Maintaining server, blog and updating WordPress 6.4.3

| January 31, 2024

Full back up of MyDesultoryBlog.com and updated WordPress. Maintenance and Security Releases Version 6.4.3 addressed some security issues and fixed 21 bugs. For more information, see the release notes. Version 6.4.2 addressed a security issue and fixed 7 bugs. For more information, see the release notes. Version 6.4.1 addressed 4 bugs. For more information, see […]

Closing out the month of January 2024 with Oreo LoveBugs

| January 31, 2024

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Books: The Anti-Capitalism Mentality by Ludwig von Mises

| January 30, 2024

As usual, I’m currently reading several different books — different genres for different moods. The one highlighted today is because I don’t really like taking my eReader to the beach. We’ve generally just been going just to walk so haven’t been sitting long enough to read anyway … I don’t want it to be a […]

Music Monday: Gin Blossoms – “Follow You Down”

| January 29, 2024

Often the bumper music on business television shows catches my ear and triggers a Music Monday idea. That was the case with the 1996 song “Follow You Down” by Gin Blossoms on The Big Money Show with hosts Jackie DeAngelis, Taylor Riggs and a personal favorite personality, Brian Brenberg. Here’s a YouTube Official Video of […]

Taxes? 💰 Go (Historical) Figure!

| January 28, 2024

An email newsletter from the Tax Foundation offered up a few interesting tax oriented tidbits. Lady Godiva As the story goes, Lady Godiva famously rode a horse through Coventry, Warwickshire . . . in the nude. But why did this 11th-century noblewoman choose to do such a thing? Taxes. Lady Godiva pleaded with her husband, […]

And then there were 4: The NFL Playoffs continue this weekend

| January 27, 2024

Brenda and I have been enjoying the NFL playoffs in late January from Florida this year and are looking forward to watching the final two games before Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024. This weekend America will be watching the Detriot Lions vs the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC and the Kansas City […]

Tech Friday: Trash or should these become drink coasters?

| January 26, 2024

This will probably excite my geeky readers on a Tech Friday … but am trying to decide if old 3-1/2” disks should be trashed or used at “disposable” drink coasters. BTW, who remembers Apple Computer’s Hypercard? EDIT: Thought … perhaps making thin wooden bases and inlay a disk to make a more creative coaster.

Walking the beach in Florida and a “Big Eye” #TBT moment

| January 25, 2024

A post from over a decade ago highlighted a beach find that was rather unique for the east coast of Florida … a BIG eye … so figure for this ThrowBack Thursday #TBT it would be a way to then comment on a Portuguese Man O’ War spawn this week along Delray Beach. Although there […]

Living vicariously thru a friend’s international business travel

| January 24, 2024

Although the time difference makes instant text communication a little more challenging than usual in staying in touch with my buddy Jeff, I’m still enjoying the interesting business travel he is starting early in 2024.  I lost track of the number of countries will be in while making cybersecurity audits of client plants, but it […]

The U.S. is nearly a deadbeat nation and few politicians care

| January 23, 2024

It’s called the third rail of politics, and in those areas of spending where politicians with the best of intentions dare to talk, nothing gets done. Only a few have suggested finding a solution to our ballooning debt and yearly deficits … or two of the primary drivers: Social Security and Medicare. These programs continue […]

Music Monday: Remembering David Soul – “Don’t Give Up On Us”

| January 22, 2024

    As a “car guy” who grew up admiring the 1976 Ford Torino in the 1970’s television series Starsky and Hutch, I was saddened to hear of the passing of actor and singer David Soul. I always enjoyed his movies and TV roles … as well as his music.      David Soul – […]

An away from home work-table and a long overdue desk chair

| January 21, 2024

Really this is to archive a few project ideas (below the break) for Taylor. He is a Mid-Century Modern lover and has consistently focused his decorating with this kind of taste. If dollars didn’t limit his shopping, I think he would be living in a Frank Lloyd Wright home and have it decorated with a […]

Escape: It is not perfect weather, but better than Ohio

| January 20, 2024

The weather up north is … well wintery and cold … so we are not complaining this year in our escape to Delray Beach, FL. We are disappointed as usual to see the substantial amount of plastic washing up on the beach during our walks. It reminds me of growing up in the 1960s and […]

Tech Friday: It is shocking how iPhone cameras have improved!

| January 19, 2024

When it comes to taking phones on a cellphones (especailly low light) … the cameras on all smartphones have definitely improved over the past decade. I’ll let you guess which photo above was my iPhone 7 Plus and which one was Brenda’s iPhone 14? 

A Right-of-Center Take on Jason Chaffetz’s “The Puppeteers” – Exposing Hidden Hands in American Politics

| January 18, 2024

As a right-of-center political person, Jason Chaffetz‘s “The Puppeteers” struck a a chord with me. His exposé of the unelected forces shaping American politics confirmed many suspicions and shed light on shadowy corners that aren’t always clear to the casual political observer. Whether you agree with every conclusion, the book sparks vital questions about who […]

A couple of humorous meme photos for Wednesday

| January 17, 2024

What parent hasn’t made that Great White Shark face and an excellent sailboat name.

