My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on April 6, 2019

Obviously labeling someone as a “fascist, socialist or an authoritarian dictator” is not new in politics, but the bigger government grows, the more we U.S. voters need to defend America’s founding principles such as individual liberty and personal freedom.

During the 2016 campaign and election of President Donald Trump, those on the political left were quick to point out Trump’s authoritarian CEO leadership style as concerning. As someone who is NOT left-leaning at all, I understood their “concern,” … but still trusted our co-equal branches were structured in a way that they would keep dominate presidents in check. The extreme left went so far as to refer to Trump as Fascist and equated him to Hitler and his administration of reminiscent of 1930s Germany –– and they were serious. Perhaps we all need to know more about Giovanni Gentile?

In the same vein, those of us who believe a smaller and less intrusive government provides the best environment that lifts all boats (some more than others), see the breed of Democrats embracing socialism as concerning. Their open and outspoken anger towards competitive market-driven America gets my dander up.  It is shocking to see people supporting not only higher taxes and more government regulation of business, as we’ve seen with liberal and progressive Democrats for the last century, but the socialist Democrats have no problem with government taking over more private business and without any evidence that U.S. government-run entities, or any socialist country in the world, are capable of improving quality and efficiency in any area they want government to run.

The whole political philosophical discussion has me wondering if our mindset has a lot to do with the era in which we grew up? For example, my politics likely came of age during the 1980s and watching the once Democrat share his enlightenment as to the reason he adopted Republican philosophies. President Ronald Reagan definitely made far more sense to me that what I was seeing coming from the Democrats of the day … and after seeing this short clip shared by Dinesh D’Souza saying, ONCE AGAIN FROM THE GIPPER GETS IT RIGHT DEPT: “If fascism ever comes to America, it will come in the name of liberalism.” –Ronald Reagan

Category: History, Idioms, Politics, Video | No Comments »
Tags: Business, communism, economy, fascism, giovanni gentile, idiom, labels, opinion, president, reagan, socialism, trump

Posted By RichC on April 5, 2019

The answer is … “no, I did not take or Photoshop this photo, it was on Twitter.”

Category: Photography, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: clouds, photo, photography, photoshopped, shark, sharks, sky, twitter

Posted By RichC on April 4, 2019

It looks like Drew’s Tesla Model 3 will arrive just in time (he is currently waiting for delivery), in order to avoid Ohio’s additional 10.5 cent/gallon gasoline tax hike? This new increase will boost Ohio’s gasoline tax it to 38.5 cents per gallon; it is expected that Ohio’s governor will sign a bill which just passed Ohio’s House and Senate. I guess my grumbling and blogging about the regressive nature of such a tax hurting average citizens went nowhere? Understandably, since money to repair roads and bridges needs to come from somewhere … as if plug-in electric vehicles don’t use the same roads (most EVs are also priced out of the reach of low to middle income Ohioans).

Aside from government always wanting more money to spend, Republican Governor Mike DeWine actually fought for a much larger 18 cent per gallon gasoline tax increase version the 10.5 passed by the Ohio Congress (a tiny victory) … which proves it doesn’t matter who we elect, because Democrats and Republicans both like spending other peoples money and neither party knows how to tighten the belt of government. As my retirement years approach, I’m starting to think one of those low taxed states is looking more and more attractive.

To add insult to injury, drivers of diesel vehicles, who are already taxed more, will see diesel fuel taxed an addition 19 cents per gallon (nearly twice the increase gasoline will see) … OUCH… I may have to rethink my relatively fuel efficient 2010 BMW X5 35d and old Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel?

About the only good thing is that the new budget plan for July 1, 2020 will allow for the removal of the front license plate … supposedly boosting public transportation funding by adding that saving amounting to $70 million a year? Call me dubious … but glad to be done with the “bug catching” front license plate on the front of our cars (I’m already running my old Mercedes without a front plate (photo above) – yikes!)

Article LINK

Category: Automotive, BMW, Diesel, Energy, Mercedes, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: 300d, BMW, dewine, diesel, drew, gas, gasoline, governor, license, mercedes, ohio, plate, tax, tesla, x5 35d

Posted By RichC on April 3, 2019

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Category: Archive, Memories, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, babyshower, bahamas, bed and breakfast, building, cpp, cuyahoga valley, drew, family, hiking, katelyn, megan, national, office, ohio, park, snow, taylor, vacation

Posted By RichC on April 2, 2019

After a weekend trip to Encore in Florida, one would think that I would be totally rejuvenated? Unfortunately I’m feel further behind and less rested than when I left? Perhaps it is age or maybe just the long drive, but I’m tired and worn out. On the bright side, it was at least good to get a breath of salty ocean air and feel the warm rays of the sun. Hopefully those rays will soon be returning to Cincinnati and give me a change to clean up the yard and patios after winter (ugh, yearly spring chores).

