An excellent Civil War history lesson #video
RichC | August 27, 2017
Music Monday: Want-to-be politician Kid Rock – Born Free
RichC | August 7, 2017
This content is restricted.
As mention before, James Garner is a favorite of mine
RichC | July 23, 2017
One of the more interesting aspects of social networking is that one never knows who they might connect with. I’ve been a fan and have posted before about the late James Garner (1928-2014) for most of my life and noticed his daughter Gigi (MavrocksGirl) actively keeps his memory alive on Twitter. I’m not sure what […]
Music Monday: Fire and Rain. James Taylor Live in 1970 (and it triggered a personal memory and story from 1980!)
RichC | July 3, 2017
As is all to frequent … the YouTube video has been removed. When it comes to music, I’ve always been a James Taylor fan and have posted a few times about him. This past weekend I ran across a YouTube clip from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from a year or so ago that […]
How it works: An in tank fuel pump YouTube video
RichC | June 25, 2017
Well done … don’t forget to use your “brother’s sock.” 🙂
ElioMotors public image is still showing a stiff upper lip
RichC | June 21, 2017
With financial concerns looming for Elio Motors, they continue to put out positive PR remarks to their "All In" reservation holders, prospective buyers and investors. Everything from their perspective is positive is a series of questions/answers posted on their website. One Q & A indicates that Elio Motors is "targeting 2018" to be the year […]
Taking a BMW X5 35D to the track – Thanks Andrew!
RichC | June 20, 2017
My Volkswagen TDI and BMW Diesel friend Andrew (proprietor FixMyVW.com) to his BMW X5 35D to the track in Atlanta this past weekend. He posted the run on YouTube and since his “tune” and exhaust is what I put on my 2010 BMW X5 35D … it did getting me pretty excited. Published on Jun […]
Music Monday: Back In The High Life Again by Steve Winwood
RichC | June 19, 2017
This content is restricted.
Mounted the large 4K TV temporarily in the new kitchen
RichC | April 25, 2017
The granite countertops were installed last week, still putting us a couple of weeks from having a usable kitchen as the construction continues to crawl along (no plumbing, cooktop, backsplash, trim, electrical or paint). It is tough being without a functioning kitchen and washing up dishes in the laundry room is getting old … but […]
Mellow Music Monday: Down in Belize with Jerry Jeff Walker
RichC | April 24, 2017
This content is restricted.
TechFriday: Lenovo Yoga 710, my everyday carry notebook
RichC | April 14, 2017
Last week someone asked me about my large screened notebook, the 15.6″ Lenovo Yoga 710 with an Intel i5-7200U CPU (2.50GHz), 8 GB memory and a rather smallish 256GB SSD. The question was whether I would recommend it. The answer is yes … if you can live with a couple small nits that I have […]
Music Monday: Shambala, 1 of the top 10 Three Dog Night tunes
RichC | April 10, 2017
While listening to background music this past weekend (working on taxes), it became an easy decision post something on music. Next … decide which group and song to include without repeating something mentioned before on My Desultory Blog? How about Three Dog Night??? The rock band was not necessarily in my record (or cassette tape) […]
It would be hard to throw this water heater robot away …
RichC | March 29, 2017
Music Monday: Rocket Man recorded in the bluegrass sound
RichC | March 27, 2017
What do you get when you mix 1960s space history, some classic 1972 Elton John music and a twist of Bluegrass flair? Rocket Man with banjos and country harmony! Good stuff.
Hammock time on a sailboat from Sailing Britaly
RichC | March 17, 2017
One of the more hilarious BBC interview interuptions
RichC | March 10, 2017
Music Monday: Ketchup, Anticipation and Carly Simon
RichC | February 27, 2017
This content is restricted.
Tech gadgets add a new wrinkle to Cat’s in the Cradle message
RichC | February 13, 2017
This content is restricted.
Testing your car battery with only a simple voltage meter
RichC | February 10, 2017
Great how-to YouTube video from ChrisFix on testing your car battery with a simple voltage meter.
Nicki Bluhm and an appropriate song for our political state
RichC | February 8, 2017
This content is restricted.
President Trump and Andrew Jackson – a comparison
RichC | January 31, 2017
Is there a comparable president to Donald Trump? People say President Donald Trump is unique in U.S. history, yet a few who study presidential history say it is not entirely true. Doug Wead, a presidential historian, compares President Trump to Andrew Jackson, as he did shortly after the November 2016 election on "Happening Now" with […]
Remembering a couple musicians and the song Drift Away
RichC | January 30, 2017
This content is restricted.
