My Desultory Blog

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. 🙂

Category: Sports | No Comments »
Tags: basketball, buckeyes, jayhawks, kansas, NCAA, osu

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?

Category: Misc | 2 Comments »
Tags: design, engineer, ge, general electric, washer

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.

Category: Advice, Automotive, Business | No Comments »
Tags: Business, car care, oh, west chester

Posted By RichC on March 30, 2012

Click and be impressed …

Category: Computer, Misc, Weather | 2 Comments »
Tags: Art, weather, website, wind

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!

Category: Advice, Misc | 2 Comments »
Tags: customer assistance, operator, phone

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.

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Volkswagen | 1 Comment »
Tags: Chevrolet, diesel, passat, tdi, volkswagen, Volt, vw

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.)

Category: Nature, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: flowers, grass, Photos, spring, yard

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?

Category: Computer, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, ipad, verizon

Posted By RichC on March 25, 2012

Americans seem to be flirting with politically correct issue of “hateful distasteful speech” once again. After some trashy talk in the previous couple of elections, from the media notables and celebrities targeting Sarah Palin to the death threats to cartoonist for caricatures of Muhammad, Rush Limbaugh is being targeted for his inappropriate comments of Sandra Fluke – link. Personally I find them all offensive and would prefer a higher level of discourse come from particularly those who have a large audience … but censorship,  well I’m NOT sure we need government’s  heavy hand on it either.

The latest in hot button offensive speech is from the National Public Radio crowd, all be it their comedy show, Wait, Wait, Don’t tell me. Still, there seem to be a line of decency being crossed when using religion and religious leaders. Is it really necessary? (transcript below)

SAGAL: Roy, it’s a right of passage these days for celebrities to release a signature scent: Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, they’re all hawking perfumes. This week, we learned of another who has joined that roster. Who?

BLOUNT: It’s a real celebrity, one of the biggest celebrities in the world. I happen to know the answer to this. It is the pope.

SAGAL: It is Pope Benedict XVI, yes.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

(SOUNDBITE OF APPLAUSE)

SAGAL: Italian perfumer Silvana Casoli creates perfumes for both Madonna and Sting. So it seemed natural that she would be the one chosen to create a fragrance for another famous gay icon.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: But unlike your average celebrity scent, this perfume is meant for the Pope’s use only. Casoli says the perfume’s infused with some of the Pontiff’s favorite things: lemon, fresh spring grass, tree blossoms and anything that covers up the smell of old guy.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: So like I said, it’s only for his use but we’re hoping, you know, the Vatican had some trouble recently, they may need some income. Maybe he’ll sell it. Can you imagine the glossy TV ads for the pope’s perfume? A room with white billowing curtains, a gorgeous model sweeps into view, her gown swirling along her long legs. She whispers, “I’m wearing Pope.”

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

PIERCE: Well, the reason they can’t sell it, Peter, is the only way you can make it work is if there’s a little priest following behind you with a little thing burning.

SAGAL: Yes.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: Maybe he’s going to create like a pope product empire. He can sell jeans: “nothing gets between me and my Benedicts.”

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: How about breakfast cereal? Frosted Mini Popes.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: He can be in the ad. You know, it’s like hey, let’s give this cereal to Popey, Popey condemns everything.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: Oh look, Popey likes it.

Here’s an NPR Ombudsman article on this topic.

Category: Faith, Misc, News, Politics | 1 Comment »
Tags: speech

Posted By RichC on March 24, 2012

Although this turn out to be an elaborate hoax, it sure gets the juices flowing for all those who dream of flying like a bird!

Category: Aviation, Video | No Comments »
Tags: bird, flight, hoax, wings