Posted By RichC on January 13, 2014
Here’s a beautiful satellite photo from NASA showing the ice formation on Lake Erie from January 9, 2014 and a link to an interesting Discovery Magazine blog post discussing ice on the Great Lakes. Since I grew up on the south shore of Lake Erie and a lot of time “recreating” in all seasons on several of the Great Lakes, the discussion of change from a scientific point of view peaked my interest. Besides the photo, I enjoyed the explanation for Lake Superior’s 2.5 degree rise between 1979 and 2006 and a few more charts, graphs and photos from the Wunderground blog. Worth reading and debating if you like these kinds of things.
When there is more ice, more sunlight is reflected from the surface back into space, enhancing cold temperatures. Conversely, when air temperatures warm lake ice melts, and this results in more of the sun’s energy being absorbed by the relatively dark surface of the lake. This, in turn, causes water temperatures to rise.
Category: Environment, Nature, Space, Weather |
No Comments »
Tags:
Posted By RichC on January 13, 2014
The previous spar varnish on the teak instrument mounting board deteriorated under the sun and weather when in storage last year. This time I’m going to use a product I’ve used on previous boats and while doing some other brightwork on Encore. Hopefully with enough coats and yearly maintenance the finish will hold up a bit longer. Eventually I may replace the teak with Starboard, maybe when I replace the sporadic older “legacy Navman depth, knotmeter and log.”
Category: Sailing, Woodworking |
No Comments »
Tags: brightwork, encore, instruments, navman, sailboat
Posted By RichC on January 12, 2014
After receiving a nice percolator coffee pot from my son for Christmas to use on the boat with the propane stove, I saw a neat wooden one-cup brewer on the Core77 industrial design blog. I wanted to replace the cheap plastic filter holder I use to make a single cup of Joe with a “pot of coffee” gadget and a stainless steel percolator makes the most sense. I don’t mind the single cup maker for “just me” but truth be told, I really want more than a single cup. I could be talked into making a couple of these as simple projects (gifts) … but first I want to know if the coffee grounds mixed with wood doesn’t hurt or enhances the taste? Maybe I should make one to fit a larger thermos and paper filter? Anyway, below are archived photos from the Core77.com.
Category: Archive, Misc, Sailing, Woodworking |
No Comments »
Tags: archive, canadiano, coffee, core77
Posted By RichC on January 11, 2014
It’s been interesting watching the track of Katharine, (a GPS tagged 14’2” immature 2300 pound Great White Shark) this week along the north and 
central coast of Florida using the global shark tracker iPhone app from Ocearch.org. In previous posts watching Mary Lee (a 16 foot 3456 pound Great White) we saw her well south and close to beaches then travel back north … although that monster reported in cruising the shores of Georgia just south of Hilton Head, South Carolina late in December 2013.
Currently while watching Katharine inch further south and close to some of the surfing and swimming beaches, the thought occurs to me that we are now just learning that Great White Sharks patrol close to shore and much further south (see Florida Keys post) that many of us suspected. Just how many are untagged and hunting along the southern U.S. beaches?
Category: Environment, Nature, Sailing |
No Comments »
Tags: florida, great white sharks, ocean, ocearch, sharkshares
Posted By RichC on January 10, 2014
If you are thinking about a new 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI this year the entry point just got a few dollars cheaper … thank you Chevrolet Cruze diesel for the competition — $22,115.
For an economy special, the Jetta TDI Value Edition actually includes quite a bit of kit, like heated cloth seats, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo with Volkswagen’s Media Device Interface, and power windows all around. — LINK
Click for larger 2014 EPA number for Volkswagen TDI models
Category: Automotive, Diesel, Volkswagen |
1 Comment »
Tags: Chevrolet, Cruze, diesel, tdi, volkswagen
Posted By RichC on January 10, 2014
Besides getting together for a visit with family this past weekend, another reason we traveled up to western New York was to continue the clearing out of the old farmhouse. One of the more functional home items that we came back from my mother-in-law’s kitchen were additional matching everyday cups, plates and bowls. Surprisingly we had the same plain white design (I should have remembered) and so it worked out well as one of Brenda’s “picks” from her parent’s house.
I’m thankful that we have time to slowly go through the house and barn before selling the homestead, and that the family is able to divide household items up between the sisters, Mark’s family (brother) and grandkids. It is not an easy process since certain items hold more financial value or sentimental weight than others … but that’s all part of being a family I guess? In the end, each will appreciate the treasures that they inherit and the wonderful memories they invoke.
Category: Misc, Personal |
No Comments »
Tags: dishes, family
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 |
No Comments »
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!
—
Here’s infographic from my Twitter feed (credit @allisonsimages ) on extreme cold. (click for larger).
Category: Weather |
No Comments »
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 |
1 Comment »
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 |
1 Comment »
Tags: family, farmhouse, ny, taylor
