My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on March 2, 2010

Curiosity had me pondering just how well the Palm Pre could capture video directly off of an HD Plasma television broadcast? Not too bad it turns out, considering up until webOS 1.4 update was implemented this past weekend that the diminutive smartphone couldn’t even shoot video.

When the update was first installed on my phone, I tried the YouTube update, then posted from email to Posterous directly and now will try embedding a clip as a flash video to the blog below … and maybe I’ll give Facebook option a try, even though I don’t use it much. The non-streaming .mov clip is download by clicking the above photo.

Category: Cellphone, Technology, Video | 2 Comments »
Tags: camcorder, palm, webos

Posted By RichC on March 1, 2010

After a brief lost of tethering my notebook computer with my Sprint Palm Pre after the webOS 1.4 update this past weekend, all is good again … although speed seems to be slower than last year?

I uninstalled MyTether 2.1 as instructed on the MyTether.net donor forum and after a reboot,  put the phone in DEV Mode and reinstalled MyTether again. It’s running just fine as I post this on Monday afternoon.

Category: Cellphone, Computer, Technology | 2 Comments »
Tags: mytether, palm, sprint, webos

Posted By RichC on March 1, 2010

While watching an aviation video online highlighting the P51 Mustang (30 min video below) and thinking about the ever dwindling number of WW II heroes from the greatest generation, I gave a bit more thought about an upcoming trip with my son. We’ll be spending a week with a World War II aviator from that era, my father-in-law … and Taylor’s grandfather.

As an Air Force lieutenant, Frederick A. Howard flew nearly 40 missions as navigator in a Martin B-26 Marauder over Europe. His stories have always been of interest to me and knowing that time is running short, want to trigger as many memories as possible for him to share with Taylor. Several years ago we were amazed the the emotion that was triggered in seeing a B-26 at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, so to we planned a trip with him to the restoration area of MAPS Museum in Akron, Ohio. It was a chance for him to see (touch and climb though) one of the very few Martin B-26 Marauders, during a restoration. We then gave him a book that reviewed the history of  this fast medium sized bomber during WW II and asked him to make notes in the margin detailing his memory of the missions — something he seemed to thoroughly enjoy.

Besides reviewing the book, I’m planning to archive the pages of  B-26.com with Pagenest on my thumbdrive (questionable Internet) in order to share in with him via computer during our visit … and perhaps someday “soon” take him to the B-26 Marauder archives.

Watching this video has reminded me that time is short and the opportunities are disappearing for a grandfather to talk with his grandson about what he was doing at age 20. Simply amazing ‘young’ men.

Category: Aviation, History, Personal, Video | No Comments »
Tags: air force, aviation, History, howard, military, ww II

Posted By RichC on February 28, 2010

I spent the afternoon and most of the evening struggling with upgrading to Windows 7, in between watching the USA lose 3-2 to Canada in OT in Olympic hockey. It wasn’t easy to switch from Windows 7 RC to Profession on a couple of computers, which by the way have been running flawlessly on both the Beta and Release Candidate operating systems.

I thought I had the entire upgrade figure out, but the “bitlocker” partition I installed caused me to overlook some the the automated C drive defaults after an email client update a few months ago. Thankfully I only lost 2 weeks of email due to my automated NAS drive back up. I’m glad to be running legal, although I still have a bunch of odds and ends software to re-install.

Category: Computer, Sports | No Comments »
Tags: hockey, olympics, windows 7

Posted By RichC on February 27, 2010

After tuning into the news early on Saturday following the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake which struck the coast of Chile, I checked back in this afternoon after 4PM as Hawaii waited to feel the effects from the earthquake after a tsunami warning. The large earthquake has taken the lives of over 800 people (edit: 3/4) and expectations are that the low number of deaths is due to a  country and population that was well prepared.

This earthquake, one of the biggest ever measured, struck just after 3:30 in the morning, toppling buildings, collapsing roads, and cutting off power and telecommunications services throughout much of the southern half of Chile. The epicenter was pinpointed offshore, 70 miles northeast of Concepción, Chile’s second-biggest city. Aftershocks are expected to continue for several weeks and tsunami warning extend across the Pacific Ocean.

I spent the afternoon like many people watching live television and web streams from Hawaii. UStream.tv had pretty good coverage, but not much in the way of surf or rising water. About the only noticeable sign was a reef that had significantly more exposed area than a normal low tide. Let’s hope that the lack of significant flooding or damage doesn’t discourage people from preparing the next go around.

Category: News, Video-TV, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: chile, disaster, earthquake, hawaii

Posted By RichC on February 27, 2010

Download now or watch on posterous

CIMG0362.mp4 (7005 KB)

Posting to Posterous from Palm Pre by email updated to webOS 1.4. (raw clip)

Posted via email from richc’s posterous

Category: Misc | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on February 27, 2010

The Palm webOS 1.4 update finally arrived and we’re still in February. It has been an anticipated update that includes new video and camcorder like features. While waiting for the substantial download and nearly 30 minute upgrade process, I ended up fiddling with a new piping or cording foot that arrived for my wife’s sewing machine. The Palm Pre came to life about the time I was installing the foot on her Singer and figured I’d test both the recording ability and how well it uploaded it to YouTube (embedded below).  So far so good.

Category: Cellphone, Technology, Video | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on February 27, 2010

Starting February 27th, Volkswagen will be implementing a "Think Blue" marketing campaign stressing the company’s focus on "sustainable mobility" which to CinciTDI and TDIClub members highlights the fuel efficiency of VW TDI diesel vehicles and the environmental awareness of new "clean diesel" TDIs and biodiesel fuel options. Volkswagen is building on the "BlueMotion" label and bringing back the successful 1960’s "Think Small" slogan which with the diminutive VW Beetle put Volkswagen on the map here in North America.

PRESS RELEASE

"Think Blue.": a signal for the environment
Environmental protection is the top priority for Volkswagen

New campaign for efficient driving and environmental awareness
Wolfsburg, 26 February 2010 – Protecting the environment is simple and everyone can help in their everyday lives. This is the message of the new image and marketing campaign called "Think Blue." which the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is launching on February 27, 2010. Building on one of the best-known environmental labels in the automobile industry, "BlueMotion", Volkswagen is sending out a new signal for sustainable mobility.

This corporate mindset is underscored by the use of blue as the predominant color in the campaign. The color is already established on the market in the Volkswagen brand logo and through the "BlueMotion" environmental label. Volkswagen is now systematically continuing this tradition in combination with innovative elements.

"Our goal is to establish ‘Think Blue.’ as an expression of our corporate mindset and a firm feature of the Volkswagen brand’s ecologically sustainable activities," Luca de Meo, Head of Marketing at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, explained. "We have deliberately chosen an international slogan because environmental protection knows no national boundaries. The campaign is in line with the Volkswagen brand values: innovative, valuable and responsible," de Meo added.

The new advertising campaign builds a bridge from the past to the future. It takes up the thread of the "Think small" campaign that accompanied the triumphant international success of the Beetle as the people’s car in the 1960s. "The ‘Think small’ slogan symbolizes the Volkswagen brand’s achievement in democratizing mobility the world over. The challenge of the future lies in achieving efficient and sustainable mobility for everyone. Volkswagen intends to lead the way. This is expressed by the campaign: ‘Think Small’ has become ‘Think Blue.’" de Meo stated.

The "Think Blue." campaign debuts on February 27, 2010 with print ads. These will be followed by TV spots, brochures, web specials and an e-game for iPhone and iPod Touch. All the measures focus on potential savings, sustainability and environmental awareness.

Category: Automotive, Biodiesel, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: biodiesel, clean, diesel, green, think blue, volkswagen, vw

Posted By RichC on February 27, 2010

The older I get, the less embarrassed I seem to be about publicly posting an old photo or two … or even sharing juvenile nicknames. So for posterity, figured I would archive a couple items … and leave the door open to teasing from my kids.

Moi, Charlie (Kamakaze), Rob (Oxford) and Greg (Wheels) in 1980

I was contacted this past week by a friend from high school who wanted me to update my profile on Classmates.com; she wondered if I had attended any of our high school reunions – the answer being an obvious no. I never felt all that connected to Sidney High School since my family moved to town during the last couple years of high school and then I was off to college. Several decades later, my parents are now ‘locals’ and consider Sidney ‘home.’  Although I return to visit regularly, my fondest memories are from the 16 years of growing up in rural northwestern Ohio. Don’t get me wrong, I had a positive experience, but moving is tough when in high school and the friends I made in high school went our separate ways after graduation. Still, there are times I enjoy reminiscing and remembering friends and the good times we had challenging the rules together.

The four hoodlums in the the photos were known as called ourselves “the Fearsome Foursome,” and they were my closest high school friends. We were similar in that we didn’t grow up in close knit town of 18,000 and moved there during our high school years. For a while after graduation, we stayed in touch, but as happens to most of the people I know, we drifted apart as military, school, career, relationships and children begin to fill up one’s life.

Charlie Matthews, affectionately nicknamed “Kamikaze” due to his crazy smirk/smile  and growing up in Japan was the one I stayed the closest with on through college and my first decade of marriage (our trip to Florida in  1977 below). The long legged and fast Greg VanMatre, gained his nickname “Wheels” during football games. Greg eventually moved back to Sidney, married a SHS grad and had a family; he still lives there today to my knowledge (my mother occasionally sends a clipping from the local paper). Rob Goforth, or “Oxford” – long for “Ox” – deservingly was awarded his nickname for plowing headfirst and head down aggressively into people … generally football related — but this hardheaded behavior happened even off the field too. In any case, if one of you should run across this post, thanks for the memories! (I should have probably put more effort into staying in touch with at least a few friends from high school?)

Since I had to dig for a couple of the above photos, I figured I would also include my first ‘real’ sailboat … again it had a nickname, although less affectionately: Fiberpile … no further explanation need for those who have sail such a vessel in light winds.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | 1 Comment »
Tags: archive, friends, high school, ohio, sidney

Posted By RichC on February 26, 2010

I tuned the XMRadio into bits and pieces of President Obama’s 7 hour Health Care Summit with congressional leaders at the Blair House yesterday and came away tired of hearing the same thing I’ve heard all year. It was carried live on CSPAN and picked up in whole or part by many of the cable news outlets for the best part of the day. I expected a dog and pony show and from reviews most of the talking heads, there was little to change my thoughts. On the other hand, I would like to think that there was a modicum of sincere dialog that could be interpreted as caring about doing what is best for the electorate, but in the end, I detected more self, or perhaps political party, bloviating.

What I did see was a true philosophical difference between how the Democrats would like to grow government and gain more centralized control over another segment of our country. The Republicans fro their part, were clear to express there desire to be a bit more hands-off. For their part in today’s meeting, the GOP worked to derail the existing legislation and would like to start reform fresh and piece by piece.

Conclusion: We’re no closer to health care reform or to secure the financial well being of our nation than before the summit … but it made for an interesting civics lesson.

Category: Financial, Health, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: health care, opinion, Washington DC