Category: Stranger than Fiction

Categories
Stranger than Fiction The Current Situation

The “Gen Z” version of “Harry Potter” seems lowkey sus

Here’s the text with link annotations for the Zoomer blabber…

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, liked flexing that they very basic, thank u. Tbh they were the last people you’d think would be sus, but they were all fax no printer.

Mr. Dursley was adulting at a firm called Grunnings, which made drills.

He was a dummy thiccc (w/ three Cs) man with hardly any neck, although he had an absolute unit of a mustache. Mrs. Dursley was a total Karen with zero chill and had hella neck, which came in very useful when she was stalking her neighbours and not minding her own.

The Dursleys had a small son called Dudley who they thought was the main character. The Dursleys were mostly thriving, but they also had lowkey tea which didn’t pass the vibe check and their greatest fear was to get called out and cancelled. They were girlbossing too close to the sun and didn’t think they could…

Don’t drag Gen Z kids for using the word “unalive.” As un-erudite as it sounds, it has a clever origin: it was coined to get around automated social media filters that block words like kill, death, and similar terms, yet doesn’t its meaning is easily grasped by people who’ve never encountered the word before.

Categories
Florida Florida of the Day Stranger than Fiction The Current Situation

One of Elvis’ jets is up for auction outside Orlando

Exterior of the Jetstar for sale. It is red with silver stripes and is dilapidated.
The Lockheed Jetstar in question.

This 1962 Lockheed JetStar — an aircraft from the beginning of the jet age — was once owned by Elvis Presley, and it’s up for sale at an auction right being held in Kissimmee from January 4th through 14th.

Here’s a video about the plane:

The Jetstar’s dual jet pod engine near its tail section.
An operational Jetstar has dual jetpods on either side of the tail section. The Elvis jet’s engines were removed a while back. (Creative Commons photo by Thomas R Machnitzki; here’s the source.)

Avid planespotters will note that it doesn’t have any engines. They were removed a long time ago, and it means that this plane can’t fly. Whoever buys it will have to disassemble it for shipping. This sale isn’t for someone who wants to travel in a classic private plane, but an enterprising individual or group who wants to start (or add to) an aviation museum or an Elvis museum.

The front section of the Jetstar, with its door open and the boarding stairs deployed.
Elvis has left the plane.

From the auction page for the plane:

For decades, Lockheed’s JetStar was the executive jet of choice for countless A-listers, recognized dignitaries and star-studded celebrities, and this 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar is no exception, as it was once owned by the king of rock ‘n’ roll: Elvis Presley. Presley acquired it from OMNI Aircraft Sales Inc. on December 22, 1976 for the princely sum of $840,000.

…

When Elvis took ownership of this particular JetStar, registered with the FAA as N-20TF, the entertainer was no stranger to luxurious aviation acquisition. He had already amassed a modest fleet, which included a custom Convair 880 named the “Lisa Marie” that went by the call sign of Hound Dog 1, along with a second JetStar identified by its call sign of Hound Dog 2.

Interior of the Jetstar showing the view from the aisle looking forward. Two red velvet seats are in the foreground, and there’s a lot of wood paneling the in background.
The interior is done up in red velvet with gold-tone metal accents. I am not surprised.

With a busy touring schedule, these crafts were needed to transport the singer, his TCB band, backup groups, Col. Tom Parker and the ever-present Memphis Mafia to venues, concerts and appearances all around the country. Elvis kept several pilots on retainer that were ready to fly him to adoring fans at a moment’s notice.

This JetStar is one of several private jets owned by Elvis Presley, with two currently on display at Graceland. Inside, the cabin features wood paneling and red velvet upholstery with gold-finish hardware. There’s seating for nine by way of six plush chairs that swivel and recline, along with a couch. An onboard entertainment system is tucked away in a media cabinet, featuring a television, RCA VCR player and audio cassette player, and headphone ports with audio controls are located at every seat. A galley contains storage and a meal-prep area complete with a Kenmore microwave and beverage dispenser. At the rear is a lavatory along with additional storage and cubby areas.

