NYC Journal

[Calzone]

The bleeding from my January surgery continues: another $275.00 bill came in today for my share of out of pocket. Ouch… and “Moo,” said the Pig. I’m alright, the money is in the bank…

So I find it interesting that there are no news headlines about yesterday’s economic boycott. “Maggie” told me about a Walmart employee who posted a video of a deserted store who was at work yesterday. Don’t tell anyone: obvious that it’s a secrete.

Maggie read me out a list of a series of questions from a thoughtful reflection about the economic boycott.

Pretty much I had one answer that was a great response to each individual question: “Live below your means…”

Example: “What did you learn about participating in the economic boycott?”

Answer: “Live below your means.”

Another question: “Can you sustain your austerity?”

Answer: “Live below your means.”

Pretty much to me an obvious answer, but I say that perhaps 2/3rds of Americans live beyond their means.

Right now with all these medical bills if I were a typical American I would be a scrambled mess.

Local news is I went to CVS to use a 30% off coupon that would expire after today, and to buy eggs because we ran out. Nearby is a strip mall about 2 1/2 blocks away, so I walked over.

I counted 10 men near the parking lot entrance that were day laborers, all Latino’s. Then near the super market another 3 that I suspected that they too were day laborers.

On my way out of the grocery the three men remained reinforcing my notion that they were avoiding the crowd just in case ICE came around. Then near the parking lot entrance I only counted 3 men, so 7 men likely got picked up for a day’s work.

This is the first time I’ve seen the day laborers this year. Generally I see them all the time, sometimes as many as 30 men, and even women.

My local grocery is out of the way, and is not one of the big chain stores. Pretty much I limit my purchases there because almost everything costs more there. In other words I only shop there for convenience, or for items I can’t find elsewhere.

I saw the shelves are thinning out. They had a massive Asian noodle selection that included products imported from Japan, but I bought the last packet on the shelf. I wonder if this grocery will head south, the emptying shelves suggest this. Then I paid $11.99 for a dozen jumbo eggs. That’s almost $1.00 per egg. Ouch.

******************************

Today I plugged in the baritone guitar early in the morning to adjust the pickups. I lowered them considerably to get rid of the wooly distortion. The sound cleaned up nicely, and of course the tone is richer than a standard guitar with a regular scale length. I’m beyond happy-happy. Kinda close to an orgasm actually. Too much pleasure…

Definitely more like a piano tone, mucho warmth, and much more dynamics. Seems to have more note separation and clarity also. What’s not to love.

Might have to get another baritone neck. In the least I actually need to build out a for real baritone guitar with mucho heavy strings. The Sonic Blue Thinline is set up actually as a regular guitar with my normal heavy gauge strings, 12’s-52. To compensate for the additional string tension of the 3 1/8 inch longer scale I tune down a whole-step D-D.

Still plays like a regular guitar to an extent, but really the only difference is really two additional frets that go lower. Same feel and vibe as a regular guitar.

I’m kinda in love, don’t tell Maggie. I am left with excitement and passion… I feel really inspired.

Then when I play a standard guitar, I fell advanced, smoother, quicker and more accurate with precision in every note. The enhanced note separation and clarity is a really-really big deal.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

“Useless Eaters” and “Food Eaters” pretty much the same context, just a different era.

After thinking more about this, pretty much for the same reasons though.

Some people are judged as being not worthy of life. The poor, the elderly, the retired, the sick should be allowed to die as they are parasites that are not worthy of support. Cut off support and let nature run it’s course, less burden to the viable part of society.

Anyways, I call this a step towards genocide.

Then remember my question, “Is Guantanamo Bay a death camp or concentration camp?”

The hate I read about in the Peekskill Riots, was condoned and sanctioned by government. Tell me the difference between 1949 when the Peekskill Riots happened and January 6th.

Just connect the dots…

When the real economic hardship happens who do you think will be the scapegoats and targets for violence, lynchings, and genocide?

Be prepared. The next shoe will drop.

**********************

I took out of the freezer about 5 quarts of plum tomatoes. After freezing they say the skin is easily removed.

A chef told me his secrete to getting rid of excess water that gets extracted from the tomato after freezing: put the tomatoes in a water bottle put on the lid and turn the bottle upside down. The water will collect at the bottom, just squeeze the bottle to get rid of some of the excess water so you have to simmer less to boil off the water.

So at CVS I bought some storage containers, to store this sauce. Could be for soups, stews or for pasta. Just making a modular preparation to further my independence and self sufficiency.

I’m thinking I might have to buy a freezer to become more self sufficient.

“Maggie” spoke of growing potatoes and onions. Hmmm…

*******************

I use and say, “No sweat off my balls.” I know it is crude and vulgar, but I guess that is the point. Often it in response to Maggie making a big deal out of nothing.

So lately with my medicinal use of coffee as a purposeful irritant to my bladder to induce a buildup or tolerance of control, I get this odd sensation of a sudden release, but in fact I catch myself before wetting my pants. Pretty much a sophisticated mid game. When I check for leakage I’m high and dry. Kinda crazy, because I kinda feel the sensation of a leakage and wetness.

So after a few days of this I figure out it really is just the sweat on my balls. The stickiness is just an daily accumulation and not urine seepage. Anyways a weird kinda delusion of reality. Pretty much I get sticky balls.

Live from Peekskill, New York, Calvin Reporting.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

One of the FED members announced that the first quarter of 2025 contracted to only 1.5%. This is the lowest in three years, and know that two consecutive quarters of negative GNP growth defines a recession.

Meanwhile the FED also has to be concerned with not only an economic slowdown and higher unemployment; the FED also has to worry about inflation. The combination of slow growth and inflation defines “stagflation.” The last time this happened was in the 70’s.

I remember double digit inflation as well as double digit unemployment. I graduated high school in 1976, and it was hard to get a job even at minimum wage. Understand that this stagflation persisted from say 1973 with the oil crisis, and then ended in 1982.

The cost of living skyrocketed…

So we could experience another bought of this. Realize that there is a record 1.2 trillion in credit card debt, and this is a 7% increase from only a year ago. Pretty much easy to see that people are mortgaging their future by living on debt. Households are buying groceries using a credit card. Pretty evident that this is not sustainable…

Meanwhile the trade deficit also hit a record with the importing done at the end of 2024 in anticipation of the tariffs to come.

“Look out below…”

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Seems like the trade deficit dramatically changed the outlook for the first quarter of 2025 suddenly according to the Atlantic FED. Oh-well the trap door I spoke of suddenly opened. The first quarter went from a projected 2.3% to real 1.5%, a contraction from the 2.3% of the 4th quarter of 2024.

They also say that January was a real slowdown by consumers, not just February 28th.

They somewhat blame it could be weather related do to cold, as well as forest fire related, but only mildly suggest the uncertainty created by the Orange House, the DOGE Bags, and the mass firings of Federal Workers.

Likely all are valid to an extent, but wild fires and even the cold was kinda localized and not on a national scale; the uncertainty, the DOGE Bag policies, and the downsizing is kinda national and not so local.

One more quarter of contraction and we have a recession, one that is long overdue because of mucho stimulas that goes back over several Presidential terms. Meanwhile deficits and living on debt goes back to every Presidential term going back to George W. Bush.

Already there are other new breaches in the rule of law. Two Federal Court Orders have not been fulfilled, and pretty much the avenue of enforcement is impeachment. We know that this is a fraught process, and it would require Republican support.

Presently “Bozo” with the orange hair has a “get out of jail free card” called Presidential immunity. This is clearly an abuse of power and in violation of the Oath of Office.

So how do we enforce the law? Like I said the justice department is a “Paper Tiger” or a “Toothless Tiger.”

How do you spell tyranny? Remember Bozo is a convicted felon.

Do you think what happened yesterday had any honor?

Insanity…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The Internet didn’t lie when they stated that the skin falls right off a defrosted plum tomato. EZ-PZ. Of course one the skin is removed it is a semi-solid and takes up less volume. Some of the tomatoes from the gallon ziplock bag remain frozen, so tomorrow is another day…

I deduce that freezing and then condensing the volume makes practical sense, then you can refreeze the batches for later use. Efficient use of precious freezer space is the idea, and pretty much batch processing to save time.

I can see how just 4 plum tomato plants could generate enough sauce for our household. I gave away shopping bags worth of tomatoes last summer. It was kind of an overdose, but now I can see using the entire harvest for just our consumption.

Did not take a lot of time. I think I will simmer this batch to condense things further. Should be great. No pesticides and organic by my standards.

Also know that the coffee grinds, egg shells, orange peels, banana peels, apple cores, and vegetable waste gets composted. In our case it adds up to be substantial.

