Posted By RichC on June 14, 2008
Today was a fine day to travel, unfortunately I forgot my cellphone. (I’m hearing “age” jokes!) I’ll call and check with Sprint to see if I can come up with a way to transfer to another phone?
Posted By RichC on June 13, 2008
Tim Russert, the moderator of “Meet the Press,†and respected NBC Washington news bureau chief died Friday after a sudden heart attack. He was working at the NBC news bureau on voice-overs according to news reports and collapsed. The Russerts had just returned from a trip to Italy where the family celebrated the graduation of his son Luke from Boston College. Tim Russert was 58 and was one of 2008’s Time Magazines 100 most influential people. He was born on May 7 1950 in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, Jo, educated at Cleveland Ohio’s John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. My condolences to his wife Maureen Orth and their son Luke — Tim Russert was well respected by all who have ever met him. (myself included) His two recent books would make excellent “Father’s Day” reading … Big Russ and Me -2004 and Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons – 2006.
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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)
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
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)
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)
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?
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.
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.”
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)