Easy to see why most fear snakebites – BBC slow-motion #Video
Posted By RichC on February 27, 2016
Pretty impressive Puff Adder strike in slow motion … those are some fangs (video below).
And then there were five: Yup, another GOP Debate
Posted By RichC on February 26, 2016
The Republicans are going through a slugfest this year in part due to having such a large field of candidates to whittle down. Just a few months ago, the debates had 16 GOP hopefully, and yet according to pundits, five is still three too many (probably true if you are supporting any other candidate but the outsider Donald Trump). It has been an interesting political spectacle.
Thursday night’s CBS debate was in Texas and the focus on foreign policy. The delegate leader to this point is Donald Trump followed by Sen Ted Cruz and Sen Marco Rubio well behind. Bringing up the bottom with single digit percentage support are both Dr. Ben Carson and Gov John Kasich. Part of the winning strategy to this point is being a boisterous and braggadocious outsider … and Trump acts the part to a tee. Some think he knows exactly what he is doing.
Feb 25, 2016 CNN #GOPDebate:
Started at 8:30 – Both Rubio and Cruz tag teamed to try and bring down Republican front-runner Donald Trump as they hammered him on lack of substance (which is Trump’s Achilles heel). Illegal immigration was at the top of the agenda as the CNN, Telemundo and conservative talk show host took turns at asking questions. Rubio accused Trump of hiring illegal immigrants from Poland, saying “you’re only person on this stage that has ever been fined for hiring people to work on your projects illegally.” Trump replied, “I’ve hired tens of thousands of people over at my job. You’ve hired nobody. You’ve had nothing but problems with your credit cards, et cetera. So don’t tell me about that” he fumed at Marco Rubio. Then Rubio jabbed again, “He hired workers from Poland. And he had to pay a million dollars or so in a judgment.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson stayed largely on the sidelines while Rubio and Cruz traded blows. They both finally had a chance to answer a couple question. Carson squeezed 3 anwsers into on question and had the best line of the night with “can someone please attack me?” Kasich brought the most content and experience to the debate. He may have convinced those who don’t know him that he is qualified … probably too little too late?
Ted Cruz had a solid performance and probably held his own and kept his supportor. Good news for Trump as the non-Trump votes will continue to be split between the other candidates. Some are now talking that it is possible the Republicans will have a contested or brokereed convention.
Escaping for a minute while writing lunchtime Python scripts
Posted By RichC on February 25, 2016
The American Pi blog was due for an update (including on MyDesultoryBlog.com too!) and thought escaping for a minute to gaze into water and sky of the right color for this dreary February afternoon was a good idea. Why am I still in Cincinnati again?
Lost a few shingles due to high winds and a new roof
Posted By RichC on February 25, 2016
With the early springtime weather we have been having this February, and a new roof towards the end of last year, we lost a few shingles. It isn’t really a surprise since asphalt shingle need some hot sunny days in order to flex into position and tack themselves to each other.
The recent winds came from the south and west and in turn took a few cap shingles off the gable ridgeline and loosen a few more on the south side. While doing the walk around, I also noticed a downspout loose and a call to my new roofer friend Josh Tirey and all was taken care of. One advantage of using a smaller local company that was a father now son business is that they are better as standing behind their work.
Elections are serious … but we can still have a little fun
Posted By RichC on February 24, 2016
See: Silvertoons.com
Great idea for storing your flip-flops when sailing
Posted By RichC on February 24, 2016
I’m always looking for better ways to store things on the boat … Kelley Gudahl shared a few things they do on her Sailing Chance blog … so figured I would archive them.
First the flip-flop storage idea really caught my eye since we always have them sliding around the cockpit floor. There’s not that much space on either side of the steps leading up the companionway, but I could probably rig a bungee in the cockpit?
What are you reading: A few saved February 2016 articles
Posted By RichC on February 23, 2016
Winter weekends (even warm ones) present an opportunity to catch up on a pile of articles collected during the week. These are one that aren’t necessarily timely or are “required” reading based on the news of the day. Those who know me, know that I’ve enjoyed a few minutes each morning leafing though the Wall Street Journal for decades … and still enjoy the newsPAPER version, although am slowly moving to the iPad reader app (especially if the paper doesn’t arrive before I leave the house … a problem lately).
I’ve pick three of my favorites from last week and will give Evernote clipping and sharing service a try (but you really should consider subscribing to the WSJ!):
- The Young and Economically Clueless (opinion)
- Inflation Is Now at the Fed’s Service (Heard on the Street)
- Making the Great Leap (book review)
Book: Restless Creatures by Matt Wilkinson
Most of us never think about how we get from one place to another. For most people, putting one foot in front of the other requires no thought at all. Yet the fact that we and other species are able to do so is one of the great triumphs of evolution. To truly understand how life evolved on Earth, it is crucial to understand movement. Restless Creatures makes the bold new argument that the true story of evolution is the story of locomotion, from the first stirrings of bacteria to the amazing feats of Olympic athletes.
By retracing the four-billion-year history of locomotion, evolutionary biologist Matt Wilkinson shows how the physical challenges of moving from place to place—when coupled with the implacable logic of natural selection—offer a uniquely powerful means of illuminating the living world. Whales and dolphins look like fish because they have been molded by the constraints of underwater locomotion. The unbending physical needs of flight have brought bats, birds, and pterodactyls to strikingly similar anatomies. Movement explains why we have opposable thumbs, why moving can make us feel good, how fish fins became limbs, and even why—classic fiction notwithstanding—there are no flying monkeys nor animals with wheels. Even plants aren’t immune from locomotion’s long reach: their seeds, pollen, and very form are all determined by their aptitude to disperse.
From sprinting cheetah to spinning maple fruit, soaring albatross to burrowing worm, crawling amoeba to running human—all are the way they are because of how they move. There is a famous saying: “nothing in biology makes sense unless in the light of evolution.” As Wilkinson makes clear: little makes sense unless in the light of locomotion. A powerful yet accessible work of evolutionary biology, Restless Creatures is the essential guide for understanding how life on Earth was shaped by the simple need to move from point A to point B.
An amazing wave and impressive ride #surfing
Posted By RichC on February 22, 2016
The 2016 Daytona 500 thrilled even this casual NASCAR fan
Posted By RichC on February 22, 2016
Ah … the good ol’ days on Daytona Beach Florida (1958 above) … well before I was born BTW!
Last week was SpeedWeeks culminating in the Daytona 500 on Sunday. The biggest NASCAR race was enjoyed by millions of viewers and did not disappoint. The restrictor plate race was tighter than ever and had the leaders drafting and bumping their way in the last quarter lap. Denny Hamlin bumped touched the rear of the blocking leader Matt Kenseth and then inching by Martin Truex after “side-drafting” for the photo finish. What a terrific way for lovers of NASCAR to have their 2016 season begin – LINK. (big win for Toyota too!)
The bench top drill press holds bits and drills straight
Posted By RichC on February 21, 2016
The new Jacobs Chuck for the bench top drill press arrived this weekend and although I didn't have any pressing projects, decided to dril a few holes anyway. The quality wasn't bad for $20 and although its not a smooth ball bearing chuck, 
it made a perfect replacement for my dad's small Delta drill press.
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.