A day early … but Happy Birthday to my son Taylor #TBT
Posted By RichC on June 9, 2016
This content is restricted.
Jerry Skinner talks about #MH17 with @MariaBartiromo
Posted By RichC on June 8, 2016
As the second anniversary approaches of the downing of #MH17 by Russian missiles over the Ukraine, my brother-in-law Jerry Skinner is doing what he can to keep the tragedy in front of the public eye. Pressure on politicians for them to pursue justice, compensation and a admission from Russia and Putin (a long shot) is what will prevent reckless actions in the future.
In today’s world of smartphones and social networking, there is a amazing amount of evidence that this was not just poorly trained Ukranian rebels mistakenly firing a Buk missle at a commercial airliner that was over 30,000 feet in the air (that was my personal assumption). After learning more, too much is known about the Russian crew, the Russian officers and those who authorizes the movement of this missle carrier. Those investigating can track the route this particular missile carrier took from Russia to the Ukraine and then back after the launch. Images and interviews have forensically tracked this carrier and crew (think social media, cellphone pictures and even directions being asked for in Russian). There are enough ties to Russia if there is political will to listen and demand justice. We’ll see, but with the interedendencies for trade and energy, mixed with corruption and politics in the world today, doesn’t make it easy for justice to prevail for the families seeking accountablity.
Jerry was on with Maria Bartiromo‘s FoxBusiness morning show yesterday for a few minutes explaining the case (Video below).
So very true: Living Near Water Can Reduce Stress
Posted By RichC on June 7, 2016
The other day in Mental Floss I read that a "Study Confirmed What We Already Knew: Living Near Water Can Reduce Stress." I can attest to this since we lived by the water when I was a boy. My parents had a home on the shores for Lake Erie 
with a 150 foot private beach until I was in high school (rocks added in 1974 by Corp of Engineers to prevent seasonal floods). I can’t imagine a better way to grow up.
It got even better … because my retired grandparents were close enough to stay with us for what seemed like long stretches of time. One year they even rented a house next to us for the entire summer. Once school was out, we’d spent hours playing on the beach and in the water. Days were filled with fishing, gardening, building forts and playing baseball (until the garden took over our miniature ball field). My dad and grandfather, Richard H. Bluhm (photo), even helped me build a treehouse that hung out over the beach perched in the large forked Maple tree in the center of the painting below by my grandmother Ruth Bluhm (it now hangs in my office). It relaxes me just looking at the view. What a childhood!
Study Confirms What We Already Knew:
Living Near Water Can Reduce StressBeachfront property is considered the pinnacle of real estate for the views, the lifestyle, and, of course, the shoreline access. Everyone knows that being on the water makes us feel good, but now there’s scientific proof: a new study confirms that living near a body of water improves wellbeing, even for city dwellers. The report was published in the journal Health & Place.
Scientific interest in so-called "blue" and "green" spaces is relatively recent, but cultural awareness of nature’s therapeutic power is quite old. Poets, Christian mystics, and nature-worshiping pagans alike all celebrated the power of the trees and tides. These days, we’re just getting good at quantifying it.
Just a few weeks ago, for example, researchers published a study showing that living near lots of trees or other vegetation can actually extend a woman’s lifespan. The authors of that study cited three potential reasons green spaces might improve health: they provide inviting places to exercise, create opportunities to socialize, and they reduce stress.
The authors of the new paper believed that the same was true of blue spaces. They were especially interested in stress reduction, and whether blue and green spaces’ purported ability to calm would hold up in crowded city environments—specifically the capital city of Wellington, New Zealand. With nearly 500,000 citizens, the Wellington area is home to 10.6 percent of New Zealand’s entire population.
The researchers pulled topographic information from national databases, mapping any forested areas, parks, and coastlines that would be visible to residents. They then looked to the 2011/12 New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS), which included questions on health, lifestyle, doctor visits, socioeconomic status, chronic medical issues, and mental wellbeing. Of the adults who took the survey, 442 were Wellington residents.
The health and topographic data were then combined and analyzed. Some of the results were predictable, but others came as something of a surprise. "Increased views of blue space is significantly associated with lower levels of psychological distress," Michigan State University health geographer Amber L. Pearson said in a press statement. "However, we did not find that with green space."
Was it a money thing? After all, people in higher socioeconomic tiers tend to have better access to green and blue spaces, as well as medical care. But even after controlling for variables like sex, wealth, age, and local crime rates, their findings held true: being able to see the water was associated with better mental health for just about everyone.
To ensure that their tests were accurate, the researchers decided to measure blue space visibility with a totally unrelated factor: toothlessness. If they found a significant relationship between seeing water and missing teeth, they’d know something was wrong. But the relationship wasn’t there.
Why would water help, but not trees? Pearson admits those particular results may have something to do with their study design. "It could be because the blue space was all natural, while the green space included human-made areas, such as sports fields and playgrounds, as well as natural areas such as native forests," Pearson said. "Perhaps if we only looked at native forests we might find something different."
D-Day: Debunking the myths of the Normandy landings
Posted By RichC on June 6, 2016
Anniversaries are useful moments to pause and reflect. For the anniversary of D-Day — June 6, 1944 — and subsequent campaign in northern France, it is also an opportunity to look at the past in detail and ask how much of what we think we know is true and how much is well-entrenched myth. Not only is it more interesting, it is also of greater worth as we plan for the future and pray there will never be a conflict like World War II again.
1. MYTH: … Read More at CNN Op-Ed
Busy Estate Sale weekend for the Corbetts
Posted By RichC on June 5, 2016
It was a busy weekend for a few of us in our family. My brother, his wife Claire and son Jaben, my cousin Diane and her husband Bert, as well as Brenda and myself decided to self-sell the balance of my mom and dad’s home contents rather than have an auction. It was quite a bit more work, but in the end was a fun time for most of us.
Brenda pointed out that having a sale would have been my mom’s choice as she regularly enjoyed having a garage sale with her favorite niece (Diane) and daughters-in-laws. I agree … as it was a time for “bonding” and keeping the family together. Although I could do without the long prep in getting things ready, I did enjoy the time with family and a positive outcome in selling most of the contents in the house. We are a step closer to selling the house!
Quirks, Jars and a PC name for Milwaukee Dill Pickles
Posted By RichC on June 4, 2016
Talk about “desultory” … who else blogs on Milwaukee Dill pickle “jars???”
Like George Berdes (link), I love Milwaukee Midget Dill Pickles … although I’m not so sure about the corporate conglomerate brand Pinnacle Foods? I add “5” midget dills to my plate at every home lunch and have done this for years with my PBJ and pile of chips or pretzels (box of jars above). I mention “5 pickles” since it has been pointed out that I have a neurosis that need to be addressed. My quirk is that I eat 5 … not 4 or 6 … but five pickles with my sandwich — and I get particularly annoyed when my wife takes one or two off my plate. Speaking of quirks … I make my sandwich with Jif CRUNCHY peanut butter and Smucker’s Low-Sugar Strawberry preserves preferably on Pepperidge Farm Italian bread.
I almost forgot the point of this post … the new jars are better! They have a wider mouth and a bigger lid; easier to get pickles out and better for paints, etc for a secondary use! Interestingly the company has gone “politically correct” … the Midget Dill Pickles are now called “Petite” Dill Pickles.
| Milwaukee Dill Pickles | George Berdes from 2004 |
Attended the high school graduation of our youngest niece
Posted By RichC on June 3, 2016
The Howard side of the family gathered in Atlanta for the high school graduation of my youngest niece Sarah Gerber this past week. 
The party was on Memorial Day and graduation for the Lambert High School class of 2016 the day after.
Brenda’s sister Ann and her family live in a northeastern suburb that is near ideal for raising a family. The many upscale communities in the area, including their city of Alpharetta, are exactly what many upwardly mobile moms and dads are looking for. They make the local public schools a priority and seem to be involved in both school and community; college for nearly every graduate seemed to be a given. How serious they will take this opportunity and what they make of it is yet to be seen. There is no doubt these graduates have opportunities well beyond peers from smaller towns or cities who’s focus is not on educating the next generation. That has to change.
Sarah is off to the University of Georgia in the fall and noting she graduated with high honors, expect she will do just fine. She, along with her sister Jessica (at Georgia Tech), are great girls and have a world of opportunity ahead. Anxious to see what is ahead for them … although don’t mind if the clock slows down a bit as life is passing too quick.
How to offend readers, followers and magazine subscribers
Posted By RichC on June 2, 2016
Kiplinger has long been one of the many websites who’s content, along with their magazine, that I’ve enjoyed reading. I follow several contributors to their content on social networks and complained recently that I disliked their multi short page approach for reading content. I’m sure they want to generate "clicks" and therefore break and article down into 5 or 6 short pages??? That irritation alone was about enough for me to ignore following or accessing their site … BUT now they are going one step further (above). Sorry guys … it just isn’t worth it. Bub-bye.
VIDEO: How to Make a Soft Shackle >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News
Posted By RichC on June 1, 2016
Soft shackles made from Dyneema are lighter and stronger than stainless steel, they are also kinder to your boat and your hands. Yachting Monthly demonstra
Source: VIDEO: How to Make a Soft Shackle >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News
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.