My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on June 12, 2008

Our EAA chapter (EAA284) had an enjoyable Sunday afternoon meeting this past weekend at the Lebanon, Ohio home of one of our members, Ivan Reznor. Our gracious host let us check out his Zenithair Zodiac 601 taildragger project taking over part of his garage and half the basement. (his wife must be one of a kind)
🙂

Ivan’s work on the all 6061 aluminum kit project looks great and he showed me a few unique features to the Chris Heintz designs. For example, the ailerons are not hinged like my Sonex or most planes, but move due to the flexing of the attached riveted wingskins.


For power Ivan has opted to rebuild a six cylinder Corvair engine. He currently has his block taken apart on the bench and is in the process of rebuilding based on the well researched and tested work of William Wynne.

The meeting photos (taken by Bob Imbronyev —link) from June 8th meeting at Ivan Reznor’s home. (thanks Ivan for hosting the meeting. Great project)

Category: Aviation | No Comments »
Tags: eaa284, flying, red stewart

Posted By RichC on June 11, 2008

I continue to find more uses for the FREE Jott.com cellphone to email/reminder service. Today I tinkered with the new RSS “listening” feed reader (in audio on your cellphone) while waiting for an appointment.

I set up the feed in my Jott control panel to include a daily sailing blog from friends who are cruising from Australia to Indonesia this summer. Judy (traveling with her husband Mark) writes an excellent ship’s log and her summary of each day is enjoyable reading. So instead of using the computer to get today’s dose of HandleySail.com, I check my “Jott Feeds” from my cellphone. Here’s the capture audio from today’s “Jott read” Day 33 Year 3 post. (866-JOTT-123)

Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia

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Posted By RichC on June 10, 2008

It was a nice evening to sit outside with my daughter as the breeze cooled off the 90+ degree day as we discussed the ‘goings on’ of the day. She adjusted her cushion on the Adirondack chair and off jumped a large but fuzzy spider. Yikes!
🙂

As we discussed what kind of spider it was, she said “let’s give ChaCha a try!” (yesterday’s post) Sure enough, it came through again after a quick description of the hairy little arachnid with a white spot on its abdomen. Wilda D. related a text message in about as much time as it took me to run into the house and get my camera. The answer was that our little friend was a Daring Jumping Spider. (Daring Jumping Spider: Phidippus audax)

Category: Misc | 12 Comments »
Tags: chacha, katelyn, spiders

Posted By RichC on June 9, 2008

I was asking a question about raccoons in my prior post and figure it might be the perfect opportunity to talk about an interesting cellphone/text messaging service — ChaCha.
The FREE service requires that you register your email address and cellphone number with ChaCha and uses “human” researchers, called “guides,” to text back an answer to your question. I have heard that “guides” make 20 cents per answered question for sms messaged or phone called questions. In asking the “raccoon” question my “guide” Tamar S. indicated that there are usually 4 or 5 in a litter.

Although I haven’t used the ChaCha service regularly yet, it sure looks like there is potential for fairly active use? I have it in my Treo database and will probably start to use it more frequently to answer those dinner party or coffee shop conversational questions — it might even make me look smart!

Once registered at ChaCha.com, you can send a text question to 242242 (ChaCha) or call your question in to 800-224-2242. Within a few minutes a ‘guide’ will research your question FREE and send back an answer. Here’s a second test using the phone to call in a question about the upcoming TDIFest. (MP3 audio of call)

Category: Audio, Cellphone, Technology | 2 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on June 8, 2008

The challenge of removing raccoons from our attic continues as varmit number 5 has been trapped today. (click above ‘texturized’ image for real photo) I’ll continue to reset the trap, but wonder just how many babies are in this litter. There have been three babies so far, plus two adults. See earlier post.

I’m beginning to wonder about the mom and dad raccoon as I’ve trapped two adults and saw a third ‘larger’ one which was chased up a tree in our backyard. Unfortunately it was 11:30 at night when I spotted Tootsie sitting under the smallish rosebud tree; I pondered just what I should do? It was too late to “make a noise” (ie. ‘bang’) and I couldn’t reach very easily an attempt to knock him/her out with a pole. I’m not sure is a smart thing anyway? Have you ever faced an angry raccoon — they are nasty, at least when I’ve had them in the live traps. Anyway, I’m all ears for opinions on how many I’ll continue to trap. I suppose I’ll keep resets the trap until they are all gone?

