My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on July 5, 2012

This kind of luxury “tent” camping that would even be the envy of the late Muammar Gaddafi (known to travel with his tent). SmartMoney magazine published a short article detailing how camping would even be attractive to one’s better half.

Getting Fancy Now: Camping Resort

Prefer to Leave the tent-pitching to the pros? At a luxury camping resort, vacationers who prefer their nature without the whole distasteful “roughing it” thing can pair activities such as fly-fishing with hotel-style amenities like furnished tents and gourmet grub. Montana’s Paws Up ranch resort, for example, offers a tent suite with heated floors and a butler for around $1,800 a night.

Life-Changing: Custom Luxury Tent

Sleeping alfresco doesn’t need to be a vacation-only indulgence. Exclusive Tents, based in Belize, will erect a permanent luxury tent, complete with a porch, multiple rooms and a full bath, right in your backyard. The company’s most popular model starts at $25,000, though the more elaborate versions (including tents built on enormous river rafts or perched in the tops of trees) can easily hit six figures — before installation.

http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/travel/camping-cleans-up-1339527470748/

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Posted By RichC on July 5, 2012

Volkswagen Beetles have been adapted for many things, but a “Homefront Security” missile launcher like this bug is new to me. This VeeDub half-track isn’t the quietest or speediest of weapon systems (video below), but it is definitely a unique VW … and most likely will attract more than just your neighbor’s attention while patrolling the perimeter of your property. BTW, it is For Sale and can be your for the right price.

Category: Automotive, Video, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: halftrack, volkswagen, vw

Posted By RichC on July 4, 2012

I heard a short bit on Tuesday from CNBC’s Rick Santelli, the fellow that may have triggered the political movement known as the Tea Party. I wanted to post the video or audio this morning as a way to think about the Fourth of July but ended up side-tracked with powerwashing the front porch, garage doors and sidewalk. By the time I picked up the paint to put the first coat on the wicker chairs, the day had pretty much disappeared. Better late than never … enjoy this interpretation of “pursuit of happiness.”

Rick Santelli – CNBC July 3, 2012

MP3 Link

Category: Holiday, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: audio, cnbc, happiness, pursuit, rick santelli

Posted By RichC on July 4, 2012

Yes we are in for another cooker today and tomorrow …

Tomorrow

97 °F

Chance of T-storms

30% chance of precipitation

Thursday

104 °F

Chance of T-storms

20% chance of precipitation

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Posted By RichC on July 3, 2012

I was sad to hear of the death of Andy Griffith this morning. He will always be the iconic sheriff of Mayberry and for many exemplified what small town America and what the “folks” were suppose to be like … at least before the late 60s and70s. In my opinion, his acting in recent roles and films pale in comparison to impact of his 8 years of representing idyllic small town USA on black and white TV. Good memories …

Andy Griffith, the beloved actor who entertained television audiences for over half a century, has died, according to multiple reports.  He turned 86 on June 1.

Griffith passed away at his home in Manteo, North Carolina on Tuesday morning, according to his close friend former University of North Carolina president Bill Friday.

Griffith began his acting career in the 1950s with roles on Broadway and small but notable parts in film and television.  However, it was a 1960 guest appearance on TV’s The Danny Thomas Show that launched Griffith to stardom in the role of small-town North Carolina Sheriff Andy Taylor.

Griffith’s turn as the affable, honest lawman of fictitious Mayberry — said to be modeled after Griffth’s own hometown of Mount Airy, N.C. — made The Andy Griffith Show a hit.  It remains one of American television’s most enduring sitcoms, long after it ended its run in 1968.

Griffith starred in several less-successful series over the next 18 years before finding success with another small-town character: rumpled, guitar-picking country lawyer Ben Matlock in Matlock.  The show, set again in the South — this time in Atlanta — ran from 1986 to 1995.

Griffith continued acting after Matlock ended, playing largely supporting roles in television and films.  His most recent work, according to IMDB, was in 2009 in the independent film Play the Game.

