Posted By RichC on January 9, 2014
Don’t ask me why, but I’m going to update my old early 2007 Gateway NX570XL notebook computer with “another” new drive 
(I replace the drive once before with a larger HD when installing Windows 7 in 2010). This time I’ll go with a Kingston 240GB SSD.
I’ve been watching the SSD drives since Cyber Monday and have been tempted by the attractive prices and hopeful speed improvements. This week, a cheap NewEgg 120GB drive was being offered for $69-something with coupon, but was sold out before I could purchase (it was small anyway). The 240GB was “once again” available at the Cyber Monday $129.99 price so I bit. Most likely I would have been smarter to trash the whole bulky and slow notebook, but since a new Macbook Air or Windows ultrabook is not something I’ve budgeted for this winter or spring, I thought perhaps the improved speed from a SSD drive will keep me satisfied a bit longer … if I can clone my existing boot partition without too many issues? Yet to be seen.
Checking out the HowToGeek.com guide and wondering if there is a better guide? Thoughts?
Category: Computer |
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Tags: Computer, gateway, kingston, nx570xl, ssd, upgrade, window 7
Posted By RichC on January 8, 2014
According to Ohio River watchers, the “formation of river ice is rare” and has happened in only 14 winters of the last 140 years of record keeping in Cincinnati. For some the recent cold temperatures has triggered memories from 1977 and 1978. Photos from the past and stories of the river freezing over due to the extended extreme cold and low river flow have been published in the paper and talked about on TV (see the 1904 photos from retro.c). One major difference this time around is that the low temperature dip has been short lived. In 1977 the long term cold spell kept temperatures below freezing for more than 20 days … this time it looks like only a few days.
Our recent cold “polar vortex” (an early choice for banished words and phrases) was certainly bitter cold but we are headed back up at the moment and most likely above freezing for the weekend. Wednesday’s temperatures will rise back above the single digits and are currently above the single digits and minus degrees of Monday and Tuesday. I was shocked to see Taylor’s temps in North Dakota higher than ours yesteday!
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Here’s infographic from my Twitter feed (credit @allisonsimages ) on extreme cold. (click for larger).
Category: Weather |
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Tags: cincinnati, cold, ohio, polar vortex, weather, winter
Posted By RichC on January 7, 2014
Back in November I started Encore’s electrical diagnosis after struggling to charge my old battery bank. After putting a tester on the 7 year old AGMs, I declared them dead. What I didn’t know was that the charger on my Heart Freedom Inverter / Charger unit wasn’t working either – the inverter had already giving up the ghost years ago. Still, I was a fan of the LINK 2000R which interfaced with this unit and I felt it gave me a fair picture of my battery status and charging rates (from either alternator or Freedom Charger – the solar panel has a separate regulator and ammeter). Not too be.
After calling the company that acquired the Heart Freedom line, Xantrex (now owned by Schneider Electric), they were able to keep me as a customer by assisting in upgrading my 1000 Watt unit with a 2000 Watt True Sine Wave Inverter and 100 Amp charger. I had to give up the LINK 2000R (no longer supported), but should still be able to get a readout of total battery voltage and estimated charge. I talked to several of my sailing friends and opinions were all over the map … seems there isn’t one best option. Anyway, the inverter should arrive in Florida on Friday this week and I’m hoping the existing heavy cables will fit … otherwise $$$ will be require for additional custom cables. (my previous archiving of Marine wire and electrical supplies)
Xanbus System Control Panel
Category: Sailing |
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Tags: battery, charger, encore, inverter, sailboat, xantrex
Posted By RichC on January 5, 2014
Amazingly 28 in our family were able to make it back to Western NY for a late holiday family get together at the Howard farmhouse and dinner at Peak n Peek. Some stayed at the house and some of us in the resort or hotels and all of us realized that this could be the final gathering before selling the house and property, so it was bitter sweet.
Taylor in particular was anxious to see the family recognizing that he is the farthest away an most likely won’t be home all that often. He enjoyed the comradely with cousins and good times … and even had his teeth checked in grandpa’s old original dental chair by Maddy!
