Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Austin,
I was a radiation worker at Grumman, at Brookhaven National Labs, and at Loss Alamos also.
My exposure to radiation actually was very little and amounted to perhaps high background levels like living in Madhattan around granite verses living in Brooklyn which is very low background because of sand. Another comparison whould be living at a high altitude like I did in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Pretty much I might have been exposed as perhaps an airline pilot. No big deal, or lived in Denver Colorado for decades. Did you know in New Hampshire, the Granite State, there is a high incidence of lung cancer from the radon levels because of the granite.
I post openly about my prostate because this is a very treatable disease that eventually will effect about 50% of all men. This is also n age related disease so the older you are the higher the odds. Again most Prostate Cancers are slow growing, so it is very important to get your PSA tested every year.
The implantation of radioactive seeds like how your brother got treated is now obsolete. They use low dose and high dose radiation and have a lot more control. This thing called the Cyber Knife is actually high dose radiation to kill off the Cancer without creating a lot of collateral damage.
The removal of the prostrate leads to impotence and loss of bladder control for about a year. Kinda drastic.
The danger though if left untreated is that it can jump into bone Cancer and then pretty much you will be a goner.
My writing about this is a kinda Public Service. Prostate Cancer is not a death sentence and for many-many old men it is part of their life.
A warning here though is that “Maggie’s” mom should have gotten a colonoscopy that likely would of saved her life. At a certain age doctors, some doctors cease to continue to do the preventative medicine. Pretty much if you are old these diagnostic procedures should be continued.
Also many households fell behind on keeping up with the maintenance and their healthcare. It took a lot of effort and time to catch up. I figure Covid-19 will be responsible for a rather serious decline in life expectancy because other diseases will get out of hand. Pretty much there was a three year interval where our healthcare system was also kinda locked down.
I seriously doubt that my exposure to the tiny amounts of radiation had any health consequences. The radiation I created with my Cyclotron I released by opening valves remotely via a GUI on a computer in a control room and using inert gas to push the radioactivity into a hot cell where nuclear chemists made the radiophamicueticals for PET Imaging.
These chemists pretty much received large doses of radiation because they actually handled the radiation. Three feet thick walls of boriated concrete absorbed the neutrons I created with my proton beam, and also a 30,000 pound door filled with lead bricks. Pretty much I worked in a nuclear bunker of sorts.
At Brookhaven labs the acceleration of charged particles was so vast that the Crompton Effect would generate enough X-rays to drop and kill a person in the 2.6 mile circular tunnel. Pretty much instant death.
My exposure to radiation is minimal overall.
Cal
I was a radiation worker at Grumman, at Brookhaven National Labs, and at Loss Alamos also.
My exposure to radiation actually was very little and amounted to perhaps high background levels like living in Madhattan around granite verses living in Brooklyn which is very low background because of sand. Another comparison whould be living at a high altitude like I did in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Pretty much I might have been exposed as perhaps an airline pilot. No big deal, or lived in Denver Colorado for decades. Did you know in New Hampshire, the Granite State, there is a high incidence of lung cancer from the radon levels because of the granite.
I post openly about my prostate because this is a very treatable disease that eventually will effect about 50% of all men. This is also n age related disease so the older you are the higher the odds. Again most Prostate Cancers are slow growing, so it is very important to get your PSA tested every year.
The implantation of radioactive seeds like how your brother got treated is now obsolete. They use low dose and high dose radiation and have a lot more control. This thing called the Cyber Knife is actually high dose radiation to kill off the Cancer without creating a lot of collateral damage.
The removal of the prostrate leads to impotence and loss of bladder control for about a year. Kinda drastic.
The danger though if left untreated is that it can jump into bone Cancer and then pretty much you will be a goner.
My writing about this is a kinda Public Service. Prostate Cancer is not a death sentence and for many-many old men it is part of their life.
A warning here though is that “Maggie’s” mom should have gotten a colonoscopy that likely would of saved her life. At a certain age doctors, some doctors cease to continue to do the preventative medicine. Pretty much if you are old these diagnostic procedures should be continued.
Also many households fell behind on keeping up with the maintenance and their healthcare. It took a lot of effort and time to catch up. I figure Covid-19 will be responsible for a rather serious decline in life expectancy because other diseases will get out of hand. Pretty much there was a three year interval where our healthcare system was also kinda locked down.
I seriously doubt that my exposure to the tiny amounts of radiation had any health consequences. The radiation I created with my Cyclotron I released by opening valves remotely via a GUI on a computer in a control room and using inert gas to push the radioactivity into a hot cell where nuclear chemists made the radiophamicueticals for PET Imaging.
These chemists pretty much received large doses of radiation because they actually handled the radiation. Three feet thick walls of boriated concrete absorbed the neutrons I created with my proton beam, and also a 30,000 pound door filled with lead bricks. Pretty much I worked in a nuclear bunker of sorts.
At Brookhaven labs the acceleration of charged particles was so vast that the Crompton Effect would generate enough X-rays to drop and kill a person in the 2.6 mile circular tunnel. Pretty much instant death.
