My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on December 22, 2011

Once upon a time, the word “Plasitcs” was uttered by Mr. McGuire as “enough said” advice for The Graduate in 1967 … nowadays I think we need to start thinking three words or perhaps just the acronym … UAV?

All I can say is find me the “preferred” company to invest in that will dominate both military and commercial UAVs and I think there is money to be made over the next 10 to 20 years. From unmanned drones flying in your neighborhood, to danger zones around the world or just for Hollywood and amateur filmmaking … we’re going to see more planes, spacecraft, flying saucers and helicopters buzzing around. (Besides eliminating terrorists, here’s a great commercial use of a remote control helicopter below)

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Category: Advice, Audio, Aviation, Financial, Video | No Comments »
Tags: aviaiton, finance, investing, plastics, remote control, uav

Posted By RichC on December 21, 2011

I’ve been happily using Avast! as my virus scanner for the last couple years … and have been off and on satisfied for over a decade. The company updates always get me concerned knowing that the free version could become as bloated as are many others (paid versions aren’t immune either). Thankfully the most recent update merely added links to offsite reports which eases concern that the sites I visit are relatively safe and that my computer is being protected. Resident virus protection aside, it is a good idea to scan your hard drive with other software and occasionally deep clean browser and program bits and piece … check out Revo Uninstaller.

Besides keeping a personal computer clean and running at it best speed, I’m finally satisfied with the WordPress install on the new server. Speeds have been good since I figure out the problem with the Redirection log … and traffic is climbing back to close to where it was prior to changing from richc.myarchive.us to richcorbett.us the new domain – MyDesultoryBlog.com. (graph to right depicts Dec 1st – 20th traffic)

Category: Blogs, Computer | 4 Comments »
Tags: avast, blog, revo uninstaller, stats, virus, wordpress

Posted By RichC on December 20, 2011

A very positive day for a broad swath of Wall Street and U.S. based companies. The stock market saw trading return the Dow Jones Industrial Average back over the psychologically challenging 12,000 mark.

Those watching the ups and downs realize that one day up 300+ points doesn’t mean all that much … especially when considering the year’s volatility. Still for those who’s jobs depend on how investments close out the year, this is good news.

NEW YORK—U.S. stocks rallied as domestic home building jumped to the highest level in nearly two years and another successful Spanish debt auction buoyed investor sentiment. LINK

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 337.32 points, or 2.87%, to 12103.58 in light “close to the holidays” trading on Tuesday. The Nasdaq was up 35.95 or 2.98% to 1241.30 and S&P 500 even better closing up 3.19% to 2603.73.

Category: Financial | No Comments »
Tags: finance, markets

Posted By RichC on December 20, 2011

Brenda and I are enjoying the evenings with our son Taylor who is home from college for Christmas break. He shared a few stories and a cute video from the Miami University (OH) football field that was shown on Sportscenter. The somewhat viral YouTube video (at least on campus) made by the student film team highlighting “Chad in equipment, who dances during warm ups.”

CHAD STYLEZ—Miami (OH) Redhawks Football Dancing Equipment Manager

Category: Humor, Video | No Comments »
Tags: college, football, miami, redhawks

Posted By RichC on December 19, 2011

For those living south of the Mason-Dixon line, a big merger occurred today with the grocery chain Bi-Lo purchasing the larger Winn-Dixie Stores for $560 million. (link) The smaller privately own company purchased the 480 store Winn-Dixie chain and included 380 pharmacies as well. The news bump the share price up 70% with the $9.50/share cash price. The combined company will cover eight states and have about 690 stores  with 63,000 workers and existing Winn-Dixie store will retain their name due to strong name recognition.

"With no overlap in our markets, the combined company will have a perfect geographic fit that will create a stronger platform from which to provide our customers great products at a great value, while continuing to offer exceptional service," said Bi-Lo Chairman Randall Onstead.

Winn-Dixie’s board has unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close in the next 60 to 120 days.

The management structure and headquarters location have yet to be determined, but the companies anticipate keeping locations in both Greenville, S.C. and Jacksonville, Fla.

