2016 Fall September 29 Thursday

2016 Fall September 29 Thursday

53 degrees this morning.

Back to the regular world!  Didn’t walk this morning since got back late last night (not real late) and, quite frankly, I need some time to adjust to the cold weather! 

This will be a short work week!  I always start work after I get back from a break wondering how I will do, but I always get right back into it.

The trip back was relatively uneventful.  We drove back, rather than fly, for a number of reasons.  Although it isn’t the reason, I like driving because it gives you the chance to transition back to the routine. 

Overall, our experience with Uber cars was positive.  Certainly the types of cars varied!  We rode in everything from a small compact to a what is considered a luxury SUV, all for the same price except for the occasional “surge pricing”.

We (or at least I) am glad we got the more “home like” hotel (with more room, a small refrigerator and microwave etc.) rather than pay a lot more for a “box” near the convention.  May not do that everyplace, but it worked there.  

Looking at the Apple iWatch.  I have decided on two possible models, the major difference being cost.  The more expensive one has some obvious features that you are paying for.

However, I’m not sure if something I will probably use 2 or 3 years before it is “obsolete” is worth paying what to me a a substantial amount for some features that are basically features that will make it last longer.  I have to assume that to some degrees the current watches will continue to receive software upgrades.  

I did read that once the battery has to be changed it will probably be impossible to make it waterproof again.  I don’t know if that is true of not, but it makes you realize the watch is hardly a long term investment like most watches are.  I think I need to look at it more as a computer which will become obsolete.  

I read (ok, on Facebook, so I don’t know how true it is) about the short “shelf life” of many products I thought lasted for a long time.

For example, it said hydrogen peroxide turned to water a few months after it is opened.  Probably some truth to that considering that it probably evaporates.  I never thought about that before.

They also mention slippers should be tossed after six months (primarily germs).  I have a pair I have had for at least 30 years, so I can imagine the germs on that!  (I do wash them).  

They also mentioned tossing towels after a year (the period may be different), also due to germs.  

I did know about walking shoes and the padding etc. after six months or a year.

I’’m going to research it some and see how true all of that is.  I actually have gotten to the point I skim Facebook, to say the least.  

It is supposed to warm up today.  Since today is a “field day” for me, the cold weather this morning made me think of scrambling for some warmer clothes, but I think it will warm up enough during the day.  

Just watching a tape of “Mad Money” and he mentions how some companies aren’t keeping up with the “generational changes”, so well known brands may not be the good investment they seem.

Even just thinking of the past Conferences I have attended, I can note the “generational changes” as well as some basics that never change.

That’s it for now, Thursday, September 29, 2016. 

2016 Fall September 28 Wednesday

61 degrees this morning.  No walk.  (Not very many iPhone steps either!)

Last day of conference.  It seems hard to believe it is over, but it is.  

Actually, I think the experience more than exceeded my expectations.  One reason I had debated about attending was the preliminary program didn’t look all that good.  Some of the sessions more than exceeded my expectations, one of two were disappointing, that isn’t bad!  

Overall, the “experience” exceeded my expectations.  It was fun a nice break.  

19 years ago, I woke up and learned my Mom had died during the night, probably September 27.  I have a difficult time realizing that 19 years has passed so fast.  It seems like so much has happened in 19 years, and yet so little.

Probably the annual ICMA Conference, like the annual Courter Reunion, makes me aware of time passing.  They just seem to fly by.  I actually have a t-shirt celebrating the 75th ICMA Conference (1989) and and this is the 102nd ICMA Conference.  

I first went to an ICMA conference in 1983 and I have missed about 5 conferences in that time, 2 in the past two years (the 100th and the 101st).  Whether this is my last one remains to be seen.  Currently I plan to go next year, we’ll see one year at a time. 

In the past, I normally got excited about what I learned at the Conference, but “daily life” lots of times got in the way to implementing some of the changes/learning I planned on doing, although I managed to do quite a bit.

This year, I want to implement a short “Mindfulness” program in my life,and also keep up my “Credentialed Manager” status and some other goals. 

This past five days I have struggled without looking at a physical dally newspaper, I have strictly used the internet.  Of course I am out of my usual routine, which makes it easier.

I am thinking of using a “vacation stop” at home and see how I do without a physical newspaper during a regular period of a week or two.  Of course, for at least the local paper, the cost of the physical paper is nominal, (in addition to the internet access), about $5 per month, so you may as well get the physical paper also.

