My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on January 17, 2025

The current handful of pre-order Magfast products that arrived last year … from an order years ago … are working just fine. In fact, I’ve enjoyed using them since the first thingCharger nearly a decade ago.

In the course of 2016 thingCHARGER had a series of financial challenges and as a result ceased operations in Q4 2016.

In summary a large majority of backers – 84.5% – voted to start over with a new company, using all the lessons of the past 3 years to make a second attempt at creating a great charging company.

As a result Amy & Seymour have formed a new company and are working on a new project.

Indiegogo LINK

I was one of the 84.5% who back his new 2.0 company Magfast. Unfortunately that second try didn’t go well either. Be it poorly managed finally, unlucky with the Covid timing and overseas supliers or a public who had confidence in this smooth talking snakeoil salesman. How ever it works out, founder Seymour Segnit, seems to continue to land on his feet and convince pre-order buyers and capital investors to stay with him hoping someday the company will land on its feet.

Personally having pre-ordered products (and thankfully receiving just enough of them to hang on for more), I’ve struggled with him being just unlucky, a poor business manager or a shyster. The longer it goes on, the more it is likely the third. ☹️ 

In any case, I’m finally using the desktop Magfast induction charger with my iPhone 16 Pro Max. What is nice is that it charges holding the iPhone either vertically (most of the time) or horizontal, like below for watching a video.

Category: Business, Cellphone, Gadget, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: charger, charging, gadgets, iphone, magfast, pivot2, power pivot 2, smartphone

Posted By RichC on January 16, 2025

Last year I was invited by a longtime automotive writer and friend, Todd Lassa (photo), to help with writing right column commentary for a political news site — TheHustings.news. The network of writers and journalists he taps into skew politically left for the most part … and he felt my Republican right-leaning (and pro-Trump/Vance) views as a long time reader (and commenter) might help balance right-column content. I obliged after the VP political debate and after the presidential election, even though I’m NOT really a writer … although I pretend to be one by blogging. 😊

This week after he posted a “Twisted Logic” comment from a reader for the left column, he asked if I could perhaps offer a right-column perspective or comment. Again, I took the invitation as if it were a school assignment and they posted my “Let’s Start With a Clean Slate” this week (for the blog, I also tinkered with a new voice on ElevenLabs to see if it has improved reading ability — it does!)  

ElevenLabs AI “Sully” reading “Let’s Start With a Clean Slate“

For those raising alarm about alleged threats to “democracy” while ignoring the blatant overreach of unelected bureaucrats and activist judges against President-Elect Donald J. Trump, it’s clear you’ve succumbed to a narrative driven by Democrats and the biased media. The weaponization of government institutions by partisan actors has exposed just how fragile our republic has become under the influence of radical leftist ideology.

For years, Democrats have leveraged every tool in their arsenal — be it impeachment attempts, endless investigations, or politically motivated indictments — to undermine those who challenge their grip on power. This lawfare isn’t about justice; it’s about silencing dissent and punishing anyone who dares stand in their way.

The Constitution and rule of law are meant to serve as safeguards against tyranny, yet they are being bent and twisted to suit the whims of a political elite that cannot abide opposition. Conservatives and independent thinkers should take heed: today’s targeted leader could be tomorrow’s silenced citizen.

As Americans, we must demand accountability, transparency, and an end to the misuse of power for partisan ends. Without these, the freedoms that define this nation risk becoming relics of a bygone era, sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. Let’s start with a clean slate next week and give President Trump an opportunity to prove his competence and ability to lead America and all our citizens towards a brighter tomorrow. 

–Rich Corbett

Category: AI, Audio, News, Politics, Social Media, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: ai, editorial, elevenlabs, News, opinion, Politics, thehustings, writing

Posted By RichC on January 15, 2025

After updating on the Apple Watch Series 10 Complications yesterday, the new Peak Design iPhone case arrived in the mail. The Oostras gave me three items by PD for Christmas this year:

1. iPhone case,
2. three or so card wallet and
3. a mini fold-up tripod.

The case was the wrong size so Katelyn returned it and had the corrected size sent for my iPhone 16 Pro Max. After sending her the photo when it arrived, she exclaimed, “Massive!!”