Family is busy enjoying the winter weather and MLKJr.

| January 16, 2024

Although the temperatures around the US have taken a deep dive and have brought a cold and snowy winter to much of the country, our family is making the most of it. Taylor and Megan spent the long weekend skiing with some in her extended family in Utah and KDAE made the most of the […]

Music Monday: “God Only Knows” – Beach Boys

| January 15, 2024

After watching a couple wildcard playoff NFL blowout games over the weekend, a Music Monday song was triggered during a wrap up after the Green Bay Packers smoked the Dallas Cowboys to move on to San Francisco. The Packers were the underdogs by nearly all the analysts, but even as a young team, they did […]

Social media Triple Tail Thursday aviation tweets

| January 14, 2024

Aviation has been a hobby of mine for a long time, even though I no longer fly airplanes or spend time homebuilding an airplane or being active in my local EAA Chapter (Hm, I’m missing our chapter meeting today). I do still enjoy the social connection with aviation friends on Twitter/X.com … one that posts […]

EV and hybrid vehicle advertising is starting to tempt me

| January 13, 2024

The advertising from Tesla is working on me as the range and charging infrastructure continues to improve. Having driven and watched my son-in-law use his Tesla Model3 (mostly for daily commuting) since 2019 with impressive success, a Model3 might make a great second car … IF the price were lower or incentives better (perhaps a […]

So you want to own Bitcoin without a Crypto wallet hassle?

| January 12, 2024

Well then there’s an ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) for that … finally. But now the decision, which one do you add to your investment portfolio? Check out this article on CNBC and chart of ETFs and fees.  The bitcoin exchange-traded funds launching Thursday after the SEC’s long-awaited approval come at a wide variety of price […]

This Simple Joint is Stronger Than a Dovetail! #woodworking

| January 11, 2024

All woodworkers making projects tinker with making joints and deciding on which ones are best for their drawers, frames and boxes. I’ve experimented with a variety usually based on traditional construction and visual appeal. BUT I also assumed certain joints were stronger an provided both glue and mechanical strength necessary (ie. drawers getting closed and […]

Debating whether or not to contact General Mills?

| January 10, 2024

Should I be a whiner or just a grumpy old man who stay quiet? My day generally starts with coffee and a Nature Valley Honey and Oats granola bar. Last week I started chewing and felt something sharp in my mouth after taking a bite and found a piece of plastic. Hm, did it come […]

Weekend trip to Whitehouse Ohio and Christmas de-decorating

| January 9, 2024

This may have been the third year in a row that I’ve “pruned” the dry Christmas tree apart in the house rather than yanking it through the back door or having another disaster. Why didn’t I do this in previous years? Brenda and I also made a trip to visit Katelyn, Drew and family in […]

Music Monday: “Lola” by The Kinks

| January 8, 2024

Took a screenshot of my iPhone’s Sirius XM app last month while listening to an old Casey Kasem‘s American Top 40 countdown on the 70’s channel. There’s always something that catches my ear on the weekends when it comes to 1970s songs and thought it was a good choice for Music Monday. The song was […]

Beware of dogs … when disposing of Christmas trees #humor

| January 7, 2024

Just a bit of Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday cleaning up humor found on X.com.

Hoping a small repair prevents a major repair on our Acura RDX

| January 6, 2024

Last week we took our 2010 Acura RDX to our local repair garage, hoping for a minor rather than major issue. So far, so good. The initial thought that it might be a solenoid controling the turbo wastegate turned out to be “not” the issue … and digging deeper required several more hours of labor. […]

Tech Friday: A new iPad Wallpaper and fix the Harmony remote

| January 5, 2024

While watching a couple of college football bowl games on New Year’s Day, I updated my “everyday carry” iPad with a new family wallpaper photo — slightly enhanced above. It was an opportunity to tinker with the new iPadOS 17 gadget feature (see stock and weather at lower left) anyway but the wallpaper photo needed […]

Replacement parts headache for our Kubota ZD326 mower

| January 4, 2024

The LOW QUALITY, inexpensive replacement parts being sold these days is starting to irritate me; it is becoming a pet peeve. I have not notice this as much when purchasing OEM replacement part from the tractor dealerships or even for cars when it comes to big branded automotive part stores. Long gone are the days […]

Replaced the Weber iGrill meat probe after frying the original

| January 3, 2024

While grilling “bacon wrapped” steaks (bacon was the problem) over Christmas this year on our Weber Grill … I “over-cooked” (or perhaps “fried”) the meat probe for the Weber iGrill temperature monitor. I knew when the plastic caught fire that it wasn’t good, but thought perhaps the braided wiring and probe itself might still be […]

Home Repairs: Toilets, Refrigerator shelf, Roof and Soffits

| January 2, 2024

With the slower than usual week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I opted to work on a few home repair projects … really notice the toilet problems when the family was here over Christmas. I ordered a valve repair kit for the media/game room toilet in the basement and a new flapper set-up for […]

Music Monday: Dave Matthews and JB’s “A Pirate Looks at Forty”

| January 1, 2024

When a few of my “other” favorite groups or musicians sing Jimmy Buffett songs, I can’t help but listen and sing along (suspect I’m not the only one who will miss his music)? In December, a social media friend forwarded the YouTube video below, but thought I would include a Zac Brown Band and Jimmy […]

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
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