My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on March 21, 2012

The unseasonably warm weekend prior and first day of spring brought a bit of clean up to the Corbett yard and with that our semi-annual bonfire (we have one spring and fall – or kid gatherings).

While we are probably burning the dead wood and yard debris in violation of some kind of local township or neighborhood  regulation, we continue to carry on a family tradition. For 30 years now on our properties and in generations prior.

I remember a story from a few years ago as Brenda’s 85 year old grandmother known as Aunt Mabel in Brocton NY told the young policeman asking her not to burn … “Sonny, I don’t drive a car, I don’t smoke and this burning is the only polutin’ I do … and so I’m going to continue to burn my fire.” The officer politely walked away. So far … we’ll do the same.

Category: Environment, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: bonfire, clean up, spring

Posted By RichC on March 20, 2012

Category: Misc, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: ipad, nascar, tablet

Posted By RichC on March 20, 2012

Category: Computer, Technology | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on March 19, 2012

I spent an hour playing with my friend’s new iPad (3) over a lunch this past weekend and may have had too high of expectations. It was nice, but didn’t leave me with the must have desire that I expected. The AT&T 4G version operated similar to my son’s wifi only iPad 2 that I found it “not much different,” although didn’t put the 4G connection through a serious test – concern over the limits.

Of course the just out of the box unit didn’t have many apps on it and for the first time I found the opening and closings of apps a bit clunky compared to my old webOS Palm Pre phone … flipping through open cards, etc (I should have noticed this before???) Also, the impressive retina display didn’t blow my socks off as many reviewers commented. Yes it was very sharp, but not having the iPad2 next to it, I didn’t really have anything but my previous usage to compare it too. I’m sure over time the new display would be appreciated, especially for photos and maybe for reading fine type, but in just casual surfing I can’t say it jump out as shocking.

My conclusion was that, unless I’m missing something, I might be just as happy using a discounted (if they exist soon) iPad 2. What I will be watching for is the battery life report for those who spend time on 4G or 3G. Am I missing something?

Category: Tablet, Technology | 4 Comments »
Tags: ipad3, new ipad, palm, tablet

Posted By RichC on March 18, 2012

Since each year I’ve either looked at, blogged about or taken a photo of the White Star Magnolia we planted for Brenda back on Mother’s Day in 2008, I’ll include a macro video test  with the little waterproof Kodak Playsport Zx5 pocket camera. (hint: don’t use the macro setting for this)

The flowers have been blooming this year for over a week now… far earlier than after previous winters. I’m not an avid “global warmite” or in a panic over climate change… but it has been an unusually mild winter and does give concern over the potential lack of snowpack supplying water to the southwest US – farming, wild fires, excessive population, underground water tables? I’m probably making a very amateur observation but it is challenging to make the conclusion that “man” has all that much to do with global climate changes … although agree with my son who does study water aquifers and heavy over use of the mid and western U.S. underground water supplies for irrigation … often in waste. But that’s another subject that has more to do with wisely managing our natural resources.

Category: Environment, Nature, Personal, Video | No Comments »
Tags: flowers, kodak, magnolia, playsport, yard, zx5

Posted By RichC on March 17, 2012

Friday was one of those days I would rather forget … and I know Taylor would say the same. For me, it was a day of running around to hospitals, dentists and doctors with my son … for Taylor it was a obviously more painful.

He was Uptown in Oxford (Miami University-Ohio) on a Thursday night and met some of his friends at a bar … not my preference, but he is 22 and in college. The evening ended about 1-1:30 and the girls headed back to their rooms in one direction and Taylor back to his house which is in another. Usually he would be with a group of guys, but this evening he was alone (an obvious mistake … but it is “small college town” Oxford).

The sidewalk is well traveled but not so well lit but even at 1AM there are students walking home or standing around outside. Unfortunately for Taylor, two thugs decided to bash his head … no provocation and not even time to look to see who hit him. He blacked out and the next thing he remembers is the rescue squad trying to get him to the hospital. The nurse used his cell phone to call his sister in Columbus who in turn call home.

After some observation and a CT scan they released him, but recommend a stitch in his eyelid and to have a surgeon look at his orbital tripod fracture. Of course the surgeon recommended surgery (we’ll get a second opinion). In the meantime he was able to get a temporary cap on the fractured molar by the dentist, but needs a crown. Ugh.

Hopefully a good night sleep, a little reduced swelling will give a better perspective on things in the morning? (btw … reminds me of his rugby injury)

Category: Archive, Health, Personal | 1 Comment »
Tags: doctor, hospital, miami, ohio, oxford, taylor

Posted By RichC on March 16, 2012

I’m not planning on going to Walmart to stand in line at 12:01AM to buy the new iPad, but would like to end up with one at some point. From the reports I’ve been reading, the battery life is still excellent (10 hours), the retina display unbeatable (super sharp) and the added weight/thickness hardly noticeable – WSJ review. After the long road trip with my son and his iPad2, I can’t see a reason not to opt for the Apple tablet even though I do like Android and webOS. I probably could live with the iPad2, but the price differential isn’t that significant compared to the third generation, especially considering the number of hours I expect to use one (base model $399 vs. $499 — accessories could be a bigger cost factor)

WSJ Flash video no longer exists