My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on January 10, 2026

It is that time of the year: Checking out Lake Superior State University’s Banished Words List — their 50th! (My daughter will like the first one after mentioning it to me back in 2025).

Here are this year’s golden class of banishments and rationale:

• 6-7

“There are six or seven reasons why this phrase needs to be stopped,” says Paul E. from WI. The volume of submissions for this one could have taken up the whole list, at least slots 6-7. The top banishment this year, Scott T. from UT adds, “it’s time for “6-7” to be 86’ed.”

• Demure

“It’s very said more than very done, and we’re all very done hearing it!” remarks Tammy S. Often used in the phrase ‘very demure, very mindful,’ Madison C. shares that the overuse “waters down the real meaning.”

• Cooked

“Hearing it…my brain feels ‘cooked,’” groans Zac A. from VA. Parents and guardians led the charge on this one, with some feeling this isn’t enough. James C. from WA suggests a ban of “all forms of the word cook,” hoping that hearing them will become rare.

(more…)

Category: Blogs, Misc, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: 6-7, banished, banished words, list, lssu

Posted By RichC on January 9, 2026

Those of us using the Apple ecosystems have been a little bit frustrated as AI seems to be a bit slower in coming to our iPhones and devices than others. Competitors are leaping ahead when it comes to developing LLMs (Large Language Models) that most assume are the bedrock of developing artificial intelligence. Time and time again, we “hear” about Apple Intelligence rolling out in new products and software, yet are disappointed in how it functions along side competitors – perhaps they “think different” in Cupertino, California? 😉 

Core Philosophy: Privacy, Efficiency, and Hardware Control
Apple prioritizes on-device processing for AI tasks whenever possible, using smaller, optimized models (often around 3 billion parameters) that run directly on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This enhances privacy (no data sent to the cloud), reduces latency, and works offline. For more demanding tasks, it falls back to a secure Private Cloud Compute system or partners (e.g., integrating ChatGPT).

Commodity View of LLMs
Recent reports (as of late 2025) indicate some Apple leaders view frontier LLMs as future commodities—not worth massive proprietary investment now. Instead, Apple focuses on excelling in hardware (Apple Silicon with Neural Engines), software integration, and ecosystem control to differentiate its AI features, branded as Apple Intelligence.

Key Differences from Industry Norms

• Smaller, specialized models — Apple’s on-device foundation model (~3B parameters) handles tasks like text summarization, notification prioritization, and in-app actions efficiently, using techniques like quantization and KV-cache sharing.
• Hybrid strategy — On-device for personal/sensitive tasks; cloud or third-party (e.g., OpenAI) for complex queries.
• Less emphasis on scale — While rivals chase trillion-parameter behemoths, Apple bets on efficient inference (e.g., via MLX framework) and privacy as advantages.

This deliberate, restrained strategy has drawn criticism for being “behind,” but it aligns with Apple’s historical pattern: entering markets later with polished, user-centric products. As of December 2025, it positions Apple uniquely in practical, everyday AI rather than raw power.

Category: AI, Apple, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: $AAPL, apple, artificial intelligence, tech friday, techfriday, think different, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on January 8, 2026

The Christmas decorations have been taken down and almost put away for another year. While doing so, I re-stacked and re-stored a few items (should have thrown more away). One of the items that made me smile was my Grandma and Grandpa Bluhm’s ceramic clock that I clearly remember and can still see on their mantel in Toledo (mention in 2024). It was never running and always read, 9 o’clock.  I don’t remember if the faceplate was broken or if the corner was cracked? Maybe I should ask my brother (he is likely too young) or my older cousin Diane?  Hm, an excuse to send her a message. 😉 

After pulling it out and unwrapping … and thinking about putting it on our mantel … I wondered if there was anything AI could tell me about it? 

The “Wicket” mark on the back is almost certainly the name of the ceramic maker or decorator, not the clockmaker.

• In the late 19th to early 20th century (roughly 1880–1930), many clocks were made this way:
• The ceramic case was produced by a pottery (often in Germany, France, or Austria)
• The clock movement inside was made by a separate clock manufacturer

• “Wicket” does not appear to be a major horological brand, which suggests:

• It was a decorative or export line
• Possibly made for the European or American market

The hand-painted floral motif, cobalt blue glaze, and gilded scrollwork are all consistent with German or Central European decorative ceramics from that era.

(more…)

Category: Archive, Art, Memories, Personal, Photos, TBT, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: antique, artificial intelligence, bluhm, clock, diane mears, family, german, grandparents, heirloom, wicket

Posted By RichC on January 7, 2026

While this is not exactly a new map (1980-2014), the “Average Length of Winter in Days” in North America likely doesn’t change all that much. Still, the BrilliantMaps repost of it in December makes it interesting, at least to me, as we hibernate this January 2026. 

Category: Human Interest, Social Media, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: 2026, brilliantmaps.com, hibernate, map, maps, winter

Posted By RichC on January 6, 2026

I think about my granddaughters every morning when I go through a Seinfeld-like routine (“about nothing”) when I pick one of the three Kellogg’s cereal bowls out of the dishwasher or cupboard. It’s only a silent mental routine by me in “hoping” I pick “Tony the Tiger” bowl, the kids favorite bowl.

The morning or snack time routine with the girls goes like this:
The bowls out on the table/counter upside down and then I mix them around and around. Depending on whose turn it is, they pick a bowl hoping it is not the “chicken” or the “toucan” birds … they both prefer “Tony the Tiger.” Who knows why, but it has become an enjoyable ritual each morning (or their nighttime snack). I wonder how long this will last … as they are both growing up so fast (spoken like a grandparent). 

Another desultory thought: Don’t even get me thinking about their counting the “green clover” marshmallows in the Lucky Charms cereal. I’m still shocked their pediatrician mother lets them have it … wisely only as a special treat at Oma and Bompa’s house! 😊 

Interesting: Too bad we don’t have the full set in better condition? (Esty selling)

Category: Archive, Human Interest, Memories, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: bowls, cereal, esty, granddaughters, kellogg, seinfeld, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on January 5, 2026

While listening to Charles Payne on Fox Business, he referenced The Mamas and The Papas when commenting on a stock pick for 2026 by a guest: Monday.com LTD (ticker $MNDY).

The comment referenced the song Monday, Monday (previous post) as being a 1966 hit and number 1 song.

A second reference is today’s Music Monday song, California Dreamin’ … which he commented only rose to #4. That was surprise to him as well as to me, but that’s enough to have me remember it. Here’s a YouTube live version.   

Category: Financial, Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: $MNDY, california dreamin', live, monday.com, music monday, musicmonday, the mamas and the papas, wikipedia, youtube

Posted By RichC on January 4, 2026

As someone who has spent most of their career dealing with “graphic design” in one way or another after 40 years working at Consolidated Printing and Publishing Co, this sign on the door struck me as humorous. We can only hope it isn’t real?

On a non-humorous note, I found my K4RDC (amateur radio) U.S. Geological Survey GeoLocator marker. I haven’t found the perfect place for it yet (like the one on Mauna Kea in Hawaii photographed in 2006 – 20 years ago!) … but I’m going to make this my 2026 New Year’s Resolution — mount it this year! 

Category: Hobby, Human Interest, Humor, Misc, Personal, Photos, Radio | No Comments »
Tags: geolocator, graphic design, k4rdc, marker, new year, resolution, sign, survey