My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on June 2, 2007

I’ve suffered from Ménière’s Disease for nearly a decade now, and after a shunt surgically implanted in my middle ear to reduce pressure (NASA astronaut Alan Shepard had this surgery before his moon landing), I have been free from the diziness and vertigo induced nausea. Unfortunately I suffered hearing loss in my right ear and constant tinnitus (ringing in the ears). My point is that I’m pretty well versed on the ear, carrying for them and what options are available ‘at least’ in alternative Ménière’s treatments. So … call me naive when my wife brought home the homeopathic ‘ear candles.’ Huh, what’s are they?

Layman’s thoughts –at least the HarmonyCone supplied beeswax versions: The ‘candles’ are a long fine mesh tubes wrapped with beeswax. The small ‘tip’ end it place gently in one’s ear with a paper place to protect the hair and face from any heat or ash droppings. After lighting the ‘tube’ — ear candle — the ‘flue’ design acts as a gentle chimney as it warms, dries and draws air up the tube (this is from my layman’s perspective). After the candle is nearly down to the semi-protective paper plate (5-10 minutes) the flame is extinguished and one can look inside the remaining candle by cutting it open which in the cases of our four candles revealed an ugly mix of ‘what looks like ear wax’ and a sandy caked powder. Some have suggested that wax and yeast is removed from the ear, but the FAQ on HarmonyCone doesn’t confirm that opinion. I’ll include a photo below and you can be the judge. All in all it was a pleasant experience for about $2.00, but I feel and ear pretty much the same as before. (click for larger photo below)
🙂

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Posted By RichC on June 1, 2007

In Google’s continuing growth, they are acquiring the photo sharing company call Panoramio. The acquisition makes perfect sense as it is a content rich way to enhance Google Earth and Google Maps. Panoramio members contribute photos which help highlight locations while using maps or the virtual globe and is an impressive way for Google to enhance their ever improving software. I’ve posted a couple items a few months ago and you can see them here.

Here’s a FAQ page explaining the acquisition.

Panoramio is going to be acquired by Google!

The deal is set to close in about two weeks. We’re excited and we hope you are too! The acquisition will be an overwhelmingly good thing for Panoramio uploaders and viewers alike. Uploaders will get to leverage Google’s reach, increasing the exposure of their photographs to photophiles around the world. Viewers will get to choose from a larger universe of photographs as Panoramio becomes more widely known.

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Posted By RichC on May 31, 2007

Recently their has been some news on the HD DVD encryption code and its release. Legal angles have ensued and the debate about ‘owning’ certain numbers has a few people joking around on the techie Internet forums [link]. Some have indicated that the AACS crack mentioned in the above link is now dead and a new number has secretly taken its place … who knows? (confusion might be the best security technique going?)
🙂

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Posted By RichC on May 30, 2007

Renewable fuels including E85 and Biodiesel are tough on rubber and polymer refueling hoses. Many pumps, including my current garage based transfer pump, have ‘weepy’ hoses which soften when exposed to the new alternative fuels. Goodyear has announced a new product they have dubs “Flexwing VersaFuel” which handles most common fuels.

Goodyear Introduces Versatile Transfer Hose

VICTORIA, British Columbia, May 21, 2007 – To help North America promote alternative fuels and reduce its dependence on foreign oil, Goodyear Engineered Products has introduced its most versatile transfer hose to handle many fuel types.

Goodyear Flexwing VersaFuel transfer hose meets the needs of expanding alternative fuel markets and conventional fuel markets.

Unveiled today at the annual NAHAD hose distributor convention, VersaFuel is used in tank truck and plant operations to transfer diesel, gasoline, oil, biodiesel and ethanol blends, as well as petroleum-based products with up to 60 percent aromatic content.

It gives Goodyear Authorized Distributors the flexibility to service existing and new fuel markets with one product, according to Keith Collett, marketing manager for Goodyear’s industrial hose business. “VersaFuel helps simplify product selection, lower distributor inventory costs, and meet the needs of emerging fuel markets,” he said.

This year alone, the ethanol market is expected to surpass six billion gallons of clean burning fuel, according to the American Coalition for Ethanol, and in 2006 U.S. biodiesel fuel production surpassed 200 million gallons, the second consecutive year of triple digit growth as reported by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB).

Alternative fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel blends are good for the environment and farm industry but may aggressively attack rubber hose compounds and possibly degrade a hose cover and inner tubing, said Collett.

VersaFuel’s outside cover resists degradation from fuel blends and is abrasion resistant. The inner tube material helps resist swelling, softening or cracking possibly caused by alternative fuels, which can extend hose life and ensure metal coupling retention.

Its helix wire reinforcement reduces the risk of collapse, permitting VersaFuel to also be used for full vacuum applications.

“In addition, the hose construction helps dissipate static build-up that can lead to a static discharge near volatile fuels,” said Collett.

He added that VersaFuel’s rugged construction is designed to withstand extreme cold and heat. It operates at temperatures ranging from -30 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, permitting use during all seasons and eliminating any outdoor storage concerns.

The hose is stocked in 100-foot lengths and seven diameters from one to four inches.

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Posted By RichC on May 29, 2007

This content is restricted.

Category: Audio, Music | 1 Comment »
Tags: audio, lone star, mp3, recording

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2007

Donna Lange and her boat “Inspired Insanity” will be at the Bristol Boat Show in Rhode Island on June 2nd and 3rd for those interested; perhaps this will be a final update until Donna’s book is published? She will be at the Boat show and will greet all who are interested, as well as entertaining passersby with her music. It will be an enjoyable time for anyone in the area who enjoys the waterfront, boats or following Donna’s voyage online. If you attend, be sure to say hello to Donna and give her a ‘hug’ from Rich.

Note from Donna:
We are getting ready for the Bristol Boatshow coming next weekend June 2&3. Inspired Insanity will be placed right along Independence Park’s stone wall as long as the weather isn’t tempestuous, giving all who come to the fair a look and feel for the living conditions that added to my experience. I’ll be playing music alongside friends and the bands scheduled to play from 11-3pm. To all the local followers, Please come by and enjoy the days!!

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Posted By RichC on May 27, 2007

In remembrance of those who gave their lives for our country, I paused for a moment to retire our tattered flag and hoisted a new one. As a nation and a people we have so much … I thank God for our nation and for those who gave their lives to found, secure and protect her. Thank you also to all those who have served in this role … past and present.

This long holiday weekend was also Taylor and his good friend Katie’s end of year Birthday Bash. A couple local high school bands played some gentle melodious music, which I’m sure was enjoyed by our neighbors. [/sarcasm] Interesting after thought … we’ve had many larger parties at our house, but most of the time parents dropped off their kids; now that most are driving, the logistics of so many cars and finding a place to park kicked in.

At about 10 PM, I counted over 200 kids in our backyard and who knows how many more milling around the lake and still arriving? Cars were parked on both sides of the street, our yard (front and back) … some latecomers probably walked 1/4 mile. The early ‘daylight’ photos don’t do the crowd justice. Thankfully for us, most of Taylor and Katie’s friends are outstanding kids and very respectful toward each other, property and parents. Yes we had a few incidents along with ‘word of mouth party’ crashers, but even those kids were reasonably respectful. A quick word of ‘thanks’ to Katie’s parents for bravely helping to chaperone. What a way to kick off summer.

Here’s a video clip from the party …
 

Category: Misc, Photos, Video | No Comments »
Tags: bash, birthday, friends, house, katie, lakota, mp4, party, school, taylor, video

Posted By RichC on May 26, 2007

Oh … I bought a new toy this week; and I came on it by accident. After stopping in at several hardware stores, and shops that handle John Deere equipment, in an attempt to find a new spool head for my 2-cycle John Deere string trimmer — vintage 1980s — I ended up purchasing a semi-new one from the clearance area at my local Lowe’s. Not only did the difficultly in finding the proper replacement spool bother me, but I’ve never really liked the 2-cycle noisemaker style trimmers anyway. I’ve been using my trimmer for the past couple of decades in hopes it would wear out, but never really contemplate what there was to replace it. (FYI … I live on some acreage with a long fence line to trim — its a two tank job) Its been a great trimmer and is obviously very well made, but my options was to wait around while the John Deere dealer ordered the overpriced part or replace the whole feeder mechanism for about 30 dollars or so? I was about to do the later, when I spotted a returned and never used Troy-Bilt 4-cycle model selling for half-price. (new one’s were at $164 and the un-used model was $84) I couldn’t resist.

Nevertheless, when I returned home, there were a couple glitches. First, the ‘kill switch’ was wrapped with a large stiff plastic protector which was split to slip over the wires and plastic tied in place. It was poorly designed so I removed it and retaped the wires and fitted them so as not to get snagged. Second, and more annoying, the string spins clockwise … my old one was counter clockwise. Grrr. Third … there is no clutch. The 4-cycle has enough torque to spin the line all the time. Something that takes a little getting use too. Other than those three things, the new trimmer is a no-mix gas sipper and can trim almost everything at an idle. It\’s quiet and has no smoke mixed oil-gas smoke or smell — nice. I\’m not sure I like the no bump cast aluminum string holder yet, but with tougher line and a quick load system, it seems like it might be an improvement over the old wind-up and bump feed that I use to have. On a scale of 1 to 10 I\’ll rate it a 6 if you pay full price but an 8 if you can find it under $100. (noting the plastic parts, I doubt it will out last my old John Deere trimmer … I might just fix it anyway?)

Here\’s the ‘business end’ of the Troy-Bilt 4-cycle String Trimmer

Category: Advice, Misc, Nature, Photos, Tools | No Comments »
Tags: grass, john deere, string, tools, trimmer, troy-bilt, yard

Posted By RichC on May 25, 2007

After stopping at exit 151 on Interstate 71 this week, I noticed an improvement in the Sprint Power Vision data service while checking email. The higher speed data connection known as EV-DO Revision A, improves cellphone and data card connections to the Internet; this expansion is part of a nationwide improvement announced in October of 2006. I’ve been impressed at how quickly new areas, particularly rural, are coming online in Ohio. Coverage is almost solid from Cincinnati to Columbus and now much of I-71 from Columbus to Cleveland is coming online.

As I stopped to fill my Volkswagen Jetta TDI at the Mt. Gilead exit 151 renewable fuels Sunoco station, my normal stop. Biodiesel (B-20) was $2.80/gal today, while I’ve noticed that unleaded regular gasoline was regularly seen at $3.49/gal after the 30 cent increase earlier this week. (did see a $3.09 gasoline in Lodi, Ohio earlier on Thursday)

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Posted By RichC on May 24, 2007

Hewlett-Packard has been growing their market for HP personal computers (especially notebooks) through retailers in contrast to the direct sales approach of Dell Computer. As reflected in recent stock performance, HP in a sluggish market is up nearly 100% in two years vs. Dell’s decline of nearly 30% over the same period. Profitably selling computers in recent years has been challenging for Dell using their traditional direct sales model and have announced that they have worked a deal to use retail giant Wal-Mart to begin selling two of their desktop models. Wal-Mart will sell both Dell models below $700 at over 3,500 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada beginning June 10.

click for larger view comparing Dell to HP stock over 2 years

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