Category: Misc | No Comments »
Tags: birth, kits, liter, raccoon

Posted By RichC on June 7, 2008

Dave Vanderwerp reviewed the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI in a recent article of Car and Driver and concludes that its the “cheapest 40+mpg sedan.” His June 2008 review follows a Jared Gall “first drive” article in February of 2007 — its been a long wait for TDI lovers.

Just when you thought there wasn’t a 40-plus-mpg car available for $20K other than the pipsqueak Smart Fortwo, we happened upon this timely little tidbit on the EPA’s website: the 2009 Jetta TDI is officially rated at 30 mpg city, 41 mpg highway for the six-speed-manual model and 29 city, 40 highway when equipped with the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automated manual.

The previous 2006 Jetta TDI was rated at 30/37 for the five-speed manual and 30/38 for the six-speed DSG (according to the EPA’s new methods), which means the ’09 model improves its highway figure roughly 10 percent while at the same time boosting horsepower by 40 to 140, bumping torque by 59 lb-ft to 236, and making the oil burner clean enough to be sold in all 50 states.

VW is quick to suggest that it expects the new Jetta TDI to outperform the EPA’s figures—by as much as 20 percent—a diesel phenomenon we don’t totally discredit due to real-world economy as high as 25 mpg in our long-term Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI (rated at 18/24). And even though diesel prices are currently hovering about 20 percent higher than gas, the Jetta TDI’s ratings out thrift gas-powered Jettas by about 40 percent.

Read entire article

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Posted By RichC on June 6, 2008

Crude oil is trading up more than $11/barrel to a record high on a weak dollar do to surprising U.S. unemployment numbers. The number had the strongest rise in 2 decades and analysis at Morgan Stanley suggests prices may reach $150 within a month. Oil is “being used as a hedge by speculative buyers for the weakened dollar,” said Gary Adams, vice chairman of oil and gas consulting at Deloitte & Touche LLP. “We are seeing that the price will continue to go up as investors look for alternatives.” The stock markets have sold off sharply on this news and have those who once believe we were in for a stock market recovery toward the end of the year questioning their thinking. Both the DOW and S&P are down over 2% today. An interesting quote from one market guru is that “he gets it” and points to the fact that demand for oil is high and supply is limited … paraphrased “The millions of Chinese are trading in their bikes for cars.”

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Posted By RichC on June 5, 2008

Although it wasn’t a close call in remembering our 26th wedding anniversary, I wasn’t exactly plotting weeks in advance either … but Brenda and I had an enjoyable time going to the movies — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. For us the Indiana Jones movie brought back fond memories as the first, Raiders of the Lost Ark, came out when we were dating and engaged. Brenda even remembers our exact seats at the small town theater in Oxford, Ohio. Her weekend visit was the only time in 1981 that she came down to visit while I was in graduate school at Miami University. Interestingly, we have ended up living only a short drive Oxford … and even contemplated driving there for the evening, although opted to spend the money on eating out rather than on $4.00 gasoline! (besides, we were just there for my son’s high school graduation)

Category: Archive, Personal | No Comments »
Tags: anniversary, brenda, family

Posted By RichC on June 4, 2008

Tuesday night we had a series of severe storms make their way through our area (north of Cincinnati) and spawn rotational winds as well as 90 mph straight-line blasts. Thankfully there was significant warning and we was able to get a few things put away at home to prevent damage … but we did head for the basement about 9 PM. Most of the 3-4 inches in an hour rains were to our north and west, but we experienced plenty of lightning and thunder. As sirens blared and people for the most part took cover while they watched the television coverage and checked on their friends and family by phone. Within a 5 minute period of the initial cells passing over our house I received 5 phone calls from family and friends noting where the storms were located. In hindsight, the fierceness of the storm dissipated just prior to hitting our area, but then less violent cells continued to sweep through all night long. In fact as the Treo cellphone photo shows (click photo for larger), the ominous clouds and dark skies continue, as does a tornado watch.

Snipet from a Cincinnati Enquirer article:

Trees and wires were downed across Hamilton County and Cincinnati. The storm knocked down wires in Hyde Park on streets such as Observatory and Paxton avenues and Madison and Stettinus roads. Several streets are closed due to downed trees including Delta and Observatory.