Thankfully the cold weather for the most part has been left behind and each day of spring going forward is likely to bring new growth and something green. I’m guessing that I’m not alone in looking forward to the warmer spring weather?

Category: Cellphone, Personal, Photography, Photos, Sailing, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: beach, encore, florida, iphone, pano, Photos, quick, richc, trip

Posted By RichC on April 1, 2019

This is a repost from Facebook and a blog post from 5 years ago … but after someone sent me a message last week about not being able to view the embedded FB video, I decided to repost and archive the impressive piano playing of Jacob Tolliver on an “unfinished piano in a Portsmouth Ohio hardware store.” 

Category: Archive, Music, Social Media, Video | No Comments »
Tags: facebook, hardware, jacob tolliver, music monday, musicmonday, piano, steven hayes, store, video, youtube

Posted By RichC on March 31, 2019

Great "Quicktake" explaination on Bloomberg.

The Yield Curve Is Inverted! Remind Me Why I Care

If you’re wondering what a yield curve is and why there’s so much fretting in the U.S. over it flattening — and parts of it even inverting — you’re not alone. Late last year, Google searches for “yield curve inversion” shot up to their highest level ever. Here’s what the fuss is about.

1. What’s a yield curve?

(more…)

Category: Archive, Financial, News | No Comments »
Tags: article, bloomberg, economy, finance, inversion, yield curve

Posted By RichC on March 30, 2019

While working on the “bird away boxes” last weekend, the spring weather warmed improved enough at least for a day in order to start a fiberglass column repair (needed for curing). The wind blew enough a few weeks ago to toss items around enough that a crack and a chunk of plastic was broken out of the column.

This really wasn’t that big of a deal since we seriously need to updated the trim painting on both the house and detached poolhouse – garage. I used the material that I had, West System Epoxy and fiberglass matting, in order to patch and will add some putty soon.  Hopefully with a little sanding on the next nice day I’ll be ready for paint later this summer? Unfortunately these were never primed and the paint has peeled terribly. Now I have a lot of prep work to get things ready for paint. 

Category: Misc, Personal, Photos, To-Do | No Comments »
Tags: column, epoxy, painting, poolhouse, repair, west system

Posted By RichC on March 29, 2019

It has been a year since I’ve checked my Internet speed since we have not had any problems, but I doubted we were getting the advertised 500Mbps speeds , but then that my internal network problem.

Speed aside, there hasn’t been any reason to question Cincinnati Bell’s service (our TV and internet service provider). They have been excellent. Unfortunately, they play the same game with promotions and surprise price increases as their competitors (ours price bump was a $100 increase per monthly as of February due to expiring promotions). My irritation with this practice is probably magnified ten-fold by those who set up automatic payments and forget about their promos ending until they catch it months later (“Auto Bill-Pay is a terrible practice, but something every monthly service biller loves to do). 

The only way I’ve found to address the issue is to set a calendar reminder and call just before it expires. Getting an acceptable deal usually requires a “threat to leave” and escalating the call to a supervisor in order to find out “what’s new and being offered” in order to “play the game.” At one time this haggling was reserved for buying a car! 

As for our speed, 162 Mbps down, 123 Mbps up without unplugging network devices likely slowing things down,  are acceptable, but nowhere near what is promised. If it is anything like last year, I could unplug everything (including all those “Internet of Things” plugs, switches and smart devices, and likely gain a few Mbps). 

For now, I’ll just live with the above speeds and keep everything the same for another year. After wasting time on the phone with Cincinnati Bells customer service, I was able to get them to lower the bill for another year … but not refund the half month of full priced service (I missed my reminder). I’m sure this “game” is their business model and it enables them to squeeze a little bit more out of every customer … we tolerable it over returning equipment, knowing it is exactly the same hassle with another ISP/cable company all over again. Industry disruptors are seriously needed in this industry.

Category: Business, Entertainment, Financial, Innovation, Productivity, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: billing, Business, cable, cincinnatibell, haggling, internet, isp, negotiation, practices, promotion, speedtest

Posted By RichC on March 28, 2019

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Category: Archive, Memories, Music, Personal, Photos, TBT | No Comments »
Tags: bruce springteen, friends, glory days, high school, memories, mp3, Music, music monday, musicmonday, ohio, sidney, TBT