Source: U.S. drinking is up, but tastes, norms vary – USATODAY.com. Consumption of alcohol hit a 25-year high in 2010, when 67% of Americans reported drinking alcoholic beverages, according to a Gallup poll. That’s a level unseen since the late 1970s, when 71% of Americans said they drank. I could have told people this condition years ago. Yeah people want to drown their sorrows when things get bad and the last ten years have been pretty bad at least to those of us who don’t have $million accounts.  Just before I turn down my country road I pass “Skidrow  Bar & … Continue reading U.S. drinking is up, but …

If it weren’t so pathetic it would be laughable how these guys will do or say anything to get elected.  It’s time to put on your “Peace” badge Newt and join the Occupiers you thoroughly dissed last week. Continue reading Do Or Say Anything….

via Apple To Announce Tools, Platform To ‘Digitally Destroy’ Textbook Publishing | Epicenter | Wired.com MacInnis sees Apple as possibly up-ending the traditional print publishing model for the low-end, where basic information has for many years remained locked behind high textbook prices. Apple can “kick up dust with the education market,” which could then create visibility for platforms like Inkling. This could then serve as a sort of professional Logic-type tool for interactive textbook creation complement to Apple’s “GarageBand for e-books.” “There will be a spectrum of tools and consumers, and we will continue to fit on that spectrum,” MacInnis opined. … Continue reading ‘Digitally Destroy’ Textbook Publishing….

Source: Billionaire gives $5 million to pro-Gingrich group – Local News – Indianapolis, IN – msnbc.com. The Washington Post first reported the $5 million contribution. Politico reported last month that Adelson was prepared to spend $20 million to help Gingrich. Here is another example of the consequences of the recent Supreme Court decision that “money talks”.  But of course the court said that is just one person exercising his right to free speech. I, and most rational people, would think that the possible $20 million will offset almost a million other people who simply can’t contribute more than a few bucks. … Continue reading Thank You Supreme Court??

This is a picture of a regular occurrence on our road this time of year. Continue reading On The Road in Front of the House….

You can look at half the guy’s stomachs in the world, and you can see they don’t know how to order for themselves. -November 18, 1934  — Will Rogers. This quote says it all.  I don’t need to add blah, blah, blah :) Continue reading Will Rogers

via MacBook Air, Ultrabook spell doom for optical drive | Nanotech – The Circuits Blog – CNET News Apple is different. The Apple of Steve Jobs held focus groups in contempt. In essence, Jobs believed consumers don’t know what they want until you give it to them. So, present them with a MacBook Air–as Apple did in January 2008–and consumers will eventually come around. I pretty much found this to be the case in my professional life as well.  Focus groups/committees just are not forward looking. They tend to be stuck in the past.  If you have something forward looking, that … Continue reading People Don’t Know What They Want Until You Give It to Them..

Here is a picture I took in 2009 at the aquarium on Fishers Wharf in San Francisco. Jellyfish just don’t seem real to me. I was totally entranced by this display. Continue reading S.F. Jellyfish

USA TODAY’s notable tech products from 2011 – USATODAY.com. If you seniors out there want to learn about some of the tech innovations in 2011 I would suggest you read this article.  There are about a dozen significant things that surfaced in 2011 on the new technology front. One of the first things I noticed in this article is that the author constantly mentions that some of the new products coming on the market are almost as good as Apple products. That seems to be a common mantra the last few years. I finally realized that if it is “almost … Continue reading Notable Tech Products from 2011

I’m going back a ways for this In The Slow Lane photo but it is from Galena Illinois which was the home of U.S. Grant. It is really a nice place to visit. The town is very well maintained in the late 1800s period and lots of shopping and historic sites. Continue reading Galena Cellars…

  “I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness. I hear the ever-approaching thunder, which will destroy us too. I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come out right. In the meantime, I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.”   – Anne Frank, from The Diary of Anne Frank As pointed out these words were from Anne Frank. Here is some of what Wikipedia says about her Annelies Marie “Anne” Frank  12 June 1929 – early March 1945) … Continue reading Words from Anne Frank…

Source:  Editorial: Too fast to get out of Iraq? No – USATODAY.com. Just nine days after the departure of U.S. forces, Iraq is looking more like its old self — divided, angry and threatened by civil war and dictatorship — than like the self-reliant democracy President Obama described as the troops came home. I don’t understand why the Republicans, and even some Democrats believe that we can change thousands of years of local history in a foreign nation by occupying it with our military might.  I truly think that those who follow this tactic believe that they can turn nations into democracies in this … Continue reading Its Just Iraq Being Iraq….

Call me a naive optimist if you want but now that we are in a new year here are some things I hope, actually dream, to see in 2012: From a personal standpoint My wife and I (and for that matter all seniors) maintain our health in the coming year. That I manage to see more of this great country on our vacations this year. That my actions live up to my words in being my brother’s keeper That I find some good projects this year to keep the boredom down :) That the words of Will Rogers continues to … Continue reading Hopes & Dreams For 2012…