Music Monday: a commercial for Applebees, John Sebastian, Television themes songs and Welcome Back Kotter (1975-1979)
Posted By RichC on June 7, 2021
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Mexican lunches, salsa, discussions, reading and a good friend
Posted By RichC on June 6, 2021
For years now … no, it is now decades … my buddy Jeff and I have gone out for lunch ever other week and almost exclusively to a Mexican restaurant … primarily for the chips and salsa (and relaxed conversation). Before that, 
we lived in different cities (he in Florida and then Alabama … and me in Ohio), but we would still regularly connect by email or “pager text message” or before that, letters because long distance phone calls were too expensive. Yes … that is how you show your age.
The pandemic has slowed our lunches out a bit, but it is time to pick it up the bi-weekly pace again. This past week the topic of conversation was inflation and cycles of history. For my part, I’ve been focused on government money printing, stimulus dollars and rising prices. Jeff, on the other hand has been reading about historic cycles and generations from the book by the late William Strauss call “The Fourth Turning: What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America’s Next Rendezvous with Destiny.” One of the graphics he sent summarized the thesis of the book: Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times.
Of course his topic was far more intriguing and as usual, I purposely challenged the premise – always the antagonist (I’m not sure why … but it probably has to do with learning from debating?) Anyway, I now find myself intrigued enough to want to read the book. A great conversation … as always … thanks Jeff.
For my part, I talked about signs of inflation and where I thought it might be heading. I understand the Fed’s “transitory” comment and agree the spike in prices we see at the moment has to do with the economy trying to open back up. On the other hand, I’m concerned that the money printing and policies coming from Washington DC are catalysts for longer term inflation … especially if starting wages rise and taxes on corporations make it through Congress (high taxed businesses either move elsewhere or will merely be past down to consumers in higher prices, or both). Oh … and how does this newfangled cybercurrency factor into this discussion?
Inflation may occur when there is too much money in the system, which leads to an escalation in the price of goods.
Also …
Many different factors contribute to rising prices. When the overall demand for goods build, supply prices will rise. Increases in the cost of production—due to everything from growth in the cost labor to rises in the cost of raw commodities.
Of course what we really want to know is how to prevent hyperinflation and “How to Profit From Inflation.”
Celebrating wedding anniversary number 39 without fanfare
Posted By RichC on June 5, 2021
Brenda and I are still a year away from a milestone wedding anniversary, but we aren’t taking our 39th for granted – Happy Anniversary Brenda!
This past year has been challenging … but an improving year on all counts. Everyone has been dealing with the COVID19 pandemic, but thankfully for us, we are coming out of it vaccinated and stronger than the previous year.
Brenda has been dealing with osteoporosis related health issues and is at least now functioning without the back pain from compression fractures in her spine. We still suspect that there might have been some missed damage from falling off a ladder in 2015, but a DEXA scan also points to osteoporosis which has likely contributed to additional spinal fractures (MRI scan below).
Tech Friday: Pondering the new Mac Mini vs iMac setup again
Posted By RichC on June 4, 2021
The Joanna Sterns review in the WSJ about the new Apple iMac highlighted a few plus and minus points last month … and started me thinking about a desktop computer replacement. It is difficult to imagine spending $2000 again to replace my aging late 2012 iMac 27” model, especially since I run a dual monitor (plus Parallels Windows 10 Virtual set-up) on a second matching Apple monitor, but eventually I will be tempted.
Having had an Mac Mini back in the 2000s until the iMac … after Apple’s switch to Intel chips … I liked the small size and less heat (coming from G4 and G3 Macs) and being able to replace individual components. So a new smaller M1 or eventual M2 Apple Mini would not be something that I would quickly discount when it is time to upgrade.
The Mac mini was among the first Macs to get the M1 processor, so it makes sense that the 2021 model would be the first to get the follow-up. Prosser reports that the new chip will be an “X” variant of the M1, which “will greatly outpace the performance and capabilities of the current M1 chips,” according to a report by Mark Gurman in Bloomberg.
Specifically, the new chip may feature “eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores for a total of 10.” The current M1 chip in the Mac mini features four high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores. With such power, this new machine will likely replace the 3.0GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 model.
The Mac mini’s GPU is almost certain to be integrated into the system on a chip, but it will reportedly be much more powerful than the current Mac mini’s 8-core GPU. Gurman reports that the new chip will come “in either 16 or 32 graphics core variations.”
Jimmy Buffett in Delray Beach & automotive pandemic insanity
Posted By RichC on June 3, 2021
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Prepping for summer and admiring a porch view from a friend
Posted By RichC on June 2, 2021
Although I’ve enjoyed summertime on the beach ever since I was a little boy (we live on a beach), there is something relaxing about seeing the photo above that a friend sent me from his families 
rented beach house in North Carolina … it look very relaxing. The older I get, the more I enjoy the carefree “in the shade” porch or palm tree view of the ocean verses sitting under the sun in sticky sun lotion or covered with a hat and sun shirt.
But … the view walking through the path in the dunes at Delray Beach (it has been a month already) was … and is … hard to beat (video below is a segment from October 2019).
Weekend chores update: Robins, office cleaning and AC prep
Posted By RichC on June 1, 2021
The robin eggs in the back porch (earlier in May above) wreath Brenda made from her grandmother’s grapevines years ago, have hatched Below was day one (left) and day two (right) … as Brenda commented … “you should wait until they’re a bit cuter.”
The weather was “so-so” this past Memorial Day weekend, but since it was Brenda’s holiday to work, I figured it was appropriate to do a few home chores (although really it was too wet to mow).
The components for the office inverter mini-split AC/Heating unit came in came in the other day, so I started to prep the office by cleaning out junk (check out the old Palm Treo I found in one of my old computer bags- below), then measuring and marking for holes on the wall and climbing the trusses in the attic in order to route the high and low pressure copper, drain (with proper pitch) and electrical – I think I have it figured out, but it is more work than I thought.
When the rain stopped, and in-between sweeping out the pool, I disconnected and removed the old basement AC unit to make room for the Pioneer unit and wall mount. The circuit is already 220VAC so I’ll used the same electrical box for the new 22.8 SEER high efficiency AC; I’m anxious to see if it makes a difference in my comfort now that I’m traveling less for work and in our electric bill IF I can keep the main whole-house AC system thermostat a little higher?
Music Monday: Hard to believe Bob Dylan turned 80 last week?
Posted By RichC on May 31, 2021
This should have been a post for last week’s Music Monday, but here’s a belated 80th Happy Birthday to the legendary singer-songwriter-poet Bob Dylan. What a unique and talented musician.
So now they your 80 years old … Mr. Rolling Stone 🙂 … “how does it feel?”
Bob Dylan with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Al Kooper at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25th in 1965
Memorial Day: Honor those who gave their life for our country
Posted By RichC on May 30, 2021
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and was first observed on May 30th, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifice’s of Civil War soldiers. It was declared a General Order No. 11 by General John A. Logan on May 5, 1868.
The General Order stated:
“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.”
I heard a comment by this weekend by Taya Kyle, the wife of the American Sniper known as “The Legend.” Chris Kyle, who was killed in 2013 by a veteran suffering from PTSD:
“Remember those who paid the ultimate price in service of their country and enjoy Memorial Day by appreciating the life and the freedom they sacrificed to secure and preserve” (paraphrased).
Bought a high efficient HVAC mini split unit for the home office
Posted By RichC on May 29, 2021
A separate air conditioning unit has long been on my “want list” for my home office. I’ve contemplated adding a high efficiency minisplit inverter unit for years to better balance the southwest corner upstairs office in our house. It has never really been comfortable in the summer with multiple computers, printers and gadgets, especially in the afternoon.
So after hearing 2021 price increases were imminent as inflation rears its ugly head, I decided this year was right to bite the bullet and order and hopefully sellf-install a lower priced 10.50 HSPF heating and 22.8 SEER cooling Pioneer inverter heatpump minisplit. The home office remodel is long overdue, but now that I’m working from home nearly all the time, comfort is a priority.
I’m not sure when I’ll start the install, but when the pallet of components arrived last week, I opened things up to make sure there wasn’t any damage – it looks fine. Currently my weekends are a bit booked, but I am anxious to get routing the copper, drains and electrical lines. Hopefully I can plan the install so that I won’t have to disconnect or remove things when I do the full office remodel (some planning on my part). Stay tuned.
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.