Recent content by FI FELLOW

Warning to those on blood thinners such as warfarin - turmeric will definitely raise your Prothrombin Time. As a warfarin addict for 23 years due to an aortic valve replacement, I have experienced the effect. My PT went from a steady 3.0 to 4.5 when I tried a turmeric supplement. Ceasing the...

I can usually fall asleep but tend to wake up at 2am sometimes. To alleviate this, I keep a 3mg melatonin and a glass of water by the bed. If I wake up at 2am, taking that melatonin will put me back out until 7am. Taking it when going to bed is too early, and it wears off by 2am, so a 2am dose...

Yes, it is toasty after a while...great for the NJ winters, in the summer AC fixes the heat issue. ;-) The filaments of the big tubes each burn 100W just to light up (10V@10A), then you have the dissipation of the high voltage at 330W per power tube plus 6W for the driver tube in each amp. So...

Yes, I would be able to directly drive electrostatics. There is at least one guy doing it that I've seen on the internet, but with his own home-brew amps. SET (single-ended triode) amps usually put out from 1-10 Watts from a single output tube. My amps put out 200W from each of those big 833C...

If you want to relive 50 years ago, you could pick up an old Marantz receiver and revive it by changing out the electrolytic capacitors. I found this Marantz 2230 for $10 at a flea market, changed the capacitors and lamps, fixed a broken power button, cleaned it up, and my wife uses it for her...

If you want an interesting hobby, look into DIYing a system. I started small 20 yrs ago or so, just modifying some speakers and electronics. Then it grew into a passion and I've built what I consider a very high-end system from vacuum tubes (some 100 years old) including my own design DAC...

A free set of tires from a raffle at a fundraiser for a deceased acquaintance who was a politician. Turns out my RAV4 was in need of tires at the time so it was quite timely, and tires aren't cheap these days!

Well, as I stated, continue my workout schedule for one; I'm pretty dedicated to my workouts and staying in shape. I have a hobby in electronics, specifically building vacuum tube audio equipment, so that will take some time. I like fast cars and own a 717HP Dodge Challenger Hellcat with a...

Yes, I have, back in academia; not an instrument much in use in industrial labs these days, at least not the ones I've been haunting. Cool instrument as the mercury droplet creates a fresh new electrode with every new drop. No worries about poisoned, drifting electrodes screwing up the measurements.

Great to hear. After spending years getting a PhD, finding the right company (it took 4 tries but 30 years and counting at this one), climbing up the ranks, researching and developing new technologies, and growing younger staffers it feels weird to think about not doing that any more. I do have...

Cool, we can jump into the abyss together! ;-)

I'm thinking February, just after bonuses and stock awards arrive. Wouldn't want to prejudice their assessments before that...

After much thinking and back and forth, it's looking like June1, 2022 will be the end of work for me, so less than one year to go. Actually, I will have 8 weeks of vacation time next year, so that translates to April 1 as the last day of actual work. The timing maximizes my retained stock and...

Pipelines, especially natural gas. Hugely undervalued now, and all those future electric cars will need power, which the solar and wind sources will not be providing for decades. Additionally, the old coal power plants are being replaced with natural gas plants. Hurry though, Buffett is sniffing...

The triode signal tubes in my stereo preamp are nearly 100 years old. Sound great!