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A report says that the interest on our deficit last year was 6.4% of GNP and it is projected to become 9% by 2035.

Eventually this interest becomes a “debt-spiral.”

The other two rating agencies Finch and S&P downgraded U.S. debt already.

The deficit spending started with George W. Bush. In the year 2000 we had a balanced budget and also a surplus. The U.S. has been living on credit for 25 years, spending more than we make.

All the finger pointing is actually both parties.

Cal
 
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Sometime before Memorial Day I’ll get a call to be prepped for radiation treatment. I’ll get tattooed for alignment purposes, three dots, then a mold will get made to also position me, and finally the capacity of my bladder will get calculated.

Pretty much I have to hold a full bladder for about 20 minutes while getting a treatment.

Generally a radiation treatment is 4-6 weeks 5-days a week except holidays, but in my case I get 8-weeks of treatment.

My bladder and bowels will get irritated, and it is good I’m not on Eloquis the blood thinner anymore because sometimes there is bleeding.

For alignment a CT is performed, so really the three dots are not really seeneeded. There kinda rough you into position.

Figure June and July will be radiation treatment.

Cal
I just finished in April, 30 radiation treatments for prostate cancer. My procedure was much as you are anticipating. In addition to the tattoos I had three gold "fiduciary markers" implanted in the prostate several weeks before the treatments began, to insure the accuracy of the radiation target. I found the most difficult part of the whole procedure was filling my bladder to the prescribed volume and then being able to hold it for the treatment. It took a while for me to learn to time it so I was not in too much discomfort. I was told to be sure my bowel was empty for the treatments. I've read that Sloan-Kettering wants their patients to use a Fleets enemy beforehand. I was told not to, but on occasion I took a mild laxative the night before. I have had some urinary urge incontinence as a side effect, but it is diminishing. I will have a PSA test in July to determine how effective the treatments have been. My PSA increased dramatically before the diagnosis. I'm told the PSA reading will be lower, but not zero. I wish you all the best in this and your other ongoing treatments.
Robert
 
One of the side effects of my hormone treatment is bloating, another is a tendency to gain weight. Post menopausal women develop this pot and can be otherwise thin. That is happening to me. Kinda like a micro beer belly, but understand I don’t drink.

I looked at Reverb and looked up “Matchless Amps” and was surprised at the prices for Mark Sampson era Matchless Lightnings that date back to the 1990’s. I more than tripled my money, and know I own two Mark Sampson era amps.

Pretty much these two amps, and the 1960 Fender Super 2x10 ended up being good investments. Pretty lucky, and pretty much even luckier to be able to play them.

Cal
 
Know that about 50% of men will develop Prostate Cancer. Most will be slow growing, and pretty much you will likely die of other causes.

In my case I have no family history of Cancer, and no Cancer genes (had genetic testing performed), but I developed an aggressive Prostate Cancer. In my case my PSA were just elevated, yet it metasticised and reached a stage 4A before being diagnosed.

Surprisingly it took a long time to get to know I had Cancer, but I was lucky before it went to stage 4B where the spread is not so localized.

There is a possibility that I have Cancer that metasticised elsewhere in my body, that’s where the hormone treatment inhibits growth and then starves the Cancer that spread elsewhere.

Like Knotweed, all it takes is one living cell for Cancer to repopulate.

I believe pulling Knotweed is good training for my pelvic floor because it involves lots of bending and pulling.

I think pulling Knotweed also provided a good mindset to understand fully the undertaking that I’m going through at this time with my Cancer diagnosis. A certain amount of determination was nurtured and evolved. I’m kinda prepared.

Cal
 
Cal,
You have some incredible bikes, whose provenance is incredible. A one-off titanium trials welded by one of the guys who helped invent mountain biking, and largely regarded as one of the top three craftsmen in titanium in the world. It's easily equal to the Gillott, just a different thread of the sport of cycling. There's a lot of corners which I cut in building that bike, but only I know them, doesn't mean they won't irritate me at times.
It's evident that my hobby is building bikes with some dream of the future as dreamt by my 17 year old self. Call it a mid-life something, but not a crisis. It's a healthy way to keep my brain and body working. I'm now at the age that I don't care much about my toys, I want more time to use them. Lately, I want more than a day or two to ride. These week long periods of rain are killing me.
Here's a shot of the Gillott in today's beautiful weather between record setting rainstorms.
1000019446.jpg

Phil
 
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Phil,

Don’t discount the amount of knowledge and skill you have. I’m impressed.

Gary Helfrick is a legend. Owning that Ti IBIS is almost like a myth. Truly a dream bike.

