My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2015

It looks as if Twitter is getting a head start in taking social media into the publishing realm by going after Flipbook. Facebook is working deals with news organizations and consolidating into users streams, but $TWTR has decided to buy their way into the publishing business – undisclosed price but some speculate it is close to a billion dollar deal. As a shareholder I think acquiring the online publishers is a good thing … but it is a very steep price.

As a user of both of these social networks, I prefer Twitter for news a stream of feeds … with a few highlighted photos and video. The current trend of including canned graphics is getting pretty frustrating and I regularly “unfollow” after mentioning this is a private message (too much clutter). I like Facebook for personal groups, friends and family and really don’t want to see more news or advertising filling up a stream … and I’m probably not the only one?

Zacks Research had a quick write-up about Twitter buying Flipbook … here’s the gist:

Does It Make Sense for Twitter to Buy Flipboard?

The low operating cost and free content are attractive for investment. However, the business model of organizing floating content over web and packaging it into pages with advertising is not unique. Given the fact that Twitter is gearing up in digital advertising front against giants like Yahoo! YHOO and Google, which are heavily into news content, it remains imperative that the company invests in those startups that offer such opportunity. 

Further, with the prospective Flipboard acquisition, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company is likely to have a competitive advantage over Facebook FB, which is also entering the online publishing business. Facebook recently launched Instant Articles to allow The New York Times Company and other media companies to publish their stories directly on its platform (read more: Facebook Partners Media Houses, Launches Instant Articles). In addition, it acquired Tugboat Yards, an online media startup that offers tools for small and medium-sized web publishers to accept payments from readers (read more: Facebook to Grow in Online Publishing with Tugboat Yard).

Going forward, in the media business, where content is king, it is unclear how online ventures like Flipboard that thrive solely on free content can succeed. However, given the current boom in the online social media and rapid emergence of companies that act as online interfaces, we believe Flipboard and other such enterprises are here to stay as long as a symbiotic relationship exists between content publishers, users and advertisers.

Hence, we believe Twitter’s current strategy to branch out and foray into the online media business is likely to have a head start with Flipboard and can offer long-term prospects given the rising demand for online publishing business.

Category: Business, Financial, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: $TWTR, acquisitions, facebook, fb, flipboard, investing, publishing, twitter

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2015

Shortly after Brenda and I were married, I commented that I was going to write an advice book for new couples that included the good and bad decisions we made when buying things for our home, yard, kids and our life. After all this time I’ve yet to write the advice book, but continue to accumulate mistakes and long overdue corrections.

For Christmas this year, my daughter and son-in-law gave us a set of Calphalon kitchen knifes. Oh … how nice. I can’t believe we’ve been using and sharpening the old “lessor” grade knives for 34 years … although still like a couple of those stainless steel knifes I keep on the boat. I think I’ll include “invest in high quality kitchen knives” in my yet to be released advice book.

Category: Advice, Tidbits, Tools | No Comments »
Tags: calphalon, cooking, house, kitchen, knife, knives, tools

Posted By RichC on May 27, 2015

Brenda and I finally watched the Clint Eastwood directed movie about Navy Seal Chris Kyle titled American Sniper this Memorial Day weekend. It was worth the price of a DVD purchase, although I’m not sure emotionally I’ll want to see it again. The movie left me with gut wrenching sorrow and little solace that the heroic efforts of our military is making any gains in defeating our enemies. I deeply want to believe that stability the middle east is salvageable and that the sacrifice of so much blood and treasure is worth it, but the victories seem so paltry compared to where we find our world after over a decade of war.

Still, I’m thankful there are those willing to dedicate their lives to defend our country and freedom. The decisions are difficult for all in command and in the field. It is politically easy to be critical in hindsight, but the war against Radical Islam and those committed to killing in the name of a religion is not going away.

The leftwing media criticism of this movie was way overdone. It does little to celebrate war or glorify the job of a sniper as he protects his men. It does a lot in showing the sacrifices our military men and women (and families at home) make in answering the call to country. We do not honor or thank them enough.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing..”

–Edmund Burke

THE MOST LETHAL SNIPER IN US HISTORY

From director Clint Eastwood comes “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, whose skills as a sniper made him a hero on the battlefield. But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter.

Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.

Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the spirit of the SEAL creed to “leave no one behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

A two-time Oscar nominee for his work in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle,” Cooper heads the cast, which also includes Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban and Keir O’Donnell.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Unforgiven”) directed “American Sniper” from a screenplay written by Jason Hall, based on the book by Chris Kyle, with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The autobiography was a runaway bestseller, spending 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, 13 of those at number one.

The film is produced by Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan. Tim Moore, Jason Hall, Sheroum Kim, Steven Mnuchin and Bruce Berman served as executive producers.

Eastwood’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Tom Stern (“Changeling”); Oscar-nominated production designer James J. Murakami (“Changeling”) and production designer Charisse Cardenas; Oscar-winning editor Joel Cox (“Unforgiven”) and editor Gary D. Roach; and costume designer Deborah Hopper.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents in Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, A Mad Chance Production, A 22nd & Indiana Production, “American Sniper.” The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Category: Entertainment, History, Millitary, Movies, Photography | 1 Comment »
Tags: American Sniper, chris kyle, military, movie, navy, seals, war

Posted By RichC on May 26, 2015

Category: Nature, Video | No Comments »
Tags: great white shark, ocean, video

Posted By RichC on May 25, 2015

It’s not Veterans Day. It’s not military appreciation day. Don’t thank me for my service. Please don’t thank me for my service.

Here’s how it was outlined in General Orders No. 11, Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868:

The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

A thought provoking read: I’m a veteran, and I hate ‘Happy Memorial Day.’ Here’s why.

Category: Holiday | No Comments »
Tags: graves, Memorial Day, veterans, war, washington post

Posted By RichC on May 24, 2015

Once upon a time I use to listened to music records, tapes and CDs. Now with hearing loss, I usually prefer silence or just “voice/talk/news” coming from speakers or the occasional online ditty … but there are a few exceptions. I still enjoy old favorites — from the best music decade, aka: 1970s, usually on Pandora — and a few groups who have a knack for duplicating a similar sound.

Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers have just that sound … and I’ve been listening since the van sessions. I like their music, including this new music video.

Category: Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: gramblers, Music, nicki bluhm, video

Posted By RichC on May 23, 2015

Being sentimental or overly reflecting on each day really is not in my nature, but because my prayer list growing for those who have health issues, I’ve spent a little more time “trying” to appreciate “the moments.” 

The focus this winter/spring has primarily been on my dad (and my mother-in-law), and I’ve made a priority to visit, call and be “less busy” when I’m with them. The past week we’ve been moving Taylor into a new place (photo left) and again “trying” to appreciate the moments. He has been great at responding in kind (probably appreciated the moving help too!)

It is great to see him so happy to be “here” … considering only a couple years ago the far horizons had such an appealing pull, but the time away has made “his heart grow fonder” as the saying goes … I think the quote works for locations too?

As I mentioned previously, Brenda (aka: the “mama-bear”) continues with the mothering chores home-making apartment-making lists of things to do/bring … and I continue the treks back and forth from “the burbs” to East Walnut Hills. It should be a shorter drive, but I do seem to pick lousy times to make the drive. One of the pleasures of visiting is checking out some of the local businesses in the area … often cafes and restaurants. Friday was no exception. I even found myself enjoying Kitchen452 (vegetarian cuisine) across Woodburn Avenue from my son’s apartment.

As we were eating, Taylor brought the subject of starting a business and being part of a community. He wondered how I had the ambition to do such a thing? Huh? I never really gave it that much thought, but he was spot on with how much time, dedication and work it takes to be an entrepreneur and start a business from scratch. Thankfully I worried less when I was young!  The lunch was that much more enjoyable knowing he was thinking about what it must have been like when we started a company, bought and remodeled a building and worked tirelessly to get ahead. I wore a tie by day (sales) and shop coat by night (production) … and Brenda worked extra hours whenever she could to keep the bills paid. I’m not really sure how we did it … and with the added regulations and government hurdles, am not sure we could today?

Remodeling our Cuyahoga Falls, OH building in 1986 (& Brenda by our first Volkswagen!)

Category: Archive, Business, Local, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: apartment, Business, cpp, cppnet.com, east walnut hills, family, kitchen452, taylor

Posted By RichC on May 22, 2015

Out of sight, out of mind. Unlike a hard copy book sitting on my reading table, ebooks are easy to forget about … that’s one of the disadvantages of receiving the gift of an ebook (as is having multiple e-reading apps).