He also released numerous comedy and music albums over the years, with most of the latter featuring hymns and Americana music.  He won a Grammy for his 1997 album, I Love to Tell the Story — 25 Timeless Hymns.

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Posted By RichC on July 3, 2012

Just curious … why would someone lease a small somewhat less than comfortable car for $389/month and only be able to drive it 12,000 miles per year when there are so many better options? Even if it does get 118mpg … it would be hard to make up the $175/month ($6300) in fuel savings during that 3 year lease … even at California fuel prices! (I know … it is a “statement” thing)

TORRANCE, Calif., June 29, 2012 /PRNewswire

Honda today announced the all-new 2013 Honda Fit EV will be available for lease beginning July 20, 2012, with a three-year lease price of $389 per month. The 2013 Honda Fit EV is the latest in Honda’s diverse and growing range of alternative-fuel vehicles, and received the highest fuel-efficiency rating ever given by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with an adjusted combined mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe(1).

The Fit EV will be available for lease-only in key markets in Oregon and California, after which availability will expand to six East Coast markets in early 2013. The Fit EV’s three-year lease price of $389 per month computes to a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $36,625.

VS

OR … just leasing the $16,000+ Honda Fit at unsubsidized local rates???

Category: Automotive, Environment | 2 Comments »
Tags: ev, fit, honda

Posted By RichC on July 2, 2012

The struggling economy around the world is being noticed here in the U.S. as measured manufacturing output is falling again — LINK.  (see graphic below) I’ve been hoping for a recovery from the recession, but this news this is not at all promising for jobs or a rebounding economy.

Can the U.S. avoid a double-dip recession?

The global slowdown is hitting U.S. manufacturers hard, threatening a key pillar of the recovery and fueling fears the economy is heading for a stall for the third year in a row.

New figures Monday provided the latest proof that Europe’s debt and banking woes and disappointing growth in China and around the globe are crimping activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector, which has been a big driver of the economic recovery that began in mid-2009.

Other reports have suggested U.S. exports were much weaker than originally thought earlier this year and that corporate profits from abroad are now shrinking instead of growing.

MORE

Category: Financial | 1 Comment »
Tags: economy, investing, wsj

Posted By RichC on July 2, 2012

I’ve posted a few times back in 2009 regarding the flying car from the MIT developers called the Terrafugia Transition and after phase one flight testing in New York it is one step closer to being ready for production. As we all know, here in the United States things are not as simple as they once were when innovating and experimenting … especially in venturing off the ground. I’m sure by the time the first delivery is made that the price will include a rather healthy amount for regulation and legal concerns.

Nevertheless, it is good to see flying photos.

Category: Aviation | No Comments »
Tags: car, flying, terrafugia, transition

Posted By RichC on July 2, 2012

There are a few "experiments" happening at the state level in our nation which if talked about might open a few eyes to the benefits of less government as well as  more freedom for individuals as the model for our country.  Florida Governor Rick Scott (and Governor Perry from Texas by phone) did a pretty good job explaining what is working in their states as well as their philosophy (as well the opposite as in Illinois) in order to create a better better environment for business,  jobs and prosperity.

Problems with the video embed on this clip … go here.

>Earlier Governor Scott have a good give and take as did the Squawkbox crew — the hair on the back of my neck stood up hearing the term “collective.” Maybe its just my age or upbringing, but it paints the ideological challenge America faces from those who prefer European socialism for the United States.

Category: Business, Financial, Politics, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: cnbc, governor, rick perry, rick scott, squawkbox

Posted By RichC on July 1, 2012

Every year my neighbor goes all out on the fourth of July and buys hundreds, no thousands of dollars of fireworks. This year he warned me that it will be both on the weekend and the fourth! Let the show begin (also retesting my HTML5/FLV fallback Hana video plugin for WordPress).
🙂

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Tags: fireworks, flv, hana, player, test