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No offense but fuck you Doug. I don't need to hear that.

Claire and I ended up joining Steve's steak dinner and there was still too much food! Everything was delicious.

Just had a fantastic Birthday dinner at Rancho Nicasio with my four favorite people, Al, Claire, Dorothy and Corrine.

Listened to a couple things, one of which is a "catharsis" recording for me. Back in 2001, Karen was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Our son Andrew was all of 1.5 years old, and I imagined him not having a mother. This album by Beth Nielsen Chapman was done after her husband died of cancer. I spent many a night listening to this, bawling my eyes out. To say the least, more tears when I pulled it out again. The London Grammar album is a great one, just listened to that one again for enjoyment.

I think season 2 is better than 1...It could be the addition of a new writer...MY SISTER!...

That's a lot to combine in one tattoo. Are you looking for a band around your arm? Maybe make it chronological as it wraps around? I hope you pick the dead guy on ice in the hold to represent part of your fishing career! It's been a long time since I was in the area we're staying this week, which is the Sierra foothills near Arnold and Murphys. It's got some goldrush charm left but wow there are a lot of bars, restaurants and wineries in these little towns now! Yesterday we walked through part of Calaveras Big Trees state park and it is aptly named. These Giant Sequoias are quite different from the Coastal Redwoods near us in Mayberry. The sequoias are the world's largest trees by volume -- which is immense! -- while the redwoods are the world's tallest trees. I failed to take pics of the gigantic stump near the beginning of the trail. Some assholes 150 years ago decided it would be cool to cut down the largest tree in this grove after it was discovered. The story is told in the plaque below but stump is still incredibly solid and people walk on it every day.

Thanks everyone. It is probably indicative of everything going on right now that I am just replying to this thread a half a day late. Dinner with the family last night was good. Work remains far more challenging than I could have imagined 40 some days ago. More celebration this weekend when time.permits.

Slightly less explicit here.

Thanks everyone. Have not been here in a while. Seems everyone is still drinking, complaining about politics and buying stuff so pretty much the same. 🙂

Here is a long post I wrote, but may have a little help to someone who tries to build the T2 mini by JoaMat. Transformer Specifications: There are two transformers in total. Primary: 120V(USA or other countries like 230V) Secondary: 320V 0.25A 365V 0.25A 190V 0.25A 16-0-16V 0.5A 6.3V 4A × 2 6.3V 2A × 2 I highly recommend adding a soft-start circuit because the inrush current generated by the transformers is significant. High inrush current can easily blow the fuse and cause long-term stress on the filter capacitors. If a soft-start circuit is not added, a high-current fuse will be required, but that would compromise the protective function of the fuse. Chassis: I housed the power supply and amplifier in two separate chassis. For the PSU section, I used Kerry-designed GRHV and GRLV. Pay attention to the chassis height clearance to ensure it can accommodate the transformers. The specific drilling hole specifications can be found in the current thread—I recall JoaMat mentioned them somewhere. All panel holes were made using a desktop CNC router. I believe it's a good investment to have a desktop CNC router, as it ensures precise hole dimensions. The text and graphics on the panels were also laser-engraved using the same machine. Watching the CNC mill parts is quite satisfying. Power Supply: Three different high-voltage power sources are required: -460V, +400V, +220V ±15V for the servo For details on Kerry Design’s GRHV/GRLV, refer to this link: GoldenReference Low Voltage Power Supply Two mainboards are required—one for -460V and +400V, and another for +220V, leaving the rest of the board empty. To save space, I designed a new PCB specifically for the +220V rail. Notes: If using Kerry Design’s GRHV/GRLV, I suggest disabling the high-voltage delay function. In my tests, the 220V rail initially outputs only 20V, while the 460V and 400V rails start around 200-300V before reaching their nominal voltages after approximately 37 seconds (time varies based on capacitor size). Although this delay is short, it prevents the servo from functioning correctly. During this period, the balanced voltage remains around 200V, which could be harmful to headphones over time. A better solution is to add a dedicated tube warm-up circuit. Output voltages may have minor deviations. For instance, the actual 220V rail might measure around 217V. Even with 0.1% tolerance resistors, small variations can be amplified. A good approach is to use a trimmer resistor—for example, replacing a 20kΩ resistor with an 18kΩ resistor in series with a 2kΩ trimmer. Amplifier Assembly: SMD components should be installed first, followed by through-hole components and tube sockets. To simplify the process, I used a paste stencil and a heating plate, which significantly saves time. For the other side, I used a syringe and a heat gun. A more efficient method would be using a heating plate for both sides, with two different solder pastes. For example, using 183°C solder paste for one side and 138°C solder paste for the other. Notes: Don’t forget to connect the +15V jumper and the servo jumper. Otherwise, the balanced voltage may stay at 400V, potentially damaging the servo. This damage may not be immediately obvious, but you might notice the servo stabilizing more slowly, tiny background noise, or excessive sensitivity of the EL34 filament power supply to external interference, leading to noticeable microphonic effects. The T2 Mini’s heat dissipation is moderate, somewhere between the Grounded Grid and KGSSHV. If your enclosure is large enough (not wooden), power transistors like KSA1156 can be directly mounted to the chassis. However, a better approach is to use an L-bracket mounted to a heatsink. My enclosure measures 300mm × 297mm × 62mm, resulting in an internal temperature of around 45°C. Do not use this approach for KGSSHV, as SiCFETs generate a significant amount of heat. 01N100D must be properly insulated. Use single-point grounding as much as possible to avoid ground loops. If using aviation connectors, ensure they are rated for at least 500V. HN4C51J and HN4A51J look very similar—don’t mix them up. Ensure correct polarity for LEDs and 1N914 diodes. Test all components before powering on to verify continuity and check for shorts. For EL34 filament wiring, use at least 18AWG wire. One Last thing: Enjoy the build🙃

