tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98376352024-03-07T18:31:56.792-06:00CycleDogCycleDog: (n) 1. An all-weather bicyclist, often regarded as one very sick puppy with a bad attitude. 2. A ankle-biting poodle with a Mohawk. (l)Canis
familiaris cyclusEd Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.comBlogger1314125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-62782856002399553392013-07-17T20:29:00.000-05:002013-07-17T20:29:10.393-05:00Arch-villain invades Owasso
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">An odd advertisement
popped up in the local paper. It was under the Help Wanted banner
looking for people to apply for jobs as "minions." Now,
times are tough and all, but who wants to be called a minion? Still,
the ad said there was excellent compensation, opportunities for
advancement, and a full benefit package. Out of simple curiosity, I
called.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"Hello? Who is
calling?" The man's voice was high pitched and crackling, with
an annoying fake German accent.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"I'm calling about
the ad you placed looking for minions," I began. "What
exactly does the job entail?"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"I need assistants to
help carry out my plan for world domination! First, we will subdue a
small town in Oklahoma for use as a....." He started coughing.
The voice sounded familiar even with the phony accent, but when he
managed to control the coughing, he began again in a normal voice.
"Sorry, that was just too hard on my vocal cords. I'm looking
for people who want to help me take over the world. I'm the evil Dr.
Wally Crankset."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"Wally!" I've
known him since we were kids. "Are you out of your mind?"
Rather than a mere rhetorical question, the matter of Wally's sanity
was a frequent topic of conversation along the bar at Larry's Cafe.
Larry said that Wally was "the dumbest smart guy I ever met!"
And yet Larry considered him a friend.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"What's the scheme
this time?" I despaired of Wally ever trying to accomplish
something through hard work, perseverance, and dogged attention to
detail. He claimed to be a 'big picture' guy who let others work out
the small stuff. Apparently this time it included minions.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Doing his best to sound
offended, Wally said, "There's no scheme. I'm really
going to take over the world and I'm going to start in a quiet
suburban town just outside of Tulsa. It's called Owasso. They don't
have a university, so I'll have to find other work. But it's a bigger
town than Broken Elbow and that fits into my plan perfectly."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"So there is a plan
this time." I was dubious. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"Actually, it's well
thought out and I didn't really have a hand in it. There's a group of
investors who want to divert attention away from some of their
business and real estate developments, so they've hired me as a sort
of lightning rod. There was another guy working here who had the
same role for quite a while, but a citizen's group finally managed to
oust him. I'm his replacement."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He had a point. That
small, noisy group had managed to send the city manager packing after
years of agitating. It was understandable that investors wouldn't
want to be bothered with them, so they hit on the 'evil' Dr. Crankset
as a solution. Angry, hostile people are easier to control when they
have an enemy to focus on, and when you toss a whopping dose of
"stupid" into the mix, control becomes essential. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">"I have it all worked
out," Wally said. "I'm building a secret laboratory under
the new Sams Club. It's perfect for a hidden lair, and I've even
launched my first nefarious plot to muddy the waters by muddying the
waters in a local neighborhood!" Wally chortled. He actually
chortled. It sounded like a chicken gargling a fifth of Jim Beam.
Suddenly the prospect of dinner didn't seem so appealing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">======================== </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">You didn't think Wally and I would go away forever, did you? </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-48554287610452689612012-12-20T09:00:00.001-06:002012-12-20T09:00:24.311-06:00The end is near!This will probably be my final post on CycleDog since the world is scheduled to end tomorrow. To the handful of people who read this, my humblest thanks. I'm planning to take some photos of the apocalypse, and as usual, I'll post them here. Or not.<br />
<br />
Actually, the world probably will survive long enough for me to return to work next week. I have to put in one full shift on Christmas Eve, then I'm on vacation until January 2. This morning, I have two doctors appointment, and after that I have to clear medical at work. It's going to be a busy day.Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-21225279880198973702012-12-16T14:04:00.001-06:002012-12-16T14:04:46.347-06:00Children have rights too.I posted this on a local forum yesterday:<br />
<br />
The NRA lost a lot of members over their support of so-called "cop
killer" bullets that were designed to penetrate bullet proof vests. I
left the organization over that. <br /><br />The writer pointed out that
even the NRA membership favors gun laws that would keep firearms out of
the hands of criminals and disturbed people. And yes, I know that
crafting laws that would do so is extremely difficult without trampling
the rights of legitimate gun owners. We've been down this road before.<br /><br />But
those kids in Connecticut had rights too. The NRA ignores them in
preference to gun owners and manufacturers. They're fond of the "shall
not be infringed" portion of the Second Amendment, yet they do not
challenge those portions of the 1932 gun control law or the 1968 gun
control law that put some sensible restrictions on gun ownership. If
they challenged them and lost, it would set a precedent for further
restrictions.<br /><br />Part of the function of our courts is to balance
one set of rights against another set. Where should the balance lie
when a child has the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness" when a gun owner's right to keep and bear arms "shall not be
infringed?"<br /><br />As I said previously in another thread, I have
nothing to offer that would preserve Second Amendment rights while
removing guns from the hands of criminals and crazies. I see no way to
find a compromise between the two. But I'm beginning to think that the
Second Amendment is an obstacle in the way of life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. <br />
<br />
.............<br />
<br />
Today, I see on Google News that a GOP congresscritter says the problem is that there aren't enough guns, not that there are too many. A man in Indiana threatened a local school. Someone made a bomb threat against a church in Newtown, Connecticut. Locally, a kid in Bartlesville was arrested for planning to kill his classmates. And there's the usual Saturday night mayhem, including Tulsa's 45th homicide of the year. <br />
<br />
I enjoy shooting, and until my bird dog died many years ago, I enjoyed hunting. Bullseye shooting requires just two things: sight alignment and trigger control. Oh, and perhaps one other thing - a tight focus on the task at hand to the exclusion of all else. There's a blissful state of awareness that is all too brief before concentration goes away and coordination goes with it. For those few minutes, the bills, the mortgage, the troubles on the job simply do not matter.<br />
<br />
I'm a lawful gun owner. I was licensed to carry a concealed weapon at one time, and believe me, that revolver felt very heavy in my pocket. No cowboy wild west bullshit for me. I backed down from confrontation on more than one occasion. Like I said, the revolver carried a heavy load of responsibility. <br />
<br />
So I can honestly say that I'm at a loss over how to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and crazies without imposing some restrictions on gun owners and gun manufacturers. I can't offer any new ideas, but I think it's past time that our government sat down with the NRA, the manufacturers, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to find a way out of this morass. <br />
<br />
We're supposed to be a civilized country, yet we have an ever-increasing body count. We deserve better. Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-26479104346500328372012-12-10T10:06:00.003-06:002012-12-10T10:06:39.081-06:00Good news!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3rLNSi2-7UH5IaieK0oxdeAet2oYrznMD5-BU0ZgcMM7pNtf525PCeL467tyfQfe1IQt6zPqrM_Yo6jSzTUHBaNICgVs-E3LU7a0WsjWhSndy896yWOD-fsFOBkoCrK7kpTV/s1600/IMG_3062+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3rLNSi2-7UH5IaieK0oxdeAet2oYrznMD5-BU0ZgcMM7pNtf525PCeL467tyfQfe1IQt6zPqrM_Yo6jSzTUHBaNICgVs-E3LU7a0WsjWhSndy896yWOD-fsFOBkoCrK7kpTV/s320/IMG_3062+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Catoosa's iconic Blue Whale along historic Route 66</div>
<br />
<br />
First, this post contains <u>nothing</u> about prostate surgery, so don't run away and hide!<br />
<br />
I've been bored sitting here on the couch. A man can watch only so much daytime television, after all, and it's not possible to nap through the entire day. I know. I tried. <br />
<br />
The upside is that I'ver watched some wonderful old movies, including Casablanca, which never fails to bring a tear to my eyes. Yes, I've been known to cry at old movies. <br />
<br />
But I've been writing some too, and as a result of that a plum fell into my lap. Months ago, I contacted the editor and publisher of a local magazine about doing some writing for them. Nothing came of it until last week when I wrote to the editor again about some biking information related to Route 66. Within a few hours she wrote back asking for a column on it and offered a subscription in return. OK, that's not great pay, but it was a foot in the door. I did about 500 words and supplied some photos. Now she wants a monthly column on bicycling in Tulsa, and better still, it pays!<br />
<br />
Given the number of bicycling titles I've done here on CycleDog, the Examiner, and Wheel Issues, I shouldn't be at a loss for ideas. And then there's my (ahem) slight tendency toward being talkative too. Very slight. <br />
<br />
I will need to get more stock photos of cyclists around Tulsa, and especially any cyclists on one of the old Route 66 alignments. I'm grinning in anticipation!Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-56038949017015488722012-12-06T19:03:00.002-06:002012-12-06T19:03:21.818-06:00I'm a 198 pound weakling!That's the good news. I haven't been under 200 pounds for more than 20 years. I wouldn't recommend surgery as a weight loss method, of course, but I simply haven't had much appetite. <br />
<br />
Okay, here's a quick update.<br />
<br />
As it turned out, menstrual pads were insufficient to keep up with my leaky waterworks. I managed to get through Monday afternoon, but it was unpleasant. Mary and Lyndsay went out for groceries, and I asked them to find some Depends in my size.<br />
<br />
These things are horrible. They itch. Still, they're better than that damned catheter. Dr. Milsten's assistant, Paula, called on Tuesday to see how I was doing. She pointed out that I had a big tube in place for a week, and it takes the body some time to adjust to the changes. <br />
<br />
She was right. The constant drip, drip, drip has been replaced by 'oops' moments, mainly when my abdominal muscles tighten suddenly. This happens when I stand up quickly, cough, or laugh. <br />
