My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on March 24, 2026

Besides enjoying the company of Byron for several miles of our walk north on the beach yesterday (he and his wife Mary are from Iowa – we often chat with him) – our sea creature and shelling finds have been very interesting to say the least. Above is “another” baby squid … although this one wasn’t moving. ☹️ 

A couple particularly interesting beach combing finds as the Delray Beach Restoration project continues: 1) a fossilized tooth … a first for us and 2) a Gray Nickerbean or Sea Pearl (AI info below the break). I employed a little artificial intelligence as well as Wikipedia in order to learn … and investigate … a little bit more.

Based on the size, shape, and color, you have found a fossilized tooth, likely from a prehistoric marine mammal or a large predatory fish—most likely a Sperm Whale (Physeter) or possibly a Mosasaur.

Here is a breakdown of why this is a special find and how to identify it:

1. Is it Prehistoric or Current?
Color: Modern teeth (like from a contemporary shark or whale) are typically bright white. Your specimen has a tan, “café au lait” crown and a weathered, stony root. This discoloration happens over thousands to millions of years as minerals (like phosphate or iron) replace the organic material—a process called permineralization.

Texture: The root (the larger, blunt end) looks like solid rock rather than bone. If it feels heavy for its size and sounds “clinky” like a stone when tapped against a hard surface, it is definitely a fossil.

2. What Animal Did It Come From?
While many people immediately think of sharks (like the Megalodon), shark teeth are generally flatter and more triangular. Your find is conical and robust, which points to a different kind of predator:

Prehistoric Sperm Whale (Most Likely): Fossilized sperm whale teeth are common finds in Florida’s Miocene and Pliocene deposits (2 to 20 million years old). They are famous for being thick, slightly curved, and lacking the distinct enamel “cap” that sharks have. The size relative to your highlighter (about 3-4 inches) is a perfect match for a medium-to-large extinct whale.

Mosasaur: These were “T-Rexes of the sea” from the Cretaceous period. Their teeth are conical and very similar to what you have, though they are more commonly found in riverbeds or specific fossil formations than washed up on the Atlantic coast.

Crocodilian: Large prehistoric crocodiles (like Thecachampsa) also had thick, conical teeth, though they usually have more distinct vertical ridges (striations) than what is visible here.

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Category: AI, Archive, Friends, Nature, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: artificial intelligence, beach combing, delray beach, finds, florida, fossil, gemini, gray nickerbean, mosasaur, prehistoric, sea pearl, sperm whale, tooth, walking

Posted By RichC on March 23, 2026

David Gates wrote “Everything I Own” for the 1972 album Baby I’m-a Want You and after listening to it last week decided another Bread song was ripe for the Music Monday archive.
 

Here’s a tidbit I did not know:

The song was written as a tribute to Gates’s late father, who died in 1963 before Gates achieved fame with Bread. The emotional core of the lyrics—such as “You sheltered me from harm, kept me warm, you gave my life to me, set me free”—reflects Gates’s deep respect and love for his father, who was a band director and music teacher. 

The title and chorus were inspired by a childhood memory: Gates once sent his mother an orchid for her birthday when he couldn’t afford it, and his father responded by saying Gates could have “anything she owned” in return. 

Though the song is often interpreted as a love ballad, Gates’s wife recognized immediately it was about his father, and she cried upon hearing it. 

Category: Human Interest, Music, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: bread, david gates, everything i own, music monday, musicmonday, tidbit

Posted By RichC on March 22, 2026

Last week we had a fun family chat after Katelyn and Drew sent a photo of them eating out at Chilis after church on Sunday. It was nostalgic since our family regularly ate there after church … starting when we would drive 58 miles in NE Ohio.

A few year later, Chilis was a bit closer after we moved to the Cincinnati area; besides it was on our way home from church and next to a great bookstore. Another plus was that Brenda’s sister and her family enjoyed meeting us there as well – it became our spot (thanks Jeff for introducing us back in Orlando!) Good times and memories … even if my wife dislikes NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar who advertises Chilis (Brenda prefers Kyle Larson, but then who doesn’t?)

As for the “not so fun surprise” …
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Category: Archive, Faith, Memories, Personal, Photos, Sports, Video | No Comments »
Tags: carson hocevar, chillis, church, cracked, dangerous, eating out, family, jeffp, kyle larson, nascar, oostra, tree, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on March 21, 2026

Snake eels are common in Florida waters, including along the Atlantic coast (although this dried up one was the first for us on Delray Beach, Florida). They have long, slender, snake-like bodies with mottled or brownish patterns for camouflage in sand/mud, and they often burrow into the seafloor. According to my reading, “when storms, red tide events, strong currents or other factors dislodge them, they frequently wash up dead or dying on beaches, where people mistake them for actual snakes.”

