Our family is getting into the 2020 Christmas decorating spirit
Posted By RichC on December 1, 2020
This content is restricted.
Music Monday: Led Zeppelin and “Stairway to Heaven”
Posted By RichC on November 30, 2020
Today’s Music Monday song is due to the minor chastising from my friend Mark Jones last week. He’s been picking up a few old albums for his record collection and to play 
on his Crosley record player mentioned before … and because I wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday today. Happy Birthday, Mark!
One of the album covers he sent a photo of was a Led Zeppelin IV album he found at an old record shop. I commented back that I definitely recognized it, but that I was not really a Led Zeppelin fan back in the day. Of course, he questioned how I could NOT be a fan … and threw the song “Stairway to Heaven” in my face. He has a good point … so I’ll include the YouTube video for him (and for me).
Thoughts on ‘battery drain’ with the Ridgid 18V USB accessory
Posted By RichC on November 29, 2020
Don’t tell anyone, but while shopping for “my” Christmas gift from Brenda (below … and yes, she sent me out to get it). So … I added a Ridgid 18V USB charging attachment for my inconvenience. Ha! After returning home, I tried it out, but for the record, I didn’t open my actual gift. So far, so good … although I had thought my biggest Ridgid 9Ah battery would last a bit longer after charging only an iPhone and an iPad?
Believe it or not, I started with a full charge in the 9Ah lithium ion battery, but after charging both devices, I only had 50% left in the battery (my LED 9W light attachment I’ve used when “playing Trolls with Annalyn” last for over 24 hours). It is hard to believe that this USB charging device would drain the battery that fast… perhaps it isn’t all that efficient? I have found that the smaller “cheap” stick chargers I keep in my computer bag, or my “jump-starter battery booster pack,” last far longer at least connected to my iPhone (I’ve never tried them with an iPad).
Point being, I’m not sure I would recommend spending $21 on the USB device it. The GEN5X 18-volt Flexible Dual-Mode LED Work Light has yet to be tested. (after Christmas, perhaps?)
Love the audio Bible reading on the Truth For Life devotional
Posted By RichC on November 28, 2020
Although I’ve worked with my friend Pastor Keith Thomas on his GroupBibleStudy.com site for years, I’ve been happy for him that his daughter has taken on the volunteer job of webmaster. As I warned him, 
be careful when it comes to maintaining the day to day site management … as once the new design ambition wears off and life gets in the way, finding someone to pick up the pieces can be a headache (usual that’s when it is time for a redesign). 
Speaking of “Bible Study” websites, I recently blogged about adding the syndicated Truth For Life / Alistair Begg daily Devotional link to the main menu bar of my blog. I’ve found that the daily read is made easier with the audio helper when it comes to daily Bible reading. Give it a try if you’ve ever wanted to read through the 
Bible in a set period of time … or if you just prefer audio while reading a passage.
Tech Friday: Setting up ubuntu server on an older Raspberry Pi 3
Posted By RichC on November 27, 2020
It is not uncommon for me to head down a rabbit hole when learning a little more about Hugo the fast static site generator (SSG). The experimenting from a few weeks ago on a 64-bit Linux ubuntu server had me wondering if it might work on a Raspberry Pi. Unfortunately with Raspian, the normal Linux install on the Pi, it will not work. So that moved me to a lightweight headless ubuntu server install which is now available.
After going through the motions to get a normal LAMP install up and live, I could not get Homebrew or Linuxbrew to install. Depressing … if I were more ambitious, I might try harder.
Linuxbrew can run on Raspberry Pi (32-bit ARM), but no binary packages (bottles) are available. Support for Raspberry Pi is on a best-effort basis. Pull requests are welcome to improve the experience on Raspberry Pi.
32-bit x86
Linuxbrew does not currently support 32-bit x86 platforms. It would be possible for Linuxbrew to work on 32-bit x86 platforms with some effort. An interested and dedicated person could maintain a fork of Homebrew to develop support for 32-bit x86.
Memories of Grandmothers and Aprons plus photos #TBT
Posted By RichC on November 26, 2020
Since I’m pre-writing this by a few days for Throwback Thursday #TBT, I realized just before post it that it will also be Thanksgiving on Thursday. Our family won’t be getting together as usual (same for a lot of families for a COVID19 resurgence), but ours was planned that way since we rotate holidays; Katelyn, Drew, Annalyn and Ellerie will be with the Oostras this year.
Ok .. so I didn’t quickly find a photo of either of my grandmothers with an “apron,” but I can guarantee you that my Grandma Bluhm had it ‘on’ more than she had it ‘off’ … and I am almost positive the same could be said for Brenda’s Granny Howard. Nevertheless, I’ll archive a couple photos from DadC’s slides of me and my Grandma and Grandpa Bluhm before sharing the “Grandmothers and Aprons” story below (and all the grandkids above: Bob, Ron, Diane and me with glasses).
Now for the story that was shared on a friend’s Facebook page, but almost everyone my age either remembers a grandmother, relative or family friend who resembles a grandmother wearing an apron.
If this doesn’t bring fond Throwback Thursday memories to you, then I feel sorry for you … you really missed out.
Grandmothers and Aprons
I don’t think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children’s tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don’t think I ever caught anything from an apron – but love
– author unknown
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ‘old-time apron’ that served so many purposes.
Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma’s aprons.
Ellerie’s Christmas project and decorating before Thanksgiving
Posted By RichC on November 25, 2020
This content is restricted.
Remembering a couple 1970s TV shows and commercials
Posted By RichC on November 24, 2020
A car enthusiast’s off-topic “Today’s Useless Tweet” got me thinking about old television shows that I enjoyed while growing up. I’m sure almost everyone my age flirts with nostalgia and can go on indefinitely with memories of their youth?
His Banacek share (good show) and the George Peppard memory, which for me will always be the A-Team and his character Col. John “Hannibal” Smith’s line, “I love it when a plan comes together”, had me remembering a few other shows. One that came to mind was a favorite WWII Navy aviation-based show: Baa Baa Black Sheep. I need to see if that is streaming somewhere?
John Rowe also mentioned that he was streaming the old show on IMDB TV and that it has commercials and saying… “but for some reason they don’t bother me.” My thought was, it would be nice if they were “old commercials” since it would be interesting to remember them. His reply back was, “as long as they are car commercials”. HA … for sure … definely better than marketing cigarettes!
As the holidays approach, mini-dictators flex their power
Posted By RichC on November 23, 2020
One of the more disturbing trends during the COVID19COVID19 pandemic has been the infringement on personal liberty by politicians in the country.Thankfully we are closing in on a vaccine, but the heavy-handed restrictions that may have been tolerated during the initial outbreak, aren’t being received well by those who are trying to keep food on the table and businesses alive. 
The hypocrisy is likely the most offensive. From governors who dine with a loud dinner party … indoors without masks ... while telling the little people not to go out to eat, to legislators wanting a nation face mask order by the federal government while walking through an airport without one … or the House of Representative’s speaker getting her hair done despite orders to keep salons closed. It is challenging enough for Americans voluntarily to “do the right thing,” but perhaps the most frightening is to have governors like Oregon’s Kate Brown trying to prevent families from getting together for Thanksgiving. Instead of recommending smaller celebrations or even pointing out how to keep people safe … she instead goes beyond her authority and plans to enforce her orders … even to the point of “neighbors reporting neighbors” (jump to 2:45 for comment below). It is frightening when this happens in America.
Ideas: medal holding chop saw fence and tapering rod stock
Posted By RichC on November 22, 2020
Just adding a couple of idea photos for a future metalworking project, or adaptable to woodworking as well.
First, clamp a couple of scrap pieces of wood in a metal cutting chopsaw or miter saw to cut small sizes and keep in place (might rig something on my handheld bandsaw for better control and thinner kerfs). What is missing in the photo are blocks in front to hold the stock against the fence (a better addition might be a U-box).
Also, I liked the use of the belt sander AND ‘chucked’ solid rod stock spinning at the same time to taper a point on this copper rod hold-down component. (House of Chop was welding up a “third-hand” tool. I really also liked his air compressor and moisture control manifold system).
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.