pyeh
Member of good standing
Thank you for letting us know about that bit of your life Cal, when you were a kid. Your story is harrowing.
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ellisson
Well-known
Re: anxiety and performing, check out the Emma Stone interview with Terry Gross on a recent Fresh Air (NPR) interview.
Worth a listen.
Best, Gary
Worth a listen.
Best, Gary
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Austin,
The singer reminds me of Johnny Cash a bit. He has a preacher’s voice. Thick resonant authority is conveyed.
At the end of the Cold War I took this personality test as part of the retraining for displaced defense workers. Pretty much a profiling to match personality to occupation.
I was surprised that one of the occupations was a preacher. Kinda makes sense because I tend to rant. LOL.
I have a voice that is good as a a broadcaster, and I don’t need a mike to perform in a crowded theater of over a thousand people. I know how to use my diaphragm and for some reason my body projects a deep resonance. You would expect to see a guy with a massive chest that was kinda big in stature.
Because of about 15 years of cigarette smoking, I have a deep bass/baritone range.
Also know that culturally I am Cantonese, and that language involves rhythm and pitch. It is a musical language.
Thanks for the link.
Cal
The singer reminds me of Johnny Cash a bit. He has a preacher’s voice. Thick resonant authority is conveyed.
At the end of the Cold War I took this personality test as part of the retraining for displaced defense workers. Pretty much a profiling to match personality to occupation.
I was surprised that one of the occupations was a preacher. Kinda makes sense because I tend to rant. LOL.
I have a voice that is good as a a broadcaster, and I don’t need a mike to perform in a crowded theater of over a thousand people. I know how to use my diaphragm and for some reason my body projects a deep resonance. You would expect to see a guy with a massive chest that was kinda big in stature.
Because of about 15 years of cigarette smoking, I have a deep bass/baritone range.
Also know that culturally I am Cantonese, and that language involves rhythm and pitch. It is a musical language.
Thanks for the link.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gary,
Thanks for the link. I listened to it while cutting vegetables for grilling.
I liked how Emma Stone described and framed the anxiety as a super power that could be harnessed as a source of energy or channeled into creativity. This was also my experience.
In the years I worked at Grumman I was a bit of a workaholic who got things done. In my early 30’s I started having bad mood swings and collapses that were diagnosed as manic depressive. I was prescribed Prozac and then Lithium. I responded badly to both.
Pretty much I had to learn how to relax, to the extent that it was life and death. The mania was really just anxiety and the depressions just physical collapses. I’m not kidding when I say my friend Mike saved my life through biking.
I think of the disrupted life I had, and the anxiety that was created because of deep traumas. I also know that my friend Dan’s story of how Bob Fosey made his weakness his strength.
I’m at that point now…
There were other insights to that interview about having a safe place, processing of fear, and also the support and logistics to actually do what Emma Stone did.
I’m on a journey, but I don’t know the destination, but I do know I want to stay local. Right now this is more of a personal struggle to be in the moment. Emma stone spoke of this also.
Cal
Thanks for the link. I listened to it while cutting vegetables for grilling.
I liked how Emma Stone described and framed the anxiety as a super power that could be harnessed as a source of energy or channeled into creativity. This was also my experience.
In the years I worked at Grumman I was a bit of a workaholic who got things done. In my early 30’s I started having bad mood swings and collapses that were diagnosed as manic depressive. I was prescribed Prozac and then Lithium. I responded badly to both.
Pretty much I had to learn how to relax, to the extent that it was life and death. The mania was really just anxiety and the depressions just physical collapses. I’m not kidding when I say my friend Mike saved my life through biking.
I think of the disrupted life I had, and the anxiety that was created because of deep traumas. I also know that my friend Dan’s story of how Bob Fosey made his weakness his strength.
I’m at that point now…
There were other insights to that interview about having a safe place, processing of fear, and also the support and logistics to actually do what Emma Stone did.
I’m on a journey, but I don’t know the destination, but I do know I want to stay local. Right now this is more of a personal struggle to be in the moment. Emma stone spoke of this also.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The Tamron Hall Show was taped early this morning and by now was broadcast.
The location was in Lincoln Center, and the call was so early that we decided it would be best to head into the city last night, have dinner and not have to deal with any rushing or complications. I’m glad we did.
The crew was amazing, and about 80 people comprised the live audience. The shot that included me was not used as far as I can tell.
While “Maggie” was on the stage I was in the right wing with my Leica SL2 rigged with a 35 Cron APO. A production assistant directed me to the left wing to allow a second view via a tunnel that was under the audience, so pretty much I had access to the areas where the production crew were.
The 35 Cron was a perfect lens choice for the wide shot that include the screen back shots of images of the book and also the various photos that were displayed. The SL2 has slightly over 48 MP so I could still crop a lot to actually have close ups that are good enough for the Internet.
Tamron is so well loved and was a great host By 11:00 AM we were done.
We ended up walking to Grand Central, and then walked home from the Peekskill train station for exercise.
So now I see why a 60 MP SL3 could do well with the 35 Cron APO. No need for a zoom if you have excess MP to crop.
From here the schedule should lighten up. More time for biking, fitness, working on the house, and enjoying life.
Cal
The location was in Lincoln Center, and the call was so early that we decided it would be best to head into the city last night, have dinner and not have to deal with any rushing or complications. I’m glad we did.
The crew was amazing, and about 80 people comprised the live audience. The shot that included me was not used as far as I can tell.
While “Maggie” was on the stage I was in the right wing with my Leica SL2 rigged with a 35 Cron APO. A production assistant directed me to the left wing to allow a second view via a tunnel that was under the audience, so pretty much I had access to the areas where the production crew were.
The 35 Cron was a perfect lens choice for the wide shot that include the screen back shots of images of the book and also the various photos that were displayed. The SL2 has slightly over 48 MP so I could still crop a lot to actually have close ups that are good enough for the Internet.
Tamron is so well loved and was a great host By 11:00 AM we were done.
We ended up walking to Grand Central, and then walked home from the Peekskill train station for exercise.
So now I see why a 60 MP SL3 could do well with the 35 Cron APO. No need for a zoom if you have excess MP to crop.