<br />
I've been passing some blood in my urine too, which was worrisome until I talked with Paula earlier today. She said it's normal when the lower abdomen is under stress, like when coughing a lot or having a bowel movement. <br />
<br />
Progress is apparent but slow. It gives me incentive to stay at those Kegel exercises.Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-23311667667799110712012-12-03T11:50:00.000-06:002012-12-03T11:50:44.189-06:00One week after surgery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://depletedcranium.com/smilngjail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://depletedcranium.com/smilngjail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
I never expected to be sharing these with my daughter," I said, dubiously eyeing the packet of menstrual pads. I'd just returned from the doctor's office after he removed the catheter. I was thoroughly sick of the thing. Wearing pads to deal with minor leaks is definitely better. <br /><br />It was a long week. The pain ebbed rapidly, and the only difficulty I had was in getting up and down or coughing. For the first couple of days, I slept only on my back as rolling onto either side was painful. That improved quickly and I slept better, though the catheter tethered me to one side of the bed.<br /><br />Frankly, I was concerned that removing the catheter would hurt. Dr. Milsten told me to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. While I was thus occupied, he slipped the catheter out painlessly. <br /><br />So far this morning, I've discovered that both bending and coughing produce leaks. When my abdominal muscles tighten, my bladder leaks, so it would probably be a good idea to avoid belly laughs. (Note to self: Don't write anything funny this week!)<br /><br />Duchess the Wonder Dog is snoozing right next to the couch as I write this. I'll make lunch, and then the two of us will go out for a walk. She'll like that. So will I. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://depletedcranium.com/smilngjail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://depletedcranium.com/smilngjail.jpg" /></a><br />Tomorrow I start<a href="http://men.webmd.com/kegel-exercises-treating-male-urinary-incontinence" target="_blank"> Kegel exercises</a> to strengthen my sphincter muscles and get better control. Besides helping with incontinence, they're supposed to help with hemorroids and increase blood flow to the penis, the latter a "major element in penis enlargement." If I'd only known! I'm a middle-aged white guy so I need all the help I can get! Maybe I can join old Smiling Bob in those <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte" target="_blank">Enzyte</a> commercials, assuming he managed to stay out of jail, of course.<br /><br /> Upcoming events: In three weeks, I'll be tested for PSA again. That will continue for five years. Also, Dr. Milsten gave me a return-to-work date of December 24th. Merry Christmas, grumble, grumble. I'm expecting to take vacation time (one of the perks of being an old fart is <u>lots</u> of vacation time!) so I'll go back to work in January.Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-18988968155193481522012-11-28T17:54:00.001-06:002012-11-28T17:54:45.577-06:00Home from the hospital
My purpose in writing about my prostate cancer is to encourage men
to get tested. The PSA test caught mine very early, and
despite it's moderately aggressive nature, I'm probably 100% cured.
If anyone you know has to go through this, please don't hesitate to
recommend me as a resource. The truly scary part is not knowing what
to expect.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
On a local web forum, one of the frequent posters said that he had
to renew his blood pressure meds just as I had, and his doctor
requires a checkup. The problem lies in the fact that he doesn't have
insurance. I checked on the county health department web site, and
while they offer some blood tests for free or reduced costs, they
apparently don't do PSA screening. If anyone knows of a
no-cost/low-cost PSA test service, please let me know about it.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
I had surgery on Monday and came home yesterday. I snoozed on the couch most of the afternoon. It's kind of
nice to wander around the house in a bathrobe, PJs, and slippers all
day.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
The pre-operative preparation was a chore. I couldn't have any
solid food on Sunday, not even a glass of milk, so I was a cranky old
man. Thankfully, the surgery was scheduled at 7AM. The anesthetic
killed my appetite, so I wasn't really hungry Monday afternoon
and evening. Lyndsay and Mary ordered cheeseburgers from the dietary
department, something they actually encourage at the hospital, and
they were very good. Oklahoma Surgical Hospital is plush!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
The surgery went well. The after effects mostly involve some
abdominal pain and what feels like gas pain, but is more likely
bladder spasms. Part of it was removed, and since the bladder is a
muscle, it's letting me know. I'll have a catheter until Monday and
by then there's no doubt I'll be thoroughly sick of the thing.
Normally I sleep on one side or the other, but with the catheter and
bag I can sleep only on my back or – with difficulty – my left
side.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
It's almost impossible to get a good nights sleep in a hospital,
and this one was no exception. I probably didn't sleep longer than an
hour at a time. Since I was awake so often, I developed a nearly
obsessive fascination with the breakfast menu. I hadn't had solid
food since Saturday, so the prospect of breakfast was very appealing.
Still, I behaved myself, limiting it to a blueberry muffin, a banana,
orange juice, and the obligatory coffee. Dietary opened at 7AM. I
called at 7:01.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Late night television is truly weird. Besides the noise of chat
shows, reruns, and news, I found a Spanish language infomercial that
went on for at least an hour touting a penis enlargement device. The
ad featured a bevy of women smiling hugely. <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Last night I had cling peaches for dinner and a granola bar for
breakfast early today. I made some oatmeal around mid-morning. The
post-surgery instructions advise against getting constipated, and
believe me, if simple coughing hurts this much I don't want to think
about straining.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
As I write this, it's late afternoon on Wednesday. Duchess the
Wonder Dog stares at me longingly, wagging her tail in the hope that
I'll take her for a walk. It's not to be. Maybe we can get back to
our regular routine next week, though she won't be going to the park
because I'm not allowed to drive for two weeks. Still, I'm seeing
rapid improvement. I had great difficulty getting up and down
yesterday, and walking upright was painful. Today, I'm still feeling
it when I get up and down, but straightening up is much easier. I
don't bend easily, though, and reaching the floor is nearly
impossible. Putting a bowl of cat food down for Tiggr required some
ingenuity and an old Sierra cup.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-46945419006410390132012-11-22T07:56:00.001-06:002012-11-22T07:58:17.856-06:00Inspected, detected, neglected, and selected<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9ot7r3bTC-MTQNtn6KIqdEi6-up1NhZX-43H0K47MlT9k3Mo_aAwkxnMXeuLOsRKSTVEOFA_Ijv_zlNSQYCLfZ0VOc6feQLJTvSKlk87vTWgw8uzho0fYhZeUk5WfY34hI76/s1600/NOV+16+2012_EJWagner_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9ot7r3bTC-MTQNtn6KIqdEi6-up1NhZX-43H0K47MlT9k3Mo_aAwkxnMXeuLOsRKSTVEOFA_Ijv_zlNSQYCLfZ0VOc6feQLJTvSKlk87vTWgw8uzho0fYhZeUk5WfY34hI76/s320/NOV+16+2012_EJWagner_006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
20NOV2012<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
On Friday morning, I had another ultrasound with Dr. Milsten. He
said the estimated size of my prostate given by Dr. Miller was very
close. Milsten measured it at 71mm while Miller said 70. He's ready
for surgery on Monday.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
In the afternoon I went to the Oklahoma Surgery Hospital to be
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m57gzA2JCcM" target="_blank">“inspected, detected, neglected, and selected”</a> in the words of
Arlo Guthrie. I was poked and prodded, filled out reams of paperwork,
and chatted up every nurse in sight. Yeah, I'm gonna be one of those
old guys who talks to every young woman within ear shot. But they
took my blood and a chest x-ray, and after a while they let me go
home.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Let me tell you about the hospital, though. For those unacquainted
with Tulsa and ORU, the campus is truly a sight to behold. If you
have even a modicum of taste, it's just not a <u>good</u> sight to behold.
The architecture is comparable to something found on the cover of a
pulp science fiction novel from the 1950s. I'll be charitable and
only call it garish. I wanted to throw in lurid, too, but it's a
Christian university and they don't do lurid. They're big on
authoritarianism, though, as they have a policy that forbids single
students from living off campus, they can't drink, and they not
allowed to dance – ever. Why do to college, then? The place has a
real Stepford Wives feel.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
I'll try to go down there this coming weekend and get some photos.
Or at least I'll take photos until the campus security folks get an
alert from their Unbeliever Detector. Honestly, if this is Oral's
vision of heaven, I don't wanna go. My personal vision of the
hereafter is more on the order of a cathedral-like grove of trees.
The virgin timber at Heart's Content wilderness area in Pennsylvania
comes to mind as does the Great Smokey Mountain National Forest or
the Grand Tetons – the latter named by some love-starved Frenchmen.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
21NOV2012<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
One of my co-workers returned to work today. S had prostate
surgery five weeks ago. Naturally, I had questions. I asked about the
surgical drain and catheter. He said the drain was removed the day
after surgery, but the incision hurt for a time. The catheter was
another story. It made his bladder feel as if it was always full. It
was in for a week, but when Dr. Milsten removed it, S had problems
urinating. He fell asleep as soon as he got home, and that was a
mistake. He should have had his wife wake him every hour so he could
go to the bathroom.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
He told me about Kegel exercises as a means of preventing leaks. I
read about it earlier. Many prostate patients have bladder problems
if they try to lift something heavy, experience pressure on the
abdomen, or even laugh heartily. It's one of my concerns, of course,
but at this point I'm simply looking forward to getting this done.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
In yet another example of bureaucratic idiocy, S was called to the
administration building for fingerprinting since he's been off work
for a month. He has 25 years of seniority here and only now they want
finger prints? To make it even more ludicrous, he's retiring next
week.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
I took photos at work today, concentrating on those co-workers who
will be retiring. They'll be gone before I get back to work. For
those few who read this, the photos will be in a private album on my
Google+ page, and I'll see that Richard and Nick have the URL.
