NYC Journal

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ASA,

Understandable considering trying to be fair, and to respond to the complaint of how political this thread got.

The moderators have been generous, and even though it is somewhat embedded now, it would of or could of been simply deleted.

I have to admit it is hard not to respond to the headlines, but that is what we must do.

Oh-well…

People that follow here seem to know how to link in. This is better than getting canceled or deleted…

Cal
 
I’ll be seeing the kid’s new cottage later today. We have the grandson, and after the closing we will head over to Carmel.

The cottage was built in the 50’s as a vacation home and it has lake rights, but is not waterfront. Carmel unofficially is part of the NYC watershed and there is a series of lakes there. It is in Putnam County, but know that Peekskill borders Putnam County, but is the most north western corner of Westchester.

The Empire State Trailway is nearby, and unlike in Yorktown it has even more of an upstate country vibe.

I can see dropping off “Maggie” an disappearing onto the trailway with my bike to get in extended rides of 3-4-5 hours. Carmel is a preferred location to start a ride because the trailway opens up and has few street crossings, unlike Yorktown.

There is “Butt-Hill” though in Carmel, a rather steep climb that many cyclists walk their bikes. It needs some attack momentum, and then a close to granny gear to spin up, or a hammer with strong legs to use entire body strength to stand and use a bike like a Stair Master stretching or trying to break your chain.

Carmel leads to the Great Swamp in Brewster, a wonderful section, that is the second biggest wetland in “downstate” New York. I think the biggest wetland downstate is the Jamaica Bay preserve by Kennedy Airport. The Great Swamp is a series of preserves that are lakes and swamps.

The cottage has been insulated well, has brand new windows, and mini-splits for HVAC. The septic system is brand new.

The bad is a fence is needed to coral the kids, there are some trees that are too close to the house that need being removed, and the yard is small. Kinda close to a commercial district also.

Taxes are mucho cheap. The finished basement is not taxed as living space. There is also a wood stove in the basement.

So the kids will kinda be living below their means and this pleases me.

Had one of my big breakfasts that is likely over 1200 calories. Did my max set of pull-ups (8), and will do a max set of pushups. Should be able to do 60 or more, dirty quick ones that are explosive.

I’m really digging the Pinecaster. Glad I decided to experiment. It is an asset. The surprise here is that ends up being a wonderful guitar for jazz because of clarity and note separation. There is an acoustic quality I love. The sound/tone is very scooped, meaning a real lack of mids, mostly treble and bass with almost no midrange. Interesting.

Cal
 
“Maggie” e-mailed me an article where testosterone was argued about between a biologist and a sociologist.

Two constructs were made, and both held their points.

So multifaceted the construction of masculinity. I have my own theory.

A friend we call “Zipper” because he was a skinny scrawny guy. Zipper basically used steroids and became a male stripper to put himself through college. Anyways the link between Cancer and steroid use is documented.

I asked Zipper about elevated “T” and male aggression, and he said/mentioned it was really about your innate personality. If you are a kinda relaxed guy pretty much no change, but if you already are an innately aggressive guy it can push you over-the-top.

So pretty much I don’t think I have a high level of “T” but innately I might be an Alpha Male though or because of society and culture. I was exposed to lots of violence and aggression from others, and I learned to respond.

My physical strength is great, but this is through hard work, exercise, and physical conditioning. I do not have the bulk of a muscle head, I have a boy’s body.

So interesting the male aggression, and its origins.

Then there is my blood type: B+. Only about 5% of the population have this blood type. “Eating Right For pour Blood Type” writes about anthropology, evolution and his hypothesis is that blood type evolved with certain developments in man’s evolution.

B+ Dr. Addams states is the result of the development of domestication of animals. A certain personality profile developed that was the product of this evolutionary development. Anyways I kinda fit the profile outlined.

Anyways, things to consider when undergoing a fem-out.

Cal
 
You are not at all 'buried' in RFF. You are easy to find merely by surfing What's new. And bang!! There you are.

I found you easily page 2 of What's new. So you see, you can't try and hide from us, ha!!

Why a new thread?

Maybe give us a brief explanation of what is going on.

For all that, if you want to run two separate threads, it's well and good. Another good thread to read and follow.
 
