Johnny Average

Mick passed away this week in June 2007 from cancer. Way too soon, too fast. Ralph said there was going to be another Falcon's jam; but it was not to be. Thirty years ago "The Falcon's" were the shit. Playing the White Water Depot, the `Lake, even CBGBs; Johnny fronted the band. An unbelievable cast, coming out under the veil of absurd pseudonymity, supported him. It was the best. We miss Johnny - but there is comfort in knowing he gave us all those great times.

Johnny and Nicole - 1978 Belleayre Music Festival

The Falcons at the Joyous Lake - New Years 1978

Mick in the Bearsville Studio Shop (1978)

Bonnaroo 2007

There is never enough time to recap Bonnaroo adequately. My opinions include: Mute Math, Clutch, Brazillian Girls, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Lily Allen, Tool, String Cheese Incident, Railroad Earth, Ziggy Marley, Ben Harper, The Police, and Flaming Lips. Hung out with Doug, Jamie, Paul, Michael, and Bettina. Missed Thor this year. Praxis Rocks!

Security Check

Camp

David, Gillian, and John Paul Jones

Star of the Camp

Binding Fatigue

Heard somewhere: "Who's got my extra 2003 Connelly Pivot Rear High-Wraps size-M?"
Drats. Just as something was starting to click this summer on the water. The real issue is the tear in the rear binder. The cracks up front concern me too.

Tear in the rear binder

Cracks on the front-left of front binder

Geospatial Blogging

The Google MyMaps feature is neat. I made a Dube's Map and a Telluride Map. I'm pretty sure I've just touched the surface of what can be done. ... The windup to Bonnaroo may or may not be good therapy, but it will probably buy some time I need, so that I can process.

Jenn

Course Work

It has been some what of a soft start to the waterski season. An impressive count of sets; just not up the ladder all that quick. A few days on Baboosic - as far back as April. Today was 12 overall. But it has been everything but the most conducive to quick start. And some of the days have been one set wonders. Nonetheless, it is late May and I've been on the water (more or less) for 6 days straight.

Before

After

Ripped Apart

I'm not ready to write anything about my niece, who I barely knew, yet touched me deeply. I know I'll be more up to it with a little distance, a little time. I figure it will provide some self-therapy to just write something.

Jenn

Stanley

Stan possessed the exceptional ability to drive technological challenges to their inevitable conclusion. There would be no speculation, suspicion or doubt; just proof, the naked answer to what was before just conjecture. “We will take away all the excuses”, he would say.

Stan had engineering spot on. He understood one could contemplate science and math until they were blue in the face; but at the end of the day, there wouldn’t be any value until something was realized. Stan preternaturally knew the silicon canvas to first principles. Bipolar, CMOS, PALs, ASICs, FPGAs they were all just technologies. Stanley’s passion was to build things for the keen end-value he saw; not simply because something was technically feasible.

We met in the early 1980s. Datacube was young and growing its offering of “frame-grabbers”, devices that could acquire and display frames of video images. These devices were being used in the first machine vision systems. A conventional CPU could not process the video data sufficiently fast and Stan was among the first to appreciate the opportunity to provide a solution. Stan saw the value in fast math and I knew some DSP. He said “Siegel, I’ll double your salary and make you a millionaire in a year”. He was true to at least one of those points.

Which reminds me of my favorite Stan aphorism: “Perception Is Reality”. Descartes and Kant may have noodled with this concept a bit; but Stanley really put it out of the park. Stan was his own gatekeeper between conflicting goals. On one hand there was the stark truth, frequently embodied in the practice of infinite iterative technology refinement. And on the other hand there was the charismatic entrepreneur needing to close a deal now. He used this insight to terrific advantage not just for himself, but unselfishly to those around him, to empower them and to protect them.

I’m blessed to have a quarter-century of “Stan stories” stored somewhere between by ears. My attorney reminds me to add that, when discussing these, I clearly state that I don’t recall these specifically and that this is only speculation. So we were all in this sushi bar and Stan said “You know, let me tell you…”.


Stan with Fredi, Bearsville, NY 1989

High Water Marks

After a chilly free ski with Brian, Brooke, and Jim on Baboosic, I drove over to Dubes to check it out. The water is still high, perhaps 8 inches over the dam. However the course is mostly intact (who needs 3-ball?). The much advertised warm-up is on the way; but my Nautique is still in winter sleep.

