LCSmith
Well-known
Beacon is nice. You and Bruce Almighty can hang out. A few friends from Brooklyn moved up to Beacon. Good brewery.
New York March NYC Meet-Up
- Thread starter Calzone
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I stumbled into a crime scene. On my way to work this morning I saw some fishing rods being thrown out, I went in for a closer look, and discovered an old Penn fishing reel with bakelite side plates that was worth taking.
Then I saw a padded shipping envelope torn open with a Malcolm Gladwell book I hadn't read, and inside the padded shipping envelope was a second Malcolm Gladwell book I hadn't read.
So my forensics are that some porch pirate stole a delivery and discarded the contents. Oh-well. Welcome to New York.
I had enjoyed reading "Blink" and somehow in my new office library I have 'The Tipping Point" which has a first chapter titled "The Three Rules Of Epidemics."
BTW "Blink" is a valuable book for anyone who does street shooting. It is all about gut reactions, instinct and first impressions.
Malcolm Gladwell is a smart thinker, and all his books seem to be best sellers.
So now I have three books that I would deem seem to be involved in "divine intervention." I'll figure out the spiritual aspect later, but my gut is telling me that somehow these three books have to b read and are somehow important.
The Tipping Point: How little things can make a big difference; Outliers: The story of Success; and David and Goliath: underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants.
There must be some deeper meaning here. BTW all these books were found on the street.
The last time something like this happened was around 2007 on a rainy day on Third Avenue and 68th Street. Piled in the middle of the sidewalk someone who likely had a MBA took all their finance books and made a tall pile of books. This was conspicuous because it was not on the curb, and made pedestrians walk around the obstruction.
I ended up getting some great financial fodder. One of the books was "The House of Morgan" which provided a the big and long picture of financial history, the players, and showed displays of power. Pretty much a self taught MBA I recieved, and it was as if I stumbled upon a monument or tombstone for some recent grad who might of just gotten laid off from their Wall Street bankster job, throwing away the life that at that time was over.
Anyways, why do all these unusual and odd things happen to me?
Cal
Then I saw a padded shipping envelope torn open with a Malcolm Gladwell book I hadn't read, and inside the padded shipping envelope was a second Malcolm Gladwell book I hadn't read.
So my forensics are that some porch pirate stole a delivery and discarded the contents. Oh-well. Welcome to New York.
I had enjoyed reading "Blink" and somehow in my new office library I have 'The Tipping Point" which has a first chapter titled "The Three Rules Of Epidemics."
BTW "Blink" is a valuable book for anyone who does street shooting. It is all about gut reactions, instinct and first impressions.
Malcolm Gladwell is a smart thinker, and all his books seem to be best sellers.
So now I have three books that I would deem seem to be involved in "divine intervention." I'll figure out the spiritual aspect later, but my gut is telling me that somehow these three books have to b read and are somehow important.
The Tipping Point: How little things can make a big difference; Outliers: The story of Success; and David and Goliath: underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants.
There must be some deeper meaning here. BTW all these books were found on the street.
The last time something like this happened was around 2007 on a rainy day on Third Avenue and 68th Street. Piled in the middle of the sidewalk someone who likely had a MBA took all their finance books and made a tall pile of books. This was conspicuous because it was not on the curb, and made pedestrians walk around the obstruction.
I ended up getting some great financial fodder. One of the books was "The House of Morgan" which provided a the big and long picture of financial history, the players, and showed displays of power. Pretty much a self taught MBA I recieved, and it was as if I stumbled upon a monument or tombstone for some recent grad who might of just gotten laid off from their Wall Street bankster job, throwing away the life that at that time was over.
Anyways, why do all these unusual and odd things happen to me?
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
LC,
Looking forward to it. The run around involved my gal the Accidental Icon who demanded living urban.
We were thinking at one point of living in the bubble that is Center City in Philly, but the Pandemic made her more sensible.
The lower Hudson Valley is known for good air quality, and since I'm a cyclist this is huge for me.
I'm kinda proud of being a self proclaimed "lazy slacker" and I always say, "Never knew anyone with a complicated life that was happy."
My gal has 700K followers and is a public figure. Being a celeb is not something I wish on anyone. Lack of privacy, being targeted, and all this intrusions, responsibility, and demands.
Cal
LCSmith
Well-known
Cal,
If I had to buy in Philadelphia, I would choose Rittenhouse. Curtis Institute, Penn Museum, and Bob Perkins playing jazz for you in the evenings. But it is small.
Regarding obscurity, I agree entirely and find wisdom in the Epicurean teaching λάθε βιώσας, "lathe biōsas", lit. "be forgotten/obscure as you live your life".
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
LC,
Rittenhouse Square was my pick too, although "Maggie" thought the loft district was for us. For me the electric heat often used in those lofts was a huge negative.
Back when Ronald Ray-Gun was President I worked on a Star Wars project at Los Alamos National Labs, a particle beam accelerator that would be a space based weapon to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles in their boost phase before they vaporize us.
I lived alone remotely 47 miles from civilization, so remotely that I got no TV reception, living in the Santa Fe National Forest in a two bedroom log cabin.
I learned a lot about myself and what is important like the most basic needs. The modern world has many distractions and is full of mediocrity. What is wrong with just being a good photographer, even if not commercially gainful, just for self expression/self gratification. I need no audience.
Biking, printing, and Jazz and Blues guitars are all solitary gestures where I find peace.
I don't know what it means finding these Gladwell books though... We will see. Life is kinda funny that way. I can feel something big is happening, but then again I'll take ownership of being a dill-loose-sion-L artist.
Cal
jszokoli
Well-known
Cal,
I hear that they have opened the bike lane on the Tappan Zee bridge so you would have access to both sides of the Hudson. This is a huge deal for cyclists, as now loops form NYC can cover both sides of the Hudson.
Joe
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Joe,
This is great. I'm about 10 pounds leaner than the last time you saw me, and I also have bulked up a bit on my upper body. The gym in my building is off limits because of Covid. This morning I weighed 144.5 pounds, I'm 5'10."
I did one of these Biological Age tests, and although I'm 62 1/2 my Biological age is only 38, and my life expectency is 107 years. I can see me doing 300-400 miles a week to get back my base again.
Last night my lowest blood pressure reading was 100/60 with a 54 BPM pulse. I can see my resting pulse being under 50 BPM again if I base-out again.
I'm getting ready to retire big time. The Smart House with the Heat-Pump HVAC is no longer listed.
My dream would be that towards the end of this year, after August 20th my 21st year of service, that my institution gives me a package to retire early. One year's salary and adding a year onto my pension would satisfy me into retiring into "Lazy Slacker Mode."
If it were not for woman factor I would want to buy my not turnkey dream house. Basically a somewhat run down partially gutted brick Victorian that resembles something out of the TV show "The Munsters" is more my style.
Funny thing is that there is a similar horror house called the "Turtle House" up in Hudson. The Turtle House sits on two acres.
Kinda ghetto for Beacon at this point, but what a crazy project. "Mucho personality," I say.
Also if I get packaged don't forget Hudson. I wanna go hill-billy.
They are seriously considering spending $1.8 million to overhaul my cyclotron. What I learned from my paid leave over the past 3 months, where I came into work one Monday morning to condition the machine is that the machine is still fresh and needs to be used more.
When I reported back to my normal hours, when NYC opened up, I discovered that my conditioning over a few days revitalized the vacuum and the reliability. If they want to was $2M then O.K. Nobody ever asked me about the machine's condition, and they are going by How-Weird's crazy assessment.
Just know that I'm the king of the $200.00 used car and that I could keep them going for years.
Meanwhile this week I have been all alone at work with no schedule. My guess is that this reported $2M grant may or may not happen, and if it does not maybe it is not so remote that I might get offered a "package."
I know from How-Wierd my old boss it takes about 3 months for Human Resources to process. 2021 is a new tax year, so getting all my money up front for a year is good cash flow.
Another possibility if things go the other way, and they get the $2M. Likelyhood that my "new" machine could be used for production, and that would require early operations. Not a big jump to get an apartment nearby as a benefit on the UES as a free benefit.
In a way I'm hedged. Worse case but unlikely to happen is that my institution abandons my machine and takes me back to the main campus to get trained to be of some service to another group.
Cal
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
If a person has enough to buy an apartment, condo, or house in Rittenhouse, there is no reason they should be worried about money or any place to live. With that kind of capital, any place in the country that is suburban or rural is easily within reach. You could have 10,000 acres with a 2,500ft/sq ranch house in Wyoming for the same cost. Holy cow. $3000/month studio apartments in those buildings within a block of that park. It's ridiculous.
Cal, what do you mean by "loft district"?
Phil Forrest
Cal, what do you mean by "loft district"?
Phil Forrest
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
I could buy an apartment in Rittenhouse, but I don't have to: I'm no longer locked into living urban. "Maggie" changed her mind.
On the Philly real estate sites they mention the loft district as being below Market Terminal in that section that runs alongside the elevated highway. I forget the name of that "Warehouse District" street.
As far as lofts go I happen to like/prefer the smaller lofts that are in Old City.
Anyways in Rittenhouse, the loft district, and Old City, we were looking at the more modestly priced units/lofts. Of course the sizes were also modest, meaning smaller sized.
In Beacon we are looking into rather modest homes that would be too small for any family: 2 bedroom, two baths; but we are not looking into any fixer upper. Nothing grand. 6K-8K in property taxes.
Realize I don't want a large house or a lot of property when I'm 107. Realize that my dad who was an illiterate illegal immigrant lived to 94 and he had a brutal life. Not really much of a stretch for me to live over a hundred, and pretty much I have a shot of even more than 107 years.
I would add that some suburban communities out on Long Island, Westchester, or parts of northern New Jersey are no bargains, and the local and property taxes exclude me. Not all suburban communities are affordable.
Now one reason for life extension is less of a chance of getting shot in Philly. LOL.
I have that small and skinny body type that adds longevity. I have good genes.
Cal
Prest_400
Multiformat
March NYC Meet-Up
Pretty much, I had an interesting talk with my friend who is the lucky "raised in the city center" person.
I've never been that one and always had a commute, since I was 17 and depending on the city. He argued for the value of living in the city center, I replied that somewhere outside is much better bang/buck overall and can bring some natural+space perks. Mind you that we talked European cities, which are calmer and the outer areas are usually towns with history and not just boring 'burbs.
About covid, I didn't like the idea of forced quarantine and pretty much one begins to feel insane due to it. Also, it showed some not ideal characteristics of cities. Hope you all in NYC are good, as it really hit there.
OTOH agree about being a photog without commercial success. "You should get paid. You should post" they say. I'm happy to have some expression and a support for photos and memories. The transiency of life is a big motivation for my photography, and well, who knows down the line.
There's currently an exaggerated need for social media validation in whatever. Interestingly, I see a counter trend in younger 20 year olds around here (although n<30). They don't even pick the damn phone!
Pretty much, I had an interesting talk with my friend who is the lucky "raised in the city center" person.
I've never been that one and always had a commute, since I was 17 and depending on the city. He argued for the value of living in the city center, I replied that somewhere outside is much better bang/buck overall and can bring some natural+space perks. Mind you that we talked European cities, which are calmer and the outer areas are usually towns with history and not just boring 'burbs.
About covid, I didn't like the idea of forced quarantine and pretty much one begins to feel insane due to it. Also, it showed some not ideal characteristics of cities. Hope you all in NYC are good, as it really hit there.
OTOH agree about being a photog without commercial success. "You should get paid. You should post" they say. I'm happy to have some expression and a support for photos and memories. The transiency of life is a big motivation for my photography, and well, who knows down the line.
There's currently an exaggerated need for social media validation in whatever. Interestingly, I see a counter trend in younger 20 year olds around here (although n<30). They don't even pick the damn phone!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
On last night's news was a story about a shooting literally one block away from where I live on 102d Street buy the Metro North viaduct. A 7 year old girl was grazed by one of multiple shots.
The report stated that there was some assembly of a crowd and that a dispute erupted into gunfire.
"Welcome to East Harlem," I say.
Know that what gets under reported is that each public housing project, has its own power structure and gang activity. One of my friends who has a girlfriend who lives in the Washington Houses explained to me that there are turf wars inbetween each housing project.
I suspect that this is one of those turf battles that involves youth gangs. Interesting to note that although multiple shots were fired that only one errant bullet seem to hit an innocent bystander.
I was happy to learn that the disappearances of homes on the Zillow site are still available. It seems Zillow is not a good way to track a local market. The small home with the pool is still there that is on nearly a half acre.
The smart house that has the heat pump HVAC is slightly larger, and was originally built in 1890, but effectively renovated in everyway so that it could be considered nearly a new house. I would like to add an oversized garage to have an expanded workspace. "Don't tell Maggie."
So back pre-pandemic lock down they hired a new guy, and this new hire was suppose to be primarily hired for working on the main campus, but was also suppose to be my "backup" so I could use my vacation time.
He has been on the job, and like me at times working remotely or receiving paid leave, but what has not happened is any visits or training so that he could function and work as my backup.
I am playing a waiting game. Last year there was talk of abandoning my cyclotron, and recalling me and my boss back to the main campus to handle other tasks. In the meantime How-Weird, my old boss retired back in January.
The $2M grant to overhaul my cyclotron that IMHO is so gently used and is underutilized to the point that it could have at least 5 more years of service without the overhaul. No one ever asked me, and I'm O.K. with that. I just laugh at the foolishness.
I have to tell you that How-Weird, my old boss, was kinda crazy. His anxiety led to flawed thinking and was irrational most of the time. As a result he came up with a plan and a bit of a conspiracy that the old machine was tired and required a rebuild.
With his absence I discovered with the shut down and lock down, that the real problem why the machine has been less reliable and offered irratic operation with constant tripping is that it is not exercised enough. Today I will expend likely 60 Kilowatts by ramping up the one Tesla magnet, and the 50 KV RF. Perhaps I will let it cook for 5-6 hours.
So I can imagine about 5 possible outcomes as far as my job goes hinging on this $2M grant. My favorite is that later this year after August 20th, my 21st year of service anniversery; because of the bad economy that I see as likely they don't get the grant; and they decide to offer me a package of a year's salary severance along with an added year on my pension.
You guys know me: I'm a lazy slacker, just pay me. Know that retirment takes about 3 months to process, so adding just a month gets me into 2021 for tax effectiveness. Anyways this is my dream come true. What a birthday present when I just turn 63. Happy-Happy...
Meanwhile I'll read the other 2/3rd os the book "The Tipping Point." Interesting to note that Gladwell outlines certain character/personality types that somehow I fall into. Connector; Maven; and Salesman.
Of the three I am strongest as a salesman. I have always contended that I was a great salesperson and one thing is that a "Maven" has the background of knowledge, facts and figures to process data and make convincing arguments.
Lastly even though I am widely known I also have a lot of anti social behavior, but also know that the test used to guage strength in this area uses last names which in my case lowers my score drasrically.
The Tipping Point promotes the 80/20 Principle, with originally is derived from economics. The idea is that 80% of the work is performed by just 20% of the participants. At Grumman this was true when I worked there. At Brookhaven National Labs I got a performance review that stated me as like having an army of technicians.
This resonated with what Zingo, the Vietnam Era Navy SEAL, stated that I would make an ideal Navy Seal, especially because of my body type.
Other examples: in most societies 20% of the criminals commit 80% of the crime; 20% of beer drinkers drink 80% of all the beer; 20% of motorists cause 80% of all accidents.
So interesting to note that "divine intervention" seems to not be an exaggeration and that somehow this book is highly related to me, my personal attributes, and perhaps what continually has happened over my lifetime.
In college I took a lot of liberal arts courses, and to be honest likely the biggest reason I was an art major was because of my attraction to crazy women who were hot and interesting, but all my professors seem to select me as the one student that had the most potential, and effectively I would be favored, groomed, and mentored. The professors outside the art department wanted me to change my major.
So anyways, I have to laugh, they saw lots of potential, but I have had an interesting life full of disruption, great risks, and mucho uncertainty that somehow led me to disappoint all that provided help, guidance, and special treatment.
Coach Rowan from high school summed it up when he said publically in front of the entire gym class, "Cal, you ain't nothing but a big F-up," as he laughed.
Anyways seems one thing is for sure. I still have that potential, and all the time of uncertainty and being unstable and perhaps crazy over the decades will be behind me. Seems kinda odd that it is taking decades to kinda grow up, develop, and mature.
With financial security, retirement looks to be where I will finally hit my stride.
Cal
The report stated that there was some assembly of a crowd and that a dispute erupted into gunfire.
"Welcome to East Harlem," I say.
Know that what gets under reported is that each public housing project, has its own power structure and gang activity. One of my friends who has a girlfriend who lives in the Washington Houses explained to me that there are turf wars inbetween each housing project.
I suspect that this is one of those turf battles that involves youth gangs. Interesting to note that although multiple shots were fired that only one errant bullet seem to hit an innocent bystander.
I was happy to learn that the disappearances of homes on the Zillow site are still available. It seems Zillow is not a good way to track a local market. The small home with the pool is still there that is on nearly a half acre.
The smart house that has the heat pump HVAC is slightly larger, and was originally built in 1890, but effectively renovated in everyway so that it could be considered nearly a new house. I would like to add an oversized garage to have an expanded workspace. "Don't tell Maggie."
So back pre-pandemic lock down they hired a new guy, and this new hire was suppose to be primarily hired for working on the main campus, but was also suppose to be my "backup" so I could use my vacation time.
He has been on the job, and like me at times working remotely or receiving paid leave, but what has not happened is any visits or training so that he could function and work as my backup.
I am playing a waiting game. Last year there was talk of abandoning my cyclotron, and recalling me and my boss back to the main campus to handle other tasks. In the meantime How-Weird, my old boss retired back in January.
The $2M grant to overhaul my cyclotron that IMHO is so gently used and is underutilized to the point that it could have at least 5 more years of service without the overhaul. No one ever asked me, and I'm O.K. with that. I just laugh at the foolishness.
I have to tell you that How-Weird, my old boss, was kinda crazy. His anxiety led to flawed thinking and was irrational most of the time. As a result he came up with a plan and a bit of a conspiracy that the old machine was tired and required a rebuild.
With his absence I discovered with the shut down and lock down, that the real problem why the machine has been less reliable and offered irratic operation with constant tripping is that it is not exercised enough. Today I will expend likely 60 Kilowatts by ramping up the one Tesla magnet, and the 50 KV RF. Perhaps I will let it cook for 5-6 hours.
So I can imagine about 5 possible outcomes as far as my job goes hinging on this $2M grant. My favorite is that later this year after August 20th, my 21st year of service anniversery; because of the bad economy that I see as likely they don't get the grant; and they decide to offer me a package of a year's salary severance along with an added year on my pension.
You guys know me: I'm a lazy slacker, just pay me. Know that retirment takes about 3 months to process, so adding just a month gets me into 2021 for tax effectiveness. Anyways this is my dream come true. What a birthday present when I just turn 63. Happy-Happy...
Meanwhile I'll read the other 2/3rd os the book "The Tipping Point." Interesting to note that Gladwell outlines certain character/personality types that somehow I fall into. Connector; Maven; and Salesman.
Of the three I am strongest as a salesman. I have always contended that I was a great salesperson and one thing is that a "Maven" has the background of knowledge, facts and figures to process data and make convincing arguments.
Lastly even though I am widely known I also have a lot of anti social behavior, but also know that the test used to guage strength in this area uses last names which in my case lowers my score drasrically.
The Tipping Point promotes the 80/20 Principle, with originally is derived from economics. The idea is that 80% of the work is performed by just 20% of the participants. At Grumman this was true when I worked there. At Brookhaven National Labs I got a performance review that stated me as like having an army of technicians.
This resonated with what Zingo, the Vietnam Era Navy SEAL, stated that I would make an ideal Navy Seal, especially because of my body type.
Other examples: in most societies 20% of the criminals commit 80% of the crime; 20% of beer drinkers drink 80% of all the beer; 20% of motorists cause 80% of all accidents.
So interesting to note that "divine intervention" seems to not be an exaggeration and that somehow this book is highly related to me, my personal attributes, and perhaps what continually has happened over my lifetime.
In college I took a lot of liberal arts courses, and to be honest likely the biggest reason I was an art major was because of my attraction to crazy women who were hot and interesting, but all my professors seem to select me as the one student that had the most potential, and effectively I would be favored, groomed, and mentored. The professors outside the art department wanted me to change my major.
So anyways, I have to laugh, they saw lots of potential, but I have had an interesting life full of disruption, great risks, and mucho uncertainty that somehow led me to disappoint all that provided help, guidance, and special treatment.
Coach Rowan from high school summed it up when he said publically in front of the entire gym class, "Cal, you ain't nothing but a big F-up," as he laughed.
Anyways seems one thing is for sure. I still have that potential, and all the time of uncertainty and being unstable and perhaps crazy over the decades will be behind me. Seems kinda odd that it is taking decades to kinda grow up, develop, and mature.
With financial security, retirement looks to be where I will finally hit my stride.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
In the week ending Saturday there were a total of 58 shootings in NYC. On Sunday, yesterday, there were an additional 17 shootings for a total of 75 shootings over the eight day period. All in all 102 persons were shot over this period.
These numbers resemble numbers of Chicago where in a typical weekend 24 people might get shot.
I finished reading The Tipping Point and Outliers, I should finish David and Goliath sometime today.
Outliers framed in a lot of mirroring for me. It denoted timing and circumstance as being important contributors to success. Advantages presented themselves, and what was really remarkable was when a string of good timing and circumstances connected and built upon each other in the examples given. In other words it was not just one lucky break, but a connected string of breaks.
For me one of those lucky breaks was working at Grumman where I had a sting of great opportunities for 17 years there. Because of my upbringing I lacked any stability, and pretty much as an adult I was just like a disturbed kid. My 17 years at Grumman from the age of 22 to 39 is when I actually grew up.
Many of the men who worked at Grumman were Veterans, and because I judged my dad as a weak man that I was ashamed of, many of these older men kinda became role models and fatherly figures.
They saw a troubled kid, they set me straight, and they helped me in all kinds of ways, but know that Grumman, even though a Fortune 500 company and the fourth largest military contractor in the U.S basically had and supported a family culture.
So I escaped poverty, even though my father was an illiterate illegal immigrant who survived and lived under the Chinese Exclusion Laws.
What got outlined in the book were the starting advantages and the disadvantages. In a way my artistic pursuits have been forestalled because I had to establish financial security, and now I have gained affluence.
The big take away was the documenting of 10,000 hours of immersion that was documented as being required to really exploit talent and intelligence.
Also, "Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning." At Grumman I learned the concept of "a man year" which is 1950 hours. This was a 40 hour week minus 5 sick days and two weeks vacation.
So even if I could of done art instead of working it would take about 5 years to get close to those 10K hours of work/practice.
Pretty much what is outlined is the difference between good and great is getting to those 10K hours.
For decades I have had guitars in my life, but because of disruption I don't practice regularly. My playing remains choppy, but I kinda knew that there will be a time when I retire when I can dedicate myself into becoming a great player.
Over the weekend I did some more printing, and I'm at a point where I have to load my 400 ml carts again, but this time I might not have enough inks to refill all of them. This is my intent to expend this somewhat old and perhaps stale inks so I can start with a fresh batch.
I don't think I have gotten to the 10K marks, but that time seems to be approaching in the future.
Cal
These numbers resemble numbers of Chicago where in a typical weekend 24 people might get shot.
I finished reading The Tipping Point and Outliers, I should finish David and Goliath sometime today.
Outliers framed in a lot of mirroring for me. It denoted timing and circumstance as being important contributors to success. Advantages presented themselves, and what was really remarkable was when a string of good timing and circumstances connected and built upon each other in the examples given. In other words it was not just one lucky break, but a connected string of breaks.
For me one of those lucky breaks was working at Grumman where I had a sting of great opportunities for 17 years there. Because of my upbringing I lacked any stability, and pretty much as an adult I was just like a disturbed kid. My 17 years at Grumman from the age of 22 to 39 is when I actually grew up.
Many of the men who worked at Grumman were Veterans, and because I judged my dad as a weak man that I was ashamed of, many of these older men kinda became role models and fatherly figures.
They saw a troubled kid, they set me straight, and they helped me in all kinds of ways, but know that Grumman, even though a Fortune 500 company and the fourth largest military contractor in the U.S basically had and supported a family culture.
So I escaped poverty, even though my father was an illiterate illegal immigrant who survived and lived under the Chinese Exclusion Laws.
What got outlined in the book were the starting advantages and the disadvantages. In a way my artistic pursuits have been forestalled because I had to establish financial security, and now I have gained affluence.
The big take away was the documenting of 10,000 hours of immersion that was documented as being required to really exploit talent and intelligence.
Also, "Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning." At Grumman I learned the concept of "a man year" which is 1950 hours. This was a 40 hour week minus 5 sick days and two weeks vacation.
So even if I could of done art instead of working it would take about 5 years to get close to those 10K hours of work/practice.
Pretty much what is outlined is the difference between good and great is getting to those 10K hours.
For decades I have had guitars in my life, but because of disruption I don't practice regularly. My playing remains choppy, but I kinda knew that there will be a time when I retire when I can dedicate myself into becoming a great player.
Over the weekend I did some more printing, and I'm at a point where I have to load my 400 ml carts again, but this time I might not have enough inks to refill all of them. This is my intent to expend this somewhat old and perhaps stale inks so I can start with a fresh batch.
I don't think I have gotten to the 10K marks, but that time seems to be approaching in the future.
Cal
Range-rover
Veteran
The other night there was a shooting in North Harlem and when the Cops went
there, they were attacked by a large group throwing bottles and whatever at
the cops, nice to see everyone getting along.
there, they were attacked by a large group throwing bottles and whatever at
the cops, nice to see everyone getting along.
robert blu
quiet photographer
When I started to read I thought ohhh how many photographers were around...maybe preparing new bodies of work after the lockdown...only when you mentioned Chicago I realize what you were meaning...it's scary.
jszokoli
Well-known
Cal,
Don't forget who is doing the counting, and what their motivations are. The police have a lot at stake right now and things seeming to be out of control is to their advantage. I would not think this is a top down thing but rather a bottom up over reporting. Look at Patrick Lynch's world view (head of the PBA) to see the environment that could make this possible...
Joe
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The shooting that happened on East 102d Street and Park Avenue one block from where I live in a separate newscast showed a group of teenagers in a video scattering near this woman with kids.
One of the teenagers falls onto the ground because he was shot in the leg, but he manages to get up, and he runs for his life. There were 5 shell cases found, and a little girl was also grazed in the leg from a shot.
Close to home.
Welcome to the new New York.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Joe,
No doubt that there is a lot going on here with the NYPD, but also know Bozo the Mayor emptying prisons. Surely the cops are not going to be heroic when they are getting peed on.
The 80/20 is in effect here. Statistics say that 20% of criminals commit 80% of the crime.
Perhaps the 80/20 rule also applies to cops. I'm sure the good cops are demoralized, and the bad cops never really had morals.
Then there are innocent people taking plea bargains for crimes they didn't do that are victims of an bad and overloaded court system, racism, and plain old oppression.
Meanwhile some guy a few years back got an early release from prison killed a cop in my neighborhood, and also a mentally ill person in Bryant Park chops off a woman's arm with a matchete who should not have been on the streets.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Divine intervention seems evident with the three Malcolm Gladwell books I read, and they are timely.
Gladwell explains how the British tactic of use of excessive force esculated the situation, made things worse, and lead to increasing violence and pretty much 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland.
The abuse of force basically started a loss of respect, then creditability, and finally "legitamacy."
Is that not somewhat what is happening with police currently with racial tension and killing of black people? Is excessive deadly force creating a movement and backlash? Will this conflict further esculate? Is defunding the Police a bad idea?
The NYPD is considered by many as being one of the best in the world, but some of these responses by some questionable actions, esculations, and use of force and violence seem to leading to a spiral or vortex of sorts.
Clearly videos display use of force, but the editing of these videos cut what proceeded the violence and use of force makes me want to really find out what led up to the use of force. I want the full story. Right now we are right on the moment, but it seems we have been down this path before.
Compound all this with a massive economic collapse due to the pandemic...
Cal
Gladwell explains how the British tactic of use of excessive force esculated the situation, made things worse, and lead to increasing violence and pretty much 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland.
The abuse of force basically started a loss of respect, then creditability, and finally "legitamacy."
Is that not somewhat what is happening with police currently with racial tension and killing of black people? Is excessive deadly force creating a movement and backlash? Will this conflict further esculate? Is defunding the Police a bad idea?
The NYPD is considered by many as being one of the best in the world, but some of these responses by some questionable actions, esculations, and use of force and violence seem to leading to a spiral or vortex of sorts.
Clearly videos display use of force, but the editing of these videos cut what proceeded the violence and use of force makes me want to really find out what led up to the use of force. I want the full story. Right now we are right on the moment, but it seems we have been down this path before.
Compound all this with a massive economic collapse due to the pandemic...
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Twenty shootings were reported in a single day, yesterday, in NYC.
I'm down to my last refill of my carts, all my old stale inks are near the end or are now empty, and I'll shortly put my printer into storage mode and load it with Piezoflush.
Maybe next weekend "Maggie" and I will be exploring Beacon. More homes are coming on the market. Over the past month only two have sold: one was new contruction, yet was a "carrage house" with modern open space; another was a totally remodeled home that had all the updates as if we would want. Meanwhile thee have been already a few surprise price drops.
If I had my way I would buy this "Gate House" on a half acre that borders a large "sanctuary" that Beacon floated a bond to purchase and preserve that formally was an estate. The kitchen is really nice and it is turnkey with the only handicap being that it is too small.
Also know that because it is a gate house that it is close to the road (Mountain Lane). The back yard is mucho big.
It has hill-billy factor because it is remote from the town, and kinda far from the train.
The brick carrage house is only a bit bigger than my Madhattan apartment, and is broken into two levels. Although the space is small, the price is right, and I figure owning a half acre and having privacy means a lot.
My thinking would to build another space and develop a compound of sorts. Maybe even use the Gate House as a studio or home office or guest house, or all three.
So "woman factor" forces me to live in town, when I want to be more anti-social.
I can see me having a green house to grow some food year round. Another option is just use the Gate House as a living space, and build out a large open interior space for work, entertainment, and studio space surrounded by a garden.
I like the idea of building a compound of sorts. Maggie's favorite is the 1890's house that was gutted and made into a "smart" house with the air heat exchanger HVAC system. A surprise is that it has a two car garage. Location is about a block from Main Street. I know when I'm 90 or 100 that this likely would be the wisest choice, but the idea of being more independent and private is a big draw for me.
This smart house is as if a new house, even though its bones date back to 1890. It is turnkey and as if I designed the renovation.
Cal
I'm down to my last refill of my carts, all my old stale inks are near the end or are now empty, and I'll shortly put my printer into storage mode and load it with Piezoflush.
Maybe next weekend "Maggie" and I will be exploring Beacon. More homes are coming on the market. Over the past month only two have sold: one was new contruction, yet was a "carrage house" with modern open space; another was a totally remodeled home that had all the updates as if we would want. Meanwhile thee have been already a few surprise price drops.
If I had my way I would buy this "Gate House" on a half acre that borders a large "sanctuary" that Beacon floated a bond to purchase and preserve that formally was an estate. The kitchen is really nice and it is turnkey with the only handicap being that it is too small.
Also know that because it is a gate house that it is close to the road (Mountain Lane). The back yard is mucho big.
It has hill-billy factor because it is remote from the town, and kinda far from the train.
The brick carrage house is only a bit bigger than my Madhattan apartment, and is broken into two levels. Although the space is small, the price is right, and I figure owning a half acre and having privacy means a lot.
My thinking would to build another space and develop a compound of sorts. Maybe even use the Gate House as a studio or home office or guest house, or all three.
So "woman factor" forces me to live in town, when I want to be more anti-social.
I can see me having a green house to grow some food year round. Another option is just use the Gate House as a living space, and build out a large open interior space for work, entertainment, and studio space surrounded by a garden.
I like the idea of building a compound of sorts. Maggie's favorite is the 1890's house that was gutted and made into a "smart" house with the air heat exchanger HVAC system. A surprise is that it has a two car garage. Location is about a block from Main Street. I know when I'm 90 or 100 that this likely would be the wisest choice, but the idea of being more independent and private is a big draw for me.
This smart house is as if a new house, even though its bones date back to 1890. It is turnkey and as if I designed the renovation.
Cal