My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on September 29, 2017

After slowly giving up on ever really making my “90% hearing loss” right ear useful again (due to  Ménière’s disease – posts 1 or 2), I had a chance to try out my buddy Jeff’s After Shokz bluetooth headset a couple weeks ago. I’m not saying it was like I was binaural again, BUT the “bone conduction” really does improve “sound” in my bad ear.

So last week I order an opened or damaged package from Amazon for $75 (saved 30% but was practically perfect) and am initially pretty happy with this active-wear bluetooth bone conducting headset. On the plus side, it is well made with a titanium band that wraps around the backside of you head/neck.  The “speakers” rest just in front of your ears after looping over the top with a little spring pressure holding the vibrating pads against the side of your head. The ears are left open so it is surprisingly easy to hear what is going on around you even though in all but dead silence people around you will not hear what you are listening to. I haven’t given the phone connection a full test yet (noise canceling???), but have no problem hearing the caller on my end. On the downside, I suspect the music quality is less than perfect for persnickety listeners and most likely the amount of “vibration” will require more battery power at louder volumes and shorten the listening time between recharges. So far, no big deal.

About the only other plus minus is that it clamps (although gently) to your head for excellent positioning while active (running, walking, hiking, biking) but can be a little tiring if you use it for longer periods. Also … it is not a good choice if you wanted something when laying down (on your side) … which is something I often do with earbuds.

My advice is that if you have moderate hearing loss, give these or some kind of “bone conduction” headset a try (even if you wear a hearing aid) … it might surprise you and be well worth the cost.

Category: Advice, Audio, Cellphone, Innovation, Music, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: after shokz, bluetooth, bone, conduction, headset, hearing, menieres, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on September 28, 2017

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, brenda, chalkpaint, chores, family, petrified, wood

Posted By RichC on September 28, 2017

President Trump will roll out his administration’s tax reform plan on Wednesday, seeking reductions in both the corporate and individual income tax rates, while doubling the standard deduction. The plan would cut corporate taxes from 35% to 20%, while dropping the top individual tax bracket from 39.6% to 35% and collapsing the current seven brackets to three, with the other two set at 25% and 12%. The income level at which those brackets would apply has not been specified. Some watchers suggest there is wiggle room to negotiate a fourth higher rate for the highest income earners.

The proposal calls for the removal of a number of deductions, but leaves the job of choosing which ones to eliminate to congress. The US brought in about $3.3T in revenue in 2016 – with 9% of that generated by corporate taxes ($300B) and 47% coming from individual income taxes ($1.55T). Critics argue the proposed tax rates will further increase the deficit ($585B in 2016) unless packaged with spending cuts.

Category: Financial, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: irs, Politics, proposal, taxes, trump

Posted By RichC on September 27, 2017

Brenda’s dad lectured her sister Ann a decade or so ago about constantly having a “woe is me” moment. To be fair, she has a needier personality than Brenda that has a tendency to share one negative thing after another. I remember listening to him on the phone in frustration asking, “Do you have your health? Do you have a job? Do you have food for the table? Then stop complaining all the time!” He was to his limit, considering how aging had debilitated him in his later years.

It was a good lesson to overhear knowing those around us grow tired of hearing about all that isn’t going quite right. The opposite happened when we would talk to my parents. My mom would get frustrated in that she never felt as if Brenda shared what was going on in her life because Brenda rarely complains (or opened up). Mom would call and ask her how things were going and Brenda’s answer was always “great” or “fine.” A single word without a hint of detail regarding the many minor (or major) day to day struggles that we all face (some share and some internalize).

There is probably a happy medium when it comes to sharing our lives with friends and family AND detailing too much or not enough. Too much “wolf calling” leads to getting tired of the constant and depressing stream of complaining. On the other hand, a lack of communicating leaves family or friends wondering if they are a close family at all?

I’m working to get my life in perspective this month and to be honest am stressed just dealing with a pile of minor and relatively normal frustrations – they still put me in a short and bad mood. The weight of one of my better customers filing bankruptcy and having to follow through with collecting debt, server upgrade issues and addressing customer complaints stemming from it, facing a pending legal action with work on the boat in Florida (and not getting timetables or answers – grr!), sensing my daughter is feeling stressed balancing work and childcare (one is always a parent), seeing Brenda unhappy at work and me being irritated with my own lack of direction as I watch my best friend excitedly make a job change (I foolishly act jealous rather than being excited for him).

I need to remind myself – “health, job, food on the table” – especially as I look at so many who are hurting after Hurricane Irma and Maria and the earthquake in Mexico. Obviously my life is pretty good and I shouldn’t be on edge and short with people … nor should I be losing sleep over so many relatively minor issues messing up my goals and plans. Get a perspective Rich … take them on day by day … and for heaven sakes be nice to others. I’d have a little more room to complain if I were hanging like this squirrel!

Category: Friends, Human Interest, Humor, Misc, Personal, Photos | 1 Comment »
Tags: brenda, complaining, dadh, family, life, perspective, richc, squirrel, stress

Posted By RichC on September 26, 2017

Since I’ve been watching the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick PBS Vietnam War 10-part series, it is not surprising that once again that some in the United States have an issue over perceive inequities (or something). Unfortunately peaceful protestors again take it out on those wearing a uniform? Very sad … one would think that after 9/11 a protest that includes disrespecting the  National Anthem would seem inappropriate?

What shocks me is that NFL players chose to follow Colin Kaepernick’s lead? They could have a least picked a better form of protest? Why patterning the ex-football quarterback’s kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem? This is the guy who wore socks with police officers portrayed as pigs. There has to be a better form of venting whatever grievances (???) they have than disrespecting American? Personally I’m still puzzled as to what NFL players are really are asking for or trying to accomplish? Likely the only winner in these offensive shenanigans is Alejandro Villanueva who was the only Pittsburgh Steeler to come out of the locker-room for the National Anthem before Sunday’s NFL overtime loss against the Chicago Bears.

For me, and many pro football fans in America, watching Sunday afternoon football "WAS" a time to escape the divisive politics that has infiltrated practically every other facet of our lives. I wasn’t happy when commentators lectured me with their personal political opinions, so I turned off those pre/halftime/post shows and just watched the games getting my analysis from friends and fans on social networks. When Kaepernick took his knee and eventually lost his position (based on playing performance or a business decision?) I cheered, knowing his behavior did not represent the NFL or entire teams. In 2016, I figured it was only one attention seeking player. Unfortunately in 2017 it is now political and there’s an offensive political protest every week from a few more attention seeking players. It has now infected entire teams … and like many, is something I don’t desire to watch or support. Good-bye for now NFL.

That said, I enjoy watching football … but love my country and those who support the flag and stand for our anthem A LOT MORE. I’ve tuned out, so take note team owners, taxpayers subsidizing stadiums and millions of dollars spend in advertising who are giving highly compensated football players a platform to disrespect those who we ask to wear a uniform and defend us (saw the disrespect in the 1960s and it wasn’t pretty. For those too young, the Vietnam War protests shamefully included those who heeded their country’s call to serve).

For those who want to point the finger at President Trump and his offensive campaign style SOB speech (I’m not excusing his words) … these unpatriotic protests were growing before the presidents’ words and the additional participants disrespectful by not standing for the National Anthem is not an acceptable response; it is pretty offensive to those who serve in uniform under the U.S. flag. Wise up NFL, network announcers, team owners and players; don’t make your political statement at WORK when the rest of America just wants to watch football … make your political statements and protest on your own time.

Although I already was not watching NFL football, the final straw was seeing players pull the "kneeling stunt" during a overseas NFL game on Sunday … they stood for UK’s God Save the Queen, but not for their own country’s Star Spangled Banner.

