NYC Journal

Saturday’s is the day we handle shopping and running errands because during the week we do childcare for a 4 1/2 old grandson.

Generally this involves heading to Trader Joe’s, Shop Rite (sale items or stuff not available at Trader Joe’s), Home Cheapo, CitiBank, Home Goods (for whole bean coffee), our local lumber yard (Dain’s), or hitting a paint store or plumbing supply.

Our agent flew in to NYC and wants to have brunch tomorrow. I guess we will talk about possible gigs…

So this modeling is a side hustle for us. I can do fine without it, but having more money than you need means my wet dreams can come true because ”mad-money“ will be available.

High on the list would be saving about half of the after tax overflow as a slush fund just in case for an emergency, but plumbing to the garage would upgrade my darkroom, and a lot of related things like printing would get enhanced.

Call me a greedy “Ho” but I could use the money.

Let’s see how this plays out…

Today I bought a table saw. I figure it will pay for itself because I intend on building things and I need one so I don’t have to call a contractor for everything. Recently I got by with just a circular saw, but for finer work I need a more precise tool. Not sure if one day I will need a 10” or 12” PowerMatic table saw, but If I do any cabinet or furniture making I’ll need one.

”Maggie” is posting pictures of us weekly as a couple, but she is the content creator, the art director, and also the photographer. I’m just a model…

Lots of stuff is converging for the upstairs bathroom. Floor tile was delivered today. We stopped by a paint store to select a color for the painted walls (Benjamin Moore). Next week I have to pick up subway tiles for the walls that I ordered earlier in the week.

Been a busy day, and I like all the progress and follow through.

In the realm of Geo-Politics, I wonder if it would be a clear message if the U.S. decides to give M1 tanks to the Ukraine, I say take any or all that are stationed in Germany.

Is this double blackmail or is this a clear message?

Let’s move forward. It may be a war by proxy, but it effects the entire world, so in my book it is a World War.

A secondary World War is the war on inflation.

Lastly I’m reading Ray Dalio’s latest book on the changing world order. Pretty dense reading: an economic collapse; a war; or a natural disaster (in our time a pandemic) can change the world order. Interesting to note that we are experiencing all three at the same time.

Tonight I have to clean myself up and be pretty for tomorrow’s meeting with our agent.

Cal
 
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The Bertazonni dishwasher has this delayed start feature that I used for the first time. I figured I would never use it, but since I had to clean myself up for tomorrow’s meeting/brunch I used the delayed start function to give myself an hour envelope where I would not have to compete for hot water.

Anyways a luxury that finally came in handy.

BTW the dishwasher is so quiet that you don’t know it is running. I love it.

Cal
 
My entire Sunday was consumed by having brunch in SoHo with our agent. It was a long brunch.

Seems like strategic planning, strategy, and positioning were the major points. The marketing aspects were deemed unimportant because it seems a bigger picture is being drawn out.

It seems a publication of major importance is interested in doing an “editorial” feature on us as a couple.

This involves a major casting director who is well connected, and some new talent who will be shooting the editorial of significance. This pretty much is a stepping stone to the big time. Testing the waters as they say…

Seems menswear in Paris this year is a big/huge deal, and a year from now our agent thinks we should be part of it next year.

There was talk of mining previous clients/brands to stay/remain visible, and talks about people who moved on, got poached, or advanced that are under the sphere of influence.

Lots of updating and considerations were settled. Vanessa wanted to know about progress on “Maggie’s” book, time envelopes, and openings in schedule.

So now I’m getting interested in men’s fashion, and I have to think about my relationship with my clothing, what I wear, and how I present myself.

I did get some insider smut on some people that I won’t repeat. I got some great insights on some pretty high profile people, so now too I am an insider.

It was a relaxing day, I had fun, and I learned a lot. There is a lot of possibilities here that will get played out. The possibility of somehow being involved a year from now in the Paris menswear shows is kinda mind blowing.

If it sounds like I’m in way over my head, it is kinda the way I feel.

Remember: positive mental attitude; resilience; risk taking/adventure; and openness are the four personality traits that encourage luck.

The editorial we were told would take about 3 hours Vanessa says and there will be a stylist, meaning is all we have to do is model and there will be hair and makeup.

