Leaderboard

I wasn’t able to photograph the "buck moon" earlier because of the heat and heavy dust in the air. But this weekend, the conditions cleared up, and I managed to capture something. I’m happy that the different colors on the surface are visible. PD. Until they install fiber optic cable at my house in the South, my internet access is limited, and I can’t connect very often.

DakhaBrakha....holy shitballs were they great! Highest recommendation! Great musicianship, and a massive connection with the audience (they played a small space in Portsmouth NH, they've played here before and a good chunk of the audience had seen them before). I didn't know they did this, but they auctioned off two paintings (and a pair of drumsticks) to benefit Ukraine. I won one of the paintings, and got backstage for a pic with the band and to tell them of my partial Ukrainian heritage! A wonderful night, filled my heart!

Both the power supply and amplifier chassis are approximately 290 mm × 400 mm × 90 mm, so it's actually fairly compact considering it's a full-size T2. The power supply uses five GRHV regulators and features plug-in bias daughter boards, making it easy to switch between different bias voltages. Right now it supports both Normal Bias and Pro Bias outputs. The PSU also includes about a 50sec high volt soft start. In addition, there's an AC inrush limiter on the mains input. After roughly one second, a relay bypasses the current-limiting resistor, reducing the inrush current seen by both the filter capacitors and the tube heaters during startup. On the amplifier side, most of the passive components are SMD, which helped reduce the overall PCB and chassis size. The amplifier topology stays very close to Kevin's original T2 schematic, but I added support for several different implementation options to make the design more flexible. It supports three different CCS configurations:10M90, 10M90S + DN2540, and the original T2 complex CCS. The active battery section is also configurable. It supports: LED string reference, LT1021 reference. For the 2SK216 and 2SJ79 positions, I added an extra pin so they can be replaced directly with TTC and TTA devices without modifying the PCB. The overall goal wasn't to redesign the T2, but rather to preserve the original circuit while making it easier to build, maintain, and adapt as some of the original parts become increasingly difficult to source. The chassis is CNC machined by a local machine shop. One detail I paid particular attention to was the top cover of the amplifier chassis. I designed it so that the EL34 tube sockets sit perfectly flush with the top panel, which I think gives the amplifier a much cleaner appearance. Additional ventilation slots were added in the center section for airflow. The side heatsinks are sandwiched between the top and bottom panels. This not only gives the chassis a cleaner look and prevents the sharp heatsink fins from being exposed, but also makes it much less likely that you'll scratch your hands when moving the amplifier. To make sure the heatsinks can still dissipate heat efficiently, I also added ventilation openings in the top and bottom panels wherever they cover the heatsinks. I've also been thinking about turning this project into a group buy, although I'm not sure how much interest in the T2 still exists today. The main motivation would be to reduce the chassis cost, since having a single custom CNC chassis made is quite expensive. If enough people were interested, the machining cost could come down significantly.

I'm attempting to get started with fundraising a little earlier this year for the annual Kelly Brush Ride that I will once again be participating in this year. It's the same group of friends this year, likely minus one who unfortunately can't make it due to work reasons, but we're trying something a little different as a group this year. My friend Tom, who goes us all drawn into this madness, knows Kelly very well and the organization is trying to encourage folks to participate in the ride remotely. They've kind of reached critical mass in Middlebury, VT, with more than 800 riders participating so they can't really grow unless they change something. So our group sort of volunteered to be the pilot and we're headed to the coast of Maine to ride by a bunch of lighthouses and hopefully have some fun while suffering. Why am I explaining all this? Well, we want to show that remote folks can still effectively fundraise and participate. So we're going all-in and getting custom jerseys made to commemorate the ride. So all that said, I'm once again asking this group to be like no other forum. I'd very much appreciate any support that you can offer. The foundation is aiming to raise $1.2M to support individuals with spinal chord injuries to regain an active lifestyle. My personal goal is to raise $2,500. This organization and cause remains something near and dear to me as someone who takes the simple ability to get outdoors and do whatever I like, when I like, somewhat for granted. Every year I participate I find it helps refocus and recenter my appreciation for those that chose to not be limited by life-altering injuries, illness, etc. The foundation helps people discover adaptive sports and recreation, hosts camps to immerse people in sports and community, and most importantly, provides hundreds of grants per year to people that just want to return to the activities they love. Anyway, if you're able here's the link to donate to support me: Nate's KBF Fundraising Page And just for fun here's us with Kelly at the starting line last year. I'm hoping for much better weather this year so we can pound social media with pics and vids of our remote ride.

The revivalists - Get It Honest A new album by a band I never heard before. I could sense some genuine enthusiasm from online comments, and I'm glad I checked them out. Three listens in, and I can say every song on this album is good. Endless hooks, rich sound, great vibes the whole way. YMMV. Ex.

So Saturday we smoked spare ribs and a brisket in our new smoker This was early in the smoking before the ribs were sauced and wrapped in aluminum foil and before the brisket was swaddled in butcher paper.

Wasn't today, but my nephew returned from the ISS last week....! Long read, but pretty cool.... NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Closes Out Space Station Mission - NASA

Just to clarify: Re: Davis, Coltrane or Evans, who I'd rather listen to. It has more to do with the fact that I've heard Miles Davis albums so many times over the decade, that I would rather listen to the other two given the choice. As far as impact on jazz? Myles Davis is IMO at the top. Both Evans and Coltrane would not have reached the heights that they did without Davis as a band leader, again IMO. Coltrane is my favorite jazz musician, so he'd be tops for my personal preference. Glad I could clear my conscience. I feel better now. I listened to this yesterday (maybe out of guilt).