Cal

 

[DownUnder]

You and your guitars. I reckon you are keeping an entire small industry alive and thriving.

No offence intended. In fact I've learned more about guitars by reading your posts, than I ever thought possible.

In my childhood years in Canada everybody in my family (except me) had a guitar. None ever got to the heights of an Andres Segovia but we were always well entertained at family parties and picnics by some cousin or uncle strumming the strings. Hillbilly R&R was popular in the 1950s and we were always treated to at times amazing variations of the songs we heard on the radio.

I sometimes wonder what happened to all those fine guitars my reps had. I hope at least a few of them were passed on to their kids and in turn to the grandkids, but sadly guitars have declined in popularity over those seven decades. So you are carrying on with a fine musical tradition, and that's a mightily good thing.

On a different topic, we too down here in Oz had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. My favourites are the plum tomatoes which I find have a unique flavour and a little sweeter than the 'heirloom' varieties.

Supermarket tomatoes are as hard as rock and often sadly as taste-free as the aforesaid stones, this likely due to being picked before they ripen, kept in cold storage and eventually trucked halfway across the continent. By the time our local stupormarkets put them out I reckon they are last year's crop or even of an older 'vintage'. But we grow our own anyway, so this is merely an aside.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

There's a part of me that still has faith in the rule of law, but the pragmatist in me, who studied history in school, and paid attention to the world as I was raised to do, believes differently.
Phil

 

[Retro-Grouch]

The Internet didn’t lie when they stated that the skin falls right off a defrosted plum tomato. EZ-PZ. Of course one the skin is removed it is a semi-solid and takes up less volume. Some of the tomatoes from the gallon ziplock bag remain frozen, so tomorrow is another day…

I deduce that freezing and then condensing the volume makes practical sense, then you can refreeze the batches for later use. Efficient use of precious freezer space is the idea, and pretty much batch processing to save time.

I can see how just 4 plum tomato plants could generate enough sauce for our household. I gave away shopping bags worth of tomatoes last summer. It was kind of an overdose, but now I can see using the entire harvest for just our consumption.

Did not take a lot of time. I think I will simmer this batch to condense things further. Should be great. No pesticides and organic by my standards.

Also know that the coffee grinds, egg shells, orange peels, banana peels, apple cores, and vegetable waste gets composted. In our case it adds up to be substantial.

Cal

No self-respecting Italian nonna (such as me) would think of making Sunday gravy with anything but plum tomatoes! I'm glad to see you're doing things right!

 

[Austintatious]

I use and say, “No sweat off my balls.” I know it is crude and vulgar, but I guess that is the point. Often it in response to Maggie making a big deal out of nothing.

Reminds me of this :

 

[Calzone]

I’m with Phil: you need Rule of Law to have an economy or a government. Pretty much it is purely a matter of trust.

With the breakdowns that are known, and the uncertainty that is prevailing, there are increased risks.

My understanding is such that if an employee is “fired” they are no longer entitled to unemployment insurance benefits. Not sure where these Federal Workers who have been fired without due cause stand. If they were furloughed or laid-off they certianly would be entitled to unemployment benefits.

So here is where these Federal Workers get discounted and are not included in the Newly Unemployment numbers. La-La-La and La-La-La these unemployed don’t get counted and the markets don’y have a quantitative reason to react. Basically a loss of income isn’t counted.

Wow…

On the other hand I also know “the Rule of the Jungle” where there is “street justice,” and pretty much you have to be able to go into lawless thug mode where street fighting and violence is necessary. I did pretty well under Rule of the Jungle, but today I am an old man.

So it comes down to this: lack of confidence in the government along with rule of law; or rule of the jungle along with being either fearless or being able to instill fear. Being able to instill fear is as useful an asset as being able to be fearless. In my experience best to have both as an asset.

When I talk rule of the jungle, I’m talking harms way, and violence is kinda eminent in a life threatening way. To put in context: hate crimes. Kill or be killed…

So part of me wants to remain human, but then there is the animal part of me that wants to ensure survival.

I spoke to “Maggie” about this and she could not ever justify self-defense or ever taking a life. For me I know enough that it might be too easy to go too far, and I live in fear of taking a life. All it takes is a blink of an eye to go too far. I experienced that in boxing my best friend Billy after he split my lip when we were boxing with 16 ounce gloves.

Pretty much came very close to giving Billy a traumatic brain injury.

Then I was compelled to say to a white woman who could never fully understand racism and hate crimes: “Would you rather visit my grave, or visit me in prison.”