This is the type of gig where exposure is more valuable than pay BTW. The money will follow…

Obviously we are being carefully managed. We have a very-very good agent.

Cal
 
MFM,

I think Vannesa is such a great salesperson/promoter that she could convince Putin to tell the German government to give the Ukraine tanks. She can “snooker” anyone.

If anything I would want the episode to be “This Old Garage.”

She flew out of NYC today, and we have to measure ourselves again so we can be fitted for clothes. Today I find out that the “editorial” is a go and soon a crew will fly in from England to shoot and also do videos.

”Maggie” says the stylist will have us try on clothes, when a look is finalized, then we change out of the clothes and darn a bathrobe while hair and makeup are performed. Then the shoot.

Pretty much we can show up in jeans and a T-shirt.

Perhaps not my first gig as a model, but still I’m in way over my head.

Yesterday I downplayed an inquiry about my photography, but we did talk about Leica. The subject came up in conversation because “Maggie” was toting her Leica CL. A free gift of a Leica Q2 Monochrom would be mighty cool or perhaps a M11.

It was mentioned that we need to start #Leica on posts.

Some new Leica gear would be mighty cool. “If its free, its for me,” I say. I also could use a SL2S since I already have a SL2.

You know me: “Slippery Calvin.”

I guess I need to get my hair cut, still long and pony tailed, but not so feral and homeless looking.

Cal
 
Devil Christian says the way I shoot is “performative” since I kinda get close with a 28mm and move shooting around a subject.

Also a lot of things I do are kinda dramatic, and because I’m a bit of a character who stands out in a crowd I tend to not only draw out interesting people, but also the crazies.

It dawned on me today that all this drama is reminding me of when I was a performance artist and a creature of the theater For about a decade.

So this modeling gig is pretty much more of the same, but different. A performance gig, putting yourself out there, but not on a stage live.

Seems like many of those theater exercises that involve improv and relaxing will come in handy.

Cal
 
So moving forward it looks like the green light is on for a kinda promo gig that involves someone who is NYC based that does Tic-Tock and Instagram. Pretty much just doing this for practice and exposure.

The bigger deal would be with the discussed publication that would fly in from England to NYC to do an “editorial” involving “Maggie” and I as a couple.

Yesterday I started getting serious tightening up the body, and today I will do the same. I’m cutting down the carbs a bit too, and thinking of getting my hair styled so I don’t look so feral.

Also looking into the world of fashion, since I know nothing. I guess my style is that I have no style.

Cal
 
A day of grand parenting. Took care of an 8 1/2 year old and an almost 5 year old.

I guess I’m an optimist because I still have not installed the foul weather Mat’s in the Audi. Pretty much no appreciable snow, a slight cold spell, but really almost no snow. Snowfall is way under average, and the weather has been warm for January.

I think the Mini-Splits will get a lot of use for AC this year.

The bridge I ordered for the Cabronita is officially lost by Fed Ex, and a replacement will be sent pronto. Don’t know if the original bridge will ever get delivered or returned. Oh-well.

So now officially we have a World War, even though it is a war by proxy.

In reading Ray Dalio’s book on world order a lot of sanctions, seizing of assets, economic oppression and other aggressive behavior of hostility by the west in a text book fashion that led to a hot war. In other words Putin is not the only aggressor…

From what I am reading tanks will escalate killing and damage, and may not shorten the war in the Ukraine. How sad…

Looking forward to milder spring weather. An 8x8 cedar shed kit is under a tarp in my driveway. I plan on stripping off the shingles and replacing the garage roof and making some new insulated barn doors for the garage.

Of course more gardening…

Cal
 
Calzone said:
So now officially we have a World War, even though it is a war by proxy.

In reading Ray Dalio’s book on world order a lot of sanctions, seizing of assets, economic oppression and other aggressive behavior of hostility by the west in a text book fashion that led to a hot war. In other words Putin is not the only aggressor…

From what I am reading tanks will escalate killing and damage, and may not shorten the war in the Ukraine. How sad…


Cal
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I found this an interesting read.

www.armstrongeconomics.com

Why do Neocons Want War with Russia? | Armstrong Economics

Lindsey Graham is the twin brother of John McCain. I had asked John McCain once why he hated Russia so much. He never responded with any reason. It was always the same nonsense he always spread before Putin and after. It has baffled me as to what the difference is between Germany and Russia.
www.armstrongeconomics.com www.armstrongeconomics.com
 
One thing is for certain: wars are inflationary. History does not lie.