From here the schedule should lighten up. More time for biking, fitness, working on the house, and enjoying life.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Evidently I somehow stumbled into handling a SL3 as it became first publically available at the Washington DC store.
I have been doing some reading of reviews and to a degree size of the pixels are favored over how many pixels by many.
One take away I never thought about was that my old SL (24 MP) that I bought in 2015 has a wonderful sensor for video (the same used in the SL2S) and that it does well with and is heavily favored for use with M-lenses. Pretty much the advantage is shooting with glass that displays character and are less perfect than the L-glass for a more like film look. In fewer words less surgical.
The original SL user interface is not so advanced or great as the SL2 or SL2S, but the ISIS would be a nice upgrade, but hard to justify the added cost.
I was an early adopter and shot my SL with my Noct Nikkor 58/1.2 because the L-mount 50 Lux was not available. I love/loved the rendering, but then I moved onto owning the massive L-mount 50 Lux.
Anyways I still own my old SL and I still love it. I use it with my Noct-Nikkor still and my 50 Lux “R” lens the “E-60” which is the rare second version. This lens has smooth OOF and does well on digital sensors.
The toggle when depressed magnifies the focus spot. Know that the electronic VF’er is very pleasing, and that the SL, SL2, SL2S, and SL3 all have the same EVF.
So there is a speculation of making a SL3S with a less MP sensor. The chain is that less MP is better for low light. BTW I find the SL EVF easy to focus in low light. Works kinda like night vision. The magnifier provides plenty of detail.
Some of the reviews have quirky comments I find amusing. Hmmm.
A point well taken is what I learned today about cropping, which is something I seldom ever do. Remember I love to print big and IQ is mucho important to me.
Also I still love my MM which has large pixels. I print plenty big, and there is no shortage of resolution. The MM is only 18 MP.
So I’m thinking the SL with a 50 Lux “R” lens, or the Noct-Nikkor is a great rig and a keeper, and use my MM for my 28 Cron Version 1 that displays more character than the later version 2, and my 35/1.8 Nikkor in LTM that has wonderful veiling flare wide open and really nice unique rendering that transfers well in digital.
My SL2 with 48 MP does well with the more modern L-glass (35 Cron APO and 50 Lux L-mount).
Not a bad digital kit. Actually I’m kinda spoiled. The 50 Lux “E-60” has the rendering of a Noctilux IMHO but of course no F1.0 which has light fall off in the corners.
Something to be said about the manual focus lenses that have a character and a signature that work well on digital cameras. I guess perhaps a rendering a step towards film.
Today’s shooting could have been done with two cameras. I could have used both the 35 Cron APO on the SL, and the 50 Lux on the SL2 (SL2 has ISIS). I have an Oberwerth bag that can accommodate the two rigged cameras, but I also have this Revival motorcycle padded camera backpack that can hold both also.
I think the Oberworth is easier to use when shooting both cameras, but for toting the Revival is more comfortable.
Hmmm… Glad I have both.
Now after my research I see the appeals of why I still love my old SL. The L-glass though certainly has a very modern rendering, especially on the SL2. They seem to match up very well.
Cal
I have been doing some reading of reviews and to a degree size of the pixels are favored over how many pixels by many.
One take away I never thought about was that my old SL (24 MP) that I bought in 2015 has a wonderful sensor for video (the same used in the SL2S) and that it does well with and is heavily favored for use with M-lenses. Pretty much the advantage is shooting with glass that displays character and are less perfect than the L-glass for a more like film look. In fewer words less surgical.
The original SL user interface is not so advanced or great as the SL2 or SL2S, but the ISIS would be a nice upgrade, but hard to justify the added cost.
I was an early adopter and shot my SL with my Noct Nikkor 58/1.2 because the L-mount 50 Lux was not available. I love/loved the rendering, but then I moved onto owning the massive L-mount 50 Lux.
Anyways I still own my old SL and I still love it. I use it with my Noct-Nikkor still and my 50 Lux “R” lens the “E-60” which is the rare second version. This lens has smooth OOF and does well on digital sensors.
The toggle when depressed magnifies the focus spot. Know that the electronic VF’er is very pleasing, and that the SL, SL2, SL2S, and SL3 all have the same EVF.
So there is a speculation of making a SL3S with a less MP sensor. The chain is that less MP is better for low light. BTW I find the SL EVF easy to focus in low light. Works kinda like night vision. The magnifier provides plenty of detail.
Some of the reviews have quirky comments I find amusing. Hmmm.
A point well taken is what I learned today about cropping, which is something I seldom ever do. Remember I love to print big and IQ is mucho important to me.
Also I still love my MM which has large pixels. I print plenty big, and there is no shortage of resolution. The MM is only 18 MP.
So I’m thinking the SL with a 50 Lux “R” lens, or the Noct-Nikkor is a great rig and a keeper, and use my MM for my 28 Cron Version 1 that displays more character than the later version 2, and my 35/1.8 Nikkor in LTM that has wonderful veiling flare wide open and really nice unique rendering that transfers well in digital.
My SL2 with 48 MP does well with the more modern L-glass (35 Cron APO and 50 Lux L-mount).
Not a bad digital kit. Actually I’m kinda spoiled. The 50 Lux “E-60” has the rendering of a Noctilux IMHO but of course no F1.0 which has light fall off in the corners.
Something to be said about the manual focus lenses that have a character and a signature that work well on digital cameras. I guess perhaps a rendering a step towards film.
Today’s shooting could have been done with two cameras. I could have used both the 35 Cron APO on the SL, and the 50 Lux on the SL2 (SL2 has ISIS). I have an Oberwerth bag that can accommodate the two rigged cameras, but I also have this Revival motorcycle padded camera backpack that can hold both also.
I think the Oberworth is easier to use when shooting both cameras, but for toting the Revival is more comfortable.
Hmmm… Glad I have both.
Now after my research I see the appeals of why I still love my old SL. The L-glass though certainly has a very modern rendering, especially on the SL2. They seem to match up very well.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
At this point I think the darkroom and wet printing is on the back burner. One thing at a time…
Setting up the garage studio all out needs full attention, and will be done without compromise. Of course I’ll have to spend my money once. I think having a wood stove would be a nice relaxing feature that could justify the expense of around $2K. Could over the long term it could pay for itself in heating savings.
