Music Monday: Starting with a change for 2019 – Kenny Chesney
Posted By RichC on January 7, 2019
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Read between the lines – When will ElioMotors begin production?
Posted By RichC on January 6, 2019
Last year, the chit-chat from Paul Elio was that production of the Elio was scheduled for the end of 2019 … far longer than any reservation holder had anticipated. 
I’ve remained confident and have ignored the doubters … but likely because I’ve put on an artificial blindfold to remain positive – who likes admitting they have thrown money away?
As we move into 2019 my Elio posts are souring, the retail gasoline price is under $2/gallon and all new cars have improved efficiency. It is seeming less and less likely that the American car buyer is interested in a quirky 3-wheel economy vehicle; they currently want SUVs, pickup trucks, vehicles with lots of tech and of course the luxury Tesla branded EVs. On the other hand, even if investors were anxiously funding Elio, the once commented “end of 2019” production date is looking questionable (perhaps it always was?). Here’s a quote from a Q & A … hidden at the bottom of a recent ElioMotors blog post (FYI – there are 52 weeks in a year, so read between the lines as to when we’ll see the first production Elio):
Question- What progress is being made now?
At this stage in the project, we are in funding mode. The production date is estimated to be 76 weeks from the timely and successful completion of our current and subsequent fundraising efforts. The timing and availability of the funds can move and we will do everything we can to keep the project moving forward by utilizing each piece of funding received, as we receive it.
Work, play, responsibility and aging: Finding the sweet spot
Posted By RichC on January 5, 2019
This “finding the sweet spot” post was started as I was closing my books on 2018 and winding down the year. The New Year’s Day mark was still a couple days away and while contemplating what 2019 
would surprise me with, I wrote down a few goals (and resolution ideas). A few of the thoughts on the list were half-started from previous years and to be truthful undone or never prioritized. A few are difficult to quantitate (subjective) and likely require continued focus … and a few others are just always influx. I suspect this is a yearly ritual for many?
The whole exercise started me thinking about our personal timelines and contemplating work, play and aging — where exactly is life’s sweet spot?
GOAL: “…to be content regardless of my circumstances.” — Philippians 4:11
As humans, we all seek to find “Nirvana,” or as taught in Indian religions, the “state of perfect happiness, harmony and freedom.” Personally, I’m guilty of spending too much time reflecting on the past and looking to the future … and not time focusing on today. Contentment is not a “fixed state of being,” but instead needs us to appreciate “the now.” We can choose to focus on the positives of the moment instead of wasting time dwelling on our shoulda-coulda-woulda shortfalls. Too many of us highlight our mistakes and downplay our successes … or run on the never-ending treadmill of envying others.
That stated, setting goals, working hard and striving to achieve are great and can be motivating … but shouldn’t have anything to do with our personal day to day contentment. Better to see “today” as life’s “sweet spot” instead of dreaming about tomorrow or reminiscing about the past.
I for one am counting my blessings and so thankful we have liberty and freedom in America. In having that, everything else is a bonus. Come to think about it, for those of us living in the U.S. … we have already “found life’s sweet spot,” and it is TODAY.
Liberty and freedom are distinct. As the political theorist Hanna Fenichel Pitkin has observed, liberty implies a system of rules, a ”network of restraint and order,” hence the word’s close association with political life. Freedom has a more general meaning, which ranges from an opposition to slavery to the absence of psychological or personal encumbrances.
– Saved years ago from a New York Times article in 2003
Aviation progress is poised to take-off
Posted By RichC on January 4, 2019
Aviation has bogged in the last few decades, but with computer assisted quadrotors, private space ventures and renewed supersonic travel … perhaps the next couple decades with be inspirational?
Supersonic jets may be about to make a comeback – Reinventing Concorde
Our Annalyn is amazing, altho I’m not surprised #video
Posted By RichC on January 3, 2019
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How does a rock solid dividend stock sound about now? $RPM
Posted By RichC on January 2, 2019
Are you looking at top quality dividend stocks? RPM International is a buy and hold stock that has a track record of increasing cash dividends to shareholders that can’t be match by many companies. Today it was down 1.87% to $57.68/share and is starting to look attractive again (at some point I’ve got to believe Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway will be interested in this company … and I’m not alone).