In the spring of 1977, the jet was sold, later ending up with a Saudi Arabian company. The JetStar was then moved to Roswell International Air Center (ROW) in Roswell, New Mexico, where it’s been stored for decades and resides to this day. The aircraft will require disassembly to be shipped, and coordinating assistance is available. Documentation joining the jet includes a copy of the Aircraft Security Agreement document signed by Elvis Presley, a copy of the Aircraft Bill of Sale and Official FAA Blue Ribbon documents. While the P&W engines and many cockpit components have been removed and no engines or replacement parts will be included with the sale of Elvis’ jet, it serves as an incredible restoration opportunity and a chance to create a unique Elvis exhibit for all the world to enjoy.

Angle view from the aisle showing two face-to-face red velvet seats. There is a lot of wood paneling.
Gotta love that 1970s wood paneling!

The auction site lists these highlights about the jet:

  • Purchased by Elvis Presley on December 22, 1976 for $840,000
  • 1 of several private jets owned by Elvis Presley, with two currently on display at Graceland
  • 1 of 202 production JetStar airplanes produced by Lockheed
  • Includes a copy of the Aircraft Security Agreement document signed by Elvis Presley
  • Includes a copy of the Aircraft Bill of Sale documentation
  • Official FAA Blue Ribbon Documents included
  • Aircraft Serial No. 5016
  • FAA Registration No. N-20TF
  • Red exterior with silver accents
  • Custom interior upholstery featuring red velvet and gold-finish hardware
  • Onboard Kenmore microwave
  • Onboard television with RCA VCR player
  • Onboard cassette player
  • Wood cabin paneling and trim including window shades
  • Six passenger chairs with swivel and recline functionality
  • Onboard lavatory with vanity
  • Interior cabin seating for up to nine occupants
  • The P&W engines and many cockpit components have been removed
  • No engines or replacement parts are included with the sale
  • Stored for decades and currently residing at Roswell International Air Center (ROW)
  • The aircraft will require disassembly to be shipped (coordinating assistance available)
  • An incredible restoration opportunity to create an Elvis exhibit for the world to enjoy
Dilapidated cockpit of the plane.
The cockpit.

Interested in buy this plane? Check out its auction page for all the details.

Categories
Florida Music Stranger than Fiction Tampa Bay

For sale in Tampa Bay: A gorgeous monster “Eurorack” analog synth setup for $28K

A massive setup of various analog synthesizer modules — think of a commercial airplane cockpit, but with more patch cables — in three large racks, effectively creating a wall of knobs, buttons, cables, and the occasional LCD screen.
Tap to view at full size.

I can’t justify spending $28K on this monster analog synth setup, but maybe you can. If you’re working on a soundtrack or sound design for a movie or game, or the next big electronica/EDM/electroacoustic masterpiece, this collection of systems assembled into three racks just might be the thing you’re looking for!

The seller’s based in Clearwater, and the lucky buyer will have to pick it up there or someplace nearby, and you’ll probably need at least an SUV with the back seats folded down to drive away with three racks’ worth of gear.

Upper two racks of the synth system.
Tap to view at full size.

Here’s what the ad in Facebook Marketplace says:

Condition: Used — like new

Massive Eurorack setup including three Doepfer A-100 cases. Everything has black panels and has a nice aesthetic. I have extra panels for a few items that didn’t come in black. I have almost all the original manufacturer boxes.

Also will include a huge lot of organized eurorack cables, extra power cables, and misc screws and parts.

This is a truly incredible setup!

Must pickup in Clearwater or arrange for meet-up in Florida. I can drive to your or meet you – free – depending on location. Not willing to ship – way too large, heavy, and delicate.

Lower two racks of the synth system.
Tap to view at full size.

Here’s a modular grid view of the upper case:

Detail view of all the components in the upper rack.
Tap to view at full size.

You can see a larger view of the upper rack here, and it contains the following:

  • Schlappi Engineering 100 Grit (black) Low Pass Filter, VCA, and Distortion with Brass Touchpoints
  • Schlappi Engineering Interstellar Radio (Black Panel) – DESTRUCTIVE TRANSMISSION LINE
  • Schlappi Engineering Angle Grinder (Black) – Sine waves and grinding feedback
  • 2hp Freez (Black Panel) – Freez is a voltage controlled locked looper
  • Erica Synths Black CV Tool – Full analogue CV and audio processor
  • Erica Synths Ringfade – Ringmodulator/Crossfader/VCA
  • Empress Effects ZOIA Euroburo – Complete Modular System by Empress Effects
  • Erica Synths Pico INPUT – Instrument input booster
  • Erica Synths Drum Mixer Lite – Compact Drum Mixer with a compressor
  • Erica Synths Drum Stereo Mixer – Stereo mixer, 4 stereo in, with limiter
  • Erica Synths Black Stereo Mixer V3 – 4 input stereo mixer
  • Erica Synths Black Output Module v2 – High quality output mixer and stereo panner with balanced outputs and headphone amplifier.
  • Expert Sleepers ES-5 mk3 – Gate, Clock and Sync expander for the ES-3 Lightpipe to CV DAC
  • Expert Sleepers ES-9 – USB Audio Interface
  • Erica Synths Fusion VCO2 – Full analogue sound source with lots of distinct features
  • Erica Synths Fusion VCO2 – Full analogue sound source with lots of distinct features
  • Erica Synths Fusion VCA-Waveshaper-Ringmodulator – Unconventional VCA/Waveshaper/Ringmodulator
  • Erica Synths DIY Polivoks VCO II – Updated design based on the original Polivoks VCO
  • 4ms Company Ensemble Oscillator (Black Panel) – Black panel for the Ensemble Oscillator
  • Erica Synths Black Double Bass – Erica Synths Black Double Bass is unique module that combines two transistor suboscillators (-1 and -2 octaves) and lowpass filter.
  • 2hp ADSR (Black Panel) – Four Stage Linear Envelope
  • Erica Synths Black Quad VCA2 – Four channel voltage controlled amplifier and mixer
  • Erica Synths Pico VCA – Dual linear VCA
  • Erica Synths Black Quad VCA2 – Four channel voltage controlled amplifier and mixer
  • Erica Synths Drum Mixer – Dedicated Drum Mixer with a compresor
  • CalSynth uO_C – Micro Ornament & Crime in matte black
  • Acid Rain Technology Navigator – Attenuator, Attenuverter and Mixer
  • Erica Synths Black MIDI-CV v2
  • Polyend Poly 2 – Polyend Poly 2 MIDI to CV Converter
  • Instruō Harmonaig – Chord generating quantizer

Here’s a modular grid view of the center case:

Detail view of all the components in the center rack.
Tap to view at full size.

You can see a larger view of the center rack here, and it contains the following:

  • Erica Synths Black Polivoks VCF V2
  • Polivoks VCF with original programable opamps
  • Erica Synths DIY Multimode VCF – DIY Multimode VCF based on AS3320 chip
  • Erica Synths Fusion VCF3 – Resonant 24dB/oct lowpass filter
  • Erica Synths Black LPG – Novel LPG design with a decay envelope
  • Erica Synths Black Dual ASR EG – Full analogue looping AD/ASR envelope generator
  • Erica Synths Fusion Modulator – Complex, all analogue modulation source
  • Xaoc Devices Zadar (black panel) – Optional accessory replacement panel.
  • Alyseum MATRIX II – 16 X 16 Sequential Matrix I/O router.
  • Synthesis Technology E370 Quad Morphing VCO (black panel) – Quad Morphing VCO
  • Erica Synths Bassline – Full analogue synth voice module for ultimate acid basslines
  • Neutron Sound Dust of Time – Dual stereo oscillator with modulators
  • Modbap Modular Osiris – Bi-Fidelity Wavetable Oscillator
  • ST Modular OBERHAUSEN – Complex Oscillator
  • CalSynth uBraids II – Mutable Instruments Braids Oscillator Module
  • Erica Synths Drum Mixer – Dedicated Drum Mixer with a compresor
  • Synthrotek 2HP Buff Mult – Compact buffered multiple
  • Moog Music Inc. DFAM – Drummer From Another Mother – Semi-Modular Analog Percussion Synthesizer
  • Erica Synths Sample Drum – Sample Drum with the current screen
  • Erica Synths Bass Drum – 909-style Bass Drum Module
  • Erica Synths Snare Drum – 909-inspired Snare Drum
  • Erica Synths TOMS – Low Tom, Mid Tom and High Tom in a sigle module
  • Erica Synths HiHats D – Erica Synths take on classical 909 HiHats sounds
  • Erica Synths CLAP – Classical drum machine Clap sound in eurorack
  • Erica Synths Cymbals – Distinct topology digital/analogue cymbals module
  • Erica Synths Dual Drive – Dual overdrive/distortion
  • Synthrotek 2HP Buff Mult – Compact buffered multiple
  • Erica Synths Black Output Module v2 – High quality output mixer and stereo panner with balanced outputs and headphone amplifier.
  • Synthrotek 2HP Buff Mult – Compact buffered multiple
  • Moog Music Inc. Subharmonicon – Semi-modular synthesizer based on Trautonium and Rhythmicon concepts for Moogfest 2018
  • Erica Synths Drum Stereo Mixer – Stereo mixer, 4 stereo in, with limiter
  • Erica Synths Drum Sequencer with Black Keys – X0X-style live performance oriented sequencer
  • Erica Synths Pico Mixer – 3 channel DC coupled mixer for CV and audio signals
  • Erica Synths Pico Mixer – 3 channel DC coupled mixer for CV and audio signals
  • 1010 Music BitBox 2.0 Black Panel – Sampler, Looper, Slicer & Recorder
  • Synthrotek 2HP Buff Mult – Compact buffered multiple
  • 4ms Company 1hp Blank Panel – 1hp Blank
  • Erica Synths Drum Stereo Mixer – Stereo mixer, 4 stereo in, with limiter
  • Blue Lantern Modules CMOS Clock Divider – Musical Clock Divider
  • Moog Music Inc. Moog Mother-32 – Complete semi-modular voice with sequencer and keyboard

And finally, here’s a modular grid view of the lower case:

Detail view of all the components in the lower rack.
Tap to view at full size.

You can see a larger view of the lower rack here, and it contains the following:

  • XOR Electronics Nerdseq – IO Expander – IO Expander black
  • XOR Electronics Nerdseq Black Aluminium Front – The Nerdseq is a Hybrid Tracker Sequencer
  • XOR Electronics Nerdseq – ‘More Triggers 16’ Expander Black – 16 additional trigger/gate outputs
  • Poly Effects Hector (Black Panel) – (Black panel version of Hector)
  • Synthesis Technology E520 Hyperion Processor (black panel) – Stereo Effects Processor
  • Synthrotek 2HP Buff Mult – Compact buffered multiple
  • Orthogonal Devices Black ER-301 – Voltage-controllable canvas for digital signal processing algorithms
  • Erica Synths Black Joystick2 – 4 channel recordable Joystick controller
  • Instruō arbhar expander – arbhar expander (included w/ module)
  • Erica Synths Black Stereo Delay
  • Instruō arbhar – Granular processor
  • Erica Synths Black Hole DSP2 – Stereo Effects Processor
  • Endorphin.es Milky Way (black) – 16 Algorithm Stereo FX Processor
  • Erica Synths Black BBD – Dual tap analogue delay
  • Erica Synths Dual FX – 2×8 custom FXes
  • Strymon Magneto – Stereo multi-head tape delay emulation, looper, phrase sampler, reverb, clock multiplier, chaotic oscillator
  • Erica Synths Black Octasource – LFO with 8 simultaneous outputs
  • Erica Synths Modulator – An advanced modulation and pitched noise source with focus on rhythmic (but not limited to) compositions in mind
  • Erica Synths Pico RND – Combined LFO/random source
  • Acid Rain Technology Maestro – Clocked Modulation Controller
  • Mordax DATA (BLACK) – Four channel oscilloscope, Spectrum analyzer, Spectrograph, Tuner, Dual waveform generator, Clock source/div/mult, and more

Closeup of the synth setup’s sequencer section.
Tap to view at full size.

