My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on March 19, 2014

It’s a big day for Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen as she took the stage and continued a third wave of tapering of the Federal Reserve’s bond buying program. Not that any of this was unexpected, but it an indication that the Fed sees the economy improving and is slowly removing the nation’s fiscal training wheels (its embarrassing, really). Hopefully we’ll see continued improvement in both economic growth and in the unemployment numbers … which has historically been Yellen’s number one priority. Today, she detailed “her deep concern about unemployment far more than she expressed an eagerness to raise interest rates.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was largely flat ahead of the statement, tumbled by as much as 200 points in the hours that followed, then ended down about 114 points.

On a follow up note, I do tend to be partisan when it comes to liberal appointments to powerful positions, but I’d like to give Yellen the benefit of the doubt, even if philosophically there are differences. She is supremely qualified and probably one of the more capable Fed chairs “on paper” and was a reasonable choice considering President Obama’s leanings. Before my right colleagues attack me for my softness, I’ve just finished a excellent and enlightening eBook assembled by the WSJ called Yellen and The Fed.

If you are interested, check with Jon Hilsenrath to see if he’ll send a link for a free download.

Category: Books, Financial, News | No Comments »
Tags: ebook, economy, fed, Politics, wsj, yellen

Posted By RichC on March 18, 2014

In wrapping up the “work trip” (cough, cough) down to Florida … I figured the trip would not be complete without at least a walk on the beach. Sunday afternoon sunshine made a good excuse to see how the sand felt on my feet – nice (panorama with the iPhone 5 above – click for larger … I’m still impressed at what a cellphone camera can do nowadays).

One of best parts about being at the boat is being able to spend a little time with my friends Mark and Dar. We enjoyed lunch together and time just catching up sitting in the cockpit. Dar’s eyesight after her stroke is improving, but still a long way from back to normal. It has improved enough that she even spotted a wasp building a nest in our bimini … something I missed when opening up and cleaning the decks. The had a nice bosun’s chair (used for going up the mast) and gave it to me so I could retire my 1982 homemade 2 x 6 model I used on Brenich when I was young and stupid (photo right).

On my final day I drove down to Delray Beach in order to show my mother-in-laws condo to prospective renters for next winter. It doesn’t look as if she is going to be able to stay alone or wants too, so perhaps offsetting the maintenance by renting January – March is a good thing. We all are getting older and change is inevitable. So glad that Fran and Fred had 20 years to enjoy their places together.

Category: Cellphone, Personal, Photos, Sailing, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: beach, condo, condo1718, encore, florida, iphone5, panorama

Posted By RichC on March 17, 2014

Above is an iPhone panorama photo of the aft of Encore but it was so distorted that I had to try and tweak it in Photoshop. Better than it was, but still a quirky perspective.

The fenders used to keep boats from bumping together or into docks and pilings take abuse and get pretty weathered. They are usually white and get black mold (I assume) and very grungy looking … sometimes even sticky.  If I were smart, I’d buy dark colored fender covers (cloth that covers and can be washed) and even keep the scuff marks from appearing on the side of the hull … obviously I’m not smart or just too cheap. Anyway my point is that Dawn Dish soap which cut grease better than most other soaps seems to do a pretty good job with the newer fenders … give it a try if you are looking for something (I also soak the lines in the detergent bucket … trying not to beach too much)

As usual, I rented a Ford Focus again (below) and this time got a brand spanking new one. It is nice to rent a car with that new car smell.

Category: Advice, Sailing, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: encore, fenders, florida, rental cars

Posted By RichC on March 16, 2014

The to-do list for today listed the 12 volt LNG Propane gas switch, detector and solenoid diagnosis for the stove and oven aboard Encore. I almost ordered a new solenoid before the trip, but am glad I held off. Seems the weak link in the circuit is the detector/horn (top right) and has unfortunately been re-engineered by Trident Marine. I’m sending an email for advice but like most out of date components, suspect they’ll want me to install a new setup?

For now, I’m glad the solenoid still works so I’ve disconnected the gas detector … let’s just hope we don’t go BOOM! We’ll see.

Category: Sailing | 1 Comment »
Tags: encore, propane, solenoid, trident

Posted By RichC on March 16, 2014

Saw this cute story about a problem and laughed at the creative solution.

According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington recently was faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night, the maintenance man would remove them and the next day, the girls would put them back. Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror. There are teachers, and then there are educators…

Category: Education, Humor | 2 Comments »
Tags: Humor, lipstick, school

Posted By RichC on March 15, 2014

One would think that with me aboard working on a variety of projects this weekend that the fish eating Osprey would leave me alone? Unfortunately he or she has decided that a clean boat is a target (just finished washing down).

