posted
  • place: Cedaredge, Colorado

HR 82

I started this post back in March, titling it gut punch from the Feds, but I never finished it. Here we are at the end of the year and that gut-punch—a fiscal one that drained the life out of me this whole year—has been pulled. And pulled retroactively, no less, to the end of 2023: good deal! And, as well it should have!

Since entering the Amurikan to workforce in 1975, I worked enough ‘quarters’ and payed into the system to qualify for Social Security (SocSec). Not a whole lot, but some. So when I was planning what my meager retirement finances would look like, I used the numbers that SocSec officially generated for me based on those earnings. As I lived overseas for a much of my adult life, I had acquired a small pension in Iceland, an even smaller one from Finland, and recently a few dollars from the state of Colorado: together these totaled a few hundred dollars. However, unbeknownst to me—okay, shitty due-diligence on my part—there was a law on the federal books called the Windfall Elimination Provision which dictated through bilateral agreements with, for example, Iceland and Finland, that my SocSec in the United States would be penalized by 60% of the total value of my other pensions. Suddenly I was confronted by the realization that my Social Security in the US would shrink by more than $400/mo. that’s a lot of money when the total was only $1000/mo to begin with and the total of all pensions is less than $1500/mo before taxes.

Because the law mainly applied to anyone receiving a pension in the US—several million people—the 118th Congress, after 20 years of wrangling, came to the conclusion that there were too many valuable constituents getting screwed by this ‘provision’—teachers, police, fire-fighters, other municipal workers, and folks like me with international pensions. I still don’t understand the original rationale for the initiation of the WEP in the 1970s, like any of us were really making a huge ‘windfall’ … ever, while working or now in ‘retirement’. Sheesh. H.R.82 – Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 was passed last week by the House and Senate, and signed into law by the President. It is retroactive to December 2023, right before I parted from the CGS and had to pull the trigger on my SocSec, so I should get all the withheld funds back.

On a side note, I want to recognize the Icelanders who run their pension system, how professional, quick, accurate, informed, friendly, and efficient they have been to work with. It took all of four minutes to get set up at their office in Reykjavík. Same with the Finns, a humane experience with their very funny sense of humor. To the contrary, as I was navigating this issue at the beginning, the woman in the Denver SocSec office, with whom I could only *fax* (!!!) was quite the nasty character. The offices have an armed Federal guard (oh, wait, that’s supposed to make me *feel safe*?), and the *fax* technology issue was simply incomprehensible (and completely unacceptable in 2024!).

I was going to thank the politicians who made the repeal happen, but research into that made me nauseous. The Social Security Fairness Act was submitted to every Congress back to 2000! Duly noted: how, towards the final vote, most Republicans started to pile-on for a free ride of positive press after they had long-opposed passage. Pragmatic and corrupted power-seekers all, no kudos to any of them that I hope to receive my just payments—as I *should have* at the beginning. That modest increase will help cover ever-rising utility, medical, and food bills!

posted
  • place: Cedaredge, Colorado

neoscenes.net at +31 years

A few comments on where the site is in the moment:

A year ago my old friend, Howard Rheingold—the Silicon Valley journalist, who, among other activities was part of the WELL and who coined the term “virtual communities”—connected me with a start-up hosting company, ReClaim, that caters to the educational community. I’ve been part of the global educational community for more than thirty years: if the shoe fits! That and I’ve been increasingly annoyed/disgusted with GoDaddy—fifteen years the site host—for re-defining their “unlimited” hosting offers. In 2021 they threatened to kill the neoscenes.net site unless I deleted 30 of the 40 gigs of content. Faugh, enough of that: I signed on with ReClaim immediately. Rescued! This was the sixth major platform rollover for the site since 1993, and it’s only recently that I was able to take the time to revive those 30 gigs of the archival content.

There are still some format/embed and sizing problems with images that accompanying postings before 2009, brought on by fundamental changes in WordPress. It’s an endless process to keep the beast up to even a minimal contemporary standard. Currently there are ~8100 entries, several thousand images, a few hundred videos and maybe 2,000 audio pieces. I’ve decided if I can hit 10,000 substantive entries I will either stop posting, and/or be declared a daisy-pusher.

Screenshot of site in 1995, when hosted on the ISMENNT server in Reykjavík.
Screenshot of site in 1995, when hosted on the ISMENNT server in Reykjavík.

In the meantime, compiling the wretched news on Social Security and Medicare, monthly income will be, well, grim, in this, the richest … country … in … the … world (sorry, gagging on the phrase). Okay, okay, I am a privileged white male who tried to follow his own idiosyncratic path internationally. And, honestly, it feels like the ‘system’ it meting out its interpretation of just punishment for my ludicrous belief that what I did along that path had some socially-redeemable value in cash: it didn’t.

Staring out the window on the unseasonably warm and very dry environs, waiting for the arrival of a colleague to gather the remaining office gear: two MacBook Pros; an iMac; iPad; a couple Dell monitors; 2000 slides in archival boxes; a set of data DVDs; some of the org swag accumulated over the years; university credit card; Mines BlasterCard ID; various cables; and my internal identity as an employee of the Colorado Geological Survey and the Colorado School of Mines. It was a job I took out of desperation to lock in some minimal fiscal security before boredom, age, and ageism made it impossible. Indeed, it filled that role, somewhat, but I’m still in a relatively precarious state. Will soon liquidate the Cedaredge property if a reasonable renter can’t be found, though I hate to give up the Covid-era 2.25% mortgage!

posted
  • place: Golden, Colorado

secondary or primary?

Secondary or primary influences in the course of a day. As thoughts flush, septic, toxic, banal, indistinct.

Dis-ease plagues the surrounds. Time is the wait for embodied encroachment.

Later:

A fragment of pleasing life: Pleased to see calmness on her face, in her demeanor. Pleased to feel the resonance of her heart and life in her voice. Pleased that she is feeling well at the moment. Still drawn by that astonishing intelligence. It engenders endless delving into the nature of our lives. It gives me hope. Otherwise, these days I do not socialize.

Sooner:

Paycheck, taxes, investments, retirement, all terms that frame the life of artifice that follows money, follows a job along the capitalist way. Artifice, yes, art, no. Unless one holds close to mind that it is all performance art. If it wasn’t so replete with dis-spiriting human relation (hah, management!), foundering in that artifice, it might be redeemable. Redemption comes at a price, though.

posted
  • place: Golden, Colorado

friends?

Been mulling this one for the last year, since starting this regular job. Most self-time/energy is consumed in maintaining the psycho-neuro structure necessary to hand over that life-time and life-energy to someone else in exchange for cash. Nothing is left over except that abstract bank balance. Is this merely age? or a lack of fitness in this theatrical role? or a basic misunderstanding on how to be in such a situation? I do not know. Life passes.

