My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on October 5, 2011

I wasn’t alone in paying attention to Tuesday’s much publicized Apple event which showcased a new an updated iPhone. Perhaps the enthusiastic hype isn’t Apple’s fault as “we” have reason to anxiously wait, considering the the cool new stuff that comes out of Cupertino California. Unfortunately the “updated” hardware and new software integration wasn’t as earthshaking as most expected.

Besides the missing “new” hardware … I think the Apple faithful also missed Steve Jobs, who stepped down earlier this year due to his health issues. That said, Apple Inc.’s new chief executive Tim Cook emulated the Jobs presentation style, even if the product announcements didn’t have the sizzle as in the past. Apple did introduce the highly anticipated fifth-generation iPhone smartphone,  called the 4S (not the iPhone 5 many had been suggesting), which features a faster processor and a better camera, as well as voice-command services. The new updates will keep them close or ahead (depending on your point of view) of phones from a variety of Asian manufacturers which run Google’s Android OS. The iPhone’s internal components and new software capabilities should make existing users “eventually” upgrade, but the physical screen size and same footprint may not trigger a visual response for newbies. Still, releasing the 4S in October (pre-holiday) and adding a new carrier (Sprint) should boost sales. As for new iPhone features such as a 8 megapixel camera, 1080p resolution video and advanced touchscreen controls, most are  already available on competitors’ phones. I think most Apple investors and customers were left wanting more. Missing from the wish list were 4G high speed data and a bigger screen in a thinner package. (I personally want a phone with a physical keyboard that is a portrait slider – Pre-like – but I know that’s not coming from Apple … sort of like wishing for a two button mouse and trackpad)

A couple wait and see feature including the voice control will require time to see if they play out. Previous attempts in talking to computers haven’t gone over all that well. The new software features, such as syncing media among devices over the Internet, are intriguing, but that’s not all that easy to demonstrate onstage.

The letdown was seen in Apple’s shares, which fell 5% early Tuesday but lifted as stocks rebound toward the end of the day. AAPL closed at $372.50 and was down another $1.30 as I post this over lunch on Wednesday.

I’m not sure an iPhone is in my future just yet, even though I was somewhat excited to hear Sprint had struck a deal that put the iPhone in their stable of phones … then again, the cost to Sprint seems pretty high (LINK).

Category: Cellphone, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, iphone, smartphone

Posted By RichC on October 5, 2011

Not so promising long term update comments … but worth reading if you are looking at new VW TDIs.

My first impressions of the new Jetta’s cabin aren’t very positive. While I had mentally prepared for a cheapened interior, I continue to find additional minor cost-cutting annoyances. First on the list is the frequently used start/stop button. It appears to be a round push-button with a chrome trim ring. In truth, it is a cheap, one-piece square switch which moves its whole surround when pressed. Interior lighting is also frustrating, as the driver cannot activate the rear overhead lights (to help kids with their seatbelts) without opening a door. The no-frills navigation unit is nearly useless, too, with a lack of information on the small screen and an inability to zoom out while retaining detail … read more: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: September 2011.

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Volkswagen | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on October 4, 2011

Thanks Jeff … although not sure I appreciated the “this reminds me of you” comment!

Category: Faith, Humor | No Comments »
Tags: christianity, Humor, twitter

Posted By RichC on October 4, 2011

This content is restricted.

Category: Audio, Financial, Music, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: bernanke, economy, finance, mp3, Politics

Posted By RichC on October 4, 2011

Category: Misc | 1 Comment »
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Posted By RichC on October 3, 2011

Ben, Emily, Chris and Jerry Skinner – October 2, 2011 (click for larger)

We enjoyed my nephew Ben and Emily’s cool (45 degrees) but sunny Sunday morning wedding at the Darby House near Columbus, Ohio this past weekend. They were the "picture-perfect” couple and exchanged personal vows on the terrace overlooking the beautiful setting. My brother-in-law Jerry (Ben’s dad) officiated the wedding as friends and family huddled gathered for the nuptials and following afternoon reception. We all had a wonderful time … thank you to the Eyermans and Skinners, and congratulations to Ben and Emily.

A few more photos from my camera below …

Google embedded not supported … go to LINK

Category: Personal, Photos | 4 Comments »
Tags: darby house, eyerman, skinner, wedding

Posted By RichC on October 2, 2011

Friday night and Saturday morning gave me a few more hours to disassemble the MBG engine once again, although this time I also removed the head. As noted previously, the #2 intake valve was sticking in an open position taking compression to zero. Under further inspection, I can see that it doesn’t seat correctly … who knows if it has anything to do with it being designed for leaded gasoline and running most of the miles on unleaded fuel? I suspect that may have something to do with it.

I called a friend, Jack Cook who owns a small machine shop, in hopes that he would be able to machine the head and seat the valves next week … thankfully he met me over at the shop and suggested we install a couple hardened valve seats in the exhaust ports too. Sounds like a plan.

