A baby shower and babysitting fun for Bompa with Annalyn
Posted By RichC on March 26, 2018
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Who knew that an AppleTV would be a favorite technology buy
Posted By RichC on March 25, 2018
Looking back (post from March 2015) on technology buys over the past few years, it is hard for me to put my finger on a favorite … besides the smartphone which surly#1? But push come to shove for #2 … it is likely the Apple iPad as I use it far more that I ever thought; it has become my daily traveling companion and does far more "computing" that I ever expected.
As for Brenda, it is amazing how much she uses our older and relatively inexpensive AppleTV. It was an "impulse buy" at $59 three years ago and is used far more than the Roku, DVD or even the digital TV box now that we have "on demand" and "catch-up TV" features. She goes back to the AppleTV for its ease of use for subscription Netflix and Amazon video. She actually makes me feel like I’m still in the stone age as I’m still struggling to record TV and make room on our DVR (at least it’s not a VCR recorder!)
You can’t change the past, focus on what you can change
Posted By RichC on March 24, 2018
“Change is the law of life. Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
— John F Kennedy
Avoid fly by night services, plugins and linking when blogging
Posted By RichC on March 23, 2018
Here’s some advice from someone who as blogged daily since 2005 — AVOID using data, photos, video, etc archived on other services. Over the years, I have been frustrated by “what seemed great at the time” using services offered by companies who specialize in hosting data for users.
A little history: It started for me when shopping around for the best “host” for my business website — cppnet.com. I opted to host on a Canadian server promising 
better service, support and low prices. Unfortunately after also using them to host some rudimentary websites for my customers as well, they sold out and I lost direct control of my data and more importantly the domains I handled. Months later I was able to retrieve, but not without significant effort.
It was about that point I opted to run my own servers and offer space on them to my customers … mostly as a way for me to save their printed jobs and archive their files (it is amazing to see the Akron Audubon Newsletter issues go back to 1997!). But times change and eventually cloud services take over the local archival duties.
As for blogging, off-loading bandwidth and data intensive video seemed like the only way to stream data back in the day … except they once again, users are dependence on the company(ies) they choose to use. One of the obvious choices initially was Google Video. Unfortunately data saved and served with them is now defunct as of 2012 (after purchasing YouTube). As for the afore mentioned, YouTube is notoriously shortsighted when shutting down a users account. Practically all my early video (home video and otherwise) were deleted after I including a 3 minute segment (properly credited) of Ed Begley Jr talking about biodiesel with Oprah. That’s the video gripe.
Financial markets head south as trade war fears loom
Posted By RichC on March 22, 2018
It doesn’t get much uglier for investing than inching closer to a full blown trade war with China (and others) … and the financial markets aren’t taking it well as they are not in or very near correction territory – perhaps the Fed can go easier on rate hikes?
President Trump followed through on signing a presidential memorandum that cites Section 301 of a 1974 US Trade law allowing unilateral actions against allegedly unfair trade policies abroad. Mr. Trump said that America has an “out of control” trade deficit and that China has been using “intimidation and subterfuge to acquire US technology.” This isn’t new and has continued for years without resolution — just lost US jobs and more business being done overseas. Few trade agreements have been able to improve China’s behavior and as the president notes, the US has consistently come out negatively after each trade negotiation deal. In any case, US stocks and equity investors took a big hit today with the DJIA down over 700 points.
U.S. to Apply Tariffs on Chinese Imports, Restrict Tech Deals
‘It’s out of control,’ President Donald Trump says of U.S. trade deficit with China
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration will levy tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of Chinese imports, alongside restrictions on technology transfers and acquisitions by Beijing, moving to pressure China to curtail what the U.S. considers unfair trading and investment practices.
Dolphins, sharks and whales visit sailboats, but polar bears?
Posted By RichC on March 22, 2018
An interesting photo as this is not something you see everyday when on anchor watch! (from Sailing Yacht TV Facebook page)
What a difference in a few hours – weather and a Spring Snow
Posted By RichC on March 21, 2018
Pulled up Tuesday 3/20/2018 afternoon’s Raspberry Pi Cam photo of the backyard and Wednesday 3/21/2018 morning’s images (click for larger) — what a different a few hours makes.
It looks like spring is not quite ready to arrive this year
Posted By RichC on March 21, 2018
Wouldn’t you know it … as soon as I take the snow blower and chains off our multi-use John Deere tractor that I use to clear our driveway … we get a forecast of more snow. Murphy’s Law I suppose?
Earlier in March as the weather warmed, so Brenda asked when I would have the snow blower off the old tractor so she could use the trailer by her landscape mounds and begin the spring clean up. We now have a few piles of cutting as I held off removing the blower thinking … “we could still get snow in early March” (often the case). But as mid-March came and the weather warmed a bit more … and the garage needed cleaning … I decided why not remove the snowblower and chains (and for good measure I half opened the pool and started cleaning up – what was I thinking???) Now two days later … we’re looking at 5″ of snow is in the forecast. Ugh!
Some have skill and talent, others the fortitude to try #humor
Posted By RichC on March 20, 2018
Although the .mp4 video clip does remind me of some good times down at Delray Beach Florida with our family!
Music Monday: Steve Carlisle singing WKRP in Cincinnati
Posted By RichC on March 19, 2018
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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.