Without it, you cannot see the photos or the album.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-54663159008216811732012-11-05T18:49:00.000-06:002012-11-05T18:49:36.907-06:00I've had a lot on my mind..."All twelve samples are positive for prostate cancer." Dr. Miller was matter-of-fact and calm. He'd done this many times.<br /><br />I was remarkably calm too...for the moment. Unlike the movies, there had been no ominous music building in the background as Dr. Miller entered the room. In an odd way, finally knowing that I had cancer was a relief. The doubt that began back in August was finally resolved. It was a problem that could be overcome. The doctors caught it very early, so there's an excellent chance of a full recovery.<br /><br />Let's start at the beginning.<br />
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<b>September.</b><br /><br />When I visited my doctor for a checkup back in August, blood tests indicated that my PSA was over 4. Normal should be under 2. He scheduled me for a meeting with a urologist, Dr. Miller, who did another exam and more thorough blood work.<br /><br />
My PSA increased more than a point in one month. It's now over 5. When the nurse called with the results, she immediately scheduled a prostate biopsy. In the meantime, I'm not supposed to have any aspirin or other blood thinner. I have to report an hour early for the biopsy so they can give me an antibiotic, and of course, I have to use a fleet enema to clear the way.<br /><br />Fun, fun.<br /><br />Sure, there's a slim chance that I can develop a serious cancer or a complication from the procedure. That's a remote possibility, but one that exists nonetheless. I'm a little nervous about this.<br /><br /><b>17OCT2012</b><br /><br />I had the biopsy on Tuesday last week. On Monday, Dr. Miller told me that 12 of 12 samples were positive for prostate cancer. I've been reading more about it since then, and I've learned that by the time we reach 80, half of all men will have it. That's a 50/50 chance over a lifetime. Even so, most men will die of something else before the cancer gets them. When it's detected early, the success rate is nearly 100%. <br /><br />Treatment options include: surgery, chemotherapy, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation, and surveillance. Each treatment has several approaches, so treatment can be tailored to the individual depending on his age, general heath, and type of cancer. I'm presently reading the National Cancer Institute's "Treatment Choices for Men with Early-Stage Prostate Cancer" (NIH pub. no. 11-4659) and it's riveting stuff...if you're an insomniac. It's informative, though, and some of the material could be fodder for immature and slightly off-color satire. Not that I'd yield to that nefarious temptation, of course. Not me.<br /><br />Here's something weird, though. Some of the people around me have been far more freaked out over this diagnosis than I am. Honestly, Monday afternoon I walked around thinking, "I have cancer." But there was almost no emotional impact to that thought. I didn't get depressed or angry. It was like being told that a bad tooth would have to be extracted. It's just something to get through. <br /><br />A few people reacted as if I were about to keel over any minute. Maybe that comes from seeing others decline and die of cancer, or maybe it comes from a simple lack of knowledge. Then there's fear of the unknown. Put them all together and you get shocked people. As I already know a couple of men who have been through treatment or are entering it, I asked questions and read about it, knowing that by acquiring information I can overcome my own fear.<br /><br />On Friday, I see Dr. Miller to discuss treatment. I'll try very hard to keep from telling him my fears of radiation therapy leading to a 50 foot penis attacking Tokyo. He's probably already considered it.<br /><br />(I resisted for nearly three paragraphs! That's a really long time!) <br /><br /><b>22OCT2012</b><br /><br />We saw Dr. Miller on Friday, and by "we" I mean Mary, Lyndsay, and me. Jordan wanted to go along too, but found his pillow far more attractive. <br /><br />At the office, we were ushered into a conference room where Dr. Miller explained the various treatment options. My Gleason score is a six, or as I understand it, a slightly aggressive form of cancer that can be treated in a number of ways. They include: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or simply "watchful waiting." Dr. Miller did not recommend the latter. Several surgical options are available, but the most promising from my point of view is the laproscopic robot surgery. The other option I'm considering is radioactive seeding. Right now, I'm leaning more toward surgery because the radiation technique may allow the cancer to recur in 10 years or so. I don't want to be 70 years old and facing surgery. <br /><br />Besides having a 50 foot tall penis, the radioactive approach might cause fogging on my photographic film. I hate that. I'll probably have to do a couple of glow-in-the-dark jokes too.<br /><br /><br /><b>24OCT2012</b><br /><br />Mary and Lyndsay talked to me about the possible treatments. Both were thinking that removing my prostate would be the best course, an option that I had already decided was best. I called Dr. Miller's office today, telling his nurse that I wanted to do the laparoscopic surgery. "Dr. Miller doesn't perform those", she said, "so I'll set up an appointment with Dr. Milsten." Indeed, Dr. Miller told us on Friday that he did the traditional surgery, not laparoscopy, so this was not a problem. I'm seeing Dr. Milsten on November first at 11 AM. <br /> <br /><b>1NOV2012</b><br /><br />Lyndsay accompanied me to meet Dr. Milsten. He's younger than Dr. Miller, and at one point, said that he didn't do prostate surgery the "old-fashioned" way. I can't decide if that was a dig or not. But he was focused and professional, probably from doing this spiel hundreds of times. He said my prostate would be removed intact so the pathologist can study it. I had the impression that finding widespread cancer cells in a prostate that hadn't started to enlarge was slightly unusual. <br /><br />He asked what I thought of the process so far, so I told him of my initial trepidation and how it was alleviated by experience and more knowledge. I told him of my reasoning at reaching the decision to go the surgical route. Radiation therapy may work, but if it doesn't, a later surgery is less effective, and in the case of radioactive seeding, it's simply not possible. I don't want to be another 10 years older and facing surgery.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I'll have another ultrasound so Dr. Milsten can plan his surgery, and sometime before the 26th, I'll have a meeting at the hospital, probably with the anesthesiologist. I have a set of instructions to follow prior to surgery. Mary and Lyndsay will be eagle-eyed seeing that I stick to it.<br /><br />Here are the next steps. On November 16th, Dr. Milsten will do another ultrasound to map out the position of my prostate. The surgery is scheduled for November 26th. I can have only clear fluids the day before the surgery, and I'm NPO after midnight. All blood thinners are forbidden 14 days prior, and that includes aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamins and supplements.<br /><br />Now for the icky stuff, and I forgive you if you want to skip this paragraph. Dr. Milsten said the outcomes are very good given my present good health and the progress of this cancer. He said that there's a chance it can recur anyway if they miss any of the cells, but that radiation is a fall back position if that happens. There's one aspect that is problematic. In order to preserve erectile function, the usual approach is to peel back the nerves surrounding the prostate, yet that also may allow some cancer cells to remain. Removing the nerves entirely is the nuclear option. Eliminating the nerves greatly reduces the chance of recurrence. This will require some careful thought. Mr. Happy and I have been together for a very long time. The other concern is incontinence. Eighty percent of all prostate surgery patients recover without problems. Most of the other 20% have occasional problems, like if they strain to lift something, laugh, or sneeze, they may experience some leakage. In a very small percentage, that problem is far worse if sphincter control is lost. That's mainly a problem with the open prostate removal, or, as Dr. Milsten said, the "old fashioned" way. Still, the surgery is preferable to radiation because the side effects of radiation therapy can include ED, incontinence, and loss of bowel control. I don't want to go there.<br /><br /><br /><br />Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-20695307147183686582012-10-14T11:58:00.003-05:002012-10-14T11:59:18.920-05:00A good storyOur children can be surprising sometimes. I mean that in a good way, not as in "Dad, can you meet me at the emergency room?" No, they surprise us by bringing up some long-fogotten lesson, and in this case, the lesson originated with others, not me and Mary.<br />
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Jordan works for Valor Security. He was hired back in the summer, and since the job involves providing security for Woodland Hills Mall, he's been relatively happy. It has most of what he enjoys, food and lots of girls. I've offered to pack him a lunch and he always declines. The girls at the food court feed him for free. It helps that he's a fit and handsome young man, but I'll freely admit that he got the looks from his mother.<br />
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Valor has foot patrols and a Segway inside the mall. They use small SUVs for patrolling the parking lot. There were two disused mountain bikes in storage, though, and one day last week, Jordan was assigned to use one for his outside patrol.<br />
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The kid lit up. He was issued a new uniform: a helmet, cargo pants, and a polo shirt, a huge improvement over his regular uniform as it's much more comfortable. He was checking out the bike - a Smith and Wesson police model - when his supervisor walked in.<br />
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She wanted to know what he was doing, so he explained his assignment. Then she asked what qualifications he had to use the bike. "I took Road1 with my Dad", he said, "and I still have the certificate somewhere. I'm doing the ABC Quick check, and after I'm done, I'll pump up the tires and put some chain lube on this bike. I rode BMX for a couple of years too, and that's similar to riding a mountain bike."<br />
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She was satisfied and left. He wheeled the bike out and spent the next 8 hours riding around at the mall. After his shift, he complained about sore leg muscles, but he'll gladly take the bike patrol again.<br />
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So we had an impact on this young man, an impact that he did not forget. Sure, as a parent, I'm tremendously proud of him, but each of you who taught bicycling education and continue teaching cannot foresee the effects you have on students. <br />
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<br />Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-49803627690367617012012-09-25T21:18:00.000-05:002012-09-25T21:19:18.678-05:00Vintage rangefinder cameras: A user's view<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Mama, don't take my Kodachrome (a lovely screen
name, by the way) left this comment on the “Olympus Auto Eye”
post:</i></div>
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<i>Wow, funny thing finding your Blog while searching Google for
Olympus Auto Eye. I too live here in Tulsa, and just bought one
yesterday while working in Dallas. I found it on Craigslist for $10.