Heading back today.  The airport here is horrible, (at least for us) and while we don’t mind flying into it, we don’t like to fly out of it for several reasons.  

First, the schedule back to home is so stupid, it has us flying to Denver and then back.  (If we could stop in Denver for a day or so, that would be ok!).  

Then, the really deciding factor is, you have to go thru security at the “gate” to the airline and there are no bathrooms etc. in the area after you go through security.  To go to the bathroom, you have to go through security again!  Doesn’t really make any sense.  

Anyway, a “one way” car (for one day) is about the same cost as one ticket on the airplane (so we basically travel at half price) and it almost is the same time frame, except we have to drive of course.  Self driving cars may affect the airlines, at least for short distances!

Also, it is nice to drive and be able to take your own time back.  It provides some sense of a transition time from the trip back to reality.  

Maybe I should say “routine”, since I don’t know what reality really is!

That’s it for now, Wednesday, September 28, 2016

2016 Fall September 27 Tuesday

60 degrees this morning, no formal walk, about 7,000 steps yesterday. 

I really feel like I am “on vacation”, as I revisit my past career at an International City Manager Conference.  

It is startling how fast I get psychologically involved again (that may not be the right word), in the culture and concepts of may past career as I meet people who are still working and attend sessions about current thoughts about the profession.  

At one session, (a roundtable session on “encore” careers) I even became the “expert” at my table as I discussed the feelings of suddenly changing your life.  You suddenly are a different person.

I shared with them how, about two weeks after the change, I came across the following quote that struck me like a thunderbolt as to how I felt:

"Now I was free to do as I wished, but I found the freedom illusory, for what I wished for had been taken from me. They say, Find a purpose in life and live it.  But, sometimes, it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose, and likely one you never had in mind”.

At the keynote session yesterday morning, the speaker (who was excellent) left me with the thought that you become a “different person” after a big change in your life, and you never know what “that person” is going to want to do.  

He mentioned that commitment (major change) is hard because you become a new person, but if you don’t make a commitment, but are always noncommittal and you will lead a “fragmented life”.

He called major decisions “Vampire Decisions”, they change who you are, but you can never go back to who you have been.  Of course, the problem (opportunity?) is that you don’t know if you will like the “new you” or not until you have made the decision and you are a “Vampire”.

I am not a “vampire” follower, I read one book by Anne Rice, and, while I somewhat enjoyed it, I never read any more and didn’t really see much sense in reading or watching movies etc. about vampires.  I think I have other things I want to spend my time on.

However, I do like the term “Vampire Decision”, it describes the decision process well. 

All in all, I wouldn’t have missed this experience for anything.  

It always amazes me how something may hit you (at a conference or anywhere) and when you dwell on it, it brings on major changes in your life.  An example of past conferences is the one where I heard Doris Kearns Goodwin and Beck Weathers (Left for Dead) speak.  

I till add this conference to them.  I”ll admit I was uncertain up to the time we left for the conference if I wanted to go or not.  Now I realize I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.  

It has been interesting, keeping notes on my iPhone on the Conference App.  (Especially interesting since my phone has developed a battery problem, which I have a feeling is related to some apps I am running.) 

I am keeping notes based on the theory that “fewer is better” and a few words will bring back the idea.  Also, I am writing a report for my ICMA “Credentialed Manager” report, which is a good chance to recap what I learned.  

Dealing with the “surge pricing” of Uber continues to be frustrating.  Actually it only was a problem one time yesterday (going to the conference, of course, when we actually were on a deadline). 

Watched the Presidential debate last night.  No one can say they are carbon copies of each other.  You may not like the choice you have, but you definitely have a choice.   

That’’s it for now Tuesday, September 27, 2016  

2016 Fall September 26 Monday

  

55 degrees this morning.  No formal walk. Didn’t walk near as much yesterday, about 6,500 steps.  

Talk about a sudden drop in temperature!  55 degrees will be akin to freezing out there!  Of course, it is supposed to get to 71 degrees, but it really won’t seem warm.  I will need to bring along a light coat today, which will be a hassle later when it warms up.  On the other hand, maybe not, with the wind, 71 degrees can still be cool.

