"Cutting the Cord" ~ 1-1/2 Years later

In February 2019, I dropped my Spectrum cable TV ~ this was also known as:

"Cutting the cord"

The bottom line, up front, is that I am still pleased with that choice!

YouTube Windows Tips & Tricks Videos

Windows 10 Tips ~ Windows 10 Tricks

I cut the cable cord in February, 2019, and am relying entirely on my Roku device for TV shows.

YouTube has a streaming app for Roku that will download a video then display it on my TV. The comments section is unavailable, but I can "like" a video, save it to a playlist and subscribe to a channel.

So, I watch a lot of YouTube videos on my TV. There is some unique and special to watch videos on the big screen from my couch!

I've been watching YouTube videos for a long time, and YouTube now suggests several genres from their video collection...

Fun: Rick's Virtual Party

Zoom?!
Virtual Party Ideas from Rick

In this time of coronavirus quarantine I really miss socializing with my friends! In earlier times I would spend several evenings a month at dinners arranged through meetup. My technical meetup groups have moved online, but the social meetups have been abandoned.

I've been spending a lot of time hosting Zoom meetings; I teach people how to use Zoom for meetings and one-and-one coaching/training/mentoring.

People don't meet for dinner for the food. People don't go to bars for the alcohol. They go for the social interaction.

So, how do we party on Zoom....?

Call Forwarders, Email Forwarders...

Remember call-forwarding? You could publish one phone number without giving out the destination number?

When you went home from work, you could forward your office number to your home phone and your customers would not be the wiser!

PGS: Pinellas Genealogy Society

Online, Virtual Meetings with Zoom.com

All classes for the Pinellas Genealogy Society (PGS) have been cancelled through the end of March. The Federal government recommended this to prevent the spread of the Corona virus. The cancellations may extend through April!

The Board of Directors is learning how to use Zoom video conferencing for our Board meetings. This post is designed to assist them.

This is the first step for the PGS board to offer online classes to PGS members!

Great Chili Recipe!

Rick's Tasty Chili Recipe

Well, it's not actually a step-by-step recipe as much as it is my shopping list for my annual pot of Chili!

I'm sharing my list, and only a few instructions.

My Medicare Advantage in 2020

Should I have a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplemental Coverage?

I was eligible for Medicare in 2014, and 5 years later I am able to understand and appreciate all the nuances involved. On January 1st, 2020, I changed from a supplemental plan to a Medicare advantage plan. I will be curious whether I will realize the $3,000 savings I expect!

10 days into the new year, the situation looks promising.

Between 65 And Death

At my age 70, I definitely fall somewhere between the age of 65, and death.

I found this list of 21 life guidelines, and I wholly endorse all of them!

This resonates with me more than Desiderata.

(Many points are true for people of any age.)

Post Office Praise: Packages and Notifications

I like my Post Office box... 

...for the extra services they offer, especially the two I discuss in this article.

I've had US post office boxes for over 3 decades. While I complain about the price doubling in the last 10 years, I'm not giving the box up. It's kinda neat, too, that I now have a 1-digit box number.

DNA Testing? Eureka!!

I had a Eureka!! moment last night, and it made a big difference in my views about DNA testing.

Eureka? Yes! This was the first time I had actually watched anyone use DNA results to do family research.