About 8 a.m., winds destroyed a roof at Woody Sander Ford, 235 W. Mitchell Ave., in Spring Grove Village. No injuries were reported, and only a few vehicles suffered damage, but the building sustained about $75,000 worth of damage, city officials said.

“We got off real lucky there,” said Kyle Sanders, a salesman.

Duke Energy crews have been called to numerous locations.

A tree was reported down into a house in the 1500 block of Glen Parker Avenue in Northside. Electrical wires also are down. It is not known if they are live or if anyone was injured.

A transformer in the 1500 block of Central Avenue was struck by lighting and burst into flames.

This latest batch of storms follows waves of severe thunderstorms that ripped through Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Tuesday, with the worst of the storms hitting Butler and Warren counties.

Tuesday night, several funnel clouds were reported, mostly in Oxford and Mason, but no tornadoes have been confirmed touching down, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington and county dispatchers. Tornado sirens shrieked in communities such as West Chester Township about 9:30 p.m. as some residents took shelter in their basements.

A Waynesville woman was taken to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after lightning struck her house in the 900 block of Windfield Way at 8:19 p.m. Tuesday, said Wayne Township Fire Chief Paul Scherer.

The woman, who was standing in her bedroom at the time, suffered pain throughout her body from the strike, he said. She does not have life-threatening injuries. Her name and age was not released. Other relatives were home at the time, but they were not injured, the fire chief said.

Claire Wagner, a spokeswoman for Miami University in Oxford, said several hundred people attending a graduation for Hamilton High School about 9 p.m. Tuesday were held in Millett Hall due to the severe weather.

Incoming Miami freshmen and their parents going through orientation also were held in basements of other buildings for safety.

“For the intensity of the storm, there seems to not be any damage right now,” said Chris Warren, an Oxford police dispatcher.

Since the storms began Tuesday afternoon, more than 50,000 people lost power at some point, mostly in Hamilton County, according to Duke Energy’s website.

As of 2:10 a.m., 7,150 people remained without power, with the largest numbers in Clermont and Hamilton counties.

In Union County, Indiana, which is located just west of Oxford, Ohio, police are investigating an unconfirmed report that a tornado may have touched down at about 8:54 p.m. Tuesday, according to the weather service.

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Posted By RichC on June 3, 2008

U.S auto companies have been suffering and even the ‘rising sun’ of Toyota has had sales pains. Most of the pain has been felt by U.S. automakers as consumers don’t want gasoline thirsty pickups and sport utility vehicles in the face of $4.00/gallon pump prices. General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler LLC have depended on the pickup and SUV buyer and are ill prepared to weather higher priced fuels and inflationary prices over the short term. Long term, they have been reluctant to replace there larger vehicles with efficient models although GM announced the possibility of shedding their Hummer brand.

But while the three U.S. automakers and Toyota are suffering, some other Asian automakers were able to gain a bit. Honda Motor, Nissan and Kia have attracted American new car buyers and two of them have posted record sales. Honda did so well as to see their Civic model beat the Ford F Series pickup truck to become the nation’s bestselling vehicle. Ford F-series pickup sales suffers enough to also be passed by Toyota’s Camry mid-sized model.

GM didn’t only suffer from the higher fuel prices, but also by a series of strikes which affected the production of its better selling models such as the Malibu and crossover vehicles. According to GM’s management, they estimated that labor issues were to blame for 6 – 7% of their reported sales shortfall. (15,000 to 18,000 vehicles) Their chief business forecaster, Mike DiGiovaani, did say that he sees the problems behind them and that maintaining a 20% market of total U.S. sales this past month was “remarkable given the combination of labor disruptions, oil prices and a weak economy.”

CNN reported that “Chrysler LLC, the privately-held automaker that was purchased by Cerberus Capital Management last year, saw sales fall 25%. The company, which had long held the title of No. 3 U.S. automaker through 2005, fell to fifth place in sales as it was passed by Honda. Toyota is number two and Ford is the third largest in U.S. auto sales. Chrysler, which has been offering buyers a chance to lock in $2.99 gas prices as part of their purchase, said much of the decline was due to a unusually high 40% cut in monthly fleet sales to businesses such as car rental companies. The company also said that car sales fell at a higher rate than light truck sales. Still, that appeared to be the exception rather than the rule in May.”

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