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?
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.
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
Posted By RichC on August 27, 2018
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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.
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)
Posted By RichC on August 25, 2018
Here’s a great explanation of the history and current role of Pharmacy Benefit, Managers (PBMs) as it relates to health care, drug cost and insurance plans.
LINK to Marketplace story
Posted By RichC on August 25, 2018
This Labor Day weekend is the annual Stewart Airshow and our EAA chapter’s fly-in and pancake breakfast.
If you enjoy aviation and mostly vintage aircraft flying in and out of a well cared for grass airstrip, this outing is for you. The gathering in Waynesville Ohio is always an enjoyable community time and is fun for those who fly in from all part of the tri-state. The Stewart airshow starts at 5PM and takes a break until dark, at which time the "night flying" begins — well worth seeing on a clear night.
Primitive camping is welcomed on the field and there is usually a nice crowd for our EAA "once a year" fundraiser providing the morning coffee and a pancake breakfast — this year our 51st! (see EAA284.org)
Posted By RichC on August 24, 2018
|￣￣￣￣￣￣ |
| WE |
| ARE NOT |
| THE |
| NATIONAL |
| ENQUIRER |
| ＿＿＿＿＿__|
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/ づ— Enquirer (@Enquirer) August 23, 2018
Posted By RichC on August 24, 2018
What’s new with the popular and well loved Apple MacBook Air?
Nothing yet, but this week heated up with rumors that 8-year old Air is getting a big makeover for the end of 2018 (2017 CNET review of last years Macbook Air).
First on the "hope for rumors HAS" list is that the 
device remains small (13"), light and low-cost (lower than other MacBooks – dubious?).
Second is the better Retina Display with thinner bezels — very likely as that has been rumored since 2014.
Third is the very likely improved CPU, sort of a no-brainer since they naturally wouldn’t release a new model with an old processor chip.
Fourth is that it will come with a better base level memory and solid state hard drive … better being bigger.
Fifth the new membrane thinner and quieter keyboard. A must if the Air is to retain the name designating it small and lightweight.
Sixth … and this is just my speculation … the new Air will have even better enhanced battery life for those who want the best unplugged life on a full featured notebook computer. In my day to day sales travel, the number one reason the people I know opt for the Macbook Air is that it is the best computer to own if you wan to avoid charging during the day; nobody wants to drag around a tangled cord while searching for a place to plug in. (if there is one major shortcoming to my 15.6" Lenovo Yoga 710, it is that it has limited battery life … although very good by previous notebook computers).
Of course we’ve heard "Retina Rumors" before … even with illustrations! Who knows what to believe but one would think Apple could at least give us the Retina Display … even if it is 4 years late (see Oct 1, 2014 report – image below).
I’ll be looking at the Macbook Air with interest when it comes out later this year … but for travel I’m still pretty happy with my 2014 iPad Air2 and BrydgeKeyboard … perhaps I can wait?