Besides the bird bombing mess, my instrument upgrade did not go as planned. Unfortunately the information I was told regarding being able to use my old depth transducer with the used Raymarine ST60+ was false. I’m now suspecting that the existing transducer is 210khz and the Raymarine is 200khz? At least that is what I am hoping since I ordered a new in-hull transducer that I’m hoping will work. It’s never easy.

Category: Nature, Sailing | No Comments »
Tags: bird, bomb, encore, osprey, raymarine, transducer

Posted By RichC on March 14, 2014

Just another plug for Freedompop’s LTE wireless access; it is  providing better wifi access than public hotspots and even Time Warner Cable at home.

Category: Advice, Computer, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: freedompop, internet, wireless

Posted By RichC on March 14, 2014

Although I know spring is around the corner, the Florida sunshine is nice, although I can’t say I felt much of it today as the temps were mid-60s and I spend the afternoon with my head buried below decks working on electrical gremlins – with some success I might add.

Tomorrow the plan is to address the depth and transducer issues with the goal of not having to pull the boat out of the water just to pop out two of my three transducers. I’m hoping that the used Raymarine ST60+ displays I purchased will talk to my Navman  items and that I can figure out how to rewire the depth transducer.

I had the electric panel out today and as you can see there has been a few changed made over the years … and yes I also added another circuit for a soon to talk about project. One of these days I’m going to have to address the questionable panel.

Category: Personal, Photos, Sailing | No Comments »
Tags: encore, instruments, navman, raymarine, sailboat

Posted By RichC on March 12, 2014

I keep thinking that something has got to give in Washington DC when it comes to the how the Obama administration and many in congress bog down the greatness of our country. The  lack of an economic recovery is hurting the middle class and there isn’t a commonsense reason for it. Take the debate over energy. We drive cars, heat our homes and generate electricity for everything from light to industry, yet regulations, red tape and politics hamstring the companies which explore, extract, transport and refine our nation’s natural resources. It is costing every American in higher prices and decent jobs … not just in the energy sector, but the economic expansion that occurs when companies expand here rather than overseas. We don’t need to borrow trillions of dollars for additional impotent government stimulus packages.

Events in the Ukraine and an all-night “hot-air” talkathon by Democrats in congress have brought energy back to the front burner again. Europe is so reliant on natural gas exported through the Ukraine that they find it difficult to unite with economic sanctions against Russia’s annexation of Crimea … while in the U.S. we sit on an abundance of extraordinarily clean burning natural gas which face constant roadblocks based on political alliances.

The Keystone Pipeline is another ridiculous argument. I’ve been to Alberta where shale oil is being extracted (yes it is ugly) and to North Dakota where the landscape is dotted mile after mile with new oil and gas well. This energy will be used, whether today or tomorrow, and by us or someone else. It needs to be moved and what better way to do it than a pipeline? If the environmentalist goal is to protect the world in which we live, the pipeline is by far the safer and more efficient method to do this. Last year, I witness – truck after truck lining the roads heading south from Williston, ND. Train tankcar after tankcar is being being loaded and unloaded. In my opinion, doing it this way is just an environmental accident just waiting to happen.

Do people really think the world is going to stop using fossil fuels today … or in the next decade? Transporting by this method is so inefficient that Canada may just as well ship it across the Rockies and put it on tanker ship to China – do you think they are environmentally conscientious? If you’re really an environmentalist, support the pipeline and continue the good fight in developing alternatives that can sensibly and economically replace fossil fuels.

T. Boone Pickens was short and to the point Tuesday morning on CNBC’s Squawkbox (video below).

Category: Energy, Environment, News, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: cnbc, congress, energy, keystone, oil, pickens, pipeline

Posted By RichC on March 11, 2014

With today’s temperatures in the 70’s, I can help but start thinking about longer days and warmer evening. Ah … it will be nice to put this winter behind us. Tuesday afternoon is sunny and down right warm.

Unfortunately the weatherman says not so fast Ke-mo sah-bee (remembering The Lone Ranger). Maybe it is spelled Kemosabe or Kee-Mo Sah-Bee according to a quick Internet search?Interesting, the Ojibwe Native American word is “giimoozaabi” which in English translates to “scout.” 

Category: Weather | No Comments »
Tags: spring, tonto, weather