The common contemporary treatment seems to be if not caught and removed before rupture, eliminate the infection and leaked fluid through drain and antibiotics, then a bit of a race with waiting up to 6-8 weeks for the majority of inflammation to decrease, including rupture point self-healing, then removing laparoscopically, before the slowly climbing rates of possible obstruction reoccurrence. In our case had to go back on antibiotics for a week between. I’ll just say, we’re only twelve hours after the latter step, but it was outpatient, Esmé had solid food last night, sleeping soundly now, and we’re just on alternating regular doses of Motrin and Tylenol. Such a huge difference from the multiple hospitals, days without eating, week long stay, crazy January experience.

I was out of bread, so i made a pile of fresh tortillas, {with bacon grease, of course}, fried up a couple of slabs of my last batch of smoked pork belly {don't call me bacon}, and a pile of eggs {that's right, I'm rich}

I beg your pardon! This vehicle is no kind of van. It is a sporty sport utility vehicle. Especially the GT!

Well, I did some reading and my birthday is coming up so Claire said we should go for the Piston Pro X. It's sweet. We have fenders and tail lights so I have to add extra straps just as belt and suspenders safety. It seems tight and stable without them but I used rubber coated giant twist ties that Steve used in his truck so I didn't need to buy $40 worth of Küat "fender kits" aka four velco straps. One drawback is that the car considers this to be a trailer and defeats a bunch of features that would be missed on long drives. I'm going to figure out if there is a way to work around that.

Navigating through the first season of Fringe, by recommendation of a half relative. The fringe science is laughable but the implied conspiracy theory involving big corporations is premonitory in 2009: "how are we going to do our job if we have lower security clearance than this company's employees". Having fun so far.

At least some things are currently unaffected by executive orders. That is all.

^^ Suggestion, make a thread. It'll be appropriate that way. I've always enjoyed your contributions, Knucks, regardless of medium/media/format.

Came out better than acceptable.

Sophis' City Fare

I have arbitrarily decided that today is a drinking day.

Marinara, mozzarella, sweet Italian sausage, fennel and onion with a sprinkle of parmesan.

nope but leftover tortilla is happy

Meanwhile at the MWPCA Sunday Cafe The views aren't too shabby, either. While they last, that is. EDIT: Or comes back, ish.

So far so good. I’m 2.5 hrs from home sitting at a charger. Haven’t played with gt mode yet.

I've been reflecting a lot on talent and luck recently, for a variety of reasons. The former because I've observed that the world is full of people who believe that their own incredible luck means they are far more talented than they actually are (every tech bro not named "John Carmack" ever.) The latter because I've been a photographer for 20 years at this point and I swear I was better in 2008 than I am now. Similarly, I've been a DJ for over 30 years and I'm ...fine at it, but I haven't played out in a dozen years and I haven't done my radio show in over two (sad face.) What I observed was that no matter how much effort I put into my shows (which was a lot, from having decades of esoteric musical knowledge to to spending 2-3x as long as the actual broadcast figuring out how the selected tracks should go together) what people always commented on was the long and winding rant I did at the end. My one true talent is putting words together, either in text form with careful editing (I'm dyslexic and often accidentally a word or a letter or add add an extra one) or off the dome on a microphone. I've been working on improving that at which I'm already good. So far my outlet has been reddit comments (seriously) as well as a couple long form pieces (one of which got removed from reddit because fuck me right?) I've gone after controversial subjects not because of the attention they bring but because that's what relevant. One big one is how we ended up with Donald Jumpin' Jehosephat Trump back in the White House with Elongated Muskrat (off his tits on ketamine) in tow. Another is is the relations between gay and trans people in the US. You know, light fare. I might post a couple examples here if I can figure out what thread is appropriate.

there is an american manufacturer of the same power supplies, same foot print. about double the price. don't remember where. i have too many new toys to play with at the moment. one makes 116db on startup. its pissing off the neighbors. (which is a good thing)

Gathered grub to cook dinner at Dorothy's tonight. My landlord bought me a 4 pack of NY steaks for my Birthday, so Corrine, Dorothy and I will be having Steak, sautéed, multicolored baby potatoes, sautéed Brussels sprouts, sautéed mushrooms and a sourdough loaf. It's a sautéed evening I guess. Oh, the fourth steak will be divided unevenly between Walter and Maki, unless Dorothy has different ideas about that.