My exposure to radiation is minimal overall.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’m on drugs. I’m starting this Alpha Blocker which is a muscle relaxer that effects the Prostate. Side effects can be drowsiness, dizziness, or painful erections that can last 4 hours. Pretty much a once a day dose so I will take it after dinner, and I have a 90 day supply.
The Hudson River around Peekskill Bay is not a place crowded with boats like the Great South Bay on Lawn Guy-Land. Andrew’s power boat was a small 18 footer with a flat bottom with a bow like a displacement hull that had a small cabin.
Even though a small craft it had a radar that was gifted to him by a client.
So Andrew is an interesting character who retired at age 70 and is now 77. The 52 foot sailboat he did not build from scratch, he bought the hull and then took 5 years to finish it and rig it out. First time he added up the receipts it came over $200K invested, and then he added more, but never calculated how much money he invested.
He sailed twice to the Bahamas: once solo; and once with his wife.
The hull was built by some guy at his father’s house, and pretty much it could not be built up any further because other wise it would need a bigger crane. As it was it took a 30 tonne crane to lift and flip and also this had to be done over the neighbor’s house. How crazy is that?
Then know that this hull was in Virginia and was trucked north.
Lots of other crazy stories of floating sunk ships, and Andrew took me to a place where the Coast Guard told him he could scuttle his 92 foot trawler that he said he purchased for $1.5K to build as a floating party boat, but that did not work out. A mast and the upper part of the cabin sits proud of the water, but most of the boat is underwater. Nearby are two other natural sea wrecks.
Pretty much Andrew and his wife lived on the sailboat year round for many years. The boat was sold because of arthritis and his back problems. The small power boat was his commuter boat across the Hudson to the marina where he worked in Haverstraw.
On the Hudson we visited an abandoned Gypsum plant where sheet rock was made. Also there are ruins where an old coal burning electric power station was. We were under the Bear Mountain Bridge where the water depth exceeds 100 feet.
I gifted Andrew the book “Completely Mad” to recycle it. I figure he would be like me and see some of his character displayed with the two men who rowed across the Atlantic in 1969. I had Andrew profiled and I was not wrong.
Since he was retired for the past 7 years I asked him if he missed work, and he quickly answered yes, but when I dug in and asked what he missed about work he did not have an answer. Then I read off a list: the sense of accomplishment; the display of skill and craft; the knowing of being able to do what other men can’t do; the sense of pride and work ethic…
Pretty much I was speaking of myself, but it applied to Andrew, and I was spot on.
It takes a man of vision to do what they say and finish what they start.
The 52 foot sailboat I understand is a bit of a monument. I understand the sense of loss, but I also understand the reasons for selling.
I have to do a search on Tom Reed a friend of Andrew’s who lived on a sailboat for 1000 days at sea. Pretty much no notoriety, no book interest, or no film made. The interesting part is his wife got pregnant and was air lifted. Tom finished the journey alone.
Now Tom reportedly lives in New Jersey.
So 11 years separate us, but it seems like we came from the same mold. Although 77 Andrew is 5’7” 155 pounds. I thought he was around my age.
Cal
The Hudson River around Peekskill Bay is not a place crowded with boats like the Great South Bay on Lawn Guy-Land. Andrew’s power boat was a small 18 footer with a flat bottom with a bow like a displacement hull that had a small cabin.
Even though a small craft it had a radar that was gifted to him by a client.
So Andrew is an interesting character who retired at age 70 and is now 77. The 52 foot sailboat he did not build from scratch, he bought the hull and then took 5 years to finish it and rig it out. First time he added up the receipts it came over $200K invested, and then he added more, but never calculated how much money he invested.
He sailed twice to the Bahamas: once solo; and once with his wife.
The hull was built by some guy at his father’s house, and pretty much it could not be built up any further because other wise it would need a bigger crane. As it was it took a 30 tonne crane to lift and flip and also this had to be done over the neighbor’s house. How crazy is that?
Then know that this hull was in Virginia and was trucked north.
Lots of other crazy stories of floating sunk ships, and Andrew took me to a place where the Coast Guard told him he could scuttle his 92 foot trawler that he said he purchased for $1.5K to build as a floating party boat, but that did not work out. A mast and the upper part of the cabin sits proud of the water, but most of the boat is underwater. Nearby are two other natural sea wrecks.
Pretty much Andrew and his wife lived on the sailboat year round for many years. The boat was sold because of arthritis and his back problems. The small power boat was his commuter boat across the Hudson to the marina where he worked in Haverstraw.
On the Hudson we visited an abandoned Gypsum plant where sheet rock was made. Also there are ruins where an old coal burning electric power station was. We were under the Bear Mountain Bridge where the water depth exceeds 100 feet.
I gifted Andrew the book “Completely Mad” to recycle it. I figure he would be like me and see some of his character displayed with the two men who rowed across the Atlantic in 1969. I had Andrew profiled and I was not wrong.
Since he was retired for the past 7 years I asked him if he missed work, and he quickly answered yes, but when I dug in and asked what he missed about work he did not have an answer. Then I read off a list: the sense of accomplishment; the display of skill and craft; the knowing of being able to do what other men can’t do; the sense of pride and work ethic…
Pretty much I was speaking of myself, but it applied to Andrew, and I was spot on.