Ophichthidae is a family of fish in the order Anguilliformes, commonly known as the snake eels. The term “Ophichthidae” comes from Greek ophis (“serpent”) and ichthys (“fish”). Snake eels are also burrowing eels. They are named for their physical appearance, as they have long, cylindrical, snake-like bodies.

More at Wikipedia 

Category: Archive, Environment, Nature, Personal, Photos, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: beach walking, delray beach, fish, florida, ophichthidae, snake eel, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on March 20, 2026

I’ve been a regular buyer of Duduma polarized sunglasses on Amazon, but now that the price has risen and I’m on my fifth pair over the last decade, I’m reluctant to order them again. It seems that each pair has the same exact frame flaw, and the manufacturer hasn’t improved them. Maybe it’s time to try a different brand?

Interestingly, I posted a review that was a two star one year ago, and it was rejected. So after another pair broke, I decided to write another review with photos after attempting to contact the seller directly. We’ll see if it goes anywhere or gets posted.

Category: Advice, Shopping, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, duduma, flaw, polarized, sunglasses

Posted By RichC on March 19, 2026

Once again, TheHustings editor pushed my buttons and triggered me into responding to the threat of Iran’s IRGC deployment of mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The anti-Trump article, written by Jonathan List in The Bulwark (subscriber only), suggested that readers wouldn’t “believe Trump’s dumbest Iran mistake.”

It is no surprise to hear negative views on whatever President Trump is involved in, but as an American, I prefer to see the positives of defanging Iran’s nuclear ambitions, attacking Israel and their backing of anti-western terror organizations.

Counterpoint: Jonathan Last’s Minesweeper Panic Misses Trump’s Smart Iran Strategy

Jonathan Last’s piece in The Bulwark slams the Trump administration for decommissioning four Avenger-class minesweepers from Bahrain in 2025, calling it incompetence amid reports of Iran laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. But this ignores battlefield realities, the planned transition to modern systems and my preferred America-First approach: decisively disarm Iran, then let dependent nations secure their own oil lifeline.

Recent reports confirm limited mining — fewer than 10 to about a dozen mines deployed so far, not a mass closure. U.S. forces have already sunk 16 Iranian minelayers and other vessels, crippling Iran’s ability to sustain large-scale mining. With Iran’s navy gutted and no air cover, full mining remains a desperate last resort as the regime weakens.

The decommissioning of the four Avenger-class ships (USS Devastator, Dextrous, Gladiator, Sentry) after 30+ years of service was planned. They were retired in 2025 and departed Bahrain in January 2026. They’ve been replaced by Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (USS Canberra, Santa Barbara, Tulsa) equipped with advanced Mine Countermeasures Mission Package — unmanned surface vehicles, towed sonars, helicopter-borne systems, and standoff neutralization tools far beyond the old Avengers’ capabilities. The Navy designed this shift to remove sailors from minefields and enable legacy ship retirement.

Trump’s strategy focuses on offensive degradation: neutralizing Iran’s air force, sinking its navy, destroying ballistic missiles and hammering drone production. This heavy U.S.-led work eliminates Iran’s capacity for sustained threats like mining. Once achieved, America can step back — no endless war or forward deployment.

The U.S. imports just ~2-3% of its oil via Hormuz. The real stakeholders are Asia: China, India, Japan, South Korea, plus Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia (largest exporter share), Iraq, UAE. These nations have relied on U.S. naval protection for decades. Post-degradation, let China (with its large mine-warfare fleet), India, Japan, Europe, and Gulf states handle demining, patrols, and escorts — or face higher energy costs. The UK and France will bring proven MCM expertise; China has incentives to act.

This isn’t “dumb” — it’s realistic leadership: strike hard to break the threat, declare success on regime offensive power, then exit. Iran’s limited mining “last gasp” shows the plan working. The LCS transition and burden-sharing ensure we’re not stuck forever.

The Strait will reopen. Iran emerges weaker. Dependent countries gain skin in the game. That’s sustainable strategy, not incompetence.

Category: Archive, Millitary, News, Personal | No Comments »
Tags: commentary, counterpoint, jonathan last, the bullwark, the triad, thehustings

Posted By RichC on March 18, 2026

The Rivian R2 wouldn’t be the worst EV SUV to consider … in fact, I like it. 

R2 Performance (Available Spring 2026):

Debuting with Launch Package starting at $57,990² (available for limited time), the Performance trim is the most capable R2 on- and off-road. This dual-motor AWD variant delivers a staggering 656 horsepower and 609 lb-ft of torque, capable of launching R2 from 0-60 mph in as quick as 3.6 seconds and offering an EPA-estimated range of up to 330 miles³.

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Category: Automotive | No Comments »
Tags: ev, r2, rivian, rivian r2, SUV