Catch up photos from Mother’s Day with the kids
Posted By RichC on May 18, 2019
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Tech Friday: ZombieLoad Flaw in Intel Chips $INTC
Posted By RichC on May 17, 2019
Intel chips are presenting a huge problem for nearly every computer user with chips since 2011. These Intel chips have vulnerabilities that if exploited can be used to steal sensitive information directly from the processor.
According to published articles from security experts, "the bugs are reminiscent of Meltdown and Spectre, which exploited a weakness in speculative execution, an important part of how modern processors work."
Although no attacks have been publicly reported, the researchers couldn’t rule them out nor would any attack necessarily leave a trace, they said.
What does this mean for the average user? There’s no need to panic, for one.
Internet connectivity issues are challenging to diagnose
Posted By RichC on May 16, 2019
After struggling to keep our network and Internet connection alive earlier this month, I started to question my relatively expensive Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router and “way too many” devices were the problem? After resetting everything several times,
calling Cincinnati Bell Fioptics (our ISP) and shrugging my shoulders, I left town and instructed Brenda on how to reboot in order to get things running again (I also unplugged several devices that are still connected by CAT5 cabling).
Wouldn’t you know, without my computer on, printers plugged in or TV connecting by MOCA … everything remained connected. 
To make diagnosing even more complicated, upon my return, I plugged everything back in and not a peep of a problem. Perhaps it was after all an issue on the provider end??? Who knows … but it is good to have everything working and stable again.
Are you planning to move after you retire? If so, where?
Posted By RichC on May 15, 2019
More than likely Florida is at least considered due to better winter weather, a low cost of living and no personal income tax. There are a few other growing destinations, but very few in high tax states or in the cold north.
It may come as no surprise that Florida snagged the top spot once again in 2019 — it consistently ranks among the best place to retire. For good reason: The Sunshine State benefits from a low cost of living, extensive availability of health facilities and recreational activities, including golf, museums and beaches, as well as no personal income tax.
Over the last decade, Florida has been the most attractive destination by far for older Americans on a fixed income, as measured by average annual net migration for the 55-plus set, according to a separate analysis of Census Bureau data by William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution.
Sold the old May Fly lures in one lump. Time for a fish dinner?
Posted By RichC on May 14, 2019
It has taken awhile, but someone who enjoys Walleye fishing decided they wanted all my MayFly Lures. He made me an offer and so decided to give him a “buy them all” price. At least I’ve recovered most of my printing losses on this project from years ago and likely made a fisherman happy. He’ll to never have to buy another Lake Erie Walleye lure!
Outlook for Lake Erie Walleye for 2019
Walleye anglers will mostly catch abundant 4- to 5-year-old fish that will average 19 to 21 inches and could be as large as 26 inches. Abundant young fish from the 2017 and 2018 hatches will show up in anglers’ catches ranging from 9 to 14 inches. Anglers are encouraged to release these sub-legal fish with as little handling as possible so they can contribute to the fishery in the future.
Music Monday: Ramblin’ Man by Allman Brothers live in 1972
Posted By RichC on May 13, 2019
Having posted songs from the Allman Brothers Band and Gregg Allman a few times before, it was surprising not to have included a Music Monday “Ramblin’ Man” post? So instead of a vinyl single to mp3 (recorded 1972 – release 1973), how about a live YouTube live video from November of 1972 at Hofstra University in Hempstead NY.
Happy Mother’s Day to a couple of “young” moms (2017 photo)
Posted By RichC on May 12, 2019
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Simple SunrisePro kitchen knife sharpener mini review
Posted By RichC on May 11, 2019
Although I regularly sharpen our "home" kitchen knives in my workshop and maintain the edge with a "steel" (love to try ceramic rod) … but that was not possible last week in Florida. I noticed when cleaning up the condo and starting the master bathroom update after the winter lease ended, that the new kitchen knives were extremely dull. Hm … our renters either used them a lot or are much rougher on knives that we are?
Anyway, I did not have any sharpening equipment or even a kitchen steel handy, so decided to order a highly rated countertop sharpener sold on Amazon by SunrisePro. It has a solid feel, good build quality, sticks securely with a suction cup to the counter or any smooth surface and within 4 or 5 strokes return an edge to every knife. Even if I won’t be shaving with them, the edge is perfect for 90% of all kitchen cutting tasks. It is almost too simple. If I rate it on Amazon, I’ll be giving it 5-stars as the value for the dollar and speed in returning an edge to knives was dead simple. I’ll be anxious to see if it continues to work over time.
Another year, another project … and another bathroom update
Posted By RichC on May 10, 2019
Last year’s Condo1718 update to the kitchen and guest bathroom was a bit more ambitious than this year, but so far it doesn’t seem like it. Mentally I had my timetable worked out and figured the demolition wouldn’t take all that much. Well really it didn’t, but after finding a few things not where I wanted them inside the wall cavity, I had to changed my plans — and Brenda did not want to hear that I was modifying her already approved plans.
Besides removing the old cabinets and toilet, I realized that the old tiles could not be chipped off the floor easily. After pondering new bigger tools, I opted to level the floor and put the new tile on top of the old (besides it will eliminate a raised threshold). I used, new to me, a self-leveling concrete material and it turned out great.
Since we are going from a single sink vanity to two separate free standing sinks and vanities, I also needed to plumb in additional hot/cold copper and raise the old ones to the proper height. Next was to "T" in a drain for both sinks … again higher than the original vanity so extra plumbing.
The change to my original plans was having to give up on the "in the wall" shelves spaced between the two sinks as a way to maximize 
the space in a small bathroom. We will have to address this storage update later.
Eventually Brenda an I will also start our condo sewing projects and recovering the dining room chair seats are first on the list. So I double-checked to see how the seat come apart and are made. Something to think about (photo right).
The final debate is fitting a mirror. I would like small "no frame" corner mirrors (with small medicine cabinets) above each corner vanity so it is easy to shave, etc. Brenda has her heart set on some kind of mosaic tile framed mirror. Hm … which way should we go?
On a side note, while I was in Florida, I also installed a new center hatch that was repaired by Select Plastics aboard Encore and was able to check out the new pool at the marina that I posted on a few months ago. (oh … and the Love Bugs are out)
The Love Bugs are back and bugging Florida residents (and me)
Posted By RichC on May 9, 2019
Although the Love Bugs didn’t seem quite a bad driving through Florida this past week as they were a few years ago (added old photo for ThrowBack Thursday #TBT), they still managed to annoy me aboard Encore and messed up the Honda Odyssey. Thankfully there were also several heavy thunderstorms when driving and since I just buffed and waxed, the splattered bugs came off easily.
My Honda Pilot (photo right) from 2011 was pretty bad …
Dreaded lovebugs are back, swarming cars.
What you should know about the invasive speciesMELBOURNE, Fla. — No, they aren’t some genetic experiment gone wrong, just the usual swarm that splatters its way through the Space Coast twice a year.
They don’t belong. But, they aren’t going away.
Lovebugs live just three or four days, packing plenty of annoyance into short lifespans. They madden motorists as they splatter their guts on windshields and hoods.
They gross out joggers and cyclists as they land in their mouths. And they stress out the chronically clean as they speckle otherwise immaculate white walls of beachside resorts and condos almost completely black. Someone’s got to clean them up.
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.