It takes a man of vision to do what they say and finish what they start.
The 52 foot sailboat I understand is a bit of a monument. I understand the sense of loss, but I also understand the reasons for selling.
I have to do a search on Tom Reed a friend of Andrew’s who lived on a sailboat for 1000 days at sea. Pretty much no notoriety, no book interest, or no film made. The interesting part is his wife got pregnant and was air lifted. Tom finished the journey alone.
Now Tom reportedly lives in New Jersey.
So 11 years separate us, but it seems like we came from the same mold. Although 77 Andrew is 5’7” 155 pounds. I thought he was around my age.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Reid Stowe is Andrew’s friend.
1000 days is what would take for an Astro naught to reach Mars. Pretty much just a epic journey.
Funny story is that his partner was airlifted because of sea sickness, but it was because of pregnancy and morning sickness.
After he completed 1000 days at sea he landed in New York City to become acquainted with his now 2 year old son.
Anyways an interesting story.
Cal
1000 days is what would take for an Astro naught to reach Mars. Pretty much just a epic journey.
Funny story is that his partner was airlifted because of sea sickness, but it was because of pregnancy and morning sickness.
After he completed 1000 days at sea he landed in New York City to become acquainted with his now 2 year old son.
Anyways an interesting story.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I forgot that one of the side effects of my new drug is possibly a lowering of my blood pressure. This is where the dizziness can be a problem.
The new Saint Croix rod was delivered today and it pairs wonderfully with the 4000 series Daiwa BG-MQ reel. So balanced and light. The rod is similar in 12-17 pound test braid rating and is designed for 5/8 ounce to 2 ounce lures. Pretty much designed for surf fishing and is not really a boat rod. Main purpose is for casting lures a good distance.
It just feels great. The quality is mucho high and much better than the surf rod I also own that is a 10 footer. So now I have a 10 footer and a seven footer.
I am mucho pleased. Saved 30% on sale. I love it.
Cal
The new Saint Croix rod was delivered today and it pairs wonderfully with the 4000 series Daiwa BG-MQ reel. So balanced and light. The rod is similar in 12-17 pound test braid rating and is designed for 5/8 ounce to 2 ounce lures. Pretty much designed for surf fishing and is not really a boat rod. Main purpose is for casting lures a good distance.
It just feels great. The quality is mucho high and much better than the surf rod I also own that is a 10 footer. So now I have a 10 footer and a seven footer.
I am mucho pleased. Saved 30% on sale. I love it.
Cal
Nokton48
Veteran
Morning Devil Cal,
Easton Stilt Girl 21mm Rokkor QH XX 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr
Taken on a "short end" from a Hollywood movie camera. Left over scrap film bought cheaply. Replenished straight Legacy Mic-X, several years olde, this stuff does not seem to go bad!
5x7 Arista RC #2 Multigrade print developer. Minolta SRT locked up mirror, 21mm F4 QH Rokkor Minolta Yellow Filter, and 20mm MD F2.8 Lens Hood. A nice rig that replaced my 19mm RF Canon lens adapted to SRT mount. This is a great lens with XX
A bit of Reportage, I yelled "One Two Three" and we coordinated. Was fun to do.
Easton Stilt Girl 21mm Rokkor QH XX 3 by Nokton48, on FlickrTaken on a "short end" from a Hollywood movie camera. Left over scrap film bought cheaply. Replenished straight Legacy Mic-X, several years olde, this stuff does not seem to go bad!
5x7 Arista RC #2 Multigrade print developer. Minolta SRT locked up mirror, 21mm F4 QH Rokkor Minolta Yellow Filter, and 20mm MD F2.8 Lens Hood. A nice rig that replaced my 19mm RF Canon lens adapted to SRT mount. This is a great lens with XX
A bit of Reportage, I yelled "One Two Three" and we coordinated. Was fun to do.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Devil Dan,
A very cool retro look. The yellow filter was a great idea. Helped define space.
Cal
A very cool retro look. The yellow filter was a great idea. Helped define space.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
On the first Tuesday of July the Salon will be featuring “Maggie” and her book. Somehow I got snookered into being part of this as the photographer. Oh-well. Pretty much I was just minding my own business as usual and then I got snookered.
Met with Carla Rea who started this Salon 25 years ago at the Bean Runner Cafe that back in the day was once a blacksmith shop.
I used my business card portfolio of prints to engage Carla Rea. She also is a mighty clever artist who I admire.
This Salon is pretty much the old guard and by chance the new guard of younger artists also have a meet-up at Gleason’s a bar restaurant a baseball throw away from the Bean Runner. Somehow both meet-ups are on the same night. Hmmm…
This is an interesting dynamic going on. Somehow Maggie and I bridge both groups.
We drove to Adams Fair Acre Farms to buy unground coffee, after our meeting with Carla Rea, and went to Brown Bag Bennie’s for a sandwich and ran into Regina our Editor. In conversation about the weekend I mention my excursion with Andrew, and he is someone Regina would like to profile. I have to call Andrew to see if he would like to be interviewed.
