How it works: An in tank fuel pump YouTube video
Posted By RichC on June 25, 2017
Well done … don’t forget to use your “brother’s sock.” 🙂
Very handy and inexpensive shield from a soda – pop bottle
Posted By RichC on June 24, 2017
After pelting my eyes with metal chips while grinding as a teenager, I’m overly careful when using tools nowadays. The nighttime of agony and picking out metal chips from my eyes was enough to teach me a lesson … and I’m so thankful to still have my eyesight. Be warned if you are reading this — wear the appropriate eye protection!
That warning out of the way, I saw a very creative Dremel Rotary Tool attachment made from a plastic soda-pop bottle. The screw on top was enlarged to fit the base of the Dremel tool, and the clear plastic was snipped to create a see-thru shield. After the correct grinding or cutting wheel is installed, then screw the bottle portion onto the cap. Voilà!
Tech Friday: Virgin Mobile USA wants iPhone users
Posted By RichC on June 23, 2017
In the battle of carrier wars, Virgin Mobile USA is stepping in with an attractive "first year" deal for buyers of a new or refurbished iPhone either through the Apple Store or their own site. Under the deal, customers will get up to one year of service for $1. 
Virgin piggybacks service on the Sprint network, so you’ll want to make sure the coverage footprint is solid since the $1 unlimited deal applies when you are not roaming ("unlimited" within reason – U.S. calling/texting and using over 23GB/mo could get throttled).
Once the year is up, users will have service will be $50/mo, so if you do the math, the nearly $600 saved in a year comes close to paying for a new iPhone6 or 7; it might be worth playing the game if you’re looking to upgrade soon (cough, cough … I have an iPhone5s) … but if you do wan this deal, the offer expires on July 31, 2017.
As part of Virgin Mobile’s deal with Apple, they are ditching Android phones in the coming years and will become the first iPhone-only network — LINK.
Unlimited voice and data services are while on-network only.
12 mos. for $1 unlimited service offer: Limited-time offer. Expires 7/31/17. Available only to customers who purchase an iPhone and transfer their phone number to the Inner Circle plan. Excludes taxes.
Virgin Mobile has no annual service contracts; service subject to certain terms. Plans are domestic only and include unlimited data, talk, text, 800 domestic voice roaming minutes and 100MB domestic data roaming. Int’l services extra and subject to applicable rates. AutoPay: Inner Circle members must remain enrolled in AutoPay with a valid payment vehicle on file. Service plan payment due on monthly payment date or account will be suspended. Unless monthly service plan payment made within 120 days after last monthly payment date, account will expire and any account balance will be forfeited. State and local taxes apply. Quality of Svc. (QoS): Customers who use more than 23GB of data during billing cycle will be deprioritized during times and places where the network is constrained. See Virgin Mobile Inner Circle Important Service/Product Specific Terms for details. Usage Limitations: To improve data experience for the majority of users, throughput may be limited, varied or reduced on the network. Virgin Mobile may terminate service if off-network roaming use in a month exceeds: (1) 800 mins or a majority of mins.; or (2) 100MB or a majority of KB. Other Terms: Offers and coverage not available everywhere or for all phones/networks and subject to change without notice. Additional terms, prohibited network use rules and other restrictions apply. Visit virginmobileusa.com for full details and latest pricing. Sprint 4G LTE network reaches over 290 million people. ©2017 Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. All rights reserved. VIRGIN and the Virgin signature logo are registered trademarks of Virgin Enterprises Limited and are used under license. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.
Good times and great family memories in Florida #TBT
Posted By RichC on June 22, 2017
It is too easy to stumble across great memories and think, "that would make for a great Throw Back Thursday #TBT post!" 
If I were to do that, there would be no end to "blog fillers" on Thursdays (or really on Wednesday evenings).
Here’s a favorite photo of Katelyn and Taylor on a trip to the condo in Delray Beach back in June of 2008. We really did have great times playing board games and being on vacation together. As folks my age are prone to saying … "time flies."
While on this trip I also now remember to keep my eyes on grass next to the walking path (especially at night) as one never knows what might be slithering up from the canal.
