Posted By RichC on June 25, 2024
Nothing like holding your breath while updating overdue Linux versions and WordPress to start the day. Whew … all is still well with a couple servers and WordPress installs. Good to feel like things are up-to-date.
Posted By RichC on June 25, 2024
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Posted By RichC on June 24, 2024
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Posted By RichC on June 23, 2024
Brenda and I have been asked several times recently … “are you retired?” The most recent for me was at my yearly wellness physical by my PCP. I’m not really sure how to answer the question since there hasn’t really been a definitive “we are retiring” moment for either of 
us.
I “work from home” in my office nearly everyday just as I have ever since COVID-19 when the pandemic prevented sales people from visiting customers. During that time it became increasingly difficult to handle the printing side of the business, but really it has been years since I made cold calls. I’ve done little to solicit new customers for either the printing and publishing side, or the “web hosting” side of Consolidated Printing and Publishing Co.
On the other hand, I still answer the phone, handle what I can remotely and outsource whatever printing comes in as needed. I still file sales tax returns, yearly tax returns and keep the business in good standing. Come to think about it … this is exactly what I imagined doing as retirement approaches. Nowadays I spend the majority of the day focused on investing and trading, keeping the servers up-to-date, invoicing and handling the dwindling number of existing customers’ needs who remain. I still enjoy talking with customers I’ve known for decades and find that I look forward to the weekday mornings (financial market openings) rather than the weekend mornings (home and yard chores). In fact, I feel less productive and guilty if I’m not trading stocks, writing call options, attending conference calls or webinars, etc … or am taking too much time away from “the office” (ie. trips in the winter). Hm … so am I retired? I don’t think so … at least not yet. 😊
Brenda is equally on the fence regarding the “did you retire question?” She stopped working due to her hip with every intention to go back (probably should have applied for medical leave — oh well). Then after surgery, stretched out the rehab and enjoyed taking some extra time in Florida.
We’ve now both hit the 65 years old milestone, which means out of pocket health insurance has given way to Medicare — we’ve opted to start with a Medicare Advantage plan since it seemed like a continuation of our existing health insurance that we’d recently become “way too familiar with.” Although our FRA Social Security is still a couple more years away, having buttoned up the health insurance worries that we had when under 65 was a big relief, especially with Brenda’s ongoing osteoporosis concerns and treatment.
Posted By RichC on June 22, 2024
As the election season nears, the calls and text messages to my cellphone ramp up in earnest. My voicemail message for the past couple of years has been one that indicates that I no longer pickup calls from unknown callers — I don’t mind callers leaving me a message, but have grown tired of solicitations, surveys and campaign donation requests.
| The current voicemail message on my iPhone 7 Plus | 2024 |
For friends, family and business clients, I enjoy and appreciate staying in touch. I gladly will add them to my contact list so that caller ID indicates who is calling. A recent WSJ A-HED article brought to light a debate regarding texting first to ask if someone minds getting a phone call. Oh … how the world is changing.
For some people, there is nothing more delightful than the surprise ringing of a phone that signals someone is thinking about them. For others, there is nothing ruder, more intrusive or panic-inducing than an unannounced call. You are out of your mind—and possibly not in their life—if you’re not sending them a text first.
Phone-call etiquette has never been more complicated. Family members, co-workers, spouses and friends can’t agree on whether it’s OK to call someone without first alerting them via text that you plan to call.
LINK to article
That said, I do still look at calls and area codes and spotted a new one from my area that I’ve not noticed before — a 283 area code. Now it has been out a while, but don’t have any contacts with it as of yet. Still it overlays southwestern Ohio and will likely be one that I’ll need to remember in the future. I’m having a déjà vu moment from 
when we lived/worked in north eastern Ohio when 216 area code added the 330 and then 440 area codes.
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Posted By RichC on June 21, 2024
Last month I seriously considered upgrading my iPad to the Apple iPad Air … but really wanted the newest Brydge MAX+ Keyboard … which is currently unavailable (signed up for the “notify me” list though).
I was still tempted to order a new iPad, but decided my sluggish, older iPad and “slow to connect” Bluetooth original Brydge keyboard was still working (I probably use it more than my MacBook Air M2 — no regrets — and find the tablet far more useful for evening reading, etc.)
So I wait impatiently for the new keyboard and contemplate opting for a used or discounted older iPad Air or maybe an older Pro, although I do like the improved storage, current generation chipset and brighter display for those days I would like to read outside.
