3% have been vaccinated.

If Stefan's numbers are correct I don't see control over Covid happening by July or even the fall, but perhaps maybe sometime in 2022. Covid is becoming evident is becoming "endemic." With that in mind how can there ever be a "normal." This is a game changer.

*******************

Maggie corrected me, we are going to Newburgh, not Rhinebeck.

Newburgh is on he other side of the river opposite Beacon the town were were once house hunting in that is further north, Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck are further north still and they transition into the mid-Hudson Valley.

While Peekskill has Bear Mountain Bridge to cross the Hudson on the west side are two massively huge state parks. As I remember in the book "On The Road" the Bear Mountain Bridge is where the protagonists gets stuck in his journey in a soaking rain. He ends up returning to NYC to try and head west again.

Meanwhile further upstate cities on both sides of the Hudson are connected by bridges. I feel lucky that I have state parks and undeveloped land west of Peekskill.

So Newburgh which is opposite Beacon, is a city that is considered in the top 10% as far as crime goes. One report says 95% of U.S. cities are safer. WOW.

It formally was a important port along the Hudson, but the Erie Canal diverted and bypassd lots of commerce. Then there was urban decay where they tore down entire blocks, the 1974 oil embargo happened, and funds for rebuilding and revitalizing never followed through.

Today these sections of downtown are said to be grass. We are journeying there to visit a strip of downtown where they have antique shops.

So Newburgh is not so far along in the gentrification process as Beacon just across the river. Seems like a good place to go shoot. It is still a location where lots of old Georgian homes and buildings exist.

I wonder if Devil Christian would be interested in shooting there.

So back in the day a few of us would venture into the Bronx. Don't tell Maggie, but I think I found a place I would like to explore.

*********************

So today I cross under the 59th Street Bridge on First Avenue. I have been trying to avoid the area since that volatile episode of danger. Last week I discounted the talking aloud I hear from across the avenue, but today it became clear and more evident the decay and eroding state of mind of the young homeless man.

He talks to no one, but I hear him ranting. His life has slipped away, and now his mind is also going. Very sad to see a man eroding before your eyes who's very bare existence is his own demise.

He lives in a world beyond hope, and I wonder when his end is near. To use a Victorian expression, "Poor creature."

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Numbers: 44.1 million people in the U.S. have had one injection of Covid Vaccine; and 19.4 million have had the two injections according to a MD at New York Presbyterian.

Somehow these numbers don't fit 12% if you consider the population of the U.S. to be 328.24 million (2019).

Augie the nerd hill-billy

 

[Calzone]

I have to go to my old luxury building to retrieve two parcels that cam for "Maggie."

In the dining room is a pile of stuff that accumulated that she gets delivered. Some are gifts and some are for future content.

For Valentine's Day some luxury brand sent her flowers. Some other brand sent her flowers last week as well. I don't buy women flowers. Call me pragmatic I buy plants if I ever buy a gift that is like flowers.

So my worries again is getting crowded out by all these gifts and women's shoes, bags and clothes.

Calvin-August

 

[Calzone]

Interesting read about the perfect body type for F-1 racing.

176 pound minimum weight for driver and seat. Strength to weight ratio has to be high, with not a lot of upper body bulk to keep CG low.

Interesting the driver Hamilton who is 36 and old for a F-1 driver. Drivers tend to be around 26 on average.

Cal

 

[benlees]

F1 drivers don't need to be jockey sized (I'm guessing an average weight around 68kg?) but they do need to be strong. As an aside, many are avid cyclists (Alain Prost)- excellent endurance, keeps the weight down, and keeps the proprioception up to snuff.

 

[Calzone]

F1 drivers don't need to be jockey sized (I'm guessing an average weight around 68kg?) but they do need to be strong. As an aside, many are avid cyclists (Alain Prost)- excellent endurance, keeps the weight down, and keeps the proprioception up to snuff.

B,

What was so fascinating about this Road And Track feature was the amount of physical conditioning and endurance required today.

Some of the info though I thought was bonkers like a 200 BPM heat rate from what I know from cycling. Perhaps 200 BPM for maybe a 20 year old or younger, but not a 36 year old.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

B,

What was so fascinating about this Road And Track feature was the amount of physical conditioning and endurance required today.

Some of the info though I thought was bonkers like a 200 BPM heat rate from what I know from cycling. Perhaps 200 BPM for maybe a 20 year old or younger, but not a 36 year old.

Cal

When I was racing a bike or Temple U, I could hold 198bpm for several minutes. And no, I didn't have any heart issues. I was 33 when I was in top shape.

Phil Forrest

 

[Calzone]

When I was racing a bike or Temple U, I could hold 198bpm for several minutes. And no, I didn't have any heart issues. I was 33 when I was in top shape.

Phil Forrest

Phil,

That's pretty crazy.

My personal experience with anerobic threshold was a peak of 180 when I was in my mid-thirties. Of course I could only sustain that heart rate for maybe 20-30 seconds, but my resting pulse would at times drop below 50 BPM and into the 40's.

I'd be curious about your max BPM (A.T.) and your resting BPM.

Also my blood pressure was low 90/60.

I can only imagine the high threshold of pain you developed being able to sustain 198 BPM for several minutes. Did you ever do Time Trials?

I found 220 minus your age for max heart rate to be true.

BTW even on doing intervals on an elyptical I could see the reticial hemoraging in the whites of my eyes from basically choking myself.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Phil,

That's pretty crazy.

My personal experience with anerobic threshold was a peak of 180 when I was in my mid-thirties. Of course I could only sustain that heart rate for maybe 20-30 seconds, but my resting pulse would at times drop below 50 BPM and into the 40's.

I'd be curious about your max BPM (A.T.) and your resting BPM.

Also my blood pressure was low 90/60.

I can only imagine the high threshold of pain you developed being able to sustain 198 BPM for several minutes. Did you ever do Time Trials?

I found 220 minus your age for max heart rate to be true.

BTW even on doing intervals on an elyptical I could see the reticial hemoraging in the whites of my eyes from basically choking myself.

Cal

Cal,
After I hit 199 and kept it up for 30 seconds, then a minute, my trainer told me to see a cardiologist. I think I regularly held 198 in training for 90 seconds and pushed over 100 seconds a few times. I would drop back a bike length in the back of the peleton, build up speed in the draft, then blast forward to the front. This is really where that came in handy.
I never raced time trials but I trained on an interactive trainer for them. My thing was cyclocross. After my last race, I was ranked 8th in our division and was supposed to make the National Championships, which was being held out in Bend, Oregon in early 2010. I was doored on November 29, 2009 which ended my racing career.
I remember when I was really training hard, my skin felt like it was burning off, especially on my legs, forearms and sides of my abdomen. It felt like my scalp was coming off too. I never had my VO2 max formally tested, but my trainers said that it had to be really high. They said my body was two legs, attached to a pair of lungs with two skinny arms sticking out.
My resting pulse was in the 40s when I was calm. I would mess with the intake nurses at the VA and concentrate on my breathing then drop my blood pressure by 10 points in a couple seconds. They'd have to take it over again.
I miss cycling at that level. Nowadays, I miss cycling at all.

Phil Forrest

 

[Calzone]

Yesterday I enjoyed the spring like weather and took "Maggie" and the A4 for a drive up to Newburgh. We crossed the Hudson using the Bear Mountain Bridge on the northern end of Peekskill, and we entered a very different world of forest, mountains and cliffs.

What a nice drive where speed signs were everywhere. A 25 mph would be followed by a 40 mph, then a 20 mph on a rod that went up and down and turned each way.

Then we headed up 9W towards West Point and through some rather hill-billy looking areas.

At Newburgh we went to an antique mall of sorts and bought a brass lamp for our living room. I had to rewire this lamp so we got it cheap ($48.00) and what makes it unusual is that it is rather tall and slim for a table lamp, and it has a wonderful shade.

Then in the other antique store we found a "Pie-Crust" table that was two tiered that matches another "Pie-Crust" table we already have.

So now the living room looks mighty great filled with antique furniture, except for the retro styled but modern "Professor's Chair" that really is a leather love seat. We wait for the matching leather ottoman to be shipped perhaps in May (custom ordered).

So Newburgh is not really gentrified yet. I would say it is a poor city with a lot of problems, a lot of poverty, and a lot of decay. We went down to Liberty Street in search of Brooklyn Hipsters, because that is one small section of the city that is said to be the anchor of redevelopment, but pretty much because of Covid it was shut down.

So we decided to take the Newburgh Beacon Bridge across the Hudson and wander down to Cold Spring for lunch on Main Street.

Beacon seemed crowded and further along in development from even the time we were looking at homes there. What a nice drive down Route 9D.

From this trip I kinda got to understand the geograophy more, and it is easy to recognize as we passed through towns that formally were forts on both sides of the river the military perspective and importance of this section of the Hudson.

Camp Smith on the northern end of Peekskill is an Army Reserve training camp. Fort Montgomery leads up to West Point. In the past there was a Fort Clinton.

Driving home and closer to Peekskill along the Hudson we drive through Garrison a town that might have 4 acre zoning. The homes are somewhat stately and estate like on wooded and forested plots set back from the road. Manitou is much of the same. Route 9D is like a country road with no shoulders and in some places the posted speed limit is 55 mph.

Across the river in Bear Mountain State Park the winding road that goes up and down and Route 9D are roads that a sporty car like an A4 is kinda made and built for.

"Cheap thrills," I say. My thinking that Peekskill not only having Blue Mountain Preserve (1500 acres) about 4 blocks from my house, but also having Bear Mountain State Park so nearby makes Peekskill mucho better than Beacon.

Like Newburgh, there are parts of Peekskill where poverty exists and some places that are not so pretty, but where pretty exists it is pure beauty that is majestic and magnificent.

We only cut through part of Bear Mountain State Park to get to Route 9W.

I'm a happy hill-billy.

Calvin-August

 

[Calzone]

Cal,
After I hit 199 and kept it up for 30 seconds, then a minute, my trainer told me to see a cardiologist. I think I regularly held 198 in training for 90 seconds and pushed over 100 seconds a few times. I would drop back a bike length in the back of the peleton, build up speed in the draft, then blast forward to the front. This is really where that came in handy.
I never raced time trials but I trained on an interactive trainer for them. My thing was cyclocross. After my last race, I was ranked 8th in our division and was supposed to make the National Championships, which was being held out in Bend, Oregon in early 2010. I was doored on November 29, 2009 which ended my racing career.
I remember when I was really training hard, my skin felt like it was burning off, especially on my legs, forearms and sides of my abdomen. It felt like my scalp was coming off too. I never had my VO2 max formally tested, but my trainers said that it had to be really high. They said my body was two legs, attached to a pair of lungs with two skinny arms sticking out.
My resting pulse was in the 40s when I was calm. I would mess with the intake nurses at the VA and concentrate on my breathing then drop my blood pressure by 10 points in a couple seconds. They'd have to take it over again.
I miss cycling at that level. Nowadays, I miss cycling at all.

Phil Forrest

Phil,

You were an elite athlete: I was not.

At times my resting pulse even recently can be under 50 (48-49) BPM and I'm 63 years old.

In my thirties I wore a heart rate monitor to go to sleep. Upon waking I once measured an under 30 BPM. It did not take much to elevate my BPM like moving my head or rolling over, but it tells you how much your body rests when sleeping.

I forgot to mention that from the age of 15 till the age of 32 I was a two pack a day cigarette smoker.

Over my lifetime I really only have two regrets: one is I wish I never smoked; and I wish I would of protected my skin more by using sunscreen.

Augie

 

[Nokton48]

Morning Cal and guests

Loading XX Finally by Nokton48, on Flickr

I've not used my Minoltas for some time now. I checked five or six of them a couple of weeks ago and they are all loaded with Eastman 5222 XX film. A couple of years ago I spooled 100 feet or so into a Lloyds bulk loader and it has sat. This morning I daylight loaded eight 36 exposure rolls and I have another eight to go later today.

After a long hiatus I am getting ready to shoot XX again.

 

[Calzone]

Morning Cal and guests

Loading XX Finally by Nokton48, on Flickr

I've not used my Minoltas for some time now. I checked five or six of them a couple of weeks ago and they are all loaded with Eastman 5222 XX film. A couple of years ago I spooled 100 feet or so into a Lloyds bulk loader and it has sat. This morning I daylight loaded eight 36 exposure rolls and I have another eight to go later today.

After a long hiatus I am getting ready to shoot XX again.

Devil Dan,

It seems Devil Christian is spreading "Linhof Disease" again. I see a thread today on Linhof cams here on RFF.

Pretty much I own 4 Linhofs because of Devil Christian.

So I say he started Linhof Disease a few years ago, Then Snarky Joe started buying Linhofs.

So because of the risk of Asian Hate Crimes I no longer wear my glasses on the street.

The other day I restrained myself from initiating a First-Strike and taking out a homeless person who was irate, enraged, and was a possible threat of danger and violence.

So my tactical measure will be to shoot my 400 feet of 5222 in my Tower 45 and black paint/nickle Leica II. Both cameras have diopters so I can focus accurately without glasses.

I have a box of Borax that someone left in my laundry room in the Luxury building I once rented. I'll be mixing up a batch of ADOX-PQ for sure, but 5222 loves Diafine and I get 400 ISO.

Really interesting how one film with 2 developers I can get 200 ISO or so with ADOX-PQ and 400 ISO with Diafine.

Happy-Happy.

Cal

 

[Particular]

Cal,
From what I hear "Linhof Disease" is proven to cure "Leica Disease", but from what I gather it not particularly helpful against "German Camera Disease", in fact it makes it worse.
I've even taken to chopping up a Praktica, so clearly it is not getting better.