New York NYC March Meet-Up
- Thread starter Calzone
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
Thanks. You forgot my propensity to day-trade cameras. LOL.
I'm in really good shape this year as far as gear and physical training. Part of the ghetto persona is that besides carrying around tens of thousands worth of cameras, some times in not the most secure locations, I also wear a bankster watch and two diamond rings at all times.
I don't live in the best neighborhood, I embrace somewhat risky behavior, and I definitely have that 70's street attitude if there's a hassle.
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
I don't even know what a bankster watch is 🙂
Your posts are pure Mickey Spilane. My computer just bitch-slapped me!
Your posts are pure Mickey Spilane. My computer just bitch-slapped me!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
There's a culture when someone graduates with a MBA from an Ivy League school that as soon as they can after getting their first job/bonus that these financial guys buy an expensive luxury watch. The first watch generally is a "cheap Rolex" meaning a stainless steel Rolex Submariner. My "Cheap Rolex" is a stainless steel version that is known as "the no-date" because it has no frills.
Back in 2003 George W. Bush became elected President for the first time. In the year 2000 he became President for the first time but this was via a Supreme Court decision and was a process of "selection" not election. I kinda knew that a few things were wrong back then and that a lot of bad things were going to happen.
First off I think something is rather wrong when in a democracy first a father is President and then the son. In that manner are we that far behind North Korea? There is also something inherently and politically wrong again when first the husband is the President and then the wife becomes a contender, and at this point might be a candidate in 2016. What has happened to our democracy? Anyways I knew that the housing market was not sustainable, I knew that the war in Iraq was not sustainable and would have horrific costs, and other bad things happened like the response or lack of response to Hurricane Katrina. Don't forget that we also destabilized entire regions of the world and cause the inflation that in turn cause hunger and Arab Spring.
Basically I can be a very angry hostile person who can get very crazy and aggressive. Back in late 2003 after the November election I was livid, but I knew that I had to channel my anger or else I would get depressed. When the AOL Time Warner twin towers at Columbus Circle was completed, at the Grand Opening I just happen to wander into the new Tournou watch store, and when a young salesperson asked me if I wanted any help I inquired if they had a Rolex Submariner in stainless steel.
This "cheap Rolex" is actually hard to find because Rolex would rather print $25K bills rather than $5K bills because mechanically the insides are the same. I tried on the watch, and I could feel the transformation. I felt rich and powerful and I didn't want the moment to end. I was relishing the moment when the salesperson asked if I wanted to buy my new watch using the "special promotion," and when I enquired I found out that I could pay for the Rolex over a 24 month period via a zero APR offer, and a watch I couldn't afford normally suddenly became into reach.
"I'll take it," I said, but my heart sunk when I saw my young salesperson returning trailing behind the store manager with his head down, and I instantly knew there was a problem. The manage explained that the zero APR offer did not apply to Rolexes, but the manager's polite response to my sunken heart was, "If you still want the Rolex we will make an exception."
The manager thought in turn that I would be polite and have good manners, but the Bankster in me made me rude and ruthless. "I hope my salesman is not in any trouble," I said, "but I still want the Rolex." Effectively I mugged the store manager for my Rolex. It was clear that he did not want to give up the watch, and he was not very happy.
Anyways I learned a lot about myself that day and I learned a lot about finance. I proceeded to get obsessed with the stock market, partly because of the Rolex and the Bankster attitude. I said "FXXX the American People, this time the majority of the people voted for this idiot, and the world will suffer." I then took a zero APR "convenience check" from a credit card company, whote out a check to Scottrade, and then opened a margin account to trade energy, gold and biotech.
From playing the stock market I learned to be greedy. I ended up paying off my Rolex in one year, and decidedly bought a Cartier for my girl friend. After I paid that watch off I ended up in a Tournou at the height of the credit crisis because my Rolex was approaching 4 years old and might need service, and that was when I bought my Panerai GMT. If a Panerai GMT is good enough for President Clinton, its good enough for me. Being a self taught Bankster, at the height of the credit crisis I had outstanding credit because I paid down all my debt with profits, because I had sold all my energy stocks and closed my margin account when oil first hit $135.00.