The primary heating system would be the mini-split with the bonus of A/C. Already having a 100 amp service in my garage. The only ugly with a wood stove is the dirt it introduces, so perhaps I do really want a clean room. Maybe just having a fire pit would be a better idea.
The roof is shot and needs to be stripped with shingle replacement. This task will get enhanced with a double sided radiant barrier on rigid foam on top of the sheathing. This provides a R-6 and will create an exterior sealed envelope with the edges taped with metal tape. This also will prevent “Thermal-Bridging” where heat and cold gets transferred between studs and rafters.
The space is not so big, so it will be easy to seal well (10x20 with a cathedral hip roof).
The first step is to pull the cylinder head on the truck so I can get the valve job done. This truck is almost 60 years old and the original valve seals certainly need replacement, and the valve seats were not made for unleaded gas. Pulling the head will reveal the overall condition of the engine.
The running of non leaded gas if done for a prolonged time could have destroyed the valve seats badly that the head might not be serviceable. All I can do is look and see. The inline 6 250 cubic inch engine is a work horse. With a valve job pretty much I could have a still fresh engine if I am lucky. Hmmm…
The next task would be the rear engine oil seal a common problem on Chevy’s. Also this oil leak could mean the clutch got wet with oil and needs to be replaced. Oh-well.
The three on the tree tranny is tiny and is not so heavy. One report says it is only 65 pounds.
If I am lucky the 61K miles on the odometer is the original mileage and it is not 161K. The truck burns a serious amount of oil. Blue smoke could be explained by having no valve seals. The condition of the body suggests and supports 61K as the real mileage.
Will I be lucky?
Tomorrow I will have my annual physical, and “Maggie” has physical therapy. Both appointments are in the morning, so we will have the afternoon.
Maybe more molding stripping tomorrow afternoon.
Cal
Setting up the garage studio all out needs full attention, and will be done without compromise. Of course I’ll have to spend my money once. I think having a wood stove would be a nice relaxing feature that could justify the expense of around $2K. Could over the long term it could pay for itself in heating savings.
The primary heating system would be the mini-split with the bonus of A/C. Already having a 100 amp service in my garage. The only ugly with a wood stove is the dirt it introduces, so perhaps I do really want a clean room. Maybe just having a fire pit would be a better idea.
The roof is shot and needs to be stripped with shingle replacement. This task will get enhanced with a double sided radiant barrier on rigid foam on top of the sheathing. This provides a R-6 and will create an exterior sealed envelope with the edges taped with metal tape. This also will prevent “Thermal-Bridging” where heat and cold gets transferred between studs and rafters.
The space is not so big, so it will be easy to seal well (10x20 with a cathedral hip roof).
The first step is to pull the cylinder head on the truck so I can get the valve job done. This truck is almost 60 years old and the original valve seals certainly need replacement, and the valve seats were not made for unleaded gas. Pulling the head will reveal the overall condition of the engine.
The running of non leaded gas if done for a prolonged time could have destroyed the valve seats badly that the head might not be serviceable. All I can do is look and see. The inline 6 250 cubic inch engine is a work horse. With a valve job pretty much I could have a still fresh engine if I am lucky. Hmmm…
The next task would be the rear engine oil seal a common problem on Chevy’s. Also this oil leak could mean the clutch got wet with oil and needs to be replaced. Oh-well.
The three on the tree tranny is tiny and is not so heavy. One report says it is only 65 pounds.
If I am lucky the 61K miles on the odometer is the original mileage and it is not 161K. The truck burns a serious amount of oil. Blue smoke could be explained by having no valve seals. The condition of the body suggests and supports 61K as the real mileage.
Will I be lucky?
Tomorrow I will have my annual physical, and “Maggie” has physical therapy. Both appointments are in the morning, so we will have the afternoon.
Maybe more molding stripping tomorrow afternoon.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’m kinda phasing in retirement.
I’m collecting my hospital pension because I was forced to, and I draw down my retirement savings because I need to spend that money before I’m 70 because at age 70 I will have to collect Social Security. The idea here is pay less taxes before my income makes a jump higher.
I have another pension at Grumman, but if I wait to collect when I’m 72 I get bigger payments. Age 72 is when I’m forced to collect this pension. With Social Security I’m forced to collect at age 72. Know that my Grumman Pension has a cost of living adjustment to keep up with inflation. Awesome…
There are phase ins to my strategy because it will take a lot of money to live past the age of 100.
In a recent article many Americans really don’t have retirement savings, nor enough money to retire. Only about 28% have pensions, and I am lucky enough to have two pensions.
When I have my full retirement income, somehow I will be in the top 2% on the retirement income graph. If I add in “Maggie’s retirement income we end up in the top 1%. Maggie’s alone in in the top 3.5%, but she has mucho savings.
These numbers are skewed lower because so many people of retirement age have not a lot of resources or savings.
I am still surprised to learn as retirees that we are rather rich. The counter though is my guess is that about 2/3rds of Americans can’t afford to retire.
WWW.SmartAsset.com has a very useful tax calculator that allows one to do some financial planning. Here in New York I get a $20K state tax exemption on my pension. If it were a state or federal pension it would be 100% tax free income. Refine the search with “retirement tax calculator.”
In the long run having a defined benefit plan (pension) is the most money if you plan on living past 82.
I’m kinda proud that I lived well below my means to have the savings as a “bridge” to allow me to defer collecting my Social Security and my second pension for increased benefits. I literally had enough money to not work and live on savings for a few years.
For me it did not pay to work because increases to my hospital pension were discontinued. I’m so happy I was able to swing retiring at age 62 instead of 66 1/2. Pretty much an almost 5 year vacation. Why work when you can play? Past the age of 60 we are on borrowed time where anything could happen.
Anyways in my case hard work and living below my means paid off.
Cal
I’m collecting my hospital pension because I was forced to, and I draw down my retirement savings because I need to spend that money before I’m 70 because at age 70 I will have to collect Social Security. The idea here is pay less taxes before my income makes a jump higher.