Who knows, there may still be a Range Rover in my future
RichC | January 23, 2017
Great visual look at the evolution from 1969 thru 2017. The first SUV to wear the vaunted “Range Rover” badge came in 1969 with the development of 26 individual prototype vehicles. Each “Velar” prototype wore special badging ahead of the production debut. The first Range Rover to trundle across craggy landscapes arrived in 1970, claiming […]
Tool Tips: Screwdriver hacks [video]
RichC | January 13, 2017
A few of these screwdriver hacks are not necessarily new, but could be helpful if you are ever caught shorthanded for the right tool. I’m particularly fond of using the wrench and screwdriver together (above left) as even with a full set of wrenched and sockets, there are a few oddities preventing wrenches from […]
Quick Lumix Prime Lens test of low-light Aperture vs ISO
RichC | December 18, 2016
Testing the new 25mm Four Third Panasonic Lumix prime lens on before "wrapping it up for my Christmas gift from Brenda." I needed to know if it works … cough, cough. (click here for Large Image — be warned) Also updated the GX8 body to Firmware 2.2, so we are up to date on […]
A date that will live in infamy — December 7, 1941
RichC | December 7, 2016
It has been a few years since our family visited the historic sites at Pearl Harbor … it was very sobering. Why do human beings continue killing each other — it is as senseless today as it was 75 years ago. I would like to think that we are wiser and could agree to inhabit […]
Behind an American favorite TV show – Home Improvment
RichC | November 23, 2016
A little “behind the scenes” history and commentary from my family’s favorite TV show of the 1990s — Home Improvement. Of course anything that Tim Allen does is a favorite of mine. I love his current Last Man Standing show too.
Together with Katelyn and Drew for their baby reveal [video]
RichC | November 8, 2016
The highlight of this past weekend was in getting together with the Oostra family on a sunny and beautiful Sunday afternoon where Katelyn and Drew had a “Baby Oostra” reveal party. A popular trend nowadays is for young couples to make the gender reveal “an event” … and creativity seems to be the key. A […]
Archiving some quadcopter video footage from Wayzata, MN
RichC | October 26, 2016
The advancements in unmanned aviation continue to impress me as a new generation of pilots is flying by remote control rather than “stick and rudder,” “yoke and peddle” … but all can still fly by the “seat of their pants.” I’m still unsure what to call these computer controlled devices nowadays … quadcopters, quadrotors (what […]
Renewable low cost hot water idea for a sailboat
RichC | October 9, 2016
Archiving another project idea for living on the hook (someday) yet still having hot water for dishes, cleaning and SHOWERS (a freshwater shower is a luxury for most sailboats).
Saving the Sailrite “How to make a Dodger” video playlist
RichC | October 1, 2016
Sailrite has years of on and off water How-To YouTube Videos
A beautiful quadrotor aerial video from Lake Michigan
RichC | September 1, 2016
My son-in-law Drew shared a really impressive Phatom3 movie clip on YouTube after his July 2016 vacation in Michigan. There were some incredibly beautiful views, sunsets and shoreline video … of course it didn’t hurt that the weather was perfect for Katelyn and Drew’s vacation at his parent’s “cabin” (as they call it). Although I’ve […]
Music: Where has all the good harmony gone?
RichC | July 24, 2016
This content is restricted.
TechFriday: What could a flexible screen do for the iPhone?
RichC | July 22, 2016
With a renewed interest in the upcoming iPhone7 after Apple released the new iOS10 public beta, I’m wondering what’s really the next “big” (pun intended) thing for pocketable smart devices. If it were durable and possible, I’d love having an expanding screen on my iPhone that could do double-duty as an iPad!
Before passing more laws, enforce existing ones!
RichC | July 10, 2016
If liberal politicians really wanted to reduce gun violence, they would enforce existing law in the cities suffering the most … and the complicit left leaning media would be holding their feet to the fire. Instead, the ultimate objective is obvious: dismantle the 2nd amendment granting the right to bear arms to all law abiding citizens. https://youtu.be/qgr2lj7jwr4
A short post to set up OLW on a new ASUS notebook
RichC | July 1, 2016
This is a quick test for a new computer running Open Live Writer. I’m retiring my 9 year old Gateway notebook computer and forging ahead with a low powered and low cost Microsoft Window 10 notebook. More to come on my recent addition in a future post, but after the Gateway overheated and cooked itself […]
Blue Sky from 1972 – an Allman Brother classic for #TBT
RichC | June 30, 2016
This content is restricted.
Legend Bob Riggles rolls his car with Jay Leno inside
RichC | June 27, 2016
Whew … luckily no injuries.
Video: Heavy rains in Australia wash away a marina
RichC | June 7, 2016
This makes me a sick to my stomach as I’m thinking about our Encore sitting in a marina as hurricane and tropical storm season move closer to peak months.
