825. Print Job Can't be Erased from Printer Queue

A new one for me was going to the printer queue via Start -> Printers and finding a job there that didn't print and won't print. Easy solution is to erase/remove it from the queue. well, that is if things work right. But what if even that doesn't get rid of it? Than go to this post for qa process to clean up your queue.

824. Read DRM PDF on Kindle with Akido

Don't bother looking for an app in the Kindle Store that can read DRM (protected) PDF files. I am a reviewer for books at Netgalley.com. Usually the books I am offered are downloadable in Kindle format. The other day I got one only downloadable as a PDF, and a protected one! DRM if you realize it has restrictions and limitations for the file downloaded (Adobe Digital Edition file that ends in .acsm) to protect the distribution and copying of the author's book. If you use a PC to read it, you simply need Adobe Digital Edition installed, plus have an Adobe ID (login for the Adobe website). Click on the .acsm file and ADE will come up. You will need to do a once only thing to Authorize your computer to read the book (PDF) and the dialog under HELP allows you to do the Authorize and specify the Adobe ID. Once that is down, and every other time, when you click on the .acsm file you get (really only a stub, not the book itself), it begins downloading the actual book as a .PDF and puts you into reader mode to read it.

However, the Kindle has no reader for an .acsm file and thus cannot get the .PDF to read in any reader that comes with the Kindle. Along comes Alkido via the Google Play Store. Installing an app from Google Play Store is a different animal itself. I believe I have a post how to get it working. If not, google "google play store apps kindle" and you should find the necessary programs you need to install to utilize Google Play to get to all the apps available from Google. Note that these are for a general Android device, NOT the specifically customized Kindle Android version necessarily. I haven't had any problem though with anything I downloaded from Google Play Store. Anyway, get the Alkido app (can process the .acsm file and download the book into its reader). Again, this time for the Kindle device itself, you need to specify the DRM login info (Adobe ID and PW you created at teh Adobe site).

If both devices, PC and Kindle are enabled as above, you can now read your protected DRM book on wither device.

823. Brother Printer Status Monitor gone?

For years I have wondered why the Brother Printer (DCP-L2540DW) never displayed any update information, toner status, ICON in system tray, firmware, etc. Well, it was broken! If you go to Brother Utilities and select Tools, then Status Monitor and it doesn't bring up the monitor, then it's a dead puppy. Here is what you have to do:

1. Uninstall your printer software - Control Program, Programs and Features, uninstall your software
2. Go to Brother website and get most current software and driver download
3. Install it

I was still at the original levels of software and firmware and several versions below most current for each! Now things are looking up.

822. Blogger Default Font

I finally discovered how to set default Font for Blogger posts (www.blogger.com). You have to do it within your browser. For Chrome, start selecting the 3-dots top right, then Settings, then Appearance, then Customize Fonts, and then pick a Font that matches up with one of the choices in Blogger for options given. I chose Arial, which is the Font you are reading.

821. "Cusp of Night" by Mae Clair - 3-Stars

Cusp of Night by Mae Clair – 4-Stars

Publisher: Lyrical Underground, Kensington Publishing Corp.

ISBN: 9781516107278 

I suppose I have read too many other good books in the genre of Mysteries, Thrillers, Fantasies, and Horror to get excited by this book. The Pros are its well written and organized and you want to keep reading to see what happens next. However, this paranormal novel focuses mainly on the life of a genetically challenged “blue lady”, a result of a parent match of a rare recessive gene, her adventures as a medium and her unimportant married life, and how to perform “fake” séances. More development of side characters may have been way to create some eeriness and contributed importance to the main characters that themselves provided nothing excitingly special. The plot typifies a the average paranormal story, but is fairly predictable. It did not contain enough suspense and horror, given a “mysterious” Fiend, to warrant a 5-star. However, I would put this into the cozy or read-curled-up-in=front-of-the-fireplace novel category. Although I expected much more given the blurb, it is so well-written, I must give it at least 4-Stars.

