Winter weather, driving and fun babysitting Annalyn
Posted By RichC on February 8, 2020
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Prayers for medical issues have been on my mind this week
Posted By RichC on February 7, 2020
The week started with heartache. A funeral for our neighbors son. That was followed by my friend Jeff heading to be with his dad’s wife Thelma in Orlando after a fall. (his dad is 93 and she is 90). It looks as if Jeff with be soon trying to figure out their care and living situation going forward (they have a second floor bedroom).
Perhaps the one most in need of pray is my sister-in-law Lynda who had her second surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to replace a arterial valve (her first was a cow valve years ago). I think it was and is an aortic valve, but I’m not positive; never the less, it is not the kind of surgery for the faint of heart (groan .. pun intended).
The good news is that she is doing well after the surgery and her husband Dan is with her and her three adult children are tag-teaming from different states. Aaron (my loyal blog reader) was with her for surgery, Justin (an MD) is assisting in getting her released and back home and finally Jackie will help at home and hopefully get Lynda back on her feet. I felt so much better after talking with Justin earlier this week and when Lynda was able to send me text messages and a couple photos. Our prayers will continue for a full and speedy recovery.
Not to be left out, Brenda continues to struggle with nerve pain in her legs making it difficult to walk and feel like she wants to do anything. Stairs are especially difficult and for her appointment yesterday I even put her “stabilizing” cane from her 2015 accident in her car to prevent her from falling (I doubt she used it). Unfortunately I was out of town so she had to go it alone when an appointment timeslot was available. Of course she never really let’s you know how she is feeling. She is in denial … I wonder where she gets that from? (the obvious answer: her dad!)
A 1989 family glacier photo and thoughts on climate change #TBT
Posted By RichC on February 6, 2020
It has been a shockingly mild winter, at least in Cincinnati this year. Generally I don’t put the snow blower on the John Deere 330 tractor until it is needed, yet this year I prepared early … and may have frightened the snow away? Having a winter without much snow is not totally unheard of, but it did have me contemplating climate change and remembering taking a trip with our family, all hunkered down under a glacier in Canada (1989). I’m so glad we had this time together, especially since my brother-in-law Mark passed away at age 40 only a few short years after this trip.
Brenda, Ann, Gary, Mark and Rich in the Canadian Rockies – Jasper, Alberta (1989)
Now, not to be overly political, but I find the debate between those who hyperventilate about “global warming” or the current politically correct term, “climate change” … and those who totally deny there is any change … to be very frustrating. 
Some of us prefer to be a bit more realistic in regard to what scientists are seeing as a relatively short term trend (in earth age) towards our climate and exactly what we can or should do about it.
First, I’m realistic, as I’ve been hearing “the sky is falling” way too many times only to watch humans adapt and innovate. Growing up I worried about nuclear annihilation and was the concerned over how much we polluted our environment, yet within 20 years, we made reasonable and modest changes … that didn’t negatively impact our economy or way of life – in fact, for most people worldwide, living conditions and lifespan was far better than in previous generations.
We protected our waterways, birds and animals, acid soils and the air quality steadily improved. People forget just how much littering and polluting of our lands and waters was happening (photo of the Cuyahoga River on fire in Cleveland Ohio 1969). In the late 1970s the panic was ozone depletion and then we worried about a second ice age and global cooling. In the 1980 and 90s it was “peak oil” and turning to renewables; now there is a glut of oil and so much clean natural gas that coal is too expensive to mine. In fact I was (and still am) and advocate for biofuels like biodiesel – believing algae farming in deserts would be a great industry. Hm?
The state of our union is “stronger than ever before” declares President Donald Trump to Speaker Pelosi’s distain
Posted By RichC on February 5, 2020
Without going into the 90-minute State of the Union speech detail, the economic and overall strength of the United States is incredible compared to history or any other country in the world. The numbers and confidence sure look good for President Trump’s reelection campaign. Add to that the overall disfunction of Democrats (Iowa Caucus) with a segment of their party influenced by socialists or at minimum extreme leftists pushing for massive changes to our democratic republic. The challenges, especially for the moderate DEMs who still favor American entrepreneurs and private enterprise, will be how to beat President Trump when the U.S. is firing on all cylinders and placate the loud voices on the far left who favor more government control of industry – aka: socialism.
The DEM’s problems aside, President Trump still struggles when it comes to winning over those who still can’t handle his personality quirks. Trump is also just recovering from the impeachment hearings and thankfully ignored the subject. He stayed focus on how his policies have helped reboot American pride at home, and respect around the world. From defeating ISIS, killing terrorists and working to wind down America’s longest war in Afghanistan. POTUS declared, “In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America’s destiny,” Trump said. “We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never going back.”
