en passant

I have been slowly studying up on chess for a few weeks now. I received my
chess clock this week. I also am reading/studying the below book as well
as surfing through the amazing amount of chess material on the net. 

It is very nice to be starting out to play again, although this time with some understanding 
beyond my jailhouse chess style.

What i have not done for quite some time is my plastic modeling.
I am possibly 1/4 way thru the construction of my Scud TEL and since returning to work I have really done nothing on it. This is acceptable since i developed a system allowing me to
both protect sub assemblies and notate assembly instructions.
This new system should allow me to leap back into construction when i have time 
available at the correct point with the correct parts. 
This particular kit is quite complicated, even without adding the additional
detail kits i am using.
The end result however should be an excellent display item for the nerd cave.

If you have read my blog previously you know that i am 
a somewhat severe tape head. 
Reel to reel and cassette the only exception to my affliction is the "no 8 tracks dude" rule.
I use my recorders for many different projects, the most recent---recording
SW station transmissions from around the world.
This week for me was awesome in the game of portable cassette stereo recorders.
 I managed a perfect deal by finding and purchasing from Japan
a used Sony WM-D6 otherwise known as a professional walkman.
Don't let the term walkman fool you. The WM-D6 is considered, by experts in the field, 
 the second highest recording quality cassette deck ever made---EVER.
It is on it's way to me from what appears to be a very decent guy, (in emails anyway)
direct from Japan...

The WM-D6 has the capability of recording on high bias metal particle 
cassette tape. 
This type of tape is hard to find today.
You can imagine that the bottom has fallen out of the cassette tape manufacturing business.
Most companies are only producing standard, voice quality tape.
New high quality recording cassette tapes are not being produced so the 
hunt is for NIB (new in the box) previously manufactured, but untouched tapes. 
This week I found and have purchased  a pair
of English Denon metal cassette tapes, new in the packaging.
At this moment you are doing the shaking your head thing,
saying  WTF kind of geek is this guy?
Whereas i am dancing the happy dance.

"Touch my kid--go ahead--touch him."

"If voting changed anything,

They'd make it illegal."

Emma Goldman