My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on August 20, 2023

One of the frustrations in setting up tools of any kind is to get the settings precisely adjusted quickly and accurately on the first or at least close to the first try. For years I’ve struggled with my old questionable router table (35 years old) and dislike a few of the set up items. I continue to work on it as it is solid, but leaves me wanting when it comes to making micro-adjustments. Last month I added a Jerry Rigged lift and it works surprisingly well … then an inexpensive cyclone chip-collector …  but now it is the fence that needs some improving.

I’ve looked at the impressive fences from Woodpecker, Rockler, JessEm, PowerTec and others but already have a fence that fits the slots on my odd-ball sized router table. Perhaps I can just modify what I have and make it easier to adjust?

With that in mind, I am going to save a couple of ideas (Photo 1 and Photo 2) and besides adding a fence T-track that would make using my existing fence, these small items would make setup a bit more accurate and easier.

EDIT add: Well so much for my patience in waiting. Rockler sent me a $10 off coupon and had one of the items at 1/2 price so I just ended up order them!

Also “looked” … but did not buy … a micro-adjustment add-on in order to adjust my current router table fence, but since I might opt for a better fence in the future, I decided it was not worth spending on my old one (although perhaps I could Jerry Rig something???).

Category: Ideas, Productivity, Shopping, Tools, Video, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: jerry rig, knobs, rockler, router fence, router table, tools, workshop, youtube

Posted By RichC on August 19, 2023

Those who have spent any time with me, or reading my blog, know that I’m a big fan of Sperry Boat Shoes. I’ve been a steady buyer of their Topsiders, sandals, water shoes and flip-flops over the years (first post about them in 2006?).I often comment on their wear, insoles and occasional issues (all minor) and probably wear them way too long. 

Earlier this year I used a discount coupon to replace a pair that I was disappointed with (see post) … but disappointed only because it was a cheaper version of my previous shoes. Over time, this cheaper Topsider “still” became my go-to slip-on boat moc, but now the newer Sea Kite Sport Moc Boat Shoe above is my favorite. I know that it will not last as long as my “less comfortable” dressier shoe, but then I wear it nearly everyday.

Fast forward to this week: Brenda and I talked shoes and are contemplating new athletic shoes this fall and I mentioned to her, “I’d rather try one of Sperry’s higher end sneakers like the Harbormaster 2.0?” She gave me the go-ahead to use my 25% coupon and an 11% back link from Capital One Savor credit card so I did … and am looking forward to updating this post when they arrive. 

FYI: I only recommend the Capital One CC card linked above IF grandfathered with “no annual fee.” Also, I do not receive any referral credits from Sperry .. but should! 😉 

Category: Advice, History, Misc, Personal, Shopping | No Comments »
Tags: boatshoes, capitalone, sperry, topsider, topsiders

Posted By RichC on August 18, 2023

Obviously this is a first world problem, but it is frustrating that with all the computer power and connected technology in the shipping and delivery business, FedEx can’t tell me when to expect a package. It was scheduled to be delivered on Thursday, August 17th. It’s not like this is the first time FedEx has been a problem — see link1 and link2. The other delivery services … “in my opinion” … have been a bit more reliable with at least the information and updates, not to mention their driving skills and ability (although Amazon does occasionally find it difficult to stay on our rather large driveway).

Thankfully this package isn’t priority or a big deal … and I wouldn’t have bothered to be looking for it except for being sent an an “out for delivery” update. Now the tracking system, chat and person on the phone can’t give me an indication as to what is going on and when to expect delivery?

Edit added on 8/22/2023: A package is “Out For Delivery.”

Category: Computer, Misc, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: delivery, fail, fedex, frustration, problems, updates

Posted By RichC on August 18, 2023

Proton Mail offers a free email service with limitations … as expected. There is a paid version which over time I’ve contemplated switching to for both the enhanced privacy and ability to use my old original business email domain: whatevername@cppnet.com. The monthly (yearly) subscription price is reasonable, but since I already run several Linux servers with email, I use RoundCube Webmail 1.4.12 as my preferred open-source software. I’ve been reluctant to update anything at this point.

