Building Windows 11 Server

With my 10-year-old Windows 10 Intel Core i7-4790 K server on its last legs, I decided to build a new Windows 11 Server for media storage and occasional gaming.

I purchased the mid-tower Fractal Design Define R7 case to accommodate 4 hard drives from B&H Photo. Most newer computer cases do not have enough space for hard drives and this one is one of the few cases that has space for 6 drives. It also has the newer USB-C ports on the front panel.

• Fractal Design Define R7 (B&H Photo Video)

There was a special AMD bundle available at my local Micro Center in Santa Clara, where I selected the following AMD bundle: 

• AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• MSI Pro X870E-P Wifi motherboard
• Corsair 64GB 2x32GB DDR5-6000 CL30

For the GPU, I ordered the following GPU from my company store:

• Nvidia Founder's Edition RTX5070 with 12GB GDDR6

My plan is to use 4 x 20TB Toshiba MG10 Hard Drives in a RAID-5 volume using the LSI MegaRAID 9361-8i disk controller:

• LSI MegaRAID 9361-8i with SFF-8643 Host to 4X SATA cables (Amazon)
• 4 x Toshiba MG10 20TB Hard Drives (Platinum Micro)

The two Samsung 990 Pro NVMe drives are to be arranged as follows:

• M2_1 Slot (Samsung 990 Pro 2TB): Windows 11 
• Plugged into a dedicated motherboard M2 slot (x4 PCIe Gen5)
• PCIe x16 (Samsung 990 Pro 2TB): Scratch (Lightroom Cache)
• Plugged into a PCIe x16 slot using a SABRENT M.2 NVMe SSD to PCIe x16 Tool-Free AIC (to keep RTX5070 in x16 mode)
• Note: on the AMD x870e chipset, the M2_2 and M2_3 slots share PCIe lanes with the GPU. If an NVMe is installed in either M2_2 or M2_3, the GPU will switch from x16 to x8 mode. I want to keep the RTX5070 in x16 mode.

For cooling, I added an extra case fan to the top of my Fractal Design Define R7 case:

•    Noctua NF-P14s redux-1200, Quiet Fan, 3-Pin, 1200 RPM (140mm, Grey)

For sound, I plan to use B&W headphones (which connect using USB-C) and don't require a sound card.

• B&W Px7 S2 Headphones with noise reduction and USB-C plug (Costco.com)

For my monitor, I am leaning heavily toward the following models:

• Dell UltraSharp 32 4K Thunderbolt Hub U3225QE
• ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDM) - UHD (3840 x 2160), QD-OLED, 240Hz

Links

• MicroCenter AMD Bundle
• PCPartPicker Part List
• LSI MegaRAID Windows 11 driver:
• Windows 11‑compatible driver version 6.711.06.00 is officially listed for the 9361‑8i (and 936C‑series) and works on Windows 10/11.
• https://www.drvhub.net/devices/controllers/lsi/megaraid-sas-9361-8i

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor	Purchased For $430.29
CPU Cooler	Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler	Purchased For $34.49
Motherboard	MSI PRO X870E-P WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard	Purchased For $186.47
Memory	Corsair Vengeance RGB 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory	Purchased For $223.23
Storage	Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	Purchased For $149.99
Storage	Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	Purchased For $149.99
Storage	Toshiba MG10 512e 20 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive	Purchased For $329.26
Storage	Toshiba MG10 512e 20 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive	Purchased For $329.26
Storage	Toshiba MG10 512e 20 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive	Purchased For $329.26
Storage	Toshiba MG10 512e 20 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive	Purchased For $329.26
Video Card	NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB Video Card	Purchased For $0.00
Case	Fractal Design Define 7 ATX Mid Tower Case	Purchased For $179.99
Power Supply	MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	Purchased For $129.99
Operating System	Microsoft Windows 11 Pro Retail - Download 64-bit	Purchased For $0.00
Case Fan	Noctua P14s redux-1200 64.92 CFM 140 mm Fan	Purchased For $17.00
Monitor	Dell U3223QE 31.5" 3840 x 2160 60 Hz Monitor	$699.99 @ B&H
Keyboard	Cherry STREAM Wired Slim Keyboard	$23.91 @ Amazon
Custom	LSI 9361-8i RAID Controller	Purchased For $69.99
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$3612.37
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-07-04 22:53 EDT-0400

Read More

Review: The Illusionist at Palace Theater

Inna found an exciting and highly regarded magic show in San Francisco and decided to purchase two tickets for Friday, June 27th, at 19:00.