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Gadget, Photos, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: iphone 16 pro max, peak design, phone case, wallet

Posted By RichC on January 14, 2025

It is taking me a while to learn how to use my new Apple Watch Series 10 and tinker with what apps I want to be draining the battery. With my Fitbit Versa 2 four days of battery life was the norm, but as expected, the Apple Watch is only good for a day — a full day though. 

When it comes to the watch face and complications running, I’ve opted for the Infograph (below) due to the extra apps on the screen (I would have preferred a digital watch face like the Versa, but this works.)

When in comes to monitoring my exercise, I’ve grown used to the “step count” monitoring of the Fitbit and smiled each time the fireworks would burst when it hit 10,000 steps each day. I suspect in time that I will adopt the Apple Rings, but for now the Steps/Distance complication is in the top left corner (see below) and the “Workout” app open on touching. Currently I’m using the Duffy app too, but it is a bit simple and suspect it will soon be gone? 

I’m still in the process of shuffling around a few apps and might give up the wind strength and direction (bottom left), but currently don’t find any other bit of “always on” information all that essential. For now this is a work in progress and can comfortably use the watch 24 hours a day (quick charging it only when waking up, showing, dressing and eating breakfast).  

Category: Apple, Gadget, Watch | No Comments »
Tags: anigif, apple watch, duffy app, exercise, fitbit, smartwatch, versa2, watch

Posted By RichC on January 13, 2025

While listening to a 1970 oddity song this week as the wildfires ravaged areas around Los Angeles California, a song by Albert Hammond (co-written by Mike Hazlewood) triggered Music Monday thoughts.

It is an “oddity” in that “It Never Rains in Southern California” is the only hit I remember Albert Hammond recording (photo upper left from 2013) — although his songwriting credits and resume is a bit more extensive.

Category: Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: albert hammond, california, mike hazlewood, music monday, musicmonday, youtube

Posted By RichC on January 12, 2025

Depending on which generation you were born often factors into how you remember inflation. Those born in the 1930 thru1970s likely saw decades of relatively high inflation; they lived through years of 5-6% and higher inflation. Until recently, those born later … 1980 to today … saw a more moderate annual inflation number to begin their adult lives. The last four years will likely change this a bit as we saw inflation over 9% a year or so ago.

Personally I’m not in full agreement with this chart, even though I did experience a long stretch of high inflation (stagnation) when first starting out … and have definitely lived a few boom/bust cycles with recessions that had me wondering if we could ever return to the American Dream again?

(more…)

Category: Archive, Art, History, Human Interest, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: drawing, family, graph, graphic, inflation

Posted By RichC on January 11, 2025

It is difficult to fathom the amount of devastation happening in Southern California due to the out of control wildfires fueled by the yearly dry vegetation and Santa Anna wind blowing through the canyons and mountains around Los Angeles. 

Having dense population and homes in the hills around the suburbs adds to the risk when it comes to life and property … but shockingly to most who pay the highest taxes in the nation … their state and local officials seemed ill prepared to deal with wildfires. One would think that this area and state would have well prepared plan, firefighting equipment, water in the reservoirs and FIRE HYDRANTS with water pressure would be a given. It is unforgivable that California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has put more effort into “Trump proofing” the state’s sanctuary status of protection of illegal immigrants, the squatting homeless population and in removing dams to protect the Delta Smelt than in keeping his tax-paying residents safe from disaster.

What to Know (Jan 11, 2025)

• Officials say at least 5,000 structures have been destroyed, with the devastation from the Eaton and Palisades fires ranking among the worst in California history.
• Firefighters may get a break Saturday as winds are expected to decrease, but strong winds are in the forecast for next week.
• The Palisades Fire continues to grow, burning homes in Mandeville Canyon Saturday, with evacuations ordered for the hills of Encino and Tarzana as it heads toward the Valley.
• The county medical examiner reported Friday that 11 deaths are connected to the fires.
• As of Saturday morning, the Palisades Fire was about 21,600 acres with containment at 11 percent.
• The Eaton Fire northeast of Los Angeles was at 14,100 acres with containment at 15 percent early Saturday.

Obviously the memes write themselves (one below) when it come to wondering why there’s no water to put out fires, not enough brush clearing and back-burning to keep danger away from population centers and DEI hires that demonstrate incompetence at every turn. 

Category: Environment, Financial, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: california, disaster, los angeles, meme, Politics, wildfires