While traveling this week I decided to give the old 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel a workout. Even though it kept up with interstate traffic and pegged the speedo, I found that it did a little shake from 73 to 80 mph. Maybe an alignment and suspension adjustment when I decide new tires are in her future?
Unfortunately I also ended up with stressed throttle linkage (heat and age issue) requiring a little bit of a jury-rigged linkage repair using vice grips and some good ol’ duct tape. I babied it coming home to Cincinnati from NE Ohio, but also found the parts for $60 online so I can replace the failing part. Whew, the excitement of traveling in older high mileage cars!
Doing a little late Friday afternoon updating for several of the WordPress blogs that I maintain as the new 3.5.2 is now the current version. Along with that, plugins are next to follow, of which I’ve updated a couple installed on my server.
Thankfully the blog has been running without a hitch recently a testament to this solid old server … nearly a decade old!
Are you frustrated with the basic search feature available in WordPress? If so, join the club. I’ve been back and forth with several different search plugins and have even tried customizing my own using a Google API. Unfortunately none of them worked well for me when I was searching my own site for items that were posted years ago. Eventually I would give up on the built-in or customized search and go to Google directly and tried the advanced settings. I can only imagine what a normal reader would do?
After all the trial and error, I’ve finally agree with what many believe is the best search option for WordPress – the Relevanssi plugin. I’ve decided to stick with it for now and wait for complaints or praise. Give it a try.
Looking at using the paid Avast VPN option while connecting to unsecured wifi connections. So far it works just fine and seems transparent … except LastPass does not like the overseas routing. Speeds are good, at least at McDonald’s; not so sure about busy hotels or the marinas?
Karen Hutton of KarenHuttonPhotography posted a gorgeous photo from Makapu’u Lookout in Oahu, Hawaii yesterday that makes me want to return to Hawaii. (our 2006 trip) Her description was nice too:
I could almost see the curvature of the earth on the horizon… it was dizzying! And wonderful, and blue, green, gorgeous and stunning. I stayed up there for awhile, just soaking in what had to be a blessing from all of Creation. Who, incidentally, said "take this home and share it with as many people as possible!" So… here we are.
A travel oriented video clip for today’s post from a guy in the Peace Corp. The Bamboo Train of Cambodia iis built on narrow gauge French tracks in a region called Battambang. According to the videographer, “it goes crazy fast, its crazy rickety, its held together by momentum and weight, and its just plain crazy.”
The movie Jimmy made its début in early June and will be screened in my hometown with a high school classmate of mine introducing the movie and answers a few questions (it shows at 3PM and 9PM at the Historic Sidney Theatre for those interested or in the area).
It would have been great to have planned my work week and a returning trip on Friday to Sidney in order to go with my dad, as this kind of non-offensive movie would be something he would enjoy (he’s not a big movie go-er). Even though some of the critics were downright cruel(OUCH), the movie … or perhaps listening to the music composed by Rob Pottorf … would have still been worthwhile. For now we’ll just keep our eyes on it showing in Cincinnati … or maybe have our own showing IF I ever get the home theater in the basement put back together?
Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver talks about his 1983 Mercedes Benz 300D and closes with, “it’s solid, reliable, robust, well made, it’s got a lot of integrity … and I hope that I represent those values.”
Every year we see and hear of charities wasting money and the generous gifts given by their donors and unfortunately some charities and their hired solicitors are just out and out crooks (and unfortunately able to get away with it year after year). If you intend to give to organizations that you are not intimately aware, then be sure to at LEAST do your own GuideStar review. Take a look at their expenses and decide if they are using your donations appropriately or at least have a reason you can accept for their high expenses.
If people supporting the 50 listed as Worst Charities by the Tampa Bay Times knew how their money was being spent, they would demand their donations back (just look at how much of the money raised goes to solicitors – its criminal in my opinion!).
While traveling this week I decided to give the old 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel a workout. Even though it kept up with interstate traffic and pegged the speedo, I found that it did a little shake from 73 to 80 mph. Maybe an alignment and suspension adjustment when I decide new tires are in her future?
