Posted By RichC on April 2, 2012
Although this has probably been around a few years, the NASA‘s Perpetual Ocean is as artistic as it is informative. Those who transit the oceans of the world know the power of currents … this video illustrates how prevalent ocean currents are.
Posted By RichC on April 1, 2012
Posted By RichC on April 1, 2012
Minutes after OSU’s lost to Kansas 64-62, the Ohio State coaching staff contested the game believing they discovered a payola scheme which could impact the Jayhawks advancing to the National Championship game Monday. According to late reports swirling within the NCAA, officials are considering pulling Kansas from the tournament after discovering illegal corporate involvement in their basketball program.
If the Jayhawks are pulled from Monday’s game could the Ohio State Buckeyes advance and play in the championship game again UK? (updated news below the break after Sunday morning’s press conference)
Oh … by the way, this is my lame attempt at an April Fools’ Day joke. 🙂
Posted By RichC on March 31, 2012
Take two on the “who designs these things?”
A couple of weeks ago I posted on the rust inside an automatic icemaker and wondered why a better grade of material that could resist the rust wasn’t used inside a freezer so prone to moisture. Today the knob on our GE clothes washing machine snapped off and after inspection I wondered if perhaps it could have been a little more beefy? I’ll try to repair, but it could have been better engineered.
A small plastic clip slides into the slot around a plastic knob holding it to a brass post. This knob then controls both the twisting, pulling and pushing action to set times, cycles and to turn the machine on and off. It seems to me that expecting the fairly small amount of plastic to hold particularly the “pulling” motion year after year is asking a bit much??? I’m not sure how other manufactures design their “mechanical knobs” (as opposed to electronic), but General Electric’s Select line of washers could have used a sturdier knob, in my opinion.
Let’s see how well a little epoxy holds?
Posted By RichC on March 31, 2012
For the past couple of years I’ve been taking our cars to a privately owned automotive service business (in West Chester, OH) and have been satisfied with the work. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know the owner, Tim Ellison, who’s Christian walk and straightforward business dealings are one in the same.
Besides using Mr. Godwrench to do some heavier engine repair work on Brenda’s aging Toyota Rav4 a couple of years ago, I continue to take my Honda Pilot to Tim for service when I don’t have the time or tools (the AC service comes to mind). If you live north of Cincinnati and are looking for an honest, trustworthy and fair priced automotive repair service company, consider giving Mr. Godwrench a call – 513-755-7146.
Posted By RichC on March 30, 2012
Posted By RichC on March 30, 2012
Try GetHuman.com.
Here a quick Tech Friday post that I’ve found helpful when needing to connect directly to a person rather than phone tree or online support. It is useful to remember when the frustration levels rise OR after a long wait and computer disconnect … very frustrating!
Posted By RichC on March 28, 2012
I’ve sort of wondered just what kind of push GM was going to make in order to start moving their Chevrolet Volts … not that I’m looking. I suspect one of the reasons the cars are not selling well is that they are price way too high for an “experimental” car … who really knows what the long term ownership costs are going to be? At least the Toyota Prius has a solid 10 year track record to sell their new model on … the Volt — who knows?
At this point I’ll take the large-ish American built Volkswagen Passat TDI that has tested diesel technology and delivers 43 mpg highway and still leave about $10-15 thousand left to buy fuel.
Posted By RichC on March 27, 2012
I was out at dusk trying to get a little more of the grass cut again. The grass is green and growing fast … I don’t think I’m going to be able to keep up with it if it rains. Thankfully it was dry enough (barely) to get some of the longest and thickest cut, although I had to make two passes and it has only been a few days!
Here are couple of the tiny flowers before the predicted frost does away with them. (using the Kodak Zx5 Pocket Playsport camcorder on macro mode … not bad for an inexpensive HD waterproof video camera on still mode.)
Posted By RichC on March 26, 2012
Those of you who read my blog once in a while know that I’ve struggled to decide which way to go when it comes to eReaders, Android tablets or iPads (or smartphones for that matter). I’m no longer on the fence; as timing would have it,
a family member of one of my customers upgraded to the new iPad (3) and I was offered his older 64GB Verizon iPad 2. (so old) 
No complaining here …a good device at a fair price.
The problem now is that I’m spending too much time looking for apps and playing with my new toy. I’m not planning to subscribe to the 3G data plan at this time … but might look at turning it on and off when traveling if that is possible (BTW, my Palm Pre tethers in an emergency I can still connect when not within a wifi connection.) Those of you using an iPad regularly, do keep me posted as to likes or dislikes of a bluetooth physical keyboard and case … I’m thinking an iPad might make a good travel replacement for my six pound notebook and case of accessories?