Water rushing over dam at Dubes

Season Cycle 07

Fifteen or so snow-ski days last winter and now the season cycle turns to spring. Day one on the water with Brian and Nader. Just some free-skiing, but good and sore.

No drysuit needed

Yum, Snack Food

Running a conference can be a costly affair. The half-sandwich and pretzels I had for lunch cost our group $40. Good thing the papers are compelling.

Not enough Carbs

FCCM07 Starts

FCCM07 got underway today in Napa.

Technical Illustration

Arrival in Napa

I "helped" United reposition a real three-class 767 for BOS/SFO. I haven't flown a two-isle plane domestically in a very long time. Anyhow, had some breakfast with Phil and drove up over the Golden Gate to Napa.

Drive by Napa

Shakedown Street

Walking through the old Nice markets near Palais De Justice is in many ways similar to navigating "shakedown street" at a jamband festival: You're inundated with all these strange stimuli: strange people, strange scents, strange behavior. You get the idea. And the sketch-dar is all confused as they are speaking French. There is no correlation peak to find because there isn't a reference. Damn!

"Who's got my ... ?!"

Promenade des Anglais

The sun came out this morning and so I walked along the Promenade des Anglais from Beau Rivage to the west end of Nice and back. Just a few km, but in the stiff onshore breeze it felt like more. Slowed my mind down for lunch on the beach at my hotel’s namesake restaurant. Annete, who served my Salad Nicoise (you think?), wished to take my picture and I agreed; but she protested that she never looks good in photos and so I could not take hers. I think that is what she said. I don’t speak French. This has to be some kind of record for me not carrying out a fluent, face-to-face conversation.

On la Plage

Arrival in Nice

Took a car to the bus to a plane to Frankfurt. Waited around. One more plane to Nice. Here we are. There is a new (1972) Zappa release out called "Imaginary Diseases". Listened to it twice on the plane. My fave is "D.C. Boogie"!

Somewhere in France

To Hell You Ride Home

A posting about my travels home from Telluride, get it? ... Last night we had a fabulous dinner up at Allreds. It was Steve, Cyndi, Mark and me. I knew it was off to a good start when Mark started in with the blue cheese stuffed olives wrapped in white anchovies. It was part of a martini, of course; and only one of a plurality of superlatives for that dinner. Another was the “Palmira” wine. Yum. And then there was the Walu. You would think that Telluride was some kind of destination for fancy places to eat. You would be right. Mark and Steve had some kind of Grappa-like beverage that served as a catalyst for our subsequent adventure. … The ride down the gondola in Telluride at night is a blast. I want to just set up shop and ride round and round. “Wiiii, I’m peppy!” … We sampled two of the many possible last-Saturday-night-of-the-ski-season digs: First, the NoirBar under BluePoint, where DJ Harry was spinning. Then some blues band and the silver dollar saloon. The later seemed really lame to Steve and me, so we (unsuccessfully) engaged the “sketch-dar” and headed back to NoirBar. Steve made a great comment relating dance music to wine. Something about repetitive refinement, I forget. … Great Lakes got me to DEN. Untied got me DEN/ORD. Hopefully I’ll make it the rest of the way without drama. … All in all a terrific week in studying telemark technique in Colorado spring conditions.

Telluride Wind Down

Ipod skiing (I-skiing ?) today was cool. Patti Rothberg and McCartney were great for the spiritual thundersnow that fell intermittently. Later on in the sunshine, you can't go wrong with Scritti Politti. Dinner at Allreds tonight, then back home on Sunday.

"I could be jealous of someone like me"

Telluride 2007 Day 11

Morning brought clouds and some precip. Light drizzle in town, it looks like snow up on the mountain. The real issue today will be if there is enough energy to soften-up what surely set-up last night. Yesterday afternoon Blue and Clara snagged this waterski video; while Steve and I were fascinated with this PS3/Wii comparison.

Telluride 2007 Day 10

Four days of tape-tape spring conditions in a row (and counting). Today there were are few high clouds. Enough so that it took an extra hour or so for the soft serve to get going. I'm just at or past 100K vertical feet for this trip. With some help from Naproxen Sodium, I've been able to work through my pain. Dinner last night at La Marmotte; tonight at Hongas.