I had never heard about the show, but I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Happily, Kevin Blake exceeded my expectations and had a wide variety of magic tricks to showcase.

A MODERN MAGIC SHOW

The Illusionist at the Palace Theater, Kevin Blake‘s dazzling live show, is a modern mind-blowing magic and mind-reading show guaranteed to impress the most skeptical adult audience.

Guests enter through a secret passageway in Joe‘s Clock Shop and discover a phantasmagorical wonderland of magic and mystery inside a Prohibition-era–era club. With a deft combination of performing arts, manic theatrics, and impeccable sleight of hand, Kevin Blake transports the audience to an era of enchanting illusion, where close–up magic and mind-reading create a spellbinding experience that is both mystical and unforgettable.

Throughout his 20–year career, Blake has earned international recognition for his unique brand of magic. Blake has enthralled audiences across the world – from New York to London to New Zealand — as well as on stages all around San Francisco. Very much an underground sensation, Blake has been described as a “modern–day Merlin” and “a tall, strange dude.”

Kevin Blake can read minds. Predict the future. See into your memories. Stop time… Or maybe he can’t, and it’s all an illusion. There are no rabbits, top hats, or cutting people in half here—taking inspiration from David Blaine, Penn & Teller, and other modern illusionists, Kevin Blake is known for cutting-edge entertainment that brings magic, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century.

With jaw-dropping appearances on America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and an essence that evokes the mesmerizing showmen of old, the acclaimed magician, illusionist, and poet alchemizes a cross-section of art into an unforgettable, genre-defying performance that can not be missed.

The Illusionist at Palace Theater Review

Highlights

• Kevin Blake performed excellent tricks that were difficult to explain
• Everyone was thoroughly entertained (we were never bored)

Lowlights

• Ticket prices are very high
• The sitting tables were cramped

Links:

• The Illusionist at Palace Theater, San Francisco

Read More

Review: James Blunt Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary Tour

I have been a fan of James Blunt for a long time and was excited when I learned that he was touring the world with a stop in San Francisco. I purchased the best seats I could find (on Spotify Presale) for June 26, 2025 (Section FLR-4, seats 15,16 at the Masonic Auditorium).

The tickets indicated a start time of 20:00. We arrived about an hour early, worried about Thursday night traffic from San Jose to San Francisco, and parked in the Sutter Stockton public garage, which is about 14 minutes away (from the Masonic). I have heard that Masonic charged $60 for parking (an excessive amount). My parking at the Sutter Stockton garage was $25.

When we reached our seats at the Masonic (after going through a security check),  we sat down and waited for the show to start. I thought that James Blunt would actually start at 20:00, but a new (to me) band, Forest Blakk, started up instead and played for about 45 minutes. Forest sang, played acoustic and electric guitars, and walked around the stage. He seemed like a genuinely good guy and was happy to meet and greet his fans. I can't say that his songs were particularly memorable, but they were not obnoxious either.

Here are a few short videos I took during the concert on my iPhone:

• James Blunt: "Same Mistake"

• James Blunt: "Tears and Rain"

After Forest finished, it took about 15 minutes to set up the show for James Blunt. James rocked on stage at around 21:00 and played non-stop until 23:00. He looked young (for his age) and played a Gibson acoustic guitar, a ukulele, and an upright piano with lots of enthusiasm and energy. I did not realize that he played so many instruments (I always thought that he only sang and played guitar).

The crowd was excited to hear all of the songs and usually sang along with James Blunt. There was not a single bad song at the concert.

It was a fantastic show, and the highlights for me were the following songs:

• You're Beautiful

• Tears and Rain

• Same Mistake

• Goodbye My Lover

• Bonfire Heart

• 1973

The best way to evaluate a show is to answer: "Would you pay money to see it again?" For Inna and me, the answer is a definitive "Yes!".

