My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on May 30, 2010

I “tried”’ to take advantage of the $100 Cash for Appliances rebate program back in March/April by reserving a reservation, purchasing a new dishwasher, recycling the old dishwasher and filling out the rebate paperwork, but I have been thwarted by the system. Once again our bureaucracy is too much for me to figure out. This will be the last time I’ll be nudged by politicians or participate in government programs which attempts to stimulate the economy or whatever. What a bureaucratic farce.

Sadly the ‘taxpayers’ are on the hook for a rebate advertising campaign, development of a website and associated online infrastructure and a paid staff to administer an appliance stimulus program. Still knowing  this upfront,  I decided that I would be patriotic and replace our aging dishwasher and doing my part in spending and installing a more energy efficient model. For this, I was promised a $100 rebate after weaving my way through the compliance steps. I  mading a reservation (limited numbers), then scrambled to purchase an appliance within 3 days, recycled the old at an authorized recycling facility (a pain for the self-installer BTW) and submitting my filled out paperwork and original receipt to a rebate facility in Texas – key administrative location (notice it is not Ohio).

Now after waiting the appropriate amount of time, I’ve received a postcard indicating that my purchase did not meet the terms and is invalid … “Purchase location was on in the state of Ohio.” Hmm … I had 3 days to make the purchase and not finding the model (energy efficient and approved model) we wanted at several local appliance stores, proceeded to start to “order” from Lowes. They indicated that the program was so successful that their inventory was depleted and that I would have to be put on the waiting list and that they would ship it from one of their out of state warehouses. I sat down in their store, made a couple calls finding it in-stock at an out of state store and they shipped it the next day (mistake, ehh?)

Now, I wonder just how much of a difference it makes to purchase the dishwasher being sold by Lowes and ship from their out of state warehouse and me purchasing and having it shipped?

Category: Financial, Personal, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: dishwasher, government, rebate, stimulus

Posted By RichC on May 29, 2010

For those at a distance discussing and “playing politics” with securing our borders and dealing with illegals crossing from Mexico, it might be a good idea to visit and talk with those “legally” living, paying taxes and owning property in Arizona. There was a short interview (below) with a rancher who talks about the situation; he has a right to be frustrated and angry. If listening to him talk about a half-million being apprehended crossing the border at his property line, having 7 break-ins and a neighbor killed isn’t enough to blame government for not doing their job, then I don’t know what is. If those charged with the responsibility (Feds) don’t respond and protect our citizens … and the state and local law enforcement aren’t permitted to enforce the laws … then it is time for a citizen, or a citizen militia, to protect themselves and their property. As federal and state taxpayer and citizens of this country, I can’t imagine how angry I would be that my family and property continued to be at risk while politicians concern themselves with offending those who are in this country illegally. As if that isn’t bad enough, the citizens who are not being protected are paying taxes (both state and federal) that are used to care for and support those who are here illegally. Wake up Washington and do your job.

Category: Politics, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: arizona, foxnews, illegal, immigration, Politics

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2010

Category: Automotive, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: automotive, ford, hybrid, photoshopped

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2010

When I posted the photos and comments about the trip to Washington DC with the Shelby County Ohio veterans on Monday, I didn’t include the short video segment from my Palm Pre. I’ve encoded and merged the short clips from our visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday May 22, 2010.

Category: History, Personal, Video | 2 Comments »
Tags: Arlington, ohio, shelby, sidney, veterans, Washington DC

Posted By RichC on May 27, 2010

 DJI: +285 (+2.8%) | NASDAQ: +82 (3.7%) | S&P 500: +35 (3.3%)

If I knew how to trade the up and down stock market I’d be a happy camper … unfortunately it is near impossible.

Today’s comeback saw stocks returning the losses from Tuesday and Wednesday, but conditions on Wall Street (and in the overall economy) leave much to be desired. I’m a believer that the sooner we return (IF we return) to fiscal responsibility, that conditions will be far better for a legitimate economic comeback. Until then, volatility and uncertainty will persist.

It has been a tough 30 days for those in equities (chart right).

Category: Financial | No Comments »
Tags: markets, stocks, wall street

Posted By RichC on May 27, 2010

From previous posts, some of you know that I enjoy sailing and the surf … and although I’ve practiced combining the two with windsurfing, I can’t imagine doing it like this.

Category: Sailing, Sports, Video | No Comments »
Tags: ocean, sailing, surfing, waves, windsurfing, wipeout

Posted By RichC on May 26, 2010

Where visiting my parents, my mother always has a pile of newspaper and magazine clipping for both my brother and me to go through.

One of them (below) this past weekend happened to include a Cincinnati area friend and regular blog reader … so I figured it might be appropriate to warn him that when traveling to Sidney and Shelby County that it is difficult to go unnoticed by my mom!
😉

Category: Misc, Personal | No Comments »
Tags: aaa, disney, glandorf, ohio, sidney

Posted By RichC on May 25, 2010

Category: Technology, Video | No Comments »
Tags: robot

Posted By RichC on May 24, 2010

Veterans from Shelby County Ohio at the World War II Memorial Saturday, May 22, 2010

I intended to blog this past weekend (May 21-23) while volunteering with the WWII and Korea veterans honor trip to Washington DC … but my hands were full from dawn until dusk … and then some! That’s not to say that this group of men from Shelby County Ohio were a troublesome handful or helpless, but is an indication that we were all busy nearly every minute of the day.

While on the bus, we made rest stops about every two hours (one for a mechanical issue) and organizers filled the drive with activities including a variety of games with prizes and multiple “mail calls” for the vets. Besides lining the Sidney Ohio roadway while departing on Friday morning (very humbling to all the vets I might add), the school children, supportive residents and families from the area wrote letters to each veteran … nearly 2000 letters in all. (WOW!)  The support also included fundraising efforts which paid for each of the 48 veterans being sent to Washington DC … the community sure knows how to support their own.

(I was missing a nametag, so was presented with my “badge” that I proudly wore during the trip … there was no mistaking me. – image left. Also the “Kilroy was here” paper was tucked under the hotel room door with a “riveting” account of the history [PDF])

The heroes from Shelby County Ohio being honored had a near perfect trip, in my opinion. They were deeply humbled by the greetings from visitors young and old as they visited the memorials dedicated in their honor. One of the veterans commented that before the trip that he was pessimistic about America’s future referencing younger generations, but after young and old alike thank him for his service everywhere he went, he said he realized that he was premature in assessing their heart. Not once did we encounter anyone who was less than respectful … and there were too many account of appreciation too count. It certainly gave me a more positive feeling about the future of our country.

Veterans of Korea at the memorial for them.

Besides visiting the WWII, Korea and Vietnam memorials, we also spent time at Arlington National cemetery, the “Iwo Jima” Marine Corp memorial and new Pentagon Memorial. where I was able to help the wife of one of the veterans look up the “bench” of a family member who was killed – LTC Karen Wagner.

The trip was special for me because I not only had the opportunity to assist 48 veterans, but also had the privilege to be with my dad (and my brother Ron). My father served in Korea as an Army M4a3 Sherman Tank commander and his 1st Sergeant rank became a comedy of purposeful mispeaks during each “mail call.” I suspect there were many with not so fond memories of their days in the service.

All in all the group was amazing. I only wish I would have taped the men with their a cappella singing of “God Bless America” on our return trip. There are two sets of Picasa photo slideshows, one larger one from my Canon DSLR included below the field of 19 bronze infantryman at the Korea Memorial photo (when reflected in the wall there are 38 – for the 38 parallel as well as what some say was the 38 month duration) and the other from my Palm Pre.

LINK to 200+ shared Google Photo Album from trip

Category: History, Personal, Photos | 4 Comments »
Tags: county, dadc, korea, memorial, ohio, shelby, sidney, veterans, Washington DC, wwii

Posted By RichC on May 23, 2010

Category: Automotive | No Comments »
Tags: alternative, amp, energy, ev, fuel