Reviewer: Rich

820. "Executive Force" by Gary Grossman --- 5-Stars

Executive Force by Gary Grossman

Publisher: Diversion Books

ISBN: 9781635764420

Never a dull moment.

World-wide and domestic intrigue utilizing current issues, technologies, and some fictional characters who seem to share characteristics and habits of some of today’s real leaders.

What secret and devious plots drive America to unleash its entire domestic and counterterrorism agencies and black opts to defend and attack?

There’s Separatist movement trying to break up the USA – multiply by ten the confusion and attention caused by the recently experienced charge to separate California once again, this time into three entities. While this chaos is driving a split in America like we haven’t seen since the Civil War and has the active attention up to the Supreme Court level, prominent politicians and many with promising futures are being assassinated.  But, who is behind this?

Scott Roarke, a Secret Service agent, his fiancée Katie Kessler, and his boss President Morgan Taylor lead the intense measures to discover this answer and counter the never ending attacks from even more directions. The story constantly jumps between the numerous mysteries and plans, but in a way that enhances comprehension while building links to plot’s eventual grand finale fireworks.

I’m not a car chase fan, and toward the end there is a rather lengthy one. However, because I have visited Washington D.C. many times, I enjoyed the detail and accuracy of the individual traversed areas, the realistic description of the environment, and the historical features. It was a come-visit-D.C. commercial in the disguise of an action-packed, get-the-bad-guy romp.

Enjoy the hidden motives and plans of governments and leaders. Appreciate the tact employed to ensure the world continues improving and avoiding even more major conflicts. This book is thought provoking. An exceptional read.

Reviewer: Rich

819. "AI Superpowers" by Kai-Fu Lee -- 5-Stars

AI Superpowers by Kai-Fu Lee

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

ISBN: 9781328546395 

Most thought provoking book I have ever read.

This is a must read if you want:

• to know what AI is
• to know how AI evolved and the experts behind it
• to know the future of AI
• to know application possibilities, compelling arguments supporting opinions, and the expected leaders of AI implementations to come
• to understand the potential impact of AI, or AGI, on jobs and the economy worldwide
• to understand how America is positioned now and in the future compared to China and other world powers
• to know which occupational fields are least and which are most impacted by AI
• to be an entrepreneur in AI

I guarantee your mind will begin to churn at high levels and your interests will be satisfied. Although I am retired and supposed to be past the active technical and creative stages, I felt reenergized reading this book and now have the desire to jump in and do something, if only imagine and follow future developments.

I can’t think of a reason why anybody would not enjoy this book. Not only does it provide total insight into AI – what it is, where it is already applied, what is being developed now, what and when to expect the next – it is an extremely well written book with perfect structure and continuous interest.

You may not agree entirely with all the author’s opinions, but you’ll find detailed, compelling arguments for them. I, myself, question his comparison to “Silicon Valley” when in most cases it appeared to be just the culture of California residents. I also question his selection of Policy and Funding as important requirements when comparing America to China when it is America’s private companies that drive the policies and the funding, not the government, versus China where nothing gets done unless the government issues a nation-wide policy and funding. Only then do the local governments get funded and fast-money making entrepreneurs get active. To date, this kind of behavior has supported the “copycat” culture in China, which the author explains, and which is accepted there as standard, in addition to, the detailed “spying” on citizen behaviors giving them an advantage is mass data which we in America would deem a major invasion of privacy. It’s that culture that gives China a boost in its short-term entrepreneurs’ endeavors -- the culture of making money fast and then moving on versus Silicon Valley companies that shoot for innovation and notoriety to ensure long-term growth and “monopolistic” status. 

The author is honest and notes the pros and cons of everything, including listing caveats that would make his opinions questionable.

I found this book a very fine text that delivers an entire AI course in a single binder.

