Leaderboard

Did a final big shakedown ride before the Marin Metric Century in two weeks. I didn’t want to see the hardest climb (Wilson Hill) for the first time on Fondo day. It was indeed a bear, but I am ready for this. The training has paid off. Should be a fun century. West Marin is pretty damn good riding when you aren’t on the major through roads.

Lately, a few cattle egrets have been wandering around my house.

Two nights of Jason Isbell in Knoxville

^ Agreed and nice fall off. Visiting my dad and hit a nearby car show last weekend. And by car show I mean a car. Rain threatened the event so only a 1974 Challenger 383 Four Barrel was left when I showed hours before the scheduled end. Quick tests of the used Hassy 55v f/2.5 I recently picked up. Much to learn.

Tuesday sourdough za. Tried something new and baked it on the pellet smoker.

The Breeders - Pod

I’m still working on the above. It’s sort of a known issue (main page image funkiness) but the posted solutions don’t work for the specific issue that we have. I need to join the support forum for the software platform and I’ll see if anyone there can point to an actual solution. What is supposed to work is at the “user level” where if you click your own name at the top of the main page you’ll see a Theme Editor option which is supposed to allow you to be able to configure what you see/don’t see. I haven’t found a way that productively helps with the mobile version of the site and can’t find a way to set a tiny image as the stock forum image so at least the view might condense down while we find a better solution.

I can't believe I'm going to bore you all about Newton. Although English, he wrote Principia and Optiks in Latin. An that is a real problem - translating back into English is a tickly thing, particularly the more fundamental stuff which is to do with what we learn as Newtons laws of motion at school. What is the precise translation of momentum for example? After that the translators have an easier job. Newton derived all his proofs in his long book Principia geometrically, step by step. He finishes off by meticulous measurements of the motion of the planets etc. At one stage he says that a chunk of the measurements was lost, but he can recall the basic idea behind the measurement. By "lost" he actually meant that his dog ate some of the sheets, or knocked a candle over and set fire to some sheets. Accounts vary. As professor at Cambridge University, his lecture course was so unpopular that no students attended. But part of his job was to give lectures. So he'd turn up and give the lecture to an empty theatre. In later life he spent most of his time studying alchemy. I'll shut up now

This one is for @MexicanDragon - we’ll see if I made a good decision a week from now.

Bill Evans - Suicide is Painless (from You Must Believe in Spring)

A few years back I discovered a newish country singer named Charlie Crocket. I've become a big fan, and today I went to see him play at Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco. It's an outdoor, kind of natural amphitheater. Nicki Bluhm opened for him and both artists were great. It was a long day but well worth it!

Here are some photos of the SS/ZF switch board I have been using in my CFA3 build. The original SS/ZF switch board, designed by ang728 & vwvwbg, uses a ULN2003 as a relay driver. The mode-control input drives several ULN2003 inputs in parallel. When the control line is high, the corresponding Darlington outputs sink current through the relay coils, so the relays energize. When the control line is low, the ULN2003 outputs turn off and the relays release. The relay coils are tied to +5V, and the ULN2003 provides the low-side switching path to ground. Its COM pin is tied to +5V so the internal clamp diodes handle the relay flyback. I have been using this SS/ZF switch board for about a year and a half without any reliability issues. The only thing I noticed is that switching modes produces a small pop. Even with headphones on it has been acceptable, but recently I started wondering whether this could be improved. . So I added a small Arduino Nano interlock board in front of the existing SS/ZF control input. The Arduino reads the front-panel SS/ZF switch and outputs the required mode-control voltage to the existing ULN2003 relay board. The sequencing is: 1. Detect SS/ZF switch change. 2. Assert mute. 3. Wait briefly. 4. Change the SS/ZF relay control output. 5. Wait for the circuit to settle. 6. Release mute. The mute control is done through a PC817 optocoupler. On the Arduino side, one digital output drives the PC817 LED. On the protector-board side, the PC817 transistor pulls the existing protector MOSFET gate node toward the protector board’s -12V rail. This mimics a fault condition and forces the headphone output protection relay to open during the SS/ZF transition. So the Arduino does not touch the audio signal path. It only sequences the existing relay-control line and temporarily forces the existing KG protector circuit into mute during mode switching. In the installed photo: The top connector goes to the front-panel switch. The switch controls whether Arduino D2 is grounded or left open. The middle-right connector outputs the mode-control signal to my SS/ZF switch PCB. This is the 0V / control / +5V connection. The lower-left connector goes to the KG protector board: one wire to the 2N7000 gate node, and one wire to the -12V output of the 7912 regulator. The lower-right connector is the 5V / 0V power input for the Arduino interlock board. Arduino code attached below: const int SWITCH_PIN = 2; const int MUTE_PIN = 8; const int MODE_PIN = 9; const bool MODE_INVERT = true; // if SS/ZF mode inverted const unsigned long MUTE_BEFORE_SWITCH_MS = 250; const unsigned long SETTLE_AFTER_SWITCH_MS = 700; const unsigned long POWER_ON_MUTE_MS = 1500; const unsigned long DEBOUNCE_MS = 50; bool currentMode; bool readMode() { bool sw = digitalRead(SWITCH_PIN); // HIGH = open, LOW = grounded bool mode = sw; if (MODE_INVERT) mode = !mode; return mode; } void forceMute(bool on) { digitalWrite(MUTE_PIN, on ? HIGH : LOW); } void setMode(bool mode) { digitalWrite(MODE_PIN, mode ? HIGH : LOW); } void setup() { pinMode(SWITCH_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP); pinMode(MUTE_PIN, OUTPUT); pinMode(MODE_PIN, OUTPUT); forceMute(true); delay(100); currentMode = readMode(); setMode(currentMode); delay(POWER_ON_MUTE_MS); forceMute(false); } void loop() { bool newMode = readMode(); if (newMode != currentMode) { delay(DEBOUNCE_MS); newMode = readMode(); if (newMode != currentMode) { forceMute(true); delay(MUTE_BEFORE_SWITCH_MS); setMode(newMode); currentMode = newMode; delay(SETTLE_AFTER_SWITCH_MS); forceMute(false); } } }Some pics:

Frozen Charlotte by Jack White (2026) https://open.qobuz.com/album/h83ak1ouymgjv Example: Lots of heavy riffs with a groove. Like it.

A.I. Enhanced Costco Brownies ATK Enhanced Banana Bread.

Unfortunately, the dusty haze kept me from capturing the full moon. It's normal here ☹️ I had planned to go to one of the highest points on the island on thursday to try and take some pictures of the Milky Way... I have confidence in my equipment but not in my abilities. Some photos with the RF 35mm F1.4L usm. I really like how this thing catches the light.

Split Enz - Time and Tide

Standard geo, and probably thrown off by the extreme closeup. Yes, 58. Echo, 1st generation. I’ll take better pix when it gets here. TLDR - I had a friend who was looking for a gravel bike and mentioned that I had been thinking about moving the Canyon that I bought last fall. I had really bought that bike for the wheelset that was on it and so that my friend Tom would have something to ride for the century we do every year. Those two needs met, it wasn’t a bike I loved or really cared about so out it went a couple weeks ago. I had just missed the chance to buy a first-gen Allroad and had been looking at Allied’s offerings when I came across this Echo. Frame is from 2022, color is BMW’s Java Green Metallic, and it allegedly only has 1,000mi on it. I think I’m going to have Allied make a color matching stem for it and the wheelset will be getting upgraded from the Boyd aluminum hoops that there are there now. Should be a fun whip and will likely take over commenting duty.

Dpa 4015gs -> mma-a Knoxville https://archive.org/details/jason-isbell-2026-07-17 https://archive.org/details/jason-isbell-2026-07-18 I’m jealous. I’ve wanted to see him but it hasn’t worked out for me yet.

Great job Adam! You're definitely ready -- especially for a supported ride with breaks and refueling stops. Impressive progress!

OC shitpost:

Another batch of chili. This one I'm taking to work tomorrow. This is my 7 qt. Dutch oven, so it's a big batch. If I haven't posted my recipe before: Dice two bell peppers (red & orange), and a medium yellow onion. Sauté in a lg. skillet. Set aside in 7 qt. Dutch oven. Brown 2 1/2 lbs. of ground beef in same skillet, salt and pepper to taste. Use slotted spoon to separate ground beef from rendered fat. Place ground beef in Dutch oven. In sauté pan add 16 Oz. can of diced tomatoes of choice, one jar of fire roasted salsa, small can of tomato paste, 16 Oz. Red wine, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, tablespoon of minced garlic, spices ( I use Carroll Shelby's chili seasoning). Cook over medium heat until hot and well mixed. Add to Dutch oven, along with 1 can of pinto beans and 1 can of Black beans. Mix well and simmer covered for 15 to 20 minutes. If needed mix masa flour (included w/ chili seasoning) with 1/3 cup of water. Stir into chili, recover for additional 5 minutes. This will thicken the chili nicely.

So sorry Brent…. With my dad’s passing, some family and friends have been reflecting on mortality a bit. Many of us are experiencing that kind of thing, people our age up through parents’ age losing folks around them. One called it the worst curse of aging, and I can agree…. Wishing your mom and family the best!

Few more funz from the webz

Last week I finished assembling the Super Carbon, and it's now up and running. The first listening impressions are very encouraging, but there is still some audible background noise that needs to be eliminated. At the moment I suspect it's related to the power supply compensation, possibly an oscillation. On the schematic, around the STN0214, there is a 470pF/1kV capacitor. I initially installed a 5pF/1kV capacitor there, so it's possible the compensation at that node is simply insufficient. I'm currently waiting for some mica capacitors to arrive so I can experiment with the compensation network. While simulating the circuit in LTspice, I measured approximately 540V VCE across the STN0214. Based on that, I don't think the PBHV2160(VCEO = 600V) is an ideal substitute for the STN0214, especially if you're targeting output voltages significantly above 600V. On another note, I also performed the initial testing of the D&G 211 filament supplies, and they appear to be working as expected.

I was rooting for France because I think Mbappe is a class act. Spain was the superior team, I mean only one goal scored on Spain the whole tournament? That’s crazy shit. I am definitely rooting for England tomorrow, for many reasons but a Mbappe vs Messi clash could be epic.

Wayback playback:

nothing with 60db of gain is going to be completely noise free. unless you want to move to a much colder climate. and even then maybe a couple of extra db of s/n. without a volume control in front of the input stage you have no idea how loud, loud is. that residual noise is undetectable when playing music. you can try say 10pf instead of 5pf. anything higher and the frequency response will change.

Here's a fascinating (at least to me) series of lectures by one of my heroes - Richard Feynman. These are all about an hour long, and I was enjoying his engaging talks about diverse topics. For example, below. You get a flash at the beginning that I missed. But at the bottom it is Feynman Reborn, an AI Feynman, along with unmistakably his voice. There is a list of publications at the bottom (for example the Feynman Lectures on Physics). There is a series of these, and the only real hint that something is up is if you look at the background. I think that the authors of the AI Feynman left a really weird background to give a sense of the unreality of the superb AI Feynman.

Double Chocolate Banana Bread with the Brits.

How about speaker model porn? A famous 1970s live rig from some jam band or other.

the resistors are just there to make sure its stable with nothing plugged into it. change the input resistors to as low as possible compatible with what is going to drive it. 10k is probably what i would do.

Found some motivation this morning. Weather was fantastic. Calories were burned so beer will be drank.

yep exactly. on the back of the board as close to the output pins as possible.

you can also try a cap something in the range of .1 to 1 uf ceramic soldered to the switcher power supply outputs.

1) damn, that's a tall headtube 2) 58? 3) I can't even tell which model that is, but you're the first Allied owner I know. Neat! 4) Where are the proper pix!?! And details!?!

I am working on a CFA3 build where the original THAT340 input devices have been changed to a JFET input pair. For a rough simulation I used these models: .model 2SJ103 PJF VTO=-1.5 BETA=10m LAMBDA=0.01 RD=20 RS=20 CGS=50p CGD=45p IS=10p .model 2SK246 NJF(Beta=2.5m Vto=-1.5 Is=1e-14 Cgd=4p Cgs=5p) This is only intended as an input-impedance / loading check, not a final device-accurate distortion simulation. With the current SS input/feedback network: R24/R26 = 5k R44/R49 = 50k C9/C10 = 20p I get approximately: SS mode input impedance: ~11.7k ohm per phase at 1 kHz ZF mode input impedance: ~50k ohm per phase at 1 kHz So even though the input devices are JFETs, the SS mode input impedance is still relatively low because of the surrounding SS input/feedback network. The practical concern is that I changed the volume control from 10k to 50k. With a 50k attenuator, the source impedance around mid attenuation can be much higher than with a 10k control. That seems like it can load/interact with the ~11.7k SS-mode input impedance, while ZF mode is much less affected. I am considering scaling the SS input/feedback network values upward while keeping the same approximate ratio and compensation time constant. Current: R24/R26 = 5k R44/R49 = 50k C9/C10 = 20p Conservative option: R24/R26 = 10k R44/R49 = 100k C9/C10 = 10p Simulation: SS input impedance rises to ~20.2k per phase SS gain changes from about 15.0 dB to 14.7 dB More aggressive option: R24/R26 = 15k R44/R49 = 150k C9/C10 = 6.8p Simulation: SS input impedance rises to ~26.6k per phase SS gain changes to about 14.5 dB The idea is to reduce the current drawn from the volume control and raise the effective SS-mode input impedance, without changing the low-frequency feedback/input ratio too much. Has anyone tried this on a JFET-input CFA3, especially with a 50k volume control? Does scaling R24/R26 and R44/R49 like this seem reasonable, or is there a known preferred value set for JFET-input builds?

Sorry to see of your mother's partner's passing, Brent. Godspeed, Bones.... Sam

Condolences to you and your mother, Brent. She must be very sad and lonely. Life can be such a bitch…

Demented fermented - James Hoffmann discusses coffee fermentation:

The New NPR. 🤘

You can't fool me, that isn't a woofer.

So great -- reminds of my favourite band's alter ego: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ8-ZgxB55A

Happy Father's Day Belvedere! With Surreal Neil And Super Diamond

I had a leftover crust, so tonight I decided to make spinach-bacon quiche so I'd have something good for breakfast.