My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on November 20, 2024

President-Elect Donald Trump is currently preparing his list of nominees for the cabinet he needs to help advise him. Along with a few controversial picks, Trump has also added a couple of high profile names, Elon Musk and the Vivek Ramaswamy to a new advisory panel … a committee that is smugly being referred to as DOGE: Department Of Government Efficiency. 

In the ongoing debate over the role of government in American society, one perspective continues to gain traction: the call for a smaller, more efficient government. Proponents argue that reducing the size and scope of government can lead to numerous benefits, including increased economic freedom, enhanced individual liberties, and a more effective allocation of resources. I believe that a reformed smaller government can yield substantial improvements and move us closer to a balanced Federal budget.

One of the primary arguments for a smaller government is the potential for enhanced economic efficiency and growth. Large government bureaucracies often lead to inefficiencies due to the complexity of regulations and the burden of compliance costs on businesses. By streamlining government functions and reducing unnecessary regulations, businesses can operate more freely, innovate, and expand without excessive governmental interference. This, in turn, can lead to job creation, higher productivity, and overall economic growth.

A smaller government can also contribute to greater fiscal responsibility. The United States faces a significant national debt, currently exceeding $33 trillion. Much of this debt is attributed to extensive government spending on programs that may not always yield the intended results. By reducing the size of government and focusing on core functions, it is possible to cut wasteful spending, prioritize essential services, and work towards a balanced budget. Fiscal responsibility not only secures the nation’s financial future but also reduces the burden on future generations.

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Category: Advice, Financial, Human Interest, Politics, Productivity | No Comments »
Tags: donald trump, elon musk, opinion, smaller government, vivek romaswamy, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on November 19, 2024

According to Brian Roemmele on X.com:

Magnetic North is now drifting faster than 30 miles per year.

It has already moved back past geological north, a place it has not been for 1000s of years.

… and Elon Musk added:

We live on a thin crust of solid rock, beneath which is vast ball of molten rock.

Earth’s core, which generates most of our magnetic field is ~85% iron and moves independently from the surface plates, which is why the magnetic pole changes position.

Category: Sailing, Science, Social Media, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: compass, elon musk, magnetic, Navigation, north, x.com

Posted By RichC on November 18, 2024

Although I listened to a fair amount of “easy listening” music through the years and have posted music by Lobo years ago on Music Monday, I don’t recall listening to his 1972 song back in the day.

According to Wikipedia, Kent LaVoie (Lobo) released the “Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend” on his “Of a Simple Man” album and it peaked at number 8 in on Billboards Top 100 U.S.  It was a number 1 hit on Billboards easy listening chart for 2 weeks.

To be fair, 1972 was before my music listening years, but sounds quite familiar to me these days since it is played on a few of the SiriusXM channels I listen to these days.

Category: Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: kent lavoie, lobo, music monday, musicmonday, siriusxm, wikipedia, youtube

Posted By RichC on November 17, 2024

On our recent trip to Florida, we saw stronger than usual winds on the beach most of the trip. Unfortunately the excellent BeachBub umbrella broke, although I’m unsure it was due to the stronger wind (but likely).

I’ve written an email to the company just to see if there is a new “frame” part even though it does not look easily replaceable. Suspect I’ll need to at least buy a new frame … but that part is not cheap. 

I’ve taken a few measurement to see if perhaps I can make a part that might work to replace the hinged piece and strut (see photo right), but not sure if will be worth it? We have used it a lot and we are very happy with the design to replace the entire umbrella if necessary. Plenty of time before our next trip to decide on what to do, but don’t want to haul it on a plane as it does look as if this part “could” break easily if handled roughly.

Category: Photos, Recreation, Repairs, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: beach, beachbub, florida, shade, umbrella

Posted By RichC on November 16, 2024

Officially this is a “replaced the garbage disposal project” from a week ago, but since I’m still mentally in “vacation-mode,” I’ll archive this post for condo improvements records and include a panaramic photo above from my new phone (I’m relaxed just looking at it). 

The old InSinkErator Badger brand disposal was replaced in 2012 (Brenda’s sister Chris tagged it) and I moved it to the kitchen remodel sink in 2018, thinking it was still new enough to keep (purchased that brand for house too). Thankfully it is a well known brand and the update (smaller physical size) model fit the mount perfectly. For $114.41 on Amazon, it made quick weekend repair work affordable and left me time for Sunday afternoon football. 😊 

Thanksfully the replacing was much easier to do that reading the instructions. 😊 

Category: Personal, Photos, Repairs, Shopping, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, atlantic dunes, badger, beach, condo1718, garbage disposal, improvements, insinkerator, pano, project

Posted By RichC on November 15, 2024

It has been a challenging week and a half for a few of my more liberal Democrat friends on the social media platform X.com (previously Twitter). I’m unsure if it is anger, disbelief or a way to strike back now that President-Elect Donald Trump won the election. Trump has been rapidly nominating his cabinet (mostly loyalists) and many on the left can’t stomach seeing and hearing about it on social media. I suspect that in frustration, Democrats partially blame Elon Musk (owner of X) and are leaving X just because he is part of the team?

So for now, I’ll tweak this and pretend it belongs on Tech Friday.

In any case, I’m a little sad (but mostly disappointed) to see social acquaintances for now leave the platform and joining a “leftist-friendly” BlueSky. I mentioned to one of them who claims to just be adding BSKY as “another” app, that it will likely be just another echo chamber as I found with a few other platforms in the past when Twitter was being manipulated by those with a leftist political ideology. Time will tell.

Category: Politics, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: donald trump, election, elon musk, social media, tech friday, techfriday, x.com

Posted By RichC on November 14, 2024

After a great visit with Taylor in Florida last week for his planning conference, he’s right back into the hornet’s nest in trying to find the best way to navigate economic growth and housing development in his township. The battle lines are being drawn between fairly large housing developers and builders who are growth focused and residents seeing more homes straining the community resources.

My thoughts are “as a property tax payer” and knowing that property values are forcibly being increased in a couple SW Ohio counties by 40+%. My discussion with Taylor before his Cincinnati WKRC News interview was to give him a little insight from the “property taxpayer perspective” facing huge increases split over the next few years. With hundreds new homes, all services such as fire, schools and roads will be asking for new tax levies … and I doubt any existing resident will be interested in even higher taxes. 

Anyway … here’s an archive for posterity sake … since I’ve done the same for Katelyn. 😉 

Category: Archive, News, Personal, Photos, Travel, Video | No Comments »
Tags: batavia township, interview, planning, taylor, tv, wkrc