Sorry HP, but my enthusiasm is Slip Slidin’ Away
Posted By RichC on June 20, 2011
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Ten second sound-bite: KT McFarland
Posted By RichC on June 20, 2011
Every once in a while I hear short and succinct statements which makes me wonder why politicians in a “United” States of America complicate issues for our country — is there that much disagreement over everything? Not promoting and maintaining one language … English … as our national language, in the end the lacks commonsense and will end up wasting dollars and costing our country unity. KT McFarland‘s comments this weekend makes the point.
| American Identity KT McFarland 06/19/2011 (mp3) |
Thoughts on the “doing it yourself” of booking travel
Posted By RichC on June 19, 2011
A friend of mine and I discussed buying tickets for a couple of upcoming trips which included flights and rental cars this past week and neither one of us were convinced we picked up the cheapest tickets or were able to find decent rates for renting a car in July. 
We bounced our shopping sites and strategies off of each other hoping that one of us has really found the secret to nabbing the best flights, fares and rental car tricks … I don’t think we’ve figured it out yet. My favorite site is still Kayak.com for finding information, but prefer buying from a carrier or rental company on their own sites … and in many cases the ‘discount companies’ are not going to be listed.
A recent article listed a few tips that you might want to try:
The No. 1 finding: Avoid booking tickets on weekends. It’s the most expensive time to buy.
There’s no way to guarantee the best fare. But before booking, travelers should heed this additional advice:
– Book on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That’s when airlines most often offer sales.
– Buy in advance, but not too early. The best time is four to six weeks before traveling. In general, prices for any given flight are highest eight to 10 weeks and two to three weeks in advance.
– Embrace social media. Airlines are giving more benefits, like exclusive sales, to travelers who interact with them on Twitter and Facebook. Those specials are often gone within hours.
– The so-called discount airlines – JetBlue, AirTran, Southwest and Frontier – adjust their fares less frequently than other airlines, so you can feel more confident locking in a price. But their prices aren’t always the lowest. Researching multiple airlines’ fares is the only way to get a good deal.
VW CEO says plug-in hybrids are the future
Posted By RichC on June 17, 2011
Volkswagen’s CEO Martin Winterkorn (Germany) is committed to plug in hybrids according to a translation posted:
I am firmly convinced that plug-in hybrids are the right solution for the next ten years. You can drive 50 to 60 kilometers all-electric and have the full flexibility of an internal combustion engine. The plug-in hybrid will be there for all platforms in the Volkswagen Group.
Sprint probably not seeing the HP Palm Pre3 anytime soon
Posted By RichC on June 17, 2011
Well after hearing the latest rumor news from the Precentral blogs (Pre3 on Verizon and AT&T in July), I’m realizing that my days with a Palm Pre are numbered … maybe a good thing since I’ve enjoyed playing with a couple of the new Android phones in recent weeks.
For now I’m not in a rush to make a change nor am in a rush to make a new contract commitment with any particular carrier. As for a tablet or reader, I’m not rushing either; one of the only reasons I would have considered the HP Touchpad would have been because of its integration with the Pre3. (I did like the iPad though)
Those new $114 ad supported Kindles or $139 long battery life Nook readers are looking better all the time as a way to carry around some reading material when I travel?
Here’s a real estate deal … if you like living with snakes!
Posted By RichC on June 17, 2011
An interesting human/reptile interest story from Rexberg Idaho … not too far from Targhee National Forest, Grand Teton National park and Yellowstone National Park.
Some houses turn into moneys pits, but for one Idaho couple their dream home was a real s-s-s-snake pit.
Ben and Amber Sessions bought the sprawling house for a song in 2009, but when they moved, in they discovered the house was infested with thousands of garter snakes.
The ground outside the home sometime looked like it was moving, and the sound of snakes slithering through the walls kept them awake at night.
"It was like living in one of those horror movies," 31-year-old Ben Sessions said.
Experts said the home was likely built on a winter snake sanctuary – called a hibernaculum – where snakes gather to hibernate for the winter.
Read article it gets better …
Belated post announcing my friends the Handley’s U.S. return
Posted By RichC on June 16, 2011
Many who know me are well aware that I enjoy following sailors who set out on voyages across the oceans of our world. One couple, Mark and Judy Handley, have been exceptional at posting daily updates and making their travels both easy and interesting to follow. I’ve corresponded with them over the years and have enjoyed many an informative email exchange with Mark and Judy regarding things that they have learned thoughout the years (I shared some of our exchange when during my son’s spring break aboard Encore this past spring).
The two experienced bluewater voyagers recently returned to the United States in their 6th year of sailing around the world aboard their 42 foot Tayana sailboat called Windbird – see HandleySail.com. If you are tight on time, don’t try to read their ‘logs’ until you have rested eyes and at least a week … and perhaps another few days for their photos. Judy is currently working on sorting out the very best photos in order to create a presentation … one I hope to see someday. If you only do one thing, take a minute and watch their accelerated plots on the Shiptrak Log entries map.
Currently the Handleys are enjoying a relaxing family and friends homecoming at their intended U.S. landfall of South Carolina … where Mark is also being treated for a “hopefully” minor medical issue. Get well soon Mark … I still need a more advice.
RHM Camp Day #2 Wednesday 6-15-11
Posted By RichC on June 15, 2011
Adding another update from Chris for my family regarding RHM in Constanta Romania.
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Dear all friends and family and supporters,
Misu welcomes ALL! Wednesday started with another incredible worship and Jessica and Lucianna song time. Almost all the parents returned and all the kids were back along with helpers, siblings and cousins. We bring enough crafts for all of them.