I have another pension at Grumman, but if I wait to collect when I’m 72 I get bigger payments. Age 72 is when I’m forced to collect this pension. With Social Security I’m forced to collect at age 72. Know that my Grumman Pension has a cost of living adjustment to keep up with inflation. Awesome…
There are phase ins to my strategy because it will take a lot of money to live past the age of 100.
In a recent article many Americans really don’t have retirement savings, nor enough money to retire. Only about 28% have pensions, and I am lucky enough to have two pensions.
When I have my full retirement income, somehow I will be in the top 2% on the retirement income graph. If I add in “Maggie’s retirement income we end up in the top 1%. Maggie’s alone in in the top 3.5%, but she has mucho savings.
These numbers are skewed lower because so many people of retirement age have not a lot of resources or savings.
I am still surprised to learn as retirees that we are rather rich. The counter though is my guess is that about 2/3rds of Americans can’t afford to retire.
WWW.SmartAsset.com has a very useful tax calculator that allows one to do some financial planning. Here in New York I get a $20K state tax exemption on my pension. If it were a state or federal pension it would be 100% tax free income. Refine the search with “retirement tax calculator.”
In the long run having a defined benefit plan (pension) is the most money if you plan on living past 82.
I’m kinda proud that I lived well below my means to have the savings as a “bridge” to allow me to defer collecting my Social Security and my second pension for increased benefits. I literally had enough money to not work and live on savings for a few years.
For me it did not pay to work because increases to my hospital pension were discontinued. I’m so happy I was able to swing retiring at age 62 instead of 66 1/2. Pretty much an almost 5 year vacation. Why work when you can play? Past the age of 60 we are on borrowed time where anything could happen.
Anyways in my case hard work and living below my means paid off.
Cal
Last edited:
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Tonight there is a meeting with Peekskill Walks which is a group of people in our community trying to make our city more pedestrian friendly.
This is along the lines of a necessary step towards development into a Blue Zone in a few ways: having a sense of community, getting outside, exercise, and being pedestrian friendly.
Of course I also want to promote biking, and perhaps selfishly I would want to have a pump track that would draw people into Peekskill.
A pump track at Blue Mountain Preserve gets complicated because it is owned by Westchester County, but right next to Blue Mountain Preserve is the 200 acre Depue Park that is Peekskills. These two parks butt each other.
A pump track does not require a lot of space BTW. Hmmm…
At Highbridge Park in NYC there is a pump track and it is made from just dirt, no asphalt. The idea of a pump track is no pedaling, and pretty much one uses physics, gravity, and momentum along with timing to accelerate a bicycle. The same physics as a kids swing.
This type of biking develops bike handling skills and strength. It involves the whole body, and pretty much the seat is lowered and not used.
Anyways I have my spin and influence. Peekskill has a population of about 25K. It is a tiny “City.”
Cal
This is along the lines of a necessary step towards development into a Blue Zone in a few ways: having a sense of community, getting outside, exercise, and being pedestrian friendly.
Of course I also want to promote biking, and perhaps selfishly I would want to have a pump track that would draw people into Peekskill.
A pump track at Blue Mountain Preserve gets complicated because it is owned by Westchester County, but right next to Blue Mountain Preserve is the 200 acre Depue Park that is Peekskills. These two parks butt each other.
A pump track does not require a lot of space BTW. Hmmm…
At Highbridge Park in NYC there is a pump track and it is made from just dirt, no asphalt. The idea of a pump track is no pedaling, and pretty much one uses physics, gravity, and momentum along with timing to accelerate a bicycle. The same physics as a kids swing.
This type of biking develops bike handling skills and strength. It involves the whole body, and pretty much the seat is lowered and not used.
Anyways I have my spin and influence. Peekskill has a population of about 25K. It is a tiny “City.”
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Later today “Maggie” has an interview that is a zoom call for WNYC. This is one of many NPR stations that she has been featured.
Don’t know if it will be live, or be posted somewhere at this point.
I’m feeling a bit fatigued, and I don’t know what to do with myself. Today is a slow start.
Cal
Don’t know if it will be live, or be posted somewhere at this point.
I’m feeling a bit fatigued, and I don’t know what to do with myself. Today is a slow start.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
An event in Boston in June. “Maggie” was invited to be a guest speaker, but pretty much is unwilling to work for free. They will pay for lodging and transportation, so the deal is free travel.
Another library event now in Connecticut where they be giving a modest honorarium . This is a literary event, but also free travel or sponsored travel depending how you frame it. A local bookseller will be on hand to sell Maggie’s book. It is expected to draw in about 50-100 people.
I need not to feel so tired soon. I have accumulated fatigue even though I’m getting just towed along.
Meanwhile the ground swell continues.
Cal
Another library event now in Connecticut where they be giving a modest honorarium . This is a literary event, but also free travel or sponsored travel depending how you frame it. A local bookseller will be on hand to sell Maggie’s book. It is expected to draw in about 50-100 people.
I need not to feel so tired soon. I have accumulated fatigue even though I’m getting just towed along.
Meanwhile the ground swell continues.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The WNYC interview will be a live broadcast. It will begin in 5 minutes.
This will be a half hour feature.
Cal
This will be a half hour feature.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Wow.
I just checked the estimated value of our home. Very crazy appreciation and at this rate it is approaching double the price we bought it at just 3 1/2 years ago. At this rate of appreciation I can predict that our house will double in value by the time we own it for 5 years, and that is only a year and a half away.
How crazy is that?
We already have a lot of equity, and this is at record low mortgage rates well below 3%.
These numbers don’t really factor in all the work that was performed remodeling and additions like the landscaping, the two sheds, the cedar fence, and the pergola that makes the house mucho cute. The house is becoming a gem of sorts and likely the cutest on the avenue of 13 homes.
This is in a secluded area of the city that is comprised of a maze of dead ends on the most southern end of the city. Our neighborhood is a valley within a valley that is 75-80 feet above sea level, yet we are close enough to the Hudson River that we hear the diesel train on the Hudson Line.
Think of the entire Hudson Valley as a very long Fee-Ored, and Peekskill a bit of a Moor-Rain made by a glacier during an ice age. Blue Mountain nearby has deposits of granite boulders.
Then you are at the Gateway to the Hudson Highlands. Just across the Hudson are two Ma mouth state parks that are basically wilderness, and the Catskills is a short drive away. Right across the Hudson River is a landscape of mountains that contrasts with the bay in Peekskill and its rolling hills. A rather dramatic shift in landscapes.
I also checked and our taxes went up about $800.00, but it still is mighty cheap for Westchester.
Add on top of this because of appreciation we now have hundreds of thousands in equity already in just three and a half years.
In these parts the infrastructure of a natural gas supply and sewers is not common, and Peekskill because it is a tiny city is the exception. For me this is a really-really big deal to have the convenience of this infrastructure. The surrounding area of Peekskill is it’s suburbs and the homes vary from modest to McMansion like country estates that are either old farm houses or new homes meant to resemble them.
The affluent suburbs of Peekskill is just south of our Baby-Victorian so we have location-location-location covered as well as the prime school district which is highly rated.
Between 2010 and 2020 the median household income has increased 58% in Peekskill, and the population growth in Peekskill has been double that of Westchester County. It so happens that the biggest population increase by age group has been people like us that are of retirement age.
Pretty much a Blue Zone is beginning to form. Hmmm.
This for us is a second ground swell…
We bought the last of the low laying fruit, and now here there is a serious housing shortage that will only inflate everything even further. Very slim pickings for housing.
Cal
I just checked the estimated value of our home. Very crazy appreciation and at this rate it is approaching double the price we bought it at just 3 1/2 years ago. At this rate of appreciation I can predict that our house will double in value by the time we own it for 5 years, and that is only a year and a half away.
How crazy is that?
We already have a lot of equity, and this is at record low mortgage rates well below 3%.
These numbers don’t really factor in all the work that was performed remodeling and additions like the landscaping, the two sheds, the cedar fence, and the pergola that makes the house mucho cute. The house is becoming a gem of sorts and likely the cutest on the avenue of 13 homes.
This is in a secluded area of the city that is comprised of a maze of dead ends on the most southern end of the city. Our neighborhood is a valley within a valley that is 75-80 feet above sea level, yet we are close enough to the Hudson River that we hear the diesel train on the Hudson Line.
Think of the entire Hudson Valley as a very long Fee-Ored, and Peekskill a bit of a Moor-Rain made by a glacier during an ice age. Blue Mountain nearby has deposits of granite boulders.
Then you are at the Gateway to the Hudson Highlands. Just across the Hudson are two Ma mouth state parks that are basically wilderness, and the Catskills is a short drive away. Right across the Hudson River is a landscape of mountains that contrasts with the bay in Peekskill and its rolling hills. A rather dramatic shift in landscapes.
I also checked and our taxes went up about $800.00, but it still is mighty cheap for Westchester.
Add on top of this because of appreciation we now have hundreds of thousands in equity already in just three and a half years.
In these parts the infrastructure of a natural gas supply and sewers is not common, and Peekskill because it is a tiny city is the exception. For me this is a really-really big deal to have the convenience of this infrastructure. The surrounding area of Peekskill is it’s suburbs and the homes vary from modest to McMansion like country estates that are either old farm houses or new homes meant to resemble them.
The affluent suburbs of Peekskill is just south of our Baby-Victorian so we have location-location-location covered as well as the prime school district which is highly rated.
Between 2010 and 2020 the median household income has increased 58% in Peekskill, and the population growth in Peekskill has been double that of Westchester County. It so happens that the biggest population increase by age group has been people like us that are of retirement age.
Pretty much a Blue Zone is beginning to form. Hmmm.
This for us is a second ground swell…
We bought the last of the low laying fruit, and now here there is a serious housing shortage that will only inflate everything even further. Very slim pickings for housing.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’m thinking for travel my old MM with a 28 Cron is a great rig for me.
Another is my old SL with the Noct-Nikkor mounted.
One color camera, and a B&W camera.
The SL with Noct-Nikkor has character and a rendering that is kinda retro. While a Noctilux has F1.0 and wide open the Noctilux renders a light fall off in the corners, it is in fact sharper in the corners than my Noct-Nikkor, but while the corners are softer in focus than the Noctilux the light does not fall off like on the Noctilux.
The Noct-Nikkor is a 58mm F1.2 with a hand ground ASPH element. The center focus is mucho sharp and works well on digital cameras. It is also made with low coma glass so bright light sources in high contrast situations don’t create lava lamps.
I think well suited for portraits and favored by wedding photogs because of the bokeh and UBER smooth OOF and the sharp to soft transitions. Pretty much a great lens, but also because the ASPH lens is hand ground there is some variation. Mine is particularly great, and also was serviced by Sammy’s in LA.
On my SL I figured out a way to utilize the Noctilux F1.2 profile.
The EVF at night is like night vision and makes it mucho easy to nail focus at night. Just depress the joy stick and you will get the zoom to magnify a detail wherever you placed the cursor. EZ-PZ and deadly accurate. The images oh so pretty…
I find the reach of a 50 makes great use of the push in the joy stick ELF zoom to make a very strong and accurate focus pop that is deadly accurate. Mucho good and easy to use. I dumbed down the features to kinda make my SL most like a dumb and stupid film camera, and that is the charm.
The rendering is magical and very film like.
On the other hand I know perfection that is mucho modern in rendering by shooting a SL2 with modern L-glass. The performance of this glass is elevated, especially my APO 35 Cron. It kinda has a look that is in your face, but also is pleasant because of pretty bokeh and a smooth OOF transition. Somehow UBER sharp but not clinical.
I think I like the retro look more, especially love the character rendered in the retro glass that it’s old school and film like. I can be happy with my old-old gear.
The MM I think is a classic. Mucho primitive and slow by modern standards. I would say the MM is the most primitive and hardest camera to shoot, because it has less dynamic range and is so unforgiving. I love it for its simplicity, and out of all the available cameras it is the digital camera that most closely simulates a film camera experience to me. Pure and simple.
I like shooting M-bodies for wides. I think this is where they excel the most. Give me a 35 or 28 on a M-body and I can shoot all day. Love the small package, the weight, the feel, and again the simplicity.
So who knew these would be my legacy cameras?
The SL2 with L-glass is crazy good, but somehow the old and retro remains with charm that endures and remains.
Cal
Another is my old SL with the Noct-Nikkor mounted.
One color camera, and a B&W camera.
The SL with Noct-Nikkor has character and a rendering that is kinda retro. While a Noctilux has F1.0 and wide open the Noctilux renders a light fall off in the corners, it is in fact sharper in the corners than my Noct-Nikkor, but while the corners are softer in focus than the Noctilux the light does not fall off like on the Noctilux.
The Noct-Nikkor is a 58mm F1.2 with a hand ground ASPH element. The center focus is mucho sharp and works well on digital cameras. It is also made with low coma glass so bright light sources in high contrast situations don’t create lava lamps.
I think well suited for portraits and favored by wedding photogs because of the bokeh and UBER smooth OOF and the sharp to soft transitions. Pretty much a great lens, but also because the ASPH lens is hand ground there is some variation. Mine is particularly great, and also was serviced by Sammy’s in LA.
On my SL I figured out a way to utilize the Noctilux F1.2 profile.
The EVF at night is like night vision and makes it mucho easy to nail focus at night. Just depress the joy stick and you will get the zoom to magnify a detail wherever you placed the cursor. EZ-PZ and deadly accurate. The images oh so pretty…
I find the reach of a 50 makes great use of the push in the joy stick ELF zoom to make a very strong and accurate focus pop that is deadly accurate. Mucho good and easy to use. I dumbed down the features to kinda make my SL most like a dumb and stupid film camera, and that is the charm.
The rendering is magical and very film like.
On the other hand I know perfection that is mucho modern in rendering by shooting a SL2 with modern L-glass. The performance of this glass is elevated, especially my APO 35 Cron. It kinda has a look that is in your face, but also is pleasant because of pretty bokeh and a smooth OOF transition. Somehow UBER sharp but not clinical.
I think I like the retro look more, especially love the character rendered in the retro glass that it’s old school and film like. I can be happy with my old-old gear.
The MM I think is a classic. Mucho primitive and slow by modern standards. I would say the MM is the most primitive and hardest camera to shoot, because it has less dynamic range and is so unforgiving. I love it for its simplicity, and out of all the available cameras it is the digital camera that most closely simulates a film camera experience to me. Pure and simple.
I like shooting M-bodies for wides. I think this is where they excel the most. Give me a 35 or 28 on a M-body and I can shoot all day. Love the small package, the weight, the feel, and again the simplicity.
So who knew these would be my legacy cameras?
The SL2 with L-glass is crazy good, but somehow the old and retro remains with charm that endures and remains.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
“Maggie” has accumulated fatigue.
Today it took most of the day for me to wake up, but I think I will walk into the downtown and attend the Peekskill Walks meeting that should be about an hour.
I am taking out the SL rigged with the Noct-Nikkor. It is still a big and heavy rig, but oh-well I like it, and it is a spectacular night shooter.
This SL also loves the 50 Lux-R “E60.” Some people compare the E60 to a Noctilux and claim it renders much the same but only F1.4. This is also another old lens that back in the day was sharp and does well in a digital camera. The bokeh and OOF does resemble a Noctilux, but of course no F1.0.
The E60 is kinda rare and not many come up for sale, especially after R-glass became popular with the video crowd. I was lucky to get one that I found at Photo Village.
I figure I need to go for at least the about 4-4.5 mile walk round trip. I don’t want to be a slug, and the fresh air and exercise will be good for me. Tomorrow is another day medical appointments and likely a grandson pickup.
The sky’s are grey, but it seemed the rain was only a slight drizzle. No puddles formed…
Cal
Today it took most of the day for me to wake up, but I think I will walk into the downtown and attend the Peekskill Walks meeting that should be about an hour.
I am taking out the SL rigged with the Noct-Nikkor. It is still a big and heavy rig, but oh-well I like it, and it is a spectacular night shooter.
This SL also loves the 50 Lux-R “E60.” Some people compare the E60 to a Noctilux and claim it renders much the same but only F1.4. This is also another old lens that back in the day was sharp and does well in a digital camera. The bokeh and OOF does resemble a Noctilux, but of course no F1.0.
The E60 is kinda rare and not many come up for sale, especially after R-glass became popular with the video crowd. I was lucky to get one that I found at Photo Village.
I figure I need to go for at least the about 4-4.5 mile walk round trip. I don’t want to be a slug, and the fresh air and exercise will be good for me. Tomorrow is another day medical appointments and likely a grandson pickup.
The sky’s are grey, but it seemed the rain was only a slight drizzle. No puddles formed…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
WOW and WOW.
I am a mighty good salesman. I think I set the hook into an Urban Planner for the City of Peekskill that was hired for the Peekskill Downtown Revitalization Initiative (“DRI”) to build me a pump track.
There was mention of a strip of land that could be a pop-up park, and it triggered the thought of a pump track.
After the meeting I cornered the Urban Planner and gave him my contact information and invited him to get on one of my bikes so we could cover the Pedestrian/Cyclist plausible routes. Don’t tell anyone but one route basically is a Bee-Line from my Baby-Victorian to the train station that currently is just a road without sidewalks that is industrial riddled with potholes.
This would unselfishly also be a direct route for hikers and cyclists to get to Blue Mountain Preserve.
Then I inquired about the size of the possible pop-up park, making the point that not only does Metro North allow bikes on the trains, but having a pump track in Peekskill would bring in bikers and that bikers get mighty hungry and eat a lot.
Then it got better when he mentioned that the pop-up perhaps was too small because he caught on that this is a big idea, and then I suggested this vacant dirt area under Route 9 that is an underpass next to the parking lot by Peekskill Brewery.
He agreed and said that spot would be ideal.
The Route 9 overhead would be like a roof over the pump track, and right next door is municipal parking. This overpass/underpass basically is an un sanctioned spillover parking lot.
The Pedestrian/Cyclist part of the Public Projects is in the planning stage, so I just caught it right at the beginning. It has an estimated completion of 2025.