This drug I’m on makes me more susceptible to heat stroke, and Maggie is being protective. Around Tuesday a bit of a heat wave will begin.
I have been transposing scale patterns using the circle of fifths and superimposing root-five chord inversions. This is a bit crazy amount of work to internalize, but somehow a new smoothness is emerging.
My ears also seem to be opening up. So on one hand I’m impressed with the results, but on the other I am humbled but these fundamentals that pretty much are the basic building blocks of harmony. This is going to take a bit of time and requires discipline. BTW my playing is getting smoother and is less choppy.
One of the benefits I get for the rest of my life is $91.75 monthly check that is paid to me to help cover my Medicare expenses. That amounts to $1101.00 a year, and the money is not taxed or considered income. Pretty much “free-money.”
I love it.
I am getting a feel for the economy. Locally in Peekskill the housing market seems to be in a bit of a pause or may be topping out. The usual selling prices are not so exaggerated over the asking prices as they once were.
Our economy and GDP are growing, but pretty much the primary driver of spending is pretty much defense spending and the building of weapons. We are pretty much an net exporter of weapons and are feeding two wars. Take this spending away and perhaps our economy is not so strong.
Anyways, the money has to come from somewhere I say.
Then there was a headline about the multi factorial increase in sicknesses post pandemic. Some of this is built on my idea of the breakdown in healthcare that happened during the Pandemic, some of it is because of economic conditions like diet and an increase in levels of poverty, and some of it is Covid-19 revenge.
They say the worse has been babies born during the Pandemic like my grandson.
I mowed the lawn today to avoid the heat wave. I can highly recommend buying the Milwaukee M18 mower. First off it is quieter than any gas mower. It is well engineered, and it actually does a wonderful job cutting. I breath no pollution.
Did you know that a gas lawn mower is one of the biggest polluters. Also the noise level is high enough to cause hearing damage.
My batteries only get half discharged now, and the self propelled feature works well on the slopes I have on the front and side yards.
Bonus is that the two M18 12 amp hour batteries are useful for backup 120 volt conversion and for my other Milwaukee tools. Pretty much I invested in a system, and I’m glad I did. Pretty much no need to run electric to Maggie’s cedar She-Shack in the back. Don’t tell Maggie, but I’m going to buy her a Milwaukee M18 fan. She can use my battery packs also to have 120 VAC in her She-Shack.
On a side note the rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels are getting bolder and more brazen. Pretty much they figured out we are not evil and are no threat. The rabbits I yield space, I tell them I’m just passing through, and they now just hang out.
“Maggie” reports the chipmunks and squirrels scare her because the encroach on her space. Dr DoLittle factor is happening. The rabbits are eating our green bean plants and our pea plants. Oh-well
Maggie wants binoculars and a book on identifying North American birds. She does a bit of bird watching. Her birthday is coming up. Maggie is learning to relax.
She brought the grandson a new Ukulele. Tomorrow he will be surprised. Thursday we will have the grand daughter, and then the high maintenance begins.
Cal
Met with Carla Rea who started this Salon 25 years ago at the Bean Runner Cafe that back in the day was once a blacksmith shop.
I used my business card portfolio of prints to engage Carla Rea. She also is a mighty clever artist who I admire.
This Salon is pretty much the old guard and by chance the new guard of younger artists also have a meet-up at Gleason’s a bar restaurant a baseball throw away from the Bean Runner. Somehow both meet-ups are on the same night. Hmmm…
This is an interesting dynamic going on. Somehow Maggie and I bridge both groups.
We drove to Adams Fair Acre Farms to buy unground coffee, after our meeting with Carla Rea, and went to Brown Bag Bennie’s for a sandwich and ran into Regina our Editor. In conversation about the weekend I mention my excursion with Andrew, and he is someone Regina would like to profile. I have to call Andrew to see if he would like to be interviewed.
This drug I’m on makes me more susceptible to heat stroke, and Maggie is being protective. Around Tuesday a bit of a heat wave will begin.
I have been transposing scale patterns using the circle of fifths and superimposing root-five chord inversions. This is a bit crazy amount of work to internalize, but somehow a new smoothness is emerging.
My ears also seem to be opening up. So on one hand I’m impressed with the results, but on the other I am humbled but these fundamentals that pretty much are the basic building blocks of harmony. This is going to take a bit of time and requires discipline. BTW my playing is getting smoother and is less choppy.
One of the benefits I get for the rest of my life is $91.75 monthly check that is paid to me to help cover my Medicare expenses. That amounts to $1101.00 a year, and the money is not taxed or considered income. Pretty much “free-money.”
I love it.
I am getting a feel for the economy. Locally in Peekskill the housing market seems to be in a bit of a pause or may be topping out. The usual selling prices are not so exaggerated over the asking prices as they once were.
Our economy and GDP are growing, but pretty much the primary driver of spending is pretty much defense spending and the building of weapons. We are pretty much an net exporter of weapons and are feeding two wars. Take this spending away and perhaps our economy is not so strong.
Anyways, the money has to come from somewhere I say.
