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After several tests, it seems Cora is improving. The biopsies have finally ruled out cancer, pointing instead to a very aggressive bacterium. After almost three weeks of antibiotics, she seems to be starting to be herself again.

Just a great day yesterday....went to hometown of Marblehead MA to help my mom with some work around the house, and just to spend some time. She's been having some health issues and I've also been helping with appointments and the like. It's good to get the time in with her. On a whim, I then called a dear family friend Judy who lives a couples streets away, and she was home. Got to spend a while with her as well, was great to catch up. She has had a tough time as well so I have been able to help her a bit too. It was then mid-to-late afternoon, but I hadn't had lunch. So on another whim I called my friend Melissa, she had re-connected with me when Karen passed; she lost her husband (suddenly) almost a year earlier. We've been very close since. She joined me for a late lunch/early dinner at a nice fish restaurant on the water in Salem MA. I speak a lot about "human connection" and how much it means to me. Yesterday was one of those great days, left me filled (heart and stomach) and happy!

Cowboy Junkies

^^ After decades of loving them, I finally got to see them 2 years ago. Will also see them later this year too. Me: went to a nearby town's annual Multi-Cultural Festival. What a time! Great people, gifts, food, and music. Had very good Indian street food, bought a small sculpture from Zimbabwe and mini-paintings from France (now relocated here, a follower of Daniel Venjean). Saw music from people who are from Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, India, Africa, and Haiti. Wonderful time was had, met a few very nice people and had some nice chats with the vendors and some of the musicians. Some pics. In the 5th pic where the Indian woman is dancing, the guy in the red and yellow shirt is a good friend, known him since i was in my lower to mid single-digits. He is the drummer for the African band fronted by the man next to him, seen in the next two after that. For one of the bands, there were two couples - one with a child - who did some very nice salsa dancing!

Andrew and I went for less-prep, faster-cook pizza for dinner tonight. Still working on my launching, but getting a bit more reliable.

There is no reason hand-made, point-to-point wiring cannot be done right.

Detroit pizza a bit further North in Michigan

I went on a deep dive through Jacob's photos on FB. These are some shots he took over the years that AFAIK he did not post here: The opposite focal point of this shot (where the gate is in focus and the house is OOF) would be interesting. I think the slight vignetting here is an artifact of the lens, not a software filter.

Although I'm short on time (I've started renovating my second home), I'm doing some tests with the 70-200mm lens and I photographed this blackbird in my garden. PD. I'm quite bad, I keep trying to improve my technique.

I made a fusion Pad Thai / Mapo Tofu thing yesterday with Tofu, ground turkey, and noodles. I need to work up to the recipe I recently acquired (didn't have any Doubanjiang -- Chili Bean Sauce) and maybe make it more heart healthy, but I'm getting there. It was delicious.

Your urine is going to smell atrocious for a month!

Always thought Dollar Brand was a way better stage name, but religious considerations etc. RIP.

One of my female coworkers on the factory trawler in the Bering Sea loaned me her CD of The Trinity Sessions. Immediately after that two month tour, I searched my favorite Portland, Oregon record store and bought the vinyl. Been a Junkies fan ever since. The album would've been a year old or so at that time, so 89 or 90 ish.

Shit that's bad. I'm sure all those 10% carbon comp resistors add a magical tone...

Not sure if the best place to post, but WTH.... Some background, because I write too much: one of my favorite people in my work life lives in New Zealand. When I and others helped on an ERP project implementation, he sent us a wonderful thank you note, along with a down vest of the company and a polo shirt from the All Blacks team. I've always loved to see videos of Haka's and the like. Also was just a big sucker for and lover of the movie Whale Rider. This one hit in the feels a bit. A lovely tribute to Māori culture by a Grammar School chorus. Bit of the story behind it: https://www.themusicman.uk/maori-culture-choir-celebration/

I think I was being reminded of something I had previously been told. Repeatedly.

For the same money, you can buy a Steinway grand piano that will play itself.

In this case, you don't know how wise you are.

