My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on February 26, 2019

Wintertime offers longer days for reading and thinking and some of my better thoughts happen during my morning shower … although other thoughts aren’t quite so inspirational or deep …like, “Why can’t the sliver of soap be as invigorating as that larger new bar? Do soap manufacturers purposely make the inside of a bar of soap so we become so discontented that we replace it before it has fully been used?” Hm, perhaps my “better thoughts” don’t really happen in an early morning shower?

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Category: Human Interest, Humor, Misc, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: atlanta500, home theater, Humor, nascar, shower, soap, thinking

Posted By RichC on February 25, 2019

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Category: Education, Entertainment, Friends, Memories, Music | No Comments »
Tags: average white band, awb, bass, chicago, jerry moody, mp3, Music, music monday, musicmonday, onu, siriusxm

Posted By RichC on February 24, 2019

Brenda and I have been eating at The Spinning Fork Restaurant in Fairfield, Ohio since even before we moved to the Cincinnati area – was our favorite restaurant. Our family grew up enjoying their delicious food and personal warmth, something that I think only exists at locally owned establishments. We are hoping new owners will and can duplicate … but without those that provided the great service and friendliness for decades, I’m not sure it will be possible EVEN if they inherit the same recipes.

Our memories run deep … from their original “basement” location and waitresses from the “old country” … who addressed my 5 year old son at the time as “Mr. Taylor”…  to the recent staff that always asked about our grown family. They knew our orders and idiosyncrasies from memory and always made us feel welcome no matter how busy they were … this place will be missed.

We are hoping to hear something soon … but after a disappointing visit (and zero information) from their sister restaurant in Middletown; I am doubtful the friendliness and food can be duplicated.

Cincinnati Business Courier article

Category: Archive, Food, Memories, Personal | No Comments »
Tags: closed, fairfield, family, food, italian, memories, ohio, Restaurant, spinning fork

Posted By RichC on February 23, 2019

About a decade ago, I researched a bit about Joseph Overton’s theory regarding a range of ideas that will be tolerated in discussion and debate. This “range of acceptable ideas” is now termed the “Overton window” and the political concept brought to light in conservative circles when the Democrats, lead by President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, pushed  traditional America further left than many were comfortable with – the uprising inspired a Tea Party Movement. The Overton term also fueled a book by Glenn Beck called The Overton Window (posted about reading it) and likely helped the Republican Party regain control of the congress and White House – at least for a few years (we Americans are deeply divided when it comes to agreeing on a political philosophy).

Once again though, those of us who follow politics, see the “range of acceptable ideas” becoming a topic of discussion and heated debate. The traditionally center-right United States each go-around does seem to be getting shoved further and further left, towards big government and progressive ideas … currently so much so that there seems to be very little embarrassment for some Democrats to call  it “socialism.” That last reference is particularly shocking for those of us who lived and watched socialism take away freedom and prosperity for so many around the world … while capitalism lifted the quality of life for nearly all where it was lightly regulated.

Opinion: Currently I sense that the Democrats are wittingly or unwittingly applying the door-in-face technique in order to move the “window” even further to the political left. The theory being that the are “making large requests” that will get turned down (door slammed in face), but will have softened the electorate to accept more progressive, big government position because it isn’t the extreme “socialist” left. As a conservative, each time we cycle through the swing to the political left and back to the right, the leftist’s movement in America is gaining ground. Policies that were once thought unacceptable to voters, are now accepted party platform. It is especially noticeable with Democrats who have served and run for office for decades, or more recently only an election cycle or two! As the joke goes, current Democrats would view John F. Kennedy as a Reaganite extremist – that how far left the Democratic Party has gone. 

Category: Books, History, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: democrat, opinion, overton window, Politics, republican, socialism

Posted By RichC on February 22, 2019

Normally, I don’t forward emails or reposted viral images on social networks … but as a diesel car guy and TDIClub and BMW forum reader … I couldn’t resist including this as a humorous response to recent Democratic Socialists promoting their ambitious 10-year Green New Deal to combat climate change (still shocked Bernie drives this van?) 😉

EDIT: Since this is strictly an end of the week humor post … I’ll include an image for Comfort Inn Canadian pet lovers below!  (more…)

Category: Automotive, Biodiesel, Diesel, Energy, Environment, Humor, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: bears, canada, comfort inn, diesel, fuel, funny, green, Humor, pet, pump

Posted By RichC on February 22, 2019

TechFriday advice for those of us who enjoy using virtual assistants like those from Google, Apple or Amazon:

1. Change the Default Password on Your Wi-Fi Router

2. Set the Voice Lock

3. Decide Whether You Want to Shop By Voice

4. Understand that Privacy Rights in the US Are on the Way – but Are Not Law Yet

5. Be Smart About Where you Locate Your Devices

6. Be Aware that Smart TVs Come With Digital Assistants

LINK     See DARKReading

Category: Alexa, Apple, Computer, Software, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: $SIRI, Alexa, amazon, apple, assistant, dark reading, echo, google, network, security, tech friday, techfriday, virtual

Posted By RichC on February 21, 2019

With nearly all states offering concealed carry permit reciprocity with Ohio, I’m no longer going to renew my Florida CCW license. It seems like just a waste of money and  bureaucratic duplication. Florida always did work well with an Ohio CCW, but there were a combination of states that I drove through between Ohio and Florida that were not onboard yet. Now my original reason for applying for a Concealed Carry Weapon license in Florida is no longer is necessary.

The process of renewing also requires additional fingerprinting and photos and $87 in additional fees to renew a non-resident permit. It just doesn’t make sense any more.

Category: Advice, Misc, Personal, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: ccw, expiration, florida, license, ohio, reciprocity

Posted By RichC on February 20, 2019

Just an ominous filler photo that you probably don’t want to be looking at before going for a swim in the ocean. The Great White Shark can definitely give you nightmares.

EDIT 2/22/2019 with an image from a Twitter friend: Let’s just hope sharks don’t like the crunchy texture of surfboards?

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Category: Blogs, Environment, Health, Nature, News, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: filler, great white, ocean, photo, shark, sharks, sharkshares

Posted By RichC on February 19, 2019

After working on both the condo guest bathroom and kitchen last year in Delray Beach, Florida, I’m hoping to work on the master bathroom when we vacation this year. Our renters have emailed just how pleased they are with the new updates and suspect they will rent again in 2020?

At one time I planned on fixing up only the kitchen (photo) in order to put condo1718 on the market, but after making the improvements last year, Brenda talked me into keeping it another year and remodeling the master bathroom this year. Since I enjoy stretching out a weekend here and there (and have that flexibility) … I gladly agreed adding a little more sweat equity. It might only improve the salability, but who knows, it might add a little equity IF I can keep Brenda from picking higher cost tile, mirrors, decor, etc.

Currently the master bathroom has only a single sink, toilet and fullsize tub. I plan to keep the tub and toilet (I replaced it years ago). The plan was also to build my own custom sized corner vanities in order to fit a his and her sink in the small space … but after working the numbers and found something that might work better and just take a little tweaking (saving me some work too). This week the order of well package boxes arrived from Southern and so I assembled and started to figure out the best way to fit them appropriately. Hey Brenda, start thinking about mirror options – yikes, corners are tricky.

Category: Archive, Misc, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: 2019, bathroom, brenda, condo, condo1718, delray beach, florida, master, planning, sink, vanity

Posted By RichC on February 18, 2019

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Category: Music | No Comments »
Tags: calling all angels, drops of jupiter, mp3, music monday, musicmonday, patrick monahan, train