School: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Science and CODING
RichC | February 28, 2013
The United States spends more on education than any other country in the world. Is the money we invest in our children focused on teaching the correct disciplines? Personally, I’m glad to have had math and science pushed during the space race of the 1960’s (thank you JFK) and the opportunity study engineering and technology […]
Are we ready to put carpet down again?
RichC | February 27, 2013
The carpet for the basement was delivered today … are we going to stay dry? The whole wet basement thing has me a little nervous about putting it all back together before spring weather.
Are you prepared for catastrophic spending cuts? [sarcasm]
RichC | February 27, 2013
I find it difficult to listen to “the sky is falling” coming from special interest groups with the politicians looking out for them … or for that matter President Obama “crying wolf” once again. If it is so difficult to trim a few percent federal budget (something that was suppose to be done several years […]
Promising additional drug treatment for Parkinson’s Disease
RichC | February 26, 2013
While keeping an Internet-eye on research regarding medical conditions impacting friends and family, I came across a positive research article on an additional medication that is being looked at to treat Parkinson’s Disease. Northwestern University is planning another clinical test in hopes this new added drug treatment will slow the progression of the calcium build […]
Volkswagen UP! may get the 261mpg XL1 powertrain
RichC | February 26, 2013
Not that the Volkswagen UP! is the sleekest looking VW model (image to right), but it may be the model getting the highly efficient 261mpg XL1 diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. According to Autocar.co.uk, the UP! minicar might be the 2-cylinder diesel and electric minicar produced en masse. I know VW enthusiasts would love to see the […]
Your health care plan: Spouses may no longer be covered
RichC | February 25, 2013
The negative implication of “big government’s Obamacare” is just beginning to be felt by those with health care coverage and businesses are squirming to adapt to the pages of new regulations. One of the latest money saving measures is that of “dropping spousal coverage” – I’m just guessing, but I suspect it will be unpopular? […]
Political thoughts from the past are surprisingly apropos
RichC | February 24, 2013
Every once in a while, actually a lot lately, someone will include something from the past in their books, articles or blog which reminds me of the challenges we face in becoming independent thinkers. A couple sailing friends of mine who have and are currently living a life out of the mainstream and shared a […]
Home repair and wedding projects continue this weekend
RichC | February 23, 2013
Although I’m not really accomplishing much this Saturday morning, I am working on a few projects. Little things like setting the type and printing the dinner menus (PDF) for Katelyn and Drew’s wedding and creating the type mask for a sign project are going ok, but without the basement workshop being back together, it is […]
Nice camping display at the local Honda dealer
RichC | February 22, 2013
After enduring a month of idiot lights flashing on and off on my Honda Pilot and having my local mechanic shrug his shoulders, it was time to pay the $45 to have the dealer check it out. So this afternoon I diligently waited at the local Honda dealership while they pondered the problem. A couple […]
Postie test number four after tweaking HTML
RichC | February 22, 2013
There was a glitch in the HTML settings in the previous post, so am making an added Postie plugin test to be sure all is running correctly. The image I’m adding is an ad from a Popular Science magazine that I sorted and tossed after our basement flooding. It is state-of-the-art 1970s technology (answering machine) […]
Tech Friday – Adding the Postie plugin to WordPress
RichC | February 22, 2013
After using Posterous to post by email to my blog I’ve grown use to being able to simply email a quick post with attachments on occasion. Now that Twitter is shutting down the Posterous blogging platform, I’m looking into new ways to do this. WordPress offers a simple “text only” posting, but there are a […]
The VW Golf GTD performance diesel may be headed to the U.S.
RichC | February 21, 2013
According to Car and Driver, American VW buyers have a shot at getting the 2014 turbocharged 2.0 liter diesel powered Volkswagen Golf GTD. The new performance model will resemble the gas GTI, but offer a 184 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque diesel. Revs for this performance are incredibly low at not much above an […]
It is embarrassing that they work for us
RichC | February 21, 2013
Really … something has to change in Washington DC. We’re borrowing TRILLIONS, yet the President jets around playing golf while the first lady and family heads to Colorado on vacation. Sure it only MILLIONS … In the another branch of our govenment, they pass reams of laws, bicker about raising more revenue (taxing us), pretend […]
Let the basement repairs begin!
RichC | February 20, 2013
I arrived home tonight to progress in repairing our finished basement. It was great to see such a speedy response from both my insurance company (Liberty Mutual) and the re-construction company (Paul Davis). Who knows, at this speed we may be back to normal by March?