When President Trump mentioned that 7 million Americans were no longer on “food stamps” while 10 million had joined the food stamp rolls under the previous administration, Republicans jumped to applaud … yet Democrats let out audible groans. It is hard to believe they actually want our citizens to be dependent … although it is increasingly noticeably that they maintain their office when their constituents are dependent on them. Very sad.
The disdain was obvious when it came to the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Seeing her tear up the State’s State of the Union speech on camera was embarrassing for her … and disrespectful to the office of the President.
Woodworking worktable and new machinist’s square follow-up
Posted By RichC on February 4, 2020
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Mesmerizing: An ani gif of stitching a star-patch over a hole
Posted By RichC on February 4, 2020
If you have a hole in your jeans, instead of a patch, how about “darning” it with a star?
The KC Chiefs defeat the SF 49ers in SuperBowlLIV in Miami FL
Posted By RichC on February 3, 2020
The Super Bowl was played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Florida this year and saw two great 2019 teams square off. 
Both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers had every right to represent their leagues as both teams had superb seasons and playoff victories. Unfortunately, neither team in my opinion played their best football. 
From coaching blunders to unusually weak passing performances by a couple of the NFL’s top quarterback in Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo. About the only thing that stood out to me was an explosive finish by the Chiefs to come from behind and win the game.
The highlight for me was to see Chief’s coach Andy Reid finally win a Super Bowl (I also was cheering for a team from America’s heartland). In 21 seasons in Philadelphia and Kansas City, he had made the playoffs 15 times and is considered one of the best offensive minds in football. No doubt he is in the waning years of coaching, so it was great to see his team finally take the top prize.
The Chiefs came back from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 and win Super Bowl LIV in the most pressure-packed display of Mahomes’s transcendence yet. He had already led Kansas City back from double-digit deficits in back-to-back playoff games to reach this Super Bowl. What was one more?
Obit: Cody Estes, a neighbor our kids grew up with dies at age 31
Posted By RichC on February 2, 2020
I cannot imagine the anguish a parent faces when losing a child. ☹️
Our family has known the Estes as neighbors since we moved to Cincinnati. Our kids grew up with their kids. From playing in the neighborhood, to 12+ years of school together. As my son Taylor said to me when remembering Cody, “he was like an older brother and looked out me in school. It didn’t matter the reason, Cody would stick up for me if kids would pick on me.” My thought, “likely even when Taylor was the instigator.”
I’m not sure of the circumstances behind Cody’s death, but I do know he struggle more in life than his brothers and sister. School was more challenging, his social circle less uplifting and his decisions were questionable by parental standards. They weren’t always the best and “trouble” occasionally followed him around. BUT … even knowing that, I’m hard pressed to come up with someone more respectful and outwardly polite and well-mannered as Cody Estes.
Father, please comfort his family and bring them peace as they face the days ahead. In Jesus name, Amen.
Do you REALLY know how to use a builder’s tape measure?
Posted By RichC on February 1, 2020
I’ve used tape measures for decades both when working in construction (summer job) and for hundreds of home improvement projects .. YET never really knew why the 19.2" on center diamond mark was on tapes.
Most building codes mandate that studs be spaced 16 inches apart, so the tape will help you stay on the right side of the law as you construct (as well as making sure your wall can safely bear the load it needs to).
Joists on the other hand should be 19.2 inches apart. Since plywood often comes in 8-feet sections, you’re in luck. Divide 8 feet (or 96 inches) by 19.2 and you get 5.
Semi-Tech Friday: Solar Telescope view of our the Sun
Posted By RichC on January 31, 2020
A wide-angle view of the solar surface from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is the
highest-resolution image of the Sun ever taken, showing details as small as 30 km wide.
Seen here are granules, the tops of giant convection cells. Credit: NSO/NSF/AURA
Whether it is gazing at the millions of stars night sky (the suns of other solar systems) or our own sun (don’t look at it!), the size and grandeur amazes even the less curious among us. The above image is the “deep red light” (a wavelength of 0.789 microns) that details the surface and structures 30 kilometers across. Considering the sun’s size and energy, it certainly seems possible that even capturing just a small amount of the energy being hurdled at earth that there should be enough to easily supply human’s minuscule (by comparison) energy needs. Tinkering with Encore’s solar panels, batteries and charging systems last week had me rethinking what the future holds as alternatives to fossil fuels continue to advance.
What you’re seeing are the tops of huge towers of convection inside the Sun (called granules). The Sun generates heat deep in its core, and that heat works its way out to the surface.
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.