Archive: Labor Day Weekend photos in Toledo with KDAE
Posted By RichC on September 4, 2024
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Utility trailer wiring and Marshall Islands Atomic bomb testing
Posted By RichC on September 3, 2024
Operation Crossroads Baker in 1946
Besides mowing the front lawn last Friday night (practically in the dark) and much of Saturday in the backyard, I did find time to replace the old cracked tires and rewire the “old” long ago broken lights on the Bame Utility trailer.
On a book reading side note, I’m on a multi-year (decade) trend of studying WW2 military history. As the war in the Pacific Ocean inched casualty upon casualty in the U.S. island hopping campaign towards Japan, I’m entering the atomic era which eventually ended the war by using “the A-Bombs “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” resulting in Japan’s surrender.
In the more current read of “Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen, the reading had me sidestepping to look up satellite visuals of what we can see is left from Pacific test sites … images from Enewetak Atoll and the clean-up dome on Runit Island. It is amazing that after 80 years of being in the atomic age that man has not wiped out the entire world.
It is also interesting that “a report by the US Congressional Research Service projects that the majority of the atoll will be fit for human habitation by 2026–2027, after nuclear decay, de-contamination and environmental remediation efforts create sufficient dose reductions.” (Wikipedia link/quote … if you trust it?)
Music Monday: Labor Day and listening to “Marina Del Rey”
Posted By RichC on September 2, 2024
Happy Labor Day 2024!
It’s a great day (weekend) to listen to No Shoes Radio on my AfterShokz Aeropex bone conduction headset. For those unfamiliar with them, I’ve been a fan of the “open ear” headset concept since 2017 as they’ve been super helpful in returning “some” vibration hearing back to my deaf right ear and are affordable. Also they are comfortable and helpful in keeping my “good” left ear open to noise and voices … besides it doubles as a phone headset because it has a microphone!
| Kenny Chesney “Marina Del Rey” | 2004 |
Back to Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Radio and his 2004 version of country music’s superstar George Strait’s 1982 hit “Marina Del Rey.”
| George Strait – “Marina Del Rey” | 1982 |
“Marina del Rey” is a song recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in September 1982 as the second single from his album
Strait from the Heart, which went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA. It peaked at number 6 in the United States, and number 2 in Canada. The song is set in Marina del Rey, California, and it is structured as a slow romantic ballad. Longtime country songwriters Frank Dycus and Dean Dillon composed the tune.
The song is about a love affair on the beach. A man and a woman get together and have a good time during a vacation. They create many memories and then go their separate ways – back to their normal lives.
Not all Cordless Drivers and Impact Wrenches are the same
Posted By RichC on September 1, 2024
As a weekend mechanic (or far less to be truthful), I’ve used air powered impact tools and a couple different cheaper branded impact wrenches for years. The Chicago Tool impact wrench from decades ago never had the power to make it even worth pulling out and so it was replaced with a Harbor Freight more-torque “Earthquake” model before there were decent battery versions. 
I use that in the garage to this day as it still impresses me (one of the better tool buys).
About a decade ago when trying to replace a broken Craftsman tool, I bought a clearance price Craftsman 1/2” Impact driver at the Sears store while I was waiting (when they still existed). It came with a Lithium Ion battery and would work with my 2-19.2 Volt Drills with dying NiCad battery packs (before my Ridgid conversion).
Fast forward to adding additional Ridgid branded cordless tools to my shop. I’ve been adding new tools here or there and have found them excellent for the home-tool-owner … and perhaps “light-duty” technician. The Limited Lifetime Agreement (LSA) has been “good” as they replace a couple failing batteries (I’ve only had one slow-drain tool problem that they will not fix or replace). The fact that they are conveniently sold at Home Depot and their online store with free delivery make them too tempting. So … I ended up adding a new 1/2” Ridgid Mid-Torque Impact Wrench to my tool cabinet since the smaller 1/4” and 3/8” drivers have been fantastic.
The results haven’t been as disappointing … even with the 5-star rating from users online. The fact is, the Craftsman 1/2” Impact Wrench works better and the HF Earthquake pneumatic impact wrench is better than both. Oh, they work, just not the way I would like them too. Buyer beware.