Closeup of synth system’s center rack.
Tap to view at full size.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with synthesizers (I used to be — and still am — a synth keyboardist), this rack is a killer collection of:

  • Synthesizers, which make all the beep boop sounds,
  • Drum machines, which make all the thumpy and OONTZ OONTZ OONTZ sounds,
  • Sequencers, which record the order in which the beep boop, thumpy, and OONTZ OONTZ OONTZ sounds should be played,
  • Effects, which add dimension to all the sounds, from reverb to echo to distortion to oddball sonic effects.

Closeup of synth system’s center and lower racks.
Tap to view at full size.

The asking price is US$28,000. I can’t tell you if this is a good price or not; I’m more familiar with the more conventional synths you’ll find at Sam Ash or Guitar Center than with this sort of rig.

Maybe someone should contact Trent Reznor and see if he’d be interested in coming down to Clearwater, and maybe, you know, meet up with me for a beer or two?

Closeup of right section of center rack.
Tap to view at full size.

Categories
Stranger than Fiction

It’s still the worst take on Christmas

Cover of “Atlas Shrugged,” but with the title replaced with the more accurate “It’s Totally Okay to be a Douchebag.”

After a couple of decades since it was first published, the award for the worst take on Christmas, religious or not, still goes to Randroid Supreme Leonard Peikoff’s essay, Why Christmas Should be More Commercial. Even The Grinch would say “I think you’re taking it a little too far, Leonard.”

(I’d rather not link to it myself, but this search should get you there.)

It starts with this gem of a paragraph…

Christmas in America is an exuberant display of human ingenuity, capitalist productivity, and the enjoyment of life. Yet all of these are castigated as “materialistic”; the real meaning of the holiday, we are told, is assorted Nativity tales and altruist injunctions (e.g., love thy neighbor) that no one takes seriously.

…and it ends with this one:

America’s tragedy is that its intellectual leaders have typically tried to replace happiness with guilt by insisting that the spiritual meaning of Christmas is religion and self-sacrifice for Tiny Tim or his equivalent. But the spiritual must start with recognizing reality. Life requires reason, selfishness, capitalism; that is what Christmas should celebrate — and really, underneath all the pretense, that is what it does celebrate. It is time to take the Christ out of Christmas, and turn the holiday into a guiltlessly egoistic, pro-reason, this-worldly, commercial celebration.

In a pluralistic societies like those in the United States, Canada, and the other G7 countries, a national holiday that has religious origins can’t be exclusively religious.

But Peikoff’s take is just too dickish. He clearly states that he’s not into the whole “love thy neighbor” thing, which is based on the Golden Rule, which is something all religions and most philosophies — Objectivism being a notable exception — follow.

If there’s anything positive about the essay, it’s that perhaps it might help convince people that capitalism — especially the current variety — is not an unalloyed good.

So yes, peace on earth, good will, and most definitely love thy neighbor, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

In case you need a primer on the founder of Objectivism, Ayn Rand, here’s the best short video summary I’m aware of:

Categories
Geek Music Slice of Life Stranger than Fiction

An important reminder from He-Man

Panel 1: He-Man on his cycle, saying “And remember, punks are nice people pretending to be bad and hippies are bad people pretending to be nice.” - Panel 2: “Until next time friends”

Categories
Stranger than Fiction

The truth about anarchists

Tweet by @merrittk / How the media portrays anarchists: “Okay guys, let’s smash some shit!” / Actual anarchists: “Okay, so it’s been 8 hours but we finally reached consensus on the use of the word ‘guys’ in meetings.”

Categories
Stranger than Fiction

I don’t think Olivia Newton-John wanted to be remembered this way

Scene from a news broadcast, where the image is of a turkey being basted, while the “lower third” reads “Remembering Olivia Newton-John.”

Yes, it’s another one of my regular reminders to double-check your work (or better yet, have someone else double-check it) before putting it out into the world.