Posted By RichC on April 24, 2009
While checking on our neighborhood gazebo project live webcam, I ran across a neat time lapse video by by Eirik Solheim — One year in 40 seconds. He has another one that covers a year in 2 minutes in his backyard in Norway, which I enjoyed as well. His 2009 should be of even higher quality since it will be shot with the new Canon 5D.
One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.
Posted By RichC on April 23, 2009
While I’m not a fan of the iPhone or the iPod Touch, I am impressed with the shear number of devices and software “app” downloads in less than 2 years. Apple has a counter running on their site as the Online App Store nears 1 Billion downloads. Very impressive.
Although as readers may have surmised from previous posts, I’m looking forward to the Palm Pre, in hopes that it will be my Treo replacement … but the new WebOS device has a long way to go before software offerings are anywhere close to what the iPhone has available. That said, I remember when that was stated as the Apple Macintosh‘s disadvantage too — yet it hasn’t stopped sales.
Posted By RichC on April 22, 2009
I’m all for lightening my environmental footprint on our planet, but the mission statement for PlantAmnesty.org is a bit over the top. I enjoyed the chuckle — thanks for the forward Jeff; I hope you enjoy “eating a pinecone” for Earth Day.
😆
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Posted By RichC on April 22, 2009
I don’t normally think about Earth Day in advance, but since Ed Begley Jr. sent me an email mentioning he and his daughter were going to be on Nickelodeon, I set my Tivo. Since I’ve ‘archived’ Season 1 and Season 2 of Living with Ed I figured this would be a good post to mention it.
Unfortunately I spend the evening typing a fairly long post reflecting on our waste of energy and ended up loosing my entire post. Basically my thinking was that we don’t need to live “off the grid” to make a difference, but we can all do a few small things to live a little ‘greener.’ Combining trips, right sizing our homes and vehicles, insulating, being conscious of our thermostats and how many light we leave on are just a few simple things we can do. I’ve got a sense that our kids will be able to make this change easier than us?
Nick Off The Grid for Earth Day 2009
Posted By RichC on April 21, 2009
Some days I can’t help but question my intelligence or lapse of judgment. I’m about to embarrass myself, for at minimum, lack of forethought — if not just being a dummy.
There was a container of antibacterial wipes sitting in the washroom and I noticed that the dispensing cap wasn’t “loaded” correctly. I opened the container and proceded to re-load the next moist towellette into the cap … using of all things my finger. Without thinking I pushed both the disposable cloth and my finger into the sharp star designed lid, the one which holds the Wet Ones® style cloths so they can be torn. To my shock, I couldn’t get my finger back out and a bit of pain began to register. The harder I pulled the deeper the stiff, sharp plastic points went into my finger.
😯
So … a bit of advice for those with similar “lapse of judgment” … don’t use your finger.
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Posted By RichC on April 20, 2009
Willie Nelson talks a bit about his advocacy for biodiesel on the FoxNews program Huckabee this past weekend. (Huckabee airs at 8PM on Saturday evenings and is rebroadcast at 11PM and Sunday evening)
Posted By RichC on April 19, 2009
I posted a follow up letter from the FCC on my junk fax post and below. Also pointing out that so far this month I haven’t received any additional faxes from the two companies that have been sending marketing by fax.
(click image above for full letter view)
The FCC also states how marketing faxes can and cannot be used in a Background advisory
See Junk Fax post.
Posted By RichC on April 18, 2009
I’m not a Type-A personality, nor do I frustrate easily, but that said, I do spend a significant amount of time on the road and appreciate being able to liberally use the throttle to get where I need to go … which in a diesel vehicle can still be pretty efficient. Thankfully, I haven’t noticed all that many hypermilers or as the WSJ referred to them, “eco drivers“, slowing down the highways, although I expect that it is a growing trend as more an more of us seek to improve our vehicles efficiency. (WSJ video below)
With the addition of computerized monitoring being added to not just hybrid vehicles, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see a few more drivers attempting to stretch their tanks of fuel … fueling at least a few blood pressure points of those following them. I’m not sure I’m ready for serious ‘green’ drivers clogging the roads and can’t imagine what true Type-A’s think about it?
Some of the “Green Driving 101” tips bound to bug all but the most patient follower are:
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Posted By RichC on April 17, 2009
Although I’m not a big fan of the “pinheaded”politically oriented peacocks managing and broadcasting at NBC news or MSNBC, I have watched the Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) since the early 1990s. In fact, their broadcast was the primary reason I switched from rabbit ears to satellite television.They are the 4 to 6 billion dollar (est. value) leader in cable business news and are highly profitable, not to mention CNBC being a household name … at least in households with an interest in business and finance.
As a business news junkie myself, I’ve got a love and hate relationship with many of the journalists and reporters who become icons over the 20 years on CNBC. A big congratulations is in order to them, and parent company GE, for pioneering television business news through a couple of challenging decades. While enjoying watching the smiling faces at the closing bell on Wall Street Friday afternoon, I found it apropos that several original CNBC personalities were there to mark the moment. (video below) Congratulations to Sue, Ron, Bill, Ted, Scott, and Maria who were there to enjoy the moment — although I’ll also offer a personal congrats the Cincinnati favorite — the “Big Kahuna” — Joe Kernen.
CNBC celebrates their 20th Anniversary by ringing the closing bell on Wall Street Friday, April 17, 2009
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Posted By RichC on April 16, 2009
Quick post while stopping to check my email and drink a cup of coffee. While spending the day on the road and traveling today, I thought I would post a couple photos from the beautiful sunrise while driving east in rural Ohio this Thursday morning.