My friend Jeff gave me David McCullough’s new book The Wright Brothers for my birthday, knowing I would enjoy the aviation history. I immediately started reading it the day he sent it by Amazon, but since then I’ve forgotten to “pick it back up” … if that is how one refers to a “digital” copy? Remembering to continue reading can be challenging when having too many ebooks to read and too many reading apps to use. Many of the books I’ve purchased have been on the Kindle app and so that is the “go to” reader app, but I’ve saved a few PDF books too. The Kindle app does a pretty good job with PDFs and is easy to use, but not nearly as perfected as their ebook format. Since I use the iPad instead of a Kindle, I also have Apple’s iBooks app as a secondary reader and a few “owned” books from the Apple Store (not my preferred). Putting those two reader apps aside, I use the Overdrive “public library books reading app” most often, since borrowing books and audiobooks from the network of Ohio libraries is the most cost effective. Unfortunately I have trouble getting through a book in 14 days and there is usually a long wait period for those popular books and local libraries have a relatively narrow selection.

Over the past few years I’ve also purchase books from questionable secondary sources and discount book distributors (they go in and out of business). Usually they are in formats requiring propriatary readers or are in a PDF format. For those books, papers and articles, I prefer using my notetaking app called Notability. The advantage is to be able to “notate” or even e-scribble something on the pages if needed. On information books I often will highlight something and recently have found myself wanting to include something useful that I may want to check out in the future. This is often the case if there is a website link for additional information or more pertainent information. The downside is that I need to be responsible for saving back up copies to the cloud instead of Amazon archiving my purchases.

Back to The Wright Brothers biography:

Release date: May 5, 2015

Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright.

On a winter day in 1903, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, two unknown brothers from Ohio changed history. But it would take the world some time to believe what had happened: the age of flight had begun, with the first heavier-than-air, powered machine carrying a pilot.

Who were these men and how was it that they achieved what they did?

David McCullough, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, tells the surprising, profoundly American story of Wilbur and Orville Wright.

Far more than a couple of unschooled Dayton bicycle mechanics who happened to hit on success, they were men of exceptional courage and determination, and of far-ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity, much of which they attributed to their upbringing. The house they lived in had no electricity or indoor plumbing, but there were books aplenty, supplied mainly by their preacher father, and they never stopped reading.

When they worked together, no problem seemed to be insurmountable. Wilbur was unquestionably a genius. Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few had ever seen. That they had no more than a public high school education, little money and no contacts in high places, never stopped them in their “mission” to take to the air. Nothing did, not even the self-evident reality that every time they took off in one of their contrivances, they risked being killed.

In this thrilling book, master historian David McCullough draws on the immense riches of the Wright Papers, including private diaries, notebooks, scrapbooks, and more than a thousand letters from private family correspondence to tell the human side of the Wright Brothers’ story, including the little-known contributions of their sister, Katharine, without whom things might well have gone differently for them.

Category: Aviation, Books, Software, Tablet | No Comments »
Tags: apps, david mccullough, ebooks, readers, wright brothers

Posted By RichC on May 21, 2015

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie isn’t someone who personally appeals to me … perhaps because I see him as an “in your face east coast loud mouth” (my problem as a mild-mannered Midwesterner). On the other hand, I do appreciate the fact that he is not afraid to speak his mind unlike most flip-flopping, finger to the politically wind weasels running for office – that bluntness I secretly like.

This morning on CNBC’s morning Squawk Box the question of fair treatment regarding Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails was posed to Christie … his reply made perfect sense. Candidates are definitely scrutinized differently, particularly by the mainstream media.

CNBC SquawkBox with Gov Chris Christie — 1 min 7 sec (MP3) May 21, 2015

Category: Audio, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: chris christie, cnbc, hillary clinton, media, mp3

Posted By RichC on May 21, 2015

My wife and I have been preoccupied this week with helping our son Taylor get settled into his East Walnut Hills (Cincinnati) apartment after his move back from Williston, North Dakota.

Each time “I” think we are getting closer to finishing, the “mama-bear” (aka: Brenda) adds a few more items to the list … but I must say, Taylor’s Jackie Gleason/ Honeymooners “kitchen” is looking pretty nice. I think he is really going to enjoy this next phase of his life.

Category: Misc, Personal, Photos | 2 Comments »
Tags: apartment, cincinnati, east walnut hills, family, kitchen, taylor