First day of conference went well yesterday, had several sessions that were different and I actually learned a lot.  Keynote speech was a disappointment, basically the wrong speech and person for a Keynote, but that happens.  

Learning about the Uber “surge pricing” (especially when no competition like “Lyft” is around).  Basically surge pricing is their normal fare.  Fortunately it still isn’t that much in absolute terms and I have found that “surge pricing” can be waited out in just a few minutes.  The most we had was 1.2 times “normal” fare (which really isn’t their normal fare!)  and there was a lot of wild 2.3 times etc that we just waited out for about 5 minutes.  Still very convenient.  

Rain yesterday, which cast kind of a damper, so to speak, on the conference.  Didn’t bother us since we didn’t have any outside activities planned (I don’t go to a conference to play golf!), except for travel back and forth and, with Urber, it is door to door anyway. .  

A variety of seasons today, as always, there are so many things planned you just make a selection and hope you picked right, and if you really made a mistake, you get out and go to another session while you still have time.

Actually, most of the sessions are relatively good and you rarely get one that is really worthless, it is more a matter of which one is more valuable to you.

I run into people I have known, in several cases, for over 40 years.  It is amazing, I see them once a year for that long.  Of course,, they have changed a bit, just like me!  Oddly enough, some of them really don’t change much, others I would recognize at all.

I have some high hopes for some of the sessions today, we’ll see what happens. Basically every day (except for Sunday) starts with a Keynote of some sort, and then goes to breakout sessions. 

Since I am paying for the conference myself, I feel free to attend any session.  Normally, I tried to take the sessions I thought would benefit my job the most when it was paid for by my employer, which is only fair, but now I am the one paying, so I select what I think will be best for me!  

What I really enjoy about the conference is the variety of people I meet and interact with.  For example at the first session, my “team” was people from Florida, Illinois, Kansas, California and New Mexico.

The second one included Tennessee, California (always!), Massachusetts, Arizona etc.  

One year for some reason I keep meeting people from Denmark and I develop a lot of respect for Denmark as a result.  That was the memorable year that I rode a $7,000 bike.  

I am trying to keep my “conference notes” on the iPhone, rather than writing them down and transposing them later (or not getting around to it!).  I am a little disappointed at how fast the battery went down on my iPhone yesterday. While it is almost 2 years old, the battery (based on my experience) should be good for long time yet.

Conferences are always a little bid of unreality because of the suspension of normal activities.  I was thinking yesterday was Monday all day. 

It will be interesting to see what happens tonight at the debate.  Fortunately (or notI)  the conference activities will be over in time for us to watch it, plus we are taping it in case we miss anything.  

That’s it for now, Monday, September 26, 2016.

2016 Fall September 25 Sunday

71 degrees this morning, lightning and thunder, rain.

No formal walk this morning, but did walk about six miles yesterday.

Realized when I got here I didn’t have any appropriate business cards, so I walked to Fedex-Kinkos (about .8 miles from the hotel) and got some business cards. Rather amazing what you can do these days!  I actually walked up and back to order them and then up and back to pick them up.

I am learning the area of the motel fairly well by walking places.  My main problem isn’t finding them (the iPhone is good for that).  The main thing is determining away direction I am going!  I have no idea as to what is east, west, south or north.  

I am going to look on the Internet and see who to read the iPhone compass!  I really prefer the simple compasses that tell you (like the car) that you are going east, west, north or south, not some arrow saying this is North!  

I have always been a little directionally challenged (I lived in one city for 4 years and never got my directions straight the entire time-I always had to think what was north and west etc.).  I think I came into town the wrong way and just never got oriented right.  

Anyway, I am getting my directions straight, as least how to get to certain areas.  

A lot of hills in this City, which makes a little difference in what is “walkable” and what isn’t!  At least you do go down as well as up!

Yesterday we were lucky, we were able to walk “down” from the Registration area for the conference to the restaurant area and then got a Uber car back to the hotel without having to worry about walking “up” the hills!

The Uber cars are good.  The only problem is the sneaky little fees they add (not bad, but why call it a “safety fee”, just charge a price and call it that!  The only good thing is they do include all the fees in the estimate, unlike phone companies, cable tv companies, airlines and hotels who add sneaky big fees on their estimates. 

One thing I really don’t like is the “surge pricing” which appear to be totally at random.  I can see six cars in the area and they start “surge pricing”.  

I have found that if I wait five minutes “surge pricing” seems to go back to normal.  

The Tyranny of the Algorithm again!  Algorithms really aren’t very smart, and I think we need to be careful of depending so much on them.  Use them, sure, but carefully. 

I figure part of it is Lyft isn’t here yet for some reason, so they are taking advantage of that.  

Yesterday morning for a brief period the surge pricing was 3X the normal fare!  I don’t know how long it lasted, because we didn’t need a car right then, but when we did it was 1.8X and we waited about 5 minutes and got normal pricing.  A driver told us how it worked (or rather what it was based on).  He said just one car could bring the surge pricing down to normal. 

Overall it is very nice to not have to worry about parking a car, driving in city traffic etc.  I can see where you would just give up having a car if you lived in a city and didn’t drive a lot.  Or, in our case, if I wasn’t working, you could go down to one car and use Uber or Lyft as a second car.  If you had to take to take a longer trip, there is always rental cars who will bring a car out to you.

Conference starts today, at 8:00 a.m. for me.  I have to be there by 8:00 a.m., so that will be a test for the Uber cars (and for me).  

That’s it for now, Sunday, September 25, 2016.

2016 Fall September 24 Saturday

2016 Fall September 24 Saturday

74 degrees this morning.  No specific walk, but got about 5 miles in as noted herein.  

Good flight yesterday.  

I decided to use “Fall” rather than “Autumn” for no specific reason, except perhaps “Fall” is faster to type.  

Interesting day yesterday.  We are living the “Uber” transportation system while we are here.  (Lyft isn’t available here yet for some reason).   No parking worries, don’t have to worry about the safety of the car, etc. My only question is how much you tip someone on a one-mile ride!  Actually supposedly you don’t have to tip them but … 

The first day went well.  We decided we’d rather stay in a nicer hotel (not nice in the sense of pricer, but a hotel that wasn’t a box with no refrigerator etc. for $200 per night) a little further away and use the “savings” to just take an Uber car back and forth.  Actually the way it worked out we will save a considerable about of money, especially since a free breakfast and even water, coffee and some snacks are included!  

The only thing I will miss is not being about to run to the room for something etc., but it is is bad enough we can take an Uber car back for very little cost.

Actually, they have a free transit system here, once I learn the ropes I may be able to travel back and forth free and get some of my exercise while I am doing it.  

However, an Uber car taking you from front door to front door is sure nice, especially once the conference gets started and you are pressed for time.  

As I have noted, we were trying to buy Aliene an iPhone 7, but there was a 3 week or so wait.  By chance, I checked the Apple App, and noted that the Apple store about .6 miles from the hotel had one in stock just like she wanted!

I quickly walked to the Apple Store and got it.  (It replaced a 5 SI.).  It was the last one in the store!  They get random shipments.  The Apple store near our home told us to check each morning at 8:00 a.m. to see what was in stock.  I didn’t really plan to play that game (it isn’t THAT important), but I do randomly check and yesterday afternoon about 3:30 p.m., I noted the store appeared to have the iPhone in stock.

I was pleased that we were able to replace her iPhone so quickly.  (I played around with it some, and it is definitely worth the upgrade)  It is much faster (actually faster than my 3 year old MacBook Air, according to an article I read), and has some nice features.  Of course some of the features will take a while to get used too, like all Apple products.  

It was fun walking down to the Apple Store.  There is always so much energy in an Apple Store, especially after a new product comes out.  In addition, there was a “Art Fair” in the area which was very well attended, even at 4 p.m. in the afternoon.  

We went back for Aliene to buy a case for her new iPhone (I wasn’t about going to decided that) and it was just packed, a very successful Art Fair.  

The little bit of time we had to spend with “live tv” decided us we would cancel our cable service if we had to watch some of the junk which was on last night.  I was amazed at some of the junk that was on, since I almost never just randomly look at what is on tv. Even the news channels were basically just pandering along with “news” about “celebrities”, sports and other junk that was hardly news.   At least I don’t have to watch it, and there is plenty of other stuff to do.

I am a little relaxed about the conference.  Since I am paying for it myself (with the assistance of free registration, which means a lot, from the International City Managers Association) I am a bit relaxed about my attendance and won’t go to sessions I’m not interested in just because I feel guilty if I’m not attending sessions.