Then there was a headline about the multi factorial increase in sicknesses post pandemic. Some of this is built on my idea of the breakdown in healthcare that happened during the Pandemic, some of it is because of economic conditions like diet and an increase in levels of poverty, and some of it is Covid-19 revenge.
They say the worse has been babies born during the Pandemic like my grandson.
I mowed the lawn today to avoid the heat wave. I can highly recommend buying the Milwaukee M18 mower. First off it is quieter than any gas mower. It is well engineered, and it actually does a wonderful job cutting. I breath no pollution.
Did you know that a gas lawn mower is one of the biggest polluters. Also the noise level is high enough to cause hearing damage.
My batteries only get half discharged now, and the self propelled feature works well on the slopes I have on the front and side yards.
Bonus is that the two M18 12 amp hour batteries are useful for backup 120 volt conversion and for my other Milwaukee tools. Pretty much I invested in a system, and I’m glad I did. Pretty much no need to run electric to Maggie’s cedar She-Shack in the back. Don’t tell Maggie, but I’m going to buy her a Milwaukee M18 fan. She can use my battery packs also to have 120 VAC in her She-Shack.
On a side note the rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels are getting bolder and more brazen. Pretty much they figured out we are not evil and are no threat. The rabbits I yield space, I tell them I’m just passing through, and they now just hang out.
“Maggie” reports the chipmunks and squirrels scare her because the encroach on her space. Dr DoLittle factor is happening. The rabbits are eating our green bean plants and our pea plants. Oh-well
Maggie wants binoculars and a book on identifying North American birds. She does a bit of bird watching. Her birthday is coming up. Maggie is learning to relax.
She brought the grandson a new Ukulele. Tomorrow he will be surprised. Thursday we will have the grand daughter, and then the high maintenance begins.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
“I was just minding my own business,” I say, and now I remember Carla Rea mentioning having me do a Salon because we have a lot of photographers.
Snookered once, and snookered again. The only thing Carla Rea knows about me is from “Maggie’s” book and my business card micro portfolio.
This is getting a little bit crazy. I feel like I’m not really an active photographer anymore and somehow I just feel like a lost artist.
I do think being a film maker using Adobe Premier and my still shots could be interesting way to incorporate my writing.
I like/love challenges, and pretty much this would be a mucho big learning curve, and is a bit crazy.
Some things in life are beyond your control. I’m suppose to be retired, and I want to relax, but then crazy happens.
Not sure where all this is going…
Cal
Snookered once, and snookered again. The only thing Carla Rea knows about me is from “Maggie’s” book and my business card micro portfolio.
This is getting a little bit crazy. I feel like I’m not really an active photographer anymore and somehow I just feel like a lost artist.
I do think being a film maker using Adobe Premier and my still shots could be interesting way to incorporate my writing.
I like/love challenges, and pretty much this would be a mucho big learning curve, and is a bit crazy.
Some things in life are beyond your control. I’m suppose to be retired, and I want to relax, but then crazy happens.
Not sure where all this is going…
Cal
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DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
Two suggestions - I never, ever give advice to anyone, least of all to myself, ha!
Firstly, you have to learn to say "no". Politely. But firmly. And stick to it.
Secondly, if/when you are asked to do something (often presented as "social") that obviously will lead to your making a personal attendance, volunteer time or $$ contribution or often all three - our local fringe religious groups are especially prone to this tactic when they call door to door to politely proselytize - always make polite excuses. Never say yes. If you do, the askers will then wear a path to your front door.
These have been two of the big revelations for me in my retirement. And have freed me to be truer to myself, and get more done from the long list of what I want to accomplish and achieve before I pop off to cloud-land.
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
DU,
I do appreciate your advice.
With “Maggie” I was compelled by love to offer support, but I still have the opportunity to politely say no. To doing my own Salon.
I don’t need to feed my ego, and pretty much I would rather do things selfishly alone and privately.
I phoned Andrew and asked if he would like to be featured/profiled in the Peekskill Herald. He said, “No.”
He explained that when he was building out his sailboat he was profiled and featured in a boating magazine, but later had reservations about doing it. Pretty much he really did not get anything out of it, as like me he is not looking for recognition or notoriety.
Also I appreciate where he is coming from. He built his boat as a personal accomplishment, as an adventure, as a home, and as a lifestyle.
I imagine it is the same trap that Maggie fell into where a fun project got co-opted and commodified.
A fellow photographer, Brian, told me his secrete, don’t tell anyone, but the best way to turn down work you don’t want to do is say, “I’m too busy to take on anymore work.” It was explained to me that this excuse allowed him to pick an chose his gigs. It gave the appearance of being highly sought after, but it was all smoke and mirrors.
I bought a scanner from Brian and the address was in the Chelsea photo district. Meanwhile Brian lived in suburban New Jersey. The commercial space was littered with remnants of fast food, garbage, and overall a dump of sorts, but the address is what got Brian gigs.
I got some advice from him about setting up a web site, and he suggested to specialize each one to target a market. “No reason to have just one baited hook.”