Other reviewers said the following:

Two songs into headlining The O2, James Blunt joked, “it’s all downhill from here”, but the emotional slalom of ‘Back to Bedlam’ carried the crowd through a special Sunday night.

Blunt, in his last week of being 50 years of age, marked the 20th anniversary of the debut album that put him on the map. “Do you know what that means?” he asked the audience. “I’m fucking old. And some of you are fucking old.” By opening his set with the record in full, those first two songs were ‘High’ and ‘You’re Beautiful’. The uninitiated may ponder where James could go from there, but for the sold-out arena, it was only the beginning.

With the “incredibly short 10-song album” over, the show pivoted. No room for naysayers, this is about those who planned their Valentine’s weekends around this show. It’s not just an older crowd either, with younger people brought up listening to James Blunt. He acknowledged this point himself: “I’m thrilled you’re here, you’re my future.”

 
‘Postcards’ from 2013 saw James wield a ukulele, causing jaunty jiggles from audience members, before his version of Slade’s Coz I Luv You’. “I want to hear it sung louder than anywhere else in the world.” With his relentless touring, he’s better placed than most to judge. James started on piano, pulled off a wild crowd run in the middle, and returned to the stage for the end. It’s an act of true showmanship. During this whole time, the band - Paul Sayer on guitar, John Garrison on bass, Chris Pemberton on keys, and Karl Brazil on drums – merge seamlessly. In the 2023 James Blunt documentary ‘One Brit Wonder’, John states: “I don’t want anyone to come away saying ‘Oh, James’ bass player was really good’”. 

Luckily, the others were, and even Mr Blunt acknowledged their role: “No aspiring musician sets out in the music business with an aspiration to be in James Blunt’s band.” But those four musicians helped the night come alive, as James started a Mexican wave during ‘Stay The Night’ and brought a touch of EDM to proceedings with the Robin Schulz collab ‘OK’. He told the room to get down, but when they jumped back up and raved away to the song’s climax, it was pretty beautiful. The emotional rollercoaster swerved again, jutting into the poignant ‘Monsters’, about James’ paternal bond following his father’s kidney disease diagnosis, as pictures of the pair played out behind him.

The main set closed with ‘Same Mistake’, one of the singles from sophomore ‘All the Lost Souls’, but the break was not long. “Do you want a happy song?” The crowd cheered. “That’s good, because I’ve got one.” ‘Bonfire Heart’ is infectious, before swiftly moving into the finale ‘1973’, the lead single that followed the ‘Back to Bedlam’ era. It’s a rousing ending, which sees James lap up the adoration from the audience, and also jumping on the piano, seizing his moment in the spotlight. He leaves with a final joke: “See you in 20 years!”

The celebration of ‘Back to Bedlam’ is, much like the album, going global. The one-hour, fifty-minute showcase is a ski slalom through comedy, tenderness, and the hope that cracks through sometimes. The meandering nature is a little crazy, but it works. ‘Back to Bedlam’? We never even left…

Touring Band Line‑Up

• Paul Sayer – Guitar

• John Garrison – Bass

• Chris Pemberton – Keyboards (piano, etc.)

• Karl Brazil – Drums

This quartet, along with Blunt, delivers a polished and energetic performance, seamlessly moving between the full album and his later hits. Reviewers particularly praised their chemistry and tight musicianship.

 Noteworthy Highlights

• Paul Sayer handles all guitar duties, including acoustic, electric, and solo parts, during the biggest songs.

• John Garrison and Chris Pemberton not only play bass and keyboards but also provide backing vocals.

• Karl Brazil, a seasoned session and touring drummer, brings punch and energy, powering the band through dynamic and emotional moments.

Main Set

1. High

2. You're Beautiful

3. Wisemen

4. Goodbye My Lover

5. Tears and Rain

6. Out of My Mind

7. So Long, Jimmy

8. Billy

9. Cry

10. No Bravery

11. Carry You Home

12. Postcards

13. Coz I Love You (cover – Slade/Rick Astley style)

14. Stay the Night

15. OK (Robin Schulz cover)

16. Monsters

17. Same Mistake

Encore

18. Bonfire Heart

19. 1973

James Blunt Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary Tour

Positives

• Excellent selection of songs from Back to Bedlam and other albums
• The show had lots of energy, with the audience singing along and clapping to most songs
• The band is excellent, with everyone playing at a high level
• The Masonic is an excellent venue (not too big or too small)

Negatives

• The actual show started at 21:00 (a bit late for Thursday night)

Links

• The Masonic Auditorium

Read More

Biking Almaden Quicksilver County Park

With a free day at work (and no wind in the forecast), I decided to return to mountain biking at Almaden Quicksilver County Park.