I mentioned Highbridge Park in Washington Heights as the closet Pump Track and pretty much it is just compacted dirt. Basically almost no cost, and the Peekskill Department of Public Works could supply the material, then volunteers in the community could build it.
The real hook is that a pump track would make Peekskill a destination, and also this area is by Dain’s, the oldest lumberyard in Westchester that dates back to the 1880’s and a masonry supply company. This would not bother any residential neighborhoods.
Also know it would be about 2 miles from my house. How convenient. LOL.
So pretty much there is 1.1 million dollars to spend, and I want part of that.
Another idea is while this would bring bikers to Peekskill, it also would be a place to contain them so the downtown is safe for walkers. Peekskill’s main streets are kinda narrow, and too narrow for bike lanes.
If this does not get built in 2025, I think it is such a good idea that it could/should get state funding perhaps in 2026 even as a separate project. I’m such a bitch that I always get my way.
This overpass/underpass is an ideal location and it is perhaps 2-3 blocks from the train station.
I can see and feel this happening. How cool is that?
Cal
I am a mighty good salesman. I think I set the hook into an Urban Planner for the City of Peekskill that was hired for the Peekskill Downtown Revitalization Initiative (“DRI”) to build me a pump track.
There was mention of a strip of land that could be a pop-up park, and it triggered the thought of a pump track.
After the meeting I cornered the Urban Planner and gave him my contact information and invited him to get on one of my bikes so we could cover the Pedestrian/Cyclist plausible routes. Don’t tell anyone but one route basically is a Bee-Line from my Baby-Victorian to the train station that currently is just a road without sidewalks that is industrial riddled with potholes.
This would unselfishly also be a direct route for hikers and cyclists to get to Blue Mountain Preserve.
Then I inquired about the size of the possible pop-up park, making the point that not only does Metro North allow bikes on the trains, but having a pump track in Peekskill would bring in bikers and that bikers get mighty hungry and eat a lot.
Then it got better when he mentioned that the pop-up perhaps was too small because he caught on that this is a big idea, and then I suggested this vacant dirt area under Route 9 that is an underpass next to the parking lot by Peekskill Brewery.
He agreed and said that spot would be ideal.
The Route 9 overhead would be like a roof over the pump track, and right next door is municipal parking. This overpass/underpass basically is an un sanctioned spillover parking lot.
The Pedestrian/Cyclist part of the Public Projects is in the planning stage, so I just caught it right at the beginning. It has an estimated completion of 2025.
I mentioned Highbridge Park in Washington Heights as the closet Pump Track and pretty much it is just compacted dirt. Basically almost no cost, and the Peekskill Department of Public Works could supply the material, then volunteers in the community could build it.
The real hook is that a pump track would make Peekskill a destination, and also this area is by Dain’s, the oldest lumberyard in Westchester that dates back to the 1880’s and a masonry supply company. This would not bother any residential neighborhoods.
Also know it would be about 2 miles from my house. How convenient. LOL.
So pretty much there is 1.1 million dollars to spend, and I want part of that.
Another idea is while this would bring bikers to Peekskill, it also would be a place to contain them so the downtown is safe for walkers. Peekskill’s main streets are kinda narrow, and too narrow for bike lanes.
If this does not get built in 2025, I think it is such a good idea that it could/should get state funding perhaps in 2026 even as a separate project. I’m such a bitch that I always get my way.
This overpass/underpass is an ideal location and it is perhaps 2-3 blocks from the train station.
I can see and feel this happening. How cool is that?
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gold futures breached $2200.00 and was $2213.50 when I checked this morning. This is a new higher-high. Don’t know when the breakout will happen, maybe now, or maybe at $2300.00. Today the price jumped over $50.00.
Oil is over $80.00 a barrel. The danger point is if it gets to $100.00. Pretty much again energy prices could not only cause a recession, but also reignite inflation. I kinda see this as a likely probability, but of course it is kinda difficult to guess the timing.
I think from my experience that we could experience a period of Stagflation, persistent high inflation and an economic slowdown of sorts that happens at the same time as in the seventies. Perhaps and likely though the inflation and unemployment will not be double digits like in the seventies like I personally experienced.
I would suspect though that the condition of stagflation could be a prolonged period because not only is the government loaded with record amounts of debt, but so are consumers in the forms of credit card debt (over a trillion dollars) and also the struggle to pay off car loans (defaults on these payments are up). Add onto this the commercial real estate problem that no one yet is calling a crisis.
Regional banks are in trouble with commercial real estate loans.
Even Donald Trump is in serious trouble. He may likely have to do a Giuliani and claim personal bankruptcy to default on his debt. The deadline for him is March 25th.
The problem with the smaller regional banks is not on the scale of China’s problems, but we pretty much have the same problem.
So I look at the prices of real estate, gold, and hard assets; and I see the base forming that is bracing for storing wealth. Prices are already crazy, but I say they will get worse.
Zero APR and record low interest rates persisted for more than a decade. The era of “Free-Money” is clearly over. Spending was grossly exuberant during this period, but now governments and households who lived beyond their means are saddled with record setting debt loads.
I believe it could take more than a decade for this all to resolve because I do belive in regression-to-the-mean and the idea of long term averages.
As they say, “Payback is a bitch.”
I have hard assets and no debt other than a mortgage at a record low rate and a student loan that will be paid off when I’m around 70 that too is at a record low rate (2.125%).
Understand that all this debt will take a lot of time to pay off because the debt load is huge, will require a bit of austerity, and realize that living above your means and living on debt is really like enslaving yourself.
Cal
Oil is over $80.00 a barrel. The danger point is if it gets to $100.00. Pretty much again energy prices could not only cause a recession, but also reignite inflation. I kinda see this as a likely probability, but of course it is kinda difficult to guess the timing.
I think from my experience that we could experience a period of Stagflation, persistent high inflation and an economic slowdown of sorts that happens at the same time as in the seventies. Perhaps and likely though the inflation and unemployment will not be double digits like in the seventies like I personally experienced.