It appears to be in almost mint condition, complete with cap, case,
strap, manual, and flash bracket. The meter is about one stop off,
but that is easy to fix by just setting the ASA to half of the film
rating. Hoping to run a roll through this weekend. It's a lovely,
solid, and clever camera.</i><br />
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<i>I'd love to see your Auto Eye images, as they wont load on this
page. Do you have a Flickr account or other photo hosting site?</i><br />
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This is a brief summary of what I've
learned from tinkering with vintage rangefinder cameras. There's no
attempt at scientific method, just my subjective opinions, so take it
with a grain of salt.
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I've included a sample photo taken with each camera listed. More
are available on my <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/114874700548780474647/albums/5791467579064697713" target="_blank">Google+ page</a>. They're small, low resolution
images, but if there's one you particularly like, contact me for a
high-res version. Also, you should know that most of these photos
have had some minor editing in Zoner Photo Studio. I almost always
adjust the levels and the gray point, add some color saturation and
contrast, and sharpen them slightly. This works well for nearly any
photo, including digital ones. When I have lots to do, like after
photographing a bike race, for instance, the batch editing tool is my
very best friend.<br />
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Here's my usual process for evaluating and buying old cameras –
whatever the type. It's a given that old cameras will have gummy,
rotting seals, so it's also a given that they'll need to be replaced.
On SLRs, this includes the bumper that the mirror contacts as it
flips up. If you decide to replace this yourself, take pains to avoid
dropping any of the gummy pieces on the mirror or inside the camera.
Trust me, they're a PITA to clean up.<br />
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Most door seals are foam strips that measure 2mm by 2mm in
cross-section. I cut them from sheets of foam that have an adhesive
backing on one side. After removing the old seals with a sharpened
chopstick and cleaning the channels with alcohol, I carefully set the
new seal in place, using a small tool to push it down.<br />
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I open the camera and watch the aperture leaves and shutter for
proper operation. I'm not overly concerned with the shutter
calibration as it's common for the slow speeds to be off. Just cock
the winding lever and fire the shutter. Go through the whole range of
speeds and apertures. In an SLR, the aperture blades should stop down
consistently and shouldn't be slow or sticky.<br />
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The deal breakers are: broken or missing parts, inoperative
mechanisms, lens fungus, and corrosion. Parts for old cameras can be
difficult to find unless you have a second, donor camera. An
inoperatve shutter, broken rangefinder, or stuck wind lever can be
fixed – often at a price that exceeds what the camera is worth
unless it's a high end model such as a Leica. And if you have a
Leica, you shouldn't be working on it yourself. Some cameras require
a working battery in order to fire the shutter. More on them in a
moment.<br />
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Corrosion is the big deal killer. Old
batteries leak acid with devastating results. If the battery
compartment will not open, there's an excellent chance the cover is
corroded in place. Give it a pass. Acid can wick along the internal
wiring, reaching parts that are far from the battery compartment.
Corroded cameras are good for parts, but that's about all. I'll spend
five bucks for a non-working camera, perhaps ten if I really need it,
but no more.</div>
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My favorite rangefinder camera is the
Yashica Electro 35GT. Yashica allegedly made more than 8 million of
these cameras, perhaps making them the Norway rat of photography.
This is my “go to” camera for many situations. It's quiet and
unobtrusive, but the truly outstanding part is that lens. The camera
has numerous flaws, but make no mistake, the lens is superb and the
photos are crisp.</div>
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Here's what I've learned about individual cameras:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGk4_GTR_qoAm7HOlBT5zNYkv3JHrABX4261yEdI7tCazeaTVnzRyf7m7MRDJre43B17IcqB-57qX5kgT2VDoYS-qN-Z6-PvEooi8zfR-LtMqoAKiViewPRdeZe6nSezkPoeIN/s1600/02230011_crop_tn.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGk4_GTR_qoAm7HOlBT5zNYkv3JHrABX4261yEdI7tCazeaTVnzRyf7m7MRDJre43B17IcqB-57qX5kgT2VDoYS-qN-Z6-PvEooi8zfR-LtMqoAKiViewPRdeZe6nSezkPoeIN/s400/02230011_crop_tn.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b>Olympus Auto Eye</b><br />
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This is a shutter-priority camera. You set the shutter speed and
it picks the aperture. I was impressed by the build quality of this
one. It simply feels solid in the hand and the controls have a
precision appearance. The shutter release is a long shaft. Push it
halfway while looking through the viewfinder, and you can watch the
aperture wheel spin in the bottom of the rangefinder window. There's
no battery. Instead, the camera uses a photocell that supplies the
necessary voltage for the exposure.<br />
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That photocell is a problem. When exposed to light over a long
period, it will deteriorate, and since the camera needs it to
operate, a blown photocell leads to an inoperative camera. It doesn't
have any manual settings. The photocell can be replaced, however, and
with a little digging I can probably find the web page with the
instructions. Fortunately, mine seems to be working OK. When not in
use, I store it in a dark place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggICFSPT8F0f2jp_8x1gJAV-p56f1JcES8PcmSrGaoQiB6ZLVpiylDzK89pvP2xT6h2JrC267UGJ5Z-qyGbQxGKLB96EsFWMZv7F6QbTGAZm_Tct2iW0elHglLldmNahz5mubz/s1600/00200005_tn.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggICFSPT8F0f2jp_8x1gJAV-p56f1JcES8PcmSrGaoQiB6ZLVpiylDzK89pvP2xT6h2JrC267UGJ5Z-qyGbQxGKLB96EsFWMZv7F6QbTGAZm_Tct2iW0elHglLldmNahz5mubz/s320/00200005_tn.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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<b>Olympus XA and XA2</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-iu1KeYE3hGM8vSwYaVpPPwKQLQbDrzmeWCil_hu6xP3JYkKAKUHOMQ0gP13aQ2qiJE6vdnVtOlOg47jLzaiMCcC7s1ADTdJggXI5-gzfbllFiqPVzqpSyHDov6vPnuZdnFE/s1600/00220003.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-iu1KeYE3hGM8vSwYaVpPPwKQLQbDrzmeWCil_hu6xP3JYkKAKUHOMQ0gP13aQ2qiJE6vdnVtOlOg47jLzaiMCcC7s1ADTdJggXI5-gzfbllFiqPVzqpSyHDov6vPnuZdnFE/s320/00220003.JPG" width="320" /></a> <span id="goog_1977820302"></span><span id="goog_1977820303"></span><br />
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These two little cameras – and by little I mean possibly the
smallest 35mm rangefinders in existence – share the same basic body
but have some major differences. The XA is a true rangefinder with a
split image focusing mechanism. The XA2 is a zone focus camera. In
use it hardly matters because the 35mm lens is a semi-wide angle with
great depth of field. Someone said that the XA tends to vignette
while the XA2 doesn't, but I never noticed it.<br />
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I gave the XA2 to a friend who'd had one back in the day, and I'm
sure she'll cherish it. I still have 2 Xas, but someone who looks
remarkably like me fumbled both of them. The crashes resulted in one
inoperative rangefinder and another broken exposure mechanism.
Perhaps I can graft the parts together to make one working camera,
but it's not high on my priority list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQRPPdTEl11Bq1pSbtjgKBXliVXBjMpkj8Daupkhatghcrx7ICGTa-IrQeaZytj60mkeLkXn-92b8NnFOUKo_lNqvTyLA6EAnCUYU465TkGSTk_jxWAhyAc3QJaJJqyI7wIvk/s1600/00250002_tn.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQRPPdTEl11Bq1pSbtjgKBXliVXBjMpkj8Daupkhatghcrx7ICGTa-IrQeaZytj60mkeLkXn-92b8NnFOUKo_lNqvTyLA6EAnCUYU465TkGSTk_jxWAhyAc3QJaJJqyI7wIvk/s320/00250002_tn.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<b>Canon Canonet GIII QL17</b><br />
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This camera has a cult following, but in all honesty I don't
understand why. Sure, it's another solidly built camera like the
Olympus Auto Eye and probably has a better lens. It's ten years
younger too, so that's undoubtedly a factor. But I'm underwhelmed
with the photos.<br />
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This Canonet operates in both manual and shutter-priority modes.
