Music Monday: Supertramp – It’s Raining again
Posted By RichC on January 10, 2022
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Movie night: Watched a good one called “The Big Year” from 2011
Posted By RichC on January 9, 2022
It might not be a current movie (it’s 2011), but it was one neither Brenda or I watched over this past decade, but it was an excellent comedy. “The Big Year,” with Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black (several others), was exactly what the “doctors” (Katelyn and Drew) ordered over our family Christmas. They mentioned that the movie was available for streaming online and thought we would like it; we did and so … I‘ll recommend it too.
Unfortunately when it came to finding it to stream, neither our Amazon or Netflix subscriptions had it available so I said we would just wait.
Of course waiting is not something Brenda is good at doing … she mandated that we just buy it or rent it. To rescue my “frugalness,” (can’t admit that it is really “cheapness”), Katelyn said, “just watch it on our Disney+” … she may have done Disney a marketing favor and 
may convince me to switch Netflix for Disney+??? Anyway again … it was a very enjoyable movie and recommended, especially to my Audubon birding friends.
On second topic, here are a couple of the family Christmas over New Year’s “Spin Art” items my granddaughters left behind for us (a Christmas gift). The girls do enjoy working on artwork, crafty things and all kinds of projects in Bompa’s workshop.
A storm is coming and few running our country seem to care
Posted By RichC on January 8, 2022
It feels like we are obliviously sailing on the Titanic and ignoring a financial storm on the horizon. We know that there is a debt iceberg ahead and yet have convinced ourselves that 
the United States is unsinkable … and so … continue our TRILLION dollar money printing and our unsustainable spending ways.
Congress spends in bill after bill, presidents keep approving … and American voters ignorantly elect the same irresponsible bureaucrats again and again. If history is any indication, we’ll only attempt to change when our ship begins to sink and our economy is in full collapse … but unlike the Titanic, I suspect the politicians in Washington DC, who sailed us here, will jump in the lifeboats first.
Tech Friday: Keen 1963 portable phone insight Mansfield, OH
Posted By RichC on January 7, 2022
Here’s a look back to a Mansfield News Journal article and something a little different for a New Year’s Nostradamus-y Tech Friday post … also in using the word “keen” it reflects the Christmas present/hiking shoes I bought (well Katelyn actually ordered) for Brenda … along with a bed-desk for her “preferred” office. 😉
Archive: The folding Dollhouse Christmas project for Ellerie
Posted By RichC on January 6, 2022
The scratch-built & designed (from a photo Katelyn sent) folding-case wooden Dollhouse for Ellerie was a success for Christmas this year. I was pretty sure Katelyn would like this sort-of heirloom toy, but I was unsure if a little granddaughter used to blinking gadgets and modern plastic toys would take to it, but she enjoyed it. That said, Annalyn’s BIG Barbie house was a definite distraction. If this woodworking project lasts … it is a toy BTW (??) … I hope it will be something that she will be able to share with her children someday.
Archive: Our 2021 Family Christmas over New Years
Posted By RichC on January 5, 2022
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LSSU’s 2022 list of Banished Words is an excellent one
Posted By RichC on January 4, 2022
It is difficult to NOT post the Lake Superior State University Banished Words list for 2022 since it has been a regular January blog inclusion for years. This year includes a few political overused terms/phrases such as “circle back” and “supply chain” … and a few long running over used ones: “At the end of the day” and “That being said.” All 10 on this year’s list are excellent.
This year, nominations came from most major U.S. cities and many U.S. states, on top of Norway, Belgium, England, Scotland, Australia, and numerous provinces in Canada. Here are the list of the banished words and terms for 2022 and the reasons for their banishment:
1. Wait, what?
Most frequently found in text or on social media, this ubiquitous imperative question is a failed “response to a statement to express astonishment, misunderstanding, or disbelief,” explained a wordsmith. “I hate it,” added another, because the command query is an inexact method to convey the utterer’s uncertainty or surprise. “I don’t want to wait,” either, continued the second impassioned nominator. Misuse and overuse.
2. No worries
Nominated by writers nationwide for misuse and overuse, this phrase incorrectly substitutes for “You’re welcome” when someone says “Thank you.” A further bungling relates to insensitivity. “If I’m not worried, I don’t want anyone telling me not to worry,” a contributor explicated. “If I am upset, I want to discuss being upset.” Despite its meaninglessness, the term is recommended to emailers by Google Assistant.
The stock market begins the trading year 2022 with a roar
Posted By RichC on January 3, 2022
Even with all the negativity around Covid19 and the rapidly spreading, but somewhat more tolerated, Omicron variant … investors chose to shrug off what looks to slow down the economic re-openings around the world. The saying I keep hearing is that “I’m done with it.”
My view for the strong stock market start on the first day of trading in 2022 is that the stimulus trillions poured into an economy by Washington DC needs a place to go (be invested) and that millions of pent-up consumers have money they want to spend (buy stuff and go places). In the absence of acceptable fixed income yields, that can keep up with 6.8% inflation, the only investment choices are real estate and the stock market (or maybe crypto?)
BUT … I suspect everyone knows that this is a party that must come to an end. No matter the country, central banks cannot print money forever without people losing trust in fiat money … or having to deal with hyperinflation … so the powers that be if they are of sane mind (questionable!) are sure to tighten monetary policies, raise interest rates and tell the U.S. Congress to stop deficit spending on anything and everything.
Music Monday: Claire Dunn singing “Salt and Lime”
Posted By RichC on January 3, 2022
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But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father
Posted By RichC on January 2, 2022
The lonely looking train left to rust somewhere in Russia had me pondering a Bible verse – Matthew 24:36 having to do with knowing not only how long “we personally” have on earth, but “not knowing” the end time for humanity. With that in mind, will you be “caught on the tracks” without accepting Christ when it is your time? Are you sure about your future … or with the “end of days” leave you behind not knowing Christ and accepting God’s gift of eternal life? (Romans 6:20-23) Give it some thought today, before it is too late.
Paul writes in Romans 10:9-13
9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
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.