Clara's Weapon Stash

Telluride 2007 Day 9

The past three days have been as good as any three I can remember. Slammed nine, joined by Steve and Blue. Toured over to Gold Hill and poked my way down Little Rose. Little Rose was complicated by my reluctance to do jump turns (see previous hobbling posts). I have a new ski metric: It is the fun*ease metric (or fun/effort metric). It was high most all of the day in large part due to the "soft serve" conditions, as Blue called them, all around .

A grin from nine

Telluride 2007 Day 8

The second day of this five day tranche again had excellent conditions. Blue and Clara joined in the fun. Steve lost track, so I only know we logged more than 20K, but not yesterday's 26K feet of vertical. In terms of fun, I'd say it was another Ace! Dinner last night was at Bluepoint and tonight it is at 221.

Bushwhacker - "Curiously Steep"

Telluride 2007 Day 7

A big high pressure system, or just dumb luck, brought blue skies and mild temperatures today. I started out alone, but Steve hooked up around 11. I'm told 26,000 vertical feet is nothing to scoff at; even if I was feeling a general lamaise.

Steve and Shep, almost done for the day
The spring conditions and steep terrain reminded me of the backcountry trips I would go on with Chris. I have few photos, just lots of memories.

In the Gulf of Slides, Mt. Washington, NH (ca 1994)

Return to `Ride

Hobbled my way back to Telluride. No incidents other than the hobbling part. Starting to figure out the the "safe operating area" of my lower back. The real test will be on the hill. Dinner last night at Cosmo with Cyndi and Steve.

Cyndi Blushing

Travel Jitters

Psychologists have a good hand on the vacillation effects of time, distance and desire. For example, something that seems like a great idea when it is far away seems less favorable up close. I seem to make many irreversible, or at least difficult to reverse, decisions. I'm Mr. Entropy, or something. Without falling into a rant on reversibility, or quoting Feynman's 37 sugar cubes, I'm simply filled with nervous anticipation and excitement about all the travel ahead. We shall see how it goes.

Liona

Swiming Backwards

Earlier this week I was out in LA for professional shindig, IPDPS. From my hotel room I had a fabulous view of a ventilator exhaust. Wednesday night I drive up Pasadena-way to see Cindy and Robin.

Ventilator View

Thursday, in my rush from the rental car shuttle, I must have tweaked my spine. A few minutes later, as I’m getting my boarding pass at the kiosk, I have this awful pain in my back and can barely walk. I go straight for the “Naproxen and Tonic” in the RCC.

On the plane, friendly flight attendant Becca helps me consider the caffeine-alcohol trade space. Several hours in, and suffering quite a bit despite both the caffeine and the alcohol, I notice two of my cabin mates stretching out. Really stretching out, like impossibly so. And, I thought, “I sure would feel great if I could do that”. So I hobbled up to the galley where I met Galina and Sasha. They were teaching Becca some yoga pose. I explained my malady. Soon I was trying to “swim backwards” out the galley service door at 30,000 feet. This felt great! This went on in various gyrations for quite sometime, only interrupted by the captain having to pee, twice. I’m still hobbling around as I write this; but know that I can fix it a bit by “swimming backwards”.

I'm so clueless; I didn't figure it out until I got home why Sasha knew her stuff!

Port Henry Run

The five hour jaunt was Hakka country. Not just for the snow, but I think the higher profile tires saved some rim damage on the twisty but sometimes ill-maintained roads. The Hilton at Lake Placid felt a bit tired and overpriced. Good wookie entertainment. Had breakfast this morning at the Mirror Lake Inn. Bisco was "on" last night! Morgan served dinner (yum pizza) the night before at Mint Milano North.

The Disco Biscuits in the Herb Ritz Arena

Fresh Snow at 6 AM from the Hilton

snoe.down 2007

The last time I spent any significant time in the Adonrondacs was in the 70's for one of our explorer canoe trips. This time we are back for moe. and `bisco (snoe.down). The tired looking ice rink, and I'm writing of the 80's Herb Ritz arena and not the one from before WWII, was not quite filled to half-capacity.