Rule of law is one thing; rule of the jungle is another…

I prefer to be a human rather than just an animal. So for me I have all this history locked and loaded, and anything can and seems will happen.

But then again I have been conditioned to respond, and at this point it is instinct to kill.

In Nazi Germany they committed atrocities and Genocide. Hate is being promoted, and I would say so is violence. For me January 6th was Treason. Don’t forget that a cop was killed.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Austin,

Thanks for the SNL video. I remember it. LOL.

Reminds me of another skit that depicted Southern Belles talking about the charm of a friend or neighbor Ker-nal Ling-GUS on the porch of some plantation..

One woman raves and says, “Tell me about any girl who does not like or love Ker-NAL—LING-GUS.”

Cal

 

[Calzone]

A report suggests that not only input costs like lumber, sheetrock, appliances will go up adding to inflation, but but also will add to the cost of home construction making new homes more expensive.

This in turn will also make existing homes also more expensive, and the housing shortage does not go away.

They say almost a quarter of the workforce in the construction industry are illegal immigrants.

So increased input costs and a worker shortage promotes further escalation of housing prices and will make the housing shortage worse.

Remember that under-building has happened since 2007-2008, so it would take a prolonged period of overbuilding to balance the housing market.

The way I see it home ownership separates the haves and the have-nots, and high home prices and further price increases (inflation) is a safe bet. The housing shortage and misguided government policy ensures and reinforces high home prices.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I paid $255.00 for the baritone Strat neck, and if I had to custom order one it would cost $425.00.

It was being offered as a blowout sale and it featured a 9-14 inch compound radius that is a $35.00 up charge.

I think the distinct Arizona Turquoise dot inlays made it perhaps having limited appeal and a less universal appeal, but it looks stunning in my application. This was another $35.00 upgrade.

Know that I ordered the neck with stainless steel frets, so I added this to the low price to get to the $255.00 end cost.

Some of the best money I ever spent. The sonic blue Thinline is a rather distinguished guitar.

I am lurking for another miracle deal for another baritone neck, but this one be built out to be an actual baritone with oversized thicker strings. This voicing suits my vocal voice.

Hmmm.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Friday’s Non-Farm Payroll numbers could tip the markets into a correction. Pretty much would be a validation of recession fears and a slowing economy.

Ethnically I’m southern Chinese (Cantonese), but pretty much I don’t really consume Chinese products, in fact I avoid buying cheap goods. Partly because I buy to keep and not to fill landfills. Tariffs on China has really no effect on me because not only do I not purchase cheap Chinese products, I go out of my way not to buy them.

Many a time I look to see where made, and if in China, I put it back on the shelf.

But then there are households that shop at Walmart and Target, and guess where most of their products come from…

Today we went to the granddaughter’s confirmation, then we had lunch. Killed the day.

I thought about the number of electric guitars I have and discovered that most of them have alder bodies. My three swamp ash go against 7 alder bodies. Point is I think I have a preference.

Going forward I think I have my swamp ash needs met, but perhaps a solid alder baritone guitar is needed…

I’m diseased…

High and dry. One trick is to not test fate by going full bladder, this basically is asking for a leak or tempting one. Another I think is my strength exercises that pretty much strengthen and unify everything.

Tomorrow I go to my urologist/surgeon. In the leasat I’ll get a PSA test, and we expect a zero reading.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Median age for dementia is 83.7 years, but personality can be an important factor. Being an extrovert, have a positive outlook, and being conscientious reduces the risk.

On the other hand being neurotic, negative outlook, and not being conscientious can increase your risk factor.

Anxiety can be a condition, but is not proven to be a factor.

I am researching this because I don’t think I’m at risk, but I wonder about “Maggie.” In a ways I already am a caretaker for a woman who is a bit neurotic. Also there is some family history…

So eyes wide open, and how to make the most of it. Do things now over the next decade, or right away.

Anyways a passing thought on how to navigate a possibility.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Over the weekend I spoke to an old friend of mine from the Navy, who lives down in Alexandria, VA. I reached out to him, asking if he was still employed. He reminded me that he is a contractor, so he wasn't included in the firings so far, but his company is on edge as they could lose their contract and funding. He mentioned that he works aside government workers and has seen people go. Since he is in one of the biggest suburbs of DC, he's hearing folks are already worrying about foreclosures.
When all this settles, if it actually does, there are going to be a lot of foreclosures on houses, and it will take at least two presidential administrations to rebuild government to a point of it actually working.
Phil

 

[Calzone]

Today I visit my urologist/surgeon. The PSA should be a “zero” and that is what is expected. Eventually though the Cancer will come back, and then comes the secondary treatment of radiation (4-6 weeks 5 days a week) and hormone therapy (6 months -2 years).

