Steve Courtright's Bin

Cannondale Super Six - SRAM Red Gruppo

2012-02-09T19:15:00.000-06:00

This might be my next road bike. I am test riding it for a while to decide. It is a Cannondale Super Six with all SRAM Red components. Get this: It weighs 15.4 pounds.

Braces

2012-01-30T19:30:00.001-06:00

I rough out the back braces out of 1/4" sitka brace stock with the bandsaw. The curve is a 15' radius. Then I perfect the curve by sanding the braces in a sanding bowl that has the same 15' radius. Later, I will take a small, very sharp plane to make the bottom curvature of the braces exactly square to the sides. I want the glue joint of the braces to be perfect, since the braces are so narrow and fine, and old guitars often suffer from detached braces.

The back will be bent to the braces when gluing. In this way the back takes on a perfect 15' arc. Similarly, the top is caused to adopt a 25' radius. The curvature helps sound projection, but also makes a stronger box, since an arched back and top creates stronger shapes than flat panels. In the bottom picture, you can see that the front braces have the nice curvature conforming to the sanding bowl, and the rear, unsanded brace is about a centimeter above the middle of the bowl.

More Work on the Back

2012-01-15T21:17:00.000-06:00

The outside of the back. The outline has been cut on the band saw. The cut is a little big - the excess will be trimmed with a small trim router after being attached to the sides.

The center strip glued over the center joint. The back is two pieces of book-matched rosewood.

The braces will be freed from this piece of well-seasoned brace stock. It has been in my shop for about three years. It is Sitka spruce and is very densely/tightly grained, perfectly quartered and with no run out. Braces are most important. Strong, light and without flaws of any kind is necessary in order to work properly. Light so as not to weigh down the plate to which they are affixed. Strong to resist deformation with about 200 lbs of tension from the strings. And no run-out to ensure that they will be strong in 50-100 years.

Indian Rosewood Back and a Secret

2012-01-10T21:33:00.003-06:00

The back is planed to 0.085". Notice the Indian Rosewood center inlay and purflings. This instrument will be subtle. No flashy pearl or paint or wacky pick-guards. The wood is the thing. This rosewood is chocolate brown with purple and tan. This will be wonderful under finish. The tool shown is a Lie-Nielsen scraper plane.

The "secret" inlay. Some herringbone in the tailblock, where it will live inside the guitar. Where it can't be seen without foreknowledge and a mirror. There will be more secrets, too.

The neck is mahogany, with a maple center strip and thin flanking strips of something darker. I can't remember what right now. Lots of finish shaping to do but it is close to the right overall dimensions. Final working happens after the neck is fitted to the body and the angles are established for the correct saddle height. A long process with a tolerance of about a 64th of an inch. If the saddle is too low, there is not enough leverage on the bridge and the instrument is too quiet. Too high and the saddle might break out of the bridge or pull the whole bridge off the top. It's all about sensing the balance. Listening to what the wood tells you.

Cyclocross Nationals 2012

2012-01-09T19:20:00.001-06:00

Katie Compton (#1) at the start of the Women's Elite

Katie soloing in for the win - Women's Elite

Amazing crowds - at the run up

Eventual winner, Jeremy Powers (#2), in the front group waiting for the right moment - Men's Elite

The Sides are Bent and Lined

2012-01-02T10:29:00.001-06:00

Bending the sides to fit into the mold

Gluing in the neck block after the sides are bent

Sides bent and in the mold, neck block and tail block glued in and spreaders in place

Sides are sanded in correct curves - back is 15' radius and top is 25' radius

Gluing in the reverse lining, slightly proud - reverse linings are stiffer than conventional kerfed linings

Now we sand the correct curve into the linings using the correct sanding bowl until the linings have perfect dome shape to receive the top and back

Sides are done - planning some hidden inlay work for the tail block and reinforcing strips which will be added after the glue dries for about a day

Karen at the Botanic Garden

2012-01-02T10:17:00.002-06:00

One of our all time favorite places, the Chicago Botanic Garden, where we did a bit of walking last weekend. When it's cold, the greenhouses are particularly soothing.

The River Home

2011-12-25T13:10:00.001-06:00

This is the time of year when you curl up with a good book. A good book and nearby a pint of something malty and dark and you in your leather chair. If possible, you are by the fire in the one room of the cabin with your favorite Labrador. Telephones not allowed. For that matter, no electricity. You dream of your favorite water. Maybe the Brule in Wisconsin. In your dream, maybe there are mountains, maybe only the rolling hills of your home county. Maybe there are memories, in black and white, of you and your fishing buddy from a time long ago. There might be snow. But for sure, there is quiet - peace and quiet. Definitely peace. Pacem. And moving waters.

Hat Post

2011-12-25T10:43:00.000-06:00

We have recently become hat posts for our new Irish hats. We love them, Mom. Thanks!

Bob's Drive-In

2011-12-09T13:42:00.001-06:00

I recently received a copy of Bob Drake's new creation, "Bob's Drive-In." I am very excited to spend some time with it and provide all of my myriad of readers with a learned review. Please be assured that I am working on it. One can't rush perfection.

So Excited!!!

Cyclocross Stuff

2011-12-04T18:45:00.001-06:00

Spent some time at the 2011 Illinois State Cyclocross Championships sponsored by Turin et al.. Lou Kuhn of Pony Shop got second place (Master's 30+) and Scott McLaughlin of SRAM got first place in the Cat 1/2/3 race.

Scott above and Lou below:

Tail Block

2011-11-18T21:49:00.001-06:00

Mahogany off cut is perfect for tailblock. Light, strong, stable and easily worked into the curve needed to shape the tail of the guitar.

First, we make it flat. The thinness sander is fast, accurate and easy for this.