Winn-Dixie emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2006. In its most recent quarter, Winn-Dixie’s revenues rose 3 percent, yet the company posted a loss of about $24 million.

Shares rose $3.79 to $9.22 in early trading.

AP Photo/DAVID ADAME

Category: Financial | No Comments »
Tags: grocery, pharmacy, retail

Posted By RichC on December 19, 2011

Fun new winter Google Easter Egg similar to the partial archived list from an earlier post … “Let it snow.”

Also thought I’d include the tasty looking Christmas cookies my daughter made … unfortunately she is taking them to work and not bring them too me!

Category: Archive, Computer, Holiday | No Comments »
Tags: cookies, easter eggs, google

Posted By RichC on December 18, 2011

It doesn’t get much better than this … our son Taylor is home from college for Christmas break and after living off campus decided to make dinner for his parents. What a treat to know that he can cook well enough to take care of himself and enjoys making dinner for us. In appreciation I was happy to clean up. (note: upon visits to his house realized it wasn’t as stellar as his cooking.)

Category: Personal, Video | No Comments »
Tags: christmas, college, taylor

Posted By RichC on December 17, 2011

Successfully passed the test … so thought I would share it on the blog  instead of irritating friends by forwarding it in an email  (something I very rarely do and always Bcc … hint, hint)

1- Find the C below…

Do not use any cursor help.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2- If you already found the C, now find the 6 below.

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
69999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

3 – Now find the N below. It’s a little more difficult.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these 3 tests, you can cancel
your annual visit to your neurologist. Your brain is great and you’re far
from having a close relationship with Alzheimer.

Congratulations!

eonvrye that can raed this rsaie your hnad.

If you can read the following paragraph, you are just awsome.
Only great minds can read this
This is weird, but interesting!

If you can raed this, you have a sgtrane mnid too

Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde
Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the
olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit
pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a
pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot
slpeling was ipmorantt! If you can raed this forwrad it

Category: Misc | No Comments »
Tags: email, spam

Posted By RichC on December 16, 2011

I never realized just how restrictive New York firearm laws were until reading this story. It never occurred to me that transporting a pistol in a locked case could be a class C felony, even in a liberal state like New York? I suppose if someone spends their life living under NY restrictions … as did my wife … its no wonder they have difficulty comprehending the personal liberties that exist in states respecting Second Amendment rights.

It has taken this story to hammer home how different gun laws can be in different states. (note highlighted text below)

Tea Party Patriots co-founder Mark Meckler was arrested at an airport in New York City on Thursday after he attempted to check-in a locked gun box holding his Glock 27 pistol and ammunition to a Delta Airlines ticket agent.

According to authorities and his attorney, Meckler, 49, holds a concealed-carry permit for the Glock 27 pistol at home in California, but not in New York where he was attempting to board the plane. As a result, he was arrested and charged with a felony.

“Before leaving home, passengers should acquaint themselves with the weapon laws of the jurisdiction that they are visiting and comply with any and all legal requirements if they choose to travel with a weapon,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said.

“Otherwise, they may find themselves being arrested and charged with a felony – as is what occurred in this case,” he said.

Attorney Brian Stapleton of Goldberg, Segalla, LLP said Meckler was only attempting to follow TSA rules for checking in a firearm when he was arrested.

“While in temporary transit through the state of New York in possession of an unloaded, lawful firearm that was locked in a TSA-approved safe, he legally declared his possession of the firearm in his checked baggage at the ticket counter as required by law and in a manner approved by TSA and the airline, yet was arrested by port authority for said possession,” Stapleton said.

Meckler was arraigned Thursday in Queens Criminal Court and charged with second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony.

Read more

Category: Misc, News, Politics, Travel | 6 Comments »
Tags: firearms, guns, mark meckler, new york, tea party

Posted By RichC on December 16, 2011

Christopher Hitchens, the author, essayist and polemicist who waged verbal and occasional physical battle on behalf of causes left and right and wrote the provocative best-seller “God is Not Great,” died Thursday night after a long battle with cancer. He was 62.

more at WSJ.com.

Category: Obituary | No Comments »
Tags: athiest, hitchens, obit