A storm is coming and few running our country seem to care

Posted By on January 8, 2022

StormComing_ani

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 SinkingTitanticthe 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.

USFinancialIceberg

Tech Friday: Keen 1963 portable phone insight Mansfield, OH

Posted By 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. 😉

PortablePhoneMansfieldNewsJournal1963

Archive: The folding Dollhouse Christmas project for Ellerie

Posted By on January 6, 2022

EllerieDollhouseHome220103DollhouseFrontFinished211231

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.

EllerieDollhouseInside211228EllerieDollhouseProject211226_m

(more…)

Archive: Our 2021 Family Christmas over New Years

Posted By on January 5, 2022

This content is restricted.

LSSU’s 2022 list of Banished Words is an excellent one

Posted By on January 4, 2022

LSSUWordBalloon2021

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.

(more…)

The stock market begins the trading year 2022 with a roar

Posted By on January 3, 2022

StockMarketClose220103Even 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 on January 3, 2022

This content is restricted.

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father

Posted By on January 2, 2022

Mat24_36TrainInRussia

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, butnot 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.

Goofy New Year’s resolution? Improve my hand cut dovetails

Posted By on January 1, 2022

Happy New Year. Let’s hope 2022 will finally be the year that we can return to normal life after 2 years of struggling with COVID19 and the precautions and restrictions.

HandcutDovetails181211-490x347FinishedPiggyBank2018c-490x368

FinishedPiggyBank2018aOne of my woodworking skill improvements for 2022 (maybe I’ll make it a New Year’s resolution?) is to improve my competence, speed and accuracy in hand cutting dovetails as I did for a Piggy Bank project in 2018.

RepurposedCopierStand

In the back of my mind I’ve contemplated making a “short cuts” storage box to go on the cabinet from the office … and maybe it would be a great practice project. With that in mind, I’m archiving a YouTube clip from Rob Cosman below.
 

• • • • • • • • • • 
Or another option …

(more…)

New Year’s Eve Friday Filler Photo: Make 2022 better than 2021

Posted By on December 31, 2021

As we wind down 2021 and close the book on a stressful COVID19 filled year … here’s hoping next year will bring an end to the pandemic. BirdsHavingABadDay2021sIf that is not going to be the case, then let’s hope the Omicron Variant isn’t as deadly as the Delta Variant … and that we will keep our schools and businesses open in 2022. We need to keep living our lives … now that we have improved vaccines, preventive measures and the many new meds waiting on FDA approval.

In any case have a safe New Year’s Eve , take care of yourself and your family and as the old cliché goes … Have a good day! (or at least a better one that the poor bird who flew into our relatively new window. OUCH! )

HaveAGoodDay
Fairwell 2021!
 


End of the year advice for those who reside in the fiscal conservative camp, both for the running of our government (political) and personal lives (investing and daily living). Don’t be tempted by the excessive debt spending, “all-in” high-risk gambles and another “get rich quick” idea … especially now that we are in an age of historically unproven cryptocurrency speculation. The trade-offs for every tulip bulb or dotcom stock is generally for every winner there is a loser – if this becomes the strategy to secure your future, the likelihood of success is less than 50/50 (win or lose, the “house” always takes their cut).

Instead, be the turtle. Don’t overextend and overspend in your daily living, be ambitious and contribute positively at work, spend frugally and enjoy life every day, while still saving 10% of every paycheck. Balance your investments between a higher percentage of growth stocks vs value investments in a tax-deferred retirement portfolio in your early years, then systematically rotate to a value-weighted (with growing dividends) vs higher risk growth stocks in your later years. The final wise investment is in real estate, more precisely “a home.” You should be buying one (yes, with a mortgage). It is one of the few “investments” that you can enjoy while it historically keeps up with inflation. It offers tax advantages both in the short term and long term (capital gains taxes if/when you downsize) and with current interest rates lower than the current inflation rate, it is a no-brainer for those with low fixed-rate mortgages and is still attractive for those wanting to buy a home (although the current housing market seems a bit hot and overpriced – supply vs demand economics at work).

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog