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Sorry for the lack of updates over the weekend, the wifi at the house could basically support one device at a time. Short version, the ride was great. Continue on for TLDR... The day started with overcast skies, temps in the mid 70s which was pretty ideal. We met Kelly (left above) and Edie (KBF Executive Director) at the starting line for a quick pick after the main pack rolled out around 7:30. We weren't particularly worried about riding with any other groups/folks. The first 25 miles or so passed without much incident, one guy got a flat which was quickly changed with a little help from the ride support crew and then the five of us riding the 100 split off to take the longer way home. Through the next 20 miles temps and the weather continued to be on our side. As we passed through 50 miles the sun came out with a vengeance. What had been simply a warm, very humid day turned into a hot and steamy one fast. But sunscreen was applied and much fluid consumed (I think I drank between 8-10 22oz bottles on the day) and with the exception of my friend Jim who cramped and had to call in the sag wagon at 85 miles, we all survived in tolerable shape. Much fun was had, much money was raised. Our little 9 person team ended up raising a bit over $25k and the event topped the million dollar mark on the day of the ride. I spent a significant amount of time on the front along with my friend Gus as we'd both logged considerably more training miles than the others. All in all, I just can't say thank you to all of you that continue to support me and this event. The foundation does some truly amazing work and changes lives every time that they do.

here is a link to simmcon's takedown of the eha5. its mandatory reading for everyone. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-eha5.42149/post-1712440 in other news, birgir sent me a srd7 to test. in other other news, i have finally found a company that will sell me cores and bobbins in small quantities. so making electrostatic transformers becomes a possibility.

There is little left for my next adventure:

Huge congrat again Nate! Thanks for making the effort every year.

Sextet Carla Bley 1987 https://album.link/i/1443515986 Example: I really did think that I posted this before. But I couldn't find it. But it is something that should be posted. I didn't know much about Carla's work before this. A great set and this track is just so pretty.

The Cardigans - Emmerdale

I think it's probably better for @Grahame to take a swing at anything Android-connected; what do you think @VPI?

I'm trying to "control" a Samyang 800mm F8 + X2 teleconverter. This thing is a nightmare. I thought it would be easier to get better results but for the moment this is what I am getting. If you have a recommendation, as always it is welcome. Something different: A traveler passing through from Africa

New Olivia Rodrigo. Yes, she has the full weight of the music-marketing-industrial complex behind her, but for some reason I find myself cheering for this girl. Pretty solid sophomore effort, I say. The rocker tracks are very fun.

Ciao Novato! Opera at the Hamilton Amphitheater. We arrived early to secure a place in the shade at the Amphitheater during set up / sound check There was added drama, as their headlining baritone Richard Rittelmann was flying in from Paris that day, had been delayed in customs, was hiring a car, and was in the process of driving up, so would he make it for the big performance or not? In the meantime, they rearranged the program on the fly, and apart from a few teething troubles with their wireless sound system put on quite a show. Richard arrived And delivered. Thanks Novato. Back/Side-Stage with the stars (note the Ross goodie bag!)

God damn.

Until then, anyone seen this opera? It’s coming back to SF.

^^ intersting - sampled a few tracks, didn't catch me to start with, but intrested to check it out futher. Catching up.. Comin' Home Baby Mel Tormé 1962 https://album.link/i/59401055 Example: A fun Album by Mel, with the example being a highlight. Need to have some more Mel in my world. Samara Joy Samara Joy 2021 https://album.link/i/1616970429 Example: Such a lovely voice with dynamics and power. Very well recorded set of mostly standards. Meteora 20th Anniversary Edition Linkin Park 2023 https://album.link/i/1668484895 Example: Worthy of revisiting. A well recorded album that is layered really well and is able to hit hard when it wants to. I didn't need all the live versions, but I enjoyed listening to the album again. There are a few other things, but those are some highlights.

It's true that black and white print film has no equals when it comes to capturing and reproducing a wide dynamic range of values. It's also true that at LEAST half the work with B&W film is in the darkroom, making prints. Ansel Adams was an undisputed master of this process. Henri Cartier-Bresson claimed to be allergic to developer chemicals and had other people do the work for him. I've never shot, developed nor printed B&W print film, so I am in no position to talk shit. So anyway, there's this fake-ass B&W film that Kodak used to make called BW400CN. It's black and white film that is developed the same way color print film is done. Meaning it's easy for scrubs who don't have access to a darkroom, and a total gamble as far as results go. Also, I have great beginner's luck followed by a roller coaster plunge. Let's come out of the gate swinging. This is one of the best shots I've ever taken and will ever take. The inside of the Edgartown lighthouse, 07/28/08 - 3:43PM. 17-40L at the wide end, Canon Rebel K2, Kodak BW400CN. This shot is lightning in a bottle. Here's the underside of that same bottle. Looking out the porthole. This photogenic little trustafarian fuck blew out my surf guitar amp, returned it to me broken, and then de-friended me on Facebook. Kodak Rebel G, Kodak BW400CN, and the mighty Meyer-Optik Orestor 135mm F/2.8 showing off why it's a "bokeh monster." My friend Alyssa's patented look of disapproval. 5/25/08 - 7:00AM at the breakfast diner. EOS Rebel K2, EF 85mm F/1.8. Kodak BW400CN. Okay, let's drop that other shoe, shall we? 02/22/09 - 5:04PM - 17-40mm @ 17mm, F/8, 1/45th. Rebel K2. Kodak BW400CN. This is an absolute nightmare. The soup nazi says "No midtones for you!" The ancestral cottage on MV, 09/15/09 - 5:34PM - 17-40L @ 17mm, F/9.5, 1/180th, Kodak BW400CN. This one is actually one of the better frames from the second two rolls. 10/04/09 - 5:25PM - 17-40L @ 17mm, F/13, 1/30th, Rebel K2, BW400CN. The lack of midtones and detail in general is appalling. I actually like the composition of the shot, even if my dumb ass had the lens hood on the wrong way. See that black bit in the upper left corner? Memento Mori. 10/06/09 - 5:43PM. Rebel K2. Kodak BW400CN. The mushroom cloud laying motherfucker of a lens that is the Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L II @ F/2, 1/2000th. I had to stop down because the poor Rebel K2 said "bro, I can't move my shutter fast enough to compensate for that much light!" Leave it to a bad BW400CN run to wreck 85L bokeh. The road where hopes for midtones go to die. 03/06/09 - 5:19PM - 17-40mm @ 24mm, F/13, 1/350th. I have a bunch more, but I've made my point. I still have one last roll of BW400CN, some 14 years later. I dunno if I can be arsed to expose it. At this point I'd rather attempt to develop Tri-X in my bathroom.

Nice day with old friends.

I have questions.

We put Sophie down today. She’s had congestive heart failure for over a year and had been doing ok with meds. However, she got really bad over the last few days - gained a lot of fluid weight, had several seizures, and was coughing much more than normal. We went to the vet and they said she had less than two weeks. We couldn’t let her suffer anymore. I miss her so much. She was the best dog ever. IMG_3005.mov IMG_3386.mov