Music Monday Mellow Morning Twofer: Fogelberg and Stevens
Posted By RichC on August 27, 2018
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Books: The Great Revolt – Salena Zito and Brad Todd
Posted By RichC on August 26, 2018
I may have pick up my favorite political book of the year with Salena Zito and Brad Todd’s "The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics." It analyzes the unusual rise of once "long shot" billionaire reality-tv GOP candidate Donald Trump who defeated 17 other Republican "politicians" and chipped off enough disgruntled Independent and Democratic voters to defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016. The first person voter interviews with thousands of ordinary American voters is something that left pollsters and political party strategists scratching their heads and is finding them studying carefully as this populist movement either continues or dies off in future US elections.
For me, it is not that I haven’t heard the message before, but getting it all in a concise book with the ordinary people interviews, that many of us living in the mid-west can relate to, is most telling. There are those who are one issue voters like the 2nd Amendment or concerned over the damage another liberal supreme court justice could make … as well as those who dislike the direction of the country under supporters of BIG government progressive policies.
The later “felt” how slow the economic recovery was going and how expensive the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was making health care as it continued to collapse under its own weight. It also highlighted the "embarrassed to tell their friends" closet Trump voters or the evangelical Christians who seemed unlikely to support a man on his 3rd wife with less-than upright past behavior. All in all, it is an intriguing book and might help explain things to those who live in academia or tight progressive circles on the east and west coast — and especially for those oblivious to the reality faced by "blue collar traditional democratic voters some viewed as "clinging to their guns and religion" or that their candidate of choice referred to as "deplorables."
Here is a great CSPAN interview by David Drucker with the authors Brad Todd and Salena Zito (well worth listening to).
Standout syndicated columnist and CNN contributor Salena Zito, with veteran Republican strategist Brad Todd, reports across five swing states and over 27,000 miles to answer the pressing question: Was Donald Trump’s election a fluke or did it represent a fundamental shift in the electorate that will have repercussions–for Republicans and Democrats–for years to come.
A true American Hero passed away at 81 – Sen John McCain
Posted By RichC on August 25, 2018
“Fairwell fellow Americans. God bless you, and God bless America.” — John S McCain
As an American citizen, and supporter of Sen John McCain for many years, it is sad to see his last fight was with cancer. The nation owes him great honor his years of service to our country. From his heroic suffering as a prisoner of war, to his unrelenting focus on providing for our military while serving in Washington DC. My sadness is with his family in losing a son (his mother Roberta is 106), his wife Cindy her husband and children a father. So glad for his many years. (video below)
Do you understand what PBM’s in health care are?
Posted By RichC on August 25, 2018
Here’s a great explanation of the history and current role of Pharmacy Benefit, Managers (PBMs) as it relates to health care, drug cost and insurance plans.
LINK to Marketplace story
Red Stewart Airfield 21st Annual Airshow and EAA chapter 284’s Taildragger Fly-In Pancake Breakfast at 40I on Sept 1 – 2 2018
Posted By RichC on August 25, 2018
This Labor Day weekend is the annual Stewart Airshow and our EAA chapter’s fly-in and pancake breakfast.
If you enjoy aviation and mostly vintage aircraft flying in and out of a well cared for grass airstrip, this outing is for you. The gathering in Waynesville Ohio is always an enjoyable community time and is fun for those who fly in from all part of the tri-state. The Stewart airshow starts at 5PM and takes a break until dark, at which time the "night flying" begins — well worth seeing on a clear night.
Primitive camping is welcomed on the field and there is usually a nice crowd for our EAA "once a year" fundraiser providing the morning coffee and a pancake breakfast — this year our 51st! (see EAA284.org)
Tech Friday 2: My favorite Cincinnati oriented tweet of the day
Posted By RichC on August 24, 2018
|￣￣￣￣￣￣ |
| WE |
| ARE NOT |
| THE |
| NATIONAL |
| ENQUIRER |
| ＿＿＿＿＿__|
(\__/) ||
(•ㅅ•) ||
/ づ— Enquirer (@Enquirer) August 23, 2018
Tech Friday: Rumors buzzed about a new Apple Macbook Air
Posted By RichC on August 24, 2018
What’s new with the popular and well loved Apple MacBook Air?