Just started watching this, it is pretty good with good character development!

https://archive.org/details/cj2026-06-13 Cowboy Junkies Bijou Theater, Knoxville, TN 6/13/2026 DPA 4015gs -> Sonosax SX-M2D2 -> iPhone Front Row Center Balcony

This is a recording I made of them in 2001 https://archive.org/details/cj2001-06-29 I’ll process last nights recording this week, I was camping and kayaking this weekend except while I was at the show.

These guys now on vinyl.

^ I enjoyed this too. BTW, Eva Hummingbird is a fictitious character set in 1940's war torn Europe who is a violinist, composer and double agent. The actual producer, composer and violinist is, Ceskie. Vinyl

There is some amp porn included. Checking out the recent Vienna show. Lot more ribbon/electrostatic than I would have expected.

Unholy carp!

Viva Mexico!

This is a pretty cool take on a console system....could also go in Amp Porn but I like the wood on this one.

Novato is Rocking The Block With Mercy and The Heartbeats

Twofer (or twoFUR) today. ZeosPantera is a guy who wears a GoPro, yaps at great length and ostensibly review headphones gear. It is my understanding that he is somewhat well known on that other site. I have watched his videos on and off for years. I don't think I've ever made a product purchase based on Zeos's reviews, but his content makes good "second monitor" entertainment when I'm doing something else. Zeos is know for a few things, he's got the gift of gab (45 minute video rambling on about a DAC/amp combo), his absolutely cringe taste in anime waifu art, and his various cats that make cameos in his videos. For years he had a small gray cat named Drake that is one of the mouthiest creatures I've ever heard. His persistent, insistent meowing is the stuff of legend. I happened to be checking Xitter (not something I normally do) and saw that Zeos had posted this: Very sad. His videos won't be the same without the Chorus of Drake. I'm not sure if YT deep links work on HC. The timestamp I used includes an earful of Drake.

Audio Technica makes a $108,000 headphone amp. The selector switches are unlabeled, so there's a handy wedge-shaped guide that sits below the amp. That is certainly a design decision.

Says the man who explained "docking" to us.

I can always count on you for more information than I ever wanted to know.

I'm going to watch Tokyo Vice next.

Another Country/Wave group that I really enjoyed back in the day was Lone Justice. Maria McKee had this gritty, ethereal voice that I loved. With a hint of Brenda Lee. Check out Wheels, Reflected and Shelter, but really it's all good. Maria did have a few solo albums as well.

Trinity sessions is one of the best sounding albums I've ever heard. It's why I want to own an old church to use as a recording studio...

Corn girl was all over, and a little hammered too...

at least the cary has no flammable wool tuning elements.

Would like to try.

New Space doc dropped.

Pardon My French by Eva Hummingbird (2026) https://open.qobuz.com/album/vecdu49h53cl8 Example: New to me - I really liked this series of vignettes by Eva, mostly violin based, but not strictly.

The amount of dog hair that must be in that condo is making my nose itch. Our second foraging expedition, which was meant to be a dog walk, was a bonanza. Including the One Spear to Rule Them All!

The boys have played four matches in just two days. The national championship is two weeks away, and they're starting to feel the pressure. PD: I've finally been able to try out the 70-200 f2.8L lens.

Previously: Maybe we need a ceiling fan, so we may not need to run the A/C so much? Ok, Costco have a "Fandelier" Maybe that will work. OK. Some time later, after much installation. How About Now? No, not like that. Too UFO-y Do they have anything in white? "Yes Dear" : aka More Installation Later Acceptable. Blends in to the ceiling more. remote / App / Hey Google / Google Home automation for Light On/Off Brightness, Fan On/Off/Speed - it is quieter per more CFM. Color Temp as well. So a Win, Finally. Now to repeat for the other bedrooms, maybe.

cooked my first brisket last night. 7 lb. GMG Pellet smoker 185 for 4 hrs, 225 for 4 hrs, then when it hit 205 internally went to "warm" mode. Smoke ring is kinda visible, flavor is REALLY good and super juicy and tender.