My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on September 28, 2018

Facebook Inc. discovered a security flaw affecting almost 50 million accounts, the company said Friday. Attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook’s code for its “view as” feature, which lets users see what their profile looks like to someone else. Facebook discovered the problem Tuesday, the company said in a blog post.A problem in the code allowed outsiders to steal access tokens, the digital keys that keep people logged in to Facebook …

Source: Facebook Finds Security Flaw Affecting Almost 50 Million Accounts – WSJ

Category: Social Media, Technology | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on September 27, 2018

Can’t wait for the return of Tim Allen and Last Man Standing cast to FOX after being cancel on ABC — my DVR series is set for Friday night at 8PM (yes, I know about streaming services … but I just don’t trust them!)

Multi-cam comedy LAST MAN STANDING, starring Tim Allen, heads to FOX for its seventh season on September 28, 2018.

A fan-favorite for six seasons, LAST MAN STANDING stars Allen as MIKE BAXTER, a married father of three girls, who tries to maintain his manliness in a world increasingly dominated by women. Produced by 20th Century Fox Television, the series also stars Nancy Travis, Jonathan Adams, Amanda Fuller, Christoph Sanders and Jordan Masterson.

“Excited?,” said Allen. “Team LMS was in the sixth inning, ahead by four runs, stands were packed and then for no reason, they call off the game. It leaves you sitting in the dugout, holding a bat and puzzled. Now we get the news from FOX that it’s time to get back out on that diamond – hell yes, I’m excited! When I heard the offer to create more episodes of LAST MAN STANDING, I did a fist pump so hard I threw my back out. It’s the fans! I could not be more grateful for the fans who wrote petitions and kept up the passion and incredible support for the show. And a fist pump, ouch, for Dana Walden and Gary Newman at FOX for not only listening to the fans, but for making the bold move to bring LAST MAN STANDING back. I’m sure audiences will be curious to see what we look like after all these years. Oh, has it only been one year? Well, just goes to show you – a lot can happen in a year.”

“LAST MAN STANDING ended too soon and the outcry from the fans has been deafening,” said Gary Newman and Dana Walden, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group. “We’ve wanted to put the show back together since its final taping a year ago, and Tim never gave up hope either. Thanks to its millions of devoted viewers and the irrepressible Tim Allen, we haven’t seen the last of LAST MAN STANDING.”

“Last Man Standing” averaged 8.3 million viewers in Live + 7 ratings for the 2016-2017 season on ABC. It was the network’s second most-watched comedy, after “Modern Family.” Among the key Adults 18-49 demographic, the series averaged a 1.7/7. The series ranked as the No. 1 new program across all syndication when it debuted off-net during the 2016-2017 season.

LAST MAN STANDING is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. The series was created by Jack Burditt.

Category: Entertainment | No Comments »
Tags: fox, last man standing, sitcom, television, tim allen

Posted By RichC on September 26, 2018

Although I suspect Google management and most of their Silicon Valley  employees are of a left-leaning tilt, there reminder and LINK to "register to vote" is a great universally welcomed message. Hopefully ALL U.S. citizens will exercise the privilege to vote come this November … although personally disagree with non-citizens and illegal aliens voting in any U.S. election.

Category: News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: alien, google, illegal, non-citizen, Politics, register, voting

Posted By RichC on September 25, 2018

This content is restricted.

Category: Misc, Personal, Photos, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, bathroom, cleaning, condo1718, delray beach, family, florida, kitchen, remodel, update

Posted By RichC on September 24, 2018

Porsche announced Sunday that it would focus on hybrid and electric technology and will no longer make diesel-powered vehicles.

The announcement comes five months after a senior manager at Porsche in Germany was arrested in connection with an investigation into diesel emissions rigging by Porsche’s parent company, Volkswagen.

Just 12% of Porsche’s global sales came from diesel cars in 2017. The company hasn’t had a diesel car in its portfolio since February and hasn’t offered a diesel model in the United States since November of 2015, a Porsche spokesperson told CNN.

Porsche said in a press release that demand for electric and hybrid vehicles has soared, but the market for diesel is shrinking.

LINK

Category: Automotive, Diesel | No Comments »
Tags: automotive, cnn, diesel, ev, german, hybrid, porsche

Posted By RichC on September 23, 2018

According to my very pleased Volkswagen driving daughter, she’ll likely stay committed to the VW brand IF they continue to appreciate her as a customer. She was one of the first owners of the new 2018 Tiguan last year and has been very pleased with the first year vehicle. The performance, including regular 30+ mpg tanks of gas, has been enjoyable for her to drive and exactly what she wanted and expected in returning to Volkswagen after short but disappointing time with the Nissan Juke.

Last week she was notified of a "recall" on the panoramic sunroof, but rather than just sending out a postcard notice, Volkswagen USA sent an apology and card with $150 for future service. Now that’s customer appreciation and one of the best way to retain a loyal VW customer. Well done VW!