Nothing yet, but this week heated up with rumors that 8-year old Air is getting a big makeover for the end of 2018 (2017 CNET review of last years Macbook Air).
First on the "hope for rumors HAS" list is that the 
device remains small (13"), light and low-cost (lower than other MacBooks – dubious?).
Second is the better Retina Display with thinner bezels — very likely as that has been rumored since 2014.
Third is the very likely improved CPU, sort of a no-brainer since they naturally wouldn’t release a new model with an old processor chip.
Fourth is that it will come with a better base level memory and solid state hard drive … better being bigger.
Fifth the new membrane thinner and quieter keyboard. A must if the Air is to retain the name designating it small and lightweight.
Sixth … and this is just my speculation … the new Air will have even better enhanced battery life for those who want the best unplugged life on a full featured notebook computer. In my day to day sales travel, the number one reason the people I know opt for the Macbook Air is that it is the best computer to own if you wan to avoid charging during the day; nobody wants to drag around a tangled cord while searching for a place to plug in. (if there is one major shortcoming to my 15.6" Lenovo Yoga 710, it is that it has limited battery life … although very good by previous notebook computers).
Of course we’ve heard "Retina Rumors" before … even with illustrations! Who knows what to believe but one would think Apple could at least give us the Retina Display … even if it is 4 years late (see Oct 1, 2014 report – image below).
I’ll be looking at the Macbook Air with interest when it comes out later this year … but for travel I’m still pretty happy with my 2014 iPad Air2 and BrydgeKeyboard … perhaps I can wait?
Liberty Township Ohio is planning for a new closer fire station
Posted By RichC on August 23, 2018
Brenda and I had a back and forth text messaging conversation with our son Taylor, who is the Clermont County planner, regarding a new fire station in and around a developed residential area not too far from us. Although this improvement will be great for us, it does get us concerned over the impact to our property and neighboring areas as continued growth and development happens (we are in Butler County so no real conflict of interest for Taylor).
The long term plan that will impact us is the extension of business when the Cox Road Corridor moves ahead as we are east of I-75. There was some rezoning a couple years back that changed our agricultural zoning to a Residential-Estates (R-E) zoning … which besides restricting a few farm oriented activities probably was appropriate for our residential suburban area. A glance at the overlay illustrates our concern as the current business development moves north from West Chester Township in to Liberty Township.
Hopefully our elected commissioners and sound planning will do their best to protect the rural feel and existing neighborhoods those of us living here appreciate? It is a good reason to stay abreast and involved with our local county and township government.
Chasing vacuum leaks in the Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel
Posted By RichC on August 22, 2018
It is probably something one should get use to with an older Mercedes Benz, but it can be frustrating and tiring to say the least — that is fixing vacuum leaks.
The 1982 MB 300D Turbodiesel is a great car and has a limited number of electrical components compared to newer vehicles. That in turn keeps the beast running without the Lucas gremlins all too common in the MGB or other aging late model cars.
In order to track down the vacuum devices such as door lock actuators, vacuum transmission components as well as all the hard line soft connectors, it helps to have a visual … so I’m archiving on of them on the blog since I suspect the latest slow vacuum leak is either a connector or vacuum door actuator.
What are the chances a Hurricane returns?
Posted By RichC on August 21, 2018
Every state, city and location along the Gulf and Atlantic coast is vunerable to tropical weather this time of year, especially in late summer. Here are a couple of maps highlighting the number of years between hurricanes (winds 74 and higher above) and major hurricanes (winds 111 and higher below). Neither is that comforting.
Every mile of the U.S. Gulf and East coast is vulnerable to a hurricane, but there are locations that have higher odds of being hit any given year. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center uses an analysis tool that quantifies those chances called the hurricane return period. It’s the frequency at which a hurricane can be expected to pass within 50 nautical miles of a specific location. For example, a return period of 20 years for a major hurricane means that on average during the previous 100 years, a Category 3 or stronger hurricane passed within 50 nautical miles of that location about five times. Looking forward one could expect five Category 3 or stronger hurricanes within that 50 nautical mile radius during the next 100 years.
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.