The newer second and third generation home treatments have less side effects, so the fem-out might be less. Also everyone is different… Still there is the possibility of becoming a nasty bitch.

Then we have to deal with “Maggies” Pulse-A-Tive Ten-I-TIS that may or may not be something serious. Of course Maggie is worried and anxious. From my reading though all causes are treatmentable. Could be a plaque buildup that needs to be addressed, worse case a brain tumor, or some circlitory problem.

Friday she gets 3 Cat-Scans of her head and throat.

Friday’s job report has the potential to shake up the markets. Other indicators are pointing to a slowdown of the economy and the first lame quarter that might be the beginning of a recession.

Meanwhile the FED really can’t change rates lower to stimulate the economy without reigniting inflation. Looks like a prolonged bout of stagflation is ahead and likely. This could be lengthy because both the consumer and the government maintain huge record setting debt loads.

As I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.”

So if the FED raises rates it will compound the debt burden. In the government’s case it will increase the deficit. Being able to roll over debt is no longer practical.

So either way I see austerity ahead, and that too will compound matters…

As always, best to not have debt and live below your means, otherwise you FXXX’ed yourself.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The banks did not lower mortgage rates, even though the FED lowered rates.

Pretty much they hedged themselves against the foreclosures that Phil posted about. Pretty much the bank’s thinking is we will ave enough problems, so let’s avoid risk.

The lower FED rate though made it easier for the banks to make larger profits. No help for the little people though who will getr crushed like ants.

Oh-well, little people don’t count…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I see a lot of validity in seeing a foreclosure spike. I had not considered this. This is no way to solve the housing shortage.

Today, I reflect that my life has been saved. This aggressive prostate Cancer could of taken me out, and pretty much if I was overweight, not so fit, or had a poor diet, the Cancer would of gotten far along enough to be a death sentence.

I was kinda reassured that I would at least have a healthy decade ahead, and the odds are good for me for perhaps 15 years out, and that brings me out the the old median age of 82. Pretty much a normal life expectancy, but one that is healthy, active, and not handicapped, free of chronic age related disease.

So I honor that blessing today, and I’m committed to not wasting this great opportunity to live fully.

Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank fame predicts the future for most Americans will be a downsizing. I kinda see this. No more living “large” and exploiting “Free-Money.” That era is gone. So moving forward Americans have to ground themselves in a new reality. Perhaps an enforced living below your means.

This might not be a bad thing, but the transition will be mighty rude for many. Everlasting growth, like Cancer, eventually kills.

*********************

So Myrtle Beach is not far away from where “Maggie’s” brothers reside in the southern costal end of North Carolina. Seems like dry weather and winds across the south and the plains will support dangerous wild fire conditions.

This is an area that I would judge as having a lack of infrastructure. Pretty much any disaster gets compounded.

Not good…

******************

My prediction is a pivot in the markets this Friday. My judgement is that we are in a bubble of sorts, and I don’t think AI is really sustainable, too much water and energy required, and in a way it is jumping the shark as they say and got way ahead of itself.

I don’t see the productivity that is predicted. Can AI make smarter weapons? Surely, but the problem I see is execution. “Garbage in: Garbage out,” as they say.

Prime example is me, Calvin August, getting parole reminders from Colorado, and me being mistaken for someone else.

AI promotes confusion… problems… and chaos.

Look out below, as a trap door opens and a free fall happens until impact with the ground.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

"This is no way to correct the housing shortage"
I said the exact same thing in my conversation with my Navy buddy.
I know that the administration is doing this in a short-sighted manner, and have not even considered the tertiary consequences and further ripples down-market which the policies will eventually cause. Like I said in a previous post: the 8==D-tater creates a massive national problem, scapegoats some marginalized people, says he's the one to fix it, then gets SCOTUS to revisit the 22nd amendment, declare it "unconstitutional" and gets Congress to repeal it through coercion. There are enough team orange sociopaths out there to do his bidding on a whim. All he has to do is get on one of his national loudspeakers and say something analogous to "cut the grass" just as was done in Rwanda.
Phil