Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

I took a course on blockchain today. Atlanta is well setup for the next plays in "fintech". It was good to get access to some of the folks who have been working in this area for the last 8 or 9 years.

Like a lot of inventions, it is is technology looking for an application. My belief is that with cryptocurrency there is opportunity. It is very fun to expand my personal understanding.

I really like this guy's electronics videos. I understand that they may have cult-like following like Bob Ross or something, but he does give lots of great information and tips. I find this video to be quite good in support of fixing "All American 5" radios. I particularly like the details on rebuilding the IF transformers (23:47). I have several that could use a tune up. I also like that he is giving these antique radios the respect they deserve. Note that this radio was built in Utica NY.

Back again-- again in Duluth from NY. No broadband internet at all in NY. Total crap. Rumor has it that my street is getting fiber in the next 2 months though. We will see. We did a lot more work to the house and installed hardwood floors. More trips to the scrap yard. More trips to the dump. More trips to secret tire island and more trips to the can man. It is endless.

I have been having chronic neck pain and I have been going to a Korean terrorist, I mean therapist. A pic of grace the cat. A typical redneck truck in upstate NY-- surprising it just doesn't break in half with all the tin-worm infestation. I always vote in NY, but this year I voted in person. Angie served as the local Russian interference agent in Berkshire NY. We had some business in Maryland so we visited the Antietam Civil war battleground. Interesting.

The skills and courtesy of professional truck drivers has fallen in my eyes. It gets dangerous as these guys in these huge machines hang out in the left lane, not passing and jamming up traffic for miles. They just don't seem to care that they are slowing everyone down and create much closer driving. Let us pass. Maybe they are on their phones too much.

We are again back in Duluth from the farm in NY. We made good progress on the house and barn, fixing upgrading, cleaning. More to come.

We went to the dump three times, the metal scrap yard twice and the can/bottle redemption center once. I am slowly, but surely converting Angie to a redneck. It is a journey for her between US State Department work and scrapper-redneck.

The snow was a bit of a surprise as well as the "ice fog" in the Owego valley. The weather changes fast and extremely.

The corn was harvested. It has been so wet in NY we had to transfer the grain out in the road, rather than the field. The truck would get stuck.

We both have vivid dreams sleeping on the farm. The cool air and lack of population seems to trigger vivid dreaming. Sometimes the dreams are so vivid it is clear why some people may think they are abducted by aliens.

We are back in Duluth from Florida and Mary's Florida memorial service. We are planning on being on Connecticut for her memorial service up there.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=190397108

My sister in-law Mary Beth Dowdell (Grover) passed away this week. Some pics from April 2018.

It usually isn't the nice stuff that makes us grow.

We were up in NY this week. I managed to get my new truck stuck pulling tubing on the solar hot water system, which I just decommissioned. The 4 wheel drive was not enough. The clay/sod topping of the land on the farm is really amazing at getting things stuck. My tires are also terrible at breaking the vacuum. Douglas got me unstuck with superior tires on his Land Rover and the judicious use of sand ladders.

We found an old diner-style jute box in Frackville PA. I thought they were all gone.

Out in Orange County California this week. I had forgotten how nice it is out there.

I have been out on the west coast. Looks like I will be spending more time out there.

It is gracie's birthday on the 13th of Sept. She didn't want to pose much. She may be shy about her weight.

Exciting times! Busy. I sold a "barn find" tube audio pre-amp for almost $1200 yesterday, something that I rescued from the scrap heap. Coaching and self-development is (and will) pay off. Honesty, integrity and a never relenting quest for " #bettereveryday " is where I live. It does not matter where you start.

Happy Labor day. It is one of the few Holidays in the US that businesses and the government has off. It is not to say that there aren't people working in services for sure.

Here is how we grill here at the Dowdell home. I welded up a second grill that allows a pizza to get smokey and hot. I was very interested in building a brick oven many years ago. I am glad I didn't. The Weber grill works great and the possibilities are near endless.