From the hollowness of this drained state, relationships slip away with an ease that defies comprehension, much less understanding. Once gone, there seems to be no trace of them. They vanish into the darkness of failing memory, only a few tiny fragments of mediated presence remain, if anything. Impact? Affect? Impression? One may argue that, yes, I was impacted, I made an impact, they were impacted, they made an impact, but this is so abstract that it carries little to consider, especially after memory departs. We forget what we become.

After a long life-work of spending life-time with different people: traveling to visit them, I’ve discovered that this doesn’t mean very much in a culture that respects only power and its abstracted instrument, money.

And I am merely a mooch, a nomadic parasite on that monetized system. I made the fundamental and very naive mistake assuming that my presence was welcome all this time, the last thirty years, more. Solo pilgrim to solitary places — a nomad whenever possible — is and will be the mode from now on. period. It’s been this way on an increasing basis anyway, might as well make it formally so.

posted
  • place: Golden, Colorado

cryptic and incomplete 2016 review

I think 2016 started with the thought that it couldn’t be more challenging than 2015. If change is a challenge, 2016 definitely was that.

It started out slowly, ensconced in the modest house I bought in Prescott in 2014 that contained my full art-media-production studio and archive in Prescott, Arizona. As the art-scene in Prescott consists mostly of bronze cowboys, turquoise-and-silver jewelry, and paintings of blue-eyed Indian children, my work had to be virtual and remote: Patrick of framework:afield invites a piece for his internationally syndicated weekly program on field recording; Arts Birthday; AudioBlast; Reveil 2016; continuing contributions to aporee::maps; and, later, Radiophrenia (Glasgow). Portrait work continues but I haven’t really put any new landscape images online for awhile.

One local exception came when Tom, the director of the Natural History Institute invited me to do a public lecture and workshop on ‘acoustic ecology’ titled “A Natural History of Sound” in March.

April saw something of a (Plotner) family conclave for Al’s interment at the Antelope Hills cemetery. I was the sole representative from the Hopkins/MacKenzie side of the family. Good to see those folks again, might be awhile before the next family-type conclave.

I spent significant time the past couple years on a conceptual re-development of the Ecosa Institute‘s ‘regenerative design’ curriculum with a small group of folks along with volunteer work at the nascent Milagro Art Center. more “cryptic and incomplete 2016 review”

posted

what is happening? how is this happening?

• Our analysis finds that at the end of 2010 the Top 50 private banks alone collectively managed more than $12.1 trillion in cross-­‐border invested assets for private clients, including their trusts and foundations. This is up from $5.4 trillion in 2005, representing an average annual growth rate of more than 16%.

• The three private banks handling the most assets offshore on behalf of the global super-­rich are UBS, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs. The top ten banks alone commanded over half the top fifty’s asset total – an increased share since 2005.

• The number of the global super‐rich who have amassed a $21 trillion offshore fortune is fewer than 10 million people. Of these, less than 100,000 people worldwide own $9.8 trillion of wealth held offshore.

• If this unreported $21-32 trillion, conservatively estimated, earned a modest rate of return of just 3%, and that income was taxed at just 30%, this would have generated income tax revenues of between $190-­‐280 bn – roughly twice the amount OECD countries spend on all overseas development assistance around the world. Inheritance, capital gains and other taxes would boost this figure considerably.

• For our focus subgroup of 139 mostly low-middle income countries, traditional data shows aggregate external debts of $4.1 tn at the end of 2010. But take their foreign reserves and unrecorded offshore private wealth into account, and the picture reverses: they had aggregate net debts of minus US$10.1-13.1 tn. In other words, these countries are big net creditors, not debtors. Unfortunately, their assets are held by a few wealthy individuals, while their debts are shouldered by their ordinary people through their governments.

Tax Justice Network

posted
  • place: Prescott, Arizona

first night

Spent the first night in the new place. No way of getting enough fresh air into the poorly-insulated house. Single-glazed windows in the original part are useless. No attic fan (yet). And since they put in air conditioning (versus an evaporative cooler), there is no way to get fresh air through the HVAC system. So, sweating in the monsoon heat.

Totally stopped noting hours of labor on the new place last week already. Too tired to do so after a day’s worth of bustling stuff around. I will not calculate my sweat equity in this way. Much has been done although the serious tasks, many of them, are still waiting. Right now just getting the simple and free modifications & cleaning done. There is a lot of poorly poured concrete ‘retaining walls’ and sidewalks that are useless and will have to be jack-hammered out. And in their place, a single set of new retaining walls properly designed and executed to keep up-slope drainage away from the house, and to secure the Pine Knoll parking area. On the south side of the house, removing all generations of concrete poured up against the foundation. seal foundation block, and set in some French drains, … and on and on and on…

Still haven’t looked into the main attic (no access from inside the house), or spent significant time in the crawl space. Mitigation, mitigation, mitigation — of the imperfections of prior systems. Takes energy that I don’t presently have — between the Lyme’s fiasco and a bum shoulder (acting up for the first time in 20 years — probably from all the heavy labor versus simply doing yoga, swimming, and lifting). Take it easy, whilst bleeding the savings account.

posted
  • place: en route Glen Ridge, New Jersey - Lebanon, Pennsylvania

en route

Moving in a gprs-accessible Amtrak train, the Keystone, from Penn Station in New York across New Jersey to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The gauntlet at Penn Station included a heavily armed NYPD Special Operations officer with full body armor and at least 5 30-shot clips in his equipment vest. He was pulling random people aside for searches: NYC/Amurika post-9/11.

The ‘back-east’ trip continues with intimate encounters — old friends, and a few new folks met along the way. The impending house purchase seems far away, but it does put an edge on things when I talk/think about it. So many things to be done on a negative cash flow. Trying to absorb the mentality of capitalism: “takes money to make money” and such banal platitudes. Dealing (effectively) with an abstracted social instrument (protocol) predicated on collective trust requires a certain distance and disconnect. The level of internal disturbance that it precipitates is more than it should. The constant appearance that it makes in mediating social intercourse. In truth money itself it not the mediating factor so much, but rather what the access to money brings. And hard on that situation is the question why it is that I cannot convert some force of my intelligence and creativity into that particular form of social capital. It is a question for which I have not found any clues to the answer, except that I do not place the conversion process in a priority position in daily praxis.

So it goes.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 14 November, 1963

Dave Reiner in to ask about the use of the Itek spectral sensitometers at Holloman; Capt. Frischett raises this question. I gave DR a copy of my letter of 23 Sept. ’63 to Ward Topping which raises the question of re-examining the payoff from these devices; Dave will send a copy to Ray Holland.

Have a good draft of the decoy chart.

Leo S. not in early, & did not return my call.

30˚F

DCH went off last night to library to “study”, returning at 10:45 PM; he apparently spent the evening on a schedule for folk-singing.

Went in to the Harvard Astronomical Library for the 8 PM mtg. on the ATM. Two films were shown, and cider & doughnuts served. Had an interesting disc. w/ Frank Kovac who has a 1620 Fortran program for Maksutov design. He & his associate have also been able to successfully test their photo-electric guiding device at Harvard’s Agassiz Stations. Some snow on way home.

DCH to the German class at Harvard.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 31 October, 1963

Jack Slade in to ask about HIRS, and what vehicles it will be on that Tradex we’ll see.

Wrote to LAB re: engineering education.

Talked to Mary Lou re: the schedule — the schedule Control Board meets 4 November & she will mark the next issue with HIRS & Tradex identifications.

RH 30%
Warmer

Went over to Lincoln Auto to pick up the rear tail gate sills for the Willys; Ed Boyer had not ordered them, so I went to the Jeep warehouse and got the part nr. again — 664416; then took it out to them.

It seems to me that this has been the longest time between paydays that I can recall.

posted
  • place: Boston and South Acton, Massachusetts

Wednesday, 30 October, 1963

Spent day at PSC after putting CoA on the Mark II Mod4A sheets. Got home at 7:20 PM.

35˚F – windy

Spent the day at PSC working on the audio system with Geo Costello. The Altec Line Amp & tone control were put on one of the 6′ relay racks, and finally connected after a three hour chore by Geo. A short in the movie input plug was responsible for no sound out of the house system, and the jumper between the 100′ mike cable and the sound floor jack was shorted. After all this and finding the radio, I was able to get a good signal out of the Overhead and Under Balcony speakers. We plan to finish this part and put on the filter Saturday morning.

This seems the longest time I’ve gone without cash.

The Lemoyne’s arrived from Belle Fourche, S.D., and decided to stay in a motel.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Boston, and South Acton, Massachusetts

Friday, 17 May, 1963

In discussion w/ ELE at 0815 he spoke of a coordination effort between Steve Dodd, Friedman, Mel Huslin, etc on RE problems. They need basic facts, and I’m to develop those set forth in Kent Kresa’s note of 21 Feb. 1963, plus others — the TVX’s. Worked w/ Vic Guethlen to obtain a corrected text for last Tuesday’s trip; he made several important additions. Finally got it in working order and gave it to Shirley about 2 PM.

Found three documents that have a bearing on the TV’s. Al Smith xt5750 called to say he had some TVX patterns from their -GE- range; they will be available as soon as they can be traced.

46°
Clear

It was cool last night.

Went in to PSC for a Trustee’s mtg: John Zvara reported the total cost of the roof at $133,744.61! We need about $95,000 more to pay for all of it. We will have to borrow against the Equity Fund. Bob Stater said he thot it morally wrong to engage in deficit financing. I reported on the Audio-TV, stressing 1) the racks of power amplifier donation, 2) the operational problems of the Missionary Conference. In answer to a question, I estimated $1000 more would provide a minimum system. I hope someone donates it, as I’m reluctant to go ahead.

Paul Bradbury is spending the weekend with us, so he went out with us — the girls came in on the train for the last night of Cadettes.

During the Trustee’s mtg it was voted to discontinue use of the TV lights until they can be revamped to be less objectionable to the pulpit speaker. Some of us looked at them specifically after the mtg. The ones in the ceiling light the rear wall principally.

posted
  • place: South Acton and Boston, Massachusetts

Sunday, 05 May, 1963

Rain in afternoon

Took family into PSC. The TV monitor was left on overnight and of course would not work when the door was opened. I’ll have to put a GE remote operated relay on it and on a new outlet under the pulpit for a remotely operated M-30 microphone, as we just can’t pick up the missionary candidates. The church was packed at both services, with many most able missionaries speaking with 3/4 of them in costume. It was most inspiring to see and hear them. One missionary family gave their entire resource of $1500 to another missionary so they could go; I was quite moved at this! A total of about $278K was subscribed, some $4K over last year!

We went over to Mary’s for dinner, and back into PSC at 2:30 PM. Paul stayed in all day, doing a little studying. Home at 11:45 PM.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Friday, 12 April, 1963

Sent TWX to Jim Knight when it was evident that yesterday here was Good Friday at Kwaj and a holiday there; this for Larry Cianciotta.

Worked on the QPR draft text, giving it to Shirley for typing.

Cold, windy

The “drinking water” treatment for my cold of the last three days seems to have paid off; it is running down.

Fred Lake phoned — his men worked at PSC in PM. I got there about 3 PM and they had a feedback stabilizer in place between a 1567 and a 1589 80 watt amplifier. The stabilizer gave about 2 Db more gain. We then tried several pulpit mike positions and found not much difference. The feedback stabilizer didn’t do much more than 2 Db when the M-20 was used as the input, also. We then found a more serious problem, a reduced volume & pickup on the SS Room; Geo C. finally decided to bring a pair of coupling transformers to see if the speakers could be driven directly and prevent the speaker line from functioning as an antenna for the S-C amplifier. If this doesn’t work, we will have to run a new shielded cable to the SS Room. He will be on deck in the AM.

Worked out State Income Tax — looks like refund is $76.31.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Friday, 15 March, 1963

Checked in at office at 0820.

Reported to WW & ELE from 11 AM to 1210 PM — WW apparently would like to go down, as he asked me about the scheme of living.

Left early — 3 PM.

Clear

My, it’s nice to sit in a chair that isn’t moving!

Went in to L2 to find the usual amount of paperwork. Spoke with WW & ELE for over an hour reporting on my trip.

Started home about 3 PM; stopped at the Ford agent in Concord to get an estimate on repairs to the Ford steering worm&sector — about $70 & a day’s work. Put rent check in bank, picked up a top coat in Maynard; stopped at Auto Machine Service to get an estimate on steering box, but they don’t do this work — made agreement to take Ford there on 19 March to have the started checked. Also went out to Stow to a mechanic on Old Hudson Road, but he wasn’t in. Got home about 5:30 PM.

Worked on mail.

Checked some of the tubes in the SX62

posted
  • place: Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

Saturday, 23 February, 1963

Talked to Jim Knight at the PRESS office for about an hour. He is in charge of the ground-based optics, and is getting a Mann μ-densitometer in March. A few theoretical people are beginning to come down. They have almost completely rebuilt the EKCo Versamat so it works quite well now.

Clear
cloudy

Took my laundry over; the interval is 4 days.

