Archive: Combo family birthday party for Ellerie and Annalyn
Posted By RichC on March 12, 2022
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Tech Friday: Apple Event and our WyzeCam3 picks up a fox
Posted By RichC on March 11, 2022
Here are a couple of technology highlights to mention on a Tech Friday from earlier this week. First, the new driveway Wyze Cam3 set-up (moved it) picked up an evening fox whizzing by and 
the second, an event on Tuesday from Apple announcing new products.
Personally, I’m not sure what kind of surprise was expected from Apple, but nothing really jumped out. I was attracted to the new iPad Air with the M1 chip starting at $599 … but it is not on my current “must have” shopping list. Both Brenda and I have aging iPhone 7s so it will likely be something we will need to replace this year or next. With the price of high end iPhones above $1000 now, the upgraded small iPhone SE with the A15 chip, improved glass and 5G connectivity is attractive. At a $429 starting price, it might be the way to go?
EDIT 3/13/2022: Adding what has now become a regular visit by our fox on the garage WyzeCam …
Books: “The Digital Silk Road” by Jonathan E. Hillman
Posted By RichC on March 10, 2022
It looks as if the next book on my reading list will be Jonathan E. Hillman’s “The Digital Silk Road: China’s Quest to Wire the World and Win the Future.” It was release last October (2021) and after reading a review (and WSJ recommendation), I decided 
to download the digital e-book.
I’m not an expert on world trade, finance, infrastructure or expanding influence China the ruling Communist party has around the globe, but without question their expansion has been rapid and systematic. As information goes digital, it is increasingly obvious that those who control the flow of data and networks could become the dominate influence in the world. As the the author reveals, China continues to expand its digital footprint in nearly every country and warns that we will soon be facing the “consequences of a future in which all routers lead to Beijing.”
While this has steadily been happening for the past couple of decades, we are currently watching the democratic western powers (and 
our own President Biden) display weakness at every turn. Communist adversaries and dictatorships are quickly swooping in to take advantage of our weakness and the opportunity to expand their influence, reach and perhaps even territories. Europe is now dependent on Russia and their oil and gas, North and South America relies on Asia (and primarily China) to supply much of our manufactured goods, digital devices and chips … and way too much of our mined raw materials.
Europe and America didn’t pay attention when this started to happen 90 years ago and leaders either ignored (“it is not our problem”) or tried to avoid by diplomatic appeasement. Let’s learn from history and deal with aggressive adversaries in the only way that has proven to work … the Reagan Doctrine that ended the Cold War.
Men’s interests have changed and a spoiled American rant
Posted By RichC on March 9, 2022
Something I’ve notice over the years is that today’s men have lost interest in what traditionally were seen as male hobbies and interests.
My thought is that recent generation of men have abandoned working on cars in their garages and spending weekends with tools in their workshop (probably non-existent nowadays). They don’t fish and hunt as they once did (men do still go to the gym, hike, bike, travel, etc), but for a lot of today’s men, they outsource home maintenance, repairs and yardwork.
I’m not sure if it is related to fathers no longer passing down necessary hobbies and skills … and instead being focused on their job, organized youth sports, entertainment or video gaming and technology or what? The “disappearing blue collar America” may also contribute to men not working with their hands, as does the fact that we have far fewer manufacturing jobs which were once the mainstay of our country. Even if where those jobs do exist, schools aren’t preparing students for the “skills jobs” we do have. Gone is the Industrial Education that was once in every K-12 education … and vocational education is discouraged even for students who likely would benefit; they are instead tracked college-prep where many drop out with way too much debt.
Interestingly, I’m seeing “men” drawn more towards cooking and working in the kitchen in recent years … which was once pretty much a woman’s domain. Is it a natural progression of a more balanced society or are men naturally drawn to cooking when they don’t have other “tool related hobbies” to keep them occupied?
Nothing wrong with it, but it has just been an interesting change that has happed in my lifetime.
On to my “spoiled American” mini-rant:
I placed an order for a kitchen utensil (hence the previous paragraphs) from Walmart.com back in February and expecting that it would show up within a day or two as has been the recent norm. Amazon has definitely slipped a bit in the last couple of years in delivering when stated, but usually it is still within a day or so. Sadly ordering from vendors on Walmart’s website will discourage me from even going to there to order in the future.
*** Posting stream of package scan – I was both impressed with the number of scans and lack of delivery progress in moving deliveries along. Perhaps it is a USPS problem???