The War Game scenarios of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan brings into account the need to have the weapons on hand and in Taiwan to really be effective. I don’t really see that happening.

Also anti-ship missles with a fire and forget capability would be the necessary tech weapon to give the U.S. the edge for a plausible victory, but in the end the military capability of the U.S. would be depleted, almost like a zero sum game. This technology of a standoff weapon is based on a technology for attacking land targets, and is not proven against moving targets (ships).

BTW these weapons are mucho costly.

Ray Dalio’s book indicates that the weakness of a Taiwan invasion from China would open up a likely change in world order, as the U.S. would be very vulnerable because it militarily would not have enough ammo left to project power anymore. The cost of war is very high. The cost of replacement would take down the economy.

I always say, “The money has to come from somewhere,” so you can see where rising debt to buy replacements and war is inflationary.

When Iraq was defeated, it allowed Iran to take advantage because Iraq was a rival. BTW George H. Bush was told that taking down Iraq would destabilize the entire Mid East, but we know George W. Bush invaded Iraq anyway. Oh-well…

I’m horrified that I live in a country that both father and son could be/were both Presidents. Horrified again where a husband was President and then the wife ran for President. To me this is not Democracy.

There was a time when the world was so big that there was a Chinese empire, a Russian empire, and a few European empires that had distances to keep them separate.

The world is not so big anymore. When will we learn? Meanwhile the meat grinding continues.

I’m not so sure China can overtake the U.S. economy with the aging population and the mistake of one child per family as policy for 15 years. The population implosion is compounded by many more males than females as a result of trying to cub population growth.

Know that population growth is needed to expand an economy, and China does not have the most advance technology base which is also needed.

Anyways I’m swept up into the history that is unfolding. It is both interesting and scary.

Cal
 
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The Audi turned over 30K miles today. Owned the 2015 since 16K miles, so 14K miles in 2 years 2 months.

Had to pickup some subway tile I ordered for the upstair’s bath.

Pretty easy to see that it might take another decade to hit 100K on the odometer, so I could be driving this car 15 or more years, maybe 2 decades at this rate.

I still walk around a bit, I intend on doing my biking and trail running, and I still do mass transportation.

The 1966 C-10 pickup with I-6 stays in the garage and burns zero gas.

I started doing strength exercises earlier this week. I’m a model so I’m doing the maintenance to keep my boyish build. Likely still 5’10” 150 pounds.

Calvin “The Gas Guzzler”
 
Tomorrow an electrician will be stopping by to look into having an electrically heated floor.

This bathroom remodel won’t get dragged out like the kitchen. This new contractor is a bigger fish and not short staffed.

Lots of smaller jobs this year, so I expect a lot will get done.

I might have to start with an Instagram account…

Lots of buzz on “Maggie’s“ accounts about us modeling. There is this other platform called Instax. The Go-Daddy platform contract ran out, and it would of cost many thousands for services that were free that came from paid work for Go-Daddy. On Instax these services are no charge.

Slowly keeping up and adding strength training, but this tires me out. Covid has been a long slide, and I expect a long climb to fully recover.

Some studies indicate a weak recovery, and others damage that need to be repaired. One study suggests that herd immunity was a bad idea.

Still seems like I was part of a human experiment.

The terrorist who mowed down cyclists downtown on the west side was found guilty. My friend “Mike the Skinny Hipster” and some of his friends were down there riding around the time of the attack.

Cal
 
An interesting article in “The Atlantic” framed how “Junior” members of NATO had their way over the U.S. and Germany.

The world suddenly changed as some of the smaller newer members of NATO understood that the battle can be fought now or later.

Also the clear goal now is not concessions as Germany and the U.S. wanted, but now the clear goal is to expel Russia from all of the Ukraine including Crimeria.

Certainly this is dangerous and an escalation, but still a “War by Proxy.”

I also read another article about how China could impose a blockade to cripple Taiwan economically into conceding reunification. Seems plausible, but what was made clear is that incapacitating or destroying or any damage to the chip foundries in Taiwan would be a massive self inflicted wound that would severely damage China’s own economy.

Meanwhile governments in Europe and the U.S. are accelerating development of on-shoring chip foundries and infrastructure to hedge against the loss of Taiwan’s chip output.

Know that high speed electronics are of a military use, and pretty much enable the west to have superior weapons.

So here I sit 40-45 miles from the Empire State Building. Pretty sure that NYC would be a target in a nuclear war. In a nuclear attack there is high likely hood of getting projectiles thrown up by the explosions even 40-45 miles away that would end my life, but secondarily I believe I would be close enough to be LD-100, meaning a lethal dose of radiation.

I figure either way I’m a goner, but the LD-100 could be a drawn out decline that would be bad.

Know that somehow I still am an optimist, and the remodeling of my Baby-Victorian continues. An electrician will come by today about our electrical heated floor for the upstair’s bath.

How crazy is the world we live in?

Meanwhile looks like a possible date for a shoot in NYC in the beginning of February: a modeling gig that is basically for promo and exposure.

No word yet on the big publication “editorial.”

Cal
 
Good news is that I can likely max out a $3.2K Inflation Reduction Act tax credit that subsidizes my new rear exterior door, my new front exterior door, the new sidelights (windows), my mini-split heat pump HVAC, and rigid foam insulation I purchased.

There is an expression the rich say, “No one ever got rich by paying taxes.”

When I talk to my accountant I’ll find out if I can get a tax credit on the electric radiant heat in the new bathroom for 2023. Also not to hard to max out a $1.2K tax credit on insulation. Pretty much the tax credit is 30% of cost. Spend $4K on insulation to max out the allowable $1.2K maximum.

This IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) continues to 2035, so one way to milk the system and avoid taxes is spend $4K a year on insulation over a period of years.

”Moo,” said the Pig. This might be a good strategy to use to insulate the attic floor with rock wool one year, insulate the rafters in the attic the following year, and then insulate the garage in another.

One thing about retirement is to save money whenever I can. I still hoard by using CVS reward coupons along with other discounts.

Everyone needs to think about a tax strategy. Taxes are a lot of money…

Cal
 
Kinda funny the spin on the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act).

Inflation is when demand exceeds supply, so this government subsidy actually increases demand on doors, windows, insulation, heat pumps, central AC… and not only leads to deficits spending (bad) by the government because of lost tax revenues, it also increases demand which is inflationary especially in a time of shortages.

Just what we need… LOL. Pretty much the dumbest thing you could do. This one is on Biden…

Trump placed a tariff on Canadian lumber where we get about 25% of our lumber from. Surely this immediately worsened shortages and was immediately inflationary. Besides that he framed Canada as our enemy and an adversary.

Of course there is a housing shortage, and pretty much the cost of raw materials not only increase the prices of new houses, but also raised the price on existing houses.

Another mucho dumb policy. Actually this mistake is not so funny. Mighty stupid, but I don’t have a MBA from U-Penn.

Generally government subsidies causes prices to rise (Not good). Also renters are not benefited by this government policy so inequity is increased (Not fair).

So “Calzone-Factor” makes me call this law/policy “The Deflation Reduction Act” because the truth is that this policy fosters inflation and perhaps could be called most correctly “The Inflation Increase Act.”

So am I making sense here? Also where do we find these jerks?

Remember that deflation is an oversupply.

Anyways very funny the premise of this program. Our politicians are so use to lying. Oh-well another blunder and waste of taxpayer’s money.

”Maggie” suggests that Northop Grumman because I was a former employee is actively seeking to recruit me because I have the background and skills. More and more what Maggie is suggesting seems to be true. How crazy is it that I am being sought out for recruitment after leaving their employ perhaps 24-25 years ago.

How crazy is that? Also is the worker shortage that bad that they would want an old analog dinosaur like me who is old school, retro, and outdated. Besides I’m 65 years old. What do they expect from me?