I was at work and very bored so I did a search on Ti IBIS Mountain Trials thinking that nothing would ever show up. Kinda shows and indicates how positive thinking can shape reality because I was presented with an auction that was one day from closing on EBAY.

I was heart-broken when I learned that I got out bid and lost the auction, then a day later I was contacted by the seller and offered a “second-chance” at my high bid.

This I think was a bit of a miracle. Also a sign of divine intervention.

The Fat Chance Yo-Eddy has wheels that are on a death spiral. The Yo Eddy will be fitted out as a single speed and for convenience I will just do laps locally nearby at Blue Mountain on the roadway and pedestrian paths.

The idea is to make it easy and regular practice to maintain myself over the next few years. For strength training I can also do intervals on Reynold’s Hills: kinda comparable to Harlem Hills in Central Park, but is an out and back. These two rides are so near the Baby-Victorian and literally are kinda my back yard.

There also is a fire road within Blue Mountain Preserve that is a kinda long climb that traverses the park. Pretty much long intervals. Reynold’s Hills is short and steep for standing climbing. The fire road is a long and gradual climb. The out will build a lot of strength, but the back presents a place to build momentum and spinning out a 63 inch gear.

No excuses… I also have the Concept 2 and I can also do max sets of “burp-E’s.” I don’t want to become fat and lazy…

Cal
 
I saw chipmunks today by my garage.

Bought 3 pairs of sneakers out of the clearance rack at DSW, all universally 40% off plus a $20.00 savings coupon if I spent more than $100.00. Black low Converse, White leather Pumas, and New Balance. I wanted to enjoy at least $10.00 off, but when I saw the 40% off I tried to load up the truck and also inflated the coupon from $10.00 to $20.00.

Visited AJ, and I think the woman who came in was one of his stalkers. Lucky guy he has several. LOL.

I bought pads to refurbish the XTR brakes on the Fat Chance Yo Eddy and stainless steel cables. No need for housing because I have that in bulk.

“Maggie” had problems getting into and out of the Audi A4 with her injury. I mentioned that Andrew and Joan, who are in their upper 70’s, both drive mini-vans because of the added height, then I mentioned that when I restore the truck (1966 Chevy C-10 Fleetside longbed) that I could adjust the height to be lower and the height of a minivan, and I kinda got a positive response.

AJ says his dad had a truck with a 383 (stroked Chevy 350 with a 400 crank) and his father found it to be impractical: too much torque and horsepower; and it also guzzled gas.

So now I’m thinking of downsizing the engine to a ZZ6 Chevy 350 crate engine to be more practical…

BTW AJ has a 1955 Chevy step side show truck besides having 2 1/2 Porsche 356’s. The half is a parts car that is not worth restoring. Pretty much he hoarded mucho Porsche parts like engines.

Know that AJ’s dad was a greaser from the Bronx who was a car nut who’s specialty was bodywork and paint. In fact AJ’s shop was once his father’s paint store. AJ’s car collection is stored near the Berkshires at his dad’s warehouse.

So now/today I kinda set the hook into my 1966 C-10. I’ll be looking into that ZZ6 crate motor. BTW the crate motor I had in my 84 Jeep Scrambler with a half-cab was a Chevy ZZ3 crate motor that came with a dual plane intake for a 4-barrel double pumper. The newer ZZ6 comes with fuel injection, serpentine belt, computer and wiring harness.

Both engines produce 350 HP and 400 foot pounds of torque.

I’d buy the “Turn-Key” setup that comes with a tranny and clutch. I want that T-56 cast iron monster tranny that is a close ratio 4-speed with two overdrives that is rated to 750 HP.

I’ll be replacing the stock axel with a Ford 9 inch with a posi.

A full sized truck with an 8 foot bed set at a mini-van height should be mucho evil.

Cal
 
A ZZ6 “Connect and Cruise” engine, tranny, clutch, wiring harness, and computer for an EFI system costs under $21K with free shipping. This comes with a 30K mile or 5 year warrentee.

The specs are upgraded to 420 HP and 408 foot pounds of torque. Comes with a compressor for AC.

My old ZZ3 had 350 HP and 400 foot pounds of torque, but with a 4 barrel carburetor.

Learning how to jet and set up a manual double pumper Holly 750 cfm was lots of fun. Real hot rodding.

Know that I swung that ZZ3 engine into a Jeep over 30 years ago.

A custom Ford 9 inch rear with posi and disc brakes is priced around $4.5K. Effectively the entire drivetrain would be all new.

Looking forward to my new/old truck.

Cal
 
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Last year I grew feral cantaloupes that grew from buried kitchen mulch. Basically free cantaloupes ghetto style. I let them grow on the ground and I found some got infected with insects and other animals like chipmunks found free food.