The air is clear and it is cooler than at Honolulu. The ocean is a deep rich blue that must be seen to believe; it is magnificent — I had forgotten it is like this.

Went window shopping at “Macys” the Island Store operated by the Transport Company of Texas (TCT). A Canonflex RM w/ 1.4 lens is $118 and a Nikon F w/ 1.4 lens is $205.15. I’ll get one shortly. There seems to be a lot of outdated film around also. An Ampex Series 1200 tape recorder is $459 and a Zenith All Wave Radio $133. The watchmaker looked at & timed my Omega wristwatch to find that it is off (fast about 5 sec./24 hours!). He wants $10 to clean & oil it; it takes 10 days.

Picked up a set of knives, forks, and spoons for 8 for $9.35. I’ll mail them home.

Jim Knight picked me up at 0930 & took me for a ride around the island — there are 3600 people here.

Had dinner at Jim’s, it was quite a pleasant evening.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Wednesday, 13 February, 1963

Read PA1490 — BJL Report on TTR output on AMR test b302. The payoff from its use is quite clear. Sent a note to ELE citing 1) The long time between test and report (14 December 61 to 1 November 62) and 2) suggesting that management at all levels should look into getting its output into the RESDAC.

Obtained validation of my Immunization Certificate at the Lexington Public Health Office.

Read in Aviation Week/11 Feb. that DOD/McNamara will push the Nike X, a low altitude point defense system.

+24˚F
Clear

Obtained a card at the Lexington Library at noon, and looked around a it. There is a fine model of the battle, and a well-stocked music room where records are available.

Put $229.80 in checking account.

Called John Cheever re: getting together Friday on the audio; he is agreeable, so called Ken Olsen who will be able to meet about 6:30/6:45.

Called the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. at Natick OLympic 3-0640 and asked for a receipted bill for the dining room glass door breakage of last September or August. He agreed to do this today.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Monday, 11 February, 1963

Had some disc. w/ ELE & WW re: objectives for trip to A tomorrow. He (WW) wanted to make the minimum commitment for anything, in accord w/ the Lab’s wishes. He wants me to function in a liaison capacity to see that the questions of A are answered here by those qualified, and to eliminate calls to individuals.

Bill Daly had word back from Honolulu that overseas RT insurance was available at the Hickam MATS Terminal, $50,000 RT for $8.00; this seems a high rate. He also had my orders cut and on hand for the Kwaj trip; they are for the interval 2-63 / 2-64!

20˚F

Rode w/ Harry Sussman

Phoned Elbery’s re: Ford. It will be done tomorrow, including undercoating. LCH can get it on Thursday when she goes to school. Cost will be about $375. Made arrangements to pay $200 on pickup, and the rest in 30 days; this w/ Mr. Kemp, the credit manager.

Went over to the Machine Shop to get the small cone/cylinder shell for the PSC candelabra: it looks fine — they machined it out of solid stock!

Went to bed at 9 PM.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Friday, 25 January, 1963

Reported to ELE on my trip. Also reported to WIW, who had AAG & Carl Nielson come in. After a discussion of 2 hours, we still had an unanswered question — why is precise control of the photo process so essential.

I over-looked the fact that the density of the line being measured is supposed to be proportional to the amount of element present; therefore the precise duplication of the standardized processing technique is essential. This was pointed out to me in a call to Sheldon Phillips.

Rec’d my copy of the revised edition of Mees.

Went in to PSC on the PW, taking LCH, JAH & NJH. I tried to get the Altec M-20 mike back into service, but couldn’t, so called Lakewitz at home. He agreed to have Norman Chaput at PSC at 0900 tomorrow morning.

Rec’d a check for $237 from Fletcher, Bowes, & Hall at DCA as a refund of monies in my insurance account for the house at McLean. Perhaps I ought to try to sell it. Had LCH put $100 into the savings acc’t, and will leave the rest in the checking account for repairs to the rear of the Ford body.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 17 January, 1963

The Yellow Fever shot did not have any after effects.

Clear
+10˚

Had lunch with Rabun Wood. He is also seriously considering returning to the government svc. I gave him a copy of Jerry Klutz’s letters of October 9 & December 4 containing info on the proposed pay scales.

Went home about 2 PM so LCH could go in to her class.

Took CR over to the Lexington High School to an AFS weekend function.

DCH showed me a French II quiz with a grade of 85; it is either fortuitous or he is trying to do better work.

The President’s budget is for $98 billion with a $12 billion deficit; this seems to me to border on financial irresponsibility. It seems to me to be well to taper off on the foreign aid.

Rec’d a form letter from Dr. Ockenga calling a meeting of the joint boards relative to a question of his ministry at PSC for 18 January at 8:45 PM. I suspect it is a problem of his pay rate and the hiring of a consultant.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 10 January, 1963

Went thru the modulation transfer function argument and the need for direct electron photography hardware with Dave Clapp, who then signed the disclosure on Page 9.

Finally completed a call to Jim Knight at Kwaj; He will be in Pasadena on 21 Jan. and the ff week. During the day he will be at Bowler & Chivans in South Pasadena at (area code 213) MU2-3391, and will stay at the Saga Motel on Colorado Blvd. SY5-0431. I agreed to try to see him on 22 or 23 Jan. I hope I can combine this w/ a trip to Florida & the inspection trip to McClellan as well as a stop at Sandia Corporation to see the “Clean” Room installation.

AAG read over and signed the disclosure on the previous page. He mentioned that a lecture in A-166 where a film of colloidon was pulled thru a CRT that had a 2-stage seal at each end that worked successfully.

WZL unable to justify 800′ or 35mm spectral film on his list of 10 Sept. ’62; suggested that I use CJN’s list from Bendix.

Clear

Informed by WZL that since my salary is already so high that I don’t get a pay raise this year, that I am regarded as competent and my work good. Also, money for salary increases was scarce this year. I suspect I ought to look into going back to the government with its lengthy vacation, particularly since I took out my retirement deposits on leaving. There is also the problem of a non-governmental employee carrying enough death benefit income insurance to protect his family. the Bureau of Labor Compensation would have provided my family with $607/month on my death. My current income is $16,860/year, but I find it increasingly difficult to pay for enough insurance to duplicate even half my income.

Worked out a letter to BB&N re: the PSC audio where I ask them for a line diagram and for clarifying comments on their letter of 15 October 1962.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Friday, 04 January, 1963

Requested the Kwaj Comm chap to ask Jim Knight what dates I should be at Kwaj to witness an event.

Obtained & read 6 back copies or the magazine “Industrial Photography.”

