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It's a small and crazy world! Many of you know that I've semi-retired as a Carpenter, and am working at a Lumber Yard/Hardware store here in Fairfax, CA. I help a lot of Contractors locally, and being a small town, many have heard of my work, because of Jack Irving, who I worked with on Al's house years back. Some that I'm close to have seen pics of many of my past projects. Today I got a call from an older, local Contractor/Musician (there are many in the area). He was at Linda Ronstadt's house in San Francisco yesterday. He's been her Contractor and her friend for decades. She was telling him about some bookshelves that she saw at a bookstore in the Sunset district. She wanted to know if he could build some like them? So they went to look them over. Upon arriving, the store owner recognized Linda and struck up a conversation. Linda explained how she loved the custom shelving. The owner told her about the man that built them, but that he wasn't working with the same Contractor anymore. She showed Linda more of his work at the bookstore, and then invited them to her house a few blocks away for lunch, and to see all of the custom work he'd done there. During lunch she informed her that she still had his phone number and said she'd call to see if it was OK to give it out. In doing so she mentioned his full name. Her Contractor and friend Andy Giddings said "wait, I know him, he works at the lumber counter of my local lumber yard". Today Andy Giddings got my number from my employers after explaining the story, and he called me to tell me that Linda Rondstadt would love to have me build her some bookshelves, and maybe more. He told me that I was going to love her, and she me. We talked about possibly working together on that project. He was also impressed with my work. It's a funny world. I'm not actively seeking weekend projects, but who's going to turn down Linda Ronstadt?

Well, nothing has happened yet except a phone call from another Contractor. But I'm excited just to meet her. I watched her documentary a little while back and was even more intrigued with her life than previously. I'd be extremely honored to build anything for her, but there are some time hurdles to jump over before anything is going to happen. Still, I can't imagine not jumping a few hurdles to make this happen.

The funny thing is, I don't really find those bookshelves to be anything special. But people like what they like. But the bookstore owner is one of my favorite past clients. She and I collaborated on many of the things I built at her stunning $8,000,000 home. It's literally across the street from the ocean on the Great Highway. The bookstore she owns is a coffee shop as well, where I was awarded free coffee for life.🙂 It was my first big project after the pandemic, and she told my boss that on that project I would be her employee, so that we didn't have to run our ideas through the company. She paid me more than I made with the company, and we only grew closer in that time period.

It’s still rocking. I just released the hookers and blow into the 6th floor.

As for me... played with my kids all day (my back is broken from sitting on the floor). Rachel is helping her Parents move all weekend, so I'm solo. Just ate dinner and am cleaning up. May stream later, but may be too tired. Not a bad day, but no fucking 'contacted by Linda Rondsadt's people' kind of day, haha.

A few worthy photos from CAF this weekend…

Went to hear Wynton tonite .. spotted Paul Simon in the crowd

Does that lift the veil? 🙃

^^ Very cool - I have had this on the top of my queue for about a week and I have listened to it a couple of times. A Walk Across the Rooftops by The Blue Nile (1984) https://open.qobuz.com/album/hzszuzspagdab Example: An Amazing sounding Album. Some backstory if one does not know. Linn (Scottish Electronics fame) was wanting to test out their new recording console, and brought in The Blue Nile for their first release. (LKH 1) - they did well.

Paul Buchanan - Mid Air (2012) Singer of The Blue Nile, his first solo album

We have tickets to Wynton tonight...going with some friends. Looking forward to it. HS

That's me. I can fully relate as I was them many moons ago. Hopefully I can get them to think a bit, work together and not horribly scar them in the process. *fingers crossed* I'm keeping it no guns, and have a few fail-safes built in in case it looks like they're going to get in trouble.

Awww, thanks Al. Here is the party... Jack has an obscene amount of Lego, but no fish headed people, so the martial artist is getting a Viktor Krum head (that I'm ordering). The party assembles... From left to right, Jack, Westley, Cyborg Tinkerer, Human Giant Geneticist, Fish Man Martial Artist, Bounty Hunter with Giant Slingshot. Pretty happy with all of them, but maybe the Giant Human Geneticist needs some work. Lmk what you think. What West looked like originally, but he's no longer a cat person now and for some reason has the sword of Griffindor and Captain Americas shield... The other is a villain that Jack whipped up for me.

Great shots. Back from another PhotoFair, just throw shit on the table edition. Also their 50th anniversary. I was good and only bought two $5 “tabletop” old tripods (the only type I seem to use anymore). That justifies buying the ridiculous new lens I really want, right?