This year I purposely planted seeds that were from a melon I bought (free), and I have feral ones growing from kitchen mulch that were a surprise, so now I’m a cantaloupe farmer.

Last years crop came from not so great yard soil. The melons that reached maturity were about the size of a softball. The only good thing was that the area got full sun, and know I never watered the plants.

So this year they are in my Calvin’s Mix of 50% cow manure, 50% peat moss for aeration and water retention. Also I suspect these seedlings will have a longer growing season.

Did some preliminary research on growing on a trellis. No hammocks needed, so less work. Growing vertically is more efficient too as well as neater.

Learned that when you pick up a fully ripe melon it kinda just falls off into your hand. No yanking required.

I bought 4 Roma tomato plants from our local nursery. They also has some odd cherry tomato plant they called Rapunzel because the fruit/vegetable grows in clusters like a hair extensions. Pretty much I want a less feral garden this year.

Today was like a hot humid summer day. Mucho glad I pulled Knotweed yesterday with cooler temps.

AJ gave me a steal deal on a bike for the granddaughter who only recently learned how to ride one. She got a Huffy as a Chrismas present, but it is just a basic bike that is a throwaway and future landfill. Anyways I talked with “Maggie” and perhaps saving $350.00 on a $500.00 bike is not a good reason to buy it because she is at an age where she would like to pick out her own bike.

Last time this happened Maggie bought a Trek that cost thousands because of online reviews, but soon discovered that even the smallest frame was actually too big for her. Then she had her bike crash.

Eventually Calvin, a man, found her a 10 inch Fat Chance Yo Betty. The reason why I mention that I’m a man is because women with PhD’s tend to be know it alls and don’t like listening to men, especially if his name is Calvin.

So pretty much an 11 year old knows more than a bike shop owner, a man, and Calvin, a man. What does a bike shop owner or a bike nerd know about bikes if they are men.

So anyways, another reason why men have shorter lifespans. Also know that men are very much in touch with their feelings, but smart rnough to know it is no sense to argue, and it is best just to suck it up and be quiet.

BTW the Trek will be gifted to Maggie’s daughter, the mom of the grandkids.

Oh-well…

Cal
 
Free books picked up at my local bike shop (LBS).

“Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.”

“Un.Spun” finding facts in a world of [disinformation]

“A year in the Woods” Twelve Small Journeys Into Nature

“One Man’s Journey” A Walk on the Croton Aqueduct Trail

“Wasted” How We Squander Time, Money, and Natural Resources and What We Can Do About It.

“If it is free, it is for me.”

The last line is not a book title. Sorry for the confusion. LOL.

Cal
 
Back in the day I was a weight weenie. Understand that only weighed 145 pounds so a light bike had a compounded advantage.

The Ti Basso originally was a show bike and was displayed at some big bike trade show in Anaheim California. My friend Rod worked with this big bike distributor, and pretty much my Basso was a rebranded Litespeed. I kinda got an insider deal on a Ti bike.

It featured Suntour Micro-Drive, and at that time it was just released. Eventually I upgraded over time into a Dura-Ace 8-speed 12-26T using the seven-speed XC Pro shifters, and I used a Grafton crank with a 42/32/20. The 12-26T I still have and it has titanium cogs and Hyperglide ramping. Still also have that Grafton crankset that resemble a Cook Brothers crank.

Oddly the Fat Chance Yo Eddy is a hodge-podge of parts when Fat Chance was struggling and they used whatever parts they had laying around to outfit a bike. That time in the late 1990’s explains the mix of XT and XTR parts, but it does not explain the Shimano 42/32/22 chain ring set from many years prior.

Hmmm.

The crankset is a Shimano and the rings are kinda south, but I have other compact-drive capabilities, and other cranks to run a u-drive triple.

Then I also have a 9-speed Dura-Ace drive train on hand and mucho Dura-Ace cassettes that include a huge stockpile of 12-25T cassettes plus mucho spare cog-clusters for 12-25.

So I could do something only a weight weenie would do, and that is do a micro-drive 42/32/20 triple along with a Dura-Ace 12-25T.

It would be weird, but at this point out on Lawn-Guy-Land only one guy was known for this setup, and that was me, but it was with an 8-speed Dura-Ace. I still have this all kitted out…

But I’m tempted to update this with a 9-speed Dura-Ace Compact-Drive triple.

Also have spare 11-speed drivetrains, both long cage and short cage. Could easily do a 2x11 XTR and save the 9-speed Dura-Ace for the road bike.

I need new wheels for the Yo Eddy though…

Hmmm…

I mounted that Ti Stelle seat on the Yo Eddy. No padding or cush. Phil was right, kinda like sitting on a cinder block, but only 125 grams. You know me, I’ll try anything, and if it is free, it is for me.