Pointed out to ELE that Dave Monroe & Gaudette were going west to look for a suitable bldg. He was not aware that they were going and said he would ask questions. It turned out that a TWX to C. R. Weisner had come in from AFSC with the info that AFSC had decided to go ahead on the DPC with L2 as the TO, but they thot that an existing bldg. should not be built. CRW had not bothered to inform VAN or WIW!

Had another shot which made me feel poorly.

Overcast 30°F

Washed down the Willys b4 leaving for work, and then got stuck! IT took 20 minutes to get back on the drive again. I should have pulled it back w/ the Ford.

Called Cambridge Savings Bank and cancelled the $7,000 term insurance.

The smallpox vaccination was ok; had another shot, which made my left arm sore. By 4 PM all I could do was to sit, as I felt like I had an attack of flu. Went to bed early.

CR’s check from AFS came; he is anxious to go to the PO for stationery.

posted
  • place: South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 27 December, 1962

Home.

Worked in the basement on the darkroom; putting in the partition for the south wall; the nail driver from South Acton Coal & Lumber works quite well; it is a Remington. CR dug out the hole for the sump, making it 2′ deep.

Had DCH remove the medicine cabinet in the bathroom so I could see how to pipe in a water hammer line; the vents to the outside are there so I’ll have to hook it on at the back bathroom hot water line.

posted
  • place: Rochester, New York

Tuesday, 18 December, 1962

Spent the day w/ a Mr. Tubbs in the M.P. film Department. He answered all my questions and I took 13 pps. of notes. He also mentioned the EKCo 16mm Viscomat machine that uses the chemicals in viscous form (!) operates at 36’/min. and occupies floor space 18″ x 24″. Lead time 30 days & costs $12,000. Looks like we ought to put in one of these. He suggested a Mix Room on the 2nd floor over the machine room and the pump and water plant on the basement floor.

I’ll drive back home tomorrow.

Overcast

In Rochester.

posted
  • place: Rochester, New York

Monday, 17 December, 1962

Checked in to Mr. Swann’s office at 0910, leaving the car in an Esso station for a lube job. After some preliminaries, Mr. S. Phillips took me to the Physics Div. of the Research Lab — a Mr. Eisen who gave me a lecture on sensitometry & densitometry. I took 3 pages of notes. Had lunch at Kodak Park. Before lunch listened to the Rochester Orchestra play in the Kodak Theater; it was wonderful. Ret’d. to Mr. Eisen’s ofc. for a tour of his laboratory where he showed me some of the densitometers and sensitometers used in routine processing of film. I’m not sure I understand the spectral sensitometer.

Overcast
Rain

In Rochester.

Heard the Rochester Civic Orchestra at the Kodak Park Theater; it was real good. Also saw the audio center; it has Altec equipment and Ampex recorders; and it is located adjacent to the lighting control center. The audio center is separated from the auditorium by a curtain that is drawn when it is to be partitioned from the auditorium.

Picked up a loaf of brown bread made at the Trappist Monastery.

posted
  • place: en route South Acton, Massachusetts - Rochester, New York

Sunday, 16 December, 1962

Drove to Rochester NY from home in 7 hours — 394 miles, arriving at 8:15 PM.

2″ snow

Went in, after removing snow from the front of garage. Finally found the preamp in the radio room; Dave & Paul had removed it! And so I put it back, and apologized to the foreman who had been there since quite early!

I spoke w/ John Cheever & Ken Olsen to the effect that I intend to shift my pledge from missions to the Trustees account. In my opinion, the use of the income from the Endowment Fund is comparable to the manipulation that has resulted in the low US gold reserves, our No. 1 national problem.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 13 December, 1962

The ESD Committee tat is looking into the BSD need for a DPC met yesterday with VAN & others here to go over the need, etc. They took exception to the Photo Lab size, so a statement will go into PA-27 to the effect that the requirements for photo support will be reconsidered. This is a good thing.

I’m finally convinced that I’ll have to go to Kwajalein to see the PRESS optical program in operation. Spoke with ELE on this, and after an interval he informed me to see one Hal Curtis on it; I’m to get some forms filled out — theater clearances, etc.

Talked with Will Swanee at EKCo; he has been invited out by Jim Knight; he said he might go along.

Made up an equipment list for the Spectral Film Processing Area; it came to $48,500.

Clear
Cold

Re-timed the Willys in the PM; it was advanced by too much.

I filled the gas tank on the way home and at 3 AM LCH woke me up to say she detected gasoline fumes; the gas had expanded and run out of the filler cap. I opened the garage door for a short time, and left our bedroom windows half open.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Tuesday, 11 December, 1962

Made up financial reports of the last three trips, I have the amount of $29.83 due me even after pending $13.65 for the Willys fan motor and about $16 for trip insurance. After they were typed I took these over to Travel and requested that they be expedited.

Explained 30 voltage, power and current relations to ELE so they would be clear.

Met w/ ELE, Dave Moore, & WA to discuss the need for carrying the layout plus design criteria to BSD on 21 Dec. This in view of the review by ESD of the whole data processing center idea and its location. Dave will try to be ready on 19 Dec. with a 1/8″ = 1′ drawing and the design criteria

Clear – 22˚F at 0700

Phoned the item of $2782 to Ed Poor for consideration by the Budget Committee of the Trustees on Wednesday night. He pointed out that the income/Sunday is about $500 less than anticipated. So we are in trouble, particularly with the roof, trusses, and ceiling to repair. We will have to retrench at all points.

JAH & LCH went to the Dr with sore throats; JCH has a bad ear. They were given penicillin.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Friday, 07 December, 1962

Picked up a set of copies of specifications for the program and instruments used on the photo part of Press; they were made available by Mr. Guethlin (Getlin?) of Gp32. I may have to go to Kwaj to see how this program is progressing.

Finished another layout for the Photo Section. Some A people were in, E. Durand, Garblick, etc, to talk about a DPC. A meeting was held yesterday to decide what to tell them; not much more than generalities, of course. They are supposed to make a proposal to AF (BSD?) on 11 Dec. as to what they would do for a DPC. The blackboard had a list of a number of sources of data when they finished the discussion so that I think WW is now considering that there is a possibility that the DPC will actually have inputs from more than one source. I’ll move the Versamat closer to the film printer space, and put a darkroom adjacent to it.

Overcast
Bar 29.2″ Hg

Went into a CE Board mtg., where we discussed the CE Conference — principally to see why we are short $2400 out of the $20,000 budgeted; about 65 fewer members have pledged. It turned out that the average is $88/pledge, with few under $50, so it is the large number of small pledges that are absent.

CR went to Jordan’s to shop, but was impressed with the high cost of everything!