Weekend woodworking catch-up photos from the workshop
Posted By RichC on March 8, 2022
The final steps of finishing the rocking chair for my granddaughter are finally getting done. The canvas strips of material have been added with a little flexible adhesive in the center and epoxy on the ends. The canvas material should do a couple things, first prevent the painted rockers from wearing to bare wood and second prevent any damage to what ever it is rocking on (deck, patio, wood floor, etc). This idea was drawn from the old … and I mean OLD … antique wicker rocker we use on the back porch. It has been in my family since it was in my great grandparents house. Let’s hope this will offer similar wear and protection?
While working in the workshop, I finished up sanding and repainting the “less than durable” 
paint that I used on the high chair a few years back. Hopefully this time it will withstand the scrubbing required to keep it clean?
And finally, I worked on another mitered frame … this time using the maple from my antique type galley trays (used on previous projects) and some walnut. I’m getting better, although my original homemade framing clamps needed to be glued a little more after cutting the corners for the walnut splines.
Music Monday: “Too Late to Turn Back Now” from 1972 by the Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Posted By RichC on March 7, 2022
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Happy Birthday! Our granddaughter is already 5 years old!
Posted By RichC on March 6, 2022
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Archive: Toledo Area Parent magazine article – Mar/Apr 2022
Posted By RichC on March 5, 2022
What parent doesn’t enjoy seeing their adult children respected enough in their profession to be asked to comment?
Since I’m one that does keep an online scrapbook of sorts (this blog) … I’m archiving a recent article with Katelyn in Toledo Area Parent titled “Less Mealtime Stress with Responsive Feeding.”
Seems like a week to highlight kids, as I mentioned Taylor a couple days ago … but also noticed he’ll soon be able to get his Kane’s chicken “fix” when visiting his nieces up north! 😊 (spotted in the magazine)
Less Mealtime Stress with Responsive Feeding
In a world of instant access to information and parenting trends showcased on social media, award-winning author and international speaker, Melanie Potock, CCC-SLP, has released a research-backed book on a proven way to establish healthy eating habits and relationships with food and our children, Responsive Feeding: The Baby-First Guide to Stress-Free Weaning, Healthy Eating, and Mealtime Bonding. Melanie shares wisdom gained from over 20 years in speech language pathology and feeding therapy. Responsive feeding is a technique that took root in the 1990s and is recommended by organizations such as the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Department of Health.
Responsive feeding is baby-led and establishes a “dance,” as Melanie calls it, between listening to your baby communicating and meeting those needs in a loving way. This requires parents to be in tune with their baby’s hunger cues as well as identifying baby’s signals of satiety.
“Feeding trends come and go, but babies don’t change the way they communicate,” Potock writes. Reading these cues and responding to your child’s hunger in a timely manner allows them to send hunger signals without interruption and in their natural form. Responding to these signals helps to determine and nurture ways to help establish baby’s confidence that their basic needs will be met.
Tech Friday: Waiting to hear about the low-cost iPhone SE
Posted By RichC on March 4, 2022
On Tuesday, I received my Apple Event invitation for March 8, 2022 where tech watchers expect to hear Apple announce a new low-cost 5G iPhone SE. The current SE is $399 and retains the Touch ID which as me wondering if the new iPhone SE will remain similar?
They are also expected to announce a updated iPad Air which could be a option for me someday … I use my iPad every day (but probably need to update my iPhone 7 plus before the iPad). Needless to say, I’ll be paying attention.
Apple announces March 8 event; low-cost 5G iPhone and new iPad expected
Apple on Tuesday sent out invitations to the media for an event on March 8, where it’s expected to announce a new low-cost iPhone model.
Taylor now gets to fly drones as part of his planning job
Posted By RichC on March 3, 2022
Admit it, you’re a bit envious of those who get to fly drones as a part of their job?
Taking Taylor out for his birthday in 2021
As someone who has enjoy everything aviation their entire life, I’m a bit jealous my son is now a licensed commercial drone pilot … just a I am watching those who get paid to play sports, make movies, race cars or to fish professionally. Of course they all usually have talents or have work hard towards the goal … and I did not. 
Anyway it was fun to congratulate Taylor and hear him share the update of his progress. As a dad, it is rewarding to know he has found a career path and job that rewarding, even in small ways.
Thinking back on starting a business, I “wish” I would have been a little bit more satisfied and looked at the positives of running my own company, rather than focused and stressing over employees, maintaining customers and on paying bills. I spent way to much time trying to grow the company and grumbling about all the roadblock out bureaucracy, than taking pride and being satisfied with what had already been achieved.
Again, congratulations Taylor … Brenda and I are so thankful you have a great job and share the positives with us.
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.