Reviewer: Rich

818. "The Widow Next Door" by L. A. Detwiler - 2-Star

The Widow Next Door by L. A. Detwiler

Publisher: Avon

ISBN: 9780008324636 

This was a long drawn out narrative about an old lady who complains about the trials of aging, rehashes her sad past and falls asleep a lot. I would have quit reading after the first half of the book, but I felt obligated to finish it so I could write an honest opinion.

I kept waiting for the part that made it a gripping thriller as advertised. It wasn’t until the last few chapters that the plot got there. Even then, while the details were being filled in, I had already determined what the basic outcome would be.

The prose was good. I understood how it would feel to be old and unloved. But, there was just too much description of a sad lonely life and the difficulties old age brings without much happening to make it a star in its genre.

.

This was not a book that I enjoyed spending time reading.

Reviewer: Nancy

817. "Threat Level Alpha" by Leo J. Maloney - 4.5 Stars

Threat Level Alpha by Leo J. Maloney

Publisher: Lyrical Underground, Kensington Publishing Corp.

ISBN: 978-1-5161-0331-7 (ebook)

I couldn’t put this book down. The Morgans, father Dan and rookie daughter Alex, work for a non-government CIA-like organization Zeta Division. I’d like to begin this review t by comparing the main character to the Mitch Rapp in the successful series written by Vince Flynn. Dan Morgan is like Mitch in that he is highly skilled and mostly reactive to a situation or mission, but short in patience with government authorities; hence, he works for an “outside” black op organization. Like Mitch, he is ruthless, cleaver, fearless, and entertaining. You’ll find the blurbs indicate a biochemical threat that needs to be countered. This mission becomes Alex’s field operative debut and lead. Complications along the way, beginning with her kidnapping, bring in the team to find her and end the conflict.

Meanwhile, a second operation overseas by Dan’s fellow agent Conley confronting terrorists in a hotel and his connection with a beautiful Chinese woman, Dani, provides addition action and second story to keep you on the edge of your seat. Dani becomes an important player as you will determine when the book concludes.

The only disturbing and negative thing I can say about this book is the repetitious text throughout giving me the impressions that I, the reader, couldn’t remember what was read 3-4 times already. But, this could be interpreted as positive to some, as it is a constant reminder or events or people that may have been forgotten. Not once did I have to go back in the book to review something that happened. However, all that repetitive text for me could have been left out and replaced with more interesting, supplemental content. Thus, a 5-star story became a 4.5-Star read for me.

But, I will get his next book and look forward to Dan Morgan’s next adventure with both old and new characters on his team.

Reviewer: Rich

816. "Consent To Kill" by Vince Flynn - 5 Stars

Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn

Publisher: Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

ISBN: 978-1-4165-0501-3

I just can’t get enough of Mitch Rapp! This must be the third time I read this particular book with Copyright of 2005. I was right before, and repeat my 5-Star analysis.

Kennedy’s team, including the star player Mitch Rapp plus his outsider friend ex-Seal Coleman, perform as usual in another tense and reactive manner. However, in this book, Mitch is the target; instead of performing heroic feats in saving the world, he has a target on his back by an individual needing revenge for one of Mitch’s previous kills. Involved are people from Saudi Arabia, Germany, Russia, and even a well established Mexican gang that infiltrated America (now, in 2018, being hunted and thrown out or arrested). Consent To Kill has the action as in other Mitch Rapp stories; although Mitch suffers a Mitch suffers some mishaps in his personal life along the way. As in other stories, this story is realistic and highlights the dysfunction of our governing members, particularly the inability of Senators keeping their mouths shut. I believe you, as did I, will identify with the need for black ops and welcome the results that keep America safe through superb coordination, secrecy, and boldness. Kennedy’s team works in the shadows, yet excels in results trying to minimize collateral damage and reducing the damage to reputations, despite despicable acts. Enjoy your read. 

815. Wall power disconnects intermittently

This Post: An exact match at http://www.tomsguide.com/forum/newresponse/2819061 suggested update to ACPI Battery Complaint entry in my Device Manager to fix the elusive disconnecting of wall power intermittently and switching to battery power (original post 117 below). But, I had no ACPI Battery Complaint entry.