🙂
Category: Personal, Photos |
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Tags: family, farmhouse, ny, taylor
Posted By RichC on January 4, 2014
Since I haven’t received an order yet, I can’t vouch for Genuinedealz.com, but as online specialty stores goes, this one is top notch. Sure they could improve their site with a few more value added links and how-to’s, but the selection of Marine Wire, Electrical Supplies, Cables and Connectors is excellent … and it is all tailored to those of us with boats. With free shipping in the states, I’m finding this as good or better than a local full service marine hardware store … if they even exist near you.
Genuinedealz.com — 5880 New Jesup Highway Brunswick, GA 31523
Hours: Monday though Friday 9:00AM EST to 5:00 EST
Toll Free: (866)970-3325 Phone: (912)264-8327 Fax: (912)265-8202
Category: Archive, Shopping |
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Tags: electrical, online, sailing, supplies
Posted By RichC on January 3, 2014
Those who enjoy cruising, but aren’t on the water as often as they’d like, still enjoy armchair sailing — reading about those who are liveaboard cruising. One of the most inspirational sailing and cruising blogs is Windtraveler.net by Brittany and Scott Meyers. Their story over the past few years of sailing from Chicago to the Caribbean is not necessarily unique, but their story is well told and interspersed with great boat tips and product reviews. Their tale is not only one of sailing, but also about the real life challenges of earning a living (often being apart), upsizing to a bigger boat, staying connected with family at home, having a baby and bring her aboard … or adding two more (Brittany is pregnant with twins). Putting these complications aside, the mix of great photos, well edited video and excellent writing makes for a first class blog and one that is noticeably a step above even most well sponsored sites. My vote for the best sailing blog of 2013 is Windtraveler.net. I expect to see a book or boatshow presentation soon.
Category: Blogs, Sailing, Video |
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Tags: brittany, cruising, meyer, Sailing Friends, scott, windtraveler
Posted By RichC on January 2, 2014
For the past four years the stock market has started the year on a positive note, but today the sellers outweighed the buyers sending the indices down across the board. The S&P500 was down nearly 1% followed by .80% moves down in both the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. A downgrade of Apple Computer $AAPL spurred the bad news sending the tech behemoth down at the opening bell where it remained. $AAPL closed down $7.89/share to $553.13, about where it was trading on January 2nd one year ago. I guess it is no longer considered a “glamor stock.”
Category: Financial |
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Tags: investing, stocks, trading
Posted By RichC on January 2, 2014
What better way to start keeping my resolutions for the New Year than to start with a post about teamwork and conflict (self and tolerance). Liane Davey in the Harvard Business Review shared five tips over the holidays in here article called Conflict Strategies for Nice People. She states that although it can be uncomfortable for people who avoid conflict that presenting different points of view is critical to team effectiveness. “Teams need conflict to function effectively” and “diversity of thinking is the source of innovation and growth.” Presentation techniques can improve the comfort for those who are “nice people” and still are expected to share their thoughts even when there is a difference of opinion.
Here are a few tips on improving your delivery:
1. Use “and,” not “but.” When you need to disagree with someone, express your contrary opinion as an “and.” It’s not necessary for someone else to be wrong for you to be right. When you are surprised to hear something a teammate has said, don’t try to trump it, just add your reality. “You think we need to leave room in the budget for a customer event and I’m concerned that we need that money for employee training. What are our options?” This will engage your teammates in problem solving, which is inherently collaborative instead of combative.
2. Use hypotheticals. When someone disagrees with you, don’t take them head on—being contradicted doesn’t feel very good. Instead, a useful tactic is to ask about hypothetical situations and to get them imagining. (Imagining is the opposite of defending, so it gets the brain out of a rut.) If you are meeting resistance to your ideas, try asking your teammates to imagine a different scenario. “I hear your concern about getting the right sales people to pull off this campaign. If we could get the right people…what could the campaign look like?
3. Ask about the impact. Directing open-ended questions at your teammate is also useful. If you are concerned about a proposed course of action, ask your teammates to think through the impact of implementing their plan. “Ok, we’re contemplating launching this product to only our U.S. customers. How is that going to land with our two big customers in Latin America?” This approach feels much less aggressive than saying “Our Latin American customers will be angry.” Anytime you can demonstrate that you’re open to ideas and curious about the right approach, it will open up the discussion (and you’ll preserve your reputation as a nice person).