The tailblock is shaped to the proper curve. We can do this part by eye quite accurately, but it is nice to get it perfect so there are no gaps when we glue the sides in place. So, we will put sandpaper in the mold and work it the slow, hard way.

A good hat is comforting and lends an air of zen-like concentration to the process.

Our 19th century humidity control arrangement - a container of water on the radiator...

Now that the sides are about 0.090" thick, we will bend. First, a good night's sleep. We must approach the bending with a clear mind. Can't rush the wood.

Some Food Brooks and I Made in our Kitchen

2011-11-12T16:18:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture of some food that Brooks and I made in our kitchen at our home. It tasted good. That's why I liked it. Because it was good.

More Pictures of the Archtop

2011-11-12T16:14:00.000-06:00

The Sides for Bob's Guitar get Thinner

2011-11-12T16:09:00.001-06:00

These are the sides for Bob Drake's guitar. Indian Rosewood. Will be thinned to about 0.085". Then they get profiled and bent into a guitar shape. Lovely color, straight grain, perfectly quartersawn.

The Archtop is Finished

2011-10-15T14:49:00.001-05:00

Done, done, done. Three years of building and a dream decades long. I have built my own archtop. It sounds warm, woody, rich - just like a jazz guitar should. The action is low and the neck feels fine. Over the top happy about this.

The Binding is Revealed

2011-10-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

Well, more poor technique. I scraped the binding, but the finish has set up too much and there is some rough edges. I decided not to start over and just forge on. I want this instrument to get done. It's for playing not for hanging on the wall. So here it is with some clear satin over the burst and amber on the very white binding to give it an aged look.

Shooting the Sunburst

2011-10-06T18:02:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally got this part right. After sanding off a couple of horrible attempts at shooting some color onto the Archtop, I came home a little early and did this. The clear coats are next after I scrape the color off of the bindings. That is going to look really cool.

Band Name of the Week

2011-10-04T10:52:00.000-05:00

Detachable Erasmus

In honor of Erasmus McCutcheon's birthday.

The Rosette

2011-09-25T19:46:00.004-05:00

Here is how I start making the rosette for Bob's guitar. Wood: Bocote
First I make some wood blocks with 15 degree cuts on the ends. The ring is an example of the desired end result - a segmented rosette (although this one is made from scrap to practice)

I also made a little jig to hold the blocks while I bandsaw the blocks into little windows.

I use double sided tape to hold down the windows so I can get them the same thinness with a thinness sander. Some people call these machines thickness sanders, but mine makes stuff thinner, not thicker.

The little windows are assembled into panels with purflings in between. The inside diameter must be bigger than the sound hole of the guitar.

I will then use a little router to cut a round piece out of the assembled panels after I have saturated the joints with thin CA glue to stick the whole thing together. The strange-shaped window will go under the neck so it won't show. You can leave the ring open there, but I like to have a whole complete ring - it is easier to handle.

Pizza and Chianti Classico

2011-09-25T19:35:00.000-05:00

Pizza and Chianti Classico. Is there a better dinner? No.

Strung Up

2011-09-25T19:34:00.000-05:00

The Archtop has strings. It sounds more like an acoustic archtop than I had hoped, since it was designed to be a hollowbody electric, so I am pretty thrilled. No finish on it except a wash coat of shellac - must wait for the humidity to drop a bit before the finish goes on. Love the feel of a big jazz guitar, raised fretboard, maple neck, ebony fretboard. So thrilled. Now it must come apart for finishing, pick up and volume knob, and a set up.

New Word - Gnant

2011-09-01T16:27:00.000-05:00

I just discovered a new word: Gnant

Cool, huh?

What I haven't discovered is the meaning of "gnant." If you know the meaning of this word, please let me know.

This Week's Great Name for a Band

2011-08-31T09:22:00.003-05:00

"Cold Toast and Jam Band"

Cyclocross, Fun Machine, Workhorse, Race Bike, Commuter, All Rounder

2011-08-30T18:55:00.001-05:00

I just built this Cannondale CAAD9 CX bike with SRAM/Zipp/Truvativ components. It is perfect for any kind of riding you like. More importantly, it's perfect for me. Some fine tuning needed, like a longer stem, off road pedals and maybe a lower bar position, but it feels so nice going down the road...

This Week's Great Name for a Band

2011-08-30T15:39:00.002-05:00

"Java and the Chesterfield Kings"

Hanging with the SRAM Crew (and Mike Adamle)

2011-08-29T10:40:00.001-05:00

Hanging out with some of the SRAM and World Bicycle Relief Crew after the Wrigley Field Road Tour (to Milwaukee) to raise money for World Bicycle Relief and Chicago Cubs Charities (http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/). Great fun and good cause. Yes, I gladly had a couple of Old Styles.

SRAM Wheels for the Roadbike

2011-08-28T20:37:00.000-05:00

The Curl

2011-08-10T22:05:00.000-05:00

Creole Red Beans (Kidney) And Rice - Louis and Lucille Armstrong

2011-08-05T15:00:00.001-05:00

By - Louis and Lucille Armstrong

Creole Red Beans (Kidney) And Rice

(Use 2 qt. pot with cover)
1 lb. Kidney Beans
1/2 lb. Salt Pork (Strip of lean, strip of fat)
(Slab Bacon may be used if preferred)
1 small can of tomato sauce (if desired)
6 small Ham Hocks or one smoked Pork Butt
2 onions diced
1/4 green (bell) pepper
5 tiny or 2 medium dried peppers
1 clove garlic - chopped
Salt to taste

Preparation
Wash beans thoroughly, then soak over night in cold water. Be sure to cover beans. To cook, pour water off beans, add fresh water to cover. Add salt pork or bacon, let come to a boil over full flame in covered pot. Turn flame down to slightly higher than low and let cook one and one-half hours. Add diced onions, bell pepper, garlic, dried peppers and salt. Cook three hours. Add tomato sauce, cook one and one-half hours more, adding water whenever necessary. Beans and met should always be just covered with water (juice), never dry. This serves 6 or more persons.....

To prepare with Ham Hocks or Pork Butts..... Wash meat, add water to cover and let come to a boil in covered pot over medium flame. Cook one and one-half hours. Then add beans (pour water off), add rest of ingredients to meat. Cook four and one-half hours. Add water when necessary.

Suggestions
For non pork eaters, chicken fat may be used instead of salt pork. Corned beef or beef tongue may be used instead of ham hocks or butts.

Rice
2 cups white rice
2 cups water
One teaspoon of salt
One pot with cover

Wash rice thoroughly, have water and salt come to a boil. Add rice to boiling water. Cook until rice swells and water is almost evaporated. Cover and turn flame down low. Cook until rice is grainy. To insure grainy rice, always use one and one-half cups water to one cup of rice..... "To serve"

On dinner plate — Rice then beans, either over rice or beside rice as preferred.

The New Frame

2011-08-01T20:23:00.000-05:00

Cyclocross frame: 58 cm Cannondale CAAD9 with all Carbon Fiber Easton fork. Can't wait to build this one up for commuting, fun weekend rides and maybe a few cyclocross races.

The Headstock of the Archtop is Done

2011-07-28T21:58:00.001-05:00

I like open back tuners, especially the ones with a brass gear, like these. This test fitting of the gears, after drilling and countersinking the holes is the last step before applying the finish. Which will be an amber to black sunburst. I am getting the feeling like I want to assemble this one before too long and see what she goes like.

Oh, and the lining and back strip has arrived for Bob's Very Nice Guitar, so I can start thinning the plates and bending sides. By September the relative humidity should be low enough to assemble the body. But that would be pushing the pace. Maybe by Halloween... in which case the Very Nice Guitar may be renamed the Scary Night Guitar.

There are More

2011-07-20T13:45:00.000-05:00

Once, I snuck into a friends room with about a hundred shards of paper, each with the inscription, "There are more." I hid them all over the room. Each time he found one of the shards he would read, "There are more." They turned up from time to time for years.

Thoughts on Shorts and Work

2011-07-08T09:29:00.001-05:00

In all of my thirty years of working, I have never, ever, until today, worn shorts to work. Corporations, a university, several law firms, and never have I worn shorts. Until today. This is significant. And causes the formation of a lot of vaque questions in my mind and an uneasy feeling. I feel the desire to delve deep into the psychology of the event, but not until tomorrow. Today, I am just going to enjoy. Deeply.

Italy - Rome and Tuscany

2011-06-19T14:01:00.001-05:00

Dad and Ross in Florence

The Central Hole

Brooks, Mom and Ross

Classic Tourist Image

Inside the Coliseum

Rome

Study of man in study

Chianti

Badia a Coltibouno - where we rested

The Cellar and some nice old Chianti Classico

Brooks in his element

Inside the dining area of Badia a Coltibuouo

Florence

Inside one of the many walled cities

Cooking lessons with a wonderful family in their cucina

Florence

Dave

The Boys

A Very Nice Guitar for Bob

2011-06-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

Well, I have finally gathered up the courage to start the Very Nice Guitar for Bob. Bob is Bob Drake, my oldest best friend, and a brilliant and courageous musician. See http://www.bdrak.com/

Here is the neck for the Very Nice Guitar, which is not yet officially named. I invite your input in this regard. The neck is mahogany with a curly maple center lamination and ebony pins. The mahogany is so lovely and dark and fine grained that it looks like old cherry. Just magnificent. It makes me excited about what is next. The guitar body will be made of Lutz Spruce, a hybrid of White and Sitka Spruce, which seems to be the rage right now, from Shane Neifer at High Mountain Tonewood Co., in Terrance B.C. (Canada). The stuff I have is quirky in appearance, but rings like a bell, and that is no exaggeration. The back and sides will be some nice Indian Rosewood I have from the Zootman, Bob Cefalu, at RC Tonewoods in New York. No other decisions have been made as of yet.

Archtop Progress

2011-06-14T15:05:00.000-05:00

The archtop is finally getting close to completion. Here she is in the white. The body is complete, and the neck is almost finished. A few tweaks and she goes to finish. Spruce top, curly maple back and sides. The neck is curly maple with a 1/4" center lamination of indian rosewood with pins. Fretboard is ebony with EVO frets. Must make headplate and truss rod cover, heel cap, which will be made of wenge. Finish will be a satin tobacco sunburst. One volume control only for the single Classic 57 Gibson humbucking pickup.

New SRAM Gruppo for the Litespeed

2011-04-26T20:25:00.000-05:00

La Bella Luna

2011-02-18T22:51:00.001-06:00

Taken through the 10" reflector.

Newest Guitar Build OM3

2010-12-11T09:03:00.000-06:00

All Done

Waleska's Salsa

2010-12-05T13:23:00.000-06:00

10 big/fat jalapenos (not the skinny ones)
3 large/medium tomatoes
2 garlic cloves
Salt

Boil the jalapenos, tomatoes, cloves until very soft.
Take out of water and put in blender with salt to taste.
If the salsa is TOO hot, add another tomato.
If the salsa is not as hot as you would like it to be, add more jalapenos.
The key is to get it to your taste.

Ron Santo

2010-12-03T11:47:00.002-06:00

Here is my Ron Santo story:

Ron Santo and my neighbor were close friends, and Ron would often show up for birthdays and other celebrations. He was such a regular guy and universally loved by everyone in Chicago. The first time my wife, who grew up in Minnesota, met Ron they spent several minutes chatting about her bakery business and the neighborhood. Ron happily talked with her about food and such. When the conversation finally turned to Ron, my wife said, "And so what do you do?" Ron replied, "I work in radio, doing a little announcing." My wife chatted on happily, completely ignorant that she was talking to a Chicago legend, and Ron never said a thing - he was just one of the guests, and a humble one at that. Of course, we laughed a long time when my wife finally figured it out and it's still one of our favorite family stories.