That said, my primary “business” email with a usa.net domain preceded hosting servers, or even Google’s gmail or Microsoft’s live.com for that matter and was initially offered to American Express small business clients as a perk of using them with a POS credit card reader. That perk disappeared decades ago, but I’ve continued to use the non-transferrable email address as my primary. 

As I inch towards retirement and my Consolidated Printing and Publishing Co.business grinds to a close, a two step approach in switching my usa.net address to a cppnet.com address in my control makes sense. I could probably do everything on one of my servers, but like the idea of using Proton for the encrypted emails, iPhone and iPad apps and for overall security.

I’ve been using ProtonMail for a couple of years now and besides being a “different” web interface, it has been pretty good. It is less expensive and offers far more storage and security (encryption) that does my current email … AND permits alias email addresses AND my custom email domain. That last point is something I’m looking for when handling business communications.

As for the elephant in the room, Gmail … I’m not fond of their business practices, politics or even their scanning emails and marketing … but will probably keep using it as a personal email address. It is already helpful to be able to separate business and personal.

That leads me to a tip (or tidbit) that is not published that I know off and I didn’t see it in online forums. BUT … eventually trash builds up in the Proton mailbox and the only way to delete it using the web interface is 50 messages at a time (someone DID write a script to automate). The point being is there isn’t an “empty trash” button at least with the free web interface version … as there is with Gmail. Since I’ve used an alias address to collect a variety of feed emails, it does fill up the free mailbox. What I did noticed was the ProtonMail iPad app (assume iPhone app too?) has an “empty trash” button (below) and it saved me a lot of time and clicking when trashing the pile of miscellaneous email in the trash. 

Category: Advice, Business, Computer, How-To, Technology, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: cppnet.com, email, gmail, live.com, netaddress, proton, protonmail, tips, trash, usa.net

Posted By RichC on August 17, 2023

My friend Jeff and I regularly talk about the books we are reading over lunch or on the back porch (too infrequent though) and he sent me one to read last week.  I told him I would start as soon as I finished Pappy Boyington’s “Baa Baa Black Sheep” that I’m thoroughly enjoying.

“Conservatism, A Rediscovery” by Yoram Hazony isn’t necessarily a book I would pick up without a recommendation, but noting the direction of our country, it it as least one that I hope will reinforce my political values and ideology. According to the intro text, “Hazony describes the rise and fall of Enlightenment liberalism after World War II and the present-day debates between neoconservatives and national conservatives over how to respond to liberalism and the woke left.”

No matter where the thought process eventually goes, I do appreciate the rationalization behind my personal views when it comes to politics. It should be interesting to read … and even more interesting to discuss with Jeff.

Jeff’s Ford Explorer and my 1994 Toyota 4-Runner at a campsite

The ThrowBack Thursday #TBT component to this post were a couple of photos he sent me from one of our trips around the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests (map) and the many trails outside of Ashville NC in the 1990s. I’m not sure which one of the trips this one was … but I do appreciate the fond memories and photos. Thanks Jeff! 

Rich enjoying the sun on a North Carolina Mountain

Category: Archive, Books, Friends, Personal, Photos, Recreation, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: camping, conseratism, ebook, friend, hiking, jeff pitts, jeffp, kindle, north carolina, TBT, Yoram Hazony

Posted By RichC on August 16, 2023

Deep down … I think most people know that there is something corrupt when it comes to climate science, grant money and politics. Still we are hesitate to question anything because “who am I to question these complicated issues?”

It has always bothered me that so many things become an immediate, high priority “crisis” when there is a want for more money (funding) or political control over central planning policies and control over people who are suppose to be free to make individual decisions. In my lifetime (and likely still happens), corporate greed, with little regard for people or the environment, required the established an entire government watchdog bureaucracy to oversee abuse (EPA) … BUT like most government agencies … it grows, want more power, control and money …  and will find a way to coherse politicians and taxpayers. Those running the organization either lose touch with their noble purpose (or never had it to begin with), then hire more like-minded people, dole out grants to even more like-minded and lobby for more like-minded politicians to keep the cycle going again and again. Eventually it starts to stink so bad that it becomes difficult to hide the biased and corrupt bloated department or organization. 

It happens at every political level — be it in academia, Washington DC or with International organizations. Only a few members with scrupples and ethics are left to speak out and they are quickly silenced by their peer mob. The cause can be different, be it on COVID19, the intellegience agencies suppressing or fabricating info … or on climate concerns.

Here’s a John Stossel YouTube video with Judith Curry highlighting what open-eyed scientists are seeing when dealing with climate change — no matter your personal conclusion, silencing opposing points and points-of-view should be concerning to all and make everyone question motives. 

Category: Art, Education, Environment, Politics, Science | No Comments »
Tags: bingai, climate change, enviromentalism, money, Politics, power, science, youtube

Posted By RichC on August 15, 2023

Having a customer for over 30 years is something that I should be super happy about (and for the most part, I am), but in August like clockwork it is a trigger for me that it is the end of summer and the beginning of a new printing year, at least with the Greater Akron Audubon Society.

When I first started my printing business in 1987 (with the building purchased above and more photos at the bottom), one of my early customers (eventually became personal friends – Susan and Allen Dooley, Clyde Witt and Joyce and Wolfgang Pelz)  inquired about publishing a monthly newsletter for the local Audubon Society. I was already publishing short run conference books and manuals for people at Kent and Akron, and was ambitiously focused on starting a business, remodeling a building and even heavily marketing the printing newsletters nationally (how crazy is that?) 

Several of these professors talented writers so they could easily put together birding articles along with the monthly meetings and itinerary … and seemed to enjoy working with me (yes I did get involved and even “played” board member — conflict of interest?). Over time this 9 issue/year newsletter grew into adding my companies web hosting services, etc. Of course technology doesn’t stand still, people don’t live forever, and eventually budgets dictated fewer “printed and mailed” newsletters. All of this changed the ink on paper business as yes, 🎶 the times they are a changin’ 🎶. Nearly everything shifted to digital over time (although it now seemed to have happened quicker) and only a few items like postcards, yearly meeting schedules and birdseed sale flyers continued. I still appreciate them coming back to me.

Consolidated Printing and Publishing also evolved from ink on paper to more web hosting. Not that I minded making the shift — it reduced overhead, the need for skilled press and bindery employees and all the capital intensive printing equipment … as well the building. Unfortunately the overall amount of business, the margins and overall profit disappeared.

(more…)

Category: Business, History, Memories, Music, Nature, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: akron audubon, bob dylan, Business, cpp, cppnet.com, customer, printing, publishing

Posted By RichC on August 14, 2023

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Travel, Video, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, birthday, brenda, claire corbett, cousins, dairy queen, drew, ellerie, family, herbie, katelyn, michigan, posey lake, ron corbett, uncle sonny

Posted By RichC on August 14, 2023

Although the “new wave” music genre isn’t something I generally listen to or know much about, hearing the 1982 song “I Melt With You” as aTV business news segment change did catch my ear. I think I said something like, “I like that. Perhaps a song from the band Modern English would make for a great Music Monday post?”

So without much more introduction, here’s a music video from their independent record label 4AD on YouTube.
 

Category: Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: band, british, modern english, music monday, musicmonday, new wave, youtube

Posted By RichC on August 13, 2023

As mentioned previously, I ordered an inexpensive “knockoff brand” Dust Deputy cyclone gizmo to use primarily with my router table and DeWalt planer. I “cheaply” updated the lift mechanism so that I could continue to use my OLD heavy duty 3HP Ryobi router BUT adjust it quickly and accurately. The scissor-lift works amazingly well with the addition of an epoxy added Jerry Rigged crank handle.

 So far so good with the largest plastic bucket that I have … and a little more compact than the one I posted in 2021. I’ll be anxious to try this gadget out when it is time to plane some lumber. Although it works just fine with my small basement Vacmaster 5-gallon BEAST (it has A LOT of airflow and suction).  

Category: Gadget, Productivity, Shopping, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: beast epic, cyclone, dewalt, dust collector, dust deputy, jerry rig, planer, router table, ryobi, scissor lift, vacmaster