My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on April 4, 2025

Have you ever wondered why a day has 24 hours?

The answer traces back to the ancient Egyptians, particularly during their New Kingdom period, from around 1550 BCE to 1069 BCE—about a thousand years after the Great Pyramids were built. They were the first to divide the day into 24 parts, though their approach differed from ours. The Egyptians separated daytime and nighttime, assigning 12 segments to each, measured with tools like sundials and water clocks. These segments, called temporal hours, varied in length depending on the season—daylight hours stretched longer in summer and shortened in winter, adjusting to the available light.

Why 12?

There are a couple of possibilities. Ancient records suggest they based the nighttime division on the movement of stars across the sky, perhaps tied to lunar cycles. Another theory points to the duodecimal system, built around the highly divisible number 12, which was common in early cultures. It wasn’t until the second century BCE that the Greek astronomer Hipparchus proposed 24 equal-length hours. This concept took hold in Europe during the Middle Ages and remains our standard today. It’s intriguing to think how those early Egyptian timekeepers, with their sundials and starry nights, shaped the way we measure our days. 

Check out these quotes about time.  

Category: History, Human Interest, Tidbits | 0 Comments
Tags: desultory, egypt, History, interesting, sundial, time, water clock

Posted By RichC on April 3, 2025

Although I have a personal opinion on just how trade between countries “should” function (free trade), I also realize there’s really no such thing in the real world. There are those who believe companies in the United States end up holding the short straw when exporting their products overseas … due to a variety of tariffs, taxes, government subsidies and protective trade practices. In most cases, those protectionist practices are understandable as every country wants to be as self-sufficient as possible. 

That said, all of us who live in the U.S. (especially midwest) recognize just how much of our industrial base and factories are now overseas. COVID shortages made this shockingly clear and yet little has been done to revitalize necessary industry. President Trump in part was elected by blue-collar Americans in the hope he would be able to restore and re-shore the jobs that have been off-shored for decades. His use of tariffs are of obviously controversial, but few opposing them have answers when it comes to bringing back vital industry and loss jobs. 

(more…)

Category: Business, Financial, Politics | 1 Comment
Tags: cryptocurrency, foxbusiness, investing, investments, stock market, tariffs, trump, wall street, wsj

Posted By RichC on April 3, 2025

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Retirement, Travel | 0 Comments
Tags: annalyn, bahamas, birthday party, drew, ellerie, family, katelyn, megan, taylor

Posted By RichC on April 2, 2025

During one of our many longish 9-1/2 mile winter beach walks this year, Brenda and I came across a couple orange objects. The orange ball that washed up during a heavy surf was pretty obvious … since they are used along the shore to mark life guard protected zones and swimming areas. There was a lot of seaweed that was piled a couple feet high by the surf on one of the days too; it was impressive — I couldn’t help but think about Algae-based Biodiesel.

As for the item we couldn’t identify (we even asked our new friend Marshall and his dog Kiss) and so decided a couple photos and some artificial intelligence sleuthing might help. Impressive to see Grok3 look at the photos, analyze my description and within seconds give me a detailed answer … the times they are a changin’  

The object is likely an Aerial Target Drone or a component of one, specifically a **BQM-167** or similar model used for military training exercises. Here’s the reasoning:

1. Shape and Design: The cylindrical shape with a tapered end, fins, and holes along the side are characteristic of aerial target drones. These drones are often used by the military to simulate enemy aircraft or missiles during training exercises for air defense systems.
2. Color: The bright orange color is typical for such drones, as it makes them easier to spot during recovery operations after they are shot down or complete their mission.
3. Text on the Object: The text “Aerial Target” and “Patents Pending” along with “Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.” is a strong indicator. Kratos is a known manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems, including the BQM-167 series, which are used by the U.S. military for target practice.
4. Markings: The “DM3554” written in Sharpie and the “SERN 013554” label could be serial numbers or identification codes used to track the drone or its components.
5. Context: These types of drones are often launched over bodies of water, and if they are not recovered immediately, they can wash ashore, especially in areas like Florida, which is near several military bases (such as Eglin Air Force Base) where such exercises are conducted.