Thoughts of war, a nuclear exchange and our human condition
RichC | May 16, 2016
This content is restricted.
Pumpy Umpy the rabbit and the Cuppycake song
RichC | April 30, 2016
You would think an over 17 million viewed video on YouTube with a Pumpy Umpy reference would be something I would have watched before … nope … but now I have. So much for knowing about Amy Castle or the Cuppycake song.
Rafting the Upper Gorge on the Cuyahoga River
RichC | April 28, 2016
Just a few steps from my old office door … who’d a thunk it?
Music, mood, memories … Incommunicado.
RichC | April 26, 2016
This content is restricted.
Turning a Volkswagen Jetta into the perfect VW pickup truck
RichC | March 19, 2016
For my Volkswagen TDI guys who have always wanted a modern small VW diesel pickup … here’s the ticket!
Denatured alcohol rather than oil for sharpening stones
RichC | March 4, 2016
One of my favorite YouTube channels is the Tips from a Shipwright with Louis Sauzedde. His helpful tool tips and how-to techniques are always worth listening to … even if I’m no where near the level of woodworker as are most wood boatbuilding advocates. If you sharpen any tool, the advice from Louis in how […]
Easy to see why most fear snakebites – BBC slow-motion #Video
RichC | February 27, 2016
Pretty impressive Puff Adder strike in slow motion … those are some fangs (video below).
Ready holiday music? Not me, but Joni Mitchell maybe?
RichC | December 4, 2015
This content is restricted.
Encore is having water pump woes … drip, drip, drip
RichC | November 20, 2015
Yet another part to be serviced, rebuilt or replace on Encore’s Volvo diesel. This time it’s the raw water pump dripping from the weep hole … and indication the seal is no longer keeping the water in the pump. This is a normal wear item and most cruisers not only carry a spare impeller and […]
Cheesy Bacon Egg Cups are simple and tasty
RichC | November 17, 2015
Appreciation for the hospitaliy of friends is something that is hard to quantify, but having friends like Mark and Dar Jones makes living so very enjoyable. They always go over and above whenever I stop to visit … and the yesterday mornings’ extras were definitely an “over and above” delishes. I can’t wait to make these at home … […]
Video: Skydiving and flare guns do not mix
RichC | November 5, 2015
Mantus Snap-On Light is a sturdy and handy boat gadget
RichC | October 30, 2015
Well know anchor manufacturer Mantus created a nifty light that they debuted at the fall boat shows this year; the Mantus Snap-On Light look well made and like something Encore needs ($55.00). I also like their RAM mount Mantus Rail Clamps!
How a lock and key works
RichC | October 24, 2015
TechFriday: Can YouTube Red compete? Coming 10/28/2015
RichC | October 23, 2015
The best known video streamer, YouTube, has entered the subscription based video streaming service with their YouTube Red. They are asking $9.99 from potential subscribers for ad-free content that can be viewed on a variety of devices or saved for offline viewing. They’ll compete with services from several others who have significant content libraries (movies) […]
Seamanship: Few people can handle a dinghy like this …
RichC | October 9, 2015
SEAMANSHIP: The art and skill of boat handling, ranging from maintenance and repairs to piloting, sail handling, marlinespike work and rigging.
How great thou art (The Singing Contractors)
RichC | October 4, 2015
I have fond memories when working during the summer when I was in college and listening to a couple talented guys … not quite this good, but they were still great.
The Sony Mobile and ZMP Inc tests their new UAV
RichC | August 25, 2015
After getting a chance to play with a quad copter last week, I’ve been a little more intrigued with the advancements in “drones.” Who knows, this innovation may find its way into the first realistic personal transportation device someday? Sony’s Aerosense drone that takes off and lands vertically but during flight gets most of its […]
Video: World record semi truck jump
RichC | July 28, 2015
More video and info – Washington Post Link
Video: A new Van Session from Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers
RichC | July 20, 2015
Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers – Mr. Saturday Night – Loved Wild Lost – Van Session 29
A favorite YouTube channel: Tips from a Shipwright
RichC | July 18, 2015
By far, my favorite woodworking and sailing YouTube channel is Tips from a Shipwright. It is sponsored by Jamestown Distributors in Rhode Island a great source for boat paints, finishes and epoxy materials. I will go there before looking elsewhere because of their sponsorship. The filmmaker Halsey Fulton of Fish Hawk Films brings the impressive […]
Video: More teasing from Elio Motors
RichC | June 24, 2015
Almost a year since our deposit (ALL IN was in November 2014) and our Elio delivery is still a year or so away … even if everything stays on track! Ugh. Also they are looking to raise a few dollars as a start-up company … although it goes without saying, this should be money you […]
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.