Category: Politics, Sports | 2 Comments »
Tags: anthem, boycott, flag, football, kneel, nfl, Politics, protest

Posted By RichC on September 25, 2017

Sort of laughing at myself after running out of smaller AA batteries for my Rat Zapper “electric zapping mousetrap.” Yes it would have been simpler to run to the store (or remember when I was out) to pick up “another” set of batteries for the trap, but then what fun is that? Instead Brenda was cleaning out her junk draws and had a few odd ball batteries that we didn’t know if they were any good. A few were and a few were pretty flat … in any case I taped a few “C” batteries end to end and clipped them in place in order to provide the voltage required to “humanely” finish off a mouse (or so the claim goes). A few left over morsels of Tootsies dog food and have been zapping a mouse a night out in the detached garage. It is that time of year.

Category: Misc, Tidbits | 1 Comment »
Tags: batteries, mouse, mousetrap, tootsie, zapper

Posted By RichC on September 24, 2017

Part of a 12-part sailing advice series by the UK Yachting World site is worth archiving.

Category: Sailing, Travel, Video | 1 Comment »
Tags: anchoring, coral, cruising, sailboat, yachting world, youtube

Posted By RichC on September 23, 2017

About the only replacement parts I’ve had to purchase for our iRobot Verro pool sweeper/ cleaner were the filter bags that go inside the housing. It has been the best of the pool cleaners we have had.

Originally we started our pool ownership with a hopping Kreepy Krauly gizmo for our first pool back in Hudson, Ohio (probably better for liner pools???) and then built in a Polaris "Pressure" pool cleaner in the early 2000s – requires plumbing and a separate pressure pump.  They all worked, but only the iRobot has lasted a long time and continues to run even with HEAVY filtering in the spring and excessive wear of the plastic housing. I’m looking for a couple new pieces or "may" try to epoxy some kind of wear strips and repair this winter? Unfortunately I think it is close to 15 years old and if something electrical fails, it will be time to look for a replacement.

Category: Advice, Misc, Photos, Recreation, Shopping, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: cleaner, irobot, pool, repair, sweeper, swimming, wear

Posted By RichC on September 22, 2017

The Ken Burns and Lynn Novick 10 part documentary THE VIETNAM WAR airing each night this past week on PBS has been eye opening even for someone who "thought" they knew their Vietnam history. I’ve read a lot of books over the years and lived through most of the war stateside in real time (to be honest, I was pretty young). As a few of the emotional moments were being shared, I couldn’t help but realize just how relieved my parents were when the war (and draft) ended just as their two boys were coming of age. I was personally relatively sheltered from having to make any decision, but suspect if I were a few years older, it would have been a big deal.

The early episodes (what I’ve watched so far) are exceptionally important for those trying to put the Vietnam War and the protest movement that coincided in context to the cold war and spread of Communism history. From the year of occupation and the long bloody war with the French, it was easy to see why the Americans were seen as no different by the Vietnamese people … particularly rural and in the north. The political struggle and corruption within the South Vietnamese government were many … and realizing the exact same struggle was happening (unknown to most in the US) in the North between Ho Chi Minh and his generals. Neither side trusted or believed each other or in the countries backing them (China, USSR and the United States). 

The history and documentary style is something I enjoy, but my wife is not as interested so I’m even more immersed in the program since I’m watching it in our home theater … something we just haven’t been doing lately. Both cinematography and sound is exceptional … well worth enriching your understanding of the events leading to, the war and political decision-making struggles, the individual emotions and citizen protests that eventually brought and end to this terrible war (although I’m not sure what war isn’t "terrible?")  That said, if you go into the program with an open mind, you’ll come way with a better understanding and "maybe" a little more appreciation for all involved in the decisions in a war that took the lives of about 2 million people (58,318 American) between the years of 1955-1975.

Category: Education, History | No Comments »
Tags: documentary, History, ken burns, pbs, series, television, vietnam, war

Posted By RichC on September 22, 2017

There is something about this classic muscle car photo that spoke to me. Maybe it the tone or just the classic American steel? At any rate, I’ll use it as the first “Foto Friday” post and see who else see this as art? Probably the only thing better would have been to include a GM vehicle … maybe a vintage Camaro?

Category: Automotive, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: cars, classic, collector, fotofriday, muscle, photo, restoratoin