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Monday, 03 December, 1962

Described the layout to WW, AGG & ELE in AM. There was some talk of putting it on the other side of the bldg. At ELE’s request I later made up an estimate of connected load and heat load for the photo processing plant or lab.

Heat Load – 55 KW
Connected Load – 75 KW

I also put together a more of less detailed equipment list and cost, with personnel estimates. The equipment runs to about $300K and the annual ops cost $259K, including $50K for chemicals & another $50K for film.

After some discussion, it turned out that neither ELE or I will need to go out to BSD tomorrow.

Gen. Schreiver has designated Gen. Terhune of ESD to see if BSD needs a DPC and if so, where it shall be. I suspect Getting of A has been active.

Clear
Warm

An unseasonably warm day, after an extremely dense fog last night.

Spoke with JLV on the phone re: the rifle. AGG is going out to BSD this afternoon, so he agreed to take the .257 Remington, which I went home for.

Picked up DCH & CR on Piper Road after they had left Cornwall’s early after the Explorer mtg.

Had 3 phone conversations with Mr. Hussey in the PM re: the streets; after talking to Leonard Rae, Mr. H. agreed to put off the Planning Board hearing until 11 Dec. The attorneys for the Selectmen will be in Boston later this week, and will talk to Mr. H.

posted

urban energy organization

Hypothesis I. The self-sufficiency of urban areas with respect to their source of emergy decreases with the urbanization process. During the urbanization process, the diversity of emergy sources driving urban systems increases at first, then decrease due to the heavy reliance on fossil fuel.

Hypothesis II. During the process of urban growth, urban productivity is greater than the energy consumed in emergy terms, and information flows of the product of urban structure and the input to support the urban life continue to increase. Due to the increase in the accumulation of urban structure, the efficiency of production decreases.

Hypothesis III. Cities have the highest empower density in the hierarchy of ecosystems. During the process of urban development, empower density and transformity of land uses increase. Owing to the reliance on imported goods and services, the emergy investment ratio of urban areas increases and emergy self-sufficiency decreases with increases in density.

Hypothesis IV. As urbanization increases, the circulation of money also increases, faster than the increase in emergy flows, decreasing the buying power of currency.

Hypothesis V. The organization of emergy flows in urban systems is arranged in a spatial hierarchy with the highest emergy use close to the urban center.

Hypothesis IV. The fragmentation of landscapes on the urban periphery that results from urbanization will affect the distribution of emergy flows.

Huang, S.-L. & Chen, C.-W., 2005. Theory of urban energetics and mechanisms of urban development. Ecological Modeling, 189, pp.49–71.

posted
  • place: en route Rochester, New York - South Acton, Massachusetts

Monday, 19 November, 1962

Left the fan motor w/ the Delco repair shop on Lyell Avenue, and proceeded to the Gen. Ofc. of EK Co; where I spent the day in a most profitable manner w/ Will Swann, Sheldon Phillips of the Special Sensitivity Products Div., and Gordon Chambers of the Motion Picture Film Dept. We worked out a flow diagram for a processing plant to produce the film as noted on the list made up by WZL on 10 Sept. 62.

Drove back to South Acton; left Rochester at 3:45 PM and arrived home at 11:11 PM.

Overcast

Took the fan motor to a Jeep dealer but he couldn’t fix it, so took it to the Delco Plant and left it. Ret’d about 2:30 PM and found it wasn’t a Delco, but they had replaced it for $13.25; I didn’t have much choice! Put it back in the housing, and it ran quite well; it should at that price! Left Rochester about 3:45 PM for the drive back which was quite pleasant. Arrived home about 11 PM.

LCH took the Ford to get the back repaired.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 15 November, 1962

Cont’d to work on special equipment floor areas.

Dave Moore in to say that he was called yesterday PM by Capt. Black of BSRVT-5 at Norton who said they had briefed Gen. Davis (BSD Cmdr.) & the Exec. of the SBAMA. The result so far is that Bldgs. 535 & 536 are not available, as I hinted in 22L-7306. We went in to ELE’s office & told him this. A is putting up a new center across from the Mill Street gate to Norton to include a 7094, and they want this DP job! EH Krause, the A VP for their Norton operation was closeted w/ Weiser, et al., yesterday. I understood that he was told that L2 was requested by BSD to do this DP job and we will continue to do so unless requested not to. Possibly a new bldg. would be put up on Norton.

Made arrangements w/ W. Swann, EK Co./Rochester to meet w/ him at Rochester on 19 Nov. AM to talk about the Film Processing.

Clear, Cold
Windy

Worked a little on the Trendex table, updating it.

Requested the Credit Union to bring me a check for #50 tomorrow. I’ll get a new tire on Saturday morning.

posted
  • place: en route San Bernadino - Los Angeles, California - Boston - South Acton, Massachusetts

Friday, 09 November, 1962

Phoned JLV from the LAX airport to ask him to send us a copy of the schedule that Major Penn made up yesterday. He is thinking of coming east on Monday to be there Tuesday. He said Gen. Davis will be briefed on Tuesday 13 November.

Drove into LAX in the AM. Left for Boston at 10:31 after a 33 sec. acceleration time. Arrived at 6 PM.

Overcast

Drove on to the LA Airport in 1-1/4 hours from Berdoo. Picked up 8 lbs. of walnuts and an artichoke, & 2 Golden Delicious apples.

Left LAX at 10:15 AM on AA Nr.12, arriving at Boston at 6:05 PM.

I went on over to PSC to the Trustees mtg. We are to have a report from the consulting engineer on the roof by 13 November. More problems are being found. HJO wanted an expression of opinion on raising cash to fix the roof. It seemed good to extend the emergency fund by 2 yrs. to repair the basic structure of the church.

posted
  • place: San Bernadino, California

Thursday, 08 November, 1962

Checked in at BSD/L2 Office about 8 AM.

Looked at a typical warehouse with 82,000 ft2 — wood 6″ x 6″ columns on 20″ centers and a 16′ ceiling with sprinklers. Rehab of this structure would cost around $12/sq. ft.

After lunch we met with the BSD Space Panel for 2 hours. They were of the opinion that we should base the project on Bldgs. 535 & 536 which are now occupied by SBAMA, a total of about 80,000 sq. ft. We discussed the matter for awhile & I suggested to Maj. Tooley of BSLR that he form a list of items & steps needed to obtain a package plan for prompt submission to the BSD Cdr., Gen. Davis; he did this thru Mr. Austin of BSLR who listed the ff:

1) Justification for Target Data
2) Milestone charts
3) Layout of DPC based on use of Bldg. 535 & 536
4) Equipment list
5) Money estimates – be sure to ask for enough
6) Personnel needed

We also made a construction schedule later with Major Penn & Lt. Col. Kaufman, the BSD CE. This showed that it is essential that funds be made available soon from DOD or where ever at once in order to make the 15 June date.

Clear

JLV took us to the Perris Hill Pistol Range, at noon. It is operated by the San Berdoo County Sheriff’s Office, and has a tunnel over to the target positions so that the targets can be changed w/o shutting down all firing.

JLV had us to dinner at his home in Redlands in the evening — they have a pool; house is located on the east end of Smiley Heights. After a fine dinner, Christy drove us around town and thru the University of Redlands Campus; it was quite pleasant.

posted
  • place: Boulder, Colorado

1493: Homogenocene

It looked an ice cream cone. But when I came closer, I realized that the boy was eating a raw sweet potato. His father had whittled at the top to expose the orange flesh, which the boy was licking; the unpeeled bottom of the sweet potato served as a handle.

This was at a farm about 300 miles northwest of Shanghai. Sweet potatoes are often eaten raw in rural China–a curiosity to Westerners like me. I didn’t realize that I had been staring until the boy ran to seek the protection of his father, who was hoeing a row of sweet potatoes. The father glared at me as I waved an apology. Because I don’t speak Chinese, I couldn’t tell him that I had been staring not at his son, but at the sweet potato in his hand. Nor could I say that I was staring because the sweet potato was an emblem of four hundred years of convulsive global change. more “1493: Homogenocene”

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Tuesday, 16 October, 1962

Listed two, or transferred two Secret Sperry reports to Aubyn, plus 3 unclassified ones, also from Sperry.

Gave Pike Hugh Miser’s name and that of Project OMEGA in DCA re: his problem of OA on the basic problem of an ICBM strike on us.

Warmer
RH 74%

Went home about 3:30 PM; the load of soil came as we were going down to AMS after the Ford. The front brake cylinders were only half-operative. The auto choke was lubricated, as was the parking brake cable at the rear drum entrance.

Poured the rest of the concrete curbing.

Rec’d BB&N’s report. They recommend that the ceiling have a hard surface, two single channel systems, EV LR4’s line source speakers if we use them, and a realignment of Lake’s proposal. I’ll plan to read it Friday night.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Monday, 15 October, 1962

Talked (infrequently) with Gene Pike about the lack of manpower on the problem of what would be left after an attack.

Decided to circulate a report on the OA 20th Anniversary Technical Conference. I’ll write it tomorrow.

Cool in AM
RH 44% in AM!

Ice on the windshield!

The Willys is hard to start; the ignition wires must be bad.

Picked up the left side panel for the ’51 Willys and delivered it to Maynard. He had the right side cut through and out.

Had some discussion with DCH re: the input to his mental activities; if he feeds on garbage, this is what will come out.

He told LCH after returning from the Explorer’s mtg. that he was going to get on the HS Honor Roll after he obtained his driver’s license; he starts 6 hours of instruction tomorrow. I’m astounded, prior he so far has been indifferent to scholastics.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Monday, 08 October, 1962

Wrote up travel voucher for last week’s trip, & rewrote the voucher for the trip to WSMR / A / Stanford and Seattle; I forgot $75 in cash that was given me, and Travel does not pay per diem any more.

E. A. Eaton in to discuss the MK 12 problem. The A project man was in last week to talk, so ELE set up a mtg. w/ Pannell, Freed, WZL, etc. It turns out that DRC has no medium-range studies going on, nor is anyone else making any studies of a trade-off nature. I suggested that he send a piece of paper around setting forth his points. It then is a matter of record, providing a basis for action.

Clear

At 5 PM the water in the Garden Room was 1/2″ deep.

Nick Chianpa came after 60′ of reinforcing.

The blue Willys will be picked up tomorrow for the body repair.

Lubricated the green Jeep; the parking brake won’t release after taking up on it. I also had the green Willys inspected.

posted
  • place: Orlando AFB, Florida

Thursday, 04 October, 1962

Listened to Arms Control Panel all day. Those on it were Prof. Sohn of the Harvard Law School, John McNaughton, Gen. Counsel DOD, Donald Brennan, Father Conway, and Lawrence S. Finkelstein of the Cornegie Endowment for International Peace. The summary by Prof. Sohn contained the statement that the US is actually engaged in discussions with the USSR on this arms control topic. Our latest proposal is to take 6 years in Phase I and an undisclosed number of years on Phase II. The USSR proposed 4 on Phase I. The fact that the USSR is willing to engage in such a discussion indicates that they don’t want a general war.

Couldn’t find the place where we built the CPS-6’s in the summer of 1945; it has apparently been turned into a residential district as there is a base gate just north of the turn-off.

My roommate is Richard Martin, Registrar at the New England College, Hennicker, NH. He is a member of the AMC, and agreed to function as a sponsor in case I want to try to join.

Clear in AM

The OA Arms Control Panel was quite instructive to me. Prof. Sohn of Harvard Law School, has participated in the Arms Conf. in Geneva. HE said that these discussions show 1) That a progressive level of education and understanding of the consequences of nuclear conflict is being made; 2) that the USSR may not really want nuclear war since they seem to be actually talking and not repeating an often-repeated line anymore, and 3) that both the US & USSR may settle on a 30% overall reduction, still leaving the US with a great preponderance.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Thursday, 27 September, 1962

Wrote 22L-7283 to VAN on: “Report on Trip to WSMR / Aerospace – Raytheon TD mtg. / Electromagnetic Warfare Symposium with a Summary Recommendation.” Included were
1) DP workload and block diagram info plus a video recorder.
2) Aerospace/Raytheon TD mtg. — SFD proposal!
3) 6th EM Warfare Symposium at Stanford.
4) Rec. for an EM Warfare Center to deal with “this miserable ECM business” on a permanent basis. Areas of activity should include both manned & unmanned weapons, missiles, rockets, communications, propaganda, intelligence, reconnaissance, testing, simulation, direction-finding, and with theoretical support. Suggested that support from military, CIA, NSA, & State Department could probably be obtained. Staff of 50 professionals initially with provision for growth to 100 or so.

Obtained approval from AAG to go to the OA Conference at Orlando on Oct 3-4-5 so asked travel office to get space, an advance of $50 & a car.

Rain

Went to Dr. Sach at 19 Cedar Street, Concord for a L.I. physical for NE Mutual; I told Mr. Podbros that I would not take on any more L.I. until the premium prepayment on the SB policies is taken up; the dividend amounted to $44.52, leaving $10.50 to my credit as the premium was $34.02.

Lights on the ’54 Willys — parking switch — shorted. Finally had to take the license plate holder apart and put tape on the wire where it was bare; also put on red primer and a gasket on each side.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Tuesday, 25 September, 1962

Told ELE that I thot there should be a Division established to work on ECM.

I discussed with AAG, for about 2 hours, his memos on ECM dated 13 & 10 Sept. 1962. The one of 13 Sept. is incorrect in its statement of using strip chart recorders for the ECM recording; they are magnetic tapes in real time & re: the memo dated 10 Sept., it is misleading to me in that I took the terms “pattern” in its usual connotation to mean an antenna pattern — he seems to mean much more than that although his analysis seems directed toward the production of a “pattern of energy radiated…”. He has a mixture of pattern and plasma attenuation at several altitudes in his Fig. 7. It is not clear in my opinion. I suggested he recall it for the reasons as stated above and its complete lack of security classification — I was astonished at the latter situation.

It is quite evident that there has not been sufficient communication between us in “this miserable ECM business.” (See 23 July 1962)

Sat in mtg. with Lockheed to hear about the SFD tube again! This is their 2nd attempt on this one!

Cool
Overcast

Called Fred Lakewitz, and after some discussion he agreed to put in two column speakers & an amplifier to provide reinforcement in the sanctuary at no rental but we would have to pay the labor charges.

DCH got the cleanup job at the P.O.; it amounts to @22.50 every two weeks for about 8 hrs./week.

JCH ate an apple with lead arsenate on it; he complained of a tummy ache, so we took him to Dr. Weston, who thot he was getting a cold — if he was nauseated the chemical would have been toxic.

Saw Mr. Charbonneaux re: the Explorer’s party & Charles’ problem of getting a date.

Cll from Arch Magoon to see if I would function as Scout Committee Chariman.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Monday, 24 September, 1962

Reported to AAG on lack of missile subject matter at the ECM Symposium, pointing out that the one paper by Channell of Raytheon at Santa Barbara was not given. I’ll include this in a trip report. He requested me to look at what is written for the appendices.

I was unable to find the draft of the 22L- to CWV re: the qtys. of tape, etc. Apparently AAG suppressed it, providing for two of his own. They are not 22L’s but are unclassified memos that are 1) factually incorrect, and 2) show an incomplete grasp of the objective of ECM. I’ll have to discuss this with him in detail.

Overcast

Called Ed Poor at PSC re: 1) Ceiling treatment, 2) Rental and instal of amp & speaker during use of scaffolding. Clear space between TV camera & pulpit — no scaffolding. Conclusion of conversation is that I’ll deal with Mr. Lakewitz today and ask him to provide eq. for Sat. AM install if necessary, but will call him Wed. to advise him if we need it this weekend. (Scaffolding may not be in place at pulpit end by this Friday, in this case we use fixed audio system.) Ed will see that bars do not obstruct TV camera viewing.

posted
  • place: South Acton and Boston, Massachusetts

Sunday, 23 September, 1962

Overcast

Took family to SS & church. At the Trustee mtg. of 14 Sept. it was found necessary to carefully look into ceiling and roof truss repairs, so these were authorized. Since part of the ceiling plaster had fallen off, the $200 for consulting services by BB&N was also authorized, so I got in touch with W. J. Cavanaugh at Dedham who agreed to be there tonight or have someone else do so. Objective is to make recommendations for acoustic ceiling treatment, based on a listening test. He immediately recommended a hard plaster ceiling with no acoustical treatment.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Tuesday, 18 September, 1962

Clear

Went to the fair until 2 PM when I left for the Frye Hotel, picked up a few eats, packed, and went to the King Street Station. The Empire Builder left at 4 PM PDT. The ride up to Everett along the Sound was fine, as was the ride through the Cascades. The tunnel — 8 miles long — was completed in 1928, which I recall.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Tuesday, 04 September, 1962

Gave Frank Weinstein (5758 L251) what I have on T/M, subject to a Confidential security level.

Worked up more detail on the STV/ECM Program. Was unable to get thru to Nicholson at Raytheon re: seeing Phillpot at WSMR on 10 Sept.

Clear: LH!

Cancelled the Round Hill reservation for 7 – 8 Sept.; obtained one for 6 – 7 October.

Throat much better.

LCH et al poured the short wall; it looks good. Removed the forms at the sidewalk. The lettering I put in the 2 squares near the patio looks quite good.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Tuesday, 28 August, 1962

Discussed the Sperry/Raytheon setup with AAG, wherein I mentioned the analogy with the det. electrical sizes of missiles and manned a/c, drawing on some of the ADC Radar Evaluation Program background. I emphasized the desirability of an experimental program that would permit correlation of δ as computed from the operational situation and that from the model range.

Rec’d a copy of 22L-7265 (13 August 62) by L. A. Globus & Eric Korngold on “Atmospheric Refraction & its Effect on Radar Measurements.” It has 2 figures, showing variation of index of refraction with altitude, taken from the ADC Radar Evaluation Program. I brought this to AAG’s attention.

Overcast – Sticky
RH – 90%

Too sticky to sleep.

Storm Alma moving up Atlantic Coast with 45 mph winds.

Had a long discussion with the NE Life Insurance Co., Mr. Podbros, who is still working on me to buy $15,000 Life to age 70.

Put a little gravel in the patio/garage door walkway but decided to stop in view of the rain. Did a little work on the forms for parking extension curbing.

posted
  • place: Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington and South Acton, Massachusetts

Monday, 27 August, 1962

A – Worked some more on the rf loss chart.

Rec’d a call from the chap we spoke with at Sperry, Tom McInnis; he is sending ten of the 17 reports requested, the remaining to come within 2 weeks. He also requested that we get together on aerodynamics & structures.

Overcast

The other quote of yesterday from Rins was $372/yr for $8000 Life that would yield $3344 in 12 years.

Found LCH, DCH, JCH, & CR at home when I arrived at 5:15 PM. They had a pleasant time at Chatham. Went over to Al & Edith’s to pick up JAH & NJH.

Repaired a small but effective leak in my air pillow.

CR went to a Catholic church in Chatham, but was turned away when he didn’t have 35¢ for a seat!

Can’t find costs of all insurance amounts paid.

posted
  • place: South Acton and Boston, Massachusetts

Sunday, 26 August, 1962

Warm

Went in to SS & church, operating the PA system. Russell Vetterlein invited me to dinner with them when I mentioned the family was at Chatham. It was at Mr. & Mrs. Robinson’s in Weymouth; two Wycliffe translators were there also, one from Mexico, the other from Amazonia. The Talcotts dropped in, speaking of their move to DCA this week, where he will work on assemblage of mtl. to fight communism. They are quite wealthy.

Russell gave me quotes on costs of policies to put JCH thru college, life total, $621/year — $6940 in 12 years.