RichC | December 3, 2009
While doing a little research on the Advent Wreath for family devotions this past weekend, I came across an interesting article that I wanted to share and archive. Although I’m not Catholic, one would have thought I would have known a bit more about the pre-Christian and pre-Protestant history. I’ll include a couple paragraphs from […]
RichC | November 11, 2009
After the massacre at the Fort Hood Army post just a few days ago, there is understandably more attention on our Veterans today. The sacrifices our men and women in uniform make serving our country is deserving of respect and remembrance today and everyday. I thank all who serve and have served our nation. President […]
RichC | November 11, 2009
In a recent forwarded email there were a few excellent “under construction” photos of the bridge being build to bypass the Hoover Dam on U.S. Rt 93. The $160 million dollar project is 900 feet above the Colorado River and will more efficiently links the states of Nevada and Arizona. The two massive concrete arches […]
RichC | September 13, 2009
I learned a new historical aviation tidbit on the origination of the word “squawk” this weekend in a recent EAA magazine article. During World War II, we, the allies, used an electronic device called IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) which would transmit a secret code if hit by a radar signal. This code would tell […]
RichC | September 3, 2009
While talking with a long time client and friend Bruce Claflin about the business climate, our conversation turned from that sour subject to our families. We both have close ties to living World War II USAF veterans and have sons heading in a similar direction — AF ROTC. His son being older and finishing up […]
RichC | August 14, 2009
The word — the place — the music — the festival called Woodstock still evokes passion either ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ and the music, politics and lifestyle branded the generation who came of age in the 1960s. The 40th anniversary of the three day concert in Bethel, New York takes place this weekend marking the event […]
RichC | August 9, 2009
Last week while trekking through Ohio I detoured off of I-75 in Troy, Ohio to swing by Waco Field (1WF) and the Waco Museum (pronounced “wah-co”). Fortunately the museum wasn’t open or my detour off the interstate would have been significantly longer. It was a nice day though to take a few minutes to walk […]
RichC | July 5, 2009
As we talked about the 4th of July and celebrated with family and time together this weekend, I mentioned to my World War II history buff son, that American ‘hero’ Darrell “Shifty” Powers (March 13, 1923 – June 17, 2009) recently passed away. For those that don’t know him, he was foremost a dedicated husband […]
RichC | May 25, 2009
While listening to my wife reminisce about Memorial Day days traditions when she was a child, I found myself looking down with a little embarrassment since I didn’t establish the same thoughtful traditions for our family. Disclosure: her father, WWII vet, was the only one in the family who actually prioritized the day. Nevertheless, the […]
RichC | April 28, 2009
An article in our local paper highlighted the Golden Lamb restaurant and hotel in historic Lebanon, Ohio this week. It has been in business for75,000 consecutive days. That’s long enough to have seen a civil war, two world wars and 40 presidents. The celebration on April 27th marked the 206 years of business for this […]
RichC | April 15, 2009
Having lived in the Cleveland area in the 1980s and 1990s and remembering this event, it is puzzling why it has taking so long to deport John Demjanjuk a resident in Seven Hills, Ohio. It is good that we continue to track down war criminals, particularly those taking part in running Nazi death camps, but […]
RichC | February 23, 2009
For those that appreciate engineering and diesel automotive history, today was the day in 1893 that Rudolf Diesel was granted a German patent for his diesel engine design. Rather than burning gasoline in a cylinder with spark ignition, the diesel engine uses ‘fuel oil’ (or vegetable oil — peanut oil in Rudolf Diesel’s case) using […]
RichC | December 7, 2008
I had written and forward dated a December 7, 1941 post that was to show up … unfortunately it has disappeared (and I’m not rewriting it). I have been having a few problems with my recent WordPress update and how it interfaces with the MySQL database; I wonder it that’s the problem? For now I’ll […]
RichC | March 15, 2008
When I heard about the passing of renown conservative William F. Buckley, Jr. on February 27th 2008, I started to reminisce about the impact he had on my life. I am able to put a finger on a few people who have played a significant role in developing my personality, my interests, my views and […]
RichC | February 11, 2008
Our Experimental Aviation Association EAA Chapter 284 had a superb meeting Sunday afternoon at the Tri-State Warbirds Museum in Batavia Ohio. (Clermont County Airport I69) About ten members from our chapter met at 2 PM to hold a brief chapter meeting and tour the museum. We enjoyed a guided tour of the aircraft on display […]
RichC | December 7, 2006
Like many baby boomers, I am proud to have a World War II veteran in my family. Today we remember the reason the United States went to war back in 1941, not that there weren’t reasons to defend Europe earlier. On December 7th we were “brutally attacked” by the Empire of Japan in Pearl Harbor […]
RichC | September 16, 2006
Laptop computers came up in conversation today as my kids and I were sitting at the kitchen table. My daughter commented that her professor was joking about using technology in one of her classes and pulled out a 1990’s laptop that had some size to it. They started laughing since it was ‘large’ relative to […]
RichC | September 12, 2006
I’ve been planning my comment regarding the 5 anniversary of 9/11 just like everyone else, but fear there is no way to do it properly. How does one respectfully acknowledge the murder of 3000 ordinary citizens without getting angry and showings one’s bias? Initially I was going to just do a somber reflection, but as […]
RichC | April 16, 2006
The weather here in Cincinnati has take a sudden switch to summer this past week as both the temperature and humidity are as if it were July or August. As I left the VA Hospital complex in Dayton, Ohio I decided to drive the slowly through the cemetery and take the long way back to […]
RichC | January 29, 2006
Saturday morning, January 27, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger and seven astronauts prepared for a cold morning ride into space at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; they didn’t launch. Those of us patiently waiting on Cocoa Beach, including yours truly, were disappointed when we heard the word of the postponed flight. Chilled to the […]
RichC | November 11, 2005
For many baby boomers, “The Eagle has landed” and “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” (click for audio) were monumental audio moments that recall American success and rekindle proud memories of the Apollo space program. Practically every American alive and countless millions around the world held their breath and watched as […]
RichC | September 12, 2005
The Boys of Point du Hoc, by Douglas Brinkley has masterfully honored Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder and his 225 U.S. Army Rangers for their June 6, 1944 D-Day climb and the man who honored them 40 years later. Their undertaking is beyond thinking as they scaled the 100 foot cliffs while the enemy sprayed […]
RichC | May 15, 2005