Of course, the conference is excellent and I have my days fully planned anyway!  Today I register etc. and some preliminary items, then tomorrow I have a full day, from approximately 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (including travel!), ditto for Monday and Tuesday. 

That’s it for now, Saturday, September 24, 2016

2016 Fall September 23 Friday

73 degrees this morning, no walk 

One of those strange neither here not there days, going off in an airplane.  The early departure and the sudden transaction to another City.

Somehow, when flying it takes me a while to realize that I am in a different city (logically and consciously I know it, but somewhere deep inside I really feel like I haven’t gone anywhere for a while).

Traveling by car, you get the smooth transformation to a new area, a new city and usually a new climate and culture etc.  

Airports are strange places (not in a bad sense), with people going and coming from everywhere imaginable and you meet such a variety of people.  

This is written in one city and will be completed in another city, or more likely, completed while in the air.  Whether it is posted in he air is another matter.  (Probably if I get bored enough to spring for the Wi Fi fee!)

On the plane now, waiting for the flight to start.  As normal, people jockeying for the best seat, and, perhaps more important, available luggage space.  This airline doesn’t have peri-assigned seats, as such although several years ago they went to “numbered” boarding passes so at least he boarding line has some semblance to order.  Actually, it works well.

In the air now.  When you think about it, the number of people who have ever lived that have actually flown in a plane (as far as we know) is very very small.  Ditto for using a computer etc. Although I don’t know how many people have ever lived (when I get an internet connection, I’ll check), Of course, even then it is just an estimate. 

I rarely get angry about anything I hear on the news anymore, but the price gouging by the drug companies is absolutely the most unethical, crooked actions I can imagine.  They should be in jail, not flying around on a private airplane at the expense of sick people and insurance companies.  No wonder insurance is so high.  

And these thieves are the same people who complain about high taxes!

Flying on a plane is calming in a way, since, unless you bring it with you, you don’t have to, or rather can’t, do anything. 

The lack of alternatives can be very relaxing.

On the other hand, a wide  range of alternatives can be very stimulating and exciting, so I guess a variety of each is important in life.  

Maybe that is what is so important about sleep.  At some point, there are no other alternatives except you are going to sleep!

While I probably won’t see it, I expect that at some point they will perfect a way to transport yourselves through to another place without  the need of a plane, car or other device.  Talk about a whole new world!  

Currently, “on the ground” in another city.  One of the few times I have traveled by air and actually landed and stayed on the same aircraft before proceeding on,  oddly enough.  

You get this strange sensation when traveling of “ships passing in the night” so to speak, meeting someone you will likely never see again.  Of course that happens all the time, but you don’t think about it, it isn’t so obvious.

Don’t know when this will be posted, whenever I get a internet connection.

That’s it for now, Friday, September 23, 2016, somewhere in the clouds.

2016 Summer September 22 Thursday

73 degrees this morning, walk 36:05 minutes.

Over the next several days, posts may be somewhat erratic, especially tomorrow (Friday).  

Last day I will write “Summer 2016” as Fall starts this morning at 10:21 a.m.  At least it is the last day wen I will be correct if I do so!

Overall, it has been a good Summer.  At least I can’t think of much I would have changed about it, which means it must have been pretty good!

My walking shoes are now about 50%of their estimated life span, at least as far as walking goes.  

I tend to keep walking/exercise shoes (shoes that fit anyway) on a long term basis with different purposes.  When new, I use them almost exclusively as walking shoes on my walk.  

After I get a new pari of walking shoes, the older ones are relegated to “casual walking”, or primarily for day to day wear.  In the summer, when I primarily wear sandals when I’m not working in the field,they get a big rest.  

The, I think I am correct in saying the 3rd generation of shoes (in ascending order, with the older the shoe, the higher the generation) are primarily used for wear when it is raining or I am in dirty conditions.  If there is a fourth shoe, it is used primarily (or at least reserved for) times I may be in the mud etc.  That is almost never, so basically that shoe is ready to be discarded.  

of course, I also have the shoes which never really got used for exercise, a pari of trail shoes I wear on a non-regular basis and a pair of shoes i use for bicycling (they have  velcro instead of laces on the assumption I won’t get shoelaces in the bicycle chain.  

I wore my “3rd generation” shoes the other day at the fair (when I walked 9 miles) and quickly realized that the shoes have “settled” and are no longer fit for long wear.

I also got a pair of walking shoes which are more or less “dress shoes” to wear when I am “in the field” and walking a lot. 

I really didn’t realize how important good shoes were until I started developing foot problems several years ago and  better shoes have resolved the problem.  Woolworth the cost!

Likewise, the car we bought several years ago is no longer “new”, although it still seems that way.  

I don’t know at what point shoes, cars, furniture, or even people suddenly become “no longer new”, but I’m sure there is some point whee your min more or less knows that the item is no longer “new” as such.  

Not that that is bad, it basically means I am familiar with the item, probably trust it etc.  It does not.

Coming up on another adventure, although in a lot of ways, every day is an adventure on it’s own!

I enjoy going places, but I also enjoy our house and the daily routine etc.  I guess it is matter of setting priorities again.  

If I think one or a top priority I have that I think is important is to get out of the routine daily living occasionally. If nothing else, you realize how good your daily life is!

That’ s it for now, Thursday, September 22, 2016.

2016 Summer September 21 Wednesday

78 degrees this morning, walk 35:22 minutes 

78 degrees sounds warm, but there is that cool breeze in the air that makes it seem cooler than 78 would normally feel.   i am enjoying sitting on the patio.  

Listening to the wind chimes.  They are pretty but way too loud and I wonder again about the arrogance of someone who feels like they should choose the sound environment for the rest of the neighbors.  On the other hand, they may enjoy it and feel like they are doing everyone a favor.  I am certainly not going to complain, although I still basically resent it, even as I enjoy it.

Still listening to the book about Tesla.  Actually, i messed up and am listening to part of it a second time.  In a way I am pleased that I remember most of what I previously heard!  

That was really an amazing time and a group of amazing persons.  I never realized the number of inventors etc. during that period (roughly 1880’s to the 1930’s) by individual inventors.  I also never realized how crooked and greedy many of them were and especially the business persons of that era. 

I think that the last 30 or 40 years greatly exceeded the inventions of the period of Tesla, but I can’t really say that since much of what the Tesla/Edison etc. era did set the  base for future gains, and in fact many of their inventions are probably not even utilized yet.

Even when I think of the gains in the last 30 years, I have to remember that the fist person (to our knowledge) walked on the moon almost 50 years ago, and that was a real accomplishment considering the technology at the time.

It really makes we wonder what we could do now if we focused on accomplishments like that instead of other negative actions and programs.  

I see the capital buildings, city halls etc. built in the 1800’s and early 1900’s and wonder now at the lack of imagination and innovation in building now that was displayed back then.

Of course, that is only if it isn’a some type of sports facility!  i am amazed at the waste in sports facilities, but by cities colleges and even high schools. $90 million dollar high school football stadiums built while students attend classes in run-down old buildings!  Sick.

Not that I don’t realize the economic incentive of sports, and sports facilities  nor do I blame them for wanting nice facilities.  

I just think there need to be priorities and a $90 million dollar high school football stadium used for several hours ten times a year should not be a hot priority over classrooms used the majority of the year 8 hours a day or whatever. 

It is like the commercial (actually I think by the NCAA) that most students become professionals in areas other than sports, and I think the money should be focused on the majority of the students who shouldn’t have to attend classes in run down buildings with inadequate facilities while $90 million dollar stadiums are built.  

Looked at the iPhone 7 yesterday (for Aliene) and the iWatch (for me).  Sold out of both, although we basically decided what we wanted.  

Of course, I immediately liked the more expensive watch (not the hugely expensive one, but the one about $300 more than the “sport” model).  There really is’t that much difference and it doesn’t make any sense to buy anything other than the sport model, considering it probably has a life span of 3 years or so before a new, upgraded watch will be the “must have” item. 

That reminds me of when the first laptops came out and I went to a conference where the presenter said basically “so what if you pay $750 for a laptop and it is obsolete in six months, if you get $750 or more value out of it!”.

I loved the concept and have used it to justify many purchases!  By the way I keep my electronics and “repurpose” them I ‘m obviously not real comfortable with the concept, but I am definitely a believer.  Maybe keeping the old ones and “repurposing” them makes me feel a little less guilty about buying the newest model based on the theory that the “value is there”! 

That’s it for now, Wednesday, September 21, 2016.