My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on April 4, 2015

I watched several broadcasts from the new iOS app introduced this past week called Periscope. It enables iPhone/iPad users to broadcast live video to other “socially networked” viewers (Twitter) just as with the early competitor app MeerKat. Periscope differs slightly as it saves an archive for 24 hours or until deleted (not possible with MeerKat) … and maintains the comments within the app rather then into the Twitter stream. Perhaps an advantage might eventually be to control “who sees” the feed as users can limit their broadcast to select individuals. A few I talked to about these two apps have asked, “what good is this and why do I need it?” Most likely it’s the same question people asked when setting up a social networking account like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter … but to answer directly, it isn’t needed as far as I can tell at the moment, but it is very intriguing. Times they are a changin’ …

I think watching the astonishment from the talk radio/TV personality Glenn Beck after what he invested in his Texas studio had me realizing what was happening. He spent millions to set up his Internet broadcast setup and The BlazeTV  (and conservative news network) only to see how this really shortcuts distributing live content. The “Average Joe” is now able to share live breaking stories with a video feed “as events happen.” Imagine things we’ve yet to see?

Besides Periscope being a media disruptor (like Twitter and Facebook), these new live video apps will also be a way for speakers and musicians to show off their talent. I participated in a couple live sessions (MeerKat vs Periscope, Auto Show reveals and musical performances) noting just how much can be shared to a small or large group in real time. It is going to be hard to slow things down from here … and I can only imagine the kind of mischief celebrities, politicians … and under-aged kids are going to get into (lawsuits galore?) Yikes!

I was going to include an archived Periscope feed from @ezpcmusic but realized the time had passed and that there isn’t a way to embed the video … anyway, visualize a live one-man musical concert taking request sounding like Patrick Carroll’s YouTube channel.

Category: Music, Social Media, Technology, Video | No Comments »
Tags: broadcast, live, meerkat, Music, News, periscope, youtube

Posted By RichC on April 3, 2015

No matter which side of the political tug-of-war you are on when debating “marriage,” there is something distasteful about using ordinary people as political fodder. Crystal O’Connor was one such naive pawn used for divisive purposes as Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence tiptoed around modifying the Religious Freedom Restoration Act know as Senate Bill 568. The national media and LGBT activists highlighted O’Connor’s Christian opinions regarding “providing pizzas for a gay wedding” as the nation debated the freedom of religion, an individuals’ rights and what is discrimination when religious convictions clash with changing societal views.

O’Connor, the small town co-owner of Memories Pizza in Walkertown, Indiana was an easy target for a reporter working an angle as the RFRA debates flames were being fanned. With Christian crosses on her storefront windows and likely traditional small town values concerning marriage (which only a few years ago were shared by the overwhelming majority in America including President Obama), a reporter published O’Connors comments. The story as they say … grew legs … and a politically left leaning media salivated over O’Connor’s answer to the hypothetical question.

“We are a Christian establishment,” says O’Connor, “If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no.” 

I assume most journalists and news organization who reported on this story did not intend to hurt her or the  small town Memories Pizza business, but instead saw one more divisive news story — and perhaps as a way to advance a liberal cause (my wrong assumption)???  Unfortunately, Memories Pizza and O’Connor became more than just an ink-on-paper story and took an ugly turn with some targeting the pizza shop and owners.  Like it or not, the little pizza shop became the front line and something to shut down … or burned down if some are to be believed.

For those who practice their Christian faith and live these values in their lives beyond the four church walls on Sunday, the Indiana debate and Memories Pizza story became a line that should not be crossed. Conservatives took to social media and rallied support when they heard just how rattled this small town proprietor was after threats were hurled at her. A crowd-funded GoFundMe site was set up by Lawrence Jones III and supported by national talk show host Dana Loesch after Memories Pizza closed their doors … the support was/is amazing. As a Twitter friend Ted Skibinski commented to my Tweet: IMAGINE THAT >Leave it to Christian’s to HELP others & turn BAD into Great!

Category: Faith, News, Politics, Social Media | 2 Comments »
Tags: debate, gofundme, indiana, lgbt, marriage, pizza, rfra

Posted By RichC on April 3, 2015

Ok … so you’ve done your part and registered your phone numbers with the National Do Not Call List and you’ve done your best to keep phone numbers from undesirables … BUT you’re still getting annoying calls (and text messages!) Below is the new (1) iPhone (Settings>Phone>Blocking) method to block phone numbers from your smartphone and the old (2) method to semi-block those automated dialers that refuse to give up (older iOS and some other smartphones). 

1. iOS iPhone with Settings > Phone > Blocking

With the newer iOS there is a build in blocking feature enabling you to enter the contact or contacts that you want to block. Go to “Settings,” scroll down and select “Phone” then “Blocked” and enter your contact.

