Update Benny bring WordPress 4.0 to MyDesultoryBlog
Posted By RichC on September 5, 2014
Now running WordPress 4.0, “Benny” (for Benny Goodman) … send me a message if there is a problem on my site.
Next week is a make or break moment for Apple CEO Tim Cook
Posted By RichC on September 5, 2014
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook had a rough week on Wall Street as investors seemed a bit nervous ahead of next week’s “product offensive.” The tech giant will announce their updated iPhone 6 which will at minimum have a larger screen (rumored photo right). Secretly I’m more interested in what the operation software might bring to make “all” mobile devices more useable. MacRumors also hints at a new iPad Air that could be coming (probably later in the fall) that will be thinner and offer the fingerprint reader (security and purchases).
Another missing and much rumored gadget is a wearable device. Analysts anticipate the iWatch in a usable form, but it is hard to tell. Most want a small, lightweight devices with extended battery life that interfaces with iDevices. I’m not sure how “productive” an iWatch would be, but then we’ve all purchased fashion accessories that serve little purpose for far more money. 
Probably the biggest unknown is whether Apple will introduce a secure mobile payment system utilizing their iPhone … that would be a big deal.
MarketWatch has been watching and reporting as well … and Apple’s competitors are not taking the 9/9/2014 product release resting on their laurels.
The company is facing stiffer competition from the likes of Samsung and Google in a fast-evolving mobile market. Cook has responded by taking a more combative and aggressive posture. At Apple’s developer conference, he poked fun at Google (GOOG), whose Android operating system is dominant in the mobile world.
"More than 130 million customers who bought an iOS device in last year bought their first Apple device," Cook said. "Many of them were switchers from Android. They bought an Android phone by mistake. And then sought a better life."
Bajarin, a veteran Silicon Valley analyst and Apple-watcher, noted the change, saying that while Cook had once been "rigid and mechanical," he has slowly become "more relaxed, more confident."
"I do believe that he has found his voice," he told MarketWatch. "He has transformed from a nuts and bolts operations guy to a true CEO figure."
Sleek and innovative gravity fed water saving faucet idea
Posted By RichC on September 4, 2014
Here’s an idea that came from one of those “pagination” oriented list sites … which has become the bane of Internet reading; I’m talking about those sites with multiple pages of photos or news sites requiring a bunch of page clicks in order to read an article – in my opinion the practice needs a social protest movement in order to stop it. Obviously the more clicks, the more profitable the website becomes, but it sure is a pain for readers. For my part, I refuse to participate 95% of the time.
That said, here was an interesting water saving idea posted on such a site (refuse to credit them) and promoted on Twitter (this water saving faucet concept would be great for the boat):
The sleek curve of this faucet makes you think it belongs on some gravity-controlled spaceship. In fact, there’s nothing futuristic or high tech about this faucet beyond it’s look. The 1limit faucet is just an elegant way to conserve water. The see-through glass tube of the faucet holds exactly 1 liter of water, which is supposed to be the amount of water one needs for a quick hand wash. The lever simply turns on or off, permitting or stopping the flow of water from the tube. Problem is, once you’ve used up the water you need to turn it off to refill the 2 liter tube.
Polyester rope for halyards is not suppose to be this stiff
Posted By RichC on September 3, 2014
One of the reasons, besides age and appearance, that I replaced the halyards on our sailboat this year was due to the stiffness of the double braided line. Here’s me holding up the line demonstrating just how “stiff” this old mainsail halyard was.
Question: Is there a way to find out what kind of rope this is; because the “core” material cut like steel … very tough stuff (just age and weather or was this a premium low-stretch line?)
The mighty little Bobcat and the talented operator
Posted By RichC on September 2, 2014
Since I’ve owned a variety of tractors and yard implements over the years with my favorite being the multi-function Bobcat branded skidsteer, I knew that I would want to share this little video gem (a friend shared on Facebook).
Looks like another wedding … congratulations Jackie and Ben!
Posted By RichC on September 1, 2014
The big news this Labor Day 2014 weekend was that my niece Jackie’s boyfriend Ben proposed her while on military leave. The announcement made for big excitement and the thought of another family wedding. Long time My Desultory Blog followers (those who follow the personal and family posts) might remember Jax from events like her high school graduation in 2007. My son’s big concern was that with his cousin receiving a ring, that “the torch has been passed.” Speaking of rings, Ben proposed with the ring her late father (Mark Howard) gave to her mother Lynda. Very nice.
Who doesn’t love a good end of summer shark video?
Posted By RichC on September 1, 2014
Here’s a “large, hungry” Hammerhead Shark feeding in the clear “shallow” waters in Destin Florida … as viewed from a balcony.
Roller furling headsail tips from Sailboat-Cruising.com
Posted By RichC on August 31, 2014
Archiving a great sailing tip from the sailboat-cruising.com website starting with a tip on how to adjust the jib sheet car when using a roller furling genoa:
Deck-sweeping genoas are not wonderful on a cruising boat if you’re at all interested in what’s going on ahead; nor do they work well with furling gear unless you’re happy to move the mainsheet traveler every time you adjust the furler.
It’s a geometry thing, the jib sheet must pull equally along the foot of the sail and the leech, or the shape of the sail will be distorted.
To check if you’ve got the jib sheet traveller in the correct position to achieve this, try luffing up while watching the tell-tales in the luff:~
● if the upper tell-tales break before the lower ones, then the jib sheet car is too far forward. ● if the lower tell-tales break before the upper ones, then the jib sheet car is too far aft.
● when all tell-tales break at the same time, then you’ve got the car in the right position.
Actually here’s another tip that I need to check on before re-rigging my roller furling headsail: Avoiding Roller Reefing Foul-Ups
Sunrises and Encore projects in Florida this past week
Posted By RichC on August 30, 2014
The past week had me on an enjoyable but quick trip to take care of a few sailboat maintenance items in Florida. The sails were re-stitched and needed to be picked up from South Sails as well as new halyards spliced and hoisted. Unfortunately the summer sun has been hard on every exposed part … and the humidity not all that kind inside, but what can a “commuter cruiser” do?
Figured I might as well save a couple sunrise memories since they were beautiful … I need a few more. 
While I’m archiving photos from the past week, I might as well include a couple more from future projects: 1) anti-siphon valve needs to be repaired or replaced (above) and 2) the diesel fuel tank needs to TLC and the fuel needs to be polished (cleaned and re-filtered (growth in the tank).
A third project is to address my lack of a permanent 3) LED anchor/tri-color masthead light as well as replacing the bulb in my steaming light (not shown).
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.