I would suspect though that the condition of stagflation could be a prolonged period because not only is the government loaded with record amounts of debt, but so are consumers in the forms of credit card debt (over a trillion dollars) and also the struggle to pay off car loans (defaults on these payments are up). Add onto this the commercial real estate problem that no one yet is calling a crisis.
Regional banks are in trouble with commercial real estate loans.
Even Donald Trump is in serious trouble. He may likely have to do a Giuliani and claim personal bankruptcy to default on his debt. The deadline for him is March 25th.
The problem with the smaller regional banks is not on the scale of China’s problems, but we pretty much have the same problem.
So I look at the prices of real estate, gold, and hard assets; and I see the base forming that is bracing for storing wealth. Prices are already crazy, but I say they will get worse.
Zero APR and record low interest rates persisted for more than a decade. The era of “Free-Money” is clearly over. Spending was grossly exuberant during this period, but now governments and households who lived beyond their means are saddled with record setting debt loads.
I believe it could take more than a decade for this all to resolve because I do belive in regression-to-the-mean and the idea of long term averages.
As they say, “Payback is a bitch.”
I have hard assets and no debt other than a mortgage at a record low rate and a student loan that will be paid off when I’m around 70 that too is at a record low rate (2.125%).
Understand that all this debt will take a lot of time to pay off because the debt load is huge, will require a bit of austerity, and realize that living above your means and living on debt is really like enslaving yourself.
Cal
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Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Cal,
How old is your student loan? Federal or private?
Phil
How old is your student loan? Federal or private?
Phil
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil,
Originally it was a Federal Loan, but I refinanced it at a literally record low fixed rate of 2.125%. Then the government sold the loan. Basically I caught a falling knife as they say.
This was at a time of Zero APR and “Free-Money” that of course led to the inflation we are now experiencing and contributed to the debt loads of governments, households, and individuals.
Now it is not technically a Federal Loan anymore. The original terms was a variable rate, so I happened to have lightning strike me three times: once for the refi opportunity, next from a variable rate to a fixed rate, and then locking in at a record low in I believe of July 2006.
Also know that there was a program for loan forgiveness for “Public Service Workers” like teachers, hospital workers, and people who worked for non profits. I somehow was disqualified. If you research these programs many are a bait and switch.
Know that I am great-full for the loans and the opportunity. Know that I fully paid back previous student loans in full without any forgiveness.
Know that I’m under the opinion against student loan forgiveness. One it is just a ploy to buy votes; and the big insult is that it only makes our deficit bigger at a time where we cannot afford it.
Cal
Originally it was a Federal Loan, but I refinanced it at a literally record low fixed rate of 2.125%. Then the government sold the loan. Basically I caught a falling knife as they say.
This was at a time of Zero APR and “Free-Money” that of course led to the inflation we are now experiencing and contributed to the debt loads of governments, households, and individuals.
Now it is not technically a Federal Loan anymore. The original terms was a variable rate, so I happened to have lightning strike me three times: once for the refi opportunity, next from a variable rate to a fixed rate, and then locking in at a record low in I believe of July 2006.
Also know that there was a program for loan forgiveness for “Public Service Workers” like teachers, hospital workers, and people who worked for non profits. I somehow was disqualified. If you research these programs many are a bait and switch.
Know that I am great-full for the loans and the opportunity. Know that I fully paid back previous student loans in full without any forgiveness.
Know that I’m under the opinion against student loan forgiveness. One it is just a ploy to buy votes; and the big insult is that it only makes our deficit bigger at a time where we cannot afford it.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Because of a Medicare rule my doctor’s appointment had to be rescheduled. I was in the doctor’s office when I learned that it was exactly a year ago when I had my last physical by date, and pretty much by Medicare rules the annual physicals have to be spaced at least a year apart.
Kidding around that since this year is a leap year, technically it is more than 365 days which comprises a year that these rules are kinda rigid in a way. Anyways no sense in arguing with our government.
It seems like deaths are surprises that surround us. “Maggie” had a classmate from her PhD program recently die. Yesterday was the day I learned from my friend Tim that our friend’s father died. Many of my friends are younger than me, so their fathers are close to my age.
In another post I mentioned that life beyond age 60 is “borrowed time” where not only anything can happen, but also there are many surprises. I will also repeat, “No time for BS.”
A friend shared a story about a friend of his who wrote a book, and that about 40% of his time is utilized in marketing, promoting, and trying to sell the book. What a burden… This 40% seems to be the case for Maggie also.
I have an assignment for my local newspaper the Peekskill Herald. I have to take a portrait of a man tomorrow at 11:00 AM. All I need to do is supply a few J-PEG’s that are resized. This is for online so IQ is not important.
I learned last night that the Noct-Nikkor works best with ISIS. The SL is a bit handicapped because it lacks ISIS. Oh-well, but the SL2 has ISIS and a wonderful user interface that is mucho superior to the SL. I will retire the SL and rely on the SL2. No need for a SL3. Already the SL2 is overkill.
Cal
Kidding around that since this year is a leap year, technically it is more than 365 days which comprises a year that these rules are kinda rigid in a way. Anyways no sense in arguing with our government.
It seems like deaths are surprises that surround us. “Maggie” had a classmate from her PhD program recently die. Yesterday was the day I learned from my friend Tim that our friend’s father died. Many of my friends are younger than me, so their fathers are close to my age.
In another post I mentioned that life beyond age 60 is “borrowed time” where not only anything can happen, but also there are many surprises. I will also repeat, “No time for BS.”
A friend shared a story about a friend of his who wrote a book, and that about 40% of his time is utilized in marketing, promoting, and trying to sell the book. What a burden… This 40% seems to be the case for Maggie also.
I have an assignment for my local newspaper the Peekskill Herald. I have to take a portrait of a man tomorrow at 11:00 AM. All I need to do is supply a few J-PEG’s that are resized. This is for online so IQ is not important.
I learned last night that the Noct-Nikkor works best with ISIS. The SL is a bit handicapped because it lacks ISIS. Oh-well, but the SL2 has ISIS and a wonderful user interface that is mucho superior to the SL. I will retire the SL and rely on the SL2. No need for a SL3. Already the SL2 is overkill.
Cal
