My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on August 10, 2021

It is always interesting to see the handful of other 1958 Packard Hawks changing hands considering the one passed down to me was originally my father’s Uncle Ed’s car (bought new in Toledo), then DadC’s from 1973 until he passed away and became mine (Dad loved taking it to car shows). I’m still dragging my feet on the brake work, but still enjoy it when someone sends me an auction or Ebay “for sale” link.

1958 Packard Hawk

Studebaker Packard Hawk Supercharged V8 Coupe.
Local Pickup ONLY

Seldom seen 1958 Packard Hawk. Built on the Studebaker Golden Hawk platform. One of 588 EVER BUILT. Running 289 supercharged V8 with 275hp engine. 3 speed automatic transmission. Original paperwork for this east coast car shows that it came to Michigan in 1961, then Lancaster, PA in 2017/18. Purchased in 1962. Daily driver until 1968 when it was parked with hopes of restoring it years later. Purchased by current owner in 2017/18 with the hopes of restoring it, but after seeing the condition of the frame, the project has sat in indoor storage. Was running when it went in to storage in 2018. Leather interior and full gauges. Factory supercharger. Optional Posi-rear axle and wonder bar radio. Looks to be 100% correct and complete. Car has little visible rust on the outside, but the frame is extremely weak. Trunk floor has several patches visible. Underside needs to be re-built. Deserves full restoration.

More photos archived below:

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Category: Archive, Automotive, Packard | No Comments »
Tags: 1958, ebay, for sale, packard hawk, studebaker

Posted By RichC on August 9, 2021

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Category: Music | No Comments »
Tags: 1969, band, chicago, mp3, Music, music monday, musicmonday, robert lamm, time, transit authority

Posted By RichC on August 8, 2021

Dennis Gartman comments on cryptocurrency (August 3, 2021) and whether or not he is investing in a “Tinker Bell effect” asset.

The 3-minute segment with Dagen McDowell was on the Fox Business program “Mornings with Maria.”
 

Dennis Gartman has been directly involved in the Capital markets since August, 1974, right after his graduate work at the North Carolina State University.

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Category: Audio, Financial | No Comments »
Tags: crypto, cryptocurrency, dennis gartman, fox business, foxbusiness, investing, mp3, tinkerbell

Posted By RichC on August 7, 2021

Besides making one of those “senior moment” gaffes by switching my mini split HVAC unit accidentally from AC to “HEAT” (I was roasting in my office), I bought a new pair of shoes after being disappointed in the cheaply made pair that I bought last year. Those that read this blog know that I’ve been nearly a lifetime wearer of Sperry branded boat shoes and that I have raved many times about the shoes and how I’ve made favorite pairs last far longer that the manufacturer would want.

This time around I opted for the Mako Canoe Moc Boat Shoe that is less sailing oriented and a bit more day to day comfortable (which is what I wear mine for 95% of the time anyway). So as usual, I’ll do my best to break them in gently and wear them for casual outings at first .. before relinquishing them to day to day repaired-too-many-times “beater” shoes. I’ve yet to make a decision on insoles since they are super comfortable right out of the box.

As I looked at my old worn boat shoes, I contemplated if this pair would last for the rest of my life – YIKES! Perhaps it was reading about the recent passing of organized labor leader Richard Trumka, but in any case, this the first time I’ve thought about something other than tools that may last the rest of my life? Hm … maybe my kids will bury or cremate me while I’m wearing them? (I’m not “preoccupied” with it, but need to give cremation a bit more thought) MORBID, eh?
 

mor·bid  -  /ˈmôrbəd/

1. characterized by or appealing to an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease.

Category: Audio, Human Interest, Idioms, Personal, Sailing, Shopping | No Comments »
Tags: alistair begg, boatshoes, cremation, death, gaffe, HVAC, insoles, life, mini-split, mp3, senior moment, sermon, shoes, sperry, youtube

Posted By RichC on August 6, 2021

For those setting up their Mac to automatically start-up applications  after rebooting the computer, using the “open automatically on log in” settings in very helpful. I have found that the programs I want running most are cloud-based data storage services, but it can also be helpful for apps you may just want running all the time … in my case a preferred browser window (Brave), “Stickies” (Postit like notes for the desktop), Copy ‘Em (extended clipboard app) and Parallels (VM Windows10 on a separate monitor) and the Parallels Toolbox.

After recently moving from Google’s “Backup and Sync” to “Google Drive for Desktop,” I’ve noticed that even when adding the application to the “automatically start” list that it will not launch. So to solve the problem, I’ve added a tiny utility called Delay Start which seems to solve the problem for now. By setting it to start on log in, the utility app will then delay the start of Google Drive for Desktop which solved the problem. I’ve been testing the number of seconds to delay, but even at 15 seconds it seems load just fine.

So if you are having problems automatically loading apps or cloud services on log in with your Apple Mac, give the Delay Start app a try.

Category: Advice, Apple, Cloud, Computer, Productivity, Software, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, apps, cloud, computing, delay start, google drive, mac, Software, startup, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on August 5, 2021

In making this a Throwback Thursday #TBT post, it is interesting to look at a blog post from 2007 when we added our backporch and stamped concrete and as it is now while contemplating how to cut back our landscaping and trees.

At one point we were thinking it was taking so long to mature and grow … to now thinking it has overgrown (especially when cleaning pine needles off the roof)!

For the updated part of this post, here are a couple photos of Brenda’s Rose-of-Sharon transplants blooming and Lamb’s Ear ground cover now “browning” that the heat of July and August have arrived.

Category: Archive, Misc, Personal, Photos, TBT | No Comments »
Tags: backporch, blog, home, house, lambs ear, landscaping, rose of sharon, TBT, throwback, thursday, trees, yard

Posted By RichC on August 4, 2021

After a conversation with a friend regarding the several smartphones his family has with AT&T, I mentioned that our service with Mint Mobile has been flawless … as was our Sprint-based Virgin Mobile and even Boost Mobile. Besides excellent coverage nearly everywhere we’ve been (don’t know about 5G service yet (July 2021 map below), but the carrier is T-Mobile), the per month has saved us a lot. Maybe it is time to take a look … and yes there is a promo for me if you use this link!

https://richc.us/MintMobile2021
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Category: Advice, Cellphone | No Comments »
Tags: carrier, Cellphone, mint, mint mobile, smartphone

Posted By RichC on August 4, 2021

TIDBIT: Although Jupiter and Saturn can look “relatively close” from our perspective, they are actually 456 million miles apart. Saturn is nearly twice as far away as Jupiter.

We have had  a few unusually cool evenings for early August (50-60F degrees) and the clear skies have me looking up. For stargazers and amateur sky watchers, this makes for a perfect opportunity to check out the Perseid meteor showers, Saturn and Jupiter closer to the earth and the blue moon later in the month (dates below).

Jupiter and Saturn will be in opposition this month but their full brightness will be seen on the day of the full blue moon. It will be an easy view for skygazers, as they will not need to look too far to view Saturn, Jupiter, and the blue moon all on the same night.

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Category: Science, Space, Tidbits, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: astronomy, blue moon, jupiter, meteors, perseid, saturn, stargazing

Posted By RichC on August 3, 2021

Weather and years (and abuse) has pretty much destroyed the gate, hinges and latches that I took off of the gate.  I disassembled it in anticipation of our driveway project (I’m still waiting – they were delayed). The final disassemble and hauling to the back was on my weekend list, but I did not anticipate getting sidetracked by trying to bend the hinges back to normal, taking them all apart, de-rusting, lubricating and putting the “frozen” pieces back together again. About the only thing I didn’t do was to put fresh black Rust-oleum paint on them again (priced heavy gate hinges, etc at Tractor Supply and salvaging seemed worthwhile).

The second weekend distraction happened when I was moving the old copier stand or office roller cabinet from my upstairs office to the workshop. I was thinking about tossing it, but with a little repair in reinforcing of the rollers and bottom, it is now sturdy again. I also noticed it fits nicely under my Delta cabinet saw (now Unisaw) Biesemeyer fence extension table and might eventually be used in combination with a dust collector system (I’m still thinking about it). For now, I could put a 8-1/2+ in deep box on top of it to store hand power tools or something … unfortunately my initial thought of putting my new DeWalt DW735 planer on top of it is not going to work unless I do some serious modification —  it 14” high. All I need are more distractions from half started and higher priority projects.

EDIT 8/3/2020: (more…)

Category: Hobby, Ideas, Misc, Personal, Photos, To-Do, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: cabinet, copier, driveway, gate, hardware, project, repair, repurpose, table saw, tractor supply, workshop

Posted By RichC on August 2, 2021

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Category: Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: band, burton cummings, canadian, guess who, live, mp3, mp4, music monday, musicmonday, no time, randy bachman, rock and roll