My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on September 23, 2016

While Twitter shareholders seemed to like the rumor of Salesforce.com showing interest in $TWTR, those holding shares of $CRM are not quite as enthused. This has happened before so we’ll see if there is any real substance … OR if others might be interested? Google???

Salesforce.com Inc. is considering a takeover of Twitter Inc., according to people familiar with the matter, as the social-media company’s efforts to ignite growth sputter.

The exploration is in early stages, one of the people said, and might not lead to a deal. It’s unclear who else might be circling Twitter, which had a market value of about $13 billion as of Thursday’s close, down from its all-time high of $40.7 billion in December 2013, according to Thomson Reuters.

more at the WSJ

Category: Financial, News, Social Media, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: $CRM, $TWTR, investing, rumor, stock, takeover, trading, wsj

Posted By RichC on September 23, 2016

Volkswagen isn’t the only automaker skirting diesel emissions laws—many automakers build cars even dirtier than VW.
Source: Study Accuses Other European Diesels of Polluting More Than VW TDIs

A study concludes that Volkswagen TDI diesel are among the cleanest of all the European brands. That could be the reason the Paris Auto Show are showing fewer diesels and more EVs?

In a Switch for Paris Show, Automakers Turn From Diesel – @nytimes https://t.co/lLjEHqSAP7

— Rich Corbett (@RichC) September 22, 2016

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Volkswagen | 1 Comment »
Tags: diesel, emissions, study, tdi, volkswagen

Posted By RichC on September 22, 2016

First off, I am not a snob when it comes to coffee. I have my likes (and quirks) when it comes to coffee, but drink all coffees … even the cheapest boiled campfire coffee will do. That noted … I do enjoy a few of the specialty roasts like the Jamaica Blue Mountain and Kona bean coffees, but the price usually keeps me away. A decade or so ago I also developed a taste for a local Coffee Beans & Brew establishment as well as Caribou Coffee likely because I regularly met a friend or was killing time there waiting for my son to get off work at the Vietnamese restaurant next door — pre-driver’s license (now all are closed in our area). I regularly drive-thru and pick up McDonald’s basic coffee on my way to northeast Ohio or mostly make my daily Chock Full o’Nuts coffee in my one cup brewer. Whatever way you slice it … I’m  addicted to coffee.

BUT … on our recent visit to Wayzata, Minnesota (see posts one, two and three) to visit my daughter, husband and "baby in womb," they perked up my taste buds to flavored coffee. So I added the Dunkin’ Donuts Hazelnut coffee to our grocery list  — I’m going to blame Katelyn and Drew for this extravagant splurge (although I’m currently only adding a half-tablespoon to my cheapo grounds!)

Category: Misc, Personal, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: coffee, drew, family, hazelnut, katelyn, minneapolis, minnisota, wayzata

Posted By RichC on September 21, 2016

In a previous post, I sketched out a "Generator Cage," for the lack of a better term, for our sailboat Encore. The idea is to slip off a Sunbrella cover so we can use the Honda EU2000i Inverter Generator mentioned here on the aft deck when needing power at anchor to charge the batteries and power higher wattage devices. The aluminum cage permits the generator to be locked securely to the deck, but run with unimpeded airflow and moved to be stored below or onshore. 

The "cage" will have two matched keyed locks on each side that holds the "eventual" lid, step, seat, worksurface on top. The cage as mentioned will be thru-bolted to the deck and be fitted with a cover for sun and weather protection. It has been sized slip in from the front with the lid removed but locked in place if the lid is in place.  The final fitting with nylon washers for leveling might change a few things, but I’m planning a foam insert under the lid to semi-secure the generator from wiggling around. (yet to be seen)

Above — a few expendable items I need to replace from Lincoln as the previous eBay ordered part from last year were incorrect. Of course I didn’t check them until I tried to use them!

It is amazing how quick you lose TIG welding skills if you aren’t doing it everyday … from setting up and tweaking the correct power and equipment settings to the coordination between foot pedal, right hand torch movement and left hand filler rod feeding … all behind a darken mask!

Category: Energy, Misc, Personal, Sailing, Tidbits | 1 Comment »
Tags: aluminum, encore, EU2000i, generator, honda, inverter, tig, welding

Posted By RichC on September 20, 2016

Here’s  a last minute blog filler for those who have ever (or might) hit their fingers when hammering in a small nail or tack. For years I’ve used needle-nose pliers to hold the nail, but since we have a bunch of extra "bag clips" (it is what we primarily use clothespins for) laying around, I figured passing along this tip wouldn’t hurt. I’ve tried it and it works great.

It just occurred to me that most of our clothespins were left over from my photography darkroom days where I had them strung up on a coated wire line to hang up rolls of film and RC paper prints — prior to that we used a "print dryer" with a polished stainless steel plate in order to achieve a glossy surface — wow, I dug deep for those memories!

Category: Memories, Photography, Tidbits, Tools | No Comments »
Tags: clothespin, darkroom, dryer, Memory, nail, photography, tip, workshop

Posted By RichC on September 19, 2016

Good question: By ear, the slightly smaller and far lighter Honda EU2000i inverter based generator is definitely quieter than the less expensive, but larger in dimension, weight and power Predator 2200. Read on for a few more points.

I like both of inverter generators and each will serve a slightly different purpose. The Honda is as quiet as a generator can be made as far as I can  tell … and puts out an appropriate amount of power to use on Encore, our sailboat. With the correct plug (thanks to my buddy Mark Jones), the Honda plugs directly into the shore power plug and will power most of our electrical needs at anchor and charge the batteries … this reduces running the Volvo diesel engine when only charging batteries.

The Predator is of similar design, but noticeably heavier and louder. It can handle a largers loads with a maximum power draw of 2500 watt "surge" and 2200 rated watts. The lightweight and quieter Honda EU2000i only surges to 2000 watts and is rated at 600 watts less at 1600 watts. Again both serve a purpose and the price is most definitely different — the Honda is twice as expensive (and likely higher quality, but that’s just my assumption from reading, etc). In my case the Predator will replace the much larger full framed generator that overheated last year — cough, cough … I’m not pointing a finger at my wife …

As you can see in the photos in my side by side testing with exactly the same load, the Honda was 6 decibels quieter recording an 81dB on my iPhone meter at a distance of 4 feet … both units were in exactly the same location. I’m not an audio guy, but listening by ear at a distance of 45 feet, the Honda was barely noticeable while the Predator, which recorded a steady 87dB in my 4 foot test,  was definitely rumbling along and easily heard.

If it is quiet and reliable reputation you need, buy the Honda. If you need something just for emergencies and as a backup or want to save a buck, the Predator seems to be an excellent inverter generator. Time will tell. 

Category: Advice, Audio, Energy, Misc, Sailing, Tools | No Comments »
Tags: comparison, decibels, EU2000i, generator, honda, inverter, predator 2200

Posted By RichC on September 18, 2016

After sitting quietly most of the summer, my friend Jeff needed to borrow a set of wheels for a week. He has intimately name the 1982 MB diesel the "old girl" and seems to appreciate her many quirks. Since it isn’t covered, there was a little dust, but she still looks pretty good to me. I’m going to have a difficult time selling when our Elio eventually arrives.

As for the new boat project mentioned in the subject line, it is a project that I’ve been batting around in my head for a while ever since I put the shelf and workbench in the Honda Odyssey. For that, I welded some square aluminum tubing together and liked it enough to contemplate a way to securely house the Honda EU2000i Generator on deck without someone easily stealing it off the deck when at anchor. A second and third use would be a seat or work surface for cleaning fish! The illustration is a sketch of the aluminum components that surround the generator. The small rectangle section is under the lid/seat and when fitted surrounds the handle and prevents pulling the generator out. A couple padlocks fasten underneath each side and once the Sunbrella cover is removed, the generator can run with open airflow. The "surround" will be through bolted to the aft deck and generator moved off the boat or below when we are not around  (the top is not shown in my preliminary sizing sketch).

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Mercedes, Sailing, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: 300d, elio, encore, generator, honda, mercedes, project, sailboat, turbodiesel

Posted By RichC on September 17, 2016

This content is restricted.

Category: Audio, Music | No Comments »
Tags: fly, mp3, Music, song, sugar ray, summer

Posted By RichC on September 16, 2016

Continued from 9/14/2016 and 9/15/2016 — This is PART 3:

Instead of heading home, we picked up pizza and headed over to my nephew Justin and his wife Keity’s new house (photo above) about 25 minutes from Wayzata. He and his son Evan gave us the grand tour while we waited for his wife and daughter Madelyn to return home for supper.

The sun was setting and we enjoyed the rest of the evening in the backyard making S’mores over the fire.

We finally left so they could go to bed after a long and busy weekend … but it is always great seeing them when we come up to Minnesota!

Finally a nice meal out is always in order when we visit — The Cov (below) this time … although we loved all of Katelyn’s new breakfast/brunch ideas … I especially liked the eggs baked in cinnamon rolls.

And in keeping with my text messaging weekend theme in getting a “lyft” to and from everyplace by using the excellent “Drew-BER” service … thank you to my son-in-law for hauling us around all weekend. Very much appreciated!

Category: Personal, Photos, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: brenda, drew, drewber, family, justin, katelyn, keity, minnesota, trip, wayzata

Posted By RichC on September 15, 2016

Continued from 9/14/2016 — This is PART 2:

Sunday was fully planned as well. Katelyn and Drew had scoped out a car show in previous years and they knew it would be something I would enjoy. So before going to a ballgame, “we” (well at least “I”) enjoyed the old cars — and shared a little too much of the “who cares” information.

Their house is within walking distance from the center of Wayzata and with the number of paths and bike trails, getting around on foot or two wheels is a cinch. Highways have walk overs, every town is connected by trails and even towns have sidewalks (something sorely missing where we live in Liberty Twp, Ohio). About the only thing missing were government designated and regulated air-routes for drone flying — but give them time! #sarcasm (that’s me above flying Drew’s quadrotor … FUN!!!)

The AFTERNOON:

Lucky I guess, but it just happened that our FIRST place Cleveland Indians were in town playing the Minnesota Twins … so off we went to downtown Minneapolis with special event tickets Katelyn was able to finagle through her Wayzata Children’s Clinic & local hospital connection — what a treat! To top it off … the Indians won the game handily.

Since we were at an afternoon game, that left us with time to swing past the BRAND new USBank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings and host to Superbowl LLII on February 4, 2018.  It is a beautiful “ship” ??? — looks kind of like one.

See part 3 … Friday.

Category: Personal, Photos, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: brenda, drew, family, indians, justin, katelyn, keity, minnesota, trip, twins, wayzata