We are looking forward to a couple days with Annalyn
Posted By RichC on September 22, 2018
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DJIA, S&P 500, Nasdaq closing strong and political pontificating
Posted By RichC on September 20, 2018
If the stock market is worried about another round of China tariffs, it sure doesn’t show it. Thursday saw the DJIA back to its record high from earlier this year. The S&P 500 did the same and even the Nasdaq was positive although off the higher record area earlier this year … but not by much. All in all, the U.S. economy is robust and growth is hard to deny. Jobs have returned with hiring in most sectors … and even wages are rising thanks to lower business taxes that give them flexibility as to where to invest their profits — people and investing back in their business (hopefully more in divided and share buybacks too?)
About the only two things negative at the moment are trade war fears and the political divide giving Democrats the chance to will back leadership of Congress. Want to kill a good economy? Elect DEMs in November and watch them throw a monkey wrench into this great economy.
The Perfect Wave to make a mental escape
Posted By RichC on September 19, 2018
Just escaping for a moment in my mind and eyes …
Beautiful Ocean
The Perfect Wave
#Surfing #Surf #Travel #TuesdayThoughts #Australia pic.twitter.com/W0mhqB44p6
— Tom Hall ☘ (@TomHall) September 18, 2018
Tool talk: A little bit more regarding my Ridgid tool choices
Posted By RichC on September 18, 2018
In recent years, I’ve added a few corded Ridgid tools to my workshop or traveling trunk. I’ve owned a favorite reciprocating saw for about 10 years now and still find it my absolute favorite (also have an old Makita). Because I’m so fond of it, I’ve added an orbital sander which gets use very often and is already starting to show its age (close to 10 years old too). Once again 
it is the one I grab or take with me over all the other older sanders that I have.
Early this year when working on the kitchen remodel I also upgraded my old Craftsman "cheapy" circular saw; it was one that my mom and dad gave me as a teenager … yes it is that old and still sparks and whirls. Again based on my 2 previous corded Ridgid tools, their version of the classic "Skilsaw" was my first pick for ripping the long trim panels. It was only after handling it that I remembered how good it feels to use a well balance, solid circular saw (like the Milwaukee I used when working for a builder in college).
As for battery powered tools, I’ve never been much of an advocate besides having a drill, but times are changing. I’ve owned several drills through the years, most have been Sears Craftsman … with the occasional oddball that left me sorely disappointed (my first lithium 12v tool, but so disappointed). Eventually I replaced my old Craftsman 19.2 Nicad with the 19.2 Lithium and have been very pleased with it.
BUT … I’m sizing up possibly the tools I buy now should be ones last me the rest of my life, so I have picked the brushless Ridgid GEN5x line of tools and 18 volt battery system after suggesting it was a good value for Katelyn to buy Drew for Father’s Day this year … they then went on to buy me a new drill for Father’s Day too. It is a great drill although heavier than I’m use too. My recommendation was mostly due to my experience with the corded tools but also because it is handled at Home Depot and is covered by a Lifetime warranty when you "registered tool and battery that comes with the kit." Yes, battery … the bane of all the battery powered tools I have owned.
So, in keeping with my upgrade process, I decided to continue to stick with Ridgid Power Tools … and so far have not been disappointed (FYI: Ridgid based out of Elyria, Ohio and is owned by Emerson Electric).
Make someone’s day, give them a compliment, plus some advice
Posted By RichC on September 17, 2018
None of us likely compliment others enough, but being on the receiving end of an unexpected compliment feels pretty good. It is past due that I do the same for someone else.
Last week I connected with a friend that I don’t see as often as I use to, but he mentioned he keeps up with my life by reading my blog, which is a compliment in itself. Anyway, he mentioned how he and his wife have always looked up to the way Brenda and I raised our two kids and lived our lives … and that it has had an impact on how they have tried to raise their children. Obviously from a distance it must have looked easier than the many questionable moments we had? Nevertheless, his compliment lead to a more personal question as he and his wife were
struggling with balancing changing careers, family finances and teenagers preparing for college. His question is how much to sacrifice for the kids and how much debt to take on to make sure they can go to college. He admitted neither of them budget well or have planned ahead for college or eventually retirement.
