RichC | June 30, 2013
Click for larger panarama at Aaron’s (Growler) VW TDIClub GTG on Saturday Owning a diesel car again after a couple year hiatus (Katelyn’s doesn’t count) was a weak excuse to go to a TDIClub GTG in Millersport, Ohio on Saturday, but took the Mercedes Benz 300D to the Volkswagen diesel gathering just the same – […]
RichC | June 29, 2013
Is that the way it is … once you own a certain make and model of car and then your eyes are automatically attracted to others that are of a similar nameplate? In the case of my recent Mercedes 300D project, its other Mercedes Benz cars … and the one below is a beauty (the […]
RichC | June 28, 2013
You’re invited to Cubby by LogMeIn. Give is a free try. After eliminating Sugarsync, filling up my preferred but pricey Dropbox, and keeping Microsoft’s Skydrive and GoogleDrive for mostly shared online docs, spreadsheets and PDF files, I’ve been trying out a few other backup and synchronizing services. This week I added a couple MyCubby folders […]
RichC | June 28, 2013
My condolences to the Collins family on the passing of Gary Collins after his accident last week. Gary’s love of aviation (EAA Chapter 174) and his passion for Corvair conversions was an inspiration to all of us who loved antique and grass roots experimental aviation. He was enjoyable to be around and our EAA284 chapter […]
RichC | June 27, 2013
Impressive super cell photo from Nebraska (www.tonightssky.com) about a week ago. The photo is a sandwich of 2 shots about 9 seconds apart at f/22, 2.5 sec and ISO 100 according to the tech info shared on G+.
RichC | June 26, 2013
Drivers Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger set a new Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption by a non-hybrid during their 8,000-mile trek across 48 states in a 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI Clean Diesel. Gerdes, a practiced “hypermiler” who runs the online community CleanMPG, and his co-pilot Winger averaged nearly 78 miles per gallon during […]
RichC | June 26, 2013
It has been a while since I’ve posted anything on surfing … so here’s a feel good story from down-under.
RichC | June 25, 2013
When a deal seems a bit too good, there is probably a reason to be skeptical. Now to be fair, I knew that for $25 I was not going to get my yard completely treated, but was expecting this Cincinnati area Groupon deal to be a way for Weed Man to demonstrate their professionalism and […]
RichC | June 24, 2013
Too lazy to post any original content today … besides thinking about posting more from this weekends car repairing marathon, but I’ll resist!
RichC | June 23, 2013
Since I’m on a car repair roll at the moment, I’ll continue to update the condition of my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. It has come apart this weekend primarily to set the clearances for the valves, something that has to be done regularly and manual as this is a pre-hydraulic valve adjusting kind of […]
RichC | June 22, 2013
Besides spending the day at home catching up on pool cleaning and some minor yard work, I spent the day in the garage working on the Mercedes 300D’s valve adjustment and glow plugs (more on this tomorrow). The more obvious update was installing new Bosch headlight doors I found on Ebay. They look just like […]
RichC | June 22, 2013
While traveling this week I decided to give the old 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel a workout. Even though it kept up with interstate traffic and pegged the speedo, I found that it did a little shake from 73 to 80 mph. Maybe an alignment and suspension adjustment when I decide new tires are in her […]
RichC | June 21, 2013
Doing a little late Friday afternoon updating for several of the WordPress blogs that I maintain as the new 3.5.2 is now the current version. Along with that, plugins are next to follow, of which I’ve updated a couple installed on my server. Thankfully the blog has been running without a hitch recently a testament to this […]
RichC | June 21, 2013
Are you frustrated with the basic search feature available in WordPress? If so, join the club. I’ve been back and forth with several different search plugins and have even tried customizing my own using a Google API. Unfortunately none of them worked well for me when I was searching my own site for items that […]
RichC | June 20, 2013
Looking at using the paid Avast VPN option while connecting to unsecured wifi connections. So far it works just fine and seems transparent … except LastPass does not like the overseas routing. Speeds are good, at least at McDonald’s; not so sure about busy hotels or the marinas?
