RichC | September 30, 2008
Life needs a little perspective. I’m spending far too much time concerned over things I have little control over — the economic mess. What I can do, is get motivated to work on my Sonex project and this video of USAF test pilot Roger Tanner and Sonex founder John Monnett might be just what I […]
RichC | September 29, 2008
It was a rough day on Wall Street, but nothing like it will be if they aren’t able to pass a bill to keep money flowing in the U.S. When paychecks are no long being cashed and layoffs start occurring in full force, their will be blood. For most, the losses are currently just on […]
RichC | September 29, 2008
Money lending … this wouldn’t be the first time society gets carried away with borrowing more than realistically we can pay back under the terms of a contract — what started it and is there a solution? Was it the Fannie and Freddie backed loans to those without the incomes to borrow during the 1990s? […]
RichC | September 29, 2008
Like many investors, I’ve been watching the reaction to the bank melting down on Wall Street. All who are invested in America (and rippling overseas) are going to be impacted in real estate value, stock value, bond security and the ability of our government to remain sound. This devaluation will no doubt slow our economy […]
RichC | September 29, 2008
Although there is enough blame to go around, here’s a partisan CSPAN video that at least shows that a couple legislators were trying to get a handle on the business practices and corruptions going on over at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac back in 2004. When people “ask where the oversight and regulators” during these […]
RichC | September 28, 2008
I’m reading the latest document from Capital Hill on the government’s rescue effort from my congressman John Boehner. (PDF – September 28, 2008 | 6:31 pm) Also, here is the letter from the Office of Management and Budget on Rescue to Boehner’s office (see below). Nussle to Boehner – Upload a Document to Scribd Read […]
RichC | September 28, 2008
Hurricane Kyle is heading just west of Halifax Nova Scotia today and could leave many without power and create more than just a disruption along thia pristine coastline. Each inlet, which already experiences significant tides, could have additional water along with wind and rain heading their way. Most of us don’t think of hurricanes affecting […]
RichC | September 28, 2008
Not that it matters, but the Cincinnati starting quarterback Carson Palmer is just sitting on the sideline today as he watches his 0-3 Bengals take on the equally struggling Cleveland Browns. According to reports, he is capable of playing, but his elbow is sore after receiving beatings in the first three game. The franchise quarterback […]
RichC | September 28, 2008
As I watch a bit of news before bed early Sunday morning, congress negotiators look to have come up with a ‘bailout’ plan. The whole group of leaders are walking out smiling at 12:28 AM and Nancy Pelosi announced that they have a “package to stabilize markets” and “protect citizens and taxpayer.” They still need […]
RichC | September 27, 2008
No real winner, no real loser … that’s the conclusion in my unscientific reading of the newspapers and websites garnered this morning. I thought both candidates handled themselves well considering the heavy focus on Capital Hill over the economic crisis. Both candidate are in support of government coming to the aid of our nations’ banks. […]
RichC | September 26, 2008
It’s always great to see these headlines … New VW Jetta Diesel Tops Prius in Fuel-Economy Marathon Test … although its a bit misleading. The Prius still tops the 2009 VW Jetta TDI with DSG in the city, but the clean diesel surpasses the Toyota Hybrid on the highway (Jetta: 45.4 MPG | Prius: 44.8 […]
RichC | September 25, 2008
On Wednesday night, President Bush addressed the nation in order to explain the economic crisis and layout the administration’s plan in order prevent a “deep recession.” From studying the comments from the past few day, this credit crisis isn’t going away without some kind of intervention by the government … and if a Republican is […]
RichC | September 24, 2008
It is a frightening time to be an American family and businessperson, as the credit markets in the United States dry up and near collapse. Our elected politicians posture in Washington DC in hopes to prevent a slide into a deep recession or possible depression. President Bush request time to address citizens on Wednesday night […]
RichC | September 23, 2008
Once upon a time back in 2007, Volkswagen TDI advocates anticipated factory warranty coverage for higher blends of biodiesel — its not happening as of 2008 or from the looks of things, for the new 2009 ‘clean diesel‘ TDIs. We had been told that ADM and VWoA were contemplating B20 as an acceptable blend (they […]
RichC | September 22, 2008
Here are several YouTube music videos mentioned by Amber MacArthur and posted on her blog dealing with technology. A couple videos have been around a while, particularly if you are a YouTube addict … but a couple have just launched in September of 2008. There are some talented people posting their work to the web. […]
RichC | September 22, 2008
Volkswagen TDI Cup racing had 18,000 fans watching at the Iowa Speedway this past weekend for the 5th racing in the circuit. Jimmy Underhill of Denver, Colorado, took first place at the speedway driving the Jetta TDI for the 33 lap 30 minute sprint. He lead every lap in this impressive VW ‘clean diesel‘ and […]
RichC | September 21, 2008
It is not that having a day alone is all that unusual, but its feels a bit more like I’m alone? Instead of driving my son back to college with my wife today, she is doing it alone and leaving me to chores at home (and there are plenty after the latest wind storm) and […]
RichC | September 20, 2008
Its often the small things in a day that can trigger a smile. Here’s a text message from a long distance friend that had me laughing … of course the actual word was “coworkers” but the shortened message that came to my Treo smartphone was a bit more comical. (Thanks for the laugh Scott!)
RichC | September 19, 2008
Big changes for the financial markets as the SEC steps in to slow short selling of 799 financial companies and secure Money Market Fund holders on the heels of an injection of loan money from Uncle Sam earlier this week. Predatory short selling is in part to blame for the meltdown in financial sector. In […]
RichC | September 18, 2008
Sorry about that “incorrect information” … 🙂
RichC | September 17, 2008
Whoa … kind of shocking when I walked into our local grocery store to pick up a few items for the kitchen — the coolers and freezers were all bare! I suppose I should have given it a bit more thought since much of the area is still without power. Schools in my area have […]
RichC | September 16, 2008
The news for long term investors, home owner equity and equity oriented retirement plans is pretty ugly. Monday’s drop of 504 points of the Dow as continued news that financial companies in the U.S. are in serious trouble triggered by Lehman Brothers facing bankruptcy. Another company, AIG fell 49% on Tuesday morning and has brought […]
RichC | September 14, 2008
Hurricane Ike didn’t just come ashore and disappear after the Texas and Louisiana landfall, but continued to leave damage in its path. On Sunday here in Ohio, the strong winds arrived and were gusting over 70 mph between 2 and 6 PM. Here in the Cincinnati area, power outages were widespread — 650,000 in the […]
RichC | September 13, 2008
There is a lot of discussion on TV about the possibility of a significant rise in fuel prices in the wake of Hurricane Ike hammering Texas and Louisiana. As I post this message on Saturday morning just a few hours after Ike came ashore, the conclusion is that the shipping channel in Houston is ok, […]
RichC | September 13, 2008
As I head to bed on Friday night, I watched Hurricane Ike come ashore as a very wide storm pushing a surge of up to 20+ feet into some areas of the Texas coast. Although my thoughts and prayers are with those who are affected directly, the rest of the U.S. will likely feel Ike’s […]
RichC | September 12, 2008
More on potential for petroleum interruption and platform damage along the Texas/Louisiana coast. (click for larger image)
RichC | September 11, 2008
As December 7, 1941 was for the Greatest Generation, the September 11, 2001 attack on our nation will live “in infamy” for generation remembering 9/11. Today as our country reflects on those tragic events, and the loss of so many of our citizens in New York City, the Pentagon and in Shanksville Pennsylvania, I recall […]
RichC | September 10, 2008
Hurricane Ike is growing stronger as it heads across the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday after killing at least 80 people in the Caribbean and toppling aging building in Havana Cuba. Forecasters said the Category 1 storm could grow into a major Category 3 or 4 before targeting somewhere along the Texas […]
RichC | September 10, 2008
On Tuesday both campaigns, Obama and McCain made swings through Ohio — we must be an important state? 😉 (photo above and video below from Cincinnati.com) Nevertheless the McCain/Palin campaign were in the town next door and they were greeted by much larger groups than McCain alone. There is certainly something that attracts people to […]
RichC | September 9, 2008
During the TDIFest OH8, I put my daughter to work logging in names and tabulating times during the “timed drive” Road Rally. A fellow planner and friend gave her a new ‘red’ badge for her TDI which she installed this past week. She sent me a photo and I thought it looks pretty nice.
RichC | September 8, 2008
After going a couple weeks without a television (well Slingbox on my notebook computer doesn’t count), it was nice to have a TV back in our bedroom. Besides being busy with the Taildragger Fly-In and TDIFest last weekend, I’ve had trouble deciding on just what flat panel technology and brand to purchase. I had convinced […]
RichC | September 7, 2008
Friends and family regularly forward me ‘cute’ things on the Internet, although I rarely post them on my blog. Here’s a YouTube clip that impressed me enough to share. Perhaps it is because as a boy I played with a yo-yo and tried to learn a few simple tricks — but never like this!
RichC | September 6, 2008
On Thursday night at the RNC, prior to Senator John McCain‘s speech accepting his party’s nomination, he was introduced by a short movie about his love for country and his life of service to our nation. His mother posed the question: “Where else in the history of the United States of America, have you had […]
RichC | September 5, 2008
I stumbled across the first 2009 Volkswagen Sportwagen TDI that I’ve noticed in my area. Here are a few photos of the ‘sold’ vehicle in the FairfieldVW showroom. Sticker was just a bit over $25,000, but the car had that impressively huge moonroof. I could go for this 6-speed manual in black! Picasa Google image […]
RichC | September 5, 2008
Senator Barack Obama and Bill O’Reilly (Fox News – O’Reilly Factor) sat down and had a 2 hour talk on Thursday in Pennsylvania before the RNC speeches; part one of the interview ran at 8PM EST Thursday night and the balance will follow next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I though both did a […]
RichC | September 4, 2008
Although hurricane Ike is a few days away from the United States, it currently looks to be the most threatening storm heading towards the U.S. mainland this year. Predictions have it at a CAT4 ( 131-154mph wind) with the current path of south Florida. As someone with family in Delray Beach, this storm has me […]
RichC | September 4, 2008
Alaska’s Governor Sarah Palin delivered one of the finest speeches at a political convention that I can recall which without question re-ignites the slumbering McCain for President campaign. Palin’s energy and speech delivery were exactly what the Republican convention needed. I think America is going to like and listen to her. From her smart ‘small […]
RichC | September 3, 2008
In keeping with short posts and photos, my EAA Chapter 284 had its annual Fly-In and Pancake breakfast this past Sunday morning. Thanks to the great weather and hungry pilots, our event was well attended and the most profitable in the last several years. Who said high priced AVGas would keep taildraggers away?
RichC | September 2, 2008
Although I spent most of my time behind the scenes working with my fellow planners to keep the TDIFest organized, I did take a few moments to walk through the parking lot and Rally destination (Red Stewart Airfield) taking a couple photos.
RichC | September 1, 2008
I’m back dating a couple of blog entries so I can include a few photos and video from this past weekend — TDIFest OH8. Here’s a great video by TDIClub member “TeDeEye1” of the “timed drive” Road Rally: TDIFest OH8 Road Rally from Fred on Vimeo.