Additional Notes:

• These drones are typically made of lightweight materials like fiberglass or composite materials, which aligns with the appearance of the object in the photos.
• The seaweed and wear suggest it has been in the water for some time before washing ashore.

Recommendation:

If you encounter such an object, it’s best not to touch or move it, as it could be military property and potentially hazardous (though most target drones are unarmed, some may contain residual fuel or electronics). You might want to report it to local authorities or the nearest military base for proper handling.

EDIT add: Location of the Aerial Target Drone.
26.48115° N, 80.05438° W

Category: AI, Biodiesel, Environment, Millitary, Photos, Travel | 0 Comments
Tags: aerial target drone, artificial intelligence, biodiesel, drone, grok3, kratos, military, ocean, seaweed

Posted By RichC on April 1, 2025

Can GrokAI really pull off an April Fools Day prank in a blog post? Nope … artificial intelligence better leave this to humans with the talent for comedy.

In a shocking revelation, xAI scientists claim gravity reverses every April 1st for 24 hours. “It’s nature’s prank,” says Dr. Fictus, a totally real researcher. “People will float upward—secure your pets and practice ceiling-walking!” The cause? A cosmic giggle, apparently. So, tape down your coffee mugs and enjoy the upside-down chaos this Tuesday!

Category: AI, Humor | No Comments »
Tags: ai, april fools day, artificial intelligence, grok

Posted By RichC on March 31, 2025

Occasionally Music Monday shifts back a decade to the 1960s. This week it is to the song “Groovin’,” released in April 1967 by The Young Rascals. It also became a defining anthem for the Summer of Love.

The song was written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati and has  smooth harmonies, a gentle rhythm and heartfelt lyrics about carefree romance. It went to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. With its Latin-infused beat and iconic harmonica riff, “Groovin'” captured the era’s laid-back spirit and remains a timeless ’60s classic … and it fits my current mood.
  

Category: History, Music | No Comments »
Tags: 1967, groovin', music monday, musicmonday, summer of love, the young rascals, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on March 30, 2025

Over the weekend, a friend of mine sent me a link and asked for my thoughts on an article in the New Atlas, titled “Alien life might glow in the dark on infrared waterworld planets, says James Webb study” (published March 19, 2025). Perhaps even those of us who question the existence of “extraterrestrial life,” are still intrigued when unknown or new scientific discoveries come to light.

The quest to find life beyond Earth has long captivated humanity, driving us to scan the cosmos for telltale signs of biology. Traditionally, this search has focused on biosignatures like oxygen, methane, or water vapor—chemical fingerprints familiar from our own planet. But a new study leveraging data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggests we might need to broaden our perspective. According to researchers, alien life on water-rich exoplanets could emit a faint infrared glow, a phenomenon tied to bioluminescence. This intriguing possibility not only challenges our assumptions about what life looks like but also underscores the importance of embracing the unknown in our cosmic explorations.

Shortly before I was married, I took a bachelor camping trip with college friends to a less travelled shoreline area of North Carolina (photos from 1982 below). While sitting quietly on the beach at night, we were amazed at the beautiful glow of bioluminescence in the waves. Those who focus on ocean life know that many organisms, particularly those in the ocean’s depths, glow. From jellyfish to deep-sea fish, bioluminescence is a widespread survival strategy, used for communication, predation, or camouflage. The James Webb study posits that on exoplanets dominated by water—lacking the landmasses that shape Earth’s ecosystems—this trait could be even more prevalent. With no continents to break up their oceans, these “waterworlds” might host life that relies heavily on light to thrive in perpetual aquatic darkness. Crucially, the JWST’s infrared capabilities could detect this glow, offering a novel way to spot life where traditional biosignatures fall short. (more…)

Category: Memories, Science, Space | 0 Comments
Tags: article, bachelor, bioluminescence, camping, extraterrestrial, glow, james webb, jwst, life, new atlas, north carolina, ocean, planets, space, study, trip