The Colors and Figure are Pretty Nice

2010-11-26T11:33:00.000-06:00

Coulter 10.1"

2010-09-14T22:22:00.000-05:00

New toy, a Coulter Oddysey Compact - a 10.1" Dobsonian Reflector at f4.5. Lots of fun.

Limoncello - yep, homemade

2010-09-14T22:03:00.001-05:00

Limoncello

Karen makes this amazing after dinner delight in our kitchen - sometimes with a little help from me and the "Juice-O'-Mat." It must be tried to be believed.

Here is a close recipe from the web: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/food/dh_limoncello.htm

Classic Scope 60mm

2010-07-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

Just for fun, cleaned up this gem from a rummage sale - turns out that it's a classic.

Some Quality Home Time and My OM #2

2010-06-20T21:27:00.002-05:00

One Homemade Guitar, One Cherry Pie from Philberts on Vimeo.

Our Drum Performance at the Custer Street Fair

2010-06-20T21:22:00.002-05:00

Ajoite Drums & Percussion from Philberts on Vimeo.

Sporadic Quotation of the Indeterminate Time Period

2010-05-13T13:54:00.000-05:00

Fortune and love befriend the bold.
- Ovid

Fingerpicking on an Archtop

2010-03-16T09:16:00.002-05:00

Another shot from the Drake party at the Watseka Theater.

Mrs. Drake's Birthday

2010-03-07T11:22:00.003-06:00

Dear Mrs. Drake,

Thanks for being my MAFM (Mom away from Mom) when I was growing up, sharing your sense of humor, your family, your house and the special Drake brand of caring. Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns of the Day.

We had a great time celebrating with you and your family. Cheers and thank for the invite, Nancy!

Winter Wool

2010-02-26T12:02:00.005-06:00

Chicago wintertime encourages the growing out of what is known as the chin yarn, the pelotage profile, the countenance of fleece, the merino mask, the woolly mandible, the worsted visage, or the tweed kisser. It suits my prickly personage, too.

The Magic World of Shampoo Marketing

2010-02-20T11:28:00.008-06:00

Recently while waiting for a prescription to be filled in a local drug store, I realized that my many years of math instruction was insufficient to deal with the huge numbers of the different kinds of shampoo. I was prompted to investigate why there is in existence such a mind boggling index of heterogeneity of shampoo species.

During my exploration of this mystery, I have made an important discovery that I want to share with everyone I know. I have finally penetrated the curtain guarding the secret world of shampoo marketing. That's right, I now know why there are so many different kinds of shampoo and have ascertained the formula used by the present crop of consumer product wizards to market shampoo such that every man, woman and child cannot resist the siren song of at least one of the various kinds thereof.

In a nutshell, other than some kind of chemical to rid your hair of those evil oils that are spoiling your attractiveness to the opposite sex (and relentlessly stripping said oil from wherever the chemical touches your skin as well so that you are left unprotected from the ravages of wind and sun) each and every shampoo must contain the three following ingredients: something nautical, something arboreal, and something gustatorial. In other words, something from the sea, something from a tree and something you can eat.

Permit me to provide an illustrative example. From one water-clear ampoule of said shampoos, there was listed, "Extracts of Sea Foam, Sandalwood, and Celery." If you don't care for that combination of intriguing experiences, from another golden phial by the same manufacturer, "Perfusion of Kelp, Knotty Pine, and Peppercorn." Yet another delightful aqua-colored vial boasted, "Infusion of Green Turtle, Brazilian Rosewood, and Apricot." Irresistible, no? Maybe one of these are not for you. I understand, really, and this leads me to the core of my discovery.

If you create a spread sheet with a list of things from the sea, things from a tree, and things to eat, the calculated number of permutations equals exactly the number of humans currently inhabiting the earth. Coincidence? Not a chance. Statistically, there is out there somewhere, a shampoo just for you, you just need to keep looking.

Mine is "Boiled Blue Groper, Resin of White Oak, and Finely Shredded Aged Cheddar." I never fail to get comments.

Lutz

2010-02-15T11:01:00.003-06:00

Lutz spruce is a tree that is the result of a naturally occurring hybrid between sitka and white spruce. Some believe that englemann is also a contributor to the hybrid. Most agree that it's sound compares to the best quality European spruce. It is very stiff, perfect for steel string guitars, and has a remarkable ping when tapped. Seriously, the tap tone is bell-like in quality, and it rings for a long time. I am very excited to have several sets of Lutz, equilibrating to the shop RH.

Here is a picture of my current project next to the stack of Lutz. Here I am shaping the braces for an OM with a bearclaw sitka spruce top thinned to 0.107 inches.

Open letter to a spammer

2010-01-27T16:14:00.015-06:00

From: Ruth Jamal
Sent: Wed, January 27, 2010 3:25:28 PM
Subject: Nice meeting you.

My Name is Ruth, am easy going and loyal. I am God fearing in nature. I'm faithful,honest and kindhearted. I came across your contact at http://www.bradley.edu. I will like to know more about you and also will love to be your friend if you don't mind. I have something very important to share with you. I hope to hear from you for more introduction soonest.

Dear Ruth,

I am impatient, insufferable, fiercely competitive and without religious-based morals. These attributes come to me easily because I am an unapologetic atheist and work for a pack of hyenas. Uh, huh.