It has a big, easy to use rangefinder that appeals to those of us
with eyeglasses. And despite being dropped a few times – a common
theme for me – it continues working. Like some other old cameras,
it was originally equipped with a 1.3 volt mercury cell. Replacement
alkaline batteries are 1.5 volts, so the ASA dial has to be offset to
compensate by about 1/2 stop. With 400 speed film, that means I set
the dial at 320.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9ILUUBql1IKgmNtbnT7jGvwJ8n5DWx0hLtIILs4Ku6e1Im10zTeY10CudBzbzX0Z5JaBhR43s_T9nPrCT68E06e1atT8cIiwFtl1578hPB3ubdmzfLPUOqsOUVeYGeqxZ-0e/s1600/apr+11+2011_ejwagner_013.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9ILUUBql1IKgmNtbnT7jGvwJ8n5DWx0hLtIILs4Ku6e1Im10zTeY10CudBzbzX0Z5JaBhR43s_T9nPrCT68E06e1atT8cIiwFtl1578hPB3ubdmzfLPUOqsOUVeYGeqxZ-0e/s320/apr+11+2011_ejwagner_013.jpg" width="218" /></a>
</div>
apr 11 2011_ejwagner_013<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b>Konica Auto S2</b><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
I was carrying this on a photo walk once when someone asked, “Is
that a medium format camera?” It's a 35mm rangefinder, but it's a
big, burly, masculine one. It's a heavy SOB too. The Konica has both
manual and automatic mode, but I've never tried a battery in it, so I
don' t know if the auto mode works. It has a good lens with a
integrated hood and it's built like a tank.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L9wA1US3ishHe381IjWbHBbjGFz8_mug18Km7_Ar-nmHHuC-JVpyc0cljgcNQVv2nfdTdSnBC6UlIqVz2eJvQuRUZ8oSI49TnuFLqKx3tOersa3GdJ8thU8YZTJSKNhrRz4f/s1600/may_26_2011_ejwagner_041.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L9wA1US3ishHe381IjWbHBbjGFz8_mug18Km7_Ar-nmHHuC-JVpyc0cljgcNQVv2nfdTdSnBC6UlIqVz2eJvQuRUZ8oSI49TnuFLqKx3tOersa3GdJ8thU8YZTJSKNhrRz4f/s320/may_26_2011_ejwagner_041.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b>Yashica Lynx 14</b><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
If the Konica is a tank, the Yashica Lynx is a battleship. This is
a massive camera. If you were lost in the wilderness with this on
your shoulder, it would force you to walk in a large circle, but you
could club a bear to death with it. The lens is a monster, a 45mm
f1.4 that isn't found on any other consumer grade rangefinder camera.
It's supposed to be optimized for shooting wide open with low light,
but in all honesty, I haven't used it extensively.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh_TAmt0rGMrAvbgH4FBh8A61Hpd9y6gOCdlX2niyfKjUhbFm-MBG0aDMZXlo0BTFNjWiGH88cbTaf8qfunMQsZnrXWqv8B9sfubAoABzU7mXv-tY-CNHUh5xIQGSrf9aoGOa/s1600/NOV_13_2011_ejwagner_1037.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh_TAmt0rGMrAvbgH4FBh8A61Hpd9y6gOCdlX2niyfKjUhbFm-MBG0aDMZXlo0BTFNjWiGH88cbTaf8qfunMQsZnrXWqv8B9sfubAoABzU7mXv-tY-CNHUh5xIQGSrf9aoGOa/s320/NOV_13_2011_ejwagner_1037.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b>Yashica Electro 35 series</b><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Last but clearly not least, the Yashica Electro 35 series offers
tremendous value. They were inexpensive cameras in their day and can
be found on eBay for very little money. The big feature is that lens.
It's a 45mm f1.8 that offers wonderful sharpness and contrast. It's
color corrected, too, so it performs better with color film that some
of the older models.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
These are aperture-priority cameras that will operate without a
battery, but only at about 1/400<sup>th</sup> of a second. Some auto
cameras, like the Olympus Xas, will not work at all without a
battery.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
It's common to find extensive corrosion in these cameras, so if
the battery compartment cover won't come off or it any corrosion is
visible inside the compartment, don't buy it. Likewise, if it doesn't
make the “Yashica clunk” when advancing the film, don't buy it. A
good camera has a characteristic clunk that is absent when the
so-called 'pad of death' is worn or missing, and it's a particularly
difficult part to repair as it requires extensive disassembly. Rule
of thumb: no clunk = no deal.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-12846502031750413902012-09-16T13:05:00.001-05:002012-09-16T13:05:51.918-05:00There's too much relentlessly serious stuff going on in my life just now. I was astonished to see that I hadn't posted anything here since July. One of the editors on the Examiner contacted me, too, about my dearth of posts over there. I'll keep my column alive, but I'm not going to bust my butt for them.<br />
<br />
But I won't detail the problems I'm facing other than to say that I have to make a decision about whether to continue working or retire, and that decision has to be made soon. It's a weight on my shoulders.<br />
<br />
So what happens when the pressure gets intense? How do I deal with it? Well, one way is to write about politics on a local forum. This is a response about Mitt Romney's "guilty pleasures":<br />
<br />
<table border="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="middle">RE: Romney loves Snooki</td><td valign="middle"><br /></td><td valign="middle"><br /></td><td valign="middle"><br /></td><td align="right" height="20" style="font-size: smaller;" valign="bottom"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="quote">
</div>
<div class="quote">
</div>
<div class="quote">
RM wrote:<br />...Romney
offered a side he rarely shows to the public—a jokey, sometimes hokey
candidate who called peanut butter sandwiches and chocolate milk "a
guilty pleasure" and said he'd like Gene Hackman to play him in a
movie—in part because his loved his work in "The Birdcage," a film about
a man who introduces his fiancee's parents to his gay father and his
partner.<br /> </div>
<br />The bit about chocolate milk as a guilty
pleasure jumped out at me, Michael. You have to wonder if Snooki gives
rise to guilty pleasures, too.<br /><br />But the chocolate is far more
disturbing. As you know, Mormons avoid caffeine because it's a mild
stimulant. Yet chocolate contains many of the same alkaloids as
cocaine. Is Mitt telegraphing that he's secretly a drug addict?<br /><br />Should
we trust the levers of government to someone who...let's be
frank...won't be at his best when aides wake him at 3AM. When I'm up
that early, I'm completely incapable of civilized behavior until after
having a cuppa. But then again, I'm not the leader of the Free World,
either. If Mitt wakes at that hour, we might find ourselves invading
Finland.<br /><br />Ben Krull has a piece in today's Post Gazette on this
very issue. He mentions the enormous difficulty of staying awake
through "snore-a-thon budget meetings" and similarly dull speeches, but
he offers this telling piece of wisdom from Chairman Bill:<br /><br /><b>
Mr. Clinton told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I can't tell you how many times I
found myself nodding off while meeting with Al Gore, even with the help
of a double-espresso."</b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/waking-up-a-sleepy-campaign-the-question-is-where-do-they-stand-on-coffee-653521/" target="_blank">http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/waking-up-a-sleepy-campaign-the-question-is-where-do-they-stand-on-coffee-653521/</a><br /><br />Granted,
Al Gore is an extreme case, and there's still not much in print about
the military's attempt to weaponize the Gore Effect for battlefield use,
but I think it emphasizes the importance of caffeine in our federal
government.<br /><br />We really have to wonder what keeps Mitt Romney awake
some nights, and if it involves Snooki and Gene Hackman, do we really
want to know?<br /><br />(Seriously, go read that piece in the PPG. It's funny!)Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-30761092257354310582012-07-22T10:14:00.000-05:002012-07-22T11:11:09.575-05:00When ducks attack!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7622243968_c8068ff5ae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7622243968_c8068ff5ae.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We take Duchess the Wonder Dog to the
park for her daily walk. She belongs to Lyndsay, but since my
daughter has an erratic work schedule through the summer, I've been
the designated dog walker recently. Duchess is very good at
'reminding' us that it's time to go, and she does this by prancing
around in the house until we open the front door. The dog knows the
word “walk” so it cannot be spoken without sending her into
gyrations.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Last week, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed
wanted to go along and feed the ducks. Mary hasn't walked with us for
a while because of the heat. It's hard on her, so she normally stays
home. But there was stale bread in the kitchen and she hadn't been to
the park for a couple of weeks. She wanted to visit the ducks. So
Mary, Lyndsay, Duchess and I all piled into the car.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7622248686_ee59c8a050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7622248686_ee59c8a050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the park, she walked to the edge of
the pond where the ducks spotted the bag in her hands almost
immediately. Every duck in the northern half of the county converged
on her! Lyndsay, despite being an animal lover, was creeped out by
the sudden crowd of ducks around her feet.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Duchess saw this as too much
encroachment around her 'mom' and ran the ducks off. She raced toward
them and they bolted into the water. Duchess would not pursue because
getting into the water is entirely too much like getting a bath –
something she avoids at all costs. But when she moved to the left,
the ducks moved to the right and came back up on the bank looking for
more bread. Meanwhile, Duchess was eating whatever bread she could
find. This back-and-forth went on for a few minutes until one of the
larger ducks tired of the game. The next time she lunged at them, he
stood his ground and pecked at one of her front paws!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Duchess yipped and jumped back. She
limped away holding the paw well off the ground. Lyndsay rushed over
to look, thinking that she'd stepped on a fish hook or a thorn, but
the dog was just being a drama queen. The duck called her bluff.
Within a minute or two, she was walking normally again.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So be careful in our local park.
There's a gang hanging out there, and they all quack.</div>Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-36256064001133467442012-06-06T21:22:00.000-05:002012-06-06T21:22:33.566-05:00Classic cameras and crazy people<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w2GChM6jcux_SnCpp9B_lWJLknTPBqNBKUNKbNd195_BLXrRhOD2y4UthGb3LFvedFLP7aqix2gkI02SlEzA3M21MojHZEF58_xemAvOUH5CKd9w_5weFeftC6dT9BuL82pq/s1600/P9120005_tn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w2GChM6jcux_SnCpp9B_lWJLknTPBqNBKUNKbNd195_BLXrRhOD2y4UthGb3LFvedFLP7aqix2gkI02SlEzA3M21MojHZEF58_xemAvOUH5CKd9w_5weFeftC6dT9BuL82pq/s320/P9120005_tn.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
These are two of my favorite classic rangefinder cameras, a Canon Canonet GIII QL17 and a Konica Auto S2. The Canon is from the early 1970s while the Konica is about 10 years older. I probably have less than $200 invested in the pair. You can buy these all day long on eBay for very little money. Both take excellent photos on 35mm film, and the Konica was intended as a pro quality camera in its day. It's a solid, heavy camera.<br />
<br />
Another favorite (not pictured) is the Yashica Electro 35 GT and it's various siblings. They're simple and cheap, but have excellent lenses. The biggest problem with these old cameras is finding one that hasn't been damaged by leaky batteries.<br />
<br />
So imagine my surprise when <a href="http://www.petapixel.com/2012/06/02/a-look-at-the-beauty-inside-of-a-classic-rangefinder/" target="_blank">PetaPixel</a> carried a story on classic rangefinders that have been given the 'bespoke' treatment by <a href="http://store.ilottvintage.com/" target="_blank">Ilott Vintage</a> - a camera restoration service in Miami. There are several critical differences between their cameras and mine. Theirs have wood veneer covers while mine have the original leatherette. Theirs are professionally restored while mine are....something else. And finally, their cameras cost upward of $2000! Mine were considerably less. If I spent a couple of thousand on a vintage camera, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed would have my head mounted on a spear in the front yard.<br />
<br />
Now, I truly understand the classic-camera-as-jewelry concept that drives this, but in all seriousness, for that much money I could have a classic Leica, Contax, or Voightlander, a camera that would hold some value in years to come. I like my old rangefinders, but if one of them went over the side of a canoe, I probably wouldn't dive in after it. A Leica, on the other hand, would see that I got wet in the next couple of seconds.<br />
<br />Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-47116659232048786382012-05-27T09:01:00.002-05:002012-05-27T09:01:30.436-05:00Karl<br />The telephone rang Sunday afternoon, and the caller ID said it was a cell phone in Pennsylvania. I didn't recognize the number. For just a moment, I considered not answering. I was about to leave the house and had my camera bag in hand. But I picked up the phone anyway.<br /><br />"Hi, Ed, this is Patty." My heart sank. Patty is Karl's ex-wife, and the two of them are some of my oldest friends. This call would not be good news. Karl passed away on Friday after a long fight with lung disease. He was a few years older than me. He was one of those larger-than-life characters who lived to the maximum. Loudly passionate about the people and causes he cared about, Karl spoke whatever was on his mind, holding little back. We had intense arguments sometimes, but always as friends.<br /><br />We first met over 40 years ago when I was a sophomore in college. Karl rode his Triumph Bonneville back and forth between Pittsburgh and Clarion in order to visit his girlfriend. The bike was a typical Triumph of the period, that is, notoriously unreliable. It had recurring electrical and ignition problems, leaving him stranded on more than one occasion. He traded it for a Ford Pinto, and we learned the intricacies of having a German-made engine in an American car, as well as a practical introduction to metric tooling.<br /><br />We went camping and trout fishing. Karl moved from Pittsburgh to Grove City and eventually settled into a tiny house near Jackson Center. In the summer, we swam and fished in a pond across the road. In the winter, I went cross-country skiing through the strip mines. He met Patty and they were married in late fall. I was married too, and while we didn't get together often, we were still close friends.<br /><br />In the early eighties, both my marriage and my job fell to pieces. I was emotionally and financially wrecked, less than a hundred dollars from being homeless. Karl said there was a job opening where he worked and offered me a place to stay in an unheated bedroom at his farm house. I was glad to have it. I told Patty that it was the lowest point in my life, and that she and Karl helped me get through it. That's a debt I'll never be able to repay in full.<br /><br />Karl wasn't a saint. He drank and smoked to excess, both leading to health problems later in life. Even after his doctor told him to quit drinking and smoking, he continued for another two years. His lungs were ravaged and he looked far older than his years, shuffling around the house while tethered to an oxygen generator the last time I visited. Shortly later, he received a lung transplant and did better for a time, but his marriage came apart. <br /><br />Patty told me that he'd spent most of the last couple of years in the hospital and a nursing home. I know he hated that. Last week he had a series of strokes. When the doctors told Patty there wasn't any hope, she and her daughter elected to turn off the respirator. Karl was gone in a few minutes.<br /><br />Losing a friend hurts. We know it's inevitable, yet the emotional impact is no less painful. We think there will be another chance to talk, another opportunity to sit at the table over a meal, or just spend some time together, but that may never happen. When Karl and I last talked, we argued, and that's something I truly regret.<br /><br />Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-5324924235655073522012-05-13T13:07:00.001-05:002012-05-13T13:07:41.349-05:00This is weird!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4THo5DYmajFwpyAg_KzXCbQPt54rhGzWCDZOPr-TUqn7uWfFDrRCGj-3BnrG4ISUHjgPxU1DLKfJoBdD2hynsu0FxjmadmASJVA5nl7SjO0LSXWQtgCoCNyqjHYottzA9F8h1/s1600/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4THo5DYmajFwpyAg_KzXCbQPt54rhGzWCDZOPr-TUqn7uWfFDrRCGj-3BnrG4ISUHjgPxU1DLKfJoBdD2hynsu0FxjmadmASJVA5nl7SjO0LSXWQtgCoCNyqjHYottzA9F8h1/s320/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I like fooling around with some of the software filters in the Olympus E-PL3, and this 'high dramatic tone' filter is a favorite. It give a faux HDR look to the photos, almost a preview of what I can do with it in Zoner Photo Studio. Lately, I've been taking pictures of things with lots of contrast or texture in order to experiment. The shot above was taken with the software filter. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9mS8dNkkxZMw80XIeWWS5JV7EtXaEpTEiB0rNPXP4kHcwE9uPjm9Ss4CQg-DAEri7EtW0LWOfmVxnr0EPtA9NNTo9YMw344CJmXZ-WmDQW8AKTU6NHRnIB6ss-IpK0iS3fbI/s1600/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_114_ToneMapping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9mS8dNkkxZMw80XIeWWS5JV7EtXaEpTEiB0rNPXP4kHcwE9uPjm9Ss4CQg-DAEri7EtW0LWOfmVxnr0EPtA9NNTo9YMw344CJmXZ-WmDQW8AKTU6NHRnIB6ss-IpK0iS3fbI/s320/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_114_ToneMapping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the result of running the above image through the Zoner software for HDR tone mapping. Where did all that red come from? It looks like a contour map of Mordor! I can only describe it as an accident, but I can't decide if I like the result. I took some shots along the shoreline of one of the ponds, and in those photos some of the plants are red! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb6Yx-9sohyNviAoh-28k5fGJw6j1c6dgaMaWcOejva_KrRaw9dYPCwCyvPFP2P2le2lfEYQYIZzdHyVtvio_3X3Tj0sWgELN8dMPREnvq3xFq6JaoFqi6SRskbjRwKcNFiDb/s1600/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb6Yx-9sohyNviAoh-28k5fGJw6j1c6dgaMaWcOejva_KrRaw9dYPCwCyvPFP2P2le2lfEYQYIZzdHyVtvio_3X3Tj0sWgELN8dMPREnvq3xFq6JaoFqi6SRskbjRwKcNFiDb/s320/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For comparison, here's an unaltered JPEG taken from the original RAW file. <br />
<br />
Just for fun, here's a panorama from Centennial Park yesterday as some rain clouds rolled it. This was a series of 50mm shots stitched together in Zoner. Click through to see the original. It's purdy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qpn61i7FqTJ9hhV7iegZqz7CP8PpF20VeyCv3LojmlPcGMbhsXV7lVNCtrtteaQTtPJ4EHNdd9-qXR2k3hDWxX9zLWw-9Za8gyNRfbxujzohdx2ZJIwR5X159w7jIAYOCNNU/s1600/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_005_panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qpn61i7FqTJ9hhV7iegZqz7CP8PpF20VeyCv3LojmlPcGMbhsXV7lVNCtrtteaQTtPJ4EHNdd9-qXR2k3hDWxX9zLWw-9Za8gyNRfbxujzohdx2ZJIwR5X159w7jIAYOCNNU/s400/MAY_12_2012_ejwagner_005_panorama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-57395261882830090912012-05-12T16:55:00.001-05:002012-05-12T16:55:50.458-05:00Where do we go from here?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OGg8Fv90Dg/T3ym5ROK-9I/AAAAAAAAF8g/3Be1uxNac5o/s640/MAR%252022%25202012_EJWagner_014%2520%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4OGg8Fv90Dg/T3ym5ROK-9I/AAAAAAAAF8g/3Be1uxNac5o/s320/MAR%252022%25202012_EJWagner_014%2520%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Storm Clouds over AA</div>
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Most of you know that I work for American Airlines in Tulsa. AA applied for bankruptcy protection on November 29, 2011. While my job is secure - for now - what the future may bring is more problematic.</div>
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My union, the Transport Workers Union, has been in contract negotiations with AA for about five years. Airlines are governed by the Railway Labor Act in order to avoid service disruptions during negotiations. Basically, it prevents the unions from walking off the job and it prevents the companies from locking them out. And that introduces a far greater problem. There's no incentive for an airline to come to an agreement since the union cannot strike and the National Labor Relations Board hasn't released a union to do so since before the Clinton administration.</div>
