President Trump and Andrew Jackson – a comparison

Posted By on January 31, 2017

dougweadheadshot2016Is there a comparable president to Donald Trump?

People say President Donald Trump is unique in U.S. history, yet a few who study presidential history say it is not entirely true. Doug Wead, a presidential historian, compares President Trump to Andrew Jackson, as he did shortly after the November 2016 election on "Happening Now" with FoxNew’s Jenna Lee. It is interesting to hear a few stories from the days of President Andrew Jackson and ponder the chaos that ensued after his election. It is worth a listen if you’re wondering "if" the U.S. can survive a Trump presidency, a concern many in the mainstream media and political left (perhaps an oxymoron) seem to be ballyhooing. (video below)

Remembering a couple musicians and the song Drift Away

Posted By on January 30, 2017

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Engineering chessboard project idea

Posted By on January 29, 2017

ChessPartsEngineeringWorld

Snipping an idea. Perhaps make the board with inset magnets to hold the pieces? Perhaps laminate over a peg board to more easily space Neodymium Magnets that fit in each hole?

Take two: Finally moving ahead on the kitchen project

Posted By on January 28, 2017

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Designer rendition

Last summer we started to plan for a kitchen remodel as our "builder grade" cabinets and mishmash of appliances were in serious need of replacement. We updated our dishwasher and refrigerator already, but need to finish off the final stages once and for all. I’m currently working with a designer and close to getting the cabinets ordered.

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I was going to tie everything together when I started the laundry room, but because Brenda wants a gas cooktop instead of our electric, that means a little more construction, etc. So far we’ve "got the plan" and "think" KitchenGranite170126we have the contractor and cabinet company (second go at it) and are now finalizing the granite, knobs, tile and balance of appliances. At this point, we’ll switch to a Bosch two oven set-up and natural gas 5 burner cooktop … along with a Bosch SS hood. We’ve been happy with our under cabinet GE Spacesaver Microwave so will likely stick with that. An addition is trying to design a corner cabinet with the existing cabinet company … which was initially going to be a piece of furniture I wanted to build. Brenda’s point was that she wants to pull the kitchen together by keeping it all the same — and she has good taste. A humorous story usually comes up from our early years when I "regularly" would remodel our houses and thought about putting a bathroom sink and counter in our master bedroom — yup, I have a serious artistic limitation.
Smile 

Our existing kitchen

TechFriday: Still experimenting with computers and relays

Posted By on January 27, 2017

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After a previous simple $20 relay component test, my friend Jeff and I realized that there were a few shortcomings in using it for a future project — enter the cheaper eBay $3.99 higher powered solid state relay module.  This smallish sized relay component can be wired into a 40 amp circuit and switched with the same low DC voltage from a Arduino, Raspberry Pi or similar gadget.

I quickly wired it to a 110 vac male female plug and attached it to my Pine64’s GPIO breadboard and voilà it works!
On / Off, On / Off … I know, big deal. Smile 

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Can the Federal Government find political balance?

Posted By on January 26, 2017

JohnColePoliticalPendulumMy answer: Rarely does the pendulum find the middle.

Neither the fiscal or social policy balancing coming from Washington DC makes much sense to me. There have to be moderates who see validity in each others positions? Rather than the black and white collisions between the liberal Democrats and the conservative Republicans’ points of view, there has to be someone willing to work on the issues that we all want addressed.

Pro-business does not mean anti-environment; Limited government is not a lack of compassion for those struggling to independently take care of themselves in our free market economy.  But where is that balance?

On the social front, I don’t believe the majority who protested the day after President Trumps inauguration are proud that we the United States abort 1 million babies each year … and I personally know most pro-life supporters are not against women receiving quality medical care and being offered compassion and counseling. Isn’t there enough support to at least start somewhere … maybe somewhere neither side will embrace? 

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How hard would it be to find a starting point?

Those who are pro-business and are running companies are begging for educated employees with the skills they need to grow their business. They will gladly pay what employees are worth based on market forces in educationcapgraphorder to advance and grow their profitable business. Teachers for the most part aren’t in education unless they care about their students and the next generation. We expect that every citizen have the opportunity to get a quality education and not be shuffled thru and expensive and often broken system. The focus should be on teaching young people how to be productive and socially caring citizens, not on compensation, power and their own political ideology. Continuing to fund a failing public school system decade after decade is not working and ALL should recognize we need to look at something different. Maybe that starts with a new Secretary of Education willing to change the status quo? And to the parents and students themselves … you are paying for teachers, schools and colleges — expect more! You’re funding education through your taxes, tuition, etc … so get involved and make yourself heard. A little common-sense at the local level might go a long way in achieving better results. In the end, everyone involved wants the same thing from schools (minus a few union leaders).

Now that we look back on 8 years of a progressive "Hope and Change" Barrack Obama, many in the middle and lower class are feeling left behind. Perhaps a tad better than recession levels, but the "hope" part has faded for many. The promises saw "change" but it has left many seeing a more deeply divided country. Govenment handouts grew, but continued to keep many without prospect and surviving in poverty. Lacking in ambition and education, way too many have turned to crime and drugs — not a great legacy. Those who had EnvironmentEconomypower and means continued to succeed. The connected, innovative and agile business moguls, despite bigger government and the heavy hand of regulation, are the same ones who will succeed in a business friendly, right-leaning President Trump administration. Many just tightened their bootstraps at the expense of employees or adapted to the anti-business environment in the US and focused on producing globally in low cost countries.