I kinda learned how a lot of things are not what you expect, and pretty much there is a lot of con man action going on. Brian did somehow have some remarkable shots of Prince doing a live performance, but he really parleyed just a few shots into being like a Jim Marshall.
This was crazy stuff.
Interesting in the book “Completely Mad” one guy who rowed the Atlantic was a egomaniac, and the other just a determined guy who really only wanted to prove something about himself and his character.
Right now photography seems out of reach, a dead laptop with a totally dead battery, no darkroom, and no digital studio. Also no money for this pursuit right now.
For me real retirement is about 3 1/2 years away and I’m still phasing it. For me retirement is really a transition.
Right now I’m living only on one pension, and my savings. When I turn 70 my Social Security will kick in, and my second pension. At age 70 pretty much my income, although fixed, will be more than I need. Perhaps at that time I will build out my 400 square foot garage into a studio.
I could have a darkroom that rivals Devil Dan’s and exploit Piezography Pro’s digital negative capability and do contact wet printing using a vacuum table.
The house has become a bit of a long term project. Doing childcare has been a bit of a setback.
Cal
I do appreciate your advice.
With “Maggie” I was compelled by love to offer support, but I still have the opportunity to politely say no. To doing my own Salon.
I don’t need to feed my ego, and pretty much I would rather do things selfishly alone and privately.
I phoned Andrew and asked if he would like to be featured/profiled in the Peekskill Herald. He said, “No.”
He explained that when he was building out his sailboat he was profiled and featured in a boating magazine, but later had reservations about doing it. Pretty much he really did not get anything out of it, as like me he is not looking for recognition or notoriety.
Also I appreciate where he is coming from. He built his boat as a personal accomplishment, as an adventure, as a home, and as a lifestyle.
I imagine it is the same trap that Maggie fell into where a fun project got co-opted and commodified.
A fellow photographer, Brian, told me his secrete, don’t tell anyone, but the best way to turn down work you don’t want to do is say, “I’m too busy to take on anymore work.” It was explained to me that this excuse allowed him to pick an chose his gigs. It gave the appearance of being highly sought after, but it was all smoke and mirrors.
I bought a scanner from Brian and the address was in the Chelsea photo district. Meanwhile Brian lived in suburban New Jersey. The commercial space was littered with remnants of fast food, garbage, and overall a dump of sorts, but the address is what got Brian gigs.
I got some advice from him about setting up a web site, and he suggested to specialize each one to target a market. “No reason to have just one baited hook.”
I kinda learned how a lot of things are not what you expect, and pretty much there is a lot of con man action going on. Brian did somehow have some remarkable shots of Prince doing a live performance, but he really parleyed just a few shots into being like a Jim Marshall.
This was crazy stuff.
Interesting in the book “Completely Mad” one guy who rowed the Atlantic was a egomaniac, and the other just a determined guy who really only wanted to prove something about himself and his character.
Right now photography seems out of reach, a dead laptop with a totally dead battery, no darkroom, and no digital studio. Also no money for this pursuit right now.
For me real retirement is about 3 1/2 years away and I’m still phasing it. For me retirement is really a transition.
Right now I’m living only on one pension, and my savings. When I turn 70 my Social Security will kick in, and my second pension. At age 70 pretty much my income, although fixed, will be more than I need. Perhaps at that time I will build out my 400 square foot garage into a studio.
I could have a darkroom that rivals Devil Dan’s and exploit Piezography Pro’s digital negative capability and do contact wet printing using a vacuum table.
The house has become a bit of a long term project. Doing childcare has been a bit of a setback.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Saw a Cyber truck yesterday “in the wild” as they say. Looks so odd, and I would call it fugly.
Tesla drivers seem to be the worse IMHO.
High heat index the next couple of days her in the 95-100 range. Looks like Tuesday to Friday.
Cal
Tesla drivers seem to be the worse IMHO.
High heat index the next couple of days her in the 95-100 range. Looks like Tuesday to Friday.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I think I feel the drowsiness side effect building up. I take my once a day drug after dinner.
My enlarged prostate means I frequently have to pee and this disrupts my sleeping.
I limit my intake of coffee to one a day. I don’t want to build up my blood pressure again. Some days I have no coffee at all.
I feel like a lost artist, and like a child I don’t know what I want. Going crazy with printing could be enchanting, and music is a really big challenge, especially because I like jazz and want to develop into a solo performer.
I have no ambition to play out or exhibit. I want to keep it fun and pure.
At the moment things are accelerating on the guitar in a surprising manner. For me mysteries are being solved, and I now am seeing the chord and scale structures of a 2-5-1 progression from my work studying the Circle of Fifths. This is the most popular way to change keys and it is used frequently in Jazz.
My long history of playing the same stuff actually has added up to be a really great foundation to build upon, and this is what I think is causing my surprising advancement, now that I’m unstuck and no longer in a rut.
The grandson is like a baby-hippy. Seems like he is emulating me and learning my behaviors. Pretty much a bit of a trouble maker, mucho clever, a bit OCD, and he definitely has a guitar fetish.
The Empire State Factory Index is down for the 7th month in a row. This kinda verifies the sluggishness I see. Also inflation is making the gap in disparity of wealth greater. As this is happening retail sales are slowing.
Any rate cut this year, maybe only one, might be now in December. My feeling is that rate cuts will be frozen and there is a good possibility that not only no rate cut this year, but we sooner or later will be deemed in a recession.
Maybe the economy has to crash to end inflation. I feel any lowering will not only reignite inflation but will cause an increase in inflation again. Living on debt now is the culture. Households and governments are not afraid of big debt loads, so with this mindset and mentality, a rate cut or cuts will start the binging and the partying again.
Only one way to end the inflationary spiral and that is with pain.
I saw an interesting headline about used cars, pretty much older cars are being favored because they don’t have excess technology and features that people don’t want or need. To use Phil’s term, now too cars are “bloated.”
I’ll be glad using the mini-splits starting tomorrow. Pretty much “life-support.” We only need two-zones and it cools the entire first floor and effectively is like having central AC.
Our first floor is open enough and small enough 2-zones are fine. I lov❤ the silent operation. Really works well.
I’m cool with being selfish with my creativity, and I have no need to have an audience or the need to impress anyone. Pretty much I’m free of needing to promote my ego, and for me this is the path to happiness.
“Maggie” is still putting herself and her work out there. She seems to feel good about her limited engagement. Not really a mass audience.
Cal
My enlarged prostate means I frequently have to pee and this disrupts my sleeping.
I limit my intake of coffee to one a day. I don’t want to build up my blood pressure again. Some days I have no coffee at all.
I feel like a lost artist, and like a child I don’t know what I want. Going crazy with printing could be enchanting, and music is a really big challenge, especially because I like jazz and want to develop into a solo performer.
I have no ambition to play out or exhibit. I want to keep it fun and pure.
At the moment things are accelerating on the guitar in a surprising manner. For me mysteries are being solved, and I now am seeing the chord and scale structures of a 2-5-1 progression from my work studying the Circle of Fifths. This is the most popular way to change keys and it is used frequently in Jazz.
My long history of playing the same stuff actually has added up to be a really great foundation to build upon, and this is what I think is causing my surprising advancement, now that I’m unstuck and no longer in a rut.
The grandson is like a baby-hippy. Seems like he is emulating me and learning my behaviors. Pretty much a bit of a trouble maker, mucho clever, a bit OCD, and he definitely has a guitar fetish.
The Empire State Factory Index is down for the 7th month in a row. This kinda verifies the sluggishness I see. Also inflation is making the gap in disparity of wealth greater. As this is happening retail sales are slowing.
Any rate cut this year, maybe only one, might be now in December. My feeling is that rate cuts will be frozen and there is a good possibility that not only no rate cut this year, but we sooner or later will be deemed in a recession.
Maybe the economy has to crash to end inflation. I feel any lowering will not only reignite inflation but will cause an increase in inflation again. Living on debt now is the culture. Households and governments are not afraid of big debt loads, so with this mindset and mentality, a rate cut or cuts will start the binging and the partying again.
Only one way to end the inflationary spiral and that is with pain.
I saw an interesting headline about used cars, pretty much older cars are being favored because they don’t have excess technology and features that people don’t want or need. To use Phil’s term, now too cars are “bloated.”
I’ll be glad using the mini-splits starting tomorrow. Pretty much “life-support.” We only need two-zones and it cools the entire first floor and effectively is like having central AC.
Our first floor is open enough and small enough 2-zones are fine. I lov❤ the silent operation. Really works well.
I’m cool with being selfish with my creativity, and I have no need to have an audience or the need to impress anyone. Pretty much I’m free of needing to promote my ego, and for me this is the path to happiness.
“Maggie” is still putting herself and her work out there. She seems to feel good about her limited engagement. Not really a mass audience.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Albany well north of us is expected to set new record temperatures just under 100 (98).
The heat index will be around 100 in Peekskill.
I just watered our garden.
Good thing we have “life support” meaning a mini-split.
Cal
The heat index will be around 100 in Peekskill.
I just watered our garden.
Good thing we have “life support” meaning a mini-split.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Doing scales on an acoustic really advances technic. I’m using a 2mm thick pick. Pretty much this is for a thick sound with a lot of bass and mids.
A thinner pick has a thinner sound, but is also faster to play.
Because of good technic my hands don’t get sore, even though I put in many hours. AS with biking with guitar there is lots of muscle memory involved. The same but different.
Cal
A thinner pick has a thinner sound, but is also faster to play.
Because of good technic my hands don’t get sore, even though I put in many hours. AS with biking with guitar there is lots of muscle memory involved. The same but different.
Cal
robert blu
quiet photographer
Hi Cal, prostate is a problem for man men, specially over 60. I regularly have yearly an urologist visit with PSA and ecography andf I'm under treatment. My urologist says no danger, drug treatment should help. It's something something we need to learn to live with, and keep anyway under control.
robert blu
quiet photographer
As guitarist I'm a real beginner, I use a thin pick for strumming and a thicker to play single notes or scales. MUscle memory at my age is a bit slow but coming. At the end a good exercise also to keep my old brain working: was that on the second fret of the third string or was it the third fret on the second string? LOL!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Robert,
I think there are many men who do not take this prostate monitoring seriously. It is a very-very treatable form of Cancer that about 50% of old men will have to live with. Pretty much not a death sentence, but if it goes unchecked and spreads it usually goes to the bone and then you are done.