Posted By RichC on June 19, 2024
Amazon’s Prime shipping is still impressive and definitely beats spending time driving to the hardware or big box store to pick up a single item. Last week I had a exact Fluidmaster valve fail at the top of the stalk and decided to just order another (hoping it was just that one valve???) I probably could have contacted them about the previous order and “might” have received a replacement, but suspect that over a year was too long to bother with it.
The quick replacement for $8.98 seemed fair and so placed the next day order with the intent to replace it before we picked up the granddaughers for their week with us. I was disappointed in seeing the rough handling crushed the Fluidmaster box through the “slightly padded” envelope packaging. I took the photo with the idea that I might need to replace (delay fixing) but was hoping that the plastic parts weren’t permanently damaged. So far so good after snapping things back together and replacing.
Perhaps my point in posting is two-fold:
Posted By RichC on June 18, 2024
Wouldn’t you know, the book I’ve had on hold at the library became available last week … and our granddaughters are with us this week. Obviously there will be no time to read.
I did look through it and enjoyed the maps and read a little bit more about the controversy surrounding Captain James Cook and his Pacific Ocean exploration. He’s seen in a negative light these days, just as is Christopher Columbus and other explorers from generations centuries ago. I’m not sure how to view things, except to understand we are a product of the time in which we live.
Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to hopefully renewing “The Wide Wide Sea” by Hampton Sides for reading later this summer … or perhaps even as a winter read — shorter days and more indoor reading time. 😊
Posted By RichC on June 17, 2024
While exploring a little bit with a “new found” AI client … Perplexity.AI … I used it to find an oddity from the 1970s for Music Monday by asking:
“What decade has the most influential music?“
Based on the search results, there is no clear consensus on the most influential decade for music, as different decades are celebrated for their unique contributions and impact. However, the 1970s and 1980s emerge as strong contenders for the most influential decades according to the sources provided.
The 1970s
Several sources highlight the 1970s as a highly influential decade for music, citing the following reasons:
Diversity of rock subgenres flourished, including progressive rock (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd), hard rock (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC), and soft rock, as well as the rise of disco towards the end of the decade.
Emergence of punk rock (Ramones, Sex Pistols) and hip-hop, which would go on to become major genres.
Birth of electronic/synthesizer
music with bands like Kraftwerk.
Consolidation of the “outlaw” country movement with artists like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings.
Many legendary artists produced some of their best and most influential albums, such as The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Neil Young, and Bruce Springsteen.
The rest of the AI find is below the break, but for now I’ll highlight a musicians name I remember, Lou Reed, but his biggest hit that I had to listen to to remember. “Walk on the Wild Side” was the 5 song on Reed’s 1972 Transformer album and kind of forgotten by me. My point is that reading the AI researched info was that it excluded the music I found memorable and enjoyed … and included some that I did not find high on my list from that decade?
| Lou Read – “Walk on the Wild Side” | 1972 |
Posted By RichC on June 16, 2024
Today has me thinking of the two dads in my life (DadC and DadH) as well as the father of my two granddaughters, Drew. I thank them for being great mentors … by using the stern hand of guidance when it was required … with an abundance of self-discipline … and always being the provider and an example of Godly love to those growing up with them a father.
Happy Fathers Day! Although I can’t help thinking about those without dads in their lives … and I pray for the children growing up without fathers. Those of us who have had good fathers, know the importance and also see a trend in America where there are fatherless homes. We are seeing a waywardness in America, with way too many lost and troubled youth. We know some of it can be attributed to not having fathers (and Biblical teaching) in their homes and in their lives.
The Statistics of Fatherless Children
The negative effects of a child without a father can be seen in countless studies and reports. The statistics show the importance of a father figure in the majority of children’s lives.
According to “What Can the Federal Government Do To Decrease Crime and Revitalize Communities?” from the U.S. Department of Justice, children from fatherless homes account for:
- Suicide: 63 percent of youth suicides
- Runaways: 90 percent of all homeless and runaway youths
- Behavioral Disorders: 85 percent of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders
- High School Dropouts: 71 percent of all high school dropouts
- Juvenile Detention Rates: 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions
- Substance Abuse: 75 percent of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers
- Aggression: 75 percent of rapists motivated by displaced anger
To back up that data from 1998, which continues to be cited by researchers, a 2016 report of teenagers placed in juvenile residential facilities shows that 45 percent were living with only one parent at the time. That is a significant difference when compared to 30 percent of teens in two-parent households.