Seamanship: Few people can handle a dinghy like this …
Posted By RichC on October 9, 2015
SEAMANSHIP: The art and skill of boat handling, ranging from maintenance and repairs to piloting, sail handling, marlinespike work and rigging.
Music: Another day, another song. All for You – Sister Hazel
Posted By RichC on October 8, 2015
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Music: Run-Around from the 90s by Blues Traveler
Posted By RichC on October 7, 2015
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The Elio P5 prototype is fitted for the new engine
Posted By RichC on October 6, 2015
Since I’m “all in” with a “spot in line” to purchase an Elio, it has me focused on following the progress towards building a production vehicle. I’m skeptical that this new company can achieve the high bar they have set (especially the $6800 price), but I’m enjoying the ride with them.
This week a few photos of the new engine being fitted in the next P5 prototype was shared. In order to achieve their ambitious goal of achieving 84 mpg, Paul Elio and his team determined that there was “no current engine technology on the market that would meet the company’s needs” and necessitated an engine be engineered and built just for this vehicle. Keep the progress coming.
Unfortunately I’ve had Tootsie’s age wrong all these years
Posted By RichC on October 5, 2015
According to my records, we call October 5th Tootsie’s birthday … so Happy Birthday to “this man’s” best friend. It is possible to be off a few days when knowing a dogs birthday, but unfortunately I’ve had her age off for several years now – she is 17 (again)! Whoops … I added a year, but what a cutie our Australian Cattle Dog is, both when we got her (above right) and to this day (above left).
We know the years are fewer as at some point, dogs like people, don’t live forever. We are thankful she has been with us for 17 years and has been healthy her entire life. I am doing my best to make her last few years as comfortable as possible as her age is showing. Her spunk is no longer what is was when she was young (video clip below), her hips hurt, her hearing gone – been gone (genetic issue for Australian Cattle Dogs) — and her eyesight is pretty lousy.
Home video clips from pre-2000
Bosch Dishwasher Recall – US and Canada
Posted By RichC on October 3, 2015
Wouldn’t you know … ours!
On October 1, 2015 BSH Home Appliances Corporation, the manufacturer of Bosch® dishwashers, voluntarily agreed, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada to conduct a recall to replace the power cords on certain models of Bosch brand dishwashers. The Bosch brand dishwashers were manufactured from January 2008 through December 2013 and sold through appliance and specialty retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
Please read this notice carefully and enter your model and serial numbers below to determine if your dishwasher is affected or to register for the free repair.
Affected Model and Serial Numbers PDF
Source: Bosch Support
TechFriday: Apple filed patent for a smart ring device
Posted By RichC on October 2, 2015
What do you think??? I think I need thicker reading glasses. 
Apple could be developing a new wearable device even smaller than the Apple Watch: an Apple ring.
That is, if a recently filed patent leads to an actual product.
The ring, which could be made with or without a touch display, would be linked to a larger device such as an iPhone, according to the patent filing.
The U.S. eastern seaboard keeps a leery eye on Joaquin
Posted By RichC on October 2, 2015
Projection are currently up and down the east coast of the United States (and offshore) for Hurricane Joaquin’s path, but most models have it turning north and gaining speed. As of posting this on October 1st, the storm is a category 4 and pounding the Bahamas with rain. It is moving slow and expected to reach peak wind intensity over the next couple of days. Hopefully it will remain offshore until it weakens (or forever), but many models have it coming ashore up near New Jersey and Long Island … triggering not so distant memories of Superstorm Sandy. Yikes!
A lack of foreign policy experience and a portrait of weakness
Posted By RichC on October 1, 2015
The world around us is degrading into chaos as Russian “tough guy” President Vladimir Putin sent his militarily into the middle east and has quickly backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against the supposedly the terrorist group ISIL/ISIS who is aggressively building their Caliphate and the American backed pro-western rebels (well, maybe … but who really knows?). The entire diplomatic sideshow by the Obama administration which has been lingering on for well over a year has turned into a fiasco. The U.S. leaders not only looks feckless (as Sen John McCain would say), but have our allies around the world wondering if we would even defend them? Is it possible our intelligence service and military has been caught as off-guard again (as pre-9/11) considering we haven’t been able to secure any previous gains successfully. It was pretty obvious after the testimony of General Lloyd Austin to congress that our $500 million training program is a complete waste of taxpayer dollars – “told congress that only 4 or 5 of the first 54 U.S. trained moderate Syrian fighters remain in the fight.” For those willing to open their eyes, the foreign policy failure is transparent –President Obama and the advisors he chooses to surround himself with and listen to are incompetent. If there is one trait the next president must have, it is a solid grasp of foreign policy.
Thankfully life in my small world is improving. My wife is healing from her injuries and surgery and has been cleared to work by the middle of the month AND my brother and I are making inroads with my dad’s affairs after the memorial service in August. We are taking it slow, but have most thing under control. Thankfully we are in agreement on how to proceed 
(always helpful).
On the downside, work is light for autumn (generally busier) and both the economy and financial markets are struggling. My conservative dividend paying energy stocks remain depressed … and my speculative holding in Twitter ($TWTR) are down 7.5% as of mid-day today. Some thought that after yesterday’s pop on the rumor interim chief executive Jack Dorsey would be the new permanent CEO that the company could move forward off of its low of the year??? I guess not … but then Apple ($AAPL) not looking all that great either and they are profitable. After fearing bonds as the Fed hints at a rate increase, watching oil and other commodities drop along with precious metals, the conclusion is there there really isn’t a safe place to invest – trading for short term gains seems to be the only option?
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.