My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on December 10, 2011

After a few flurries and cold temperatures last night, we woke to the first ice on the small lake in front of our house this morning. Brrr … I’m not ready for winter yet.
 
Preparing for Christmas on the other hand, is in full swing as I hauled home a tree last night finishing off a gift debit card that I’ve been saving for just such a purchase. The price seemed about the same as last year, but after putting the Frazier Fir in the usual spot I realized it wasn’t quite as big as in previous years (Taylor will be disappointed).

I’m also posting a thought before I forget to include the archived audio from this past week and some concerning polls looking at those who identify themselves as Independents. The results aren’t all that positive for Republicans … or for those desiring the leadership in America come from a more conservative slant. (see Independent, Democrat and Republican percentages in WSJ graph on right)

First a surprising projection from founder and CEO of Moelis and Company’s Ken Moelis. He raises concern for those wanting a smaller and less intrusive federal government in believing last minute political moves will secure another 4 years for President Obama. In an interview on CNBC, he believes there will be an agreement this summer on cutting the budget and federal spending which will both keep Obama in the Whitehouse and some “up for re-election” legislatures in their seats.

CNBC: Ken Moelis, Founder/CEO Moelis & Co.

Disturbing but logical … as can also be seen in recent polls (below – click for larger or WSJ link).

Category: Misc, Personal, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: christmas, cnbc, ken moelis, Poll, tree, wsj

Posted By RichC on December 9, 2011

Is there a the logic to congress adding yet another layer of legislation in believing they are fixing things for individuals? No … it complicates life for individuals and businesses and ends up costing everybody more … especially for those who appreciate the independence and freedoms that made/makes American unique.

The Dodd-Frank bill in just another example of regulation coming from the top and hindering all of us. We’ve unfortunately permitted the overly enthusiastic big government types, who believe they know better than market forces, to continue to reach their tentacles into the lives of individuals  again and again. Thursday’s WSJ article illustrates the unintended consequences of heavy handed banking legislation as it relates to the use of debit cards. Instead of allowing market forces to set banking fees and allow customers to choose and companies to compete with their products, Washington DC in their wisdom assumed they could dictate what they presumed to be fair practices and pricing. This in turn forces banks to change their profits centers; they now have to charge fees for services that were once offset by profit from the area now legislated by the new Dodd-Frank rules. No real saving for the consumer … just added frustration, complexity and cost that need to be past on in another area. If anything, the bloated laws will cost the end user more do to the additional bureaucracy associated with this new law.

One such area outlined in the article is in the merchant swipe fees that small business have to pay. The new change is particularly harmful to companies which sell low priced sale items like the thousands of coffee shops, or ice cream vendors such as Dairy Queen and video rentals like Redbox. Vendors now have to decide if they can inconvenience customers by offering discounts for cash or even deciding to do away with accepting the debit cards. One merchant from the article mentioned that he is considering adding an ATM machine to his store in order to persuade customers to pay with cash.

Just two months after one of the most controversial parts of the Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law was enacted, some merchants and consumers are starting to pay the price.

Many business owners who sell low-priced goods like coffee and candy bars now are paying higher rates—not lower—when their customers use debit cards for transactions that are less than roughly $10.

That is because credit-card companies used to give merchants discounts on debit-card fees they pay on small transactions. But the Dodd-Frank Act placed an overall cap on the fees, and the banking industry has responded by eliminating the discounts.

When will Washington learn to just enforce the anti-monopoly and anti-competitive laws already on the books and let the market control the competitive practices that let capitalism offer the best products for consumers?

Category: Financial, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: banking, debit cards, dodd-frank, fees

Posted By RichC on December 8, 2011

A few days of travel away from decent Internet connections has me appreciating my questionable home cable Internet connection (either Time Warner OR my internal network isn’t perfect). I ran a few tests of both the marina BeaconWi-fi and my tethered Sprint Palm Pre and have come to the conclusion that I need to treat it like a hotel … daytime connections on the marina wifi are fine, but during the evening I need to switch to my tethered Palm Pre cellphone.

  
Left to right: 1) BeaconWifi evening 2) BeaconWifi day 3) Sprint Palm Pre tethered

Category: Cellphone, Computer, Sailing, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: beacon, marina, sprint, tether, wifi, wireless

Posted By RichC on December 7, 2011

Today is the day Americans remember those who served and were killed during the Empire of Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 – a somber day for 2403 lives cut short.  In a statement, President Obama proclaimed Wednesday "National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day" and reflected on those who rose to the occasion. He commented that “their valor fortified all who served during World War II” and that “as a nation, we look to December 7, 1941, to draw strength from the example set by these patriots and to honor all who have sacrificed for our freedoms."

Oil still leaks to the surface from the USS Arizona – photos from our visit in 2006

Here’s both a simple history question that many may not remember … and an interesting story regarding the final wishes by some veterans who lived through the attack and have decided to have their ashes with their shipmates of 70 years ago.

• Of the 12 ships sunk by Japanese Navy planes in 1941, only the USS Arizona and “what other ship” remains memorialized in Pearl Harbor?

December 7, 2011

Lee Soucy decided five years ago that when he died he wanted to join his shipmates killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Soucy lived to be 90, passing away just last year. On Tuesday, seven decades after dozens of fellow sailors were killed when the USS Utah sank on Dec. 7, 1941, a Navy diver took a small urn containing his ashes and put it in a porthole of the ship.

The ceremony is one of five memorials being held this week for servicemen who lived through the assault and want their remains placed in Pearl Harbor out of pride and affinity for those they left behind.

MORE

If the answer isn’t posted in the comments below, it can be found in the story above by clicking the MORE link.

Category: History, Millitary | No Comments »
Tags: hawaii, History, military, pearl harbor, remembrance, veteran

Posted By RichC on December 7, 2011

While escaping the rainy Ohio weather this week, I enjoyed a couple of days in Florida doing boat chores, helped settle Brenda’s mom and dad back into their Delray Beach winter abode … and watched my slip mates next boat over at the marina doing some mast top work.

Hubby Mark sent (hoisted) his wife up the mast to do some electrical repairs … something she claims she doesn’t mind doing. Dar even said with a straight face, “I trust him?” (I don’t think my wife would ever say that)

Category: Sailing | No Comments »
Tags: encore, sailboat

Posted By RichC on December 6, 2011

I’ve been following the Carrier IQ story after it was pointed out that they have been spying researching for carriers on some Android phones. The Verge did a follow up story that give all smartphone users reason to pause.

… Carrier IQ has been around for six years and has been installed on over 141 million devices in that time. Which devices? Carrier IQ literally won’t say: the company cites its contracts with carriers as the reason it cannot tell you whether or not its software is installed on your phone. Even so, it’s seriously troubling to hear a company flat-out refuse to tell you on which phones its tracking software is installed and with which carriers and OEMs it has partnered. All too often, on issues of disclosure, data privacy, and technical implementation, Carrier IQ shifted responsibility onto its un-named partners.

As expected … there are and will be lawsuits. The company issued a press statement PDF on December 1st.

Category: Cellphone, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: carrier, iq, lawsuit, smartphone, spying

Posted By RichC on December 6, 2011

I don’t watch the BBCLife or NatGeo all that regularly, I do appreciate their fantastic documentaries and brilliant filming. In the above video a Killer Whale passes her unique skills to her calf in hunting elephant seals. The “low volume” audio in this clip describes the danger and intelligence required by these animals to navigate the shallow pools in order to hunt the young elephant seals.

Category: Environment, Nature, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: bbc, orca

Posted By RichC on December 5, 2011

While many of us managing our personal retirement plans may have moved to cash in recent years, there is a time to anticipate an end to a recession (at least traditionally) and a reason to reconsider equities once again. Usually it pays to monitor those who have a proven track record when it comes to advice … but still it isn’t any easier. Personally I’m not sure where I want to be over the next 10 or so years or that I have the insight to pick companies or sectors that will grow. I do know that current holdings are too heavily in technology (one particular company) and that my wife’s holding are too heavily in a disappointing retail company.

An area that is missing and yet may be even more critical in the decade will be chemical and agriculture. DuPont traditionally has been a worldwide leader in supplying chemicals to this sector and having added Pioneer HiBred and Danisco could make for opportunities in the next decade. The company was recommended by Jim Jubak at the beginning of 2011 when many thought a recovery was imminent – Might DD be worth a look in 2012?

Click for larger chart

Beside the 15 year chart being a disappointment, I’d like to think the future may hold more opportunity besides the steady dividend yield of $1.64 (3.50%).

I think DuPont is targeting two of the biggest technology opportunities — and challenges — of the next decade. Those are growing more food and producing more energy from plants without making the first challenge more difficult.

— Jim Jubak Jan 2011

Category: Financial | No Comments »
Tags: investing, retirement, savings

Posted By RichC on December 5, 2011

After weathering the hot summer and safely making it through hurricane season, our sailboat Encore demonstrated that wind and rain from “unnamed storms” can still find its way into a closed boat. One of the port above the book rack dripped some water onto a few books … a couple of them headed straight to the trash (sorry GWB – Decision Points above). Unfortunately getting moisture into a “closed boat” is not good for anything and required some extra mildew clean-up … something a little work and fresh air can solve.

Monday was also the scheduled day for my mom’s back surgery … something she has been nervous about for a few months now. After going off of her pain medicines Sunday night and making the miserable hour and 15 minute drive to the hospital for morning surgery, she arrived and was prepped for surgery at 6:30 AM. Unfortunately the surgeon called and cancelled schedule for the day and his office indicated that they would have to re-schedule. Ugh! The hospital fortunately gave some pain meds so that she can make the return trip home … only to anticipate doing this all over again even closer to Christmas.

The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small, spongy discs. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. But when a disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open. This is called a herniated disc. It may also be called a slipped or ruptured disc.

More from WebMD

Category: Personal, Sailing | No Comments »
Tags: boat, encore, mildew, mom, surgery

Posted By RichC on December 4, 2011

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

I enjoyed an article that spoke to one of my weak spots in this weekend’s WSJ. Joe Queenan, in writing about ads promoting movies on the TV,  reflected on how a realistic commercial for video game sucked him in.  I’m in that same camp and find myself wanted to play as well … but remembered previous attempts with them (let’s just say they weren’t as successful as Joe’s 55-0 “Madden NFL” loss). That’s the conundrum, besides not having the game or hardware, I’m not a “gamer.”  Many middle aged dad types have never developed the skills required to play modern video games well enough to make them enjoyable.

But the ad was promoting not a movie but a stupendously popular videogame called “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.” The spot was called “The Vet and the nOOb,” a title I did not fully understand. But the game sure looked like fun.

Videogames came along too late to figure into my life. The one time my son, now 25, tried to teach me how to play “Madden NFL,” he beat me, like, 55-0. He was probably 9 at the time.

I never thought I was missing out on anything here. It did pique my interest that teenage boys could play “World of Warcraft” eight years straight without getting bored or hungry, but until I saw that ad for “Modern Warfare,” I never seriously considered taking up videogames as a pastime. But now I have.

LINK

Category: Misc | No Comments »
Tags: games, wsj