4. Discuss the underlying issue. Many conflicts on a team spiral out of control because the parties involved aren’t on the same page. If you disagree with a proposed course of action, instead of complaining about the solution, start by trying to understand what’s behind the suggestion. If you understand the reasoning, you might be able to find another way to accomplish the same goal. “I’m surprised you suggested we release the sales figures to the whole team. What is your goal in doing that?” Often conflict arises when one person tries to solve a problem without giving sufficient thought to the options or the impact of those actions. If you agree that the problem they are trying to solve is important, you will have common ground from which to start sleuthing toward answers.
5. Ask for help. Another tactic for “nice conflict” is to be mildly self-deprecating and to own the misunderstanding. If something is really surprising to you (e.g., you can’t believe anyone would propose anything so crazy), say so. “I’m missing something here. Tell me how this will address our sales gap for Q1.” If the person’s idea really doesn’t hold water, a series of genuine, open questions that come from a position of helping you understand will likely provide other teammates with the chance to help steer the plan in a different direction.
Full article at HBR
Category: Advice, Business, Productivity |
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Tags: Business, hbr, meetings, personality, teamwork, tips
Posted By RichC on January 1, 2014
Happy New Year 2014!
The end of the year is a time many of us make a New Year’s Resolution, often about how we can improve in the coming year. As I started this post, I thought my resolution was to be more tolerant of others and of their views. Over the years, and as politics have become more divisive, I’ve become less patient and a bit less tolerant. Besides that particular personal flaw shared by a few others (cough, cough), I’ve notice “we” Americans have become “self-focused.” In my opinion, we’ve placed our interest above that of others and this self-absorbed nidus demonstrates lack of humility translating to attention inward rather than outward. We have become a selfish and self-centered society that often ignores the needs of other people and instead showboat or whine about our own lives. Even in my blog about a New Year’s resolution, I’m feeling pretty “self-centered” … although hopefully in a way that changes my focus?
I am not the only one noticing the “preoccupation with self,” especially in 21st century America. In fact my generation is probably responsible for raising children who over prioritize their own self-importance. From the “look-at-me” world of Facebook, Twitter and Google+ … 
to personal blogs, trophies and awards, the trend toward “selfies” on Instagram. Public figures aren’t much help either with even President Obama turning a cellphone camera on himself this past year. Chest pounding and dancing athletes are emulated on school playgrounds and entertainment celebrities continue to try and “one-up” each other with outrageous flaunting behavior as our culture becomes more “me, me, me” focused. Schools believing they are giving children confidence have gone to the point of rewarding mediocrity with all the esteem building pats on the back. I’ve seen the change in schools over the last few decades which has translated to youth sports where everyone is declared a winner and deserving of a trophy. It’s no wonder “self” has become so important as children become teens, begin careers or fail to find happiness in marriage. Serve others or putting the needs of someone else first has never been taught.
It is time for “less self” and attention to building up others. For 2014 … I’ll be more tolerant and focus on serving others.
Category: Holiday, Misc |
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Tags: 2014, new year, resolution
Posted By RichC on December 31, 2013
The LSSU List of Banished Words and Phrases for 2013 comes as no surprise to me as the top two should definitely be retired … after my New Year’s Resolution post goes live tomorrow morning.
The comments in the 39th annual list article are more enjoyable than the actual list of words. Here are the top four and a few choice comments (or read them all):
- Selfie: “It’s a lame word. It’s all about me, me, me. Put the smartphone away. Nobody cares about you.” — David, Lake Mills, Wisc.
- Twerk: Let’s just keep with ‘shake yer booty’ — no need to ‘twerk’ it! Hi ho, hi ho, it’s away with twerk we must go.” – Michael, Haslett, Mich.
- Hashtag: “… everyone seems to add it to everyday vocabulary. #annoying #stopthat #hashtag #hashtag #hashtag .” – Alex, Rochester, Mich.
- Twittersphere: “There cannot possibly be any oxygen there.” – Matt of Toledo, Ohio
Category: Misc |
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Tags: 2013, banished, lssu, words
(I replace the drive once before with a larger HD when installing Windows 7 in 2010). This time I’ll go with a Kingston 240GB SSD. 