RichC | June 20, 2013
Karen Hutton of KarenHuttonPhotography posted a gorgeous photo from Makapu’u Lookout in Oahu, Hawaii yesterday that makes me want to return to Hawaii. (our 2006 trip) Her description was nice too: I could almost see the curvature of the earth on the horizon… it was dizzying! And wonderful, and blue, green, gorgeous and stunning. I […]
RichC | June 19, 2013
A travel oriented video clip for today’s post from a guy in the Peace Corp. The Bamboo Train of Cambodia iis built on narrow gauge French tracks in a region called Battambang. According to the videographer, “it goes crazy fast, its crazy rickety, its held together by momentum and weight, and its just plain crazy.”
RichC | June 18, 2013
Lexington Lab Band for more
RichC | June 17, 2013
The movie Jimmy made its début in early June and will be screened in my hometown with a high school classmate of mine introducing the movie and answers a few questions (it shows at 3PM and 9PM at the Historic Sidney Theatre for those interested or in the area). It would have been great to […]
RichC | June 16, 2013
Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver talks about his 1983 Mercedes Benz 300D and closes with, “it’s solid, reliable, robust, well made, it’s got a lot of integrity … and I hope that I represent those values.”
RichC | June 15, 2013
Every year we see and hear of charities wasting money and the generous gifts given by their donors and unfortunately some charities and their hired solicitors are just out and out crooks (and unfortunately able to get away with it year after year). If you intend to give to organizations that you are not intimately […]
RichC | June 14, 2013
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RichC | June 14, 2013
Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated (video/audio below). I’ve installed a new AC system (compressor, r/d & expansion valve) in my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel after a thorough cleaning and proper charge, but occasionally there is a clatter-rattle when at idle. The AC seems to be cooling just fine and I think the […]
RichC | June 13, 2013
I’ve delayed opining on the latest NSA and whistleblower story over the last couple of days because I can see both sides and like most Americans , value the liberty our constitution protects, yet expect our government to protect us. It is a frustratingly difficult conundrum we face … or I should say, those we […]
RichC | June 10, 2013
My son Taylor and I celebrated his 24th birthday today since we were both at home. We went to Chili’s, a favorite spot of his (well mine too) and they treated him to a birthday desert … on top of ribs and of course chips and salsa. Mail call was also interesting today as my […]
RichC | June 10, 2013
Encore’s sailing projects have taken a back seat to illness, funerals and wedding this past year, but I’m doing my best to do some project planning and research for next year. I received a reply from the Rich Boren, the CEO of CruiseROWater after I made a comment about his infatuation with fish tacos. In […]
RichC | June 8, 2013
Some road trips are more epic than others, and I’m excited to announce that we have a pretty epic one planned. Today, two drivers, Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger, depart from Volkswagen of America’s Herndon, Virginia headquarters in a 2013 Passat TDI® Clean Diesel. They’ll drive it 8,000 miles and pass through all 48 contiguous […]
RichC | June 7, 2013
Life returning to “normal” doesn’t feel right after being with family and friends for the funeral and burial of Dr. Frederick Howard, Brenda’s father – I’m not sure when I will realize that he is gone. We remembered dad’s life through stories and humor this past week and as Christians, knowing he is now truly […]
RichC | June 4, 2013
There sure seems to be a disconnect between what my gut tells me about the economy and what the financial markets have been doing … and I know I’m not the only one growing concerned as evident by the growing number of articles. Europe is clearly in recession, China is slowing, U.S. consumer spending and […]
RichC | June 3, 2013
With funeral preparations underway for my father-in-law, it has each in the family working to celebrate the extraordinary life of Frederick Howard (obiturary). I’ve been searching through some old photos and video … and getting plenty distracted. I came across a short segment of my daughter Katelyn in 1989 and couldn’t help but smile.
RichC | June 2, 2013
Some of us are fortunate to have wise men in our lives … someone that mentors and shapes us … someone who is an example for patterning our day to day lives. I was fortunate to have one of these wise men, that being my wife’s father, Dr. Frederick A. Howard – August 24, 1925 […]
RichC | June 1, 2013
If it isn’t one thing, it is another when it comes to an old car in an unknown condition. Thankfully I’m getting to know my new beast and am thoroughly enjoying learning about and repairing some of those “unknowns.” The latest item in the multiple air conditioning components that I’m replacing is the auxiliary fan […]