How can we break our dependence on China?

I believe that ALL things happen for a reason - or for various reasons - whether good or bad. If there's one thing that was at the back of my mind and that bugged me long before this whole virus thing came along, it was seeing the Western world become too dependent upon China for …

Nikon, here’s when I’ll FINALLY buy into your mirrorless system

In January 2016, I bought my first Nikon DSLR, the venerable D750. I'll admit that a major selling point was the 3D Tracking. That alone took my action photography to a WHOLE new level. But there was one feature I also never had before that I didn't appreciate until I actually needed it: dual card …

Here’s how Amazon could solve the fake reviews problem

Up until a couple of years ago, Amazon.com was my go-to source for researching a product before deciding whether to buy it there or elsewhere.  But then one day, I happened to learn that a growing number of product reviews on that site are fake, meaning that third-party merchants who sell their products on that …

HEY APPLE, why won’t my macOS updates, well, update??

So, a not-so-funny thing has happened since updating macOS on my MacBook Pro from Catalina 10.15.3 to 10.15.4:  my updates won't update!! In other words, when I open the App Store, select Updates, then click "Update" next to an app that requires one, a little gray circle sets in motion and spins perpetually.  Even when …

A Tale of Two Investors

I became a full-fledged stock investor just over a decade ago and I'm one of the survivors.  I barely made it through the last recession and decided, despite some hard lessons, to continue with it.  Most people who get into stock investing make some big mistakes in the beginning and do not continue; either they've …

What Every New Teacher Should Have To Experience

If you are close to graduating as a teacher or a grad who hasn't found a teaching job yet, then this post is for you.  Sometimes life will throw you a curve-ball and my hope is that this post will help you navigate a typical one experienced by many new teaching graduates. Something that I …

So You Want to be a Teacher, Huh?

One of the hardest moments of my working career is also one that I remember perhaps the least clearly.  It happened twelve-and-a-half years ago and I don't even remember who told me the news.  Perhaps it was because it hit me completely out of nowhere and put me into a daze.  All I do remember …

Nikon D750 Suggestions for Improvement

The Nikon D750 full-frame DSLR was first announced on September 12, 2014, just over three years ago as of this writing.  Aside from a defective shutter recall that seems to have now been extended to all owners (but which Nikon will repair for free), this has been like the "Swiss Army Knife" of cameras, so good …

On Being a Frustrated Photographer

This past June marked twenty-one years since I first fell in love with SLR photography.  I took the plunge and bought a Canon Elan IIE.  This stirred the embers of a love of photography that was already there, just previously unable to fully ignite.  I was finally able to learn how to tweak photos to …

Avoid These Foods to Prevent the Common Cold

A popular Christmas refrain states, "'Tis the season to be jolly", but it's also the time when many people are catching their first colds of the season.  There's not much worse than being stuck in bed, fighting a cold, at a time of year when there's so much going on for some of us that …