My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on January 1, 2013

I’ve never been much for resolution making and am a bit lax in goal setting overall … or at least I’ve never made it a focus to accomplish projects in timely fashion (Sonex, MGB, sailing) … but after talking with my son and CinciTDI friend about New Year’s resolutions, I’ve decided 2013 would be the year of a new diesel (you probably thought I’d finish a few projects?) Now I’m not putting feet to the fire, but I would like to be driving a TDI again.

The ideal vehicle would be an all-wheel drive VW Sportwagen TDI crossover (maybe the VW Cross Coupe concept – photo above), but I wouldn’t mind a Passat TDI or even a Touareg TDI either. Obvious the latter would mean giving up 40-50 mpg driving, but I’ve grown accustom to the SUV seating position, ground clearance, trailer towing and winter weather 4 wheel drive.

The Mercedes, BMW, Audi and new Jeep diesel isn’t out to the question either, but I do find it hard to stomach paying as much for a new car as our first house. Maybe a good deal can be found on one a few years old?

Of course my entire “diesel car buying resolution” for 2013 will hinge on a rebounding U.S. economy and our elected Washington DC idiots figuring out how to stop spending more than they take in and how to start dealing with the mounting debt and deficit. Unless they create an environment to foster confidence and business growth, we may spend the next four years (if not more) in a sinking quagmire — in that case, its time to start full time cruising and sailing for warmer waters outside the U.S.

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Holiday | 4 Comments »
Tags: diesel, resolution, tdi, vw

Posted By RichC on December 31, 2012

One of the pleasures of life is tinkering with my favorite little diesel car … the Volkswagen TDI. My daughter’s Jetta TDI is “parked” in our driveway this weekend while she is in Iowa meeting her fiancé’s family — parked, cough, cough. With Sunday off, I was able to doing a little “needed” maintenance on it … and “needed” being the correct word – just take a look what the snowscreen picked up this last year (photo left). Oh, and the maintenance did require a test drive.

Katelyn’s 2001 VW Jetta TDI is starting to show a little rust around the fenders due to spending 8 years in NE Ohio, but is still running with the same comfortable diesel clatter. I can’t help but question why I’m still driving a “gasser?” Maybe I should make a 2013 New Year resolution to have another on in my garage?

Speaking of Iowa … here’s a windmill phonebooth photo of Katelyn and Drew from the Dutch enclave that is Sioux Center Iowa.

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: diesel, drew, katelyn, maintenance, snowscreen, tdi, vw

Posted By RichC on December 31, 2012

Here is the annual Lake Superior State University 2013 List of Banished Words:

KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD

DOUBLE DOWN

JOB CREATORS/CREATION

PASSION/PASSIONATE

YOLO – You Only Live Once

SPOILER ALERT

BUCKET LIST

TRENDING

SUPERFOOD

BONELESS WINGS

GURU

http://www.lssu.edu/banished/current.php

Category: Misc | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By RichC on December 30, 2012

It has been a busy end of the year, but spending the last couple of days with just the family was a great way to wind down 2012. We enjoyed talking, eating (too much), opening presents and watching a movie together – Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer. (expand photo slideshow below).

Taylor has been home from college for a couple of weeks now and is enjoying sleeping in (probably what he does in college too – wink, wink), going out with friends (ditto)and did find time to still work some hours at JCrew. Last night he decided to go skiing at Perfect North, although not his idea of snow skiing. Katelyn and Drew have been working the hospital residency hours (aka: long shifts and crazy hours), but managed to coordinate their schedules in order to be with us for a couple days before flying out to Iowa – Katelyn is meeting the extended Oostra family before the wedding and is looking forward to it. After a couple of flight delays, they arrived in Sioux Center around 1 AM – brr, it was 2 degrees F.

And now for my treat … I’m back behind the wheel of Katelyn’s VW Jetta TDI … using the lame excuse that I’m doing maintenance – which I am, but really could have taken the Honda Pilot to the Autozone.

Category: Personal, Photos, Video | No Comments »
Tags: 2012, christmas, family

Posted By RichC on December 28, 2012

Those old enough and wise enough to know how the sausage is was made in Washington DC have noticed a change in recent years. Politicians of different stripes and philosophies are no longer coming together for the common good … and the lack of a leader (aka: POTUS) willing guide congress is shocking. Here we sit, moments from financial disaster and we are still no closer to an agreement … I at least expected another “kick the can” reaction? Do they all realized how many dollars and jobs will be lost if this Washington DC made problem is not managed or put on a corrective track?

We need to deal with this fiscal mess or at least begin the down payment that tells the world we are serious. Without pointing fingers, I have difficultly with those coming at this from the “raise taxes and spend more” approach and that with those showing little concern for our 16+Trillion dollar debt, our unfunded obligations (health and retirement entitlements) and the borrowing of 40 cents of every dollar — what are they thinking?

At the same time, conservatives need to realize that they need to negotiate (pinch their nose) and come up with the best agreement possible which will fend off a second recession, because without growth and Americans working, there won’t be enough earnings to collect taxes on! The blame game believing they can place the entire mess at President Obama’s feet is ridiculous – we all suffer.

For President Obama’s part … the arrogance of “I won” and his vacationing in Hawaii disgusts me. His unwillingness to address what he must know will hurt every American is hard to believe. Although I’m 180 degrees opposite from his left leaning agenda and centralized control of our country, I‘ve always  thought he at least cared for his fellow citizens … all of them (ok, so he picks and chooses) … but in this case we all suffer if the economy collapses. Does he really want to risk slow or no growth and a second recession (or worse) and not even attempt to deal with the longer term problems facing the United States? Frankly I’m ready to scream … the life of an expatriate is looking pretty inviting right now … but I’m holding on for some miracle 3PM deal. Cough, cough …

Narrower Tax Deal Floated as Lawmakers to Sit With Obama

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders prepared for what was looming as a make-or-break White House meeting on the fiscal crisis Friday afternoon as top aides said they were exploring a scaled-back proposal that would prevent tax increases on household income of $400,000 or below.

MORE

Category: Financial, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: congress, economy, fiscal cliff, obama

Posted By RichC on December 28, 2012

Although Pastor Keith Thomas and I do share a few friends (here is his blog), I know there are also a few reading here that also might enjoy Keith’s first attempt at video and editing. I think the camera was new to him (for this trip) and recall he was hoping to document a bit more in HD during his recent trip to Israel (11/2012). Nice job Keith … the music was a good choice too.

Maybe next year we will travel with his group, but for now it remains on my “bucket-list” … which sounds a little sacrilegious when stated that way?

Category: Blogs, Faith, Video | No Comments »
Tags: israel, keith thomas

Posted By RichC on December 27, 2012

Good news from Google if you’ve been using the Gmail web interface to make calls to phones. I’ve found call clarity to be top notch and a perfect replacement for what was once a free service from Skype. I still would mind having both services offering free calls in North America, but glad Google will be offering it at least one more year.

Category: Computer, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: calling, gmail, google, phone

Posted By RichC on December 27, 2012

Here’s a great bit of Lamborghini history shared by Jay Leno in his garage – a 1968-69 four-cylinder 5-Liter air-cooled 85HP diesel tractor … the Lamborghini R485. (history)

Category: Automotive, Diesel, History, Video | No Comments »
Tags: garage, History, jay leno, lamborghini, tractor

Posted By RichC on December 26, 2012

If you are confused over the privacy settings on social networking sites, particularly Facebook, you are not alone. Short suggestion: Assume everything you post is public … because it can certainly end up that way … just ask Randi Zuckerberg.

As networks grow and friends connect to other friends, eventually the images and comments you make (especially embarrassing ones) will be shared beyond your intended circle of friends … or is that a trademarked Google+ term? Whatever. The point is that photos can be copied and reposted and even those friends with the best of intentions may have other friends connected through a closer group sharing private moments, etc.

Randi Zuckerberg, formerly exec at Facebook, posted a feisty tweet Tuesday night scolding a Twitter follower for reposting a picture that Randi had originally published on Facebook.

"@cschweitz not sure where you got this photo. I posted it on FB. You reposting it to Twitter is way uncool," Randi said in her tweet.

The Twitter follower, Callie Schweitzer, quickly responded.

"@randizuckerberg I’m just your subscriber and this was top of my newsfeed. Genuinely sorry but it came up in my feed and seemed public," Schweitzer said in a tweet.

Randi then replied via Twitter that the reason Schweitzer could view the picture was probably because she was also friends with Randi’s other sister, so the follower could see tagged images of her.

LINK

Category: Advice, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: facebook, network, sharing, social, Technology

Posted By RichC on December 26, 2012

We drove up to Columbus and enjoyed “catering” a Christmas dinner at Katelyn’s fiancé Drew’s house. The two of them (both in their residency) were working the night rotations … Katelyn just off a 24 hour stint at Nationwide and Drew his week of 13 hour nights at OSU.  We have postponed our family gift exchange until they drive to Cincinnati on Friday, but we enjoyed being together for a few hours just the same. (thanks for letting us set up at your place Drew)

Besides dinner, we noticed that Santa left a gift for Taylor under the tree on Christmas eve … another electronic gadget. This one a new notebook computer that supposedly he needs in order to work on GIS projects that will help him land a job; it will be a stressful year ahead for Taylor as he enters the work-a-day world. Of course I’m probably getting ahead of things as he would rather enjoy focus on the  final semester of college and the associated good times. 

The predicted blizzard warning held off and driving was not a problem, but I’m glad to be home now as the snow is coming down. Hopefully not too much, but I’m thinking about putting the snowblower on the John Deere just be be ready.

While rummaging through my desk draw I found a old pre-kids Christmas photo (1985??) to test the new Epson Workforce 545 “all in one” Fax/Scanner/Printer device – it was archival material and figured I’d post it here … and maybe to Facebook too?

Back row: Chris, Dad H, Mom H, Ann, Jerry, Middle row: Mark, Brenda, Lynda, Aaron,
Front row: Ben, Justin, David and Rich. (click for larger)

Category: Archive, Holiday, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: 2012, brenda, christmas, drew, katelyn, rich, taylor