Archive: The birth announcement for Ellerie Frances Oostra
Posted By RichC on May 17, 2020
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Ordering from Amazon is getting most frustrating
Posted By RichC on May 17, 2020
The Kubota ZD326s zero-turn mower has had stalling and starting problems this spring. I’ve finally diagnosed the problem as the electric fuel pump. This small pump is used to deliver fuel from the twin tanks to 26HP diesel 3-cylinder’s injection pump. 
Along with the pump, there are two fuel filters, one before and one after the electric pump to keep any dirt from damaging the injection pump. I found out that the pump was only running sporadically, which I thought meant that it cycled off once the proper pressure was reach – instead, the pump was actually failing.
A new pump locally was over-priced, so I ended up ordering online. Even though it was a few dollars more from Amazon over other vendors, the Prime delivery option indicated it would arrive quicker, so having it on Saturday (5/16) would give me a chance to repair over the weekend … as we all know the lawn doesn’t stop growing in the spring.
Unfortunately only the package of 4-fuel filters arrived on Saturday even though the pump was still indicated to be delivered. Then, late in the day, an email notice arrived (below). This is starting to become more the norm than the unusual.
Book: “Fortitude” by Dan Crenshaw (thanks, Taylor)
Posted By RichC on May 16, 2020
I commented to Brenda, “We must have done something right?” It was both a statement .. and a half question .. when reflecting on the book our son Taylor read, liked and then bought to give me for my birthday. 
It was definitely a very thoughtful and appreciated gift.
Representative Dan Crenshaw’s book Fortitude slightly aside (my apology, as it is well worth reading) .. but what was really rewarding was knowing that Taylor continues to appreciate what some are willing to do for our country. There was a time we thought Taylor may be following a military path – he always excelled wherever there was discipline. He loved history and has always appreciated military service and veterans … and what it takes to preserve our freedom and secure the principles that built the United States.
But, just as many of “us” do, we grow up influenced by material abundance and often grow up acting entitled. Our political ideologies can easily get mixed up and skewed as we learn and are taught one thing by one group and something different by another (parents, educators, peers, the media, politicians, etc). One ideology leans right and the other left … and both can seem convincing. Then there’s the confused mix in the middle (can’t we all just get along crowd) picking the social values from the left and the fiscal conservative discipline on the right. It seems like it is only over time that most of us solidify our “values” and begin to recognize just how fragile and at risk our current freedom really is.
It is frightening to see centuries of bloodshed and gains we have made over oppressive governments as we struggled to achieve more rights for the individual and steadily more equality of opportunity for each person (which is why people have always immigrated to America). Too many Americans nowadays take this freedom for granted or believe that a better outcome can come from by valuing “the collective” more than individual freedom. Political ideology aside,
the latest in coronavirus mask and social-distance monitoring, deep state corruption/political manipulation and naïve leftists, it seems like we are closer than ever to the “Big Brother” kind of surveillance totalitarian form of government than ever before.
Replacing the blower motor and fan in the 2010 BMW X5 35d
Posted By RichC on May 15, 2020
If all goes well, my weekend project on the 2010 BMW X5 35d will be a new blower motor, just as with the old Toyota RAV 4. This past winter has been irritatingly challenging since the squeaky motor bearings have acting up, although sporadically. As the weather warmed and the wear continued, the “only on start-up” squeal has turned into a constant groan UNLESS the blower speed is increased. So, before it totally quits and the need for AC becomes real, it is time to replace.
Procrastination:
I still haven’t started the Harmonic Dampener replacement or bumper fix – one would think being quarantined at home would have giving me time to tackle these fixes?