LINK & click image for larger
Oil continues to dampen spirits of shareholders of Big Oil
Posted By RichC on June 21, 2017
While the economy slowly improves and Wall Street waits with anticipation for congress to act on tax reform and in particular tax cuts that will 
bring the corporate tax in the U.S. in line with the rest of the world, oil companies continue to struggle. Obviously we’re still using oil … but the "glut" is just too big for companies to reward shareholders with steady enough profits. Those holding "big oil" like Exxon, Chevron, BP and Marathon are getting crushed. At what point does demand and supply get balanced … and at what point do oil companies slow down production in order to keep oil prices from falling further?
ElioMotors public image is still showing a stiff upper lip
Posted By RichC on June 21, 2017
With financial concerns looming for Elio Motors, they continue to put out positive PR remarks to their "All In" reservation holders, prospective buyers and investors. Everything from their perspective is positive is a series of questions/answers posted on their website.
One Q & A indicates that Elio Motors is "targeting 2018" to be the year they start production with all current reservation holders receiving their Elios "within their first year of production." Obviously those of us who were early "All In" reservation holders have been anxious for a long time … personally I’m just hoping they will begin production.
The current glut of oil and over supply of fuel for cars has kept car buyers from economy cars, hybrids and lower-end EVs, but we’ve seen this story before. Hopefully Elio Motors can squeak by until the larger car/SUV/pickup truck trend shifts back to fuel sipping commuter cars so families aren’t going "over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house" like this family of six, plus dog and luggage!
Glut of crude is making the oil business a lot less attractive
Posted By RichC on June 20, 2017
Traders of oil are bearish as the previous climb above $50/barrel could not hold under the pressure of global oversupply. For those of us who remember the doom and gloom of “peak oil,” paying $4+ per gallon at the pump and jumping on the alternative fuel bandwagon … it is hard to fathom that we’re now “swimming in oil.” Obviously new drilling techniques, fracking and oil field finds have put to rest the immediate concern over “running out of oil,” but at some point if the per barrel price keeps falling, we’ll soon be at a price where the slim margins start shutting down oil operation. A lot of companies will find it more and more difficult to cover expenses and payroll if prices stay in the low $40/barrel range much longer (see WSJ 6/20/2017).
It may be time for companies to start their “shutting down for maintenance” excuses. 
Taking a BMW X5 35D to the track – Thanks Andrew!
Posted By RichC on June 20, 2017
My Volkswagen TDI and BMW Diesel friend Andrew (proprietor FixMyVW.com) to his BMW X5 35D to the track in Atlanta this past weekend. He posted the run on YouTube and since his “tune” and exhaust is what I put on my 2010 BMW X5 35D … it did getting me pretty excited.
Published on Jun 18, 2017VIdeo starts with double yellow flags, skip to 4:22 for some action. Most parts and install from AARodriguez Corp. BuzzKen Exhaust JR Autotuning
This is my personal X5 diesel, you can see more on our facebook page facebook.com’/fixmyvw or www.fixmyvw.com
Music Monday: Back In The High Life Again by Steve Winwood
Posted By RichC on June 19, 2017
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Painted heirloom wicker chairs on this Father’s Day weekend
Posted By RichC on June 18, 2017
It is good day when projects get accomplished. Saturday was a sunny and dry for the painting of my GREAT grandparents’ two wicker chairs (unsure, but think they were from my Grandmother Ruth “Walker” Bluhm side). My Grandmother and Grandfather Bluhm used them for years on their Wright Avenue front porch in Toledo Ohio, then my mom treasured them so much she “cable locked them” to their front porch in Sidney.
These were chairs I really wanted from my parents estate and although we used them last year, they were in need of “another” coat of protective paint (who knows how many … but I do know there was green paint many years ago — likely LEAD based???)
I powerwashed the chair “lightly” after brushing any loose paint off with a stiff brush a few weeks ago and made sure they were completely dry — sun and then stored them inside. After debating between a new coat of Latex trim paint, I decided to try an oil based enamel in hopes a few sprayed on thin coats would penetrate the tiny cracks and grooved better? Only time will tell. So far they look good.
Since it is Father’s Day weekend, my son took both Brenda and I out to dinner at Chilis on Montgomery Road as a halfway point and for the memories of when we first moved to Cincinnati. Chilis is a long time favorite of mine (and both Brenda and Taylor too). Thank you Taylor!
EDIT 6/18/2017: I had to include a Facebook post from Taylor as it doesn’t get much better than this for a father.
Happy Father’s Day to my Dad who has always been there throughout my life. Thank you for being my biggest fan, greatest teacher and most respected counsel. Love, Your Son and Biggest Fan
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.