While I’m at it, I’m going to have him re-tap a couple emission ports so I can install proper plugs rather than the pinched off lines (eliminated them when I installed the new Weber downdraft in place of the Zenith carburetor).

One of my debates now is whether to pull the pistons and install new rings? I’m doing a leak test with some diesel fuel to see just how long before the fuel drains into the oil pan … it held for about an hour or so, but eventually all but number one cylinder “leaked” all of the fuel. Hmm …I do wish this car had the potential for value since I’m putting a few too many hours into it (mostly pleasure), not to mention dollars.

Category: Automotive, MGB, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: engine, mgb, rebuild

Posted By RichC on October 1, 2011

I saw a CNBC interview with Warren Buffett the other day and didn’t realized just how twisted the “tax the rich” ideas had become. I’m not saying that I agree with either Warren Buffett or President Obama’s new tax proposals, BUT I was surprised to have them being reported as nearly one in the same by most of the media … as well as those political partisans seeing this as benefitting them (both far left and right).

I’m including a couple questions asked of Mr. Buffett (below), one answer, that in my view, shows a significant difference between the Buffett Plan and the Obama’s proposal. Buffett didn’t answer the support or not question directly, but drew pretty significant distinctions between taxing the über-rich, who earn the majority of their income from capital gains, and the working-rich who earn their multi-millions via earned income (IRS definition). With this distinction made, it doesn’t sound as if he is endorsing higher taxes on the majority of small business or for that matter the majority of high income Americans. After explaining his ideas, he then also stated that President Obama’s plan to raise taxes on households with incomes over $250,000 is “another program.”

CNBC: Is the program that the White House has presented a million dollars and over your program? "

Buffett: "Well, the precise program which will — I don’t know what their program will be. My program would be on the very high incomes that are taxed very low. Not just high incomes. Somebody making $50 million a year playing baseball, his taxes won’t change. Make $50 million a year appearing on television, his income won’t change. But, if they make a lot of money and they pay a very low tax rate, like me, it would be changed by a minimum tax that would only bring them up to what the other people pay."

CNBC: "Does that mean you disagree with the president’s new jobs proposal which would be paid for by raising taxes on households with incomes of over $250,000?"

Buffett: "That’s another program that I won’t be discussing. My program is to have a tax on ultra-rich people who are paying very low tax rates. Not just all the rich people. It would probably apply to 50,000 people in a population of 300 million."

Does the average voter detect this difference … or is the Obama administration (and media folks who support them) deceptively misleading the public that their tax proposals are those of the Oracle of Omaha?

Category: Financial, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: congress, media, obama, taxes, warren buffett

Posted By RichC on October 1, 2011

So far I have been satisfied with our relatively low cost purchase of a Roku 2XD as a way to stream Internet content to our plasma TV. The Roku is must quicker to navigate than our TivoHD and offers a simple interface and one HDMI wire set up. Amazon online movie rentals worked great and Netflix content streamed effortlessly … again, better than our Tivo. The unit is WiFi, it is HD, low power and  is so small and lightweight that the bend in our kinked HDMI cable prevents it from sitting straight. My biggest regret is that our Panasonic Plasma has only one HDMI input and I now much switch cables every time I use it. Hmm, why didn’t they build in a few more HDMI inputs?

• Pros: High quality picture, Built in Wi-Fi, Compact
• Cons: Want more video choices, yet another single purpose remote
• Best Uses: HQ Internet TV HD "Networks" … in our case, GBTV.com

I’m looking forward to trying it out on the boat … while within range of our marina’s Internet service of course. Although IF I had a 4G connection wouldn’t mind trying it tethered to the smartphone while being “untethered” to shore-side power?

Category: Entertainment, Movies, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, gbtv, glenn beck, netflix, roku

Posted By RichC on September 30, 2011

As someone who has never been comfortable with President Obama’s policies or what he says publicly (particularly his “apologies for America” overseas) or in regards to terrorism (does the Obama administration even use that word?) — I will  acknowledge that there  has been continued aggressive actions to the exterminate top Al-Qaeda leaders (and pretty successful I might add … thanks to our military, CIA drones and U.S. special forces). I thought Glenn Beck’s headline was pretty good and used it as the subject line while archiving the removal of Anwar al-Awlaki … “Aww, shucks, another terrorist leader is dead.”

American born terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed by American forces. The death is being universally applauded as everyone agrees this dirtbag was a terrorist – ok, almost everyone is applauding it. Ron Paul immediately came out and expressed concern that an American citizen was assassinated without trial. Does he have a point? Or did al Awlaki seal his own fate?

Read more at Glenn Beck.com.

Category: Archive, News | No Comments »
Tags: archive, glenn beck, obama, terrorism