Cal
 
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Today was a guitar day. “Maggie” headed into the city to get her hair cut, so I could make noise.

That little 5 watt National Valco amp allowed me to dial in the pickups, so when I plugged into the Matchless Lightning it was magical. The Lightning is a clone of a Vox AC-15 that is built in a Mil-Spec manner for durability. The small 15 watt amp has over sized transformers and is surprisingly loud for a small amp.

My Lightning and my Matchless Spitfire are rare 2x10 speaker versions that are now discontinued. I feel the 2x10 pushes more air and has a tighter bass than the 1x12 versions.

WOW, the Matchless Lightning is so warm and touch sensitive. I love it. The lightning also has a covering called “Shower Curtain Black” which was a special order. Not sure if it is available anymore on the new Matchless amps.

BTW my two Matchless amps are from the Mark Sampson era from the mid-90’s.

I did learn today that the Cabronita bleed cap is likely too big a value because the treble and volume drop is too severe, and pretty much I just want it as a preset that chops off just the top end. Oh-well.

I really love the carved top Tele with the short scale (24 3/4inch) quilted mahogany neck for jazz. Reminds me of a Gibson ES-335.

So all the changes, heavier strings, and new setups are an evolution on my electrics.

Of course I pulled out my three Santa Cruz acoustics.

Had lots of fun…

Cal
 
So far January has been mild with no appreciable snowfall. The Almanac says that generally the first week of January is the coldest week of the year in New York, but not this year.

Had plenty of mild days where high temperatures were in the 50’s.

This past week I have seen an influx of birds which generally happens later in February. I figure now we have basically central AC on the first floor of the Baby-Victorian with the new mini-splits, and the way things are looking this summer could have some rather oppressive heat waves to make up for the mild winter.

I’m looking into double sided radiant heat barriers to reflect the solar gain on the roof. I already bought a mini stockpile, but I will need more. The research indicates that in the summer a good radiant barrier can make an attic have more or less the same temperature as the outside, instead of becoming an oven.

I learned that radiant heat is the most efficient transfer of heat. Also the attic has to be insulated to a R-39 for a radiant barrier to be effective.

I have full 6 inch thick ceiling joists so R-21 rock wool to fill them, and then I can add at least another layer on top of R-30 to have at least R-51. My square footage is only 676 square feet for the attic floor.

Ground Hog day is approaching, I have a resident Ground Hog in my backyard, and I say we will not only have an early spring, but also a hot summer.

Cal
 
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Have a date for a shoot in NYC. Modeling begins, and I have a lot to learn.

Seems like I need to open an Instagram account, also I need to modernize and get rid of my old flip phone and buy a smart phone. I have to start that treadmill…

A surprise today, the new bridge for my Cabronita was delivered today that I ordered about 3 weeks ago. The first bridge Fed Ex lost, so what arrived today is a replacement order. Oh-well.

Did another setup on the Cabronita, shimmed the neck a tiny amount, straightened the neck a little more.

The new bridge in CNC’ed stainless steel and is heavier. The note separation, articulation, and the clarity are improvements in the tone. I used the Valco National 5 watt amp to adjust the pickup slightly lower for less treble and found the sweet spot.

Last night I changed the bleed cap after experimenting with first a .0022 uf cap then a .0033 uf. The .0033 uf cut more treble, but I also added a .001 uf cap in parallel with the .0033 uf to tailor the frequencies.

Note that I gleaned from the Fender Custom Shop that they use two .0033 uf in parallel on the bridge pickup and a .0033 uf with a .001 uf in parallel on the neck pickup on their “Cabronita Especial.” Basically I used the filter caps they would use on the neck pickup on my bridge pickup.

This guitar now is fully evolved, plays great, looks mighty cool, and sounds great. What a great project.

Happy-happy.

Cal
 
Pete,

It is pretty hard to stay “under-the-radar” at this point. I tried to kinda stay invisible as not to get caught up in doing all the maintenance. Oh-well.

I asked ”Maggie” if I could use my IPAD, and she said, “No.” “If it is free, its for me,” I say…

There is this platform called “Sub-Stax” that she says makes starting a blog obsolete.

Cheapo-Calvin
 
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