Jim Willis

  • Delaware Valley Bluegrass – 2024

    This is the best bluegrass festival, period. The size is perfect. One stage, no lines, nothing is crowded* Almost everyone who attends plays an instrument so the campground jams can be amazing.

    (*except the handicap bathroom stall of which there is only one and when you’re helping someone navigate the festival in a wheelchair that makes it tough, but that’s my only complaint.)

    Del McCoury’s set was legend. Just kept on going. At 85 years old they had to practically drag him off the stage at 11PM. Del feels like the last living bridge to Monroe from a musical and performance pov and his band is the quintessential traditional bluegrass sound.

    Asleep at the wheel also killed it. The intricacy of the unison/harmony parts on fiddle, pedal steel, guitar and sax was just awesome to watch. They made it look soooo easy which is half of the appeal given how complicated Western swing is.

    I didn’t get in nearly as much playing as I’d hoped but it was great to know that scattered across the fairgrounds were pockets of players who I knew and had jammed with in the past so that, had I had more time to play, I could have jumped into any of several different sessions.

    Guitar nerd notes: I’ll add that the picking I did do was on my D-18 which i strung up with martin PB lifespans (13/mediums) just before leaving for DelVal and the guitar just felt so lifeless compared to my 28. It was a challenge to really make any music on it. It did start to feel better towards Sunday morning so either the strings needed to break in a bit or i got used to the lifelessness of it. I don’t know. I haven’t played my 28 since I’ve been home. I need to do a side by side. I did play my OM-18 when I got home and that is the most comfortable guitar to play but i need new strings on it.

  • Newly released king sunny ade album seems to be a transfer of a vinyl recording, clicks, pops and all:

  • Mac admin utilities

    Grabbed this list off a reddit discussion, some good ones that I’d forgotten:

    1. RoyalTSX: Native macOS application for managing remote desktop connections, particularly RDP.
    2. Wifi Explorer: Tool for analyzing and troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks, including congestion issues.
    3. Jump Desktop: Remote desktop application for connecting to various systems.
    4. Forklift: File manager and remote connections tool for mounting remote resources like SMB or S3.
    5. iTerm2: Advanced terminal emulator for macOS, used for console work.
    6. Syncthing: Tool for syncing files between computers through LAN.
    7. Proxyman: Application for inspecting and analyzing network requests.
    8. BBEdit: Powerful text editor, described as a Notepad++ replacement for macOS.
    9. Vim: Highly configurable, modal text editor.
    10. Raycast: Productivity tool that extends macOS functionality with custom scripts and workflows.
    11. Warp terminal: Modern, GPU-accelerated terminal application.
    12. Visual Studio Code (VSCode): Popular, extensible code editor with built-in Git support.
    13. Brew: Package management system for macOS, used to install command-line tools and applications.
    14. Tailscale: VPN service for easily accessing home networks and other resources.
    15. Secure Shellfish: SSH client that can map remote servers as drives in Finder.
    16. CyberDuck and Duck CLI: SFTP clients for file transfer with graphical and command-line interfaces.
    17. Textastic: Minimal code editor that integrates well with other tools.
    18. IPNetMonitorX: Tool for network scans and other network-related testing.
    19. NoMachine: Remote desktop application that works across Mac, Linux, and Windows environments.
    20. ZeroTier One: Tool for creating virtual networks, often used alongside NoMachine.
    21. Better Display: Utility for managing and enhancing external displays on macOS.
    22. Rectangle: Window management tool for organizing and resizing windows on macOS.
    23. CodeRunner: Multi-language programming editor and IDE.
    24. MIST: (No specific description available)
    25. MDS: (No specific description available)
    26. OpenEmu: Multi-system game emulator for macOS.
    27. SupportApp: (No specific description available)
    28. SwiftDialog: Tool for creating native macOS dialog windows using Swift.
    29. Serial: (No specific description available)
    30. Whisky: (No specific description available)
    31. Actions: (No specific description available)
    32. iMazing Profile Creator: Tool for creating and managing iOS configuration profiles.
    33. Mac-Monitor: (No specific description available)
    34. Sketchy-bar: (No specific description available)
    35. Debookee: Network traffic analyzer and packet sniffer for macOS.
    36. WiFi Explorer Pro 3: Advanced version of Wifi Explorer with more features for network analysis.
    37. Sublime Text: Sophisticated text editor for code, markup, and prose.
    38. VMware Fusion: Virtualization software for running Windows and other operating systems on Mac.
    39. CleanShot X: Advanced screen capture and recording tool for macOS.
    40. Downie: Video downloader for macOS, supporting various websites.
    41. TripMode: Data usage control tool for managing network traffic on macOS.
    42. Packet Sender: Tool for sending and receiving network packets.
    43. PingPlotter: Network diagnostic tool for visualizing network performance.
    44. Magnet: Window management tool for organizing and snapping windows on macOS.
    45. PHPmonitor: (No specific description available)

  • Greyfox 2024 Highlights

    Molly Tuttle

    Molly Tuttle’s show was light years beyond anything that’s ever hit the main stage at Greyfox. Unlike most other artists, Tuttle and her band brought their own lights, equipment, and sound team. This initially seemed strange, given the festival’s typically excellent sound management. However, minutes into her Friday night show, it became clear why: the lights and processing effects used for her performance were amazing, strategically synced to specific moments in each song, adding a new dimension to her music.