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Saturday update: For those who have ever struggled working under the dash and are unsure what needs to come out … AND HOW … there really is no comment necessary. 😡
Where COVID19 cases are on the rise and a Center for Disease Control and Prevention PSA on the Symptoms of Coronavirus
Posted By RichC on May 15, 2020
We are all likely on information overload when it comes to the Coronavirus and how it has impacted our country and the world. Still, it seemed appropriated to include a reminder as we start to re-open the country that the threat is far from over – we have just “flattened the curve” as it were. Below are a couple of Reuters graphs illustrating where U.S. coronavirus cases are on the rise … and decline, looking at it from a “glass half full” perspective (click images for larger).
So in doing my part, here’s a public service announcement and link from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms of Coronavirus – PSA from CDC
Happy Birthday to a great mom and best daughter in the world
Posted By RichC on May 14, 2020
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Diesel fuel fill-up and another Scrap Wood Challenge idea
Posted By RichC on May 13, 2020
After shipping back the defective mini amplifier that I purchase a few weeks ago (grr!), I decided it was a nice evening for a drive in the old Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. Since I was out and needed a few gallons of diesel fuel, it seemed like a good time to fill up the jugs for the Kubota ZD326 zero-turn mower and John Deere 330 tractor. It is nice to have a roomy trunk … and few cents per gallon off at the
local UDF convenient store … least for 25 of the gallons. The five cents off brought the per gallon price to $2.38 — unfortunately diesel fuel has not bottomed out like gasoline did last month. Never the less, the price is better than $3 and $4/gallon back before the US became the biggest oil producer.
Hopefully the weather will warm up this week and stay dry so as to give me time to work on the lawn. Also, since I mentioned the Makers Mob “Scrap Wood Challenge” yesterday, I’m posting a photo of another scrap wood idea. Interesting, a shop chisel sharpening jig.
🤔
A new webserver is up and running, but still needs tweaking
Posted By RichC on May 12, 2020
After mentioning problems last week, the new webserver is up and running with a fresh install of Linux Ubuntu 18.04 “Bionic Beaver,” MySQL database and PHP 7.2 … well I actually decided to upgrade that to PHP 7.4 for a little better speed (who knows?)
I’ve abandoned MongoDB for the time being for the Quickdex.net “work in progress” site that I’ve been tinkering with and will stick with the tried and true, at least for now. What should have been a simple move for the upgrade to WordPress 5.4.1 install was more problematic than I expected.That’s probably what I get for putting it off so long … but when everything seemed to be working, I decided not tot rock the boat and make more work for myself.
I did get a chance to tinker a little bit in the workshop on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon as it was shockingly cold outside for nearly mid-May (below freezing at night). I decided to participate in the Maker’s Mob “Scrap Wood Challenge” and designed a simple picture hanging jig. At this point of the build I’m regretting using the scrap wood I happened to have around since it is taking far too much time to patch and sand the mostly 3/4” maple faced plywood stiles and rails (don’t tell my son or daughter, but they will be birthday gifts – Katelyn, pretend you didn’t read this).
6 Week Scrap Wood Challenge
As we all need to do our best to stay at home, we wanted to create an experience where you didn’t have to go the hardware store or the lumber yard… so that you could use limited wood, tools, and supplies, and still have an exceptionally positive woodworking experience during these difficult times.
The 6 Week Scrap Wood Challenge has been designed to create an online woodworking experience, were you can build alongside YouTube’s top makers, without having to leave your home or shop.
Music Monday: Demonstrating your talent at a public piano
Posted By RichC on May 11, 2020
One of posts that once received a lot of traffic on my blog was Jacob Tolliver playing a piano in an Ohio hardware store several years ago. The Facebook embed was taken down, but I reposted the video from YouTube last year. I must not have been the only one who appreciates watching those with the musical gift and dedication to practice a musical instrument. I suspect we all know a few who have a little more talent than others when it comes to art and music?
Last week another social network shared video was of an old gentleman sitting down at a public piano. It caught my eye … “Hm,” I thought, “this 1 minute clip will make for a different kind of Music Monday post?”
Happy Mother’s Day to my wife … and as mom to our kids
Posted By RichC on May 10, 2020
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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.