My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on July 20, 2026

An oddity for this week’s Music Monday, but not quite what next week’s post will be (a teaser). 😉 

David Cassidy and his music or The Partridge Family acting was never my “cup of tea” back in the 1970s, but he was a teenage idol/heartthrob (primarily girls) … just as was his younger half-brother actor/singer Shaun Cassidy. (Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries).

Idiom: The phrase “cup of tea” comes from the 1800’s and then over 100 years later in the 1920’s the word not was added onto the start of the phrase to create a negative version of it. – LINK

Anyway, David Cassidy’s 1971 song “Cherish” (a familiar 1960’s hit by The Association) was playing on SiriusXM  during the 4th of July weekend, and since I had not heard it for a long time, thought it would be something different… yet still fitting in since it was from the 1970s.
 

Cherish is the debut solo album by American singer David Cassidy, released by Bell Records in early 1972. Produced by Wes Farrell, the album was recorded in late 1971 to establish Cassidy as a solo star separate from his fame on The Partridge Family, featuring a more mature sound than his previous group work.

The title track, “Cherish” (a cover of The Association’s 1966 hit), was released as his debut solo single in October 1971. It peaked at No. 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 2 in the UK, where it was issued as a double A-side with “Could It Be Forever.” The album itself climbed to No. 15 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 2 in the UK, helping to cement Cassidy’s status as a major teen idol in the UK and Australia during the early 1970s.

The album includes 11 tracks, such as “I Am a Clown” and “My First Night Alone Without You” (written by Kin Vassy), with songwriting contributions from Tony Romeo, Adam Miller, and Wes Farrell. Cassidy also penned the closing track, “Ricky’s Tune,” a homage to his deceased pet dog. The album was remastered and reissued on CD by Arista in 2000, where it has remained in print since.

Brave LEO AI

Category: Entertainment, Idioms, Music | No Comments »
Tags: david cassidy, jack cassidy, music monday, musicmonday, partridge family, shaun cassidy, shirley jones, television, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on July 19, 2026

Having to wear glasses or readers is just another curse of growing older … although a minor inconvenience compared to an other medical problems. For me, wearing glasses is nothing new, but as the years go by, they are now a necessity rather than an aid when reading or working on something close up.

I’ve had likely two dozen over the last couple of decades and finally found very comfortable glasses that I use while working at my desk and computers (Amazon: BLUEMOKY for $16.99). I’m not sure the “blue light blocking” does anything, but they are the most comfortable readers that I own … and eventually bought a second pair.

Unfortunately, I found a flaw – the lenses are easily scratched, which might be the same for other low-cost readers? Since I use them everyday, I’ll likely purchase a third pair even though I am complaining about them.

So far the Clear View glasses cleaner claiming “Safe on AR Coatings” but with isopropyl alcohol … and either a lens cloth or larger microfiber cloth do not seem to prevent scratching. If I purchase a third pair, I’ll try only dish soap and a new microfiber cloth to see if that helps.

Any other suggestions???

Category: Archive, Misc, Personal, Photos, Shopping | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, bluemoky, complaint, glasses, readers, scratches, Shopping

Posted By RichC on July 18, 2026

While currently contemplating the idea of tackling replacing the front struts and suspension components on my 2010 BMW X5 35d, the idea crossed my mind that maybe I should replace my beloved diesel SUV instead? Hm, almost always a bad idea. 

If it were to happen, I would probably still want the long range ability without “range anxiety” that comes with owning a 500+ miles per tank of fuel vehicle … AND the AWD “utility” feature that gives me plenty of hauling space, plus trailering ability. A few vehicle ideas have crossed my mind … but then again … the smart move would be to repair my “showing signs of age do everything” hauler.

It is still fun to think about something new and to dangle it on a string just out of my reach (“donkey and a carrot” idiom) … like the Rivian R2 or Scout Traveler with the Range Extender option claiming  “production targeted for 2027.”  Yes, I still have a little bit of that “new car dreaming” left in me, but wisely Brenda vetoed the thought of putting $100 down on a pre-order. 😉 

Category: Automotive, Idioms, Personal, Repairs | No Comments »
Tags: BMW, ev, range extender, rivian r2, scout, strutmonkey, struts, SUV, traveler, x5 35d

Posted By RichC on July 17, 2026

With all that is happening in engineering and technology … the “sky is the limit” … or the seas depths as the case may be?

Category: Aviation, Idioms, Innovation, Science, Technology, Video | No Comments »
Tags: aviation, diving, engineering, flying, idiom, ocean, robotics, science, youtube

Posted By RichC on July 16, 2026

For generations, Americans have been told that saving, investing wisely and planning for retirement embody the virtues of self-reliance and prudence. Yet today, many on fixed or semi-fixed incomes — pensions, annuities and even Social Security — are watching those plans quietly unravel. The culprit? The steady devaluation of the U.S. dollar driven by chronic inflation.

As of mid-2026, headline inflation has climbed back toward 4.2%. While lower than the peaks of recent years, this compounds a deeper, decades-long erosion. The purchasing power of the dollar has plummeted: what $1 bought in the early 1980s (around the CPI base) now requires over $3. A retiree relying on $50,000 annually in today’s dollars could see that buy only about half as much in 25-30 years at average 3% inflation — devastating for those without growth assets.

Fixed incomes and annuities look solid on paper —
until inflation erodes their real value over decades. 

Retirees feel this acutely. Social Security offers cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), but these often lag real expenses like healthcare and housing, which rise faster for seniors. Annuities and traditional pensions, popular for their “guaranteed” payments, deliver nominal dollars that buy less each year. A weaker dollar also inflates import costs and can fuel broader price pressures, pinching budgets already stretched thin.

Those who delayed claiming benefits or coordinated spousal strategies to maximize lifetime income (smart moves) still face the reality that inflation doesn’t pause for prudent planning. Semi-fixed incomes from part-time work or dividends offer some buffer, but without hedges, the math turns against savers.

This isn’t mere bad luck — it’s policy failure. Decades of runaway federal spending, trillion-dollar deficits and a national debt nearing $40 trillion have pressured the Federal Reserve to monetize obligations through expansive monetary policy. When government prints or borrows without restraint, it dilutes the currency’s value. Conservatives have long warned that big-government programs, endless entitlements and emergency spending create moral hazard and economic distortion. Inflation acts as a hidden tax, disproportionately harming those on fixed incomes who can’t easily adjust — precisely the responsible citizens who played by the rules.

Loose money favors debtors (including Washington) at the expense of creditors and savers. It distorts markets, encourages malinvestment and undermines the stable dollar essential to free enterprise. Younger generations may adapt through higher earnings or asset appreciation, but retirees cannot.

No one can fully escape macroeconomic forces, but individuals can mitigate risks:

• Diversify beyond fixed income: Favor assets with inflation-hedging potential — productive businesses (stocks), real estate or commodities — while maintaining balance due to volatility.
• Review annuities and bonds: Consider inflation-protected options like TIPS where suitable, or laddered strategies.
• Maximize indexed benefits: Optimize Social Security and pensions; track personal COLAs against actual spending.
• Control what you can: Reduce debt, build flexible budgets and support fiscal policies that prioritize balanced budgets, spending restraint and monetary discipline.

Fiscal conservatives should advocate for entitlement reform, debt reduction and a Fed focused on price stability rather than engineering outcomes. Sound money preserves liberty; inflation erodes it.

The devaluation of the dollar isn’t abstract economics — it’s a long-term threat to the American Dream of dignified retirement. Those who saved diligently deserve better than a government-induced slow bleed. By highlighting these realities and pushing for accountability, we can encourage policies that value savers over spenders. For retirees and near-retirees: plan defensively, live prudently and demand better from our leaders. Your fixed income depends on it

Category: Financial, Politics, Retirement | No Comments »
Tags: big government, devaluation, inflation, investing, planning, Politics, retirement, spending

Posted By RichC on July 15, 2026

A few days ago, the social networked car guys that I follow, commented back and forth about the “hidden gas cap” locations that were part of cars and trucks years ago. I remember the occasional stumper when I was 16 years old working at a Sidney, Ohio Shell station.

Full service gas stations were still a common place back then and I actually took pride in doing the job well. I even liked wearing the uniform, checking oil, filling tires and carrying around a wad of cash … not to mention an oil can spout in my back pocket. I was pretty good at responsibly filling customers’ cars even if they were always filled a “tick short of the next cent” – I also appreciated the extra fraction of a cent in my paycheck.  This was how gas station managers prevented employees from “giving away gasoline” … not really as an attempt to cheat the customer. 

Back to the “hidden fuel filler” locations on cars; perhaps it isn’t all that different today, at least on a Tesla! 😉 

Category: Automotive, Human Interest, Memories, Politics, Social Media, Tesla | No Comments »
Tags: ani gif, charge port, classic cars, filler location, gas cap, gas station, ohio, shell oil, sidney, tesla, x.com

Posted By RichC on July 14, 2026

The additional parts for the Kubota Zero-Turn mower (correct sized SS spacers) and replacement solid wheel (broken zerk) arrived last week, so decided to spend part of my weekend taking things apart and putting them together again. The new spacers fit much better but I did add a couple copper washer shims, which was probably a good idea anyway? 

Only time will tell IF this modification will last, but I do know that these new solid rubber wheels are not nearly as comfortable (harsh ride on a rough lawn) as the air filled originals … nor are they nearly the quality of wheels and bearings that have lasted 20 years. Nevertheless, so as long as I take the weight off the front when parked (flat spots), I think this will prevent the ongoing punctures and deflation problems. Big picture, it was a small investment and I can always buy the original $$$ parts and go back to air filled tires and wheels with premium bearings. 

I have a second solid wheel, but do I replace the other side … or wait until something fails on that side too? Brenda said I need to replace the other one so they match … because “it doesn’t look right.” 😉 

EDIT: Fixed the X.com MyDesultoryBlog posting credits that stopped working in June.

Category: Photos, Repairs | No Comments »
Tags: ani gif, kubota, mower, repair, solid tires, Zerk, zero-turn