My Desultory Blog

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

Posted By RichC on December 25, 2012

Our rapidly desquamating Christmas tree (photo) is barely holding on to its needles in hope of “A visit from St. Nicholas” on Christmas eve –although even bringing up the poem now known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” is an invitation of literary debate. No thanks, I’m tired of debates after 2012!

The well known poem is sometimes credited to Henry Livingston Jr.  but usually thought to have been penned by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823. Whoever originally wrote and subsequently published the story, it is responsible for our American tradition of Santa Claus, his image and the reindeer. Just for the fun of it, do you know the names of the eight original reindeer who pulled Santa’s sleigh full of presents? (I’m excluding Rudolph since he didn’t arrive for another 100+ years)

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,
Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixen.*

*Dunder became Donder (or Donner)
and Blixen became Blitzen.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas 
or Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas by Major Henry Livingston Jr.
(previously believed to be by Clement Clarke Moore)

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

Below is one of four known handwritten copies of the poem from Clement Clarke Moore (New York Historical Society) — click image for larger.

Category: Holiday, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: christmas, poem, reindeer, santa, tree

Posted By RichC on December 24, 2012

After catching up on a bit of automotive reading, I realized that improvements propulsion for cars is moving us toward hybrid vehicles and that there will come a day when “almost” all our day to day vehicles will have some sort of hybrid drive … be they battery electric or some other booster technology.

Mentioning “hybrid” I assume most think of the Toyota Prius and the Hybrid Synergy Drive, but there are other manufacturers with similar technology inching improvements year to year. In a few short years, every internal combustion car will see its efficiency improved by adopting some energy saving measure or measures. Some perhaps just enough to cycle the stop-start of the engine permitting accessories such as air conditioning and electronics to continue to run without burning fuel. Others “may” use compressed air, a spinning flywheel or wound spring to provide a start-up or acceleration boost. Advance capacitors may eventually do the same for the electric hybrid reducing the size of battery packs and the associated weight issue … currently one major drawback of EV and plug-in hybrids. Battery degradation is another major issue facing manufacturers as who wants to be hauling hundreds of pounds of battery when the charge efficiency drops? (link)

Cost and vehicle life is another issue, but cars are capable of far more miles in a lifetime than they were just a couple generations ago. My dad mentioned how he would sell cars when they neared the 70,000 mile mark as I noted that I rarely replace with cars with less than 200,000 miles nowadays. Car bodies no longer corrode as they once did and “rust-buckets” are rare on the road today. I recall patch mufflers continually when I was younger, not to mention using baling wire to hold bumpers in place and welding new metal with plenty of Bondo on fenders and rocker panels. Longer lifespans offset the higher price tag and become a factor in keeping a car on the road – it justifies the more complex “drive” components associated with hybrid systems.

As for performance, there isn’t any reason to assume “just because a car is a hybrid” that we have to give up on driver enjoyment. I suspect that we’ll eventually be able to “hot rod” (aka: computer tweak) high performance hybrid vehicles into desirable driver’s car – well perhaps not the Prius?

Hopefully for those of us who enjoy cars with a “little” more personality and driving appeal, we’ll see more attempts like the Volkswagen Jetta hybrid where the designers were unwilling to give up sporty handling and performance just to gain efficiency. Maybe VW’s next hybrid will also be a TDI diesel? That would be nice, although well behind another European automaker (Volvo V60 Diesel plug-in Hybrid).

Category: Automotive, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: cars, hybrid, prius, synergy, tdi, toyota, volkswagen

Posted By RichC on December 23, 2012

A WSJ article highlighted the best and worst advertising for 2012, but didn't mention my current favorite – the Geico commercial featuring two antelope wearing night vision goggles. I just can help smiling and turning up the volume.

Category: Marketing, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: ad, Geico, wsj commercial

Posted By RichC on December 22, 2012

Here’s a tool tip (pun intended) right up my alley from a Cruising World reader … sharper-wedge shaped needle nose pliers (used for pulling staples, etc). I regularly modify cheap screwdrivers for a variety of project … and will add this modification to one of my junker pliers.

Category: Advice, Sailing, Tools | No Comments »
Tags: pliers, tools