TechFriday: Kickstarter Raspberry Shake and other item arrived


December 9, 2016

I helped fund the Raspberry Pi based computer Kickstarter project known as the RaspberryShake  networkingworking a large number of inexpensive earthquake monitoring station around the world (www.raspberryshake.org/quick-start-guide). The idea of connecting hundreds if not thousands of independent volunteer monitoring stations isn’t new, but it is a growing force in data collection. Hopefully I’ll be able […]

My Kickstarter Pine64 single board computer finally arrived


July 15, 2016

It has been a long time in coming, but the PineA64 Kickstarter project that I backed in January finally arrived. As start-ups, this one was not as smooth as it could have been. The team promised deliveries in March, then April and finally no later than May. Eventually June and finally July for the last […]

A package from the Pine A64 Kickstarter FOOLED me


April 1, 2016

It has been a couple months since I backed the Pine A64 Kickstarter, but I did noticed my credit card was billed last month … meaning it was shipped??? Besides the hint of a March shipment in a previous email, there hasn’t been an update as to "if" the micro 64-bit computer board has left China […]

Love this Slick TRIP Kickstarter backpack project


February 7, 2016

I’d be jumping onboard for this Slick Kickstarter Backpack project if the $249 for the TRIP version didn’t frighten me away. Sure looks like the perfect traveling companion for my many trips — both for weekly work trips and those trips to the boat. It looks like they intend to keep the quality high … […]

Kickstarter Heatworks project inches closer to shipping


June 11, 2014

Investors and pre-order buyers are still in the “wait” mode for the innovated water heater from Heatworks … but the CEO Jerry Callahan does a great job of keeping his Kickstarter investors informed. That said, I’m looking forward to installing the Model 1 later this summer and will be updating the blog on how it […]

Joined a Kickstarter project called HeatWorks


February 8, 2014

Monitoring Kickstarter projects is a great way to see just what entrepreneurs and inventors are coming up with … and to rejuvenate pride in American Exceptionalism. The other day I saw a guys talking about Mobile Personal Theatre headphones  called Glyph on the business channel CNBC which was pretty neat. I’ve micro funded a few […]

Kickstarter project: Shorts with a waterproof pocket


May 30, 2013

Although there might be a way to improve on the “hatch” in order to store a phone, wallet, car remote, etc … these Stash Waterproof Pocket Shorts are a great idea for beach-goers, water sport enthusiasts or … cough, cough … sailing. I’d like to think the new upstart company will raise the funding, but […]

Tech Friday: Testing Magfast Extreme charging an Apple iPad


May 26, 2023

This test is more for my own curiosity than any kind of controlled tech test, but since I’m often away from convenient 110VAC charging plugs, I would like to be able to recharge iPads and iPhones on the go. A few years back, I preordered a package of products from a startup company called Magfast […]

Proposing our family listen to a podcast on Christmas Eve


December 24, 2022

Jane Wells has been a reporter for CNBC (“Janie” as the late Mark Haines called her)  that I’ve followed for years while watching business news channels (or should I have said, “is a ‘has-been’ reporter?” – hopefully a little humor that she would appreciate!). Anyway, I always smiled when watching her “quirky” stories and reporting […]

Tech Friday: Souring on backing startups with great ideas


June 3, 2022

Over the years, I have backed a few smaller companies needing capital and pre-sales to expand their businesses. Before the days of online crowdfunding platforms such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter, I participated as an investor in two smaller Ohio local companies … one that landed a contract to fulfill candy for Disney World which need […]

The LONG wait for a MAGFAST charging kit is near, well 2022


November 14, 2021

Prior to 2017, I backed a ThingCharger Kickstarter project that was an excellent product. It was overpriced for what it did, but I ended up buying a couple extras for gifts (Brenda’s phone charging in photo at Katelyn and Drew’s house). In 2017, after the business failure, founder Seymour Segnit started a new company telling […]

TechFriday: Some cheap components have arrived from China


November 4, 2016

The pile of new electrical parts in my photo likely doesn’t mean much to those who don’t enjoy tinkering with computer and robotic projects, but for me a novice in programming computers gadgets, it is an chance to learn on the cheap. With the budget Raspberry Pi and Pine64 computers, beginners of “all ages” have […]

TechFriday: I like the RaspberryPi, but next is the PINE A64


January 1, 2016

If you enjoy playing with inexpensive computer gadgets and perhaps getting them a LinuxOS Raspberry Pi … or maybe a PINE A64??? Check out the inexpensive Single board Super Computer … and under $100 computer set-up and top of the line smartphone might be all the tech many of us need? PINE A64 compared with […]

New Invention – Easiest Drawers Ever!


May 17, 2015

Now this would be a great Kickstarter project.

On the wait list for a Brydge Keyboard for the iPad Air2


November 20, 2014

It has been challenging using the new iPad Air 2 without a tactile keyboard since I’m use to using an iPad 2 as a replacement traveling notebook. Typing on the glass screen is less than optimum, so I’ve been searching for a better quality replacement than the previous Logitech Bluetooth keyboard. Unfortunately few “fitted” keyboards […]

Announcement coming in August 2013 for RYNO Motors


July 10, 2013

I’ve been paying attention to crowdfunding micro-venture capital websites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo and RocketHub this past year or so and watching innovative ideas raise money for their projects. Personally, I think there are too many entrepreneurs using their connected friends for less than innovative ideas, but there are other creative thinkers with unique dreams.   […]

The Apple HDTV or the Apple iWatch – which is better?


April 9, 2013

With Apple struggling to keep its stock price from dipping any lower (although it really doesn’t look like they care), analysts and tech watchers speculate that there will be an Apple HDTV offering and a less expensive (cheaper) iPhone, but who knows what the new product(s) will be? I’m in the camp that sees the […]

Domestica and Rachel Kirkwood highlighted on WVXU


January 26, 2013

It is great to see the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in the niche publishing of local “paper-based” magazine, Domestica (Domestica Magazine). This venture is somewhat close to home seeing that it is local … and edited by Rachel Kirkwood, a friend of our family. She started the community oriented publication using Kickstarter last year […]

Lubricheck Software Completed. Now Works on Diesel.


January 5, 2012

The Kickstarter company Lubricheck, mentioned in May of 2011, has improved their oil analyzer device to include diesel engines. Outstanding … although they aren’t shipping just yet – order link. We are pleased to report that our software development and testing has been successfully completed! During this process, we found several changes that were required […]

Checking your engine oil with Lubricheck … hopefully


May 20, 2011

I’m posting Kickstarter link for a device designed to check the quality of engine oil. It is called Lubricheck and I’m hoping that someone reading this with engineering thoughts on how realistically accurate the device might be? I’m a mileage oriented oil changer, but with the price of synthetic oil, diesel oils and just plain […]

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