Your coming across my contact at the cited website is a gross and unforgivable misappropriation of information given in good faith as an unpaid volunteer so that people with legitimate concerns regarding life and studies at Bradley University can contact me and enjoy the benefit of the modest number of experiences and impressions I have garnered from first attending that fine University and then having my eldest son attend there as well. I deeply resent your intrusion, which demonstrates your prima facie lack of integrity. Why would I respond to an email that so clearly comes from an idiot? I wonder which one of your two brain cells is supposed to be watching the other.

I do not want to get to know you or know any more about you than I already know, which, in short, is enough to conclude with a fair certainty that you are a lowdown scumbag and a liar with no more scruples than a piece of angle iron. A rusty, thrown-away piece of angle iron, meant for a toaster oven but rejected by routine QA tests because it was cut too short by an uncaring drop-out who has a problem measuring things with a ruler, but who nonetheless has completed several more years of education than yourself and who undoubtedly has lots more friends. You are as god-fearing as a piece of bark. I hope your hair falls out. Soon.

But, just for fun, let me guess. Your "very important" message likely concerns an inheritance from your late Uncle Ubunta Smith, a wealthy mineral barron in the Congo, who never exploited his workers, and who recently tragically died in a plane crash going to visit his sick mother after she contracted malaria while ministering to penniless dengue fever patients packed like cord wood in a village hospital in the deep bush without electricity, running water or chewing gum. No doubt you are too stupid to figure out how to get the alleged money out of the miserable country you call home and thus, you require a "partner," one with a bank account, the number of which is XXXXXX6449. To top it off, you will offer to give me a king's ransom of your gold and silver pieces for my friendship. Well, no thanks, really. My skin is peeling off in sheets the size of dinner platters at the very thought of being your friend.

I hope to never hear from you again, and in fact, I am counting on it, because I have updated my spam filter and any remonstrations from you or anyone like you will be shunted to a virtual trash can at the speed of light. Yes, now I feel better.

Good day, Ruth, or whatever your name is.

Your humble servant,
S-

Recordings

2009-11-23T14:24:00.003-06:00

I have an idea for making a sound recording of a Pepsi can after opening it and leaving it in my backyard overnight. One of those nice blue cans made of aluminum with the red, white and blue logo in a circle. I think I will orient the microphone at the side of the can with the "Nutrition Facts." No, no, strike that, it will a stereo recording. Oh, the can will have to be about half empty for best effect.

I am thinking that about 20 minutes of high-quality analog recording will capture the idea quite nicely.

Slow Nose

2009-11-16T14:24:00.002-06:00

Riding in the Chicago fall and winter is a challenge.

In these parts, (Illinois) we call that syndrome when your face becomes frozen by the cold, “slow nose,” because it is diagnosed by wrinkling up your nose and then counting the minutes it takes to slide, like frozen maple syrup, back into a normal position in proximity to your upper lip. When you realize you have no idea where it is on your face and not obviously in home position, it’s time to turn back.

I am not going to try to do any kind of all-encompassing treatment of cold weather riding, except to say that one thing is clear: it gets harder as one gets older, and I am not talking about my nose.

Excellence

2009-11-05T10:59:00.001-06:00

”Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” --Aristotle

New project completed - Newtonian Telescope

2009-05-19T20:05:00.006-05:00

Ross and I built a 6" reflector telescope during the Spring. It was a really fun project and it is amazing how much we can see from just our own backyard. The scope was made from a mirror given to us by a friend, Joe Sabin, from the OLF. The mirror is a f10, handmade by Joe many years ago. I got the spider on EBAY and the tube from a concrete construction supply place in Chicago. The tripod is from our neighbors, Charlie and Suzy. My Grandfather, Brooks, made one like this before I was born, grinding the mirror by hand. It makes me feel connected.

My Second Guitar is Done

2009-03-19T20:10:00.004-05:00

Bearclaw spruce top, myrtle sides and back, cocobolo rosewood bridge, headplate, fretboard, rosette, backstrip, end piece, pins and binding. Neck is mahogany, maple and Indian rosewood. Open back tuners chromed with a brass gear, and gold frets. The nut and saddle are bone.

The bridge

2009-02-21T19:16:00.005-06:00

This is the bridge I made today from cocobolo rosewood, a Dalbergia species that can be found growing in Mexico, for example. I broke a drill press, the quill now has a serious amount of runout, trying to mill the saddle slot and I had to buy a new drill press to complete the project. The new one is a 1 hp, 200 lb. monster. It is good to upgrade.

Anyway here is the bridge, with a saddle slot of 1/8 inch wide by 2 7/8 inches long. The pin spacing will be 2 5/16 inches. This turned out nice, I think, but is still not perfect.

Myrtle OM Update

2009-02-02T22:14:00.001-06:00

She is almost done. Fantastic finish by Joe White. I only need to attach the bridge and make a nut and saddle and string her up.

Evanston's West African Drum Circle

2009-01-31T09:31:00.012-06:00

Several of us drummers have been leading a riotous West African Drum Circle in Evanston for many years. We have been meeting at Pic-a-Cup for about 3 years. Here are some pictures.

Teber, our newest member and mentor.

Kelvin, a long time drummer and an inspiration to the rest of us.

Tony, the drum circle leader.

Nikolai, another one of the circle leaders.

Kevin, a new drummer and dun dun player, and a fast and enthusiastic learner.

Nikolai again.

Yours truly.

Tony.

Kelvin

A Box in Which to Put Things In

2009-01-16T19:23:00.002-06:00

A little project, Wenge and Cherry, French Polished. Fun Stuff.

17 Below Zero and Orchids are Blooming

2009-01-16T19:19:00.003-06:00

Check it out. On one of the coldest days in memory, -17 Fahrenheit, in Evanston, Karen's orchid is blooming in the kitchen. Thanks, Charlotte for the lovely Phalaenopsis.

The View from my Office December 22, 2008

2008-12-22T09:59:00.003-06:00

It is 2 degrees above zero, Fahrenheit.

Thanksgiving 2008 - Kentucky

2008-12-09T18:41:00.001-06:00

At Dad and Carolyn's

The Nielsen Table

2008-11-16T18:29:00.003-06:00

This table was done for our dear friends, Carol and Brian Nielsen. It is cherry with shedua slats. The finish is a hand rubbed oil and wax finish. From design to delivery, the Nielsen Table took about one year to complete.

Cabinet of Curiousities - The Review

2008-11-12T23:04:00.022-06:00

The Full Disclosure
I have known Bob Drake since 1973. I am honored to call Bob my oldest and dearest friend. We have been friends since the beginning of sophomore year in High School, played in bands together, traveled together, dreamed together and shared countless creative and fun moments. So, I am the last person that could claim to be an impartial reviewer of a recent incarnation of his band, "Cabinet of Curiosities." Too bad.

The Temptation
Based on our common love of the avante garde, the bizarre, the unknowable and just plain fun, &c &c, the temptation was to start this review reciting the litany of seriously unexplainable and silly things that happened during the concert I attended in Chicago, at the home of Michael Eisenberg, on October 11, 2008 with Bob's "Cabinet of Curiosities," such as, for example, the entrance of the band dressed in the odd multi-colored dinner jacket and other asundry recycled garb festooned in warm dinner rolls, descending none too elegantly down a winding flight of stairs while perched on bicycles and loudly chanting the non-word "Ipangula." I could start out that way. However, not only would it be a blatant lie, it would be too easy and besides the point, somehow.

The Opinion and Why It Matters
In the big picture, it doesn't. However, since I raised the question, it should be known that I have written and performed and loved music for 42 years, in all styles, mostly on guitar, but also on bass, drums and djembe. I also have done some synthesizer programming, most happily on a modular Moog, but also on more modern instruments. While many are more accomplished and talented than I, no person has a higher appreciation for music and loves music more. Thus, I am qualified.

The Point
Cabinet of Curiosities is a group of remarkable musicians assembled to recreate the music compositions of Bob Drake. The group comprises Bob Drake, Dave Kerman, David Campbell, and Jason DuMars. With only a few exceptions, Bob composes the music, writes the lyrics, performs all of the musical parts, records and engineers the albums, and is responsible for the CD artwork. The man is a wellspring of creativity. That the members of the band can actualize the intent of the original recordings, painstakingly composed, arranged, assembled and forged by Bob, is a testament to the band's incredible level of musicianship and creativity.

The Recordings
Without disgorging a history book full of trivia, and sounding like a lecturer, Bob's music has been, perhaps unfortunately, called "Prog Rock." If you have heard any of Bob's recordings, you should find yourself thinking that the term Prog Rock is too limiting. Interestingly, Progressive Rock has been said to include a vast number of subspecies, the sum total of which, while hinting in the right direction, still incompletely captures Bob's eclectic, far ranging, anything goes sound. The use of many different instruments, from banjos, to altered drum kits, to dime store guitars, to found objects and accidental sound captures, violins, old analog synthesizers, vintage archtops, and randomly wired stomp boxes points to the fact that Bob will use any technique, means, or source of sounds available to him, whether deliberately designed or fortuitously unintentional, and spanning the slavishly engineered to unconcernedly casual to achieve the sonic pallet that accomplishes the desired result. To enter the sonic, musical world of Bob Drake requires a suspension of reliance on familiar and comfortable musical touchstones. It requires the cultivation of some openness. The ample reward in so doing is agape.

The Result
The result is a lush, complex, layered, sometimes gritty, mostly humorous, masterpiece of composition and execution, that lights up a strange, eerily glowing and funny part of the universe where few ever dare to go, and in which Bob revels and rolls. Bob has been called an eccentric sound sculptor. This holds some truth. Despite numerous time changes, difficult harmonies and unorthodox chord passages, the music is not artificial or forced. I recall an experiment in a college composition course that involved tuning an electronic instrument so that there were 15 evenly spaced steps in a scale between octaves instead of the usual 12 half steps. After being exposed for a time to the unusual intervals between notes, one's mind became adapted to the atypical arrangements of the sounds. Bob's music is like that. It is so different from what you might be used to hearing that your mind changes some to accommodate and understand it. That is a good thing.

The Reason for Live Music
One of the important discoveries for any music lover, hopefully revealed early in one's musical education, is that live music is better than recordings. The reason is simple. More information is conveyed during a live performance, i.e., sonic information and visual information. Somehow, seeing the music performed, being able to watch the notes and sounds being coaxed from the instruments elicits a deeper understanding of the intent of the composition and the relationship of the various elements being generated by the musicians. This phenomenon is striking in observing the creation of Bob's music. Also, there is the benefit of hearing the instruments live without the interference of sound reproducing equipment, however good it might be. Certainly, one should buy the recordings. The complexity of the compositions, the creation of the sonic chalkboard on which the songs are painstakingly sketched requires careful listening to realize the full extent of the brilliance of the performances and composition. Above all, however, it is clear that this music must be experienced live. During live performance, the dry humor, the obvious love of strange places in which the songs are set, the clear elucidation of the strange, the mysterious, the altered mindscapes - it all comes through like the surprise shock of static electricity, thrilling and intense.

The Performance
Much impressed me during the night of October 11, 2008. The band cohesively performed a diverse arrangement of old and new songs, most of which were familiar to me, and all of which gave me a jolt of recognition in their immediacy. In fact, immediate is the best word I can think of to elicit the feeling of joy and spontaneity, and the clarity of the music performed. Each song contained humor and foreboding. My history with Bob helped me understand the references to the mysterious, and the dark corners of place and of mind, hauntingly full of gibbering and boneless ideas, and I wondered how others would view Bob's sometimes casual juxtaposition of humor and unspeakable horrors.

The Coda
Rising above all was the tremendous musicianship, the unorthodox tunings of the instruments to create the heretical chords, the fantastical and constant changes in tempo and time signatures, the dissident passages, sometimes clashing, sometimes heartrendingly beautiful. Each composition was a tiny gem. A musical web so complex, that unraveling the structure of it would take forever, yet each minute so elegantly crafted that one is struck instantly with its meaning and simultaneously suffused with wonder that it came from an organic being. I enjoyed the evening thoroughly and shuffled out of the building rejuvenated. Highly recommended.

A Hopeful Day - November 4, 2008 - A Prediction

2008-11-04T10:31:00.007-06:00

This is a picture of me, after voting for Senator Obama for President of the United States. I have never been prouder of my choice for President and never prouder of my country. Maybe I am still too idealistic in thinking that this time someone in power will take real action, make good choices, and earn back some trust in the political process. But we now have hope, where there was none before.

The Color 50

2008-10-13T15:11:00.014-05:00

Ok. Here goes. I just celebrated 50 years of age in September. Here is a picture of me with my boys, Brooks and Ross.

Gina and Val

Carolyn and John

Carolyn and Brooks

Karen and Sue, Rob and Brooks in the background

Val and me - Surprise!

Me and Gina

Karen and Susan

Susan and Russ - my brother Frank was not in any of the pictures, probably by design, he's so shy. I had the best time ever. Thanks a bunch everyone for the surprise and all of the fun.

The View from my Office October 9, 2008

2008-10-09T16:58:00.004-05:00

A clear day in Chicago looking south.

The Venerable and Delicious BLT

2008-10-07T19:23:00.036-05:00

Since I was a kid, I have sought out the BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato) wherever and whenever possible. Here is how I do mine at home, or in the field, when I am unable to procure a BLT by other, less labor-intensive, means.

As an initial matter, it is well established that most folks prefer the BLT on toast. Before we go any further, however, we must agree that burnt bread is an abomination to a person with a functioning olfactory system. Heed my warning, this is critical - if you must toast, do so lightly, you are going for texture, yes, and a nice nutty bouquet, but not something which will scrape the enamel from your teeth. Also, note that this is a double-decker. Anything less constitutes an unsuitable lack of intake for a living person. Most of the time, more is better.

Cook bacon. A well-seasoned iron skillet is preferred. I like bacon to be not too crispy. But I acknowledge and respect the need for a difference of opinion. You will see I am not so flexible elsewhere. You have to make your own call on the degree of bacon crispiness.

The tomato must be fresh, firm, juicy. Cut thick for maximum impact.

Choose lettuce according to your preference. Iceberg is fine, romaine is better. Again, use the crispy crunchy parts. This is a serious sandwich, with enough stuff and in such a state as to create the maximum sensory experience. Don't cheat yourself.

Cut the lettuce so that it hangs out of the sandwich. Being polite will get you nowhere when it comes to the essential nature of the BLT. The aim, on the off chance you haven't figured it out yet, is slobbery goodness.

Butter is great on lots of stuff. Not on a BLT. Mayonnaise is the only way to go. Again, don't be shy. Just know that you are gonna want to nap after this.

Assembly required. Neatness is contraindicated.

There you have it. Goes good with any beverage, preferably beer. Don't get fancy with the sides, because everything you need is in there.

Say no more.

Here is mine from tonight. With an olive! Thanks to Ross for the expert assistance in la cucina. Mangiare, my friends, and spread the love.

Little Baby Black Holes

2008-10-02T12:45:00.008-05:00

Just in case you were wondering, there is a website for people objecting to the operation of the Large Hadron Collider, believing that firing the thing up will initiate the end of the universe, or some such.

The head pot stirrer of the site is one Walter Wagner, who, according to an affidavit filed in the US District Court of Hawaii is: "a nuclear physicist with extensive training in the field. I obtained my undergraduate degree in 1972 at Berkeley, California in the biological sciences with a physics minor, and graduate degree in 1978 in Sacramento, California in law."

It appears, while Mr. Wagner is sometimes referred to as a doctor, that no graduate science degrees were completed. There is no evidence to the effect that a full physics degree was ever earned, other than that represented by the minor. He allegedly worked in the Nuclear Industry in some capacity and claims to have discovered some kind of new particle.

More: "Wagner is a lawyer and former physics lab technician. In 1975, he worked on a project that claimed to discover a magnetic monopole in cosmic ray data ("Evidence for the Detection of a Moving Magnetic Monopole", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 35, (1975)). That claim was later withdrawn in 1978 ("Further Measurements and Reassessment of the Magnetic Monopole Candidate", Physical Review D18: 1382-1421 (1978))"

The website is: www.LHCDefense.org
THE OFFICIAL SITE FOR CITIZENS AGAINST THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER

One of the problems with Mr. Wagner's injunction, which was thrown out by the court, was the incorrect assertion that a U.S. court had jurisdiction to stop operations of the Collider, which is located in Geneva, Switzerland. Oh, well.

Mr. Walter is now retired, but states he a Wikipedia science editor, and has involvement in some capacity in a botanical garden in Hawaii.

Cool.

It recalls an English paper that Michael Durka wrote in High School entitled, "When you drive a truck, you are a truck driver." Michael, as I recall, despite some fairly persuasive stuff, received an F.

New Guitar Build Almost Done

2008-09-25T13:16:00.016-05:00

These are some shots of my most recent guitar build. The guitar is an OM shape, 25.4" scale with a pyramid bridge. The top is bear claw spruce, the back and sides are figured myrtle, the neck is a mahogany/maple/indian rosewood/maple/mahogany 5 layer lamination. Laminated necks are stronger than one-piece necks. The head plate, fretboard, bridge, back strip, and bindings are all cocobolo rosewood. Should be done by December '08.