However, I was intrigued by a further comment re some PCs have a safety feature to ensure it doesn't over charge and that's why it switches from wall power to battery power, requiring unplug/plug of wall power line to get it back to wall power. Mine is like clockwork now 7 years after buying the DELL new and every 7 to 7.5 days. Was longer, I believe, in past. I see no System Events associated with this, which makes it impossible to diagnose. Dell had originally had me try different power cord adapter which didn't resolve it (see post 227 below). So they shook their heads and essentially said live with it or send to their repair facility. I chose not to send my fully configured machine to the hack shop since this problem was common and reported constantly on Internet across many other brands. The only solution I had was simply unplug and immediately plug back in.

The author's other comment was removing battery while plugged in if you use it only in "plugged-in" mode. Other posts seem to supply more detail as to why it is better to do this to extend battery life. Worth a try. Guess I'll find out quickly in 7-8 days whether I can power on without ever unplugging and plugging back in again, or whether removing the battery had no effect in the endless power issue. My problem now surfaces almost exactly weekly on every Tuesday. Without the battery as I am running now, the battery ICON indicated "no battery detected". Thus, I feel confident the code/bios/or whatever that checked the battery for over-charging will no longer execute and I will be forever over this issue. I'll return if there is a different result and update this post. If all is good, the answer is above OR maybe always use the PC in battery mode periodically to take battery down 70%.
-------------------------------- Older posts follow -----------------------
Post 212:For a couple of weeks my laptop power manager was reporting "plugged in, not charging." Scores of people have reported this problem on the Internet (Google the message) with really nobody wanting to accept the problem as theirs. You will find that the problem is not unique to manufacturer (some I saw were Sony, HP, Compaq, Dell, Lenovo, Acer). Operating systems reported were basically Vista and Windows 7 (now there's a clue). Solutions included replacing power adapter (can't imagine the exact same adapter being used for all manufacturers), popping battery out and reinserting it (sometimes several times and in particular sequence with disconnect and reconnect of AC adapter), BIOS upgrade, Motherboard adapter soldered weakly, etc. You'll find this problem starting on Vista in 2007 and continuing right into Windows 7 currently. So, what was exactly my symptoms? I always have my laptop connected to A/C power and after first charging to 100% it stayed there for some time -- don't know exactly how long. However, after changing power management options I began to notice the battery power decreasing every day along with the message above in title. After endless research, I decided it had to be software (Windows 7) and forgot it was A/C power sometime -- maybe when hibernating or sleeping. I was getting strange hibernation -- it would appear to hibernate, but came up as fast as sleep mode. Plus, had a few crashes to Windows 7 while in hibernation mode that recovered on complete restart. Whatever the problem is, I reset it back to normal (this time) by removing power cable AT PC (not wall), cleaned it off good, and plugged it back in. Immediately it restarted charging to 100%. Now was it dirty? Couldn't tell. Maybe it was just having it out for about 40 seconds. If I were to guess, the laptop senses when the cable is attached (plugged into wall or not -- just physically there) and notifies Windows to begin monitoring the power port for power and problems. Quite possibly it wiggled loose (but I doubt it) sometime while moving the laptop to its bed each night on the floor. Who knows -- I'm just a dog and can't smell anything wrong. See also Post 227.
-------------------------------------------------------

Post 227: I finally decided to check with Dell about the problem at Post 217 which occurred 3 times so far since 1/6/2010. I decided to avoid the verbal struggle with the overseas 1st line of support and decided to try the Online Chat that I liked in the past. Well, not to get off the subject, but of course just getting to Chat was another problem. I could not get to it via the Dell Website. However, when I brought up Dell Support program on the PC and invoked it from there all was good. Now, let me move on to Post 217. 1st Line was of course snowed by the problem and details I gave them and simply, and IMMEDIATELY, told me to send it into the repair depot. Oh Boy. Motherboard problem he said. Yet, the problem occurs across multiple vendor machines? "Well, I'll send you an A/C adapter too to try!" In other words, he never heard of this problem and had no clue how to provide diagnosis support to isolate the cause. Anyway, I replaced my A/C power adapter yesterday and will see if it was the cause. BIOS is current, so that's out.

814. Little Darlings by Melanie Golding - 4-Stars

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

Publisher: Crooked Lane  Books

ISBN: 9781683319979

Little Darlings is dark and unsettling. Since I enjoy books that are disquieting, I liked the suspense. Any mother can identify with Laura's intense need to protect her babies.

I've read other books, fantasies about fairy lore, that include the idea of changelings, but I liked the epigraph citations that gave background to the origin of the legend. The old Irish tale set in modern times as a mystery thriller is a unique idea.

The long description of the birth process was unnecessary to the development of Laura's character. It slowed the start. I understood that she was a devoted mother without the lengthy description of a difficult delivery.  The first chapter grabbed my attention but then the next few chapters slowed the plot.

Overall, this is an enjoyable eerie tale. This book would make a new mom shiver.

Reviewer: Nancy

813. Blood Echo by Christopher Rice 5-Stars

I am now a reviewer on NetGalley.com and get to read/review books before they are available. Here's my first review (5-Star had I read Book 1 first):

Review of Blood Echo  by Christopher Rice
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer, Seattle

God-fanatic terrorists and corruption and greed versus the team of Graydon Pharmaceuticals (Cole and Dylan), its super-power drug Zypraxon, its technological field-operational inventions used to stop the female abusers and terrorists, and its weapon, a super-powered Charlotte, leads to an extremely thrilling story. The use of side-comments to illustrate a point or idea is very creative and constructional. Stephen King was always master at this. This is a very well written piece of art, excluding the lack of foundation discussed later. The reader level is probably college-level and because of violence, adult-rated. I especially applaud Mr. Rice for not submitting to the use of sex to supposedly strengthen his reader’s attention. None is needed!

The relationship of the main characters Charlotte, Luke, and Cole is interesting and dynamic. Supplemental characters, such as Dylan/Noah, Bailey, and Marty fill in essential missing information with history and timely interjections solidifying the plot to the point where it flourishes. Is the tunnel just a tunnel? Who are your friends in Altamira? Who are your enemies? The story has its villains and heroes, love and revenge, constant thrills, lies and deception, blame, admittance and forgiveness.

Unlike me who had torturous first 9 chapters because I did not read the first book Bone Music, my wife had no problems with the flow after reading it first!  Unlike many follow-on series books by most authors, this one in the Burning Girl series REQUIRES you to have read book 1! A Preface or first chapter of recap from book 1 introducing the basically 3-4 main characters and the Bluebird Projects would have made this a stand alone, great book. Not until Chapter 10, did the author’s story progress meaningfully, dynamically, and continuously into a 5-star performance. I had rated this only a 4.5, but the story itself is a 5-star. My wife overrules with her 5-Star rating with the caveat Bone Music first

Don’t despair if you start with this book 2. From chapter 10 on you will begin to love it. However, annoying in the first 9 chapters are unexplained technologies, like TruGlass, making you discover what it is and its function until later it does get explained. The uses of descriptions, rather than names, like Baby-faced Nerd or Tomboyish female, were odd and annoying, particularly when the characters had no further involvement in the story. They had no significance other than to possibly profile the thinking of Gays – actually tasteless. This continues for about several pages before names are given.

But, overall the book was outstanding. I really enjoyed reading it. I recommend reading Book 1 first. Plus, the ending presents unsuspected events that will commit you into getting the next book.


Kudos Mr. Rice.

812. Thunderbird email account order

Ever desire a different order to you multiple email accounts listed in Thunderbird? Well, forget looking for a Thunderbird function to allow you to. Get the Thunderbird Add-On "Manually Sort Folders", let it install, restart Thunderbird, and then look under Tools for Manually Sort (MUST be Tools on the Menu Bar, NOT the Setup Icon on right of window) for it to run it. It allows at the minimum sorting your folders AND email accounts.

811. Thunderbird and changing POP/IMAP email settings

Life isn't simple with free software. I only wanted to change my email account to IMAP from POP3. Looked simple enough. Go to settings and then Server Settings, then change POP to IMAP, save, restart Thunderbird and presto --- BUZZ...POP Error! Let me tell you really how to do it successfully, then guess at what causes the problem:

To change from POP3 to IMAP email server handler. Go to server settings for the email account and then bottom select from account actions, REMOVE ACCOUNT. That's right, you will remove the account and then do ADD ACCOUNT to add it back. When you ADD it back you will be asked email address, name you want to use on emails, and password. The next screen will ask (defaults to IMAP) you whether you want a POP3 or IMAP protocol. Make sure you select IMAP (just reverse if you want POP3) and let it rip. You will be in business after a restart of Thunderbird. So, instead of messing with server settings and changing Incoming Server to POP or IMAP and the correct pot, the workable solution is to REMOVE ACCOUNT and add it back.

What possibly causes the problem? Possibly the Local Library name at the bottom of the Server Settings screen. I would suspect that once you change from POP to IMAP above in the Incoming Server field it will generate e NEW file ID that needs to be in the Local Library field at bottom. Changing POP to IMAP does NOT change this ever. So, for example, I changed POP to IMAP and the Local Library remained the POP file in AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Mail/... and needs to be AppdDat/Roaming/thunderbird/IMAPmail/.... that gets created. I don't plan to try this to test my theory because Remove/Add of account is a simple, workable way to do it!

If you are now asking the difference between POP3 and IMAP, here's a very short, concise explanation: IMAP allows sharing and managing emails, including resends, deletes, etc., from any of you devices where you can read your email. For example, I have a PC with W10 system using Thunderbird, a Kindle, and an XP system with Thunderbird. If I work from my Kindle I can delete an email and it will be gone from the other devices too. I can use any of the systems to manage emails. Also, if you spifiy IMAP as a server option, the server KEEPS you messages on its site until you delete them there (Specifically). Thus, the amount of storage will build up until you delete them. 

Now, POP3 is completely independent, meaning y9ou DELETE from one system and the others stay in tact. ONLY yhe system your are working with performs the action you do. Thus means, you must handle the same emails in each system to remove them. However, I believe, if you bring up a system and delete a message and have not yet brough up any of the other systems, then you sill not see the message you deleted in the other systems when they do become active. Unlike the IMAP case that always saves messages in its IN basket and doesn't give you an option to delete to Trash, POP allows you to  DELETE to TRASH bucket for a while. You probably have an option at your ISP's website to specify whether deleted messages will go to Trash, AND how long they will remain in TRASH.

Enjoy

810. Market to flat line before the slide?

Got a signal from Sam today. She predicts the market will flat line to try to release an excess of hot air before heading to cooler heights. We have enjoyed a 4.27 % increase since post 809 signal, which experienced a 24581 bottom the 2nd business day later. Sam likes to warn a few days early, so, do what you have to do. I sold a couple calls so far. Hate to be a half-emptyperson, but the dog prevails coming to predictions.

Let's see: we're still fighting the trade wars which we'll win, but it is already addressed in the market long-term. Short term jitters should dampen that a little. Last time I saw so much acquisition action the market dumped big time, so that is out there and I believe not reflected in the market yet. The drug stocks have resisted and weathered the naysayers, like Icahn re CI and Express Scripts; but time always wins out sooner than later. Major industries had players going after others. And the big factor is the clueless media who always runs opposite the tide, now reporting S&P could see upward bounce of 10%. (Sam lifting leg on media)

Whatever, play if safe.

811. Books - Mike Faricy

Enjoyed Mike Faricy's "Corridor Man" series of 7 stories. Couldn't help routing for the evil Bobby given the ones he associated with were just as evil or worse. I'd rate the series a 4.5 for story, but only a 3 or less because of typos and lack of professional editing. He makes it impossible to stop after or begin with any of the 7 series set. What I mean by this is he just ends each volume leaving you on the cliff salivating for the next volume. 

In short, Bobby is an ex-con who is left out of jail to help the FBI, but you wouldn't know it once the ball gets rolling. He gets a position at a law firm (was a lawyer before being debarred and jailed) to review a corrupt real estate investor. Later gets involved with a Mexican cartel -- then two. All during this he is totally mischievous down to his girlfriends, neighbors, employers, etc. Always doing something mischievous!

Light read...just ignore the typos and enjoy the story. Keeps you captivated and asking "Who's next?"

810. Metro Start Menu loses Images on Tiles

One would think Microsoft would have SOME programmer who could figure a way to prevent Images on the Tiles on the Metro Start Menu on Windows 10 from disappearing! Long, long history of this problem. But, there is a remedy to get them back:

1. Bring up Task Manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc)
2. Click on Name heading to sort the processes by Name
3. Scroll to bottom and find Windows Explorer
4. Highlight it and you;ll see RESTART at bottom right of page
5. Hit restart and the images on the tiles should reappear.

809. Sam says JUMP (the Market)

Sam isn't Simon, but when she says jump you might consider it. It's time for another pop up in the DJIA. Although the world is transitioning from mid- to late-business cycle phase where money tightens again, the US is on the border (no pun intended) and profits still seem positive. Cycle dynamics at this point of the cycle where Fed rates are still in neutral territory until next hike suggest time to buy chemicals & paper stocks (so claims Cramer in his book). and begin to shave medical and food stocks. These are long-term suggestions and it may just be these that pop toward their ending cycle highs if you play with the gamblers short-term. Transgressing through the business cycle has been a slow, slow process this time. We've seen the "ease" beginning in the Obama period when the Fed couldn't stop printing dollars. Now Trumps easing via tax cuts extended that period a few years. Get ready for the banks to make their last move up also. By "move" I am talking months to a year in the slowing moving cycle moves. However, if you are like me, you ride the diversified "mutual fund" you created and be an Alfred E. Newman ("What, me worry?", NO). So, there you go. Be a short-termer and get excited like popcorn kernals in a hot popping pot, or a long-termer and stay chilled realizing that that those currently lagging stocks from the past decade will now keep you afloat. In short (again a pun), Sam expects techs to remain strong and financials to feed the fire (actually everything looks promising real short-term); but, come fall (another pun?), be ready for the consequences when the cycle starts giving you a preview of what it has in mind when  "put-your're-one-foot-in" becomes a reality and the cycle gongs go off. Sam doesn't expect chaos -- except the gambler-marketeers will make it so over-selling the market by leaps and bounds. Play it, or absorb it. You're choice. My goals remain "what will I leave behind at 99" -- that's a catchy phrase. And morbid.  Yet, being a senior is making me lean (yet another put) towards more investing GRADUALLY and SLOWLY in more fixed income choices -- why give up the much higher returns long-term of other stocks now unless you need spare "gold" to set aside for the last rainy days of your "golden" years (right!).

"Don't worry be Happy" Bob Marley would sing -- now that's better.

808. Stephen King lost his muchness

Outsider - The latest Stephen King novel was a bit of a yawn when you compare it to previous works (like 10 years ago). The story is creative, but lacks the richness of Mr. King's horror imagination throughout, except for the cantaloupe and the Outsider's matter -- you'll need to read to understand. Stephen rambles on to make a short story into a novel with little that can't be predicted/anticipated. Sorry, but I have to give this only a 3 -- somewhat entertaining, but much too long for the end results. My special author can still be creative, but lost his muchness as did  the Mad Hatter played by Johnny Depp in the 2010 Alice in Wonderland movie. Oh well, it prevents a gap in my full collection of his works.