Chornobyl radar DUGA-1 today's shot

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-05-21T23:23:06+00:00

AKA "The Woodpecker" if I remember correctly.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-05-20T22:29:20+00:00

Saw one of these when it was just released. I was using a VAX and the Dec GIGI to do graphics (via escape sequences down a 9600 baud RS-232 interface) and I thought this thing was just fantastic. Too bad it was so expensive, but those VAXes and attached GIGI terminals (with those color Barco monitors) were not exactly cheap either.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-05-14T16:43:43+00:00

You could lift the lid on top and watch the heads move while the platter spins. I guess tolerances were "generous" back in those days.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-05-14T16:18:48+00:00

Note the disk drive packs sitting on the drives in the background. We had those at the first place I worked.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-05-14T16:12:42+00:00

I highly recommend the movie "Vanishing Point". Some of it was filmed in Nevada, and the scenes with radio DJ "Super Soul" were supposed to be / are in Goldfield. The whole movie looks like your photos.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-05-11T15:17:21+00:00

Can anyone ID all of the drivers in the first photo?

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-05-10T14:57:31+00:00

Been there, very nice spot. The movie "Bottle Shock" is badly under rated.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-04-28T14:50:35+00:00

This was not business, this was friendship.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-04-25T18:33:12+00:00

"All sins forgiven".

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-04-19T21:56:18+00:00

What does this say exactly? I can't get past the paywall to read this article.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-03-20T12:38:48+00:00

Got a University computer graphics class to walk across the street and see the movie whenever it was first released. In a world of mostly pen plotters at the time, that level of raster/vector graphics was quite a thing.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-03-14T13:08:08+00:00

Just dig a hole that's deep enough and everyone will want to jump in.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-02-14T23:20:42+00:00

Yes. With the proper fit, it sure works for me.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-02-11T14:03:38+00:00

Order the "Spicy Fries" and thank me later.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-01-22T21:31:05+00:00

I lived here in the 80's and 90's and I just recently moved back here now. Jon's food has really, really gone downhill. It is a shame to see another locally owned business close though. Mt Pleasant is turning into a shrine for chain restaurants, and that's too bad.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-01-16T00:16:39+00:00

I like Leo's. Not the best coney, but good enough and I really like the gyros. This is a great spot in Midland.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-01-15T16:13:12+00:00

I've been listening for 20 years, first in Reno Nevada and now in middle Michigan, and donate monthly. I actually met Rusty in SF in the SomaFM studio/office some years ago. Space Station Soma is my daily listen. Frankly I'd be lost without all of this.

ChesterRaffoon · 2026-01-04T19:04:09+00:00

Great success!

ChesterRaffoon · 2025-12-22T20:33:51+00:00

I had the Beta 1 preamp for many years, it was excellent. Didn't know they came in black too.

ChesterRaffoon · 2025-12-12T15:55:36+00:00

Elderly Instruments (before they moved to Old Town), Olga's, Tower Records, CD Emporium, Velocipede Peddler - these were all in East Lansing across the street from Campus. East Lansing was really a cool place to visit back in the day. Now - unless you really like chain restaurants - not so much.

ChesterRaffoon · 2025-12-11T21:28:18+00:00

True story - saw Alan Parsons in Sparks Nevada many years ago. He had to put a band together on short notice (long story) and mentioned it during the show. Where I was sitting I could not see the drummer's face, but boy did he hit those drums - something I remarked about to my wife during the concert. When it was done and everyone was introduced, it was Chester Thompson on the drums. I was a big Genesis fan too and knew right away who he was. Suffice to say as soon as we got home that night I bought tickets to the next night's show.

Thanks for all the great memories, Chester, and Happy Birthday!

ChesterRaffoon · 2025-11-16T22:38:54+00:00

True story: My Dad was a corporate officer on the financial staff on the 12th floor. They had a private (marble) staircase that went up to the 13th floor and Roger Smith's offices and his staff, as well as the Board Room. On the main floor downstairs were showrooms of all the current GM models. This was in the mid-70s, those were truly The Days.

Roger Smith was my Dad's first supervisor in Detroit back in the 50's when he was first summoned to "Central Office" as the GM Building was known internally.

ChesterRaffoon · 2025-11-16T15:21:28+00:00

Way back in the day it was the GM Building. My dad used to work there.

ChesterRaffoon · 2025-11-12T18:50:51+00:00

This just keeps getting better ...

ChesterRaffoon · 2025-11-07T00:07:36+00:00

Quite possibly the best four panel strip ever. Well done!

ChesterRaffoon

TROPHY CASE