My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on August 11, 2016

There are people who have the ability to communicate and can make "simple-sense" of the usually complicated economic issues facing our country. I’d like to believe that IF enough voters are willing to digest the three minutes of conversation below, that they would be less inclined to "dis" a business oriented pro-growth policy that is a win-win for all who want an improving America.

Andy Puzder, a once very  successful trial lawyer and now CEO — who saved CKE Restaurants and made them profitable (Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr), is one such guy. He was able to communicate a commonsense and simple message yesterday on Mornings with Maria – Fox Business. I wish those who have been struggling to improve their lot in life since the recession and have resisted pro-grow, business friendly solutions as a way to improve our economy, would at least recognize that the Obama/Clinton solutions of a bigger centralized government imposing more regulations, borrowing trillions and demanding higher taxes does not work. Why voters prefers slicing a shrinking pie into smaller and smaller pieces is beyond me? If the last 8 years have proven anything, it is that the current path we are on does not promote economic growth, create jobs, raise wages or improve conditions for the middle and lower class majority in our country. We need to wake up before it is too late.

MorningsMaria | Three minutes with Andy Puzder 8/10/2016

Category: Audio, Business, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: andy puzder, economy, foxbusiness, maria bartiromo, media, mp3, Politics, taxes

Posted By RichC on August 10, 2016

One of the great things about working with Digital Ocean is the ability to spin up a new droplet server based on a previously saved image/backups within a few minutes. Due to recent improvement of adding volumes in order to expand storage, currently only a couple of their data centers, I opted to image an older Linux server to a new datacenter supporting "volumes." The advantage is the addition of less expensive and "resizable as needed" data storage that works handily with their current platform. This makes a smaller and less expensive server ideal for archiving larger yet retrievable files. For my company’s purpose, this means my clients can have decades worth of previous printing archives only a click away for very little cost.

Digital Ocean is a great company and highly recommended for those who are comfortable spinning up their own cloud servers and has me rethinking my other cloud-based archiving … although Amazon’s S3 reliability, speed and value for the dollar is hard to beat.

Category: Archive, Business, Cloud, Computer, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: amazon s3, cloud, digitalocean, internet, server, speedtest, storage, volumes

Posted By RichC on August 9, 2016

There was a day, when all I wore for casual footwear were boat shoes … but Sperry Topsiders in particular (also athletic shoes of course ). In recent years I’ve opted for simple slip on sandals around house, pool and at the dock or if you preferred flip-flops … or if you go WAY back – thongs (see below) — this  was a term my mother used that embarrassed her grandkids. I have an older well worn pair with terribly slick treads that I keep on the boat, but after sliding one too many times on the dock, decided to replace with a pair of Sperry Baitfish Flip-Flops (photo front). This much improved version/brand has a deck shoe tread that I am hoping will be closer to my really sure footed "boat only" SeaRacer Sneakers. These new Sperry flip-flops have quickly become my preferred summer footwear "around the house" shoes and I hate to leave them aboard Encore. Maybe a second pair or a Christmas wish item … although my Keen Waimea H2 sandals with their special toe protection (photo rear) are still smartly designed, but clickity click (mp3), ugh!

For all around wear, I’m still going to slip on a pair of well broken in Sperry Topsider and updated insoles, but for everyday around the pool, patio and at the dock footwear, you can’t beat the quality of Sperry branded flip-flops.

Note: Usage in U.S., particularly Southern California. (Prior to 1980’s, perhaps later). Thong is exclusively footwear (sandal), not related to undergarments or bathing suits. The usage of thong as G-string (bathing suit or underwear) is post 1980’s? — Wiktionary Talk

See Wikipedia entry for thongs (footwear) or flip-flops

Category: Advice, Misc, Sailing, Shopping | 1 Comment »
Tags: boatshoe, boatshoes, flip-flops, insole, keen, shoes, sperry, thongs, topsider, topsiders

Posted By RichC on August 8, 2016

This content is restricted.

Category: Audio, Music | No Comments »
Tags: 1970s, album, jackson browne, mp3, Music, song, the pretender

Posted By RichC on August 7, 2016

Once again, the little Raspberry Pi 3 is running hotter than optimal for long life and performance. I’m adding the small heatsinks as with the first Pi3 which eventually failed to boot — exchanged under warranty BUT it was running consistently hot. I have purposely monitored and kept the case open (saves a few degrees) … but it still isn’t cooking like the ZDNet tests.

When not under load, the Pi’s CPU operates at 600MHz, increasing its speed to 1.2GHz when tasked with carrying out a heavyweight operation. Operating at this higher speed will begin to raise the temperature of the board and when it goes over 80C the Pi 3 will start to reduce its operating frequency in order to reduce the heat emitted by the CPU. Its speed is gradually reduced, dropping down to 600MHz if the board hits 85C or over.

The Pi 3 is based around a 64-bit processor, compared to the 32-bit CPU used in the Pi 2. The Pi 3’s processor is based on a newer architecture, the ARM Cortex A53, than that of the Pi 2’s processor, which is built around the ARM Cortex A7 core. This newer architecture is capable of carrying out more work per processor cycle. The Pi 3’s CPU is quad-core, like the Pi 2’s, but is faster – clocked at 1.2GHz, some 300 MHz higher than that of the Pi 2.

Source: No, your Raspberry Pi 3 won’t overheat in everyday use, says its creator | ZDNet

Category: Computer, Raspberry Pi, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: heatsink, micro server, raspberry pi, rpi3, zdnet

Posted By RichC on August 6, 2016

After years (30 years to be closer to the truth!!!) of comparing the best cellphones and carriers when it comes to device and service, I can finally say that I’m satisfied. Back in 2014, as our kids (and parents) moved on to their own plans, I switched our two iPhone5s to Ting. From day one they have done an excellent job as a ‘reseller’ carrier for our Sprint CDMA phones when it comes to customer service and pricing.

Yesterday the company announced that they would also be reducing data rates — very welcomed. If there was one bone left to pick, it would be that I still had to be focused on our data use each month … because even at $10/GB, it adds up fast. Thankfully we keep our joint use to under 2 GB most months due to the plethora of trusted Wi-Fi connections (traveling is the exception).

If you are thinking about a no-contract plan that bills you on the basis of how much you use each month, give Ting a try — using my referral link is also appreciated!

==> REFERRAL LINK  <==

Category: Advice, Cellphone, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: carriers, iphone, recommendation, referral, service, smartphone, sprint, ting

Posted By RichC on August 5, 2016

Sometimes there are things that seemed to be written just for me … like the response to a serious of questions posed to Mike Rowe. I can relate 100% to the want of a Crosman BB gun at the 9 year old mark (and dad was understanding, but mom was worried — a "worrywart" was she!).

The difference, ever so minor, was that my yearning was for a Crosman 760 Pumpmaster with bolt action … but it was Mike very creative Freudian misspelling which tickled my funnybone.

6. What’s the best present you ever received as a child?

When I was nine, I got a Crosman Arms M1 Air Rifle. It was just like the scene in “A Christmas Story,” except it was my birthday. My mother was worried I’d shoot my eye out, but my father overruled her. I’ve never felt so much excitement or anticipation as I did pulling that Crosman M1 Air Rifle from it’s long, cylindrical box and felt it’s comforting weight in my sweaty nine-year old palms. An hour later, I shot the tire swing in the back yard. The BB bounced back and hit me in the forehead, really hard. Scared the hell out me. I told my mother the red welt above my eye was a pimple.

7. What’s the best present you ever gave?

The day after I turned nine, I gave my little bother a Crosman Arms M1 Air Rifle. And wished him well.

https://t.co/T3pbO4T80E
Lisa who writes for @TownHall called and asked if I’d be willing to answer a few questions. pic.twitter.com/xknJ3adeQ0

— The Real Mike Rowe (@mikeroweworks) August 4, 2016

Category: Blogs, Misc, Personal | No Comments »
Tags: bb gun, crosman, firearms, mike rowe, momc, richc, worrywart

Posted By RichC on August 4, 2016

Brenda and I are SO excited for our daughter Katelyn and her husband Drew — they are having a baby (photo above “just a couple years ago”). They called us with the good news last week that they are expecting (considering both are doctors, I assume they are pretty sure). Katelyn has not been to see her OBGYN yet, but the home tests say that she is pregnant … and from her calculations, should put the due date about March in 2017.

I had to keep my mouth shut (and blog quiet) until they were together with the Oostra family this weekend in Michigan (and she was back to Minneapolis to tell her coworkers and friends), but now that the all clear has been signaled I’m free to smile and say “I’m going to be a grandfather.” From the happiness of friends and family who are already grandparents, it looks like it is even better than being a parent!  I CANNOT wait!!!!

 

Drew sent a couple photos (click for larger) from their Michigan trip last weekend (they took the nighttime ferry/ship across Lake Michigan on Friday night) and had a great time together with the Oostras.  Brenda’s comment after seeing the photos, “it is hard to tell if she is pregnant?”  Ha!  … we’ll be watching!

EDIT 8/1/2016:
I still can’t say anything BUT —  after the Monday OBGYN visit the due date has been calculated as March 9, 2017 — and they have Baby Oostra photos already!

Category: Archive, Memories, Personal, Photos | 4 Comments »
Tags: baby, drew, family, katelyn, oostra, pregnant

Posted By RichC on August 3, 2016

An online website project that I have the privilege to be involved with is GroupBibleStudy.com. My good friend Pastor Keith Thomas, a super nice guy and one of the more scholarly writers and teachers that I know, writes and teaches small group Bible studies from his home base in Cincinnati, Ohio. His online reach is far beyond that, which is fitting since he is from England and lived in Israel years ago (he still take a trip/tour back every spring if you are interested). His excellent Bible studies are available FREE as a PDF or DOC file download — so zero commitment or a "passing of the virtual offering plate" on his part. On the other hand, if you prefer DVDs and CDs, there is a small charge to offset the production and distribution cost — LINK.

A recent "refresh" of the ClustrMap for 2016 helps us eyeball where the hunger is for learning about Christianity … India!  In previous years, downloads and site visits outside the United States has primarily been from China, along with a few Arabic speaking countries (all with effective Christian censorship I might add). Recently, India has exploded in activity …  so we’ve started work on translating studies to Hindi. For those who are looking and praying for a mission field or just want to help other Christians spread the Gospel, India is currently an interested mission field.

Keith does not go out of his way to ask for donations in order to keep his ministry growing, instead he continues his writing and teaching knowing God has always provided, but I’ll gladly encourage those who read this to consider using the donate link on the GroupBibleStudy.com website. More importantly, visit his regular blog posts and use them as devotionals … or download some of the hundred studies and use them with your small group. On the ohter hand, maybe just keep the link handy and when someone ask you about your Christian faith write the GroupBibleStudy.com link inside the cover of a Bible and give it to them!

Category: Blogs, Faith | No Comments »
Tags: bible, christian, christianity, clustr map, groupbiblestudy, keith thomas, small groups, study