Music Monday with The Band from 1969 – Happy Labor Day!
Posted By RichC on September 3, 2018
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Remembering Sen John S McCain – he left an imprint
Posted By RichC on September 2, 2018
The nations’ citizens, Washington DC elites and the news media devoted significant time to honor and mourn with Senator John S. McCain’s family last week and especially on Saturday. I watched the funeral proceedings and memorial events along with much of the country who recognized his devotion to country. His loyalty to the men and women who serve and have served in uniform were unwavering from the beginning. McCain in every role … naval aviator, US congressman or US senator … focused on defending our country and supporting those who serve in the military. I can’t imagine there are many Americans who do not recognize his heroism when tortured as a POW … especially if they know his story. His sacrifice in remaining at the Hanoi Hilton, suffering the constant torture as a North Vietnamese prisoner when offered an early release is difficult to imagine. If for no other reason, Sen McCain deserves every citizen’s respect.
I enjoyed hearing so many kind words from his friends as well as his political adversaries who fought bitterly in campaigns and against issues McCain fought for; some I thought were worth his digging his heels in for and others I felt he should have backed down from … particularly when his party needed his vote 
(I can’t get his health care vote out of my head — although appreciated Senator Lieberman’s explanation). I also supported his 2008 run for the oval office believing he would have been a far better president than Barack Obama. The nation thought different (although in my opinion, there was no better tribute to Senator McCain than President Obama’s speech on Saturday).
Looking back, John McCain’s story of patriotism as a Navy guy had an impact on me as well. His military background, in part, is what had me applying to two military academies when I was in high school (thank you John Glenn for writing my nomination letter). I’ve always respected those who serve and served our nation. I hope the next generation sees his kind of service as heroic … and aspire to be more like John McCain … or at least show respect and appreciation for those who do.
Human-Induced Climate Change – Take it with a grain of salt
Posted By RichC on September 1, 2018
Some interesting results using my birth town and the "number of 90 degree days" in a New York Times "tool" which I interpret as wanting to alarm us into action over the "human induced climate change" projections. If you haven’t already dug your heels in with an opinion (likely influenced by politics either way) … it is not hard to recognize the slant and agenda of "Climate" writers for the NYTimes.
I’m not educated enough in climate science to know how much to panic and how much to take with a political grain of salt. Deep down I wonder if the gradual environmental improvements we have made (and I have witnessed) in the US over the last 50 years is an appropriate path … and if the focus should be on countries where there is the most room for improvement even beyond "carbon emissions." It also occurs to me that we are not as brilliant as we think; there are often unforeseen events in nature that change opinions over time … in fact 40 years ago we were fearing "global cooling!"
But below is the recent NYTimes Interactive look at my birth city of Toledo Ohio from 1960 to 2017 (more…)
Tech Friday: Yahoo and AOL sift through your emails
Posted By RichC on August 31, 2018
Tech news this week highlighted Yahoo and AOL brand email services. There are still plenty of users still using them and unknowingly being spied on (including me since I still use Yahoo for "junk" mail — I started with AOL & Yahoo in the early 1990s kept the simple rdc2@ addresses). The search algorithms and even employees are said to be searching your email and refine lists of users that they sell to advertisers.
It may not be a big deal if it helps you plan a more appropriate vacation, but can be a bit unnerving if you are seeking health advice and receive insurance ads or worse … funeral planning and mortuary ads!
If you still want to keep Yahoo Mail, go to their Ad Interest Manager page while logged in and "Opt-Out" of the "On Yahoo" and "Across the web" tabs. LINK
Yahoo, Bucking Industry, Scans Emails for Data to Sell Advertisers
When Verizon created Oath last year, it envisioned the new unit as a future advertising rival to Google and Facebook Inc. for its potential to marry data on Verizon’s vast pool of wireless subscribers with Yahoo’s highly trafficked online hubs, Verizon executives have said.
Oath owns dozens of popular websites, such as HuffPost and Yahoo Finance. It helps advertisers show messages on these sites as well as across the web, using a variety of ad-placement services.
Email scanning has become one of the company’s most effective methods for improving ad targeting, said Doug Sharp, Oath’s vice president of data, measurements and insights. He said that the practice applies only to commercial emails in people’s accounts—from retailers, say, or mass mailings—and that users have the ability to opt out.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the “furthest” of them all?
Posted By RichC on August 30, 2018
Of course perception is everything, but here’s a pretty good indicator regarding the media and their reporting/stories bias. About the political L and R split you expected?
The never ending quest to make my Sperry Topsiders last longer
Posted By RichC on August 29, 2018
Those of you who regularly read my blog know that I love wearing boat shoes (and flip-flops) and have gone thru great lengths to make them last and keep them "semi" odor free. From insoles to epoxy mixes for "wear control" … and have been accused of going a bridge too far.
Short answer, it may be an obsessive behavior trait stemming from my cheapness or "frugalism." Nevertheless, here is another attempt to make my favorite Sperry Topsiders last another year.
A face only another shark can love … or maybe not?
Posted By RichC on August 28, 2018
Just a couple of different #sharkshares this past week – they always make “attractive” photos for the blog!
Are we sure we want to celebrate this? pic.twitter.com/5jDE5Uf8Hd
— Big Peg, Diva of the Sea (@MakoPeggy) August 22, 2018
Music Monday Mellow Morning Twofer: Fogelberg and Stevens
Posted By RichC on August 27, 2018
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Books: The Great Revolt – Salena Zito and Brad Todd
Posted By RichC on August 26, 2018
I may have pick up my favorite political book of the year with Salena Zito and Brad Todd’s "The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics." It analyzes the unusual rise of once "long shot" billionaire reality-tv GOP candidate Donald Trump who defeated 17 other Republican "politicians" and chipped off enough disgruntled Independent and Democratic voters to defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016. The first person voter interviews with thousands of ordinary American voters is something that left pollsters and political party strategists scratching their heads and is finding them studying carefully as this populist movement either continues or dies off in future US elections.
For me, it is not that I haven’t heard the message before, but getting it all in a concise book with the ordinary people interviews, that many of us living in the mid-west can relate to, is most telling. There are those who are one issue voters like the 2nd Amendment or concerned over the damage another liberal supreme court justice could make … as well as those who dislike the direction of the country under supporters of BIG government progressive policies.
The later “felt” how slow the economic recovery was going and how expensive the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was making health care as it continued to collapse under its own weight. It also highlighted the "embarrassed to tell their friends" closet Trump voters or the evangelical Christians who seemed unlikely to support a man on his 3rd wife with less-than upright past behavior. All in all, it is an intriguing book and might help explain things to those who live in academia or tight progressive circles on the east and west coast — and especially for those oblivious to the reality faced by "blue collar traditional democratic voters some viewed as "clinging to their guns and religion" or that their candidate of choice referred to as "deplorables."
Here is a great CSPAN interview by David Drucker with the authors Brad Todd and Salena Zito (well worth listening to).
Standout syndicated columnist and CNN contributor Salena Zito, with veteran Republican strategist Brad Todd, reports across five swing states and over 27,000 miles to answer the pressing question: Was Donald Trump’s election a fluke or did it represent a fundamental shift in the electorate that will have repercussions–for Republicans and Democrats–for years to come.
A true American Hero passed away at 81 – Sen John McCain
Posted By RichC on August 25, 2018
“Fairwell fellow Americans. God bless you, and God bless America.” — John S McCain
As an American citizen, and supporter of Sen John McCain for many years, it is sad to see his last fight was with cancer. The nation owes him great honor his years of service to our country. From his heroic suffering as a prisoner of war, to his unrelenting focus on providing for our military while serving in Washington DC. My sadness is with his family in losing a son (his mother Roberta is 106), his wife Cindy her husband and children a father. So glad for his many years. (video below)
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.