NYC Journal

Jeff Bezos is not the only person who treats their workers poorly I know.

All this inequity is not just overseas, it is here.

The unemployment numbers were skewed because many employees were kept part-time to not be eligible for benefits.

At Walmart employees were not allowed to take off their vests after they punch out, and the culture is if a customer needs assistance while they are trying to leave the store they have to respond or they will get fired. Pretty much working for free, and I call that slavery.

All these surveys that is really data mining that can and will be used against you. Pretty much a focus group this is except you are not getting paid. Again working for free, and just a different form of slavery, meaning working or making someone money for free.

Pay me. The days of slavery are over. If I remember correctly Walmart got sued and fined big time. Slavery exists in America.

The bottom lines improved, and this practice was/is rampant.

The unemployment number has been deflated by this abuse of limiting hours.

At my job, overtime was not allowed, and I was an hourly worker. During times when required I worked longer days, Saturdays, and Sundays, and the way I was compensated was comp-time. Not really legal, but it was coercion if I wanted to keep my job.

Then they installed a time clock, where I had to swipe in and swipe out. This kinda worked for me. It motivated me to race from Grand Central to 68th Street to beat the clock. Time was rounded up in 6 minute intervals, and once I clocked in I still had to walk 4 more blocks and crosstown another because my lab was off-site.

At my lab I made sure I left early, and if I timed it to the 6 minute interval between the swipe in and swipe out I could gain 12 minutes each day. Remember I own expensive watches…

Because of the no overtime rule unless approved in advance this system at first blew the books, but our boss allowed us to swipe out early on Fridays to keep and maintain under 37.5 hours. That was our work week. Basically for the year that this was instituted I commuted from Peekskill, and every week I gamed the system to gain an hour off bending the rules my way.

I made it a science and it made my day getting a payback.

Of course I was a resentful employee who took a lot of abuse from a boss that was a bully. I also had a Chief (big boss) who was mentally ill and was prone to paranoia and rage attacks.

In the end I survived and outlasted my two crazy bosses. They both got more or less forced or pressured out, and in the end I got my revenge. Don’t forget I’m Cantonese: revenge and fighting is our culture. I am a nasty bitch.

Hospitals are not like in the TV shows where everyone is friends and having sex with each other. Very dysfunctional and full of Narcy crazy people.

Oh-well.

Cal
 
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The B5 Bigsby caused some creative excitement and stimulation I needed. I wondered how I would utilize it and on which guitar.

There are some physics involved where the ends of the strings have less of a break angle, so vibrations are transmitted less directly to the body because the coupling is less abrupt.

Then there is less string tension which instead of being fixed is now spring loaded.

There are challenges of fighting friction that can effect tuning stability, but I have the knowledge and expertise to set up a guitar with a vibrato correctly.

Then there is the more than half pound of weight that changes resonance and balance.

The DeMarino is a riff off a Tele, so it is like a Tele, yet it is not. It has an offset body that is small, and it has a UBER long 25 fret neck. It is styled more as a rock guitar, but I converted it to a single pickup Esquire because the neck pickup got bumped by the long neck and is no longer in the sweet spot.

This guitar was a prototype and has a 1-piece body that was lightweight. It also has a rear route that was made as a mistake that further lightened the guitar, so adding some weight might actually make this guitar more balanced. I suspect the sustain will increase and perhaps the mids might become more pronounced making it warmer in tone.

The bridge needs to be changed and updated. The retro Wilkinson that has a brass base plate with steel strat like saddles will get replaced with a Callahan bridge with brass saddles and a stainless steel base plate. Pretty much the bridge I think will be the biggest evolution in tone. Know that this guitar was built in 1995 and next year will be 30 years old.

The Bigsby needs the upgrades. The USA version has bearings on its main axel for smoothness. The frame is cast aluminum that is polished. Pretty much old school manufacturing. Muy retro, and perhaps that is why I like it.

When I lay it out on the guitar it looks savage and brutal. Perhaps I should call this guitar “Wolverine” because of DU’s posts, and it also gives me the pleasant reminder of the hot women in Montreal that are sexually open and forward. It is a sexy guitar.

Living the dream…

Cal
 
Today was the Turkey Trot. Pretty much a full sized van got loaded full of frozen donated turkeys.

Peekskill is a blue collar city that is mostly Latino. I friend, formally a Brooklyn hipster, who is married with two kids, runs a boutique business, and it will be closing down at the end of the year.

There are lots of vacant storefronts available, and it seems like a downturn already is underway.

Another boutique business that was a high end bakery also recently closed down.

The point is that luxury businesses are not viable in Peekskill because of the community it needs to serve is lower income and not lux/boutique. Peekskill has not made the turn, maybe it never will. This is an immigrant community…

Don’t know how far the Trump immigration policy will go, but there are a lot of illegal immigrants living here and pretty much I see them grouped up in certain places as day-laborers.

“Maggie” reported that in 2020 the population increased by 1000, and the following year in 2021 it increased another 500, but subsequently the population has slid by a few hundred. Know that we bought the Baby-Victorian in 2020 so we are 2 of the 1K increase that year.

Compared with last year the Turkey Trot seemed more somber and not as big as last year. The downtown looks a bit more shabby.

I can see possible future population loss.

Realize we are on the other side of the city opposite the downtown. Likely this is the quietest part of the city, and pretty much the poor and the crime center in Peekskill is the downtown.

Cal
 
I switched the “G” and “E” tuners on the DeMarino. The tuners are Sperzel locking tuners, and the posts are staggered to control the string break angle over the nut.

This conversion lessened the angle for the “E” string and increased the angle on the “G” string. Overall there definately is overall less string tension and tightness. This will get compounded by the Bigsby so the strings wil feel even more slinky making them easy to bend and for a more violent vibrato.

So basically that will be the voice of this guitar: for bending, and to facilitate vibrato.

The percussive vibe though will likely get diminished, as well as the accentuation of the attack.

I think the added weight will add some midrange warmth and sustain.

Overall this guitar will be radically different, and also I expect another tone shift due to a change in the bridge that will make it more like a vintage Tele vibe.

Hoping the best, but of course this is an experiment that has potential to suck.

One of Cris’s customers uses this expression, “This doesn’t suck,” all the time to really mean, “This is great.”

I hope to say, “This doesn’t suck,” pretty soon.

I have to order some Callahan parts to build things out. Monday I’ll place an order. Next Friday I should have the new Alder vintage style Tele body I ordered that is 1-piece.

I think I will plug in and make some noise to see what my changes did to evaluate things. I also will do some strength training with free weights as well as push-ups and pull-ups. Yesterday’s workout did no harm.

Cal
 
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The heated vest battery has had its batteries fully charged and discharged a few times already, and today I used the vest under a canvas work style jacket made by Patagonia.

I turned it on at 9:00 AM, and the battery died at 3:30 PM. 6 1/2 hours of comfort after it self cycled from high to its constant slate mode.

Wearing the vest under a jacket retained and held the warmth, and it was a very different experience than when I use the vest alone in the house to just fight the early morning and evening chills.

So this vest served me well when the wind chill was kicking up.

“It doesn’t suck.”

Cal
 
MFM,

“Voltex”

It was rated number 1 for 2024 and was rated better than the Milwaukee version which is big dollars.

What I love about it is it’s light weight and lack of bulk. Kinda like having an emergency sweater on hand if you need it. Pretty much so thin and light in weight that you kinda don’t know its there. The batteries and charger are sold separately.

The sale is still on for $59.00 for the vest. Normally $119.00 if I remember correctly. It is because of the sale that I bought 2.

The battery is about the size of an IPhone. Don’t buy the charger if you have this mini-D like connector power supply that happens to be used on my flip-phone.

Batteries are $19.99 each.

I’m really surprised how long they last. WOW.

I can report that pretty much I use this vest all the time now, inside, and outside.

I like my Patagonia R4 jackets and vests, but they pad you out if you know what I mean.

The batteries have been deep cycled about 3-4 times each, so I’m kinda close to max capacity, maybe.

BTW the battery also becomes a source of heat and the hand pocket on the left side allows access to use the battery as a left hand warmer.

Today there was a wind chill and I was happy I had gloves. This vest ensured no suffering from the cold. If I didn’t need the heat boost it would be an oh-well without consequence. This heated vest does not restrict movement. Kinda ideal for working outside say shoveling snow where the bulk of layers is a handicap.

I think I paid $157.00 for two vests, two batteries and the rapid charger, which happens to be the same as my flip phone charger.

The Milwaukee vest is about $300.00.

If you happen to have a battery pack the electrical connection on the vest is a USB.

In my case I can tether a huge Milwaukee M-18 12.0-HD battery for say all day heat say in a tree stand or in an ice fishing tent/shelter. Not lightweight, but mighty cool to have…

For me this is a “no-brainer” purchase.

Know that “Maggie” has not used hers. Oh-well: woman-factor…

Anyways no regrets, because I’m mucho glad I have a backup. Like I said I use this vest every day. Two batteries to have on hand would ensure usage, because the battery while it lasts long, takes about 4 hours to charge, that’s why you need a second one to have on hand.

Now I’m spoiled.

Vest is machine washable. The Milwaukee version is not machine washable.

Cal
 
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Nokton48 said:
Devil Cal,

Check out this homemade Bird Feeding Station. Made by me from Plumbing Pipe from Home Cheapo.

The squirrels and other critters cannot get up there.

View attachment 4849522
Click to expand...

The chipmunk/squirrel proofing if truly ingenious. I see one of the little 'bummers' not looking at all pleased, on the ground at bottom left. We don't have those wee beasties in Australia, and being ex-North American, I do miss them. Not the skunks, tho...
 
Skunks are beautiful animals. We had one that had a back that was a huge patch of white.

Sadly he or she got pan-caked by a car on an exit ramp off a highway.

Skunks and water go together BTW.

“Maggie” got freaked out about the skunk. I saw it one night when a motion detector light went off. I looked out the window and saw/him/her.

Another time with the motion detector light I saw a pair of two long tailed weasels.

Cal
 
The squirrels and chipmunks will still enjoy the feed that falls to the ground from the birds if the birds are sloppy eaters like “Maggie.”

One night I woke up. It was like the fairy tail, I was awake by an unpopped popcorn kernel in my bed under my back.

It is like the Princess and the pea pod, but instead it is the Prince and the pea pod.

Also in the house it is like the fable Hansel and Gretle: crumbs all over the house.

BTW Maggie hates ants, but why does she feed them?

Why do I Iove crazy insane women?

Cal
 
I think I don’t love the present bridge on the DeMarino. The Tele top end is missing, and that is the point of a Tele, basically with the brightness comes articulation.

This guitar has a vibe, cool look, a great feel, and plays well. It is rather impressive by all counts, but plugged in somehow I think the bridge is a tone sucker that is NFG.

What a cool guitar otherwise though. A Bigsby could be killer. The guitar is a freak…

Also know that this guitar kinda has “thud” meaning a deep bass. I think that is because of the heavy brass base plate.

Anyways, I also think I’m kinda use to getting my sound from Callahan Tele bridges, and that’s where we are heading. These are expensive of course, CNC machined and then polished.

They are kinda like jewelry…

Cal
 
I likely can get these stainless steel stackable bowls at a dollar store to creat the half dome roof. That will work.

Cheap-cheap-cheap.

One bird feeder was a gift from our nice diagonal neighbor, not Snoopy and JJ. I like this one a lot, a thoughtful gift.

The other was a gift from “Maggie’s” sister. Can you imagine a solar powered bird feeder that collects sunlight and power and then illuminates the bird feeder at night.

I don’t think birds are nocturnal that we are trying to feed. Kinda makes no sense to me, and I have to think, it is the crazy thought that counts. More woman-factor…

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Skunks are beautiful animals. We had one that had a back that was a huge patch of white.

Sadly he or she got pan-caked by a car on an exit ramp off a highway.

Skunks and water go together BTW.

“Maggie” got freaked out about the skunk. I saw it one night when a motion detector light went off. I looked out the window and saw/him/her.

Another time with the motion detector light I saw a pair of two long tailed weasels.

Cal
Click to expand...
I think there's a lot of needless hysteria about skunks. Like most critters, they're smarter than we give them credit for being, and they will quickly acclimate to the presence of humans who have demonstrated that they will do them no harm. When I lived in New England, we had a narrow garden with a walk that went past a table. Our resident skunk, who lived at the far end of the garden under a shed, would stroll nonchalantly past the table with her three babies trailing behind, on her way to whatever skunk business she was pursuing. She never gave us more than a glance, and wouldn't show the slightest sign of alarm if we had a sudden encounter coming around a corner. Of course, guests who might be seated at the table with us were prone to hysterics, but she ignored them, too. Altogether a charming and well-behaved neighbor, much more so than the human neighbors with the loud stereo.
 
Calzone said:
Devil Dan,

Where did you get the bowl like tops that are a second roof over your feeders?

Cal
Click to expand...
All of our feeders came from wild birds unlimited. We’ve had cheap feeders they fall apart within a year or two. They replace or provide parts and we take them up on it
 
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