Personally, I'd prefer to see this thread continue or the next thread to just be a continuation of this one, no changes in kindness or snark. This is a community we choose to participate in because of the way it is. If it changes for more perceived kindness or whatnot, you're going to lose people, as it won't be as genuine.
Phil
 
Phil_F_NM said:
Personally, I'd prefer to see this thread continue or the next thread to just be a continuation of this one, no changes in kindness or snark. This is a community we choose to participate in because of the way it is. If it changes for more perceived kindness or whatnot, you're going to lose people, as it won't be as genuine.
Phil
Click to expand...
I agree, following and taking part in this thread is like being member of a club🙂
 
Phil_F_NM said:
Personally, I'd prefer to see this thread continue or the next thread to just be a continuation of this one, no changes in kindness or snark. This is a community we choose to participate in because of the way it is. If it changes for more perceived kindness or whatnot, you're going to lose people, as it won't be as genuine.
Phil
Click to expand...
I've seen plenty of kindness here. I've not seen snark! There is anger, and many people are afraid of anger, but that's their problem. I definitely don't see a reason for self-censorship, or, worse, censorship on the part of the moderators.
 
Phil_F_NM said:
Personally, I'd prefer to see this thread continue or the next thread to just be a continuation of this one, no changes in kindness or snark. This is a community we choose to participate in because of the way it is. If it changes for more perceived kindness or whatnot, you're going to lose people, as it won't be as genuine.
Phil
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. To work properly a democracy needs criticism. And sometimes non-violent activism. In saying this I am not in any way advocating the even symbolic flinging of even symbolic bricks in even symbolic windows, but to me the basic principle here is, what is the purpose or even the point of a so-called democracy if we cannot speak our minds, always politely but at the same time directly??

I tend to write things directly and to the point. I try to be polite, which at times can be difficult for me as by nature I cannot abide stupidity or pretentiousness and when faced with either I have to force myself to sit on my hands and stay well away from my laptop keyboard. This trait has not always served me well, but in my life I have had a few successful careers and now retired I am still around and kicking goal posts over now and then, as and when I believe I have to.

A few years ago I left another thread because of out-of-control censorship by moderators. Many others did the same. A few are here on RFF and they will surely recall those events. The web site in question is still around, but it changed from one with a fair amount of good debate on many issues to an almost entirely gear-centric one.

Let us all hope it doesn't come to this with RFF. This site is far too good to see it go that way.
 
As this is not the true town square or the people's house, we have zero implied rights to any freedom of speech here. That said, this thread has existed for years and we have covered some extremely polar topics, all the while participating in the civil discourse which should exist everywhere on the web. I have said some incendiary things as have others, and we all have had some bit of disagreement here and there, but zero need for moderation. The folks who stirred up too much years ago were cordially invited to leave and that was that. The house took care of itself, and there was barely even a bump in the road of conversation. This thread is where most of my participation here on rff exists lately, and if this or the next become more moderated than we've had for years, then I'll simply leave. I can send folks my address and perhaps collect a few, then type my rantings out on a typewriter with a few carbons then snail mail them out to whomever wants to read my drivel.
I must say that I'm missing Cal's regular financial analysis and synthesis of the macro economic situation, and I believe we are all worse off for its absence.
My $.02
Phil
 
Phil_F_NM said:
As this is not the true town square or the people's house, we have zero implied rights to any freedom of speech here. That said, this thread has existed for years and we have covered some extremely polar topics, all the while participating in the civil discourse which should exist everywhere on the web. I have said some incendiary things as have others, and we all have had some bit of disagreement here and there, but zero need for moderation. The folks who stirred up too much years ago were cordially invited to leave and that was that. The house took care of itself, and there was barely even a bump in the road of conversation. This thread is where most of my participation here on rff exists lately, and if this or the next become more moderated than we've had for years, then I'll simply leave. I can send folks my address and perhaps collect a few, then type my rantings out on a typewriter with a few carbons then snail mail them out to whomever wants to read my drivel.
I must say that I'm missing Cal's regular financial analysis and synthesis of the macro economic situation, and I believe we are all worse off for its absence.
My $.02
Phil
Click to expand...
Hold on to your $.02. You may need it... 😉
 
I thought the new thread might be a more meet up local RFF thread, whereas this is the journal with ebbs and flows Calzone style.
Agreed with Phil that this thread has its own life and equilibrium. I have been familiar with the earlier "expiring" threads of the NYC meetup, to a period in 22-23 of abscence. After some culture shock back it was interesting to just see this has been its own thing.
 
The new thread seems a bit, how can I put it - tame.

It's almost as if Cal has blinkers on, and is now minding his manners and carefully picking and choosing his subjects.

As always he writes well, but - something is now missing. It's not the 'old' Cal we knew.

Maybe it's just that some things (threads) go on in their time, run their course, and fade away. It would be sad if this one did, but here that could be the case.

It also looks as if he now no longer posts here.

Phil_F_NM, whatever you decide in future, don't give us up. Yours are among the more interesting posts on RFF. You cover a great and wide variety of subjects, and you write well about your life, your thoughts, how you relate to living in New Mexico, and on other topics many of us enjoy reading. Your leaving here would be a loss.