Mid-February flower bulbs and wedding invitation stamps
RichC | February 19, 2013
I forgot to add a couple of photos from Katelyn and Drew’s visit this weekend in order to finish up their wedding invitations … of course we all forgot that the Post Office was close Monday — Presidents’ Day. I suppose one more day won’t hurt? Also noticed the new bulbs are popping up already […]
Reminder: Be sure to back up Posterous data before April 30th
RichC | February 18, 2013
Although I’ve only used Posterous to update MyDesultoryBlog by email, I’m going to miss having a place to quickly send text, photos and video for personal archiving. It was a great product while it lasted … an all the coded shortcuts very cool. So tonight I’m doing the “back-up” of data … and will figure […]
They don’t make them like they used to: Electric clothes dryers
RichC | February 18, 2013
When we were first married, we had an old hand-me-down clothes dryer from my in-laws … along with an electric “Maytag ringer washer” that came with our first house. The dryer was about 20 years old when we first started using it and lasted another 15 years or so and could be easily self-repaired. When […]
CinciTDI winter Social GTG at Roosters
RichC | February 17, 2013
A handful of CinciTDI friends gathered on Saturday at Roosters in Fairfield Ohio with our Volkswagen TDIs and stayed warm inside most of the time for just a social get together (GTG). That’s not to say a few cars didn’t need a bit of "wrenching," but the temperature and wind chill would not have have […]
A War Between China and Japan: What It Could Cost You
RichC | February 16, 2013
Shared per Emily Stewart of Online MBA blog … Thanks. Global economists are keeping their eyes glued to the Asia-Pacific region, where a bitter feud is brewing between two of the world’s most powerful nations over a small collectivity of islands in the East China Sea. The Chinese government argues that a treaty signed […]
TechFriday: Health check your online settings with PrivacyFix
RichC | February 15, 2013
A friend of mine recommended adding the PrivacyFix plug-in to Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers. The install was simple on both and checks a variety of user adjustable privacy setting on Facebook and Google. After completing the 3 minute multi-step check, there is a option to install a small monitor icon on the browser […]
Targeted federal governments cuts or the March 1st sequester
RichC | February 14, 2013
The coming government cuts, either by choice or sequester and their economic impact is bound to be felt by all of us. The President for his part Tuesday night in the State of the Union address offered a warning, but little that addressed the ominous across the board cuts coming on March 1st if nothing […]
Archive: 40 year old photos of our house and dog Skippy
RichC | February 13, 2013
I’m on a roll in posting a few old photos and still in the reminiscing mood, so figured I’d archive a couple more black and whites. These are from my home darkroom when I started photography as a hobby in junior high school. We’re starting to pack things back in boxes again so the boring […]
Finding a few photos of an old friend, his canoe and VW Bug
RichC | February 12, 2013
It’s not fun drying out our basement, but I am enjoying finding long lost photos. Here’s one of a canoe trip (one of many) taken during a 1977 spring trip to the Whitewater River in Indiana with Charlie “Kamakaze” Matthews. We spent our free time both canoeing and sailing when we were in high school […]
Come on in, the water is fine! Can you say “feeding frenzy?”
RichC | February 11, 2013
It’s nice sun filled and warm day in Cincinnati today … although I don’t think it is pool time just yet. Would you like to go swimming with these “fishies?” (Click for larger) Photo credit: Photographer unknown
Trying out the new Titebond III waterproof glue
RichC | February 11, 2013
Along with our flooded basement and BlueMax water line repair mentioned the last few days, the boring equipment the excavator used took out some of my fence. Although we just stained it again this year, the boards are starting to show their age and have split. I figured this might be a good time to […]
My daughter’s wedding approaches – where does the time go?
RichC | February 10, 2013
While drying hundreds if not thousands of photos after our basement flooding this past week, the memories have been both great … and have pulled my heartstrings. I’ve scanned a few photos this afternoon to share (they were pre-digital) and reminded me just how many years have past … and how fast those years have […]
My depressing and nonstop day going through wet boxes
RichC | February 9, 2013
If you have ever experience a flooded basement, you know what I’m doing today … well this entire weekend and well into next week! It has been a busy, nonstop day hauling up soggy boxes and one of the few days that I’m sure Brenda is glad to be working! I’m kicking myself for the […]
Basement woes – we should just get a big dumpster
RichC | February 8, 2013
What a mess! As we continue the “dry out” process for the basement after the failed BlueMax water pipe, our piles of basement stored possessions is making me rethink the material lifestyle we live. From Barbie dolls to “antique” computer gear … why did we buy so much and why are we packing up […]
A failed BlueMax water pipe and a basement full of water
RichC | February 7, 2013
Well I probably shouldn’t say "a basement FULL of water," but when coming home from a week vacation and finding water covering the floor makes it feel like the basement was FULL of water! We stumbled in last night after a day of travel pretty much ready for bed, only to find "water, water, everywhere" […]
Gas prices and an additional Encore motor mount issue
RichC | February 5, 2013
In the last few weeks gasoline prices have risen 20 – 30 cents per gallon and the extra few dollars were felt when we were in Florida this past week. The small, and cheap feeling, Nissan Versa rental car was at least a little thrifty at the pump – 32 mpg, but it should have […]
Richard III’s Grave Confirmed – WSJ.com
RichC | February 4, 2013
Interesting story. LONDON—Researchers on Monday said the long-lost remains of King Richard III have been found and identified—after sitting under what is now a parking lot in the English Midlands for more than 500 years. The findings appear to solve a centuries-old mystery involving one of England’s most-storied rulers, who has remained in the public […]
Beaches, sunshine and the Superbowl
RichC | February 3, 2013
Sunday afternoon was another lazy day at the beach relaxing in the beautiful Florida sunshine before heading back to my in-laws for wings, pizza and the Superbowl. Since we are from the east coast and the Ravens are in our division (Bengals, Browns), we’re pulling for them. So far, we haven’t been disappointed as they […]
Encore is still on the hard
RichC | February 1, 2013
Well if it isn’t one thing, it is another. Unfortunately Encore is still on the hard after my failing to noticed that the broken motor mount causing excessive wear on the cutlass bearing. At least I have the mount ordered and have time to work on the stuck seacocks. The downside is that we aren’t […]
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.