Been rainy here, but trying to record the rapidly disintegrating, once great Alviso next door (I've mentioned before). Almost no remaining connection to the surrounding Silicon Valley (Polycom and TiVo once had their HQs there), except the tech bros/brogrammers who visit the TopGolf near the town border. This time with a Hassy 500cm, II 50c back and Zeiss F4 Distagon CF T*.

Fires, mudslides now visitors looking to mooch my tri-tip BBQ. Not my house but 3 miles away. https://neighbors.ring.com/n/VyKM4YXhpO

Went to The Museum of American Heritage (MOAH) in downtown Palo Alto. Easy to miss, and well, you probably want to miss, but there is a small Just for the Record: Classic Players & Phonographs! exhibit for a few more weeks (Open October 18, 2024 to March 2, 2025). Again small, but if you happen to find yourself in Palo Alto.

Got a Valentine's gift from a coworker. That's the nicest way I can think of to tell somebody to "eat a bag of dicks".

^^ this as well. A couple of new recordings I have been listening, but not posted. Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works by Seong-Jin Cho (2025) No other info - I cannot really recommend. I thought it was good, but I could not get into it. I didn't get pulled into it like I do with others. But.... Ravel: The Piano Concertos by Seong-Jin Cho (2025) https://album.link/vtjmcqgztdbbx Example: This on the other hand I can give a full recommendation on. Nelsons and the BSO with Cho on DG is a wonderful combo. My friend in LA saw Cho playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic last month and he was very impressed, and it was a long show.

It's Ravel's 150th, so listening to some Ravel -- soloists Yuja Wang, Martha Argerich, Heifetz, et al. Will try to squeak in some orchestral works or his arrangement of Pictures.

God 1982 seems so far away now. And wouldn't it be great to have no foreknowledge of the future? Wife's ideal theoretical hall pass was early Michael Hutchence and I can absolutely respect that.

The ChatGPT wine problem. I had not heard it before, more of a philosophy. {Also "AI does not exist, but it will ruin everything anyway" - Angela Collier}

Take #173 transcode.mp4

For the appendectomy there was no eating after dinner the day before, a few things like milk were allowed up to six hours before and then clear liquids ceased when leaving for hospital (which was about 2.5 hours from surgery). And Rob this whole process was different than I expected, but a co-workers in-law went through the same steps a couple of months prior.

I think everything just needs to calm down a bit, and we need to listen to more Barry White....

I was fortunate to finally see Gary Clark Jr on his own vs a multi-band format (jam off type things). So impressive and the venue was intimate enough to really see him do his stuff. He had Grace Bowers & Hodge Podge open. Hard to believe the lady is now only 18...just wow. Best show I've seen in a good while. HS

vinyl me please reissue. Had this thing on pre-order from last year

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy (1990) https://album.link/tzgcrzhswzq35 Example: Yup - Fight the Power.... my friends.

Given the recent news.

gr O O v y

A thinly sliced Skillet potato bake. I just have to wait for it to cool down for a bit before diving in.

Hippy birbday, @cetoole! I asked Bing.com to make some images for the occasion and I couldn't pick just one, so here are, well, all of them. Note, there was nothing alcoholic or drink related in the prompts (my bad), but Bing knows you (or me?) too well. I mean, this one even got the lime! This had a super cute pupperz This also has a super cute pupperz This one has pupperz of cuteness and a longboard style that I belieb you may have one of already. Don't you love the truck mounting?

John Field: Complete Nocturnes by Alice Sara Ott (2025) https://album.link/pg4pckdqkhgkf (I created an account - so I will start adding Qubuz to the ones when I post, this does not change the main page, it is a custom page. So I am not sure how long I will do this) Example: A lovely recording by Ott. Had me reading up on Field and his contribution to the Nocturne.

Decided to give homemade focaccia a try. Made the dough last night to slow-rise overnight in the fridge. Prepped and transferred to a metal pan for second rise for 4hrs this afternoon. Just stabbed down, oiled, and salted and now in the oven. Here's to hoping.

Wait, what? That doesn't look like it's shaped like a vagina? I guess that's what "groovy" eludes to. Straight people and their subtleties, I just don't get it.