As grandparents, what would we do without smartphones?
RichC | November 30, 2018
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The snow is here, but the Pi cam still shows an autumn sky
RichC | November 29, 2018
The weather has turned this week with temperatures in the 20s and our second snow in Cincinnati for winter 2018-19 (here’s first). My automated Raspberry Pi cam regularly tweets out a photo with this one still looking like an autumn sky … or perhaps winter since the sun looks pretty low in the southern sky? […]
Markets rallied, and as one headline stated, Ratemania!
RichC | November 28, 2018
The Dow closed up 618 points on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell indicated that "interest rates are just below the neutral level that neither aids or hinders economic growth." Investors looking for something positive as they wait hoping for some good news during the G-20 meeting between President Trump and China’s Xi […]
Fees increases ends my Freedompop LTE MiFi endorsement
RichC | November 27, 2018
This may be the end for Freedompop, the low cost wireless "backup" hotspot service I’ve been using for years — at least it probably is for me (started with the Photon back in 2010). For the most part their hotspot service has been a decent value for me while traveling and giving me LTE connectivity […]
Music Monday: Ooh La La, I wish that I knew what I know now
RichC | November 26, 2018
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In Big Ten football, The Ohio State Buckeyes dominated Michigan
RichC | November 25, 2018
After an uncomfortable win against Maryland where Ohio State’s defense failed to show up … this week in the big 10th ranked OSU vs 4th ranked Michigan rivalry, both the defense and offense performed for the Buckeyes and their fans at the Shoe. Besides a few mistakes and penalties costing the Buckeyes points (fortunately they […]
Simple iPhone cursor features unknown for years by many users
RichC | November 24, 2018
This really should have been yesterday’s Tech Friday post, but between the holiday with turkey, family and football watching on Thursday and another market drop and oil plunge of another 7.7% to $50.42 on Friday my focus was elsewhere. As for a tech tip, a viral tweet last week caught hold when it really shouldn’t […]
Why has the price of crude oil dropped so much and so fast?
RichC | November 23, 2018
Even as someone who watches markets and oil, the precipitous drop in price over the past month has been shocking. Most observers expected the increased inventory to cause the price per barrel to drop a bit, just as it has in the past when oil is stored in surplus, but a $20/barrel collapse in 1 […]
Happy Thanksgiving with an TBT memory from a few years ago
RichC | November 22, 2018
This was probably not a Thanksgiving meal with my late mom and dad, but it was in the fall of 1987 and is a perfect #TBT memory. My daughter Katelyn was pretty close to her daughter Annalyn’s age and my brother Ron and Claire just engaged to be married. It seems like yesterday, but was […]
Granddaughter pleasure and driving with Waze GPS Navigation
RichC | November 21, 2018
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Monopoly for Millennials – but does it have a “cry room?”
RichC | November 20, 2018
Plenty of jokes were bantered around last week when Hasbro announce a new version of Monopoly for Millennials. The "forget real estate. You can’t afford it anyway" comments and winning is collecting points, such as a "3-Day Music Festival" EXPERIENCE or "going to a vegan bistro because memories last forever." Without digging a little deeper […]
Music Monday: Jam In The Van a few years ago with Nicki Bluhm
RichC | November 19, 2018
Music Monday posts are usually a reflection of what I’m listening to at the moment; this week it is not. The older music video below was trigger after seeing Nicki Bluhm‘s name on a concert listing when Brenda and I were at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati. I’ve mention Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers several […]
Sidetracked again, this time added a drawing table drawer
RichC | November 18, 2018
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Sidetracked into playing with my Stirling Engine model
RichC | November 17, 2018
Last week while clearing off our bookshelves I came across a ticket to The Music Man from 18 years ago when my nephew Ben played the lead in his high school musical. It occurred to me that his birthday was this month and that I should post it to his Facebook page while sending him […]
Tech Friday: My Brydge BT keyboard has a faulty USB socket
RichC | November 16, 2018
The Brydge keyboard attached to my aging iPad Air2, which I love, has been slowly causing me a few irritation when it come to getting a connection while charging. The tightly sealed aluminum clad keyboard was much better than my original Kensington (left) and tested Zagg (right), both which were great. Still the Brydge is […]
Heavy ice in the morning and snow tonight …
RichC | November 15, 2018
Winter is here as the ice came in the morning bringing down branches and knocking out power all around Cincinnati … and just when I thought it was over, the Dark Sky app indicates the heavy snow is beginning in Liberty Township. Ugh! (I’m also playing a little bit with the slow-motion settings on the […]
Mid-November must be time to rake leaves in Ohio? #TBT
RichC | November 15, 2018
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Pocket dust, the bane of micro plugs in our smartphones
RichC | November 14, 2018
It is shocking just how much lint and dust can accumulate in the tiny holes and connectors of our smartphones. If you notice questionable connections and charging difficultly with your iPhone or Android phone your first look should be at the cord, plug and socket of your phone. In my case, the amount of lint […]
How prepared are we for the next economic downturn?
RichC | November 13, 2018
After Monday’s selloff (see below), what lies ahead for the U.S. economy? That thought has some of seriously thinking the next economic downturn could come sooner rather than as expected … later. The sell off … "again" … has me wondering if we are prepared for the next recession? Is the U.S., or the world, […]
Music Monday: A Rumours of Fleetwood Mac recap
RichC | November 12, 2018
After posting on last weekend Rumours of Fleetwood Mac concert on Friday night for Saturday’s post, I realized the music related post would have made a great Music Monday post. Since part of being a VIP attendee was a bunch of swag including a promo video, so below a little bit of what the concert […]
Veterans Day – 100 year anniversary of the Armistice ending WWI
RichC | November 11, 2018
The "Bells of Peace" will ring out nationwide from smartphones on the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" to mark the centennial of the end of World War I in November 1918 – click for app On the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month … one hundred […]
If you enjoy music, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac is a great concert
RichC | November 10, 2018
It has been 41 years since Fleetwood Mac released their ginormous selling album called Rumours which was a must have by college students like me in the late 1970s (45 million copies of Rumours has been sold). Brenda and I attended a Rumours of Fleetwood Mac concert marking the 40 years milestone this past week […]
Tech Friday: Brydge keyboards for the new iPad Pro 2018
RichC | November 9, 2018
Having used a Brydge keyboard with an iPad from their first introduction, I can say that IF I were to update my current iPad Air2 to the 2018 just introduced iPad Pro that I would seriously consider waiting for the 2019 Brydge keyboard … they are that good. But with all current Apple updates to […]
Phases of life – early retirement travel and in school already
RichC | November 8, 2018
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DEMs grow governorships & flip House, but GOP gains Senators
RichC | November 7, 2018
The midterm election is finally over and those who are tired of pile of flyers in their mail, phone calls, email spam and still watching cable TV network stations are no doubt thankful that is the case. As for the results, each political party can claim some degree of victory. The Democrats definitely gained ground […]
Make it a good day and be sure to exercise your right to VOTE
RichC | November 6, 2018
This year Brenda and I voted absentee … or by mail. I knew it was an important mid-term and wanted to be sure our votes counted, but do miss the feeling of standing in line with others and waiting my turn at the polls. That said, minus the hiccup with our verification system (missing digits […]
A lesson in effort, persistence and perseverance #video
RichC | November 6, 2018
“IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN” Don’t give up too easily; persistence pays off in the end. The proverb has been traced back to ‘Teacher’s Manual’ by American educator Thomas H. Palmer and ‘The Children of the New Forest’ by English novelist Frederick Maryat (1792-1848). Originally a maxim used to encourage American […]
Autumn chores and dinner for our Red Tailed Hawk
RichC | November 5, 2018
It seems later in the season that usual to be just starting to rake leaves and get in a final mow before winter, but the weather was dry after a long stretch of rain, so chores for me it was. My back is now sore and contemplating taking an Advil as the muscle tighten. There […]
Mid-term elections: What it might mean for the US economy
RichC | November 4, 2018
Americans are finally working again and the U.S. is once again the place for businesses to expand, hire, give raises and grow. For all the questionable rhetoric from the far right and left extremes … and yes, from President Trumps’ "tweets" and biased media reporting … the actual governing under his administration and a GOP […]
Catch up post – ZERO Trick or Treaters this year for Halloween
RichC | November 3, 2018
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Wages and prices rise as the economy improves. #inflation
RichC | November 2, 2018
As the positive economy in the U.S. continues to grow America out of the "great recession" and rebound off the slow growth Obama years, we are seeing signs of inflation, hopefully just the right amount. Wages are rising and businesses sense they have pricing power and can raise prices (their cost are up too). Consumers […]
What are alloys? (see MetalSupermarkets.com)
RichC | November 1, 2018
Great tips and information are sent regularly by email from a handy Metal Supermarket franchise location. It has saved me a time or two with small projects where a particular piece of metal is needed. Check them out. What are alloys? An alloy is a combination of a metal with at least one other metal […]
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.