After I pumped up the tires and lubricated the chain, I loaded the bike into the Toyota Sienna minivan and drove for about 20 minutes to reach the Hacienda Entrance of Quicksilver County Park.

As it was around 10:00, there were not many cars parked there (and the parking lot was mostly empty). 

I began the 78-minute round-trip ride with the challenging climb up Mine Hill Road.

I stopped for a brief water break at the Almaden Reservoir. The reservoir still looked fairly full for June. In dry years, the reservoir could be almost empty.

The weather was perfect - 72 Fahrenheit - with no wind and few people on the trail. I only encountered a few other mountain bikers and hikers.

I had a wonderful time, despite the occasional shifting problems on my Specialized FSR. I am planning to take the bike to Summit Bicycle for a thorough drive-train cleaning.

Links

• Almaden Quicksilver County Park
• Almaden Quicksilver Hacienda Entrance (Google Maps)

Read More

Hiking Seven Springs Trail, Saratoga

On Saturday, June 21, Inna, Alex, and I decided to hike around Saratoga. Inna found a highly rated trail on AllTrails.com, called Seven Springs Trail, and we decided to hike it. 

The trail had panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Area, including the new Apple campus in Cupertino. The grass was all yellow (burned out), so this hike might be more scenic in the spring (when wildflowers bloom).

According to AllTrails.com:

Enjoy this 2.2-mile loop trail near Santa Cruz, California. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 49 minutes to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.

The hike was 2.8 miles long with 661 feet of elevation gain. We completed it in 90 minutes. We encountered many mountain bikers on the trail and also a few fellow hikers.

For lunch, we stopped by downtown Saratoga at Mangia Mornings cafe. Although our waiter was fast and efficient, the quality of the entrees was below expectations. I ordered an omelet with hash browns, and the omelet was tasteless, and the hash browns were atrocious. 

My mocha was too sweet, and Alex's matcha latte was way too sweet! Next time, we will eat somewhere else.

Directions:

• Follow Google Maps to the Prospect Parking Area

Links

• Seven Springs Trail
• Mangia Mornings Cafe (Saratoga) <- Not recommended

Read More

Windy Day at Coyote Point

After checking the iwindsurf.com forecast nd noticing the crazy 25-30 knot forecast, I decided to wing foil at Coyote Point (as Crissy Field had wing foiling championships and would be very busy).

On arrival at Coyote Point (a 45-minute drive from San Jose) via US-101, the wind was showing as 25 knots. It looked crazy windy on the water with large waves everywhere.

I was one of the few wing foilers on the water. I could barely hold on for one hour. There were times when the wind gusted to 35+ knots! I had some spectacular wipeouts, but thankfully, I did not get hurt or damage my wing foiling gear. I saw one wing foiler returning with a tear in the canopy of his wing.

I switched to a smaller front foil (Armstrong 1250cm) and it felt much smoother (and a bit faster) on the water. I will use it from now on, instead of my usual 1850cm wing (except for the super light days).

Wing Foiling Gear

• Board: Naish Hover LE Carbon Ultra 95
• Foil: Armstrong HS Foil Kit 1250cm (using smaller front wing)
• Wing: Duotone Slick SLS 4.0m
• Harness: Dakine Flywing (L)
• Wetsuit: Feral 4mm Backzip Large Wetsuit

Here is a GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini video of my wing foiling session:

Read More

Hiking Fall Creek Trail, Felton

On Thursday, June 19th (a U.S. Holiday), Inna, Alex, and I decided to hike around Felton. Inna found a highly rated trail on AllTrails.com, called Fall Creek Trail, and we decided to hike it. 

We parked our car here (see Google Maps link). There was a small parking lot for cars (but it was full), and we parked nearby, on the side of the road.

