One hot diesel SUV: The 2014 BMW X5 M50d
Posted By RichC on September 6, 2013
The newest BMW X5 diesel will be making its debut at the 2014 Frankfurt Motor Show in a few weeks and will turn a few heads; it is the most powerful X5 diesel BMW has ever built. The M50d is not planned for the U.S. but will make its 546 lb-ft of torque and 381 HP heard in Europe. The top speed is limited to only 155 mph, but can make it to over 60 mph in just over 5 seconds. The fuel efficiency is calculated on European mixed course and came in at an impressive 35.1 mpg – that is something I’d love to see. The suspension is adaptive and the SUV comes standard with 19 inch alloy wheels and low profile tires (20 inch are an option). The price has not been disclosed, but it is said to be the most expensive diesel burning X5 available (a few photo below).
Testing the new Mac GifGrabber app. Nice, ehh?
A brilliant way to use a rake! #genius
Posted By RichC on September 6, 2013
Obit: Earl Gerber (1921-2013) — part of my extended family
Posted By RichC on September 6, 2013
When I first started my company, I had the privilege of learning about “taking care of customers” from Earl Gerber who was a long time business and sales professional in northeastern Ohio. Earl passed away at 92 in Cleveland this past week, and even through all his age related ailments, I never heard him complain. He was a positive role model for me and those that knew him.
Brenda and I met Jean and Earl through the same growing church in Solon Ohio — at that time we were meeting in the Solon High School auditorium … now Parkside Church. Brenda’s sister (Ann) met Earl and Jean’s son Gary (now my brother-in-law); they married and the rest is, as they say, “history.” Throughout the years we enjoyed including Jean and Earl – or Gerb as we fondly knew him – in our extended family gatherings. In fact Taylor and I were recently listing all the cars I’ve owned in my lifetime and I remembered that Gerb bought out the lease on one of my company cars (a silver-grey ‘84 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport). He will be missed especially by his loving wife Jean … but we ALL rejoice in the knowledge that he knew the Lord.
My adult children are busy traveling all over the place
Posted By RichC on September 5, 2013
Zip, zip, zip … thank goodness we have airports and jet aircraft, even if air travel isn’t as comfortable as it once was. Taylor is off to North Dakota interviewing for a city planning position in the rapidly growing city of Williston ND … where his education would be seriously tested, as well as his internal antifreeze. Nothing like a contrast to his previous trip to Santa Barbara!
Drew and Katelyn are off to San Francisco via different flights for a Breast Cancer Symposium where Drew has a presentation. I suspect the two of them will also find time to make it an enjoyable weekend. They will connect in different cities for flights as Katelyn is juggling her work schedule and Drew is in the middle of fellowship interviews … I think this trip includes Orlando and Minneapolis (but I can’t keep them all straight). Have a great time and show me where you go on the photo above sometime.
Is it duct or duck and was it called duck tape first?
Posted By RichC on September 4, 2013
Who likes to admit that they may have been wrong, or at least partially wrong? Not me that is for sure, but in the case of duct tape, I always thought “Duct Tape” the correct name and that it was around before Duck tape (branded). 
Unfortunately it looks like I might have to re-think this in the future or at least keep from rolling my eyes when someone writes or says “duck tape” (Wikipedia still “leads” with Duct tape).
According to a bit of reading, the sticky waterproof tape was created by the Permacel division of Johnson and Johnson back in World War II when the military needed a way to keep moisture out of ammunition cases. They developed an easy to tear mesh backed tape with a strong rubber based adhesive — colored drab-green of course (not post-war grey) — specifically for that purpose. They called it “duck tape” because it was waterproof. Just like today, the tape found many alternative uses, so it should come as no surprise to know it was used to patch and repair tents, jeeps and even aircraft … that was well before it was used to patch our dinghy or win a “Stuck at Prom” scholarship. After the war the color changed to the common grey and booming housing industry used it for heating “ducts” – hence “Duct tape.”
The durable cloth-backed tape first appeared during World War II, when Johnson & Johnson developed an olive drab version as a handy way for American soldiers to waterproof their ammo cans. According to the company, soldiers dubbed the product “duck tape” because it forced moisture to flee “like water off a duck’s back.”
Troops realized that the tape was good for more than just keeping their powder dry, and after the war, it caught on as an easy and effective way to seal, among other things, heating ducts. Johnson & Johnson even began offering a silver version of the tape specifically for this purpose, giving rise to “duct tape.”
So which is correct? “Duck tape” has the chronological upper hand, but “duct tape” is a more accurate description of the product’s historical use. To make things even more complicated, though, it’s no longer used to seal ducts! You could always just hedge your bets the way the leading manufacturer does when it bills itself as “Duck brand duct tape.”
It was nice to have Monday off, but now its back to work
Posted By RichC on September 3, 2013
Labor Day was great! I was home alone and able to work around the house, although accomplished very little. 
Most of my time was spent in the garage sanding and adding body filter to the Mercedes Benz 300D. Since the temps were warm, I regularly cooled off in the pool and pretended to be cleaning it. Brenda was in New York again with her mom and Taylor busy with the NFL fantasy football draft … something he takes seriously.
Diana Nyad completes her record swim
Posted By RichC on September 2, 2013
It is not like my long distance swimming wife needs an additional incentive to keep swimming further and further, but hearing this is sure to keep Brenda’s motivation alive. Congratulations to long distance swimmer Diana Nyad in succeeding in her open water swim “without a shark cage” from Havana to Key West this Labor Day afternoon. (video below)
A dozen pool crashers after the heavy rain
Posted By RichC on September 2, 2013
Rain and storms made for challenging airshow
Posted By RichC on September 1, 2013
It was a great “most of the day” on Saturday to be at Red Stewart Airport in Waynesville Ohio getting our EAA284 hanger ready for the pancake breakfast on Sunday. Yes it was hot, but it is still August. The Stewarts were gracious hosts as always and we enjoyed their pulled pork and corn on the cob … an annual airshow tradition. Unfortunately the evening was cut short by strong storms and rain, but not before a little showmanship. Well done.
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.