My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on September 13, 2014

What do Minnesotans (and a few others) know that Ohio drivers haven’t figured out yet? They realized that the “Zipper Merge” is better than the polite “Early Merge.”

According to traffic experts, the “Zipper Merge” reduces construction congestion, improves highway speeds in work zones and helps to reduce accidents (Sue Groth, MnDOT traffic safety and technology director). Read the MnDOT link or check out their YouTube video below and see if you agree.

Category: Automotive, Video | No Comments »
Tags: DOT, driving, merge, merging, minnesota, zipper

Posted By RichC on September 12, 2014

While waiting on the discount cellphone carrier Ting (my daughter’s referral) to welcome my Sprint-based iPhone 5s, I’m also weighing Sprint’s new promos (iPhone for life, etc). Since Ting is only approved as a month-to-month reseller for non-current iPhone models, switching to them requires waiting a few more days or weeks until my second-hand “s” model is approved for the switch (Brenda’s iPhone5 is already ok). The current Sprint announcements are suppose to keep them competitive with not only the cheaper resellers (like Ting), but the offerings coming from the big boys. I’ve heard that Verizon will be giving away the iPhone6 with a trade-in and 2-year contract and no doubt AT&T will be offering something within a few days too (CNN plans/prices compared article). Walmart has already announced that they will be selling the iPhone 6 and 6 plus for $20 less than Apple – $179 with a contract.

As a gadget lover, I’d like the new iPhone 6 or 6 plus … and probably would mind the AppleWatch either, but let’s be real, there are other places to spend money. Frankly I’d like to move away from the monthly bills as I begin to think about how to manage cash flow considering in a decade or so I need to be thinking fixed income and retirement (gulp). It’s never too early to figure out what technology is really worth paying for in monthly bill. Cellphones, Internet access, cable and excessive utilities are all areas I’d like to cut. For years I’ve had multiple lines on our family wireless plan (kids, parents, etc) … and in this past year, we are finally down to just two of us on a cellphone plan. That’s the good news … but the bad news is that we’re still spending $113/mo for our two phones on the Sprint Framily Plan. I know we’re better than some but far worse than others … and both have out of contract phones that we like.

Enter our plan to switch to Ting … but only hearing positive reports from my daughter as to where here monthly bill really ended up and if she noticed any difference in service from our Sprint plan. She made the change in August after porting her phone from our plan and taking advantage of Ting’s offer to help with the Early Termination Fee (ETF). So far she has been very pleased and her bill (under $40/mo) and sent me a “dashboard” screenshot (image right). The usage may be a little higher for me, although I have so many options for making VoIP outbound calls on my phone that minutes should not be an issue so as long as I’m connected to WiFi. Data use might be an issue, but again most of the time that we are doing anything bandwidth intensive it would be on WiFi. In fact a quick look at last months “Usage Summary” indicates that I was only at 700MB and Brenda about 100 … suggesting we can remain under the 1GB tier (below). As for text messages, our totals were under 500. After plugging in my numbers, the Ting bill should be nearly half that of Sprint – $54 plus taxes and surcharges (est $7). That’s over $600 saved each year.

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Financial, Personal, Technology | 1 Comment »
Tags: at&t, carrier, Cellphone, iphone, sprint, techfriday, ting, verizon

Posted By RichC on September 11, 2014

While thinking about those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 in 2014, I thought about symbols of strength and endurance that are highlighted in displays at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. One such unseen design element was that of underground “slurry walls” built in 1964. Thanks to the engineers and architects who designed the base for the World Trade Towers, many lives and definitely more devastation was prevented. While reading, one realizes just how close New York City came to having the Hudson River flood, not only the Twin Towers site, but possibly much of lower Manhattan including the subway lines. Because so much of NYC is underground, sophisticated plans were created prior to building the World Trade complex. In the design, a “slurry wall” was trenched and cabled to bedrock up to 80 feet under the ground. In some areas the “special powdered clay containing bentonite trucked from Wyoming”  had to be worked around the 100 year old subway tunnels. This “slurry” was saturated with water and applied to the walls of the excavated trench and reinforced with concrete to create a waterproof barrier … purposed to hold back the Hudson River. This 3 foot thick underground wall encircled the basement of the towers and “stretched for 3,500 feet.” (LINK)

As the 9/11 Memorial Museum FAQ states:

Had it breached, lower Manhattan and the subway lines that run through it might have been flooded, and the destruction could have been even more unimaginable. In the original master plan for the new World Trade Center, architect Daniel Libeskind felt that the slurry wall, in its ability to withstand the forces of destruction, itself had become a symbol of the strength and endurance of our country and its foundational values.

Category: History, Misc | 1 Comment »
Tags: 9/11, memorial, museum, slurry wall, twin towers, world trade center

Posted By RichC on September 10, 2014

Mention Great White, Tiger and Hammerhead to most people at the beach and they will usually bristle with concern or at least know you are talking about “dangerous” sharks. Mention the Bull Shark and NOT many realize that IF the minuscule chance of a shark attacked occurred, the Bull Shark would very likely be the offender at many popular U.S. beaches.

I haven’t made a count this summer, but I would venture a guess that most of the stories about shark bites were associated with the Bull Shark … just as was the report the other day at the west end of Dauphin Island, Alabama. A more aggressive specie? Brackish waters? Or just their numbers and proximity to man?

Here’s what National Geographic concludes:

Bull sharks are aggressive, common, and usually live near high-population areas like tropical shorelines. They are not bothered by brackish and freshwater, and even venture far inland via rivers and tributaries.

Because of these characteristics, many experts consider bull sharks to be the most dangerous sharks in the world. Historically, they are joined by their more famous cousins, great whites and tiger sharks, as the three species most likely to attack humans.