Our hike lasted for 96 minutes, for a distance of 3.62 miles and an elevation gain of 832 feet. It was not very difficult, but extremely scenic. I enjoyed hiking by the running streams and listening to the birds chirping.

It's one of my favorite local, short hikes, and I hope to repeat it.

For lunch, we stopped by The Grove Cafe & Bakery in Felton, where we enjoyed delicious sandwiches and coffee.

• Boris: Mango Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich

Links

• Alltrails: Fall Creek Trail
• Google Maps Parking: here 
• The Grove Cafe & Bakery, Felton

Read More

Review: PRS SE CE24 Electric Guitar

PRS SE CE 24 – Overview

The PRS SE CE 24 combines elements of PRS’s USA-made CE line (notably the bolt-on neck) with the affordable SE series made in Korea (by World Musical Instruments). It’s a modern take on a classic PRS workhorse — versatile, playable, and elegant without the Custom 24 price tag.

Key Specs

• FeatureDetailsBody Mahogany (back) with Maple top, Flame Maple veneer
• Neck Maple (bolt-on)
• Fingerboard Rosewood, 24 frets
• Scale Length 25"
• Neck Profile Wide Thin
• Pickups PRS 85/15 “S” humbuckers
• Bridge PRS Molded Tremolo
• Tuners PRS-designed
• Controls 1 Volume, 1 Push-Pull Tone (for coil split), 3-way switch
• Finish Multiple gloss finishes (e.g., Black Cherry, Blue Matteo)

Pros

Versatile Tone

The 85/15 "S" pickups provide a modern PRS tone with good clarity and output.

Coil-split offers a surprising single-coil chime, making this guitar suitable for clean funk, blues, alt rock, and metal.

 
Playability

The wide-thin neck is fast and comfortable for most players.

25” scale balances tension and playability (great for bending, great sustain).

Smooth fretwork and well-set nut out of the box.

Bolt-On Design

The bolt-on neck (rare in PRS’s SE line) gives it a snappier, more Fender-like attack with PRS warmth and sustain.

Adds some upper-end sparkle and articulation not typically found in set-neck PRS models.

Value

You're getting high-quality craftsmanship, solid hardware, and great tonewoods at a fraction of the cost of a US-made PRS.

Excellent gigging guitar or serious upgrade for intermediate players.

Cons

Pickups Could Be Better

While the 85/15 "S" pickups are solid, they can sound a bit compressed or sterile compared to their USA counterparts.

Many players upgrade them (e.g., to Seymour Duncans or PRS Core pickups).

Weight

Slightly heavier than some might expect (~8 lbs), depending on the piece of mahogany.

Not extreme, but worth noting if you prefer lightweight guitars.

PRS Molded Trem

Stable and usable, but not as refined as a high-end PRS trem or something like a Gotoh 510.

The pull-up range is limited, and some players feel stiff.

Ordering

I ordered the PRS SE CE24 from Sweetwater.com, along with the Fender Mustang LT25 amplifier (mostly for use with headphones).

• Fender Mustang LT 25 25-watt 1 x 8-inch Combo Amplifier
• PRS SE CE 24 Standard Satin Electric Guitar - Vintage Cherry Satin S/N: CTIG105367
• Pro Co Excellines Instrument Cable - 10 feet

Setup

On receiving the guitar and plugging it into the Fender Mustang LT25 amp, I initially got no sound. Eventually, I diagnosed the issue to the defective Instrument Cable.

After tuning the guitar, I played a few chords, and it sounded clean. The string tension is much lighter than on my Yamaha FG830 acoustic.

Read More

Wing Foiling a Coyote Point

After checking the iwindsurf.com forecast, I decided to wing foil at the nearby Coyote Point. Inna decided to join me and watch me foil (and also stop by the nearby Equator Coffees coffee shop).

On arrival at Coyote Point (a 45-minute drive from San Jose) via US-101, the wind was showing as 14 knots, but the small wings used by most wing foilers suggested that it was far stronger (mostly 4.0m wings).

Wing Foiling Gear

• Board: Naish Hover LE Carbon Ultra 95
• Foil: Armstrong HS Foil Kit 1850cm
• Wing: Duotone Slick SLS 5.0m
• Harness: Dakine Flywing (L)
• Wetsuit: Feral 4mm Backzip Large Wetsuit

Here is a GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini video of my session:

I winged for about 90 minutes, enjoying the steady 15 knot wind and riding some of the swells on the way back to the shore. It was an excellent session!

I am getting used to the Dakine Flywing harness. It does help to release the stress on my arms, but it can be tricky to use.

Links

• iwindsurf.com
• Coyote Point Recreational Area
• Boardsports California
• Equator Coffees

Read More

Wing Foiling at Crissy Field

With iwindsurf.com showing a favorable wind forecast for Saturday, June 7, 2025, Inna and I decided to drive to San Francisco, so that I could wing foil at Crissy Field and she could explore the various neighborhoods.

I loaded up the Tesla Model Y with all of my wing foiling gear and started the drive at around 10:15. There was usual traffic on the way, and the Tesla reported an expected arrival of 11:48 at Crissy. Once we arrived, I found a nice parking spot on the lawn, where I could later rig my wing.

We decided to eat lunch at our favorite Cracked & Battered eatery on Chestnut Street. On the way there, we came across an Animal Rescue show on the lawn, featuring lots of cute dogs. We also stopped by the Exploratorium to look at Inna's favorite birds: (egrets,  blue herons, etc.) Inna took a few photos, and we continued to Chestnut Street.

On reaching Cracked & Battered, we saw a long line and we asked to be put on the waiting list. As the wait continued to grow, we gave up and decided to eat at our next favorite eatery, Soulva, nearby.

At Souvla, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Greek Fries
• Boris: Lamb Salad
• Inna: Lamb Salad

It was a lovely, healthy lunch, though I would have preferred the fried chicken and waffles at Cracked & Battered.

After lunch, we stopped by the next door, Reveille Cafe, for hot drinks, and I sipped a mocha, while Inna had her latte.

At around 13:40, I decided to return to Crissy Field and prepare for wing filing while Inna would explore Pacific Heights. She had made 17:30 dinner reservations at the highly regarded Milos Meze.

I rigged my Duotone 5.0m swing (as iwindsurf.com was showing 14 knots at Anita Rock with a wind forecast of 18 knots later on). I also put on my harness for the first time, in the hope of using it.

I started foiling at around 14:10. Initially, the wind was acceptable, but there were many windless patches. During heavy gusts, I began to use the harness, and it helped to keep me in control of the wing (without getting tired).

Wing Foiling Gear

• Board: Naish Hover LE Carbon Ultra 95
• Foil: Armstrong HS Foil Kit 1850cm
• Wing: Duotone Slick SLS 5.0m
• Harness: Dakine Flywing (L)
• Wetsuit: Feral 4mm Backzip Large Wetsuit

Here is a GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini video of my session:

I had an overall decent session, but fell a few more times than I expected.

After I finished wing foiling and loading all my gear back into the Tesla Model Y, I drove to pick up Inna at California/Filmore St. and returned to Crissy Field. We decided to walk (about 20 minutes) to Milos Meze for our 17:30 dinner (arriving 10 minutes late).

After quickly being seated, we ordered the following items to share:

• Drinks: Black Tea, Mint Tea
• Appetizer: Keftedes (Meatballs), Oktapodi (Octopus), Spanakopita
• Main: Kokinisto Me Manestra (Lamb Leg)
• Dessert: Baklavaki

The dinner was fabulous, and the service was outstanding. We were pleasantly impressed! The Keftedes were large and delicious! The Spanakopita had a nice, flaky crust. The Octopus was delicious. 

The Lamb Leg was super tender, with meat practically falling off. The Baklavaki dessert was huge and delicious/ This was one of the best restaurants we had tried in San Francisco (at a reasonable price).

Links

• Cracked & Battered
• Souvla
• Reveille Cafe
• Milos Meze
• iwindsurf.com (weather)
• Wing Foiling at Crissy Field video

Read More

Review: Hauser - The Rebel is Back Tour

I have been listening to music from Hauser for a few years, so I was excited to hear that he would be touring the United States with a stop in San Jose. I purchased tickets for the 8:00 pm show at the San Jose Civic on June 1, 2025.

