Sadly our local ice cream shop The Cone is closing this weekend

| September 30, 2017

This is the final weekend of summer for The Cone ice cream stop which use to be a regular treat when the kids were home. It is hard to believe but we have not even been there this summer so it didn’t take much for my buddy Jeff to entice me to go before it […]

Tech Friday: New “used” After Shokz bluetooth headset

| September 29, 2017

After slowly giving up on ever really making my “90% hearing loss” right ear useful again (due to  Ménière’s disease – posts 1 or 2), I had a chance to try out my buddy Jeff’s After Shokz bluetooth headset a couple weeks ago. I’m not saying it was like I was binaural again, BUT the “bone conduction” […]

Weekend catch-up post: Annalyn, chores and chalkpaint

| September 28, 2017

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A quick look at the new Trump Admin tax reform plan

| September 28, 2017

President Trump will roll out his administration’s tax reform plan on Wednesday, seeking reductions in both the corporate and individual income tax rates, while doubling the standard deduction. The plan would cut corporate taxes from 35% to 20%, while dropping the top individual tax bracket from 39.6% to 35% and collapsing the current seven brackets […]

Getting life in perspective by focusing on the positives

| September 27, 2017

Brenda‘s dad lectured her sister Ann a decade or so ago about constantly having a “woe is me” moment. To be fair, she has a needier personality than Brenda that has a tendency to share one negative thing after another. I remember listening to him on the phone in frustration asking, “Do you have your […]

The NFL football protests have an unpatriotic aftertaste

| September 26, 2017

Since I’ve been watching the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick PBS Vietnam War 10-part series, it is not surprising that once again that some in the United States have an issue over perceive inequities (or something). Unfortunately peaceful protestors again take it out on those wearing a uniform? Very sad … one would think that […]

More Power: Bigger batteries for the Rat Zapper mousetrap

| September 25, 2017

Sort of laughing at myself after running out of smaller AA batteries for my Rat Zapper “electric zapping mousetrap.” Yes it would have been simpler to run to the store (or remember when I was out) to pick up “another” set of batteries for the trap, but then what fun is that? Instead Brenda was […]

Great Yachting World tip for anchoring near coral heads

| September 24, 2017

Part of a 12-part sailing advice series by the UK Yachting World site is worth archiving.

iRobot Verro has been the longest lasting automatic pool robot

| September 23, 2017

About the only replacement parts I’ve had to purchase for our iRobot Verro pool sweeper/ cleaner were the filter bags that go inside the housing. It has been the best of the pool cleaners we have had. Originally we started our pool ownership with a hopping Kreepy Krauly gizmo for our first pool back in […]

Surprised at what I’m still learning about the Vietnam War

| September 22, 2017

The Ken Burns and Lynn Novick 10 part documentary THE VIETNAM WAR airing each night this past week on PBS has been eye opening even for someone who "thought" they knew their Vietnam history. I’ve read a lot of books over the years and lived through most of the war stateside in real time (to […]

Foto Friday – What car lover doesn’t appreciate this photo?

| September 22, 2017

There is something about this classic muscle car photo that spoke to me. Maybe it the tone or just the classic American steel? At any rate, I’ll use it as the first “Foto Friday” post and see who else see this as art? Probably the only thing better would have been to include a GM […]

Obit: A good friend of my parents Elinor Korte has passed away

| September 21, 2017

My brother passed along the message that one of my late mom’s closest friends passed away yesterday. Elinor Korte had many of the same interests as my mother and often enjoyed doing those activities together. Along with her husband Joe, they would regularly take interest in our family … inviting us to Indian Lake or […]

Answering questions on the Motley Fool Industry Focus podcast

| September 21, 2017

Tuned into Motley Fool’s Industry Focus podcast this week talking about how drugmakers get patents and drug trials through the FDA. The Q & A segment was  helpful for those looking to understand the process and pitfalls before adding shares of these companies to their portfolios.   Motley Fool Industry Focus Podcast (mp3) | 9/20/2017 […]

Testing WordPress 4.8.2 prior to updating clients

| September 20, 2017

In looking at a few improvements and bug fixes, it also looks like the “widget” process has seen a few changes. Will test the Video Widget in the center column of the blog. So far so good — targeting Friday for customers if all goes well.