I feel less fatigued today, so I’m beginning to think this one side effect might be waning. Anyways that is my hope.
For me the guitar is a way to stay active and also a way to relax. It creates a separate universe for me. I think it is equivalent to learning a new language.
I find it interesting that the grandson is like baby-hippy. Pretty much he is emulating lots of my character, personality, and bad habits. He kinda loves all my guitars. What makes it interesting that he is a strawberry blonde white boy with blue eyes, so he has none of my blood, but already he is displaying that he could be a frontman in a band.
He like stealing my guitar picks. Today I was like his roadie holding one of his guitars while he played another.
So far today it is rather pleasant and only 78 degrees. Only a high of 91 expected. Thursday is expected to be the scorcher.
Cal
I think there are many men who do not take this prostate monitoring seriously. It is a very-very treatable form of Cancer that about 50% of old men will have to live with. Pretty much not a death sentence, but if it goes unchecked and spreads it usually goes to the bone and then you are done.
I feel less fatigued today, so I’m beginning to think this one side effect might be waning. Anyways that is my hope.
For me the guitar is a way to stay active and also a way to relax. It creates a separate universe for me. I think it is equivalent to learning a new language.
I find it interesting that the grandson is like baby-hippy. Pretty much he is emulating lots of my character, personality, and bad habits. He kinda loves all my guitars. What makes it interesting that he is a strawberry blonde white boy with blue eyes, so he has none of my blood, but already he is displaying that he could be a frontman in a band.
He like stealing my guitar picks. Today I was like his roadie holding one of his guitars while he played another.
So far today it is rather pleasant and only 78 degrees. Only a high of 91 expected. Thursday is expected to be the scorcher.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
A headline suspects that gold buying by Central Banks will continue and accelerate.
Another headline is about the churning in the markets, and how the rally is limited to a few tech stocks. I heard a report that rebalancing your portfolio at this point should be performed monthly to avoid a major loss when the markets turn. Seems sensible and to be good advice.
As far as the world goes, the U.S. stock markets seems buoyant mostly because of AI, when compared to other markets.
Cal
Another headline is about the churning in the markets, and how the rally is limited to a few tech stocks. I heard a report that rebalancing your portfolio at this point should be performed monthly to avoid a major loss when the markets turn. Seems sensible and to be good advice.
As far as the world goes, the U.S. stock markets seems buoyant mostly because of AI, when compared to other markets.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The Leica Store in Washington D.C. called to ask if I wanted to buy a SL3. I happened to be at the store when they had received their first one.
Back when I was part of the focus group we asked for an articulating screen for the SL2, but that did not happen. We also asked for a Monochrom version and also that did not happen.
My SL2 has 47.8 MP and ISIS. No need for more mega pixels for me, especially if you shoot Leica L-glass. Resolution a plenty, and know I print big.
A SL3 is overkill and what to do with the extra resolution? Can’t ever see justifying needing a SL3.
Now if they came out with a 24 MP Monochrom camera I’d rob many a 7-11’s to come up with the cash for a Monochrom version.
I still own the original MM and it is a mucho fine camera still. I was an early adopter, and of course I had it overhauled and the sensor replaced for free. My wait and turnaround was only about a month because I used a waiting list and only sent in my camera when I got the E-mail.
My only regret is they replaced the original covering. My OEM covering was worn smooth in places from heavy use. Oh-well.
My MM is only an 18 MP, but it effectively is like a 36 MP camera which is plenty. A 24 MP Monochrom would be a bonus.
Cal
Back when I was part of the focus group we asked for an articulating screen for the SL2, but that did not happen. We also asked for a Monochrom version and also that did not happen.
My SL2 has 47.8 MP and ISIS. No need for more mega pixels for me, especially if you shoot Leica L-glass. Resolution a plenty, and know I print big.
A SL3 is overkill and what to do with the extra resolution? Can’t ever see justifying needing a SL3.
Now if they came out with a 24 MP Monochrom camera I’d rob many a 7-11’s to come up with the cash for a Monochrom version.
I still own the original MM and it is a mucho fine camera still. I was an early adopter, and of course I had it overhauled and the sensor replaced for free. My wait and turnaround was only about a month because I used a waiting list and only sent in my camera when I got the E-mail.
My only regret is they replaced the original covering. My OEM covering was worn smooth in places from heavy use. Oh-well.
My MM is only an 18 MP, but it effectively is like a 36 MP camera which is plenty. A 24 MP Monochrom would be a bonus.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Besides the Empire State Factory Index ratcheting downward the past 7 months, there is a report that restaurant have experience a falling off of business 4 out of the past 6 months.
More and more evidence besides lower retail sales are all together indicating a slowdown of sorts.
Is a recession underway? Anyways no surprise…
Cal
More and more evidence besides lower retail sales are all together indicating a slowdown of sorts.
Is a recession underway? Anyways no surprise…
Cal