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We had our last 'negotiation' with AA in 2003. The company offered terms and flatly stated that we could accept them or they'd declare bankruptcy. It was like having a mugger hold a gun to your head and call it a negotiation. I took a pay cut that totaled about 20%, lost vacation days and holidays, had reduced sick time, and more. My family took a direct hit that severely impacted our finances. As soon as it was over, AA management began awarding themselves annual bonuses even as the company lost money. That was salt in the wound. Looking back, the real heyday of CycleDog was when I was riding to work regularly in order to save money. Well, that, and trying to lose a ginormous belly. </div>
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Presently, we're engaged in voting on a 'consensual' agreement that is only marginally better than the terms AA laid out before the bankruptcy judge. One co-worker aptly described it is as the difference between a sh!t sandwich and a sh!t sandwich with mustard. While it doesn't involve direct pay cuts, the increased amount we pay for medical insurance will have the same effect, and the meager pay increases of 1.5% will very likely be offset by medical costs as well. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of AA workers will lose their jobs.</div>
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There's a lot of anger and frustration here driving people toward voting against this contract proposal. I fully understand that, and in my darker moments, I can even embrace it. But I have to protect my family as best I can. I'll probably vote to accept this POS.</div>
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Even with this, it's not over. The company may offer an early out incentive that initially appears tempting. Qualified employees may receive about $40K to leave. They'd give up all seniority and recall rights. But here's the kicker - AA is trying to get rid of retiree medical benefits too. I've been pre-funding that since I hired in back in 1987. It was supposed to cover the time between retirement and my eventual Medicare, but if it's removed, I simply cannot afford to retire early and pay for medical coverage too. It would be the equivalent of a 75% pay cut, and that's not enough to live on right now.</div>
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So if the job doesn't go away, I may turn into one of those old farts we describe as retired-in-place. Don't misunderstand me. I actually like my job and I'm very good at it, but it's the rest of the BS that goes along with it that is really annoying. Who knows? I may be back on the bike riding to work again in the near future.</div>Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-43799275044146883582012-04-22T20:38:00.000-05:002012-04-22T20:38:59.988-05:00Flea market Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVrjuKHE8qReBro67ezBdQEeKP-0lGt-0-5krvUqb-TOd9Ae4IOJcJhKHjna0phxEYAE_OeTZK2epphyphenhyphen6wEcIoU9HSE2OiSKTRPqNID6jRMbwFktyyZ7pe87XHlyyromPQyQr/s1600/APR_22_2012_ejwagner_013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVrjuKHE8qReBro67ezBdQEeKP-0lGt-0-5krvUqb-TOd9Ae4IOJcJhKHjna0phxEYAE_OeTZK2epphyphenhyphen6wEcIoU9HSE2OiSKTRPqNID6jRMbwFktyyZ7pe87XHlyyromPQyQr/s320/APR_22_2012_ejwagner_013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was on my way to breakfast when I passed this fountain at a local bank. The wind was blowing the foam around in circles on the south side of the building, and big chunks floated across the road. <br />
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Here's a lonely doll sitting in a stroller at the flea market. Perhaps she's waiting for Mom to strap in her twin. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO1wVUcnf0I9nQnwg4T9AVKfBc5Efu6mzUcta5F6g8G27xjCzsrZr8wGpjgdxmm8Iv1yAlffmRpXjW7ELc2eLtvXdiaAkJ0AvooEEucSD64LwI57mcvT6aUI1xAQHpCN4AKsc/s1600/APR_22_2012_ejwagner_016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO1wVUcnf0I9nQnwg4T9AVKfBc5Efu6mzUcta5F6g8G27xjCzsrZr8wGpjgdxmm8Iv1yAlffmRpXjW7ELc2eLtvXdiaAkJ0AvooEEucSD64LwI57mcvT6aUI1xAQHpCN4AKsc/s320/APR_22_2012_ejwagner_016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is one gaudy rooster, made even more so with high dynamic range. I think the owner asked $50 for this one. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HKD6vJ5J_Ty4FuN5OWucR9STpP-xWXUK-MbtvL3V7KiiHxUOoxogG_ZUlSG7SCrApB9AD_w1dPaGZUvnCxY9CAYOb3ttsaIq6JicUg_GRg3eawMlJJfDnsjmSS3rG0mO028i/s1600/APR_22_2012_ejwagner_019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HKD6vJ5J_Ty4FuN5OWucR9STpP-xWXUK-MbtvL3V7KiiHxUOoxogG_ZUlSG7SCrApB9AD_w1dPaGZUvnCxY9CAYOb3ttsaIq6JicUg_GRg3eawMlJJfDnsjmSS3rG0mO028i/s320/APR_22_2012_ejwagner_019.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Wanna be a luchador? Here's your boots! (For those of you who don't know what a luchador is, I feel for you!) <br />
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Now do you know what a luchador is? Pretty cool, eh. Now, try to imagine wearing one of these masks under a cycling helmet with a pro jersey and George Hincapie's old white sunglasses. You'd get <u>lots</u> of space on the road!Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-80888119405755055462012-04-15T09:45:00.000-05:002012-04-15T09:45:00.433-05:00The deal fell thoughI wrote about a technical writing gig that offered the opportunity to have a second job that I could do from my arm chair. It didn't materialize. The editor said I was a strong candidate for the position, but they selected another writer. Rejection is part and parcel of writing, and I've had ample experience with it.<br /><br />There was a time this would have bother me immensely and I would have been depressed for a while. Since the Great Writing Fiasco of 2010, however, I've learned to deal with it. The GWF involved over a month of interviews and writing that was subsequently rejected by the editor. I had high hopes for that project. When it collapsed, I was upset.<br /><br />When an editor makes me look good, it's a wonderful experience. Some others, though, have a special place set aside in Hell for their capriciousness, arrogance, and just plain stupidity.<br /><br />But no one wants to listen to me kvetch about editors. Instead, I want to share this slightly edited email that went out to some friends. It's a thank-you note that applies equally to readers here on CycleDog. It's been a long project that's changed me in many ways, making me a better writer, and giving me the confidence to try other venues. This is my thanks to all of you:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's just after work as I write this. I've had a couple of busy, stressful weeks both at work and at home. You're undoubtedly aware of the situation a AA, so I won't go into that. The units I work on have slowed to a trickle, and I hate that. It's better to be busy. </span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">But I've been working toward earning more through writing, and that's occupied much of my spare time recently. I applied for a position with (redacted) back in January. One month ago, I was accepted into their evaluation program. The short version of the story is that I was not selected for the position, though according to the editor I was a strong candidate. It was a tech writing job for electronics, maybe not the most creative writing, but it's steady and pays well. </span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Naturally, I'm a little down at losing out on this opportunity, but surprisingly, it's not particularly depressing. Brian told me long ago that if we expect to write for public consumption, we have to develop thick skins, and lately mine has been getting much, much thicker. That's a polite way of saying I've learned to deal with rejection. I really enjoy editors who make me look good (like Susan) and I get annoyed with those who are merely arbitrary, capricious, and worst of all - ignorant of the subject at hand...</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Those are the negatives. All of you are the positives. You encouraged me at times and gave advice when I needed it. Honestly, without you I would never have found the self confidence to attempt writing for (redacted). The rejection is merely a set back, and a minor one at that. Make no mistake, self confidence is absolutely essential for a writer. and despite my carefree man-about-town exterior, I've truly been lacking in that department. Maybe it's the other side of having a thick skin. </span><br style="font-weight: bold;"> <br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyway, I want to thank all of you. There will be other opportunities, and I want you to know each of you is responsible for helping me toward that goal.<br /><br /> </span>Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-24948082484722679282012-04-14T09:34:00.003-05:002012-04-14T09:44:07.035-05:00Tiger Balm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTT57sEE3ek5KSwta39vP_2dVu9PAlBQMA7aWSUrd6gkenwYEBtQVsT6uaJ0YArsaV2mFGWBDmUyjxN7B6VBNDUmvFmg_xYHGkz7LzGrckvcXyyTpT7sXhIEXmn6U_Tbc0vpu/s1600/APR+11+2012_EJWagner_003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTT57sEE3ek5KSwta39vP_2dVu9PAlBQMA7aWSUrd6gkenwYEBtQVsT6uaJ0YArsaV2mFGWBDmUyjxN7B6VBNDUmvFmg_xYHGkz7LzGrckvcXyyTpT7sXhIEXmn6U_Tbc0vpu/s320/APR+11+2012_EJWagner_003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731265046173574226" border="0" /></a>I'm a sucker for quirky products, especially when they have odd names like this one. It's a tiny bottle of Tiger Balm, a ointment that is much like Icy Hot. At first, I thought it was a rip-off because when I smeared a dab of it on my aching knee, nothing happened. Oh, it smelled pungent, but other than that...nothing. <br /><br />Forty five minutes later, my knee was on fire. <br /><br />Like many other similar products, Tiger Balm uses menthol as the active ingredient. Why it takes so long to work is some sort of Chinese mystery.Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-78987271336440713482012-04-04T13:52:00.003-05:002012-04-04T14:18:30.718-05:00It's quiet in here...too quiet...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIcxGZ5lYhB0zKSPFdAEE1mxXyn2y592hk5L1zGMNCLLf7ueZLDjEVFBgPIC19Lu_yeiJVC8OkcYNR6jV1NptxmCQFnymOOeZm9p-gTfVU7DA4gPL6nDIQtc4mjrqrmK5soIp/s1600/MAR+22+2012_EJWagner_014+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIcxGZ5lYhB0zKSPFdAEE1mxXyn2y592hk5L1zGMNCLLf7ueZLDjEVFBgPIC19Lu_yeiJVC8OkcYNR6jV1NptxmCQFnymOOeZm9p-gTfVU7DA4gPL6nDIQtc4mjrqrmK5soIp/s320/MAR+22+2012_EJWagner_014+%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727625196096235650" border="0" /></a><br />As I've written previously, I've been looking for other writing opportunities. About a year ago, I started writing for a content farm (which will remain nameless for now) and it brought in a nice sum every week. Granted, the pay wasn't great but it was something I could do in the evenings to bring in a little extra cash. Sadly, the number of titles dwindled steadily through the summer, and by early fall they dried up completely.<br /><br />I've done some ghost writing on other content sites, but the one source of information and inspiration that's been extremely helpful is Doreen Martel's <a href="http://freelancingandmore.com/">Freelancing and More</a>. Unlike some others, I'm not trying to support a family by freelancing. But it's always a good idea to learn from the smartest person in the room whether the subject is bicycling, electronic technology, or writing.<br /><br />Most regular readers know that I write for the Examiner, too, and while it's clearly an exercise in ego-gratification, it's not especially remunerative. If I'm going to spend the time, I should be getting something in return, particularly since She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed pointed out the alarming increase in grocery prices.<br /><br />There's certainly more than a grain of truth in the adage about writing being like prostitution. First, we do it for fun. Next, we do it for a few close friends, but finally we do it for the money.<br /><br />So with that in mind, I'm trying for another paid position doing some technical writing. If it works out, it will be like having a second job....that I can do from my armchair. My current job may be in jeopardy as AA is in bankruptcy. I'm about this far (holding thumb and forefinger an inch apart) from retirement, so having another income source may be critical.<br /><br />Wish me luck!Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-55211813156944635212012-03-04T12:54:00.003-06:002012-03-04T13:18:13.370-06:00Frustration<a href="http://ostrich.aero/egpws_family.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 149px;" src="http://ostrich.aero/egpws_family.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I've been performing a software mod on an aircraft computer for about five months. These computers were designed in the 1990s and utilized a FLASH memory chip that is now obsolete and scarce. Honeywell released new software that would allow the computer to work with newer FLASH memory chips.<br /><br />Performing the mod is simple. I power up the computer and install a PCMCIA card containing the new software. It loads automatically. As standard procedure, I reload the main database and application software too.<br /><br />Since December, I've had three computers fail Bank 5 after installing this software. Computer memory is divided into seven different banks, and Bank 5 would test as blank. I thought I was seeing a hardware failure - not uncommon after an upload - so I replaced the address and control circuits on both the memory board and its interface on the main board. Nothing helped.<br /><br />I talked with our Honeywell rep about it. He emailed an engineer at their repair facility, and the engineer suggested a simple fix that I hadn't considered. He suggested installing the big database on a fresh PCMCIA card to try on the computers. It worked!<br /><br />Now I'm trying to figure out why my other PCMCIA card would cause failures on just a few computers while loading flawlessly on others. Regardless, it's going in the trash, but I'm curious as to why it would fail. I've read a bit about wear leveling in FLASH memory, a scheme that extends the useful life of a chip by using an address map to prevent repeated read/write operations from causing failures. That's a possibility but if the engineer gets back to me with something definitive, I'll update this.<br /><br />Regardless, I had three computers that had me mumbling to myself with frustration, but now they're all going away!Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-66698660880416422552012-02-26T20:43:00.002-06:002012-02-26T20:47:32.543-06:00Don't be this guy....<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--n6mFRceEv0/T0qNL70a54I/AAAAAAAAF04/o9cwhSxJOgo/s512/tmp88F2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 512px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--n6mFRceEv0/T0qNL70a54I/AAAAAAAAF04/o9cwhSxJOgo/s512/tmp88F2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I was bored earlier today....Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-45629278334460453802012-02-22T19:58:00.003-06:002012-02-22T20:39:14.492-06:00It's the end of the world...with commercialsI freely admit to being a fan of zombie movies, and worse yet, my tastes run toward the cheesy. I like the appallingly bad movies that may have had a budget running into thousands of dollars. "The Walking Dead" by comparison, has higher production values and actual actors.<br /><br />But tonight I tried to branch off into the AMC production of "Doomsday Preppers" a look at those of who absolutely relish the idea of a global apocalypse. I managed to stay with it all of three minutes. When they highlighted the couple who planned to spend the weekend - not playing golf or going fishing - but instead testing their house to see how bullet proof it was, well, I had to leave. These people are quite possibly insane.<br /><br />I don't say that lightly. There are drugs for treating this kind of dementia, and these people are in dire need of medication. Let's approach this from both an historical and personal perspective.<br /><br />Our planet and our people have had some truly apocalyptic events. The Black Death decimated the population of Europe and lead to fundamental societal changes. More recently, Spanish influenza killed more people during the First World War than were killed in combat. The planet has has tsunamis, earthquakes, and meteorite impacts. The Bronze Age ended in calamitous fashion, and we still do not know why.<br /><br />But how often have these cataclysmic events occurred? Their rarity would seem to indicate that the chance of a world-wide apocalypse in our lifetime is relatively remote. It's a low probability event. We probably stand a much better chance of being hit by lightning.<br /><br />I said that this has a personal dimension too, and to explain that, I have to delve into my own history. When I was a child, my mother listened to the Catherine Kuhlman radio hour every morning while we had breakfast. Kuhlman was an evangelist and faith healer, and one of Pittsburgh's AM radio stations broadcasted her show. I must have been 10 or 11 when she predicted the end of the world would arrive in 1971 or 1972.<br /><br />It's laughable now, but at the time she scared me witless. Adults were authority figures and since my mother listened to Kuhlman, she must have had a good reason to do so. By extension, Kuhlman had authority too. She scared the beejeebers out of me. I hadn't made any great plans for my life since at 10 years old a 'plan' consisted of what to do after school, but I knew I wanted to live far past 1972.<br /><br />Kids don't intellectualize their fears. They're not able to discuss them rationally with adults, so they remain internalized rather than verbalized. It says much about the power of that broadcast when I can remember it after 50 years.<br /><br />And that brings us back around to the "Doomsday Preppers." I think it's wrong of AMC to air this kind of show, though I whole-heartedly support their right to do so. It's wrong because it will frighten children in terrible ways. Sure, zombie movies can have their scary moments, but when the subject matter is portrayed in the context of a 'reality' show, a kid won't know enough to realize it's mostly bullshit.Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9837635.post-81215380140134079562012-02-06T21:25:00.002-06:002012-02-06T21:40:20.503-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVTaOcu-zFEdaNpbGiz6fddUlxqBhCloyR2002gwXsRxSAq1zpbEeB5PQ6mNWSREZIlNIqa0y3UvKmSnXCnCCgaDNk-QQzApstfFUruzAjOj7eQh9xjNy63pvfjMhnGWSvJbt/s1600/FEB+5+2012_EJWagner_012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVTaOcu-zFEdaNpbGiz6fddUlxqBhCloyR2002gwXsRxSAq1zpbEeB5PQ6mNWSREZIlNIqa0y3UvKmSnXCnCCgaDNk-QQzApstfFUruzAjOj7eQh9xjNy63pvfjMhnGWSvJbt/s320/FEB+5+2012_EJWagner_012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706230018482858818" border="0" /></a><br />Number One Son has found gainful employment! And no, it's not actually at the Krusty Krab. He's working for a place known for having a clown as a spokesman. He's not particularly happy about the job, and he even said, "I can't believe I ate this stuff!"<br /><br />But it's a job. He's discovered that having a job, even a McJob, is better than having no job when you need the money. I pointed out that I once found work as a...ahem...sewer inspector. Mind you, I was not a lowly mere sewer worker. I was an <span style="font-style: italic;">inspector</span>. Now, there weren't any sewer workers, of course, so we were all inspectors. Go figure. Still, when I was 18 I knew there would never be a time that I'd work for a living with a shovel in my hand, but 10 years later, there I was shoveling...stuff. <br /><br />Here's a free tip from a former professional...stuff...shoveler: Use a flat bottomed shovel. It's a lot less work.<br /><br />Also, if you find employment at a local eating establishment and you have a parental figure given to uncontrolled bursts of sarcasm, don't leave your ID badge laying around where he might find it, photograph it, and apply a bit of photo editing magic.Ed Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02661476789768156794noreply@blogger.com1