2. Add them to your contact with a “silent ring”

The phone number by number “blocking” technique has been around for a while and I’ve used both on my Palm phones (Samsung i500, Treo 700/700p and Pre) and current iPhones. The technique has been posted and reposted on a few blogs … and I have a few listed on my contact list — SPAM, Ignore, Marketing, etc. The list continues to grow and if I were to do it over again, I’d probably create “one” contact and list all the number under the contact name BLOCKED and only assign “silent ring” to that contact (right-click/save-as SilentRing.m4r and follow the instructions below).

Here’s how to add the Silent Ringtone to your phone:

1. Download a silent ringtone to your computer.
2. Open iTunes. Under LIBRARY on the left-hand menu in iTunes click TONES.
3. Copy the silent ringtone into TONES.
4. Connect your iPhone to the computer and sync (make sure Sync Tones is checked). The silent ringtone should now appear in your list of ringtones and you can assign this ringtone to specific contacts

Here’s how you assign the ringtone to the number you want to “Block”:

1. Open Phone App.
2. Go to RECENTS on your call list and click on the arrow to the right of the number for more options.
3. Select Create New Contact.*
4. Fill in the name field, I usually put SCAM or TELEMARKETER so I know at a quick glance in the future.
5. Select on the ringtone currently shown as Default.
6. Choose the SilentRing ringtone from the list.
7. Press the SAVE button.
8. Depending on your default settings you may also need to set Vibration to NONE.
9. Press the DONE button in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
10. Now when that number calls again you’ll see the call as SCAM (or whatever you entered) but it won’t ring.

Credit: davidmehary.com

Category: Cellphone, How-To | No Comments »
Tags: blocking, do not call, ios, iphone, smarphone, techfriday

Posted By RichC on April 2, 2015

If you are interested in or an alum, you’ll love visiting Miami University in this way …

Category: Archive, Education, Video | No Comments »
Tags: aerial, campus, drone, miami university, tour, youtube

Posted By RichC on April 2, 2015

One would think with a nisus to reflect on the good ol’ days more than I should … and as a long time photography buff (had my first darkroom when I was in 7th grade!) … that I would have been one of the first to participate in the Throwback Thursday trend? Nope … slow to the party, but better late than never, even iit I did include a couple #TBTs in 2014.

On my desk sits a favorite photo of my kids from a few years ago (sorry Brenda, you’re not in it). I can’t help but smile knowing that they are just as happy today as they were back in the 1990s. What great satisfaction there is knowing that we has parents did a pretty good job … and had a great time doing it! In case either Katelyn or Taylor stumble across this post … I love you guys!

Category: Personal, Photography, Photos, TBT | 2 Comments »
Tags: family, katelyn, photographs, richc, taylor, TBT

Posted By RichC on April 1, 2015

Watching the commodities today … particularly oil and precious metals. In the “classic risk off trade,” when stocks are selling off, gold rises (chart right – Business Insider).

Looking a little more down the road, investment banks who follow crude oil futures see the price on a slow rise after a weak winter and spring. A few bankers are predicting lower lows before a slow recovery (interesting chart below), likely due to excess inventory, abundant supply and weakness in world demand. So much for “peak oil.”

Category: Financial | 1 Comment »
Tags: commodities, investing, stocks, trading

Posted By RichC on April 1, 2015

For those of us who love diesels, the sweet sound of an old Mercedes Benz diesel idling is indeed a beautiful mechanical sound.

Below is a very short clip of my 1982 300D Turbodiesel waking up after the winter of 2015 hibernation. Really it is just a filler post since it is a busy week after a long weekend away … no foolin’.

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Category: Automotive, Diesel, Mercedes, Video | No Comments »
Tags: 300d, benz, diesel, mercedes, turbodiesel, W123, youtube

Posted By RichC on March 31, 2015

A large great white shark photographed by Greg Skomal off the Cape Islands on the Massachusetts coast. Hard to imagine a more intimidating killing machine.

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Category: Nature, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: cape islands, great white, photograph, shark, sharkshares

Posted By RichC on March 30, 2015

After the rain on Friday (above), the weather improve for a weekend finishing up a long drawn out engine work (plus a few other repairs) to Encore at the marina in Florida. The weather improved and was high 70s on Saturday and Sunday but with the north wind felt cooler in the shade.

I wasn't the only one in Fort Pierce (photo right)…

It's too bad there isn't a scheduled flight in and out of St Lucie International Airport in Fort Pierce, Florida … like Airforce One. Sure must me nice to schedule a golf weekend and have the 1st class trip paid for by taxpayers. On the other hand, it would be far more convenient to fly into FPR “if they had scheduled flights” than Orlando, West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale. Oh well, no complaints really!

Category: Aviation, Sailing, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: airforce one, airport, encore, florida, fort pierce, obama

Posted By RichC on March 29, 2015

It has long been known that the color of urine can give doctors a insight into a patients health. For most in our day to day lives, it is a good way to monitor IF we are drinking enough water.

Check out the info graphic below or the Cleveland Clinic Health Hub.

Category: Health | No Comments »
Tags: cleveland clinic, medical, urine