Bull sharks get their name from their short, blunt snout, as well as their pugnacious disposition and a tendency to head-butt their prey before attacking. They are medium-size sharks, with thick, stout bodies and long pectoral fins. They are gray on top and white below, and the fins have dark tips, particularly on young bull sharks.

They are found cruising the shallow, warm waters of all the world’s oceans. Fast, agile predators, they will eat almost anything they see, including fish, dolphins, and even other sharks. Humans are not, per se, on their menus. However, they frequent the turbid waters of estuaries and bays, and often attack people inadvertently or out of curiosity.

Bull sharks currently are not threatened or endangered. However, they are fished widely for their meat, hides, and oils, and their numbers are likely shrinking. One study has found that their average lengths have declined significantly over the past few decades.

Category: Environment, Nature | No Comments »
Tags: attack, bites, bull shark, fishing, ocean, sharks, sharkshares, surf

Posted By RichC on September 9, 2014

Tim Cook lead another #AppleEvent in the age of social media and I both watched and "tweeted" along with the tech interested across the country and world. The event was "as expected" in that Apple launched the new iPhone6 and 6plus … larger phones. They will be offering up their new iOS8 on September 19th for all devices (free) and a new option for the NFC AppleWallet for their "new iPhone6 models." (see my question/comment below)

The final product was the AppleWatch … which initially looked a little "squareish" to me, but seems very functional especially considering it functions as an AppleWallet. At this point $AAPL traded up just over $103/share, but inched down after it was noted that the Watch is used pared with an iPhone (but can be used with the iPhone 5 and up). Unfortunately for shareholders, the stock has moved below the day’s opening price and is back to "flat" at 3:30PM. It does look to be following the pattern for past AppleEvents in closing down after product announcements (although "flat" is currently better than past events).

My  Question: If the AppleWatch can be paired with both the iPhone 5s and 6s, will the AppleWallet function on the AppleWatch when paired with the older iPhone 5 and 5s?

===

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Computer, Financial, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: aapl, apple, appleevent, applewallet, applewatch, iphone6

Posted By RichC on September 9, 2014

This content is restricted.

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Computer, Financial, Music, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: aapl, apple, investing, iphone, mp3, press conference, tim cook

Posted By RichC on September 9, 2014

Tavurvur is an active volcano and the current eruption on August 29, 2014 sent ash clouds into the atmosphere disrupting flights to Australia. Rabaul residents have been advised to remain indoor to avoid ash. The video demonstrates the power within our planet and the silent danger when and where pressures are released. We humans seem pretty small considering the power (and splendor) displayed by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions.

In 1937, Tavurvur and another nearby volcano, Vulcan, erupted, killing 508 people. On October 7, 2006 the volcano erupted again, and an initial blast shattered windows up to 12 kilometers away and sent an ash plume 18 km into the stratosphere.

Tavurvur is located on the Papua New Guinea map below near Rabaul.

Category: Nature, Travel, Video | No Comments »
Tags: papua new guinea, rabaul, south pacific, volcano

Posted By RichC on September 8, 2014

New York Times auto guy Lawrence Ulrich seemed to be please with Volkswagen’s new 2015 Golf TDI …

But no crossover, and no hybrid for that matter, can do what I managed in the new diesel-power Golf TDI: 60.6 miles per gallon over 75 highway miles along the Jersey Shore. That’s my personal highway m.p.g. record for any American-market car I’ve tested, including the Toyota Prius.

…

Diesel Golfs come only with four doors, though every trim level offers a manual transmission. VW’s diesel brigades will notice that the least-expensive TDI S starts $3,000 less than its predecessor, at $22,815. That rises quickly to $26,315 for the TDI SE and $28,815 for the TDI SEL. For every diesel version, add $1,100 for the dual-clutch DSG automatic.

Entire article

Thanks for the “heads-up” link Charlie.

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: 2015, diesel, golf, tdi, volkswagen, vw

Posted By RichC on September 8, 2014

It is not that I’m thinking about replacing my 2006 Honda Pilot just yet, but I was curious this past weekend if the “slightly aggressive” Meguiars polishing compound I used on the old Mercedes-Benz 300D would help return a shine and more importantly remove a few scratches on the Pilot. It definitely improved the shine and after a little light Carnauba wax, looks good … but the deeper scratches are still noticeable. While buffing the paint, I also took the time to touch up a few stone chips on the lip of the hood (hard to avoid).  All in all the 6 hours spent buffing is hard to justify, but it might attract a buyer looking for reliable and low maintenance Honda Pilot “appliance” someday?

Now if I can find a little advice on repairing leather seat seam split, the car will be as good as new. It definitely not bad for a car with almost 200,000 miles!

Category: Automotive | No Comments »
Tags: buffing, honda, meguiars, pilot, polish, rubbing compound

Posted By RichC on September 7, 2014

Most of us see a few posts or images that seem interesting, thought provoking or just surprising. The Desultory tidbit title is a way to toss those collect bits into a miscellaneous post. This week a “size of Africa” map caught my attention as did an post titled “Money can by happiness” in The Economist.

A final photo that had me thinking and tweeting about union labor in the United States made me realized just how difficult life was for some “working” American children before the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (and 3rd world children today). To the credit of Labor Unions, conditions are much better for workers in today’s United States than they once were, but today’s unions are no longer combating the same conditions, wages or benefits. Unions needs to maintain their oversight, but return a few of the wasted dues to workers and both rise and fall based on membership by choice (Right to Work).

Category: Misc, Photos, Tidbits | 1 Comment »
Tags: africa, desultorytidbits, graph, graphic, labor, satifaction, union