Music Monday: A misinterpreted Elton John song – Daniel
Posted By RichC on April 16, 2018
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Returning to nautical flavored child safety gates for the stairs
Posted By RichC on April 15, 2018
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Remotes, remodeling and a day leftover for Encore
Posted By RichC on April 14, 2018
This past week has been a busy one for me. I was off to Florida for a few days to check on the condo in Delray Beach after our winter renter and to start the demolition of the kitchen. It is a project that is way past due and 
I’m not sure I know exactly what I’ve gotten myself into just yet?
The other priority was to move Encore to her new slip. I was fortunate have John and Cindy Parsons nearby on their boat Zola and available to lend me a hand with docking, It is not easy to singlehand a center cockpit sailboat when it comes to close quarters and docking. Thanks guys.
While at the condo, I noticed the Samsung TV was not filling the screen appropriately. I picked up the "lone" remote by the TV and of course the cable box remote does not control those "Samsung settings" … then began the search for the appropriate remote (although it did give me a chance to go through a few drawers!) Low and behold, I found nice, yes NINE remotes at the condo for 2 TVs. Obviously a few of them wee for devices that are long gone — time to toss?
Beginning of "demo day" at the condo (iPhone pano of kitchen)
I was able to accomplish all of the demo of the kitchen, hauling away of the old appliances and busted up cabinets … AND started the new rewiring, blocking up of missing studs and new ceiling nailers for drywall. Not too bad for a guy working alone.
Back at the boat, I did a bit of cleaning and relaxed for the evening while storms passed before driving back home (photo above). While looking at things, I starting to notice age and the Florida sun weakening the Sunbrella dodger and bimini material so took a couple photos of areas that I "at least" need to patch … pronto.
Driving home, the 14-15 hours trip was uneventful … but the trip is getting longer each time I drive it. It is always good to see the Cincinnati skyline from Kentucky (photo below) and know I’m almost home and have a bed waiting for me. It always feels good to be home, especially after a long drive.
Wishing Katelyn and Drew a very Happy 5th Anniversary
Posted By RichC on April 13, 2018
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New amateur radio plates for the MB 300D Turbodiesel
Posted By RichC on April 12, 2018
Since I needed to replace the “metal” plates on the old 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel this year, I’ve opted for the amateur radio registration. It did require submitting my General Class K4RDC call license, and $20 (??) extra, but figure it was a nice way to support both ham radio and my love for this old car.
Why are so many millennials anti-capitalists?
Posted By RichC on April 11, 2018
With freedom desired by nearly everyone on earth and history clear as to choice and “the market” lifting our standard of living, why do so many young people embrace socialism and big government?
Financial planning. We are all suppose to be doing it. Are you?
Posted By RichC on April 10, 2018
While reading a bit this past week about retirement savings and planning, it really hit home when realizing just how lifespans have 
changed in the past 100+ years.
Did you know:
•In 1900, the average life expectancy was 47 years. Only 100,000 Americans lived to age 85.
•By 2010, the number of people over 85 years old had grown to 5.5 million and was one of the fastest-growing segments of our population.
•By 2030, as the last baby boomers turn 65, older adults are expected to reach 20% of the population, and by 2050, 19 million people will be in the 85+ age group.
Shocking numbers living past 90 years old … considering that FoxBusiness reported that the average person nearing age sixty has only been able to save $100K for their retirement (excluding Social Security and any pension they might have coming). At today’s cost of living and expected longevity, that is not going to last very long … especially if faced with a medical emergency.
An article posted in MarketWatch by Mark Jaeger had an interesting take on dividing life into quarters (nice and simple … until you have to implement! HA!)
Most traditional financial planning tends to focus on achieving goals throughout life, culminating in something called retirement. But planning for what happens and what you want to do during retirement is often lacking. The word “retire” actually means to withdraw or retreat, which may have been the case after age 65 many decades ago, but that is the opposite of what most people reaching 65 today want to do.
Picture your life in overlapping 25-year time spans: birth to 25; age 10 to 35; 20 to 45; and 30 to 55. Consider how much you grew and changed during each of those periods. Now imagine the life you will live between 65 and 90, assuming that much of that time you will be relatively healthy and productive. This period is increasingly becoming known as the longevity dividend or longevity bonus, an exciting time that past generations have not had. This longevity dynamic changes the way we must view retirement and how we will live.
Now let’s divide your life into 4 “quarters” of about 25 years each.
The first quarter’s milestones tend to be triggered by specific ages: your first birthday, starting school, getting a driver’s license, being allowed to vote, and beginning to figure out who you are as you become established in your 20s.
Music Monday: Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair
Posted By RichC on April 9, 2018
(click for larger)
I read an interesting article about music in Wired this past weekend and in particular a World Song Map image that instead of a "place name" there is a "song name." It may not be the best song selection for the place, but it did trigger an old song from 1967 by Scott McKenzie, "Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair." Obviously hippie era and a replacement for San Francisco. So today’s Music Monday is an over 52 million viewed YouTube clip.
The Assad Regime uses a chemical barrel bomb once again
Posted By RichC on April 8, 2018
Seeing images of the children in Douma, a town near Damascus Syria dead or struggling to breath not only makes me sick to my stomach, but inflames my anger with a maddening desire for vengeance against the Assad regime. He and his supporters continue the brutal dictatorship against the Syrian people, this time using a chemical weapon dropped from a helicopter that has killed at least 42 — at least 500 are injured and suffering, according to news reports.
Last year the Assad government forces used Sarin gas that killed nearly 100 people, triggering a cruise missile strike from President Trump against the airfield where the strike came. Obviously a deterrent, but obviously not painful enough to prevent the government from using chemical weapons again. If unanswered strongly enough, one can only assume Assad will order more.
Once again we find ourselves policing the world in an attempt to prevent mass genocide where dictators are willing to kill women and children, strike hospitals and the elderly in a brutal attempt to maintain control and stay in power. What is doubly sad is that Assad is not alone, but supported by both the Iranians and Russians. Where is their humanity?
What is it going to take for the world to unite against such atrocities?
Poisonous gas was unleashed from a barrel bomb dropped by a government helicopter, according to the White Helmets, a Syrian paramedic group. Victims showed symptoms of poisoning by chlorine and nerve agents, doctors said.
Mr. Trump, on Twitter, condemned Sunday what he called a “mindless CHEMICAL attack,” adding: “President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price… …to pay.”
A morning of backups, archiving and updates
Posted By RichC on April 7, 2018
After an exchange of text messages with my cousin regarding old 35mm slides that her father and my father had taken through their lifetime (all YEARS ago), I mentioned I might try to digitize them someday and that if she wanted me to keep them I would.
That triggered the back up and archiving bug in me … time to secure some files and back up databases and update a few systems. Even my WordPress version is now up to date!
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.