People often look at me funny because I either choose to fly or choose to cancel a flight when the opposite course seems right. It happens because pilots look at weather a little bit differently, but that can be hard to explain when I do not have a computer handy. This morning offers a perfect […]
Are Psycho-Active Drugs Ineffective and Dangerous?
There seems to be mounting evidence that psycho-active drugs are no more effective than placebos; that they may cause real harm; and that the belief that many mental illnesses are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain has never been proven but has been forwarded by the drug manufacturers. I was most persuaded by Irving […]
W3TC + CloudFlare = Speed!
I just deployed the W3TC WordPress plugin. That, in addition to CloudFlare, made a huge improvement in page load time on this blog.
Thoughts on Google+
Ideas have been bubbling for awhile but are finally congealing (what an attractive metaphor!) into what will become an article or two on Google+. Over the past several years, Google has developed a strong set of tools for individuals to use. Some of these tools have facilitated collaboration or sharing. With Plus, Google is making […]
Join Me on Google+
Come join me on Google+, the new social-network-plus-a-whole-lot-more that Google launched at the beginning of July. If you are a Facebook or Twitter user, you may well find that you like Google+ better in some ways. The user interface is delightful. You can easily share posts and photos with just the people who you want […]
Wet Bird!
If you have never been around pet birds, you may not know that many of them love showers. Robin Hood, our Red Lored Amazon parrot, vociferously “reminds” me to take him along when I go for my morning shower by squawking, “Wet bird!” He does not really care whether he gets his shower first or […]
“Secret” Trick for Estimating Social Security Retirement Benefits
If you are a working adult in the US, you have received an annual letter from the Social Security Administration for the last decade or so which estimates your retirement earnings. The “Social Security Statement” clearly and concisely presents your earnings history and explains what monies you, and your family, will be eligible for based […]
Last Shuttle Launch
Robert Scoble got a beautiful photo of Atlantis’ final launch, STS-135 I am very proud of what we have done and sad to reach the end of this era.
+1 for Google+
I have been playing with Google+ for the last several days and, thus far, like it very much. Most importantly, I trust Google to avoid making changes to their privacy policy which will reveal information that I decide to keep private. Facebook has done the opposite (made my private info available to third parties) so […]
Opt Out of Paper Phone Books
I don’t know how well it works (yet) but I just used the National Yellow Pages Consumer Choice & Opt-Out Site to decline all five of the big books that have been delivered to our doorstep annually. Several years ago, we cut the cord and terminated our AT&T home phone service, switching to a VOIP […]
Testing CloudFlare
I have been reading about CloudFlare for some time and decided to give it a try. CloudFlare promises to speed up a web site using several technologies, including caching static content on their CDN, minifying content, and blocking access to malicious bots. I installed it on this site for testing and, at least initially, I […]
Welcoming Robin Hood the Red Lored Parrot
We have adopted a new family member, Robin Hood, the red lored Amazon parrot. Click the picture or click here to see more photos and a video. Robin Hood is an absolute delight, loving attention and company but being (usually) patient when he does not get to be in the same room with us. Some […]
Zoo Zoom
I had a wonderful father’s day this year, capped by weather fine enough to inspire a photo safari to the St. Louis Zoo just before closing time on Sunday. (Click the picture if you want to skip the words and just enjoy the photos.) This gave me the chance that I had been waiting for: […]
Nikon 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF Zoom Nikkor First Photos
I just received my “new” Nikon 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF Zoom Nikkor lens and here are a few of the first shots with the lens on my D90. All are hand held at 300mm. (Click on the slideshow to see larger versions.) To say that I am pleased would be an understatement.
I Appreciate Taxes. Think I’m Crazy?
The California Assembly just passed a bill which would require on-line retailers, such as Amazon, to collect sales tax. A key problem underlying governments today (federal, state, county, and municipal) is that they have less revenue than expenses. (Very few governments are running at a surplus these days.) Interestingly, we-the-people are both the “owners” of government […]
500 & Counting!
I am tickled to share with you the news that this is my 500th posting here on CheerfulCurmudgeon.com. I started this blog just over six years ago, in May 2005. Thank you for sharing the journey with me. I have enjoyed your feedback as comments, in email messages, and occasionally in person. I am sure […]
Tulips in Holland, MI
My father and step-mother took me to Holland, MI to see the tulips when I was a kid. I blazed away with my camera, gleefully shooting Kodachrome on a glorious sunny day. Ever since then, I have wanted to go back and I finally made it to the 2011 Tulip Time Festival. Here are a […]
Shedd Aquarium Photos
Candy and I visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago recently. It’s a magic place well worth your time when you next get to the Windy City. Here are a few of my photos. You can also click through to see larger versions.
Mom in Six Words
The New York Times contest http://nyti.ms/jrcSki inspired me, so here goes: six words about my mother: My greatest cheerleader never stopped believing. Mom’s love and food cure all.
Stripes!
Our Fiat 500 is at least 30 MPH faster sitting in the driveway now that it has its racing stripes! Thanks to Mike at Wicked Stickers for the great work.
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