Leftover August 2024 images to clear out MyCubby folder
Posted By RichC on August 31, 2024
The folder labelled “MyCubby” on my Microsoft OneDrive is a place I collect 
images, links, photos, etc that might be worth looking at again … or perhaps used on the blog.
Each month I try to start fresh with a relatively empty space … so to prepare for September 2024, I’ll archive a couple items on MyDesultoryBlog for posterity.
First for a little American political humor with a couple of baseball players — Burr and Hamilton. Let’s hope they don’t end up like Aaron and Alexander did in 1804? 😊
Below is a photo with an illustration pertaining to a nagging injury to my left foot or big toe. It has bothered me on and off for over a year and flares up when I put weight on my left toe or wear certain shoes.
And then there is a “climate change” chart that I included in a post on X.com which sort of illustrates to me that perhaps we don’t observe change with a wide enough lens … a better perspective of “time” might be something worth considering???
It has been HOT all this week in SW Ohio … but especially today
Posted By RichC on August 30, 2024
Record heat all this week, but today was especially HOT!
What’s wrong with this Ohio vs Florida summer temperature comparison???
Woodworking project plans: A Slant Leg Coffee Table
Posted By RichC on August 30, 2024
In scanning through a couple of “foreign” woodworking magazines, there were a couple of ideas and even a set of plans (in metric) that I decided to snip and archive.
Loved the idea above for hanging cords, etc … similar to a commercial one that I use … and a more complicated Slant Leg Coffee Table with antiqued finish (PDF article).
Learning to use a “new to me” woodworking finger joint jig
Posted By RichC on August 29, 2024
Last year about this time, I posted about making or buying a Rockler Box Joint Jig for my router table. Eventually I did buy it on sale a few months ago but with summer arriving, I didn’t find the time to work in the basement workshop.
While catching up on some woodworking magazine reading last week, I was triggered to tinker with it and get it set up just to see how it worked. I cut a few short pieces of 1/2” oak (from Katelyn and Drew’s property) to set it up with and decided to make a square box (think of it as a same drawer). After a couple mistakes in setting up the finger joint jig (see AI description at bottom of this post), I shortened one of the sides and decided it would be a rectangular sample box. HA!
I few “finger cuts” with a 1/2” spiral router bit, the setting seemed correct and I proceeded to complete a small box and rabbeted the underside to fit in the bottom. Brenda liked it and decided instead of it sitting on the shelf in the workshop that she would see if it fit in on the new laundry room shelves. I suspect she now wants a few more to match? 😊
The tropical weather in the Pacific is being watched by Hawaii
Posted By RichC on August 28, 2024
Normally this is the time of the year to watch the tropical weather in the Atlantic Ocean “because” in impacts the Caribbean islands and most of the eastern seaboard and Gulf of Mexico states. BUT … this year so far the storms impacting Hawaii are in the news.
Category 1 Hurricane Hone passed mostly south of the Big Island known as Hawaii and roughed up seas and spun wind and rain over the island. It is being followed by Gilma and Hector … so tropical storm watchers are paying attention. Here’s a video highlighting their spinning as of August 27, 2024.
Spent the weekend wire-brushing and painting the utility trailer
Posted By RichC on August 27, 2024
The “flowers photo” was not the purpose of this post, but because the tiny purple flowers looked so nice this past weekend, I took a photo (I should know the name or at least take the time to look it up … but I’m not).
BUT the real reason was to archive the very messy wire-brushing and de-rusting of my old rusty orange Bame Utility Trailer that doubles as both as a large yard trailer and small “behind the car” utility trailer. It has been excellent over the years, but has seen better days.
It needed a complete overhaul so first was to remove as much rust as possible … then repack the bearings, order new rubber tires and finally repair the damage wiring and plug from long ago. For good measure i’ll be adding new wooden sides someday so that I can continue to haul logs, leaves and hopefully some more lumber back from Katelyn and Drew’s garage.
Does the color look familiar? I had some leftover John Deere GREEN paint from when I inherited and repair Dad Howard’s lawn tractor trailer. 😊
Photo of Brenda and sister Chris and after painting the trailer from years ago
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.