A question like that was a little heavy after just receiving such a polite compliment on child rearing, but with him being so personal, I figured I would try to share a little. First I reminded him that Brenda and my circumstances were totally different than where he and his wife are currently. I also mentioned that we really did not plan our career moves and decisions based on a timeline or personal wants. Each opportunity was a "doors open, doors close" thought process. For me a career that starting in teaching ended up by my starting my own business part-time in the basement, then garage, then full time in my own remodeled commercial building. It was all based on circumstances.
For Brenda, being ambitious in her career and being in the right place at the right time (doors open, doors close), lead to opportunities which eventually were exciting enough to require a BIG changes in the way I ran my business. At the time it was extremely stressful, but in hindsight the timing was providential as "printing on paper" was slowing and digital communications on the Internet was growing … meaning selling the equipment, building and production side of my business happened at just at the right time. A few years later, something very similar happened to Brenda in that her founder sold the DOTcom pharmacy business about the time the bottom fell out … which worked out so she could be at home more with the kids before they were off to college.
Each "open and closed" door left us a bit better off financially than before, thankfully. Selling the business and paid off building gave me dollars to put aside for the kids college and some left over for me to invest for our retirement. 
In other words, it is not something you can emulate or duplicate. (but we should all be living on less than our incomes and at minimum all be saving for our retirement in a company 401-K or personal IRA).
My final advice was if as a couple they were not saving for retirement, then they should not be borrowing themselves to put their children through college … no matter the outside pressure. Help where you can, pinch a penny here or there or even perhaps consider an early downsized home if you want to help out, but as someone nearing 50, don’t indebt yourself in order to fund 4 year college "experience."
I’m not sure it is what he wanted to hear, but I hope his kids will be awarded grants or scholarships (not over do the debt) … or be smart enough to work a job, live at home and start their first two years of undergrad at a community college? Sane advice that is starting to gain traction as student debt rises and college cost continue to escalate. Good luck.
Is being creative with credit cards and banking worth the risk?
Posted By RichC on September 16, 2018
I hate seeing any of my friends borrow money … especially when the borrowing is at high rates as it often is for those struggling with bills and living month to month. It is particularly frustrating when they are still use credit cards with
rates in the double digits, are paying the minimum and often get dinged with late fees and penalties … a great reasons not to begin down the borrowing path.
Still, for responsible money managers, credit cards are a great way to use OPM (Other People’s Money) to make purchases online or not having to walk around with a wallet full of cash … but it is a slippery slope. So heed the warning of people who help those in debt like Dave Ramsey if concerned.
That said, there are some good deals when using credit cards for those who have 
excellent credit and always pay off their monthly balance (mentioned before). Besides not have to walk around with cash, you can end up with cash-back (or other perks) just for the things you purchase all the time (gas, groceries, apparel). Perhaps the best known long time "cash back" credit card issuer is Discover. For decades (at least since my first Discover Card in 1986), they have offered a no-annual-fee card with 1% cash back on all purchases – nice, but very common nowadays. Most credit card aficionados are expecting more. So Discover has been adding to that with an additional 4% bonus on certain categories each quarter (see calendar) — you need to watch limits and sign up online if you play this game. 
Still, getting 5% back on Amazon shopping (Oct – Dec) can be pretty nice.
Travelers using airlines and hotels have even more incentives from banks who strike deals with "miles" programs. Delta and American Express are known for their Skymiles cards which I have used for years and other airlines have partnered with other banks. My current favorite is Chase and Southwest since it seems much simpler for me to track and use … but can be confusing as well since their cards are in 3 tiers and all have annual fees — you’ll need to calculate the miles earned vs annual fees (plus excellent sign up deals in most cases — particularly Southwest’s Business Credit Cards).
Twitter is still my social network of choice for interacting
Posted By RichC on September 15, 2018
A shocking number of Twitter impression for a simple Volkswagen Beetle update I posted yesterday – well over 100,000. I do use Twitter regularly to share and comment a variety of topics, but rarely have tweets generated more than 10,000 looks or a handful of retweets and likes (on the other hand, my blog’s Google Adsense income has gone up significantly this year too, so who knows?)
Likely because I do follow Volkswagen a bit closer than most, I was early in realizing that the iconic VW Beetle would end production in 2019. This triggered more than 10 times other popular tweets. The end for the Beetle must have struck a nerve?
Another interesting post was Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey’s comment as to the meaning behind the name:
Hurricane Florence is dumping FEET of rain on the Carolinas
Posted By RichC on September 14, 2018
It is and is GOING to be a mess cleaning up after the flooding in a lot more than coastal cities and beachfront towns in North and South Carolina. I’ve watched the slow moving Florence come ashore on TV early this morning and meander along the shoreline most of Friday (thankfully it was a CAT 1 and now a Tropical Storm).
Although the damage from extreme winds is far less than originally expected, the high storm surge, over 40" of rain in some places and inland river flooding is deadly (first deaths reported). Hopefully now that it has hit land, the rain amounts will be less (???) and energy hurricanes get from the warm ocean quickly reduce the power this storm packed. I does look like much of the east coast will still feel some of what is left of Florence early next week. 
Tech Friday: Never shopping again at Jet.com – $WMT owned
Posted By RichC on September 14, 2018
In recent years, we’ve grown accustom to DOTcom retail companies delivering on their promises. Thanks to Amazon and their outstanding efficiency and reliable fulfillment and delivery services. Perhaps I’ve forgotten that not all online retailers live up to what we now take for granted?
One expects that when a product is listed on a major retailer’s website and an item is checked out, that eventually you will receive your purchase. In my case my credit card was recorded and delivery date issued, be it slower delivery time than I would have wanted (ordered 9/4 with delivery date of 9/12).
The order was "in process" for a week according to the order tracking page of Jet.com (a Walmart owned company) as of 9/12 — the delivery date, yet no delivery. The next email from Jet was to inform me that my order was canceled … I read this on 9/13 after the delivery date. Huh??? If there was a problem with this order, one would think they could have update me a week prior … or at minimum explain the "canceled order" or give me options? Nope … just a matter of fact subject line "Your Jet order has been canceled." Rude … offensive … very frustrating … and possibly illegal since the item is still available on the Jet.com site with a higher price. (a phone conversation with a "Jethead" wasn’t able to explain either and said "I understand how this can be seen as false advertising.")
Beside lodging a complaint, emailing feedback and including Walmart corporate on the practice … I’ll post my gripe here on my blog. Sort of wish there was consumer watchdog with teeth to be able to go after this kind of chicanery (did I mention the item is still available on their site … at a higher price? Grr!)
EDIT: Perhaps I have not learned my lesson just yet, but after reaching out to Jet.com by phone, email and Twitter … and the customer service agent via TwitterDM want to make the order right. I was encouraged to place the order again, something I hope I don’t regret. We’ll see how this plays out, but perhaps we all make mistakes (my company included) and deserve a chance to make it right?
Tis the season for tropical weather – Hurricane Florence nears
Posted By RichC on September 13, 2018
We are into the heart of hurricane season and 2018 will likely be one Carolinians remember as both North and South Carolina brace for impact of Hurricane Florence. The powerful hurricane is currently moving towards the coast in a perpendicular fashion and is likely to pick up energy as it nears the warm waters of the Gulf Stream according to trackers. Currently the estimate is for a slower approach sometime Thursday night until Saturday morning.
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.