Following NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover as it explores

| December 17, 2021

It has been interesting following NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover “virtually” since the launch on July 30, 2020 and landing on Mars February 18, 2021. Since that time, Perseverancehas sent back hundreds of photos from the surface, collected (core samples) rocks and spent time “off-roading” on the surface. The terrain photo above (click it for larger) […]

Rickie Lee Jones: Her book “Chronicles of an American Troubadour” plus “Chuck E’s in Love” music from 1979

| December 6, 2021

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Music Monday: “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” – CCR

| November 29, 2021

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Tech Friday: Interesting electric heater and Bitcoin mining setup?

| November 19, 2021

How about mining Bitcoin and heating your house (room) with the excess energy/heat? For small room portable heating and cryptocurrency mining this looks interesting (although personally I’d rather install solar panels and sell electric power to the grid), check out the Heatbit website. https://youtu.be/bsjdIrcvz0E

Music Monday: Bruce Hornsby and “The Way It Is” #video

| November 15, 2021

I’m recycling a Music Monday song from a few years back (2017) with Bruce Hornsby performing “The Way It Is” from the 1986 album by the same name  … but this time not just audio, but the official video on YouTube/Vevo (so indicates the mp4 file). Although he is best known performing with his group […]

Friday Filler: Tickling the ivories (a TikTok video snippet)

| November 12, 2021

A few times before, I’ve highlighted unlikely … or maybe just surprising piano playing talent on My Desultory Blog … and this Friday Filler video is no different. The first was Jacob Toliver in an Ohio hardware store and that post still makes me smile.

Spent a couple days in Perrysburg with our granddaughters

| November 11, 2021

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Music Monday: “We’re having a Miles Davis Rally”

| November 8, 2021

Although I usually don’t purposely listen to jazz, I do appreciate hearing it when it is played and discussed. Last week when Fox Business host Charles Payne mentioned “We’re having a Miles Davis rally” in reference to the stock market – and the “be there or be square” 1950’s slogan. I tweeted about it and […]

Music Monday: Boston Dynamics’ Robots emulate Mick Jagger

| November 1, 2021

Last week the “Spot, robot dog” people at Boston Dynamics released a YouTube video of their robots dancing and moving like Mick Jagger to their 40-year old 1981 “Start Me Up” from the Rolling Stones  Tattoo You album (previous Music Monday post).  

Our October 2021 vacation with KDAE to Delray Beach, Florida

| October 30, 2021

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Production oriented 1950s old-school drywall skills #video

| October 27, 2021

When it comes to tradesmen building houses, it is hard to beat an old-school drywall installer. Check out this vintage YouTube video:

Music Monday: “We’re An American Band” LIVE in 1974

| October 25, 2021

It is hