Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Jorde,
You feel it too.
Anyways, it is good not to get swept into this. People here in the U.S. seem “distracted” and you see how people are not thinking anymore even in their driving.
Counterintuitively cars are safer than ever, yet highway mortality is up.
People are not thinking, and I would go as far as to say unable to think at all. Mighty crazy.
Cal
You feel it too.
Anyways, it is good not to get swept into this. People here in the U.S. seem “distracted” and you see how people are not thinking anymore even in their driving.
Counterintuitively cars are safer than ever, yet highway mortality is up.
People are not thinking, and I would go as far as to say unable to think at all. Mighty crazy.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
According to Michigan University inflation was 2.7% and is now 2.9%, but the ringer is that inflation is expected to increase to 4.3% in the next 12 months.
Certainly this will make it difficult for the FED to lower rates, unless employment tanks badly, very badly.
Meta announced 3600 layoffs, and there are reports that recent MBA grads are not getting hired.
So inflation never got killed and now it looks to get entrenched. The FED can’t really kill the economy to reset it either by raising rates either.
I have to call Fidelity. They administer my Grumman Pension that I don’t need now. From when I last checked I don’t have to begin collecting until I’m 72. Pretty much overfunded and includes cost of living increases. Anyways I want to know the numbers.
The longer I wait, the bigger the payout. Have to figure out what side of 82 is my lifespan. If more than 82 it pays to collect later, but conversely if I die before 82, best to collect early.
I still favor living beyond 82 because I’m stubborn. Also compared to most Americans I am health, even though I’m living with a low grade Cancer and had an aggressive prostate Cancer.
All this math is a statistical table that Social Security uses where the mean life expectancy is 82 years. That number is no longer accurate anymore since the pandemic, suicide rate, Oxicodon deaths and rising infant mortality her in the U.S. is lowere into the upper 70 range.
Then I have my theory of how preventative health care and screenings got sidelined for 3 years that will have consequences.
“Show me the money,” I say.
My friend Andrew has been reading about CAD. We joked how the cure is “Avoid the cold.” LOL.
Cal
Certainly this will make it difficult for the FED to lower rates, unless employment tanks badly, very badly.
Meta announced 3600 layoffs, and there are reports that recent MBA grads are not getting hired.
So inflation never got killed and now it looks to get entrenched. The FED can’t really kill the economy to reset it either by raising rates either.
I have to call Fidelity. They administer my Grumman Pension that I don’t need now. From when I last checked I don’t have to begin collecting until I’m 72. Pretty much overfunded and includes cost of living increases. Anyways I want to know the numbers.
The longer I wait, the bigger the payout. Have to figure out what side of 82 is my lifespan. If more than 82 it pays to collect later, but conversely if I die before 82, best to collect early.
I still favor living beyond 82 because I’m stubborn. Also compared to most Americans I am health, even though I’m living with a low grade Cancer and had an aggressive prostate Cancer.
All this math is a statistical table that Social Security uses where the mean life expectancy is 82 years. That number is no longer accurate anymore since the pandemic, suicide rate, Oxicodon deaths and rising infant mortality her in the U.S. is lowere into the upper 70 range.
Then I have my theory of how preventative health care and screenings got sidelined for 3 years that will have consequences.
“Show me the money,” I say.
My friend Andrew has been reading about CAD. We joked how the cure is “Avoid the cold.” LOL.
Cal
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
If this is a 401K, you don't have to begin making minimum withdrawals until age 73. I believe this is a fairly recent change by the IRS, up from age 72. My 401K is with Fidelity as well, and I'll be 73 in five days, so I've been sure to have my ducks in a row!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
It was painless getting to my Grumman Pension. Had to be on hold for only 5 minutes, and pretty much I could pick 3 possible timelines for the calculations.
I chose age 68 which is next January; age 70, and age 72.
Some new law allows me to push the date out to April 15th following my 73rd birthday.
So it will take about 2 weeks for an actuary to calculate all this, and since I’m an old geezer perhaps a week to get a hard copy via snail-mail.
No decision or commitment. This is “Show me the money” so I can plan things out.
I also gave out “Maggie’s” birthday. Pretty much the plan “B” would be a reduced benefit, but one that would continue if I pass. Maggie would get my reduced benefit and inherit my Grumman Pension.
I worked there for 17 years. One part is a Grumman Pension, and there is a Northrop Grumman pension also.
I figure with 68, 70 and 72 I get enough of a spread to see how the numbers work. Then we can figure out and plan out a future.
I don’t plan on collecting my Social Security until I’m 70. Somehow the crazy math makes it that my full retirement with 2 pensions and Social Security is pretty close to my full time paycheck at the end of my career, or might even exceed my annual salary at its peak.
Delayed gratification.
Also I pretty much banked about a third of my salary, while living in Madhattan, and doing crazy things like shooting Leicas and spending big money on printing supplies.
So finally a big pay off for living below my means.
The future austerity that lays ahead I’m cool with. I have enough stockpiled treasures that I don’t really need more. I’m living on one pension currently and savings. The next almost 3 years before I’m 70 means my savings have to stretch over these almost three years. A tough challenge, but I think I can do it.
Pretty much this enforces and promotes a “No-Buy” mode which to me is a moral commitment. It is also a regard to my freedom and what I value. Kinda funny how all this lined up.
So things are looking good for Maggie and me…
Cal
I chose age 68 which is next January; age 70, and age 72.
Some new law allows me to push the date out to April 15th following my 73rd birthday.
So it will take about 2 weeks for an actuary to calculate all this, and since I’m an old geezer perhaps a week to get a hard copy via snail-mail.
No decision or commitment. This is “Show me the money” so I can plan things out.
I also gave out “Maggie’s” birthday. Pretty much the plan “B” would be a reduced benefit, but one that would continue if I pass. Maggie would get my reduced benefit and inherit my Grumman Pension.
I worked there for 17 years. One part is a Grumman Pension, and there is a Northrop Grumman pension also.
I figure with 68, 70 and 72 I get enough of a spread to see how the numbers work. Then we can figure out and plan out a future.
I don’t plan on collecting my Social Security until I’m 70. Somehow the crazy math makes it that my full retirement with 2 pensions and Social Security is pretty close to my full time paycheck at the end of my career, or might even exceed my annual salary at its peak.
Delayed gratification.
Also I pretty much banked about a third of my salary, while living in Madhattan, and doing crazy things like shooting Leicas and spending big money on printing supplies.
So finally a big pay off for living below my means.
The future austerity that lays ahead I’m cool with. I have enough stockpiled treasures that I don’t really need more. I’m living on one pension currently and savings. The next almost 3 years before I’m 70 means my savings have to stretch over these almost three years. A tough challenge, but I think I can do it.
Pretty much this enforces and promotes a “No-Buy” mode which to me is a moral commitment. It is also a regard to my freedom and what I value. Kinda funny how all this lined up.
So things are looking good for Maggie and me…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
RG,
I’m currently tapping my 403B. I used a tax calculator at WWW.SmartAsset.com and figured out that not only did I have a bridge to early retirement, but also to evade getting taxed mucho heavily it would be better to take the money early.
This was tax deferred money, so it pays to pay the taxes while my income is lower.
Understand that everyone is different, and in my case my retirement income when I’m 70 or 72 has the potential to be more than my full time salary at it’s peak.
How crazy is that? I figured out how the actuary tables work, and pretty much my delayed gratification pays dividends. I actually will have a crazy retirement income because I’m mighty clever.
It also pays to have a boring day job, Internet access, to kinda work unsupervised, and have the time to waste at work to figure out a real retirement plan.
Smart Asset has a tax calculator that makes it EZ-PZ to make your own spread sheet. Also I discovered the New York can be a wonderful place to retire, especially if you are a government employee. Pretty much if a government employee your entire pension is tax deferred.
In my case with two private pensions I get a $20K tax exemption. Also Social Security is not taxed.
There is no escaping the FED unless you are an Oligarch who lives only 3 months in any given country.
Of course there are other benefits like world class healthcare.
I figured all this out before the Hudson Valley was outed as a great place to retire that happen just after the Pandemic.
When I’m 70 or 72 I’ll kinda have about a third of my income that I don’t need, so I will save and invest. Part of this is our expenses are mucho low. Not a big mortgage, and also at an interest rate below 3%. I figure around age 69 my student loan will get paid off, then pretty much the cheap mortgage is the only debt.
Probably will set up college funds for the grand kids. Likely will have a trust fund for them also. We have more than we need. Happy-happy.
Also be aware to understand the RMD. The penalty is a 50% loss on your money.
Be careful the government doesn’t take your hard earned money.
Cal
I’m currently tapping my 403B. I used a tax calculator at WWW.SmartAsset.com and figured out that not only did I have a bridge to early retirement, but also to evade getting taxed mucho heavily it would be better to take the money early.
This was tax deferred money, so it pays to pay the taxes while my income is lower.
Understand that everyone is different, and in my case my retirement income when I’m 70 or 72 has the potential to be more than my full time salary at it’s peak.
How crazy is that? I figured out how the actuary tables work, and pretty much my delayed gratification pays dividends. I actually will have a crazy retirement income because I’m mighty clever.
It also pays to have a boring day job, Internet access, to kinda work unsupervised, and have the time to waste at work to figure out a real retirement plan.
Smart Asset has a tax calculator that makes it EZ-PZ to make your own spread sheet. Also I discovered the New York can be a wonderful place to retire, especially if you are a government employee. Pretty much if a government employee your entire pension is tax deferred.
In my case with two private pensions I get a $20K tax exemption. Also Social Security is not taxed.
There is no escaping the FED unless you are an Oligarch who lives only 3 months in any given country.
Of course there are other benefits like world class healthcare.
I figured all this out before the Hudson Valley was outed as a great place to retire that happen just after the Pandemic.
When I’m 70 or 72 I’ll kinda have about a third of my income that I don’t need, so I will save and invest. Part of this is our expenses are mucho low. Not a big mortgage, and also at an interest rate below 3%. I figure around age 69 my student loan will get paid off, then pretty much the cheap mortgage is the only debt.
Probably will set up college funds for the grand kids. Likely will have a trust fund for them also. We have more than we need. Happy-happy.
Also be aware to understand the RMD. The penalty is a 50% loss on your money.
Be careful the government doesn’t take your hard earned money.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The sonic blue Tele Thinline is strung up and set up. Acoustically mucho loud and plugged into an amp speaks with authority with a big midrange. The treble is a bit curbed when the alder is compared to my swamp ash thin line.
A very open sound, and there seems to be this large amount of “swell” to the decay of notes and chords. Also seems like the chords are more organ like sounding together rather than piano like that seems to have greater note separation. Notes on the alder body seem more slurred together.
Interest and inspiring. Kinda like having two different girlfriends…
As I suspected the roasted maple plays well without need of any fret leveling. I love it…
I have to remove the strings and trim of the nut, or can just play the guitar as is and do this cosmetic neatening when I change strings sometime in the future.
Call me vain, but this is a very pretty guitar, and like a new girl friend I dig it.
The day is grey and gloomy. I think there is a hint that there was a dusting of snow. Meanwhile another oil delivery…
Today I will get rid of some evil Ginzo fret ends on the DeMarino. I have this black graphite nut material that is self lubricating. The current nut is too low, and needs to be replaced. The Bigsby vibrato I installed I hope stays in tune better, otherwise I need Cris to revamp the neck with a new fingerboard with a 9 inch radius and add a LSR roller nut with less friction.
I go slow motion, perhaps old man mode, doing easy jobs over long periods of time. Absolutely no rush. I listen to music, am more in the moment, feeling a sense of peace. Pretty much that relaxed. As Andrew says, “In retirement, every day is a Saturday…”
Perhaps for me it is a step further and every day is a Sunday. I love my peaceful and boring life.
Maybe today I’ll plug in the new Thinline and tweak it some more. I have a Fender low output 49 No Caster pickup in the neck. It is a bright and lively pickup that seems ideal with the Alder body, and the roasted maple adds some crispness and articulation.
The neck pickup is a Fralin Blues Special, slightly overwound or more midrange and output over a vintage pickup, but I tend to raise a Tele neck pickup close to the strings to maximize treble and articulation. In this case the slightly boosted output balances well for my style of playing.
In a ways I setup and use a neck pickup for a throaty lead which is kinda my vocal range. I can see playing and singing in unison going pretty far, and like maybe like a piano I can sing the bass (left hand) and use the guitar to play the right hand parts.
A huge bonus is the middle switch position where both the neck and bridge are used together. Out of all my Teles this Thinline has the best middle position sound. Brutal.
Then there seems to have a very wonderful resonance in the attack that is lively and present.
I only played a little bit last night, mostly to check if the pickups were in phase or not. Luck me they are. Even acoustically this guitar sings. A very vocal quality…
A finishing touch is this open cover I installed over the Tele neck pickup that shows the naked black bobbin through an open top.. Looks mucho evil, but I need to add a ground to the cover so it acts like a noise shield. I can do this when I change strings…
I have a harem of Tele’s now, and the grandson will go bonkers over this new Thinline.
In another day or so I should be getting those new threaded barrel replacements. Hope they solve the problem. Another sexy guitar that is a mucho loud red. The Callahan bridge with a steel base plate makes this Strat a bit of a porker. The Sperzel tuners along with the CBS enlarged headstock also add some weight.
The Baritone neck has a Strat reverse headstock and would be mighty evil on this strat. Then again it would be crazy good on that 1-piece alder body I secure at a bargain price.
I got the Arizona Turquoise neck inlays kinda for free as well as the 9-14 radius that is an optional upgrade, and also bonus bird’s eye figure. Pretty much a bargain and a no brainer.
The longer scale length is a challenge, and will advance my playing on a standard 25 1/2 in ch scale. Likely will also aid in developing my vocal training.
“Don’t tell Maggie,” but I’m in love.
I’m no Jeff Beck, but I do favor brightness. If you watch JB perform basically he plays almost exclusively the bridge pickup when he plays a Strat or a Tele (In the Yardbird years he played a Fender Esquire which is basically a Tele with only the bridge pickup).
So I can get a fat Jazz sound out of my hands using a Tele bridge pickup, while many Jazz players who use Teles favor the Tele’s neck pickup. Perhaps Julian Lage whould be the exception who plays a 1958 Tele using either the bridge pickup or bridge and neck together. Pretty much he never uses the neck pickup alone.
Unlike other players though, I use a heavy attack. Pretty much my style is to play an electric guitar with heavy gauge strings as if it is an acoustic guitar and perhaps like Charlie Christian hitting the strings hard to project in an orchestra setting using mucho downstrokes for power.
Anyways, I’m doing my own thing, and my own style is emerging. The heavy gauge strings is a big part of my sound. Also I get the dynamics I want from my hands. I have my own sound…
This new blue Alder Thinline kinda favors JL’s style. This particular guitar favors the bridge and bridge and neck together positions. Hmmm.
Cal
A very open sound, and there seems to be this large amount of “swell” to the decay of notes and chords. Also seems like the chords are more organ like sounding together rather than piano like that seems to have greater note separation. Notes on the alder body seem more slurred together.
Interest and inspiring. Kinda like having two different girlfriends…
As I suspected the roasted maple plays well without need of any fret leveling. I love it…
I have to remove the strings and trim of the nut, or can just play the guitar as is and do this cosmetic neatening when I change strings sometime in the future.
Call me vain, but this is a very pretty guitar, and like a new girl friend I dig it.
The day is grey and gloomy. I think there is a hint that there was a dusting of snow. Meanwhile another oil delivery…
Today I will get rid of some evil Ginzo fret ends on the DeMarino. I have this black graphite nut material that is self lubricating. The current nut is too low, and needs to be replaced. The Bigsby vibrato I installed I hope stays in tune better, otherwise I need Cris to revamp the neck with a new fingerboard with a 9 inch radius and add a LSR roller nut with less friction.
I go slow motion, perhaps old man mode, doing easy jobs over long periods of time. Absolutely no rush. I listen to music, am more in the moment, feeling a sense of peace. Pretty much that relaxed. As Andrew says, “In retirement, every day is a Saturday…”
Perhaps for me it is a step further and every day is a Sunday. I love my peaceful and boring life.
Maybe today I’ll plug in the new Thinline and tweak it some more. I have a Fender low output 49 No Caster pickup in the neck. It is a bright and lively pickup that seems ideal with the Alder body, and the roasted maple adds some crispness and articulation.
The neck pickup is a Fralin Blues Special, slightly overwound or more midrange and output over a vintage pickup, but I tend to raise a Tele neck pickup close to the strings to maximize treble and articulation. In this case the slightly boosted output balances well for my style of playing.
In a ways I setup and use a neck pickup for a throaty lead which is kinda my vocal range. I can see playing and singing in unison going pretty far, and like maybe like a piano I can sing the bass (left hand) and use the guitar to play the right hand parts.
A huge bonus is the middle switch position where both the neck and bridge are used together. Out of all my Teles this Thinline has the best middle position sound. Brutal.
Then there seems to have a very wonderful resonance in the attack that is lively and present.
I only played a little bit last night, mostly to check if the pickups were in phase or not. Luck me they are. Even acoustically this guitar sings. A very vocal quality…
A finishing touch is this open cover I installed over the Tele neck pickup that shows the naked black bobbin through an open top.. Looks mucho evil, but I need to add a ground to the cover so it acts like a noise shield. I can do this when I change strings…
I have a harem of Tele’s now, and the grandson will go bonkers over this new Thinline.
In another day or so I should be getting those new threaded barrel replacements. Hope they solve the problem. Another sexy guitar that is a mucho loud red. The Callahan bridge with a steel base plate makes this Strat a bit of a porker. The Sperzel tuners along with the CBS enlarged headstock also add some weight.
The Baritone neck has a Strat reverse headstock and would be mighty evil on this strat. Then again it would be crazy good on that 1-piece alder body I secure at a bargain price.
I got the Arizona Turquoise neck inlays kinda for free as well as the 9-14 radius that is an optional upgrade, and also bonus bird’s eye figure. Pretty much a bargain and a no brainer.
The longer scale length is a challenge, and will advance my playing on a standard 25 1/2 in ch scale. Likely will also aid in developing my vocal training.
“Don’t tell Maggie,” but I’m in love.
I’m no Jeff Beck, but I do favor brightness. If you watch JB perform basically he plays almost exclusively the bridge pickup when he plays a Strat or a Tele (In the Yardbird years he played a Fender Esquire which is basically a Tele with only the bridge pickup).
So I can get a fat Jazz sound out of my hands using a Tele bridge pickup, while many Jazz players who use Teles favor the Tele’s neck pickup. Perhaps Julian Lage whould be the exception who plays a 1958 Tele using either the bridge pickup or bridge and neck together. Pretty much he never uses the neck pickup alone.
Unlike other players though, I use a heavy attack. Pretty much my style is to play an electric guitar with heavy gauge strings as if it is an acoustic guitar and perhaps like Charlie Christian hitting the strings hard to project in an orchestra setting using mucho downstrokes for power.
Anyways, I’m doing my own thing, and my own style is emerging. The heavy gauge strings is a big part of my sound. Also I get the dynamics I want from my hands. I have my own sound…
This new blue Alder Thinline kinda favors JL’s style. This particular guitar favors the bridge and bridge and neck together positions. Hmmm.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Inflation is 3.5% excluding food and energy costs.
The FED knows better than lowering interest rates because that would further accelerate inflation.
Basically Trump wants to add fuel to the inflation fire to offset the price increases imposed by his tariffs.
Looks like a red screen today as the markets see where bad policy is leading us.
Pretty much a mucho slow insane approach to likely highly probable bad outcomes: high interest rates; likely no rate cuts; an impending economic slowdown; higher unemployment; higher deficits; higher prices; a squeeze on consumption; and unintended consequences and uncertainty.
Sooner or later a panic will set in. Pretty much bad policy is steam rolling as our economy certainly is being thrown under the bus.
Pretty much we are emulating as much bad policy as China, and they have a ruined stagnant economy that is suffering a deflationary collapse.
Anyways the wake-up in the markets will be evil.
Cal
The FED knows better than lowering interest rates because that would further accelerate inflation.
Basically Trump wants to add fuel to the inflation fire to offset the price increases imposed by his tariffs.
Looks like a red screen today as the markets see where bad policy is leading us.
Pretty much a mucho slow insane approach to likely highly probable bad outcomes: high interest rates; likely no rate cuts; an impending economic slowdown; higher unemployment; higher deficits; higher prices; a squeeze on consumption; and unintended consequences and uncertainty.
Sooner or later a panic will set in. Pretty much bad policy is steam rolling as our economy certainly is being thrown under the bus.
Pretty much we are emulating as much bad policy as China, and they have a ruined stagnant economy that is suffering a deflationary collapse.
Anyways the wake-up in the markets will be evil.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
BTW this inflation report is for January. Pretty much inflation without the Orange hot spice of the effects of tariffs.
Add fuel (tariffs) and now we have an inflation bon-fire.
I can see the Orange man and the Co-President (Musk) dancing to “Disco Inferno.”
So expect inflation to really accelerate…
Cal
Add fuel (tariffs) and now we have an inflation bon-fire.
I can see the Orange man and the Co-President (Musk) dancing to “Disco Inferno.”
So expect inflation to really accelerate…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Elevated expectations of inflation pretty much reinforces a strong dollar because the markets predict the FED will have to maintain high interest rates, or maybe have to even favor or embrace higher interest rates.
See how inflation will induce a slowdown?
Understand the slowdown fro said tariffs have not really impacted the economy yet. Just like how interest rates take a while to filter into the economy, the impact of the tariffs have not been felt yet.
The trap-door will open…
“Look out below,” I say…
Cal
See how inflation will induce a slowdown?
Understand the slowdown fro said tariffs have not really impacted the economy yet. Just like how interest rates take a while to filter into the economy, the impact of the tariffs have not been felt yet.
The trap-door will open…
“Look out below,” I say…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The DeMarino dates back to 1995, so today it is a 30 year old guitar.
The wood in the neck shrunk enough to make the fret ends jut out to create Ginzo frets, little knifes to cut your hands.
So I took a file and remedied that issue, and while I was at it I polished the frets. Then I made a new nut, but now I discovered that the frets need a leveling.
The graphite nut stabilized the tuning. It is self lubricating and took some careful attention to form nut slots that are low friction and pretty much have limited contact with the strings. I’m glad this worked out. The Bigsby now is a cool asset
So more work…
Know that this guitar languished in my basement for nearly 5 years unplayed, but soon it will be a treasure. Will need a fret level and dressing, then another setup. A problem is I ran out of strings that have a plain “G” string. Have to order a bunch.
Cal
The wood in the neck shrunk enough to make the fret ends jut out to create Ginzo frets, little knifes to cut your hands.
So I took a file and remedied that issue, and while I was at it I polished the frets. Then I made a new nut, but now I discovered that the frets need a leveling.
The graphite nut stabilized the tuning. It is self lubricating and took some careful attention to form nut slots that are low friction and pretty much have limited contact with the strings. I’m glad this worked out. The Bigsby now is a cool asset
So more work…
Know that this guitar languished in my basement for nearly 5 years unplayed, but soon it will be a treasure. Will need a fret level and dressing, then another setup. A problem is I ran out of strings that have a plain “G” string. Have to order a bunch.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
So the speculation of a period of stagflation without a recession was mentioned, and I think this is the likely future outcome.
Economists are downplaying the inflation increase from tariffs, saying that it will only be slight. I don’t think so. That’s not how trade wars work.
I bought 2 dozen eggs at Stop and Shop. $8.19 for large brown eggs.
I think food prices have increased more than 3.3%, I’m not just talking eggs…
Another storm expected tomorrow…
Cal
Economists are downplaying the inflation increase from tariffs, saying that it will only be slight. I don’t think so. That’s not how trade wars work.
I bought 2 dozen eggs at Stop and Shop. $8.19 for large brown eggs.
I think food prices have increased more than 3.3%, I’m not just talking eggs…
Another storm expected tomorrow…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Another good day: Relaxing.
The thing here in retirement is the realm of a child playing comes back to me. Ideas like goals, deadlines, or achievement pretty much no meaning to me. It is as if I am no longer an adult and I reverted back to childhood.
Yesterday cutting a nut on a guitar, over the decades likely have cut thousands of them. I worked in a guitar shop for a while. Why did it take me almost a whole afternoon? Well the first thing is I kinda lost my chops. Been a while since I did the last one, and pretty much I kinda enjoyed just slowing down an being in the moment.
Going in slow motion was actually fun. I kinda had to figure out how I did this in the past with the tools I had on hand. A kinda reverse engineering had to happen. Then the thought came to mind that I am that old…
Then I think about “Maggie” where she kinda imposes and forces out art instead of just living an artistic life. She has pressure and self imposed demands. Me I just play, no audience, no expectations, and I’m having fun. Child’s play…
Cal
The thing here in retirement is the realm of a child playing comes back to me. Ideas like goals, deadlines, or achievement pretty much no meaning to me. It is as if I am no longer an adult and I reverted back to childhood.
Yesterday cutting a nut on a guitar, over the decades likely have cut thousands of them. I worked in a guitar shop for a while. Why did it take me almost a whole afternoon? Well the first thing is I kinda lost my chops. Been a while since I did the last one, and pretty much I kinda enjoyed just slowing down an being in the moment.
Going in slow motion was actually fun. I kinda had to figure out how I did this in the past with the tools I had on hand. A kinda reverse engineering had to happen. Then the thought came to mind that I am that old…
Then I think about “Maggie” where she kinda imposes and forces out art instead of just living an artistic life. She has pressure and self imposed demands. Me I just play, no audience, no expectations, and I’m having fun. Child’s play…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Some minor tweaking on the sonic blue Thinline. Trim the surplus bone on the top if the nut with a file the next time I change the strings; shim the neck pickup so the top is parallel with the strings; ground the chrome open top cover so it becomes shielding.
One-day…
I kinda love the look and feel of this guitar. Can’t wait to really dial it in with an amp. Next Tuesday looks like an opportunity will come my way.
In the next few days the new threaded barrel replacements should come in the mail from Ohio. This Candy Apple Red Strat is an eyeful and will be another hot guitar.
Kinda exciting. I know I have a boring life, but it is so rich.
Cal
One-day…
I kinda love the look and feel of this guitar. Can’t wait to really dial it in with an amp. Next Tuesday looks like an opportunity will come my way.
In the next few days the new threaded barrel replacements should come in the mail from Ohio. This Candy Apple Red Strat is an eyeful and will be another hot guitar.
Kinda exciting. I know I have a boring life, but it is so rich.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
A new report says prices will increase 0.5%, inflation will increase 0.3% this year, and 0.5% next year.
Separately it was reported that inflation is presently 2.9% and this number excludes food and energy costs.
So for me here is the tipping point, an over 3% inflation rate is meaningful, and pretty much expected/projected growth in inflation translates into the FED again being “behind the curve.” This is how inflation gets entrenched…
So here we stand looking at 3.2% inflation soon, and then 3.4% next year.
Immigration policy during Obama’s term is said to have cause a 10% jump in home prices. This was in a period over 8 years ago before the housing shortage was identified.
Expect Orange immigration and deportation policy to create home prices to inflate higher and at a faster rate now that a housing shortage has been recognized.
Could home prices escalate say 5%-7% over say the next 3 years to make home prices jump 15%-20%? Could be an exaggeration, but it is a possibility.
Cal
Separately it was reported that inflation is presently 2.9% and this number excludes food and energy costs.
So for me here is the tipping point, an over 3% inflation rate is meaningful, and pretty much expected/projected growth in inflation translates into the FED again being “behind the curve.” This is how inflation gets entrenched…
So here we stand looking at 3.2% inflation soon, and then 3.4% next year.
Immigration policy during Obama’s term is said to have cause a 10% jump in home prices. This was in a period over 8 years ago before the housing shortage was identified.
Expect Orange immigration and deportation policy to create home prices to inflate higher and at a faster rate now that a housing shortage has been recognized.
Could home prices escalate say 5%-7% over say the next 3 years to make home prices jump 15%-20%? Could be an exaggeration, but it is a possibility.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Oil prices are now hovering around $70.00. This drop in price is predicting less demand and a slower world economy.
Stagflation kinda just sneaked in, but it has a lot of potential of getting entrenched and falling into a death spiral. We are only into less than a month of Orange Power.
A “look out below” moment is yet to be realized. The masses don’t understand what is going on.
Cal
Stagflation kinda just sneaked in, but it has a lot of potential of getting entrenched and falling into a death spiral. We are only into less than a month of Orange Power.
A “look out below” moment is yet to be realized. The masses don’t understand what is going on.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Take note that oil prices increased with the market’s turn into the green.
Pretty much the lessen here is that energy costs, meaning oil, signify and translate into expectations of if the economy is speeding up or slowing down.
Keep an eye on this…
The grandson loves the “loud” looking Candy Apple Red Strat. Maybe after Monday’s phone call the threaded tuner collars I need with the smaller ID thread arrives today.
I kinda discovered MJT Guitars that perform vintage finishes. $325.00 on a raw guitar body, real nitro. $375 for a burst or metallic finish. Hmmm… I have that 1-piece alder body…
The finishes from BloomDoom are alright, a good value, but not as high ended as MJT. Hmmm.
Not much of a premium to upgrade…
Cal
Pretty much the lessen here is that energy costs, meaning oil, signify and translate into expectations of if the economy is speeding up or slowing down.
Keep an eye on this…
The grandson loves the “loud” looking Candy Apple Red Strat. Maybe after Monday’s phone call the threaded tuner collars I need with the smaller ID thread arrives today.
I kinda discovered MJT Guitars that perform vintage finishes. $325.00 on a raw guitar body, real nitro. $375 for a burst or metallic finish. Hmmm… I have that 1-piece alder body…
The finishes from BloomDoom are alright, a good value, but not as high ended as MJT. Hmmm.
Not much of a premium to upgrade…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Sadly, adults are ordering children’s Happy Meals to save money.
How sad is that?
Also more Americans are falling behind on their debt payments on credit cards and even mortgages. A reported 3.6% delinquency rate.
Not good. As I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.”
Fact is too many Americans are living at or beyond their means and are living paycheck to paycheck.
Cal
How sad is that?
Also more Americans are falling behind on their debt payments on credit cards and even mortgages. A reported 3.6% delinquency rate.
Not good. As I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.”
Fact is too many Americans are living at or beyond their means and are living paycheck to paycheck.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
AI and Data-Centers will strain the grid. I think a probability of needing a whole house generator is in the future.
The former Indian Point is facing a redevelop plan of making it eventually a Data-Center. The demands for electricity and for water will be huge.
Lucky for me and “Maggie” is that our natural gas line and meter were just updated, and pretty much I did not have to pay for the upgrade.
About $10K-$12K for a Generac. Previously Generac supplied a a 10 year warrantee, and now it is only 7 years.
So pretty much for energy security I see needing a generator.
Pretty much don’t count on private utilities of the government.
Not sure I believe the AI hype.
Cal
The former Indian Point is facing a redevelop plan of making it eventually a Data-Center. The demands for electricity and for water will be huge.
Lucky for me and “Maggie” is that our natural gas line and meter were just updated, and pretty much I did not have to pay for the upgrade.
About $10K-$12K for a Generac. Previously Generac supplied a a 10 year warrantee, and now it is only 7 years.
So pretty much for energy security I see needing a generator.
Pretty much don’t count on private utilities of the government.
Not sure I believe the AI hype.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
In 2 more days it will be a one month since my surgery. Pretty much I get my life back, but no biking until 6-weeks. Oh-well.
“Maggie” online had information that the recovery would be 6 weeks.
I can do push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and work on building my strength back. I have the Concept 2 rowing machine to pump blood and burn calories. I still have some baby fat.
Looking forward to some sweating.
Its a little hard waking up today. I stayed up late last night. Oh-well again.
So far no delivery of my threaded bushings I need for the Strat. Maybe tomorrow.
I guess I’m feeling antsy…
Cal
“Maggie” online had information that the recovery would be 6 weeks.
I can do push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and work on building my strength back. I have the Concept 2 rowing machine to pump blood and burn calories. I still have some baby fat.
Looking forward to some sweating.
Its a little hard waking up today. I stayed up late last night. Oh-well again.
So far no delivery of my threaded bushings I need for the Strat. Maybe tomorrow.
I guess I’m feeling antsy…
Cal
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Um, long before I turned your age, I stopped referring to it as "baby fat". I now call it "geezer fat".