Laura and Marius (w/c), Liviu(lt), Dr. Gabi, Kim Slade and Viorica, a helper from Livius church.
We found out today that Nicu wants to be baptised and we may all be here to see it happen on Sunday……..sorry honey, I know this will kill you to miss it but I will video if I don’t break another camera….OOOoopps! We find out tomorrow if Liviu is able to arrange it…..Nicu (picture below) is Angela’s son who can hardly speak, has difficulty with all his extremities and walking and fine motor skills but always has a sweet smile on his face and is one of the sweetest boys you could ever know, only rivaled by Vasilica. When he is asked who he is trusting for his salvation, points to the sky and says, "Jesis". Angela, who we have spoken about in the past is one of our foundation parents who is in great distress and poverty but has trusted Christ and on our visit to Romania LAST year, pointed to the verse in her Romanian Bible in Psalms where it says, "Blessed are those who help the poor"……she smiles through her pain because of Christ.
A very special moment for me today was when Jessica, my niece, (sister and brother in law Ann and Gary Gerber in Atlanta) choreographed her own ballet dance to "You are my All in All"……….I will attach it if I can but when we went to visit Angela and Nicu today, Angela said that was the first time she had seen a ‘ballet’……I could barely film it for the tears in my eyes…..It was amazing to see my 15 y.o. niece so confident, talented yet so willing to serve and use the gifts God has given her in ROMANIA with ME! It was a bit overwhelming.
Liviu, our social worker, did the teaching today, or I should say ‘preaching’…we could not understand him but were drawn as were the rest, to his passion, enthusiasm, conviction and love for Christ. We are lucky to have him ……and his very being emanates with humility and his passion for Christ…….I don’t know to many people who actually live to serve God…….he is one! The theme was a great one today, The Cross and Salvation……..the simple gospel was presented clearly to some who have received, others who still reject, and many who can’t resist the love and faith they see.
Lt to Rt…..Carmen, Dr Gabi, Kim Slade, Angela in back rt.
Above, Dr. Gabi in back with Angela and Kim Slade, Front is Carmen, Christina’s mom and another caregiver. Lt. photo is Christina and Katelyn in the back. Rt. is Angela and Nicu. They are both holding up their Superstar Posters.
Tomorrow is our last day of camp but luckily not our last day with the kids and families…..that will be Saturday at the big family picnic…..I will write more tomorrow…….hopefully we will have more home visits tomorrow…….We were to visit Lucianna today but her mother works ALL DAY and Lucianna is alone for hours except for the time she spends at the Madison Center, luckily…..but today, her mom, Elena called and was not available for the visit.. Life is hard for her and in order to make it she must work several jobs. Perhaps we can visit tomorrow.
Our rather elegant ‘Ball Room’ setting for camp is quite the change from all past experiences…..it really gives us room to spread out, the acoustics are great for our lively music and worship and if you have a voice like mine, you don’t even need a mic. Tomorrow I hope to join the entire group, all parents too, in the closing ‘snake’ to EVERLASTING God! Although we can be miles apart for most of the year and an entire language apart when we are here…….there is a very special bond and unspoken yet spoken connection that you have to be here to explain and experience. We are the privileged ones and always receive more than we give.
Until tomorrow……Chris for Team 2011
Archive: 10 Biggest Money Wasters (2011 edition)
Posted By RichC on June 15, 2011
Saw this and thought it might be good to talk about with my kids … or add to that Life Lessons Learned advice book I’ve always talked about writing.
10 Biggest Money Wasters
CNN Money lists the 10 biggest money wasters as follows:
- ATM fees
- Lottery tickets
- Gourmet coffee
- Cigarettes
- Infomercial impulse buys
- Brand-name groceries
- Eating out
- Unused gym memberships
- Daily internet deals
- Bundled cable or phone services
Here’s how I stand with these:
- ATM fees — The last time I used an ATM machine was probably sometime in the 90’s. The reasons:
1. We don’t spend much cash — we use credit cards and pay them off every month.
2. When we did need cash, we’d go to the bank, get a bundle ($300 or so), and that would last us forever.
3. Since my son and I started refereeing soccer games, I am flush with cash (the teams pay in cash prior to the game being done.)
4. I have $1,000 or so in gold $1 coins left over from last year.
- Lottery tickets — Don’t buy them.
- Gourmet coffee — Don’t drink coffee. I prefer my caffeine cold, and we get free sodas at work (which I try to limit since they are not good for you IMO.)
- Cigarettes — Never have smoked, never will.
- Infomercial impulse buys — Nope.
- Brand-name groceries — We do buy generic/store brands quite often, but I do have a few brand-name items I like and will pay more for. That said, if you can combine a sale with a coupon, you can often get brand-name items for the same price or less.
- Eating out — We eat out once a week or so (if you include ordering a pizza.) We tend to eat a mid-priced (at best) places like Logan’s, Panera Bread, and Papa John’s, not higher-end restaurants. And we don’t order drinks (we have water) or desserts out.
- Unused gym memberships — I have a membership to the local pool and have been there an average of five days per week for the past two years. Why would someone buy a gym membership and then not use it?
- Daily internet deals — Ha! Guess who doesn’t like Groupon! 🙂
- Bundled cable or phone services — Note that they say these are a waste "if you don’t use the services." Isn’t everything a waste if you don’t use it?
- So I seem like a spending saint, huh? Rest-assured that I have my money wasters too — but I try to keep them to a bare minimum. 😉
How about you? Is there anything you think you waste money on (or would at least try to spend less on)?
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.