Later that very same day when oil peaked at over $147.00 a barrel, and I was only hours from ruin. I ended up buying my gal another Cartier because of the continued zero APR rates that were a deal of a lifetime. I ended up buying my gal a huge diamond back then also, even though we are remain unmarried and live in sin. The two diamond rings I wear are antiques and are symbols of power: the gold one dates back to the 1850's and comes from the Victorian Era; the other is a platinum ring with six other diamonds on the sides, is from the 1880's, and is from the Edwardian Era. Both rings though once adorn the British gentry or possibly nobility when the British Empire ruled the earth due to colonialism. Now these symbols of power and wealth grace an Asian hand.
BTW at the height of the credit crisis is when I started buying Leica glass, before then I was just a Nikon SLR shooter.
Cal the evil bankster.
Know that ""Maggie" gave me an Asian name: "Kaa-Ching."
NY_Dan
Well-known
Bankster! Great post. I realize this is off topic for RFF, but what is your take on the current Ukraine situation? (My political knowledge is non-existent. But, I think our Pres has no idea how to deal with Putin.) And do you see your understanding of this crisis leading to another trip to Tourneau?
back alley
IMAGES
off topic…no politics please!
NY_Dan
Well-known
I know, but the question stems from Cal's camera equipment purchasing decisions as a result of his unique understanding of the political economic climate. If you read Cal's post you will see that he was able to leverage his views of the Bush / Clinton presidencies, the Iraq war, zero APR's in the early 2,000's and oil pricing, as a way to buy Rollex watches, diamonds, and Leica lenses. Cal's reply to my question would be interesting in terms of seeing how accurate his thoughts are when reviewed in the future. And Cal's choice of cameras, photo approach, etc seems to me at least, rightly or wrongly to be a response to the times he's living in. Therefore, dear mod, please grant a waiver in this instance 🙂
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
This does get rather political. I deleted my post.
Anyways connecting the dots and thinking aloud in writing a post was rather powerful.
Thanx,
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
Yeah, I know what you mean. I sometimes think taking photos is a connecting the dots process too.
Range-rover
Veteran
Cal,
I checked my Nikon's F3 Screen and on the side it say's
K NIKON Red Dot, so I hope this is later screen?
Bob
I checked my Nikon's F3 Screen and on the side it say's
K NIKON Red Dot, so I hope this is later screen?
Bob
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Range-rover
Veteran
No, not yet I'm involved in another big project, I'm restoring a Lionel 1937 Hudson
steam engine that I picked up. but while checking out the leather it is nice, but
a bit thin I have to think of a way to thicken the backing a little, to make it more
grippy.
Bob
steam engine that I picked up. but while checking out the leather it is nice, but
a bit thin I have to think of a way to thicken the backing a little, to make it more
grippy.
Bob
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Bob,
For grippy nothing like Griptac like on my new MP. Some people don't like it, but describing it as Vulcanite on steroids is pretty accurate.
Andre's new chrome M4 looks stunning in black Griptac. Also available in grey.
Cal
jsrockit
Moderator
Griptac is for skateboards! 😉
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
John,
Wasn't Griptac originally made for golf clubs or tennis rackets?
Anyways I like the look and spongy texture a lot. I think grey Griptac looks awesome on chrome cameras. I know kinda loud looking, in your face, and kinda bold. I like that its over-the-top and not subtle.
Also grey matches my arrogant chin beard. LOL. Griptac from Camera Leather costs no money.
Cal
Range-rover
Veteran
It does look nice on the M4, that's a nice looking camera he had and
that rangefinder on those M4 are fantastic.
Bob
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Bob,
Andre's M4 is likely the nicest M4 I've ever experienced. This formally was my M4 that had missing vulcanite that I had named "Punky" since it was a 1970. Very clean.
Cal
jsrockit
Moderator
and hockey sticks... I was joking though... it's called griptape on skateboards.
finguanzo
Well-known
I probably have rolls of grip tape in my parents garage, from my hay day.. lol