    Her band is incredible. Bronwyn Keith-Hynes on fiddle, Dominick Leslie on mandolin. Incredible lineup. Was very cool that halfway through the show they called onto stage the McCoury’s fiddle player, Jason Carter, to announce that he and Bronwyn are getting married. The two of them playing together was a real treat.

    Just as I thought, “This is great but straying a but too far from traditional bluegrass,” Tuttle seamlessly transitioned to performing a string of songs with her band around a single mic at center stage, sans effects. This versatility showcased their ability to excel in both modern and traditional styles. Tuttle’s songwriting shines through, particularly in her masterpiece “Crooked Tree.” She is 100 times the musician/songwriter of Taylor Swift. Her candid discussion of her alopecia diagnosis, culminating in the removal of her wig, created a genuinely emotional experience for the audience.

    Le Vent du Nord

    Highlights: Quebec-based band, unique sound, exceptional musicianship

    Le Vent du Nord from Quebec initially sounded bizarre on paper, but their performance on the Catskills stage was mind-blowing. Their act was unlike anything I have ever seen or heard before, featuring an extraordinary level of musicianship and a unique stage presence. The experience was so impactful that it would warrant immediate ticket purchases for any future performances in the area. More information about the band can be found at https://leventdunord.com/en/ I really do not know how to explain these guys so perhaps YouTube would be a good way to learn more about them.

    Hawktail

    Highlights: Trio formation, captivating live performance, “Chambergrass” genre

    Hawktail, (once a quartet but MT’s mando player, Dominick Leslie) now a trio consisting of fiddle, guitar, and bass, delivered a super engaging performance at the intimate Creekside stage. Despite my preconceptions of their music being suitable for napping, their live act challenged this notion entirely. The power and emotion conveyed in their performance, coupled with their exceptional musicianship, interplay, and dynamics, made for a captivating experience. Watching them perform live was akin to witnessing six hands working in unison to construct a musical sculpture that materialized and vanished with each tune. I can not wait to see this band again. Here’s a good taste of the band (from last year with Leslie on mandolin) definitely watch all the way through to Brittney Haas’ killer fiddle solo at the end of the video.

    Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky

    Highlights: Experienced fiddle duo, memorable rendition of “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”

    This fiddle duo’s performance on the small Creekside stage was a delight to watch. Their music and the interplay between them reflected a long-standing musical relationship. Their rendition of “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” was particularly infectious. As soon as i got home I learned the chord changes to this piece. Upon doing a further dive on this piece, I can not recommend enough watching Nina Simone’s heart-wrenching performance of the same song at the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival.

    Other Notable Performances

    Twisted Pine offered a fun twist on Bluegrass/Americana (or “fringe Americana”) by incorporating a flute into their ensemble, making them worth checking out. Brennan Leigh was excellent to watch. She’s a gifted songwriter/storyteller. Travelin’ McCoury’s killed, as always. I don’t think there are higher caliber musicians playing anywhere in any genre of music.

    The Sam Grisman Trio/Project delivered performances that lived up to the expectations set by Sam’s musical pedigree. Having grown up with Jerry Garcia playing in his basement, Sam showcased great musicianship and stellar song choices. His evening electric show with a drummer, where he played electric bass, provided a different but equally excellent vibe compared to his acoustic performances.

    I saw a lot of other great bands but these stood out as highlights and are likely to inspire further exploration of their catalogs in the coming year.

  • AI/LLM Interfaces

    I’m testing out msty as a way to compare some different AI tools. The ability to create “knowledge stacks” (and, moreover, use different models for embedding that knowledge for RAG) is really amazing.

    Here I took some VW training materials and couple of YouTube links and created a “Volkswagen Vanagon” knowledge stack using 2 different embedding models: Snowflake Arctic and OpenAI’s Text Embedding. The tradeoff here is that by using Snowflake, you’re keeping the embedding local as you’re running that model locally, the openai text embedding requires you send the content via API to OpenAI for embedding.

    Next, I used GPT-4o and Claude3 Opus to interrogate the training materials. The ability to see this output side by side is helpful.

    open this in a new tab and zoom if you want to read output.

    SO here we see from left to right:

    GPT w/ Snowflake, GPT w/ OpenAI Embedding, Claude with Snowflake and Claude with OpenAI Embedding

    As I know a bit about Vanagon idle issues, I’d say that if I had to rank these responses, Claude with OpenAI embedding barely beats out GPT’s Open AI embedding simply because it communicates the same info as GPT but slightly more user-friendly.

    Next would be GPT using the Snowflake embedding which gave accurate though not thorough or complete information. Finally, Claude with Snowflake was a total fail.

    That said, I could probably tweak the prompting a bit and get a slightly different set of responses.

    I then tried the same query using a local LLM, TinyDolphin, which msty installs as a default option and had it query both the Snowflake embedding and the open AI embedding.

    The TinyDolphin + Snowflake, importantly, is an entire local process. All data, processing and embedding happens locally. Here is the response:

    To troubleshoot the idle issue on your 1986 Vanagon, follow these steps:

Inspect Vacuum Lines: Check for any leaks or disconnections in the vacuum lines and hoses.
Clean the Idle Control Valve: Remove and clean the idle control valve to ensure it isn't clogged.
Check the Throttle Body: Inspect and clean the throttle body and throttle position sensor.
Test the Idle Control Unit: Ensure that the idle control unit (ICU) is functioning correctly.
Check Fuel System: Examine the fuel filter, fuel injectors, and fuel pump for blockages or malfunctions.
Evaluate Electrical Components: Evaluate the condition of the spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap, and rotor for damage or wear.
Remember to allow time for the readings to stabilize when checking or making adjustments.

    Not bad, but not as good as the response that TinyDolphin gives when using the OpenAI embedding, which, here remember that the source material for the knowledge stack is embedded using the API so it’s not an entirely local process.

    To troubleshoot the idle issue on your 1986 Vanagon, follow these steps based on the provided information:

    1. Check Engine Operating Temperature:
      • Ensure the engine is at operating temperature with an oil temperature of at least 80°C (176°F).
    2. Inspect Throttle Position Switch:
      • Ensure that the throttle position switch is connected and functioning properly.
      • Move the throttle linkage to full throttle position and listen for a clicking noise.
      • Return the throttle linkage to the idle position and listen for a clicking noise.
      • Adjust if necessary to ensure the switch clicks at both full throttle and idle positions.
    3. Idle Stabilization Valve (ISV) Check:
      • Turn off all electrical consumers and ensure the ignition coil is switched on at the connector for the idle stabilization control unit.
    4. If Readings are Off:
      • Refer to “Idle Speed/CO Content – Checking and Adjusting” as indicated on page 37 of your manual.
    5. If Readings are Fixed (Not Fluctuating):
      • Check for a signal from terminal 1 of the ignition coil at the connector for the idle stabilization control unit.
      • Use the US 1115 LED tester between terminals 5 and 17 of the connector to ensure proper signal.

    By following these steps, you should be able to identify and potentially correct the idle issue on your 1986 Vanagon.

    So the weak link here really seems to be the local embedding process. This embedding process is still opaque to me and there are many parameters that may improve the quality so that is going to be my next step here.

  • Vanagon Odds & Ends

    I realized a few weeks ago that we’ve had our Vanagon for 10 years as of this past April. My kids all spent the better part of their childhood summers camping in this van on our family trips and vacations. I’ve used it as a home base for many bike camping trips and bluegrass festivals. It is a fantastic and delightful machine.

    And while all that is true, I know that the past few summers as I drive the east coast highways on a hot July or August Sunday afternoon, exhausted and making my way home from a bluegrass festival or bike ride, I look around at the cars passing me. I see that I am alone. That there are no other cars even remotely as old as mine on the road. The lack of air conditioning means I’m driving with the windows down, sweating, straining to hear the tunes on my stereo. I admit that I have questioned my sanity at times.

    Why drive this thing? Why not get a Sprinter or a Pull behind or something. At the end of last summer I even thought about selling the vanagon.

    Then, this spring, with mental note of 10 year anniversary in mind, I got under the van to do an oil change. Then, for whatever reason, I decided maybe I should try to fix my fluctuating idle. I cruised The Samba and Ken’s YouTube video’s and soon I had a properly adjusted TPS and a silky smooth and steady idle and was immediately reminded of why I’m never selling this thing: the satisfaction of maintenance. I’ve worked on bicycles since I was a little, little kid but never cars until I got the vanagon and now I feel reasonably sure that I can fix a lot of what might go wrong with the van or at least identify what’s wrong and find someone knowledgeable enough to fix it.

    Taking the Vanagon on a road trip is an exercise in relinquishing control. I do what I can do for maintenance and making sure the van’s in good shape but when driving a nearly 40 year old vehicle, there is always a chance I won’t make it to where I’m going when I thought I’d get there. I’m still digesting this lesson, learning what’s in my control and what’s not and the Vanagon continues to be an excellent teacher in that regard.