It might be time to update to Apple iOS11 on your iDevice?

| September 20, 2017

If Joanna Stern (WSJ) moves too fast, check out this longer list of iOS11 features by David Pogue at Yahoo.com.

Brenda takes a turn at babysitting our granddaughter

| September 20, 2017

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New Avin Android based Nav PLUS display for BMW X5 35d

| September 19, 2017

A successful install after receiving the Andrew Rodriguez “group buy” iDrive Android Avin replacement for my BMW X5 35d on Saturday. It was a bit intimidating seeing the bundles of wires and 4″x4″ instruction sheet. But after disassembling the dash, most of the plug n play was very smooth. If there would have been a […]

Here we go again – Hurricane Maria at Cat 5 is looking very scary

| September 18, 2017

Hurricane Maria is seeing rapid intensification and is now a Cat 5 with 160mph winds. Looks to be closing in the Leeward Islands slightly further south than Irma. The U.S. Virgin Islands are again in the hurricane’s path again, but this time Puerto Rico may not be spared — it very well could be a […]

Music Monday: Dream Weaver and Love Is Alive by Gary Wright

| September 18, 2017

Shifting back into the "oldies" mode, here’s a Music Monday song that practically everyone knows from Gary Wright. The Dream Weaver is a 1975 hit recently being used in an insurance advertisement. I still think the decade of the 1970s produced the best music? In 1972, my friend George Harrison invited me to accompany him […]

Once upon a time I drove a couple 1980s Chevrolet Celebrities

| September 17, 2017

One of these days I’m planning to archive a post that summarizes all the cars I’ve owned. One that I had forgotten was a favorite "company supplied car" when I worked in purchasing and sales at Knight-Ridder/Portage Newspaper Supply out of Akron, Ohio in the early to mid-1980s. The first car was a white Chevrolet […]

Enjoyed babysitting Annalyn in Perrysburg for a couple days

| September 16, 2017

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Relocated the magnetic phone holder in my BMW X5 35d

| September 15, 2017

In anticipation in receiving new iDrive display and components from a "group buy" on the BMW diesel group I belong to, I made a new CD/DVD slot bracket for the previously installed Nato Smart Mount. The previous location was fine for the older small iPhone 5s, but after updating to the much larger iPhone 7 […]

TechFriday: What is new with the Apple iPhone X (ten)?

| September 15, 2017

So you want the new iPhoneX? Wouldn’t that be nice, but can you handle the new features? A BIG sharp OLED screen = 5.8 inch. Glass front and back. Stainless steel. Wireless charging. Home-button-less swipe gestures. Animoji expressions. iMessage ApplyPay Four-core CPU 70% faster than the A10 A11 capable of 600B operations/sec. Three-core GPU that […]

An interview with Dr Francis Collins triggered a book order

| September 14, 2017

While driving this week I had a opportunity to scan through a few SiriusXM stations and picked up on part of a Bloomberg interview between philanthropist David Rubenstein and National Institutes of Health director Dr. Francis Collins (looked up the video so I could listen to the entire interview later – below).  Dr Collins seemed […]

What about buying the new $1000 iPhone – is it worth it?

| September 13, 2017

And the number one reason to upgrade to the latest Apple iPhone (8, 8plus or X) … the talking Poophead emoji. (see WSJ video) Now personally I don’t have a need for this new latest and greatest iPhone, but know many of my fellow Apple gadget addicted friends will definitely find a way to scrape […]

A couple doctors back to the hospitals that cared for me

| September 12, 2017

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Irma makes landfall in Florida 1st in the Keys then Marco Island

| September 11, 2017

By now those turning on the TV to watch updates on Hurricane Irma are tired of seeing news reporters heading out into 100+ mile per hours winds and pelting rain — enough already! Still the destruction and danger are sickening especially in the areas where building codes are not what they are in the US. […]

Obit: The passing of an old friend and customer, Larry G Hart

| September 10, 2017

Larry G. Hart, 81, former longtime resident of Cuyahoga Falls, passed away on Friday, September 8, 2017, at Copeland Oaks Crandall Medical Center, in Sebring, after a lengthy illness. Larry graduated from South High School, earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Akron, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and […]

Smarter investments than solar energy for most homeowners

| September 10, 2017

For homeowners considering energy use and investing in solar … take a look at these FIVE solutions first from nuwireinvestor.com (although still one of the best investments for your home is "insulation") Some of the smartest investments you can make in your home are ways to maximize the energy efficiency of your heating, ventilation, and […]

Floridians are paying attention as Hurricane Irma turns north

| September 9, 2017

All eyes are on the weather as Hurricane Irma demonstrated her power destroying practically everything on several islands in Caribbean (below). The big storm skirted the northern coast of Cuba and weaken to a Category 3 hurricane. Most watchers expect the warm water of the Straits of Florida to strengthen the winds again as a […]

Tired of reaching for that illusive dock cleat?

| September 9, 2017

There I times the Robship boat hook would make docking a whole lot easier …

TechFriday: Home Internet improvements over the years

| September 8, 2017

Accessing the Internet with broadband speeds has definitely improved this past year or so in our area. I remember connecting via modem at 300 baud, improving to 1200, then 56K and making the expensive big move to a twin pair of 128K ISDN lines giving me 256K of bandwidth in the 1990s. Eventually I jumped […]

Hurricane Irma barreling towards Florida and the US mainland

| September 7, 2017

It is difficult not to be concerned after seeing the power of Hurricane Irma (was 185 mph, but currently 170 mph eyewall winds) and the devastation the powerful storm left behind on several of the Leeward Islands.  I’ve been tracking these last few days both concerned for those in the path and for personal ties […]

At least with the ACA we all have affordable healthcare #sarcasm

| September 7, 2017

Obviously the "promises" made by the Obama administration, and the Democrats who passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), have failed us … and the current GOP controlled congress have failed to fix, repeal or replace (their promise if elected). Who in middle class America can afford health insurance at $1000/mo with a $12,900 deductible?  As […]

Fishing and hauling big things with a small pickup in Australia

| September 6, 2017

Everybody knows that "down under" things are a little bit different … even snakes have learned to creatively fish different than most I have observed in the U.S. How many "large" dangerous looking snakes have you seen plucking a large catfish out of the water by hanging from a branch??? Snakes aren’t the only creatures […]

Islands under the gun as Florida prepares for Hurricane Irma

| September 6, 2017

The satellite definition of Hurricane Irma today is frightening as are the category 5 winds clocked at 185 mph. They are calling it “catastrophic.” Very dangerous storm; one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. Weather Channel update Adding updated IRMA tracking on 9/6/2017

Sperry Topsider update: Trying to repair worn heels with epoxy

| September 5, 2017

  It has been a while since talking about Sperry Boat Shoes, but it is obvious by the popularity of the old posts that I’m not the only one who loves wearing them. Usually the question is how to keep them from smelling or make them a bit more comfortable (with insoles). In this post, […]

Music Monday: Lana White, music with a modern Country feel

| September 4, 2017

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The Leeward Islands are preparing for Hurricane Irma

| September 3, 2017

We’re tracking another hurricane – Hurricane Irma – as it continues to move toward the Caribbean. The islands likely to receive the most wind and rain are the Leeward Islands. If you are looking for a little  geography lesson, the Caribbean Islands are split into two groups – Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles. The southeastern […]

The Apollo 14 mission and a long distance technical support call

| September 3, 2017

What a great story told by YouTuber Scott Manley about the early days of NASA, their Apollo 14 computing problem and a "tech support call" to a programmer (video below). The story is longish and likely only of interest for those on the geeky side who work with computer or are programmers — it would […]

Can Twitter management better monetize the company?

| September 2, 2017

For the fun of it, I ran a lightly responded to Twitter poll (200+ votes and nearly 40,000 views) with an idea that could generate some subscription based income for $TWTR – yes I would like to see the stock price rise too. My purpose was to see just how many users would be interested […]

Colorado looks safe – but seriously watch Hurricane Irma #humor

| September 1, 2017

… although for the “real” current Friday morning Weather Channel Hurricane Irma watch report – click here

TechFriday: iPhone watching as September 12th approaches

| September 1, 2017

The big day looks to be September 12, 2017 when "watchers" expect Apple to release their 10th Anniversary iPhone. I may have been slow to accept the virtual keyboard "back in the day," but have comfortably adapted to it starting with the iPhone5 in 2012. As smartphones go (after the Palm Pilots and Handspring clones), […]

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog