It has been a few years since my brother and I were able to get together and last week’s visit was nice. Barb and I were quickly surprised by how both of our dogs took to Blane in a way we had not seen before. With anyone.
With no prompting, Riley climbed into Blane’s lap just as she does when Barb sits in that chair. And as she has never done for me. Even with treats. My brother doesn’t have a dog and is clearly not a “dog person,” so this behavior remains a mystery.
And for those who ask, “How has your older dog adapted to the new pup?…
Author Archives: Steve Mays
The future of personal blogs
This is such a succinct take on blogging –again from ChatGPT– I’m posting verbatim. I like the line, “A social post is a sparkler. A blog post is a lighthouse.” Abandoned lighthouse might be more accurate but it’s a nice image. Will we –or have we– lost the ability to distinguish AI created content from that of humans? And, yes, I “value continuity over virality.”
Blogs won’t disappear. They’ll matter less in the mainstream and more in the margins—where depth, ownership, and longevity beat the fast-twitch feed of social media. Continue reading
What happened to radio?
The post below was written by ChatGPT5.1. This is not the first time I’ve done this and it is always with some trepidation. But this analysis is so on-the-money I couldn’t think of what I might add. I hope this wasn’t ripped whole-cloth from somebody’s article or blog post. If it is I’ll kill this post or give it the proper attribution.
Radio didn’t die so much as it ossified, while listeners moved on. But there’s more texture to it, and I think you’ll appreciate seeing the forces that pushed it downhill—and the narrow paths it might still have back up the mountain. Here are the big levers, in order of impact: Continue reading
The cost of good health care in America
Yesterday I received an “Explanation of Benefits” from the company that provides my supplemental insurance to cover what Medicare does not. This is the first summary of some of the billing for my abdominal surgery. I’m sure there will be more to come.
This adventure started on September 23 and included doctor visits, blood tests, CT scans, scopes, surgery and all the rest. Total amount billed through November 25: $109,346.68. Total amount paid by my supplemental insurance: $303.31. My financial responsibility: $2,624.57. (This is the amount the provider may bill me after everything is paid.) I thought it would be more.
Not sure how much Medicare will pay before all is said and done. But without that coverage, I would have been on the hook for $100K+.