My Desultory Blog

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?

Category: Apple, Computer, News, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: air, apple, Computer, laptop, lenovo, macbook, notebook, rumor, tech friday, techfriday, yoga710

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.

 (8-16-2018 Liberty Twp Zoning Resolution PDF)

Category: Business, Local, Misc, News | No Comments »
Tags: butler county, cox road, development, fire station, liberty township, ohio, pdf, taylor, zoning

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.

Category: Archive, Automotive, Diesel, Mercedes, MGB | No Comments »
Tags: 300d, benz, diagram, leaks, lucas, mercedes, repairs, turbodiesel, vacuum

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.

LINK

Category: Travel, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: atlantic, florda, gulf coast, hurricane, seaboard, tropical, weather

Posted By RichC on August 20, 2018

Last week we lost the singer and pianist Aretha Franklin at age 76 who’s trailblazing career began in the turbulent 1960s when America was being torn apart (sounds eerily familiar).

I was in grade school when her R and B records were popping on the charts and being played on AM radio; I didn’t really hear much in the segregated mid to late sixties (parents controlled the radio), but her music was heard, remembered and definitely played when I started to listen on my own … as well as by every generation that followed.

It is sad to lose another musical great, but know that all who love music were thankful for her great contribution to our American music history. She was one of the greats and deserves our R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Interesting tidbit on that song:

“Respect” is a song written and originally released by American recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. The song became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. The music in the two versions is significantly different, and through a few changes in the lyrics, the stories told by the songs have a different flavor. Redding’s version is a plea from a desperate man, who will give his woman anything she wants. He won’t care if she does him wrong, as long as he gets his due respect when he brings money home. However, Franklin’s version is a declaration from a strong, confident woman, who knows that she has everything her man wants. She never does him wrong, and demands his “respect”. Franklin’s version adds the “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” chorus and the backup singers’ refrain of “Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me…”.

Wikipedia

Category: Music, Obituary, Video | No Comments »
Tags: aretha franklin, music monday, musicmonday, obit, otis redding, soul, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on August 19, 2018

In preparation for an upcoming work related project, I need to record a video for a client’s website and include both their voice and that of someone asking questions. I was hoping to keep it as professional as possible and will be using my Lumix GX8 DSLR.f I am using my external Rode shotgun microphone with a wind muff and “was hoping” it would work if the questioner was slightly off camera and the microphone was pointed at the on-camera subject?

Unfortunately in my weekend test before taking it to the meeting this week, I realized that even a relatively quiet background was being picked up – the landscape pond water feature was 20 feet away, yet sounds like it is 2 feet away! My concern is in wanting “just the voices” in an outdoor setting without having to purchase lavalier mics. I’m not a videographer or audio sound guy and am hoping for some insight. Thoughts?

Category: Advice, Audio, Blogs, Business, How-To, Misc, Technology, Video | No Comments »
Tags: gx8, interview, lavalier, lumix, mic, microphone, rode, shotgun, video, website

Posted By RichC on August 19, 2018

I thought these bear photos and stories were interesting …  but probably duped by the shocking images (the below is fake for the storyline). While looking for information on the photo below, I also came across the one above of a bicyclist trying to stay ahead of a bear in Alaska (probably fake too).

Often compared to Ansel Adams, the Japanese-born Michio Hoshino was an award-winning nature photographer who specialized in photographing Alaskan wildlife. It was in Russia’s Kurilshoye Lake in 1996, however, that Michio Hoshino’s own story came to a tragic end. He was killed by a brown bear in his own tent while on assignment in Russia. This photograph is allegedly the last image Hoshino ever took and shows his killer. Generally, brown bears do not attack humans unless they are provoked or feel threatened. Female bears are especially dangerous when they are protecting their young.

Category: Human Interest, Photography, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: bear, biker, chased, filler, mauled, michio hoshino, photographer, photography

Posted By RichC on August 18, 2018

Good news or more like great news! My niece Jackie had her first baby – a girl they named Margot Claire. Congratulations.

Daddy Ben and Grandma Lynda probably have bigger smiles than Jax after just giving birth (at least that is what I’m imagining). So happy for them and to welcome a new healthy baby into the world. I can’t wait to see them.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: baby, ben wickerham, birth, family, glassman, howard, jackie, lynda, margot, niece

Posted By RichC on August 17, 2018

While monitoring a military history Twitter feed, decided to add this “bomb bay view” photo from the World War II bomber group my father-in-law flew with. He was the navigator for the 394th Bomb Group of Martin Marauder B-26s and flew nearly 50 bombing missions over Germany. They were known as the “Bridge Busters.” (Read the book in PDF: Bridge Busters: The 397th Bomb Group (Medium) and the B-26 Marauder in World War II)

Bomb bay view of Martin B-26 Marauder bombers of the 323rd and 394th Bomb Groups drop 122 tons of bombs in an effort to take down the railroad bridge across the Moselle river at Trier, Germany, 24 December 1944.

Adding and archiving a couple more photos of a B-26 Martin Marauder.

Category: Aviation, Books, History, Millitary, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: 394th, air force, b-26, bomb, bomber, Books, fred howard, germany, History, military, pdf, war, ww2

Posted By RichC on August 16, 2018

I believed we called it the "way-back" … in both our Chevy Caprice Classic wagon and our Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. The Olds looked very similar to the wagon in the photo! (from a collection of photos that Generation Z might not understand)

(more…)

Category: Automotive, Humor, Misc | No Comments »
Tags: back-back, cruiser, custom, generation, olds, oldsmobile, station wagon, way-back