RPM Declares Quarterly Dividend
January 2, 2019 (BusinessWire)RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM) today announced that its board of directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share, payable on January 31, 2019 to stockholders of record as of January 16, 2019.
This action marks RPM’s 45th consecutive year of increased cash dividends paid to its stockholders, which places RPM in an elite category of less than half of 1 percent of all publicly-traded U.S. companies. Only 41 other companies, besides RPM, have consecutively paid an increasing annual dividend for this period of time or longer, according to the Mergent Handbook of Dividend Achievers. During this timeframe, the company has returned approximately $2.4 billion in cash dividends to its stockholders. At a share price of $60.00, RPM’s dividend yield would be 2.3 percent.
LSSU’s banished words and phrases from 2018
Posted By RichC on January 2, 2019
Each year since 1976 Lake Superior State University posts its list of “banished words.” Usually, we’ve all heard (or used!) the overused words and phrases — this year is no exception. I thankfully have only repeated a few, but have certainly heard most of them overused.
The 2019 list, along with reasons for banishment by nominators:
Wheelhouse, as in area of expertise – Chris, Battle Creek, Mich., “It’s not in my wheelhouse to explain why dreadful words should be banished!”; Currie, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada), “Irritating, has become a cliché, annoys me, offence to the English language, etc.”; Kevin, Portland, Ore., “It’s an awkward word to use in the 21st century. Most people have never seen a wheelhouse.”
In the books . . .
as in finished or concluded – Sandy, White Lake Township, Mich., “It seems everyone’s holiday party is in the books this year, and it’s all there for friends to view on social media, along with the photos of the happy party attendees.”Wrap my head around – Linda, Bloomington, Minn., “Impossible to do and makes no sense.”
(more…)
Happy New Year – Make the most of each day this 2019
Posted By RichC on January 1, 2019
This year our our 2018 Christmas letter included a quote by the Dalai Lama and it reminds me that our time on earth is finite. Once a grain of sand has passed through the hour glass, it is gone … so make each day count this 2019.
There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do, and mostly live. – Dalai Lama
Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, it is obvious that the decades and memories from the last century are “the shrinking part of my life.” We are now almost 20 years into the 21st century, meaning nearly one half or my adult life has taken place in the 2000s (yet I continue to act like prepping for a Y2K computer meltdown was just yesterday). A reminder over the holidays came when a 7th grade teacher mentioned that to his students, anything pre-911 is considered ancient history!
Upon reflection, I thankfully have very few regrets and would like to continue down that path. There weren’t many things left unsaid to my mom or dad, or mother-in-law and father in-law, before they passed. I regularly reinforce just how much I love my kids and granddaughter … and live life to the fullest each day, week and year. My “walk with the Lord” could always use some improving … and perhaps focusing more on that in 2019 is a great New Year’s resolution?
“Each day is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to Him.” — T.D. Jakes
I am so thankful that the Lord has SO bountifully blessed me with His mercy and the undeserving gift of grace … and the surety that accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have eternal life. I want the same for you and would welcome a chance to share the Gospel with you.
“My gift of undeserved grace is all you need.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Amen!!!
Music Monday: Jumpin’ Jack Flash from FIFTY years ago!
Posted By RichC on December 31, 2018
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If you have a workshop, you need a few medical instruments
Posted By RichC on December 30, 2018
Twice this past week I used medical instruments in my workshop. The first repair was to use a non-needled syringe to suck out some moisture in a pump switch … thanks Brenda, it was handy (although I have used them before “with a needle” for delicate parts lubrication). 
Second, was to use the surgical instruments given to me by my son-in-law Drew to tie a bowline in a very short monofilament line – this zipper pack of tools is SO HANDY!
In the past, I’ve also used a variety of dental picks from my father-in-law … everyone should have at least a couple of these medical instruments in their toolbox!
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.