I’m not a big social networking guy, but I do send tweets to Twitter, post a newsy story or two to Google+ and send a photo or two to Facebook once a month for family(and to a lessor extent use a few other social networks) … but Google is using its behemoth size to muscle users into using G+ by force. They are actually requiring G+ to be connected to users’ accounts. Amir Efrati of the WSJ commented “people who create an account to use Gmail, YouTube and other Google services” are also be “set up with public Google+ pages that can be viewed by anyone online.”
Over the last year I’ve notice and have been concerned over just how “linked” my Google ID has become. I purposely avoid posting every action to social networks, but over time it is becoming challenging to avoid. Android users are faced with even more integration with Google Now as was demonstrated by my daughter’s fiancé this past week. He has been letting Google monitor his calendar, watch his movements and locations (Maps and Lattitude) as well as sift through his gMail account in order to automatically forward alerts to his smartphone. For example, Google noticed he planned to drive from Columbus to Cincinnati and sent him weather updates and traffic alerts. Then proceeded to check his flight out of the Dayton Airport AND sent him his boarding pass … and did the same for his return trip. Whoa there!
As Google Now’s marketing video says, “Google Now is always one step ahead.” Hmm – I’m not sure I’m ready?
Well the “fiscal cliff” has been averted for the time being … a sort of a “kick the can down the road” decision was made in Washington DC … to use two of the banished terms for 2013 (link). The deal with hardly dealt with spending, the deficit or the looming under-funded entitlements which are the biggest drivers of the U.S. debt. Most analyst conclude that President Obama won round one and has fulfilled his campaign promise of raising taxes on the wealthy with the top marginal tax rate he demanded be set at 39.6%. In fact, he was able to do this without cutting much spending as demanded by conservatives. Republicans can “try” to put lipstick on this pig by saying that they were able to move the “wealthy descriptor” income from $200,000/$250,000 to $400,000/$450,000 for individuals or married couples. That seemed to satisfy some (probably those earning $200-400,000), but the biggest perceived victory besides preventing a downgrade of U.S. bonds, was to protect every American from the same kind of tax increases. According to most economists, a tax increase on every American in today’s economy would have triggered a second recession and significant number of job losses.
The congress also negotiated lessor changes in dividend rates as well as long term capital gains rates hikes even though they did rise … but the smaller number was seen as a compromise and positive for the financial markets. Neither those wanting higher taxes or the side wanting lower (or no) tax changes were happy with the legislation. Unfortunately in the end, very little was done to balance the budget or deal with government’s excessive spending.
Next hurdle, the “debt ceiling” in February.
Congress broke a rancorous stalemate Tuesday to pass legislation designed to avert the so-called fiscal cliff. But the compromise bill, which blocked most impending tax increases and postponed spending cuts largely by raising taxes on upper-income Americans, left a host of issues unresolved and guaranteed continued budget clashes between the parties.
I’ve never been much for resolution making and am a bit lax in goal setting overall … or at least I’ve never made it a focus to accomplish projects in timely fashion (Sonex, MGB, sailing) … but after talking with my son and CinciTDI friend about New Year’s resolutions, I’ve decided 2013 would be the year of a new diesel (you probably thought I’d finish a few projects?) Now I’m not putting feet to the fire, but I would like to be driving a TDI again.
The ideal vehicle would be an all-wheel drive VW Sportwagen TDI crossover (maybe the VW Cross Coupe concept – photo above), but I wouldn’t mind a Passat TDI or even a Touareg TDI either. Obvious the latter would mean giving up 40-50 mpg driving, but I’ve grown accustom to the SUV seating position, ground clearance, trailer towing and winter weather 4 wheel drive.
The Mercedes, BMW, Audi and new Jeep diesel isn’t out to the question either, but I do find it hard to stomach paying as much for a new car as our first house. Maybe a good deal can be found on one a few years old?
Of course my entire “diesel car buying resolution” for 2013 will hinge on a rebounding U.S. economy and our elected Washington DC idiots figuring out how to stop spending more than they take in and how to start dealing with the mounting debt and deficit. Unless they create an environment to foster confidence and business growth, we may spend the next four years (if not more) in a sinking quagmire — in that case, its time to start full time cruising and sailing for warmer waters outside the U.S.
One of the pleasures of life is tinkering with my favorite little diesel car … the Volkswagen TDI. My daughter’s Jetta TDI is “parked” in our driveway this weekend while she is in Iowa meeting her fiancé’s family — parked, cough, cough. With Sunday off, I was able to doing a little “needed” maintenance on it … and “needed” being the correct word – just take a look what the snowscreen picked up this last year (photo left). Oh, and the maintenance did require a test drive.
Katelyn’s 2001 VW Jetta TDI is starting to show a little rust around the fenders due to spending 8 years in NE Ohio, but is still running with the same comfortable diesel clatter. I can’t help but question why I’m still driving a “gasser?” Maybe I should make a 2013 New Year resolution to have another on in my garage?
Speaking of Iowa … here’s a windmill phonebooth photo of Katelyn and Drew from the Dutch enclave that is Sioux Center Iowa.
It has been a busy end of the year, but spending the last couple of days with just the family was a great way to wind down 2012. We enjoyed talking, eating (too much), opening presents and watching a movie together – Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer. (expand photo slideshow below).
Taylor has been home from college for a couple of weeks now and is enjoying sleeping in (probably what he does in college too – wink, wink), going out with friends (ditto)and did find time to still work some hours at JCrew. Last night he decided to go skiing at Perfect North, although not his idea of snow skiing. Katelyn and Drew have been working the hospital residency hours (aka: long shifts and crazy hours), but managed to coordinate their schedules in order to be with us for a couple days before flying out to Iowa – Katelyn is meeting the extended Oostra family before the wedding and is looking forward to it. After a couple of flight delays, they arrived in Sioux Center around 1 AM – brr, it was 2 degrees F.
And now for my treat … I’m back behind the wheel of Katelyn’s VW Jetta TDI … using the lame excuse that I’m doing maintenance – which I am, but really could have taken the Honda Pilot to the Autozone.
Those old enough and wise enough to know how the sausage iswas made in Washington DC have noticed a change in recent years. Politicians of different stripes and philosophies are no longer coming together for the common good … and the lack of a leader (aka: POTUS) willing guide congress is shocking. Here we sit, moments from financial disaster and we are still no closer to an agreement … I at least expected another “kick the can” reaction? Do they all realized how many dollars and jobs will be lost if this Washington DC made problem is not managed or put on a corrective track?
We need to deal with this fiscal mess or at least begin the down payment that tells the world we are serious. Without pointing fingers, I have difficultly with those coming at this from the “raise taxes and spend more” approach and that with those showing little concern for our 16+Trillion dollar debt, our unfunded obligations (health and retirement entitlements) and the borrowing of 40 cents of every dollar — what are they thinking?
At the same time, conservatives need to realize that they need to negotiate (pinch their nose) and come up with the best agreement possible which will fend off a second recession, because without growth and Americans working, there won’t be enough earnings to collect taxes on! The blame game believing they can place the entire mess at President Obama’s feet is ridiculous – we all suffer.
For President Obama’s part … the arrogance of “I won” and his vacationing in Hawaii disgusts me. His unwillingness to address what he must know will hurt every American is hard to believe. Although I’m 180 degrees opposite from his left leaning agenda and centralized control of our country, I‘ve always thought he at least cared for his fellow citizens … all of them (ok, so he picks and chooses) … but in this case we all suffer if the economy collapses. Does he really want to risk slow or no growth and a second recession (or worse) and not even attempt to deal with the longer term problems facing the United States? Frankly I’m ready to scream … the life of an expatriate is looking pretty inviting right now … but I’m holding on for some miracle 3PM deal. Cough, cough …
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders prepared for what was looming as a make-or-break White House meeting on the fiscal crisis Friday afternoon as top aides said they were exploring a scaled-back proposal that would prevent tax increases on household income of $400,000 or below.
Although Pastor Keith Thomas and I do share a few friends (here is his blog), I know there are also a few reading here that also might enjoy Keith’s first attempt at video and editing. I think the camera was new to him (for this trip) and recall he was hoping to document a bit more in HD during his recent trip to Israel (11/2012). Nice job Keith … the music was a good choice too.
Maybe next year we will travel with his group, but for now it remains on my “bucket-list” … which sounds a little sacrilegious when stated that way?
Good news from Google if you’ve been using the Gmail web interface to make calls to phones. I’ve found call clarity to be top notch and a perfect replacement for what was once a free service from Skype. I still would mind having both services offering free calls in North America, but glad Google will be offering it at least one more year.
Here’s a great bit of Lamborghini history shared by Jay Leno in his garage – a 1968-69 four-cylinder 5-Liter air-cooled 85HP diesel tractor … the Lamborghini R485. (history)
for family (and to a lessor extent use a few other social networks) … but Google is using its behemoth size to muscle users into using G+ by force. They are actually requiring G+ to be connected to users’ accounts. Amir Efrati of the WSJ commented “people who create an account to use Gmail, YouTube and other Google services” are also be “set up with public Google+ pages that can be viewed by anyone online.”