The back arched over the braces and fitted over the center reinforcing strip and the braces being shaped.

The braces shaped on the back.

The top, finished back and finished rim. Note the inlay of lacewood on the tailblock. Nobody will ever see that once the box is closed. It can be our little secret.

The top braces being glued in the go bar deck with a 25' radius dish positioned underneath the top to impart the arch to the top plate. The back is arched in much the same way, only it has a 16' radius.

The top braces all shaped and looking clean.

The assembled body in the white with binding in place and scraped.

The body and neck being fitted.

More progress pics later! Ciao

The View from my Office 9.24.08

2008-09-24T10:34:00.001-05:00

This is the view from my office window, looking south. Because of the haze today, Lake Michigan can't be seen on the left, but most days it can be.

Word of the Day

2008-09-23T13:38:00.003-05:00

Asymptote

Main Entry: as·ymp·tote

Pronunciation: \ˈa-səm(p)-ˌtōt\

Function: noun

Etymology: probably from New Latin *asymptotus, from Greek asymptōtos not meeting, from a- + sympiptein to meet — more at symptom
Date: 1656

: a straight line associated with a curve such that as a point moves along an infinite branch of the curve the distance from the point to the line approaches zero and the slope of the curve at the point approaches the slope of the line.

asymptote. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

Buttons and Zippers

2008-09-22T16:29:00.009-05:00

So, what is the evolutionary intermediary between buttons and zippers?

Hmmm???

Creationists frequently attempt to poke at the Theory of Evolution by citing examples which, at first glance, pose interesting problems (flagella illustrate one example of what has been called "irreducible complexity," and bats are an example of an order of organisms which lack known intermediates in the fossil record). During my last long bike ride, I kept thinking of buttons and zippers (no evolutionary intermediates). How divine.

Commission

2008-09-05T09:49:00.008-05:00

I wanted to share some good news. I have received a commission for a living room table with a unique feature. The table will be similar in form to a coffee table with the addition of a peripheral curb for receiving a person's feet, i.e., a footrest. The table will be made of hand-split, hand-tool-worked black cherry harvested from a farm in downstate Illinois once owned by Ulysses S. Grant and stored and air-dried for 20 years in a barn nearby that was a frequent overnight sleeping place for Abraham Lincoln when he was in town for business.

The curb will be fashioned from a hand-woven textile. The textile will be woven on a loom designed by myself and made by candlelight solely with 18th century hand tools, the same tools used in constructing the table proper, and while in authentic 18th century clothing. The candles will be made from beeswax harvested from hives on the property and melted in a solar oven. The same hand-made clothing, made from organic cotton, will be worn during the construction of the table. The clothing and loom will be destroyed upon completion of the project.

The textile will be 100% wool, hand shorn from only the head and neck region of Peruvian free-range alpacas, raised at 5000 meters elevation by indigenous peoples and fed only locally-gathered organic grains and raw eggs from a species of non-endangered, South American hummingbird. Only 100% natural dyes will be used in coloring the fabric, which will be hand washed in the river Lys in Belgium. Only three yards of this exclusive fabric will be made, and the pattern will be burned in a ceremony atop Mount Evans in Colorado the day after the fabric returns from Europe, delivered by pigeons which are direct descendants of the birds raised and crossed by Darwin himself in developing his seminal tome, On the Origin of Species (1859).

The finish will be 100% walnut oil pressed from walnuts harvested from old-growth Walnut trees at a nearby property owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by the Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club.

I am very excited and feel privileged and humbled to be chosen for this unique and inspiring project, which I estimate will start in about 2016 to be completed in about 2019.

Noodles and Cheese

2008-09-04T19:35:00.002-05:00

Here is my famous recipe for Noodles and Cheese (1 serving)

1 Cup elbow noodles
2 slices of american cheese
1 pad of butter
1 splash of whole milk
1 splash of beer

Salt water and bring to boil.
Add noodles and simmer until al dente.
Put noodles and water in a colander.
Add cheese, butter and milk to warm pot and add noodles.
Stir until creamy and add beer. Season and serve with fresh ground pepper.

Enjoy

Word of the Day

2008-09-03T12:33:00.002-05:00

Chatoyance or Chatoyancy

–adjective

1.	changing in luster or color: chatoyant silk.

2.	Jewelry. reflecting a single streak of light when cut in a cabochon.

–noun

3.	Jewelry. a cabochon-cut gemstone having this reflected streak, as a chrysoberyl cat's-eye.

[Origin: 1790–1800; chatoyer to change luster like a cat's eye, equiv. to chat cat¹ + -oy- v. suffix + -ant -ant]

chatoyance. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chatoyance (accessed: September 03, 2008).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatoyance

Some Pacific Northwest Pictures

2008-08-27T22:44:00.010-05:00

Chinatown in San Francisco

Brooks and Ross

Looking through the Redwoods in N. Cal.

Karen

Brooks

Ross

The Oregon Coast along Highway 101

The Oregon Coast along Highway 101

Olympic Rain Forest

Outside Kalaloch Lodge

Things to know (Part I)

2008-08-27T14:51:00.010-05:00

Do you know how to:

Adjust the valve clearance on a BMW boxer engine?
Build a bicycle wheel?
Tune a hand plane?
Repot an orchid?
Identify an organism with a key?
Make a vacuum tube?
Brew beer?
Prepare a meal for a person with Celiac disease?

First Post

2008-08-21T13:30:00.007-05:00

How very novel. I blog, therefore I am a blogger (with apologies to Mike Durka from my High School days) and my first post is called, "First Post." Well, I won't quit my day job...

This picture is from about 1978. I am in the back row, middle, more or less.