On a side note, I received a phone call from a old VW friend who services Volkswagens north of Columbus, Ohio … Jon Hamilton of Jon’s Auto Care. He called to ask a couple of questions about modification that I made to Katelyn’s 2001 Volkswagen TDI Jetta. It seems the guy who bought the car from her several years ago brought it to Jon to replace a blown turbo. It now has 197,000 miles and it made their day remembering the service they did on Katelyn’s car. Even before the servicing days, he also remembered me bringing it to club GTGs in the early to mid-2000s for Rocketchip tuning and injector upgrades (I also have fond memories of Jon taking me for a run in his "hill climbing" racing RallyTDI Golf). From memory I was able to give him the appropriate coding and KermaTDI injectors we installed in Katelyn’s 2001 TDI (the one she learned to drive on at age 16 … and took care of her all the way through high school, college, medical school and residency!) What great memories and THRIFT … I do miss the old CinciTDI and TDIClub days … and my daughters VW TDI. 

Katelyn in her "well loved" 2001 Volkswagen Jetta TDI in 2010

Category: Automotive, Business, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: appreciation, credit, hamilton, jetta, jon's auto, katelyn, recall, service, tdi, volkswagen, voucher, warranty

Posted By RichC on September 22, 2018

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Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, archive, bompa, drew, facetime, family, grandparents, katelyn, montessori, nyc, oma, school

Posted By RichC on September 20, 2018

If the stock market is worried about another round of China tariffs, it sure doesn’t show it. Thursday saw the DJIA back to its record high from earlier this year. The S&P 500 did the same and even the Nasdaq was positive although off the higher record area earlier this year … but not by much. All in all, the U.S. economy is robust and growth is hard to deny. Jobs have returned with hiring in most sectors … and even wages are rising thanks to lower business taxes that give them flexibility as to where to invest their profits — people and investing back in their business (hopefully more in divided and share buybacks too?)

About the only two things negative at the moment are trade war fears and the political divide giving Democrats the chance to will back leadership of Congress. Want to kill a good economy? Elect DEMs in November and watch them throw a monkey wrench into this great economy.

Category: Financial, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: china, djia, economy, election, nasdaq, opinion, Politics, s&p500

Posted By RichC on September 19, 2018

Just escaping for a moment in my mind and eyes …

Beautiful Ocean

The Perfect Wave

#Surfing #Surf #Travel #TuesdayThoughts #Australia pic.twitter.com/W0mhqB44p6

— Tom Hall ☘ (@TomHall) September 18, 2018

Category: Misc, Social Media, Travel, Video | No Comments »
Tags: australia, escape, surfing, twitter, wave

Posted By RichC on September 18, 2018

In recent years, I’ve added a few corded Ridgid tools to my workshop or traveling trunk. I’ve owned a favorite reciprocating saw for about 10 years now and still find it my absolute favorite (also have an old Makita). Because I’m so fond of it, I’ve added an orbital sander which gets use very often and is already starting to show its age (close to 10 years old too). Once again it is the one I grab or take with me over all the other older sanders that I have.

Early this year when working on the kitchen remodel I also upgraded my old Craftsman "cheapy" circular saw; it was one that my mom and dad gave me as a teenager … yes it is that old and still sparks and whirls. Again based on my 2 previous corded Ridgid tools, their version of the classic "Skilsaw" was my first pick for ripping the long trim panels. It was only after handling it that I remembered how good it feels to use a well balance, solid circular saw (like the Milwaukee I used when working for a builder in college).

As for battery powered tools, I’ve never been much of an advocate besides having a drill, but times are changing. I’ve owned several drills through the years, most have been Sears Craftsman … with the occasional oddball that left me sorely disappointed (my first lithium 12v tool, but so disappointed). Eventually I replaced my old Craftsman 19.2 Nicad with the 19.2 Lithium and have been very pleased with it.

BUT … I’m sizing up possibly the tools I buy now should be ones last me the rest of my life, so I have picked the brushless Ridgid GEN5x line of tools and 18 volt battery system after suggesting it was a good value for Katelyn to buy Drew for Father’s Day this year … they then went on to buy me a new drill for Father’s Day too. It is a great drill although heavier than I’m use too. My recommendation was mostly due to my experience with the corded tools but also because it is handled at Home Depot and is covered by a Lifetime warranty when you "registered tool and battery that comes with the kit." Yes, battery … the bane of all the battery powered tools I have owned.

So, in keeping with my upgrade process, I decided to continue to stick with Ridgid Power Tools … and so far have not been disappointed (FYI: Ridgid based out of Elyria, Ohio and is owned by Emerson Electric).

Category: Advice, Personal, Tools | No Comments »
Tags: battery, craftsman, drills, home depot, lithium, ridgid, saw, tools, warranty