Cal
 
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I think I will start taking the Fat Chance Yo Eddy apart. I’ll look into how wide the bottom bracket is. Right now there is a triple 42/32/22 so I suspect something like 112 mm.

Cool thing is I have a White Industries Ti bottom bracket “on-hand” and with two spindle lengths:107 mm; and 112 mm.

I guess I’ll find out if a double or triple crankset will fit today. Which one will be best?

Also nurse Calvin is less needed as “Maggie” recovers.

Cal
 
Morning Devil Cal and All,

CFV16 Digital Back Hasselblad 135 5.6 C T Star Auto Bellows Ringlight 200B by Nokton48, on Flickr

Hasselblad EL/M with CFV16 Digital Back, 135mm C T* Zeiss S-Planar (1:1 to infinity focus with Hasselblad Auto Bellows). Hasselblad Stovepipe, Hasselblad Ring Light, modified by New York City Flash Clinic, to work nice with the Norman 200B 200J Packs. Working good all, will be used for some digital floral photography coming up soon. Actually not too heavy to carry around. The Packs are running off of Broadcast TV Camera Dry Cell Batteries, cheap on Amazon.
 
I have been keeping a secret that my friend AJ gifted me a Ti fork.

Somehow the steerer tube split, but the legs are 28.5 mm thick diameter with no offset. The offset is provided by the crown alone.

Somehow I found what I think is a Manitou aluminum steerer crown with an aluminum 1 1/8 steerer tube for $29.00 on Evil-Bay, free shipping. From my forensics I think it is a Manitou Mach/SX crown/steerer but with an aluminum steerer for weight savings.

I checked the diameter of my first generation Rock Shox Judy SL and the leg diameter is 27.5 mm. The very early Judy forks had removable legs that were secured with pinch bolts.

Close, but no cigar…

This fork is likely a Ti clone of a Fat Chance BOI (Big One Inch) a highly esteemed fork that is a unique Fat Chance design. These BOI sett for big dollars, even Cr-Mo versions.

So with tax I’m taking a little over $30.00 gamble ($29.00 plus tax). BTW there are other listings of the same Manitou crown/steerer, except a Cr-Mo version with prices of $70.00-$80.00. All are NOS including my aluminum version.

Mucho long steerer tube…

I likely could double my money, but oh-well. Remember my grandfather was executed in China for murdering the loan shark who burned down his business. He was a gambler…

I love the look of polished titanium…

There was overcast while I mowed the lawn. I have to avoid tanning and the sun because it allegedly promotes testosterone production.

I gifted excess Marigold seeds that I harvested from last years plants. I have mucho pots of Marigold seedlings to help repell bugs all over the yard. I also offered some strawberry plants. Lucus, our neighbor’s almost 3 year old son loves strawberries. So do our grandkids, so I’m planning a berryfest for the kids when things ripen.

I also gifted our neighbor all the errant cantaloupe plants that are in our raised beds that came about from our kitchen mulch.

Recycle… Do no harm… Try to help others, and live in peace…

I have two unoccupied raised beds to grow zucchini.

Next year I hope to add eggplant.

Cal
 
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I checked into the Manitou crown with the aluminum steerer and found that the stanchion diameter is 28.76 mm. Also the torque spec for the M6 pinch bolt is 110-130 inch pounds.

Pretty much like custom made for me. WOW… I’m a lucky gambler…

Happy-happy.

While eating dinner I looked though my glass door to see the rabbit with the dark back. He/she stood on his/her hind legs, and suddenly it seemed like I was in Oz and a kangaroo was eyeballing me.

Remember that I can be delusional…

I started some yellow squash and some zucchini seeds in some starter pots using my Calvin’s mix. Going to give it a go. Need to build out a trellis for the squashes, and also the cherry tomato plant that is called Repunzel for the way the fruit clusters like a hair extension.

Last years crop of cherry tomato’s were a mess. I pretty much had a jungle. Four plants covered half of my garage wall (10 feet) and formed a thicket.

Last year I dropped off shopping bags of Roma tomato’s at all of my neighbors, also or enviormental friends up the block, and Andrew. I don’t think I will be doing that again because now I know how to condense the volume from a gallon zip-lock bag into about 12 ounces of meaty sause.

The trick is freezing the tomato’s whole, and when defrosted the skin pull right off EZ-PZ. Simmer in a big pot to drive off the water. Fun and rewarding. Almost free food.

My neighbor is so impressed with our yard. A wonderful paradise… Very serene and tranquill…

Tomorrow I get the second chemical castration injection… Then “Maggie” has a doctor’s appointment.

Oh-well…

Cal
 
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