Here is a short video clip from the concert of Stjepan Hauser and Caroline Campbell performing "He's a Pirate" from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

Stjepan Hauser, known professionally as HAUSER, is celebrated for his dynamic cello performances that blend classical pieces with contemporary hits. "The Rebel Is Back!" tour showcased a diverse setlist that included the following songs:

• "Emmanuel" (Michel Colombier cover)
• "Adagio en Sol Menor" (Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni cover)
• "Caruso" (Lucio Dalla cover)
• "Love Story" (performed with Amy Manford)
• "Now We Are Free" (Hans Zimmer cover, with Amy Manford)
• "My Heart Will Go On" (Céline Dion cover, with Amy Manford)
• "The Phantom of the Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover, with Amy Manford)
• "Game of Thrones: main title" (Ramin Djawadi cover)
• "Living La Vida Loca" (Ricky Martin cover)
• "Highway to Hell" (AC/DC cover)
• "Sweet Caroline "(Neil Diamond cover)
• "Quizás, quizás, quizás" (Osvaldo Farrés cover)
• "Conga" (Miami Sound Machine cover)
• "Livin' on a Prayer" (Bon Jovi cover)
• "He's a Pirate" (Klaus Badelt cover)
• "Despacito" (Luis Fonsi cover)
• "Señorita" (Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello cover)
• "Bamboléo" (Gipsy Kings cover)
• "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen cover)

Overall, the concert was fantastic and the first one that I can recall, where my wife was taking photos and videos throughout. It was much better than we expected!

The "Rebel Is Back" tour featured two special guest performers: violinist Caroline Campbell and soprano Amy Manford. 

Here is a YouTube video of Hauser playing at the Mountain Winery, Saratoga:

However, he did not play my favorite - Czardas (here is a video with Caroline Campbell):

Hauser - The Rebel is Back Review

Positives

• Excellent selection of popular songs, spanning multiple genres: classical, Latin, pop, rock, and folk 
• Energetic performances by Hauser and his band
• Excellent special effects
• One of the best (if not the best) concerts in recent memory
• Two hours of non-stop music
• Hauser was joking around and interacting with the audience
• Fantastic violin performance by the virtuoso Caroline Campbell
• Standout songs included: "Adagio en Sol Menor", "Caruso", "Game of Thrones", "Conga", "Despacito", "Bamboleo", and "Hallelujah"

Negatives

• San Jose Civic Center is not the best venue for concerts, as the seats are not sloping.
• On some songs, the large screen showed a video, which was out of sync with Hauser's movements on the stage.

Links

• Hauser Official

Read More

Review: SwingVision for Tennis

To improve my tennis skills, I decided to use SwingVision software to help me record and identify areas for improvement in my tennis game.

Here is a SwingVision-processed video of my doubles match: Boris & Dan vs. Katie & Phil:

Here is another SwingVision processed video of my doubles match: Boris & Partner vs. Eyal & Phil:

 The cost of the software is $149.99 per year for the Pro version, which includes a free SwingStick monopod (useful for holding the iPhone in place above the court on the wall).  

Using the SwingStick takes some practice as it's difficult to change the iPhone orientation, once it's in the air (though the Apple Watch integration is quite helpful and can be used to start the recording).

 Here are some recent matches recorded on SwingVision:

• Boris vs. Gary (Rally)
• Boris & Partner vs. Eyal & Phil
• Boris & Dan vs Katie & Phil
• Boris' Serve Practice

 SwingVision Review

Positives

• Cuts out the dead time (between points) in the tennis match
• Identifies individual shots, their placement, and speed
• Identifies forehand, backhand, serve, and estimates ball speed
• Heatmap shows the location of shots (and whether they were in or out)
• Generates detailed match statistics
• AI scoring

Negatives

• Drains the iPhone battery after one hour of recording (it tries to auto-upload the large video file over Wifi)
• Buggy iPhone app can lock up during video processing or upload
• Requires additional input to identify the players (in singles and doubles) and the start time of the match
• Starting the recording can be a bit fiddly
• Exporting the video runs on the iPhone (not on the server) and can be quite slow (and sometimes errors out for no reason)
• If the recording is started upside down, it's not easily correctable.
• AI Scoring can be misleading

Links

• SwingVision 

Read More