    The controlled chaos of “getting the Vanagon ready”

    So but anyway, to celebrate 10 years of great summer trips and to get ready for the longish drive out to DelFest in Cumberland, MD, I gave the Vanagon a bunch of TLC over the past few weeks:

    • Oil Change
    • Throttle Position Switch
    • Fixed several vacuum leaks
    • Replaced rear brake shoes (I had a local VW mechanic as I felt just a bit over my head and was equally pressed for time as the amount of time I spent working on the Vanagon was starting to create some issues for my other responsibilities)
    • Replaced 3 belts
    • Polished and Waxed Van (forgot how good it can look)
    • Fixed the charcoal canister/vacuum/crushing gas tank problem
    • Cleaned the slider door tracks
    • Cleaned/painted aux battery compartment
    • Replaced aux battery
    • Replaced front door handle seals and painted door handles
    • Painted front grills, added silver trim
    • Coolant flush
    • Added GoWesty’s upper window seals to front doors, what a difference. Reducing wind noise is definitely the best bang for the buck, way more so than adding sound deadening to panels. At least for my vanagon.
    • Replaced fuel filter (local shop put the last one on facing in the wrong direction, yowza.)
    • Coolant flush (used shop vac and, with some success, the Libby Bong)

    And all that was great and made me feel pretty confident but it wasn’t until I took out my Dremel and cleaned up a hard to reach grounding point in the engine bay that suddenly caused the idle and throttle responsiveness to improve way more than I thought was possible.

    So.. clean yer grounds!

  • 3d printed Vanagon parts

    This is just to say that I spent $36, including shipping, on a handful of 3d printed parts from Uniwerks. It’s almost impossible to put a dollar amount on the value of the problems that were solved by these parts.

    Window arm crank washers to keep my window handle from destroying my speak grills, a thingy-majiggy to keep my glovebox from spilling its contents all over the wheel well every time you open it, all amazing.

    But the best is this thing that holds the back of my odometer gears together. So great to finally have a working odometer again.

  • Cruising

    Our country does not provide the education and upbringing that allow its citizens an interior life. For the creative class to point fingers at the large, breasty gentlemen adrift in tortilla-chip-laden pools of water is to gather a sour harvest of low-hanging fruit.

    https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/05/royal-caribbean-cruise-ship-icon-of-seas/677838/

    Another supposedly fun thing…

  • Setting Default Display

    Struggling to get my Keyboard Maestro macros to open up my apps on my external monitor when it’s plugged in to my laptop. Digging through the forums it seemed like a lot of work to try to do this programmatically. Being lazy, I looked for an alternate solution and found it under System Settings->Display->Arrange..

    screen shot of arrange displays

    By dragging the menu bar from my laptop screen to the top of the primary display, as shown above, my Keyboard Maestro macros now open my apps on my external display instead of my laptop.

  • Fuji & Oxford

    Have been very busy as of late. Recently returned from a trip to Oxford University for work. I brought along my XE2S with my 7artisans 25mm lens. I went full manual mode while there (the lens is manual focus to begin with, but I also did manual metering).

    It has been so long since I’ve shot for any extended period of time. My first few days my shots were really out of focus and poorly exposed. Even towards the end of day 5 I was still struggling a bit but was having such a good time shooting, especially at night.

    The lens is a joy to use but the perspective distortion is really pronounced so most of the building/architecture photos I took are not really great. Fixing this kind of thing is beyond my editing skills but something I’m going to look into. This one below isn’t that bad the angled walls are evident.

Current Spins

Top Albums

Check out my album Set It All Down on your favorite streaming service.

Posts Worth Reading:

Free Internet vs Internet of Free Stuff

Letterboxd

Reading Notes

  • Read: Manufactured Anxiety: How Self-Improvement Became a Self Destruct Sequence
    Who profits from our constant state of dissatisfaction? The answer, of course, is painfully obvious. Every industry that sells a solution to a problem you […]
  • Read: My Friends Aren’t Reading
    the shifts have been in place for awhile. A certain kind of book—say those reviewed in the NYRB—will become like opera, or theater, or ballet, […]
  • Read: Pema Chödrön’s Three Methods for Working with Chaos
    • No more struggle: “Whatever arises, train again and again in seeing it for what it is. The innermost essence of mind is without bias. […]
  • Read: Why Not Bluesky
    The real problem, in my mind, isn’t in the nature of this particular Venture-Capital operation. Because the whole raison-d’etre of Venture Capital is to make […]
  • Read: The Tech Coup
    . The EU invokes a mechanism called the precautionary principle in cases where an innovation, such as GMOs, has not yet been sufficiently researched for […]

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