I worry the Obama extreme has opened the door for a Trump extreme … where jobs, profits and a soon to be growing economy will trample commonsense environmental protection. There is nothing wrong with responsible environmental stewardship that balances the need for a strong economy … but compromise does not seem to be something either side is willing to work towards. It is as if each, the far left and far right, extreme grabs as much as they can while the pendulum has swung in their favor. Very sad … because we has a nation of primarily good people end up as losers.
Sad smile

A final goodbye to a grandmother and mom – Frances Howard

Posted By on January 25, 2017

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Memorials, funerals and burials can be emotionally draining and it is hard to know just how they impact each of us … but “to the person,” those that knew mom – grandma – Frances Ann Louise Howard (Holmstrom), were without question happy and celebrating.

FranceHoward_Burial170121Fran and Christians who have placed their faith in Jesus, and in the teachings in scripture, are comforted by God’s promise of “salvation and eternal life (John 3:16).” We know beyond a shadow of a doubt where MomH has gone – Heaven is her home … and only her earthly shell remains. Of all the people I have known, Brenda’s mom exemplified unwavering faith and never questioned or struggled with the Sovereignty of God. She was one person truly prepared for death and looking forward to Heaven … what a great feeling to be happy for her.

This past weekend we had a good time together as family. The cousin get along so well and each looks forward to being together. It is a shame we all live so far apart and live such busy  lives. Most of us realized this could be one of our last trips as a family to Jamestown, New York and took advantage of the usually warm and mild winter weather to reminisce … and repeat many of the same pleasurable and memorable stories from the past. On Saturday, a few of us drove by “Granny’s” house (Mabel Howard, DadH mom) in Brocton, NY after the burial and also visited Lakeview Cemetery where Mark Howard (Brenda’s brother) is buried (his children are Jackie, Justin and Aaron in photo below). While on the “reminiscing tour,” we also drove by the office where both Dr. Mark and Dr. Fred Howard practiced dentistry on Lakeview Avenue in Jamestown. The three sisters and each of the grandchildren have fond memories of going to have their teeth worked on (who can say that about visiting the dentist!) … as well as painful memories like seeing their father lose a son, a sister a brother, a wife (Lynda) a husband and  child a father at 40 years old. I’m forever amazed as the resilience in people after that kind of loss.

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Several in the Howard family are great with words and gave thoughtful and sometimes humorous stories at MomH’s memorial service. Pastor Jim offered his professional as well as personal remarks at both the memorial at Lind Funeral Home and at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, NY for the burial. I’m archiving the video, as I did for Brenda’s dad, in case some want to hear the words and see a few photos (at the end of video below or the YouTube version here) … besides, we likely all need a refresher on the Linda Ellis Living Your Dashpoem.

 

Thinking of my dad on his birthday and a pregnancy flashback

Posted By on January 24, 2017

Having just returned from my mother-in-law’s funeral in western New York has me thinking of my late mother and now on January 24th … particularly my father. Today would have DadC_Christmas1985been his 88th birthday if he were still alive … although I’m not so sure many of us want all that many more years as our bodies and minds start to fail in ways that make living difficult … not only for one-self, but for those taking care of you.

Thankfully I remember my parents and my in-laws with fondness and in good health. We had a lot of great years with them when “we” were little … and all over again when brought home grandchildren. That is one thing every grandparent (and those of us anticipating being a grandparent) have in common …  the excitement and happiness of being grandparents.

Brenda and I were smiling last night as we shared how we are looking forward to watching animated children’s movies (Brenda dislikes most animated movies … but that won’t matter) or sitting and reading books to our little “BabyGirl” Oostra. My own memories of Katelyn running over and begging me to read her “another” book are among the fondest memories I have in my role as “dad” … and I “hope” it will be the same as a grand-dad!

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Brenda/Rich 2 months before Katelyn in 1986
… exactly where Katelyn and Drew are at today.

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Brenda/Rich Spring of 1986 & Katelyn/Drew with 3 month to go

Who knows, there may still be a Range Rover in my future

Posted By on January 23, 2017

Great visual look at the evolution from 1969 thru 2017.

The first SUV to wear the vaunted “Range Rover” badge came in 1969 with the development of 26 individual prototype vehicles. Each “Velar” prototype wore special badging ahead of the production debut.

The first Range Rover to trundle across craggy landscapes arrived in 1970, claiming the title of the first SUV to feature permanent four-wheel drive in place of selectable drive systems. It was a painfully handsome SUV, wearing near-perfect proportions and endless capability when the path turned rough.


The four-door Range hit markets in 1988, carrying updated styling inside and out. Anti-lock brakes were now offered, and Land Rover says this was the first SUV to ride on automatic air suspension and make use of electronic traction control. This popular four-door was refreshed for 1994, giving way to what Land Rover considers the third generation of the SUV in 2001.

Finally, we arrive at the fourth-and-current-gen RR, initially launched in 2012. The video ends on the new Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic, the car soon to be clogging wealthy shopping centers and private school pickup lanes in the near future.

MotorTrend

A little SNOW country #humor

Posted By on January 22, 2017

Really just a filler post since we were in snow country this weekend for my mother-in-laws funeral. The “more realistic than we care to admit” chart is just a bit of humor that will likely have you nodding your head no matter where you live. Winter weather reactions definitely differs depending where you are located.

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog