Keeping a close eye on Hurricane Matthew – 10/02/2016 1
Posted By RichC on October 2, 2016
Customer service, car covers, warranties and cheap wire
Posted By RichC on October 2, 2016
This past week I’ve made a few frustrating online transactions and purchases. First, in dealing with NewEgg, I attempted to use a credit on my business account and decided to handled it on the phone with customer service rather than risk it online. I explained that I was using a "store credit" and wanted to pay the difference with a credit card. The transaction went through, but the credit did not … so I called back to adjust and instead the next customer service rep voided the order entirely and processed a credit. He then indicated the credit could take up to a 
week to be issued and appear. Great … the purchase was canceled … my card charged and won’t be credited for a full week! He then attempted to process a repeat order this time applying the credit and notified me that the item was "out of stock" and that that I should call back next week. Unbelievable!
On to problem number two:
I bought a replacement cover for my 2001 Honda Odyssey which I leave in the harsh sun of Florida November thru June. Last year’s cover made it only one season and did not come with a warranty, that I know of? So this year, I opted to try a cover from BudgeIndustries who offer a hard to believe 10-year warranty. It seems like a long time for an outdoor car cover, 
but it will be interesting to see if they stand behind it? The cover looks to be slightly better material, but lacks the straps that go under the car, the mirror pockets and I noticed some sloppy stitching(see circled photo above). I’m hoping they will stand by their warranty.
Finally problem three:
I’m completing the Generator Cage project, I realized the really nice power cord my friend Mark gave me was going to be too short. After pricing the wire locally, I "foolishly" opted to pick up some cheaper wire on eBay … and NOW I know why it was cheap. The exterior coating that is usually a solid rubber material and protects the heavier stranded 10 ga wire inside was somewhat brittle. On bending it, it cracks easily and does little to protect the wires inside. In fact the insulation on the wires inside aren’t anything to write home about either — likely made in China with very questionable materials (cheap, cheap, cheap). The cost to return this fairly heavy wire would be too much so opted to use it for my home generator extension … where I won’t be flexing or walking on it regularly. To top it all off, I paid for 20 feet and received what looks to me about 19-1/2 feet.
The old adage is true in this case … "you get what you pay for."
Saving the Sailrite “How to make a Dodger” video playlist
Posted By RichC on October 1, 2016
Sailrite has years of on and off water How-To YouTube Videos
Jamaica prepares for the strongest Atlantic hurricane since 2007
Posted By RichC on October 1, 2016
Hurricane Matthew grew into a powerful Category 5 storm late Friday building strength as it crossed the Caribbean Sea and heading north. Jamaica is preparing to get the brunt of a projected landfall on Monday but the first effects will be felt as early as Saturday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center has described Matthew as the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic since Felix in 2007.
TechFriday: The New Raspberry Pi OS Is Here and it looks great
Posted By RichC on September 30, 2016
The New Splash Screen Replaces the Old Cryptic Boot Messages
The Raspberry Pi’s main operating system, Raspbian, just got a brand new look from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Dubbed PIXEL, it’s a skin for Raspbian that modernises the interface, adds some new programs and makes it much more pleasant to use. Click for a full review from Lifehacker Australia: The New Raspberry Pi OS Is Here, And It Looks Great
Daily Chuckle: Pi Rats of the Caribbean
Posted By RichC on September 30, 2016
I’ve been holding this somewhat humorous mathematician napkin-art for a "fill the day" post.
It takes the "Dumb Dad Joke" one step further into nerddom … but no, it is not my handiwork and I’m not sure who deserves the blame or credit! 
Transmission cooler hose? Once again, AAA pays for itself!
Posted By RichC on September 29, 2016
While coming home from work at 9:30PM Tuesday night, Brenda called and said something didn’t feel right about our 2006 Honda Pilot. No unusual warning lights besides the "wrench" indicating we were due for an oil change, but the RPM were revving high. I stayed on the phone until she turn down our street and that was as far as she could get. 
So I grabbed my tow strap and headed down the street in the trusty John Deere 330 lawn tractor. When I got to the SUV, it was surrounded by a cloud of smoke … smelling of transmission fluid. By the time I reach under the front bummer in the dark, it was apparent something was leaking … as Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump would say: "Bigly" or is it "Big League."
I suspect it could be as something as simple as a transmission cooler line … we’ll see … as it is off to Mr. Godwrench today?
On Wednesday morning, the AAA tow guy rolling in as the rain started …and our PLUS membership again has paid for itself. My advice to those driving cars with higher miles (ours seem to always be over 200,000) is to get some kind of towing coverage, be it through your insurance, a club membership or AAA because "cars are breaking down at record rates."
On a side note, the tow guy commented that he drives high mileage cars too … then proceeded to tell me his current current daily driver is a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta TDI with 325,000 miles. I smiled and asked if he knew about the TDIClub … he said yes and has been wanting to get together with the local CinciTDI group (obviously we ended up talking another 20 minutes). 
Follow up video from Mr Godwrench and The Happy Church
Posted By RichC on September 28, 2016
Thanks Tim for sending me the video from the Mr. Godwrench service day in Jackson, Kentucky (last week’s post). It was great to see the good times and teaching moments … both "hands-on" car maintenance and emulating what it is to have a Christian heart … and I’m sure it felt good for the givers too.
Brenda loved seeing her old polished up Toyota Rav4 being appreciated
Books and WSJ page: Trumped! A Nation on the Brink of Ruin
Posted By RichC on September 27, 2016
After watching David Stockman on Wall Street Week this past weekend, I was intrigued enough in his message of economic panic to pick up the Kindle version of his latest book. Although he is not new to the "Henny Penny" view that economically we can’t continue on the current path, hearing and reading his analysis rings the bell of worry (again) in my head. I’ve been on the "hesitant path" when it comes to a true recovery and what it means to our government, the Fed and the majority of Americans regarding our money and future. Pointing out problems isn’t new, but so far we’ve found innovative ways to avoid addressing what most of us see as the inevitable: the inability of governments to print and borrow more money without severely impacting the value everyone places on that piece of paper or digital number on our accounts.
Stockman begins by looking at the upcoming November 8th election and what he sees coming from politicians of both political parties. Since I’ve not finished the book yet, hear are a couple early quotes to give a flavor to the "laying out the problem."
I’ll be reading as fast as I can since the first debate will have already happened (Monday night) and I’m writing this on Sunday night for Tuesday AM.
Part two – WSJ comment:
On another tack, the Wall Street Journal posted one of it’s best "explainer" type full page graphics filled illustrations on September 23, 2016 which illustrated how soft worldwide economic growth really is. 
The "Bond Basics" starts the page pointing out that savers have had to chase growth (risk) in order to "reach for yields." In some countries (Japan, Germany and Switzerland) they have even gone negative. Who want to buy a bond or put money in the bank only to have it be worth less in a year than when you deposited it?
We continue to hear the fiscally minded discuss the ongoing shortfalls regarding tax revenue and spending, as well as the growing number of Americans who are depending on the government for everything from food and housing to their medications and healthcare. Both the costs and the number of people depending on Washington DC is rising, while the numbers paying in is smaller each year. Population growth is slowing and the number aging is growing.
The Road Ahead, as the final graphic illustrates, is a Warning Sign that our monetary policies may not be able to "jolt" the economy as governments and economist have done in the past. The landscape has changed and hurdles are enormous lending even more ammunition to those who see dark days ahead if something isn’t done to reset our economic path (Hm, I sound like the Climate Change environmentalists?)
Presidential hopeful Gov Gary Johnson gets a little tongue-tied
Posted By RichC on September 26, 2016
Just when you thought this years presidential campaign couldn’t get any weirder … Gov Gary Johnson steps it up a notch on MSNBC. I don’t have (or want) the full context.
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.