Another Mary Fahl show, this time with her and only keyboard accompaniment. I was all of maybe 4-5 feet from the stage. Stunning, such a passionate singer. Got to meet up with a couple folks I met at another Mary Fahl show last Fall, last pic.

Miles Davis - In a Silent Way

After about a year of work, I've finally finished redesigning the PCB layout for the original T2. The new layout supports several different active battery implementations, as well as multiple CCS options, making it much more flexible for different builds and future experimentation. I've also completely redesigned the chassis. Like the original concept, it will still use a two-chassis configuration, with the power supply and amplifier housed separately. It's been a long project, but it's exciting to finally see it coming together. I'll share more photos and progress updates as the build moves forward.

Quiet birthday dinner for Melissa before larger plans, including a comedy show, this weekend. Speaking of comedy we strangely found birthday Covid cards in 2026.

^ On that note, The Ultimate Bill Evans As Selected By Herbie Hancock, which seems in Japan to be titled To Bill Evans With Love – Selected By Herbie Hancock on SCM-CD.

Also a little clarity on my side. I go back longer with Coltrane, but listening to a ton of nearly every period of Evans lately. Most importantly I’m currently reading the below (which so far has been great) so we’ll see where I end up.

How you all doin' San Rafael. Neon Velvet Has them dancing under the lights

Tokyo Adagio by Charlie Haden & Gonzalo Rubalcaba (2015) https://open.qobuz.com/album/0060254744627 Example: Another nice set - recorded at the Blue Note but for Impulse. And very well recorded. Just a touch too much dinner table noises in the background now and then. I am over here trying to listen and you are elbows deep on some chicken parm. come on!

^^ added to my seemingly endless queue. 🙄 And just a quick note on Eddy Grant - personal mental block of not really liking Electric Avenue from my past. But since your post, I did poke around 'File Under Rock' (1988), you know, 'I'm still trying to like this' type of thing, and I have to say, I think I do. Me: FATHERS by Nate Smith • Kiefer • Carrtoons • Kenny Beats (2026) https://open.qobuz.com/album/hr9lqhajxzltq Example: Pretty much an 8 track jam session. Cool vibes for 30 minutes. On Blue Note.

Some more filez from the webz

I love this album.. Eddy Grant "killer on the rampage"

Goes hard 🙃

Logged some hot miles this afternoon riding to York, ME. Feels like temp was 93F and it felt every bit of that. Thank god for a little tail wind.

Done

If it annoys you too much, let me know what you want to donate and I'll do it in your name. Thanks for kicking off the party, Mikey and Todd! I'm going to ride up to the Maine coast this afternoon for a friend's 50th and it's a scorcher! It's 9AM and it's already 80 in the shade. Good thing the ride will end at the beach.

Thank you all!

You know, it's fun that we live in a world where we can play these mental tiering games without consequences, but at the same time, I'm glad we live in a world where they all exist.

I dunno, maybe. Appreciate the concern, but some of my faves were struggles initially, so I at least want to semi-understand, before dismissing. The vocals, so prevalent, feel like syrup on everything at this point. And I love My Life in the Bush of Ghosts and most of Sigur Rós. Anyway, easier to swallow, except requiring stamina... Bill Evans, Last Waltz (the last concert).

A full of song album written without live in mind, live without singing (and with e-drums and equipment breaking). I'm still trying to like this release. DOMi & JD BECK @ Lodge Room Who Asked? Bonus:

Big metric congrat! 👏🏻

Ride into the Sun by Brad Mehldau (2025) https://open.qobuz.com/album/ov6m8obwm1zwa Example: Surprised I missed this release last year. Brad is on my Fav list. Anyway, lovely release. Being an Elliot Smith fav makes it that much better. Brings in a handful of friends to play along.

All day Radiohead with OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 and KID A MNESIA releases.

I think it must be something with iPadOS or Firefox. I’ll try later on another browser or computer, if it doesn’t work I’ll tell you.

That’s so great. Congrats. Must have been wonderful. About five years ago we had a small team reorg and everyone did a small presentation introducing themselves. Skills, likes, hobbies, etc. I mostly just played DakhaBrakha really loud. ;)

Done! And....

I'll have to look again but I don't recall any Made in China labels on any of the Antek transformers I have bought. Antek's pricing is quite reasonable, and their quality is good from my experience.

Listened to a couple tracks -- this is great! Thanks for turning me on to them. Music on TIDALDakhaBrakhaSee the releases of DakhaBrakha on TIDALMusic on TIDALДахаБрахаSee the releases of ДахаБраха on TIDAL

Before Psychedelia, There Was SPACE AGE Music

The Weather and the parking gods smiled on us as we got to show Sue why Big Sur and Highway 1 have the reputation they do.

Inferno & Paradiso https://petapixel.com/2026/07/30/photographers-reveal-the-most-painful-and-hopeful-images-theyve-ever-taken/

Visited the Lowell [MA] Folk Festival this weekend. Good food, good music, and fun to people-watch. Caught some Vocal Harmony group, Bluegrass/string, Zydeco, Haitian drummers & dancers, and - my favorite - some Tuvan musicians doing throat-singing. In the last pic, the two young ladies in front of me were loving the Tuvan singing, they kept smiling and looking at each other, I could see one mouth "Wow" several times.

ES Labs are cooking something good. 😃 https://www.instagram.com/p/DbBxCZOTJCE/?igsh=MXBuZDUyejU0c3pzeQ==

Here’s one of my secrets - I’ll take Coltrane and Bill Evans over Miles Davis any day. That’s probably little to do with the artists, but damn is this album great (the cover art is not)