January 29, 2016

Yesteryear
One year ago today: January 29, 2015, I bought a recorder.
Five years ago today: January 29, 2011, generic post.
Nine years ago today: January 29, 2007, Beatles’ autographs, $39,000.
Random years ago today: January 29, 2004, marriage is unnatural, Greer.

MORNING
           Here’s a concept, from a Seattle company that raised close to $30 million with crowdfunding. It’s not a 3D printer, but a 3D laser cutter, although it is marketed as a printer. I instantly spot it as something far more versatile and usable than a 3D printer. That comes with a warning that such a device cannot be both powerful and safe at the same time.

           The video only shows it cutting cardboard, so beware. Some of the other photos show thick material, but it is really a think material overlay. Closer inspection shows it will cut select materials up to ¼” thick, thought the specs say you can reverse the design, flip the sheet, and cut from the opposite side, making a depth of ½”. That is still a considerable improvement over the true utility of a 3D printer. Retail begins at $2,500 but probably double that for anything useful. Note, this product is not a new idea.
           This is a globe assembled from layers of cardboard that excellently reveals the “slicing” concept of built up design. This lampshade requires more intelligence and creativity than the average person can muster. And remember, it still had to be assembled, meaning the user would also require some idea of where the continents are. That rules out Florida as a major sales center.

Wiki picture of the day.
These trees died 900 years ago.
NOON

           “If all our national holidays were observed on Wednesdays, we could wind up with nine-day weekends.” – George Carlin

           So this is our choice this winter. Either too cold or too wet. The consolation that if it is bad here, it is worse further north, only goes so far. Yes, all the Frenchies who arrived last month have lost their money and time. Even if it warms up now, the season is over. Ah, but why would I bother following the weather? Simple, this means another year that the Florida tourist economy cannot absorb. That makes for bargains on houses in the spring, not that long from now.

           And this year, we are poised and ready. How I would love some overextended dodo to be forced to sell. I see some evidence of that, yet the system still is a bit too resilient to give much. On the other hand, what if Trump doesn’t get in? There is no way the American debt will ever be paid, our only hope is to declare national bankruptcy. What that will do to the dollar is hard to say. It will not be pretty.
           Take a look at this blue doublewide. Why is this building not selling? If it’s familiar, I did look at it (on-line) last June, but it was overpriced. It is back on the market with a hefty $15,000 lower price tag than July 24 of last year. While it is still too expensive, it is evidently not moving, but why, oh why? It is also further away than most of the properties I’m considering. But, this year I have some cash to wave under his nose. Do you want to go for it?

           Before you decide, here’s some data. Built in 1976, this has a metal roof. It’s above the frost line so it has forced air heating. Two bedrooms, two full baths, it sold for $20,000 in 1999. It does not look like any improvements have been done on it since then, so maybe the seller would be happy just to get his money back out of the place. The area shows green on Trulia (relatively low crime) and JZ have been through the area often enough to semi-confirm that.
           It is a rehab, but nothing much, and I would add a workshop, or fill in the carport for a workshop and add a new carport in front, bungalow style. It would require a complete security system because it is a bit of a remote location and I could not say we would occupy it all the time unless I move there. But I’m done living in this town so something of that nature is pending. I’ll ponder this over coffee in the morning. Buying it would not break the bank over here, but the seller might be insulted. That’s why I make these offers anonymously.

NIGHT
           What’s this, 91 extra hits because I post a photo of microwave bread last day? What, are you a bunch of chow hounds? Folks, it dries out twice as fast as ordinary bread. Still, I can’t ignore 91 hits, so here is a photo of my corn bread ring. Serve warm. The corn (meal) is imported from Mexico. I don’t as a rule allow American frankencorn on my premises.

           It’s from scratch. Corn meal, flour, sugar, baking soda, egg, milk, cooking oil, salt. The “crust” you see is a mixture of wheat germ and Parmesan cheese. The pie plate and upside down glass are to make it easy to serve, but yeah, it looks fancy as well. Or maybe today I had an inking to take pictures of round objects. Pretending I know what I’m doing. “Par-mee’-zee-an cheeze, man, Par-mee’-zee-an.”

           I ran some spreadsheets on exactly what I can afford between now and the remainder of the year. Harsh numbers. Unless there is another bust or I shaft somebody, it will be a tight squeeze. But, living tough to the end of 2016 to buy a house beats living like a dog for 30 years. Those who go that route must often ask themselves if sacrificing their life for a mortgage was worth it.

           My standard no-gig Friday is spent right here at home. I ran through a set of new bass lines and finally sorted out the guitar riff for Johnny Cash’s “Walk The Line”. I’ve played this song a few dozen times on stage, always faking it. Nor is it part of my normal set. Since I have never heard a guitar player do it right, I took it apart and put it back together. Ha, I think I know why it gives them all a rough time. It is my specialty on the bass, playing thirds.
           Quick history. Johnny Cash had a penchant for playing thirds and also playing in the key of F. This is not a natural key for the guitar. I’ve met guitarists who capo it up one fret, or tune the guitar down a step to make it easier. Cash also had a tendency to “add on” his riffs to the usual two and four bar phrases of other popular music. So you’ll often get 4-1/2 bars in his tunes.

           Back to my theory (about why guitarists don’t play Cash right). When guitarists capo up, they are playing the same finger patterns as the key of E, and that means they don’t like thirds. For non-musicians, a third is the middle note when you play a piano triad. The guitar strings are tuned a fourth apart, so there is your clash of notes. To play a third on the guitar, you have to change hand positions, which makes it difficult to play certain passages. Myself, I learned from day one to play all bass hand positions with ease.
           This has an oddball side effect. It “looks funny” to people who have never seen bass played that way before. That, and guitarists who switch to bass often bring with them a dislike for thirds. On stage, I’m inclined to exaggerate these rapid hand positions for audience effect. That’s where my “wagging elbow” style is at its best.
           Worse news for your average guitar player is the riff in “Walk The Line”. When I finally work it out, almost the entire song is custom playing. Except for a few short interludes, none of the guitar work repeats itself quite the same. Now I understand why so many player just gloss that over. Not me. Starting tomorrow, I learn it right, on the bass of course. By now you know I often seek out passages like this where I can handily outshine all but the finest guitarists. On stage I mean, I don’t do that at practice. You think I’m dumb? Once a guitarist gets on stage, he’ll never quit.


Last Laugh


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