Plenty of tennis. It’s the Nitto Master Finals in Torino. Today semifinals, Sinner won De Miñaur, now to start Alcaraz vs Aliassime.

This is just plain beautiful! All pales in comparison 💕

The war and treaty at the bijou in knoxville

Between yesterday and today, giving and feeling good. I've been talking to two different (one partially) homeless people for several months, always giving a 10 or 20 when I see them. At my son's insistence (!) I just gave one of them $300 in cash. To say the least, he was amazed and driven to tears and hugs. As I walked back to my car, this woman drives up to me and chats with me. "He's not REALLY homeless..." she says. I knew that; he has a wife and a dog, and his father in law lets him stay at his place at times. Otherwise, they live in a van. I acknowledged that, but also just said that people need some help now and then. A man came out of the passenger seat, she told me it was her son, and he has autism, so don't be put off. He was fairly high functioning, but you could tell he'd always need help. Anyway, we got to talking and this woman has a home, but also has had a tough time of things. So, I took the other $300 I had and gave it to her. We both started tearing up. Now I need to pull ANOTHER chunk out to give to the other person. He knows me by name, knows I lost my wife, and like the first guy I give him something whenever I see him. He also told me that - even though he's homeless and has limited capability to help - if I ever needed something he could provide, to not hesitate to ask. These folks are amazing. So yeah, I'll get him something that I hope will help him this winter. On top of all that, today my son (staying with me while condo being worked on) has a friend over and they are listening to a few of my systems. Son brought back some speakers I gave him, so offering them to his friend. TL;DR version: it feels fucking great to give and help others as long as I can!

This is beyond cool: I have the EV-1's user manual here and it was a fascinating thing

Yes, I was just listening to Hats (1989) and I wanted to see if the band members had done anything else since then. I've been listening to A Walk Across the Rooftops a few times in the last few weeks, since I first got it in the summer. I think the Blue Nile is basically broken up. Their 3rd and 4th albums, Peace at Last and High, didn't garner the same level of critical and popular recognition, so maybe it's best to leave it at that (from the sound of Moore's last interviews about the band, it seems to be a bitter ending, at least on his part).

job your love, y'all

Yeah, I don't know if I could even pick just 5...still...so I guess I haven't changed much, but my old top 5 are no longer my top 5, so I'll give it a shot: 1 & 2: Animals and Wish You Were Here still, but I don't listen to them much, even though I have the WYWH Immersion box and Animals remaster with me, they're both unopened. So they might still be my favourites? I do still love jazz (Keith Jarrett's solo piano concerts, like the Sun Bear box; Return to Forever/Chick Corea/Al Di Meola; et al), but the new number one in that category has become: 3: Hiromi's Sonicbloom, Time Control -- it still has to be part of her Sonicbloom group. I mean, I love all her stuff, but her work with David Fiuczynski and the others was just peak. Shoutout to Greg Howard (RIP) for the single most electrifying solo instrument performance, Water on the Moon. 4: I do still love prog, but my tastes have mellowed so I'd have to go with Porcupine Tree's The Sky Moves Sideways. 5: I do still love what I used to call e-metal, but the public seem to have settled on calling it "electro-rock" (Curve, Garbage, Stabbing Westward, Placebo, Muse, Kardi, et al), but this is an easy one, as I still listen to all of their albums regularly, so pick any: Al1ce, The End of the Beginning, The Thirteenth Hour, As Above So Below Plus, it's also Post-punk! 6: My love for all the various incarnations of synthesizer-based music (from "Kosmische Musik" to synth-pop to ambient) isn't well represented here, as is neither all the centuries' worth of "classical" music or "instrumentalism" (Jean-Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield, Vangelis, et al), so... Isao Tomita, The Planets

the power supply shown is definitely a flyback single ended switcher. which means the 2 rectifier diodes see twice the power than a push pull switcher would generate. which means its going to get hot. diodes need to be increased in power handling. would like to see a real picture of the amp board in as high resolution as possible.

I guess it should be max 10mA. These bricks output max 20mA. If we take only the right or left half, the upper amp (+) draws 10mA, that are "vacuumed" by the lower PS (-400V). Then add other 10mA for the lower part, and you're at max acceptable draw. I'm testing with the 10k pot, until now it drew really more than 10mA, so the PS started "pulsing" under my dim bulb tester. I'll keep you updated.

And so, yes it is, quite unstable due to drifting. Problem is not the PS, it's that the current draw grows slowly with time, then it begins pulsating, then flames or short. I'm now assembling the stabilized version with dn2540 and pot, so that you can dial in the desired current, yet I'm having some issues with that, but as said, I started this morning (and now it's early afternoon). Who sold this unit made the error of "marketing" it too early, perhaps not testing nor listening at it. Here it's all about patience, testing, doing it better and listening. So probably a new PS will not solve the issue.

Yes, they're quiet to my ears. No noticeable noise in the cans. In the main thread, Dr. measured "ringing" at I don't know how many MHz. If you can find them, go for them. The supplier that I bought from, has them out of stock now. And yes, the difference is the input voltage. Yes, thanks, I'll see some video on YouTube and I'll become a pro! 😁

Now I understand the 6th floor joke elsewhere

Well congrats Steve! That is effing amazing! Sooo... moar cool/inspiring pics coming soon at woodworkers sub-forum hopefully.

Necro-ing this because I needed something to listen to and this seemed as good a thread as any to find a good album. It is interesting how little my tastes have changed in the 12 years since I posted here. I'd still have 3 of my 5, easily. Sub the White Album and Joshua Tree in for Stevie and Miles and I'm basically in the same ballpark I always was.

That's amazing, Steve.

No 6th floor activity photos?

Sooo great. Congrats Steve.

Holy Fuck Dude! That is amazing. To be approached based on prior art is so incredible. You'll have to let us know how it goes.

Gorgeous, love horn speakers.

I too know nothing about the game (although I have a slight bit of experience with dungeons), but can come to the same conclusion as DOTU.

I don't know anything about D&D or One Piece, but I can tell you're a good dad!

My reward for getting up and getting my laundry done early. A scramble of orange bell pepper, shallot, tomato, avocado and eggs. Bacon, biscuits and fried potatoes with shallots. Iced coffee with Irish Cream Liqueur.

Ok, I think we have our adventuring party for Jack's bday: Jack - Human (regular, which in this gets +1 to all ability scores in this!?) Warrior (based on Fighter) / Elemental Weapon Subtype + Devil Fruit (he actually rolled and got Gomu Gomu and is so happy) West - Mink(Tiger) Rogue / Thief Subtype 4 Friends: Fish Person (Shark) Martial Artist (based on Monk) / Fish Man Karate Subtype Human (Human Giant, think Garp) Chemist (based on Druid) / Genetics Subtype Cyborg Tinkerer (based on Wizard) / Robotics Subtype Human (Variant, for skills and a Haki feat) Marksman (based on Ranger) / Bounty Hunter Subtype If anyone familiar with One Piece can weigh in on this it would be appreciated as I've only really watched the first season.

Learning about the Melungeons.

At least it's not ipodBJ

Maybe….

God we are all getting old. Jarvis is starting to make me think of Kipling's "a rag and a bone and a hank of hair."

Forgot to mention, my oldest son is turning 10 this month and we are throwing him a One Piece themed B-Day party... I'm going to run a One Piece themed game for him and 4-5 of his friends. SUPER NERVOUS! Ten year olds are harsh critics, lol. Also a little rusty, but I used to be quite good, so we'll see what I can come up with. EDIT: HA! You can double post here, excellent. Suck it Head-Fi!

Not to be confused with: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluribus or

Removed the grill which removed a "veil" from midrange 😆 and had to rework the crossover and physical alignment of the supertweeter, but yeah, I'm beginning to think the speaker angle was already a solved issue in the 1950's and 60's..

I got SO lucky with a local listing. Altec A7-500, and I added the supertweeter.

One and done, with quesabirria tacos today. I'm With Her was enough and now we're happy to be back in Fairfax before the traffic jam.

I'm with her acquired. Everything else if gravy... Oh, and Cimafunk yesterday was a killer set.

After the morning jaunt, the plan was to start with Dan Tyminski but I took a nap instead. Claire went and enjoyed it. I arrived at the blanket one minute before Cimafunk started, which was pretty ideal. They are from Cuba but live in New Orleans now apparently. Fun stuff. Made our way to the adjacent stage in time for Tweedy to come out and bore the snot out of everyone. The sun was in his face and his deathly pallor clearly indicated that was not routine. When he finally spoke, he said that he didn't know the sun would be here and "that's not cool, man." Wilco's California Stars was the only song that got the crowd going. At the end of the show he said that it was the first show touring for his new triple album, and thanked us for listening to a lot of new stuff. Definitely the weakest of many Tweedy shows I have seen with Wilco, solo, and with this band with his two sons that he used to call Tweedy. Oh well.

You can buy them on Taobao here: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?ft=t&id=694554929492