Stellar drive through VT and NY

Waterville Wind-Down

This Waterville season was compressed. Four half-days of six runs apiece. Susan and Tina both bailed on me this morning, so I was solo. Both Waterville and Telluride close on 8 April.

Rolled "Ballroom Flat"

The Odd Way of Things

Mid-March and there are summertime lapse rates as the snow melts. It is 70 degrees on the hill; yet a winter storm watch is in effect. Freaky stuff. Officially New England Ski "day 1.5" as we got in a few runs yesterday morning, our third morning out this year.

The Look of Seasonal Dispair

Wall of Wires

February brought a quick jaunt out to Monterey for FPGA-2007. The highlight was dinner with Heidi at Foreign Cinema. Back in New England, March rolls in with record cold. And thoughts of closing out Telluride in April.

Telluride Web Cam
Telluride NOAA Weather

Wall of Wires

Telluride 2007 Day 6

Dinner last night at COSMOpolitan. We had friendly Sierra as our server. The Super Bowl was on in the bar, but none of us really cared much. I remember Super Bowl 24 when we stayed at a (then newish in 1990) Mountain Village to watch the 49's dominate the Broncos. ... Most of the gaggle departed this morning. I slammed 9 as usual before Steve came to join me for lunch.

Steve enjoys a "health drink" at Chair8

Telluride 2007 Day 5

The exquisite lamb chops at Allreds last night must have been what I needed to get my skiing mojo back today. That, or the fact that it was really nice out. Tape to Tape.

No Complaints

Telluride 2007 Day 4

Blue and crew flew in yesterday afternoon. So now we are 9. Had dinner at the Bluepoint Grill last night. "Not as Cold" today.

Telluride 2007 Day 3

Dinner at Siam (Thai) the night before. ... Groundhog day was a really cold one. Not that I wouldn't mind repeating it a few times. My ear lobe is still sore from what might have been the precursor to frostbite. Did the usual runs on 9, made a few friends at Giuseppe's.

Sandra and Kathy

Telluride 2007 Day 2

Last night had dinner at Honga's. It takes some getting used to $250 Sushi dinners; but not if you have been in Telluride for long. The fancy fresh shaved Wassabi is nice; but they should just give it to you - the $5 extra is kind of lost in the noise. ... Day two was spectacular. Lots of sun in the morning. I yo-yo'd on 9 until the gang caught up. So many friendly people here. I met local yoga instructor Victoria who helped confirm many of the positive images I have of the locals.

The ride up 9

Telluride 2007 Day 1

Got into Telluride airport yesterday just as the snow started to fly. There was about six inches on the ground when we woke. I had a hard time getting up. I forgot to slam lots of fluids and coupled with the sake and wine we drank last night... ouch! So it wasn't a tape-to-tape day, but at least I was on the mountain by 10 AM. The snow kept dumping.

Mark and Karen

Quick Trip to Portland

A quick trip to Portland was one day shorther than expected when the group I was supposed to meet wasn't entirely there! Made the best of the situation and had some comfort food at Mother's.

Synopsys Hillsboro, OR Campus

Ice Storm on Mine Hill

The karmic payback for all the whining about it being too warm took place a few days ago. It got wet... and cold enough for the worst ice event in ten years on the hill. Worked at home for a couple of days, but with face/face meeting looming and perhaps 3/8" ice I thought "I only have to decend 500 feet over a half mile". Bunny slope material. Check out the stud-on-ice ABS action as the Hakka enabled Saab goes right into the ditch!

The road-bed

Bosch ABS in action

Resting Place
Next year the Saab will get new Hakka-5s with the square stud. That will do it!

Winter, What Winter?

9 AM on January 6th and it is over 60F in New England! What's the deal? We got in a second "half day" earlier this week. Waterville has done a good job considering the lack of any substantial snow.

The Holidays are Here

But there isn't much snow!

Manitou House, December 2006

I found that if I take the MJPEG output from my trusty Canon PowerShot and convert it to Divx, it looks OK on YouTube:

Snow Ski Day One

Not epic or anything like out west, we had a nice morning of six runs on the quad. I guess that's about 9000 feet of vertical. The cover was OK on the trails that were open.

Not a Party

A few friends came over last night for what wasn't a party. The tire and foot marks in the snow on the driveway stand as evidence.