Musings

On my record cutting lathe, there is a microscope to see what you’ve cut. The way the microscope works is by shining a light on your cut grooves at a 45-degree angle.

Machinists, fellow record lathe operators, mathematicians: perhaps you can help. I am stumped. The problem I’ve been having with my lathe is that my turntable is not level.

I’ve never been sure how much I believe in all that astrological stuff, but…

It’s tremendously well done, from the writing by Jim Heimann to the thousands of vintage black-and-white photographs and of course the over-the-top Taschen book layout.

The family has done an incredible job on some really exceptional museum-quality displays of cowboy hats, boots, guitars, saddles…

I still believe in the promise of the United States of America. I still celebrate our Independence Day, July 4th, despite the stain of idiocy, grift…

The Green Mill in Chicago is one of the great untouched live music bars in America. It still feels just like it did back in the 1930s or 1940s.

What a gorgeous place! Built in 1953 and retaining much of its original charm, it overlooks the river on a picturesque plateau.

I have to say, the tour is pretty magical! You get on a boat with about sixty other people, and start heading up the river. You see some pretty amazing rock formations.

What’s so special about the Sky Club? It’s where the salad bar was invented in the late 1940s!