There are other photo sites. Not many good ones, few as good as RFF has been.

Or maybe set up your own on Wordpress or some other suitable (and inexpensive) blogger.

If you do, let us know. So we can go on following you.
 
We live in Democracy here, and like at a Camera Beauty Contest the mob rules.

I also know I can do lots of trash talking, go way off topic, and present complicated arguments to provoke people, but in the end this is a community and a safe place.

We are also a support group.

I think I can tone down the name calling, and to be fair I can call myself out for 5th grade behavior on this. Oh-well.

So the mob voted, and here I am. Is this political?

Cal
 
Yesterday, I had a DSW Coupon and bought a pair of black and grey checkerboard Vans with a red accent for $33.38 out the door. Normally Vans sell for $69.95. This was a lucky find in the clearance rack that had 40% off and a bonus $10.00 off if I spent over $25.00.

Anyways this is what I did over the years to hoard in an OCD manner to accumulate an over 55 gallon bin of of shoes, sneakers, and boots, plus perhaps now 15 more gallons of overspill. Just imagine 70 gallons of footwear.

So you guys kinda miss my trash talk. My past included lots of violence, but also I am known for my mouth and can flip the switch on that too. Don’t forget that I’m a drama queen and for a decade I was a performance artist.

So I can brag that my footwear OCD behavior that built this stockpile might have inflation proofed me, along with a stockpile of durable clothes that I call “my rags” pretty much I wear cloths in and wear them out. I had a pair of Lee carpenter pants that annoyed “Maggie” because they were ratty, had tires and holes. This was before it was cool and became a style.

Maggie hated these pants, but now she owns them and did some intense Japanese repair/mending. Pretty much they are now a treasure. “Ha-ha,” I say.

To prove how practical and stubborn I am, these Lee carpenter pants are likely 30 years old. “Ha-ha,” again.

It is expected that clothing and footwear will get hit hard with inflation.

My jeans are Paul Smith, and I secured them at a pop-up sample sale held at a storefront on West Broadway in Madhattan. I kinda loaded up and bought something like 13-15 pairs of jeans. This premium product is kinda better made than Levies and the denim is also a better grade.

At this sample sale there was no fitting room, so people went into the basement to try on clothes and pretty much it was a mass stripping show. Didn’t know that g-strings were so popular. Anyways close to community nudity, but not all the way. Kinda cool and exciting the frenzy going on.

I also bought a lot of Patagonia and athletic wear that is mucho durable.

Point is I likely can go about 5 years without needing to buy any clothes or footwear. Pretty much I just need socks and underwear.

Cal
 
The bond market created a forced move. Yields went up because there was a lot of selling of bonds. Understand that Yields increase when bond prices drop. Pretty much we went into the very beginning of a bond crisis.

Investors don’t believe in the U.S. as having a strong future and leadership. Foreign investment as well as domestic investment is displaying a “flight of capitol.” Note that Gold set a new Intra-Day High today north of $3255.XX.

Usually when stock markets tank there is a flight to bonds, but bonds too are also dropping. There is mucho instability, flip-flopping, uncertainty, and breakdown of rule of law. In less words too much risk. There is no safety from a world view that investment in U.S. equities (stocks), or bonds as being safe.

The capitulation that happened earlier in the week only kicked the can down the road for 90 days. Pretty much nothing has changed really other than a momentary delay in the timeline.

On NPR I heard a commentator describe three timelines: but really only 2 are relevant; one is long-term/permanent tarries to rebuild industry; and the other is short-term to apply pressure and as a negotiation tactic. The third was really a combination/blend of the two.

Anyways, I will repeat a headline from Janet Yellen, that mirrors many a comment I made about self inflicted wounds. We had nearly a bond collapse/crisis that basically was a self inflicted wound, and it is clear to the world that the U.S. economy is no safe bet.

Did you see the dip in oil prices that pointed to recession and economic slowdown when the DOW tanked over 2700 points. See how oil prices are a good indicator.

Note that in fact inflation did moderate, but also understand that the consumer slowed down their consumption. Prices have not deflated by any means. Basically the consumer went on a diet. You and I can understand that, but economists and journalists put a spin on the number that in fact is not the reality that is really going on.

I will not comment on how the mid-term E-XXXX-XXXX’s ouctcome could be effected. Please note my sensorship/censorship.

Also know that I know my friend MFM gets annoyed at my butchering of language even though I have a MFA in Creative Writing. Understand that as a person of color it is my priv-EL-age to create slang, new meaning, and pretty much annoy people like Maggie that had spelling beaten into them in Catholic Schools.

Is this what you voted for, meaning this thread?

Cal
 
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