Posted By RichC on November 13, 2015
Our condolences to Dawn and family on the sudden passing of Rich. It sure came as a shock to us.
Richard E. Newsted, 58, of Liberty Township, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, November 5, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born on October 28, 1957 in Valparaiso, Indiana, the son …
Source: Richard NEWSTED’s Obituary on The Cincinnati Enquirer
Posted By RichC on November 12, 2015
Unfortunately distraction is way too normal for me … and while in the middle of cleaning out the garage/ workshop, I started working on a “man-corner” that I planned well before the term “man cave.” The initial goal was to clean up my variety of “junk” after finalizing Brenda’s mom and dad’s farmhouse … and now having to do the same for my dad’s stuff. It is wrong to leave so much work for my kids – there will be plenty anyway even if I purge!
One of the two stoves we heated our previous NE Ohio home in Hudson with has been stored in the garage for years with the idea of installing it for both heat and ambiance in my shop. The older I get, the less work I do so sitting around to read or talk is becoming more the norm … and a fire/stove will be just the ticket. I usually think “resale,” but in this case it is something for “me.” We’ll see how it move ahead this winter.
I did mention my new splitter in a earlier post with all the extra wood this year and a new woodstove project will be a great place to burn it … besides the outdoor fireplace we adding in 2007.
Posted By RichC on November 11, 2015
Posted By RichC on November 11, 2015
At exactly 11:11 a.m. every Veterans Day (Nov. 11), the sun aligns perfectly with the Anthem Veterans Memorial north of Phoenix, Arizona to shine through the ellipses of five marble pillars representing each branch of the Armed Forces. The desert sun illuminates The Great Seal of the United States in the shadow of the memorial. What an impressive tribute to all the men and women who serve to protect the citizens of the United States.
The first Veterans Day (Armistice Day):
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.
Posted By RichC on November 10, 2015
As a big fan of the Wall Street Journal and the FoxBusiness network, I’m looking forward to the next GOP debate tonight (9PM Tuesday 11/10/2015) and am hoping the moderators do a better job than last months CNBC hosted debate. I suspect Maria Bartiromo, Neil Cavuto and Gerard Baker will work particularly hard to avoid “gotcha” questions or ridiculing the candidates. Shamefully for CNBC. Hopefully they will be able to draw a few more details from the leading candidates regarding how they will govern, negotiate with congress to move the country forward and deal with our adversaries overseas (and at home).
There will also be an earlier 7:00PM showing with 4 second tier candidates – 3 governors and one senator: Christie, Huckabee, Jindal and Santorum. That one-hour debate will be moderated by Sandra Smith, Trish Regan and WSJ’s Gerald Seib.
I’m particularly fond of a tax overhaul and fiscal responsibility in Washington DC, but not confident that any “electable” candidate will be able to infiltrate the culture which rewards politicians who dole out entitlements, tax loopholes and promises benefiting their particular constituents. The system is broken. On the other hand, let’s not give up on a compromise in order to gain a little ground for the best interest of the whole.
I’m hoping moderators steer the conversation around the actual issues and avoids the personal attacks. It is bad enough when they come from candidates’ supporters, but really turns me off coming from the moderators and the candidates themselves.
The graphic above has to do with the “pop” in social media in the previous CNBC GOP debate. I think it is Twitter only, but indicates what kind of comment generates an public response from viewers … the Cruz blue spike was his chastising CNBCs’ moderators and the long stretch of red is a vocal base of Trump supporters. What will tonight bring?
Posted By RichC on November 9, 2015
I’m in “sync” with Alan Macey and the minority when he says, “we find joy in those fleeting moments between ratios; the crescendo of rpm, the gentle click of the gate, the building inertia in our chest as the drivetrain becomes whole again.” Let’s save the manual transmission!
No matter how tightly the clutch, stick-shift enthusiasts can’t reverse trend toward cars with automatic transmission.
Source: Do You Drive Stick? Fans of Manual Transmission Can’t Let Go
Posted By RichC on November 9, 2015
In November 2012, Salvador Alvarenga went fishing off the coast of Mexico. Two days later, a storm hit and he made a desperate SOS. It was the last anyone heard from him – for 438 days. This is his story
Posted By RichC on November 7, 2015
I took “Brenda’s” car on its first road trip this week without asking while making calls in NE Ohio – whoops?!?! It sure was an enjoyable car to drive … too bad it replaces her 1998 Toyota Rav4 and not my 2006 Honda Pilot.
Jealously aside, I was anxious to see just what kind of fuel economy this 2010 BMW X5 35d would return … finished the trip at about 24.8 according to the trip computer (will be checking the manual numbers on the next fill). So far it’s not going to hit 30 mpg, but “maybe” I’ll be able to figure out how to get it above 26 mpg (the top for my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel that I often drive in good weather) … but the driving performance is way better than I expected – nice!
Posted By RichC on November 6, 2015
It was an exciting night watching the Cincinnati Bengals host the Cleveland Browns on CBS's Thursday Night Football. We call it “the battle for Ohio” and the game pits my TWO home teams against each other (we lived 13 years in Cleveland). This year it is more important than ever for the Bengals as they are having a great season and the best start in their franchise history.
The game started with Cincinnati taking an early but only modest lead and going into the second half up by only 4 points. Still the Bengals looked better and relatively mistake free — their Achilles heel. By the end of the 3rd quarter, Cincinnati extended their lead by adding 3 more points with a combination of short passes and a solid running game.
Then we come to the 4th quarter … and the best team started to really shine. I felt bad for the Cleveland Browns and their fans as they really looked as they didn't belong on the same field. Both the offense and defense for Cincinnati dominated giving the Bengals another win keeping their season undefeated at 8-0. Final score was CIN 31 – CLE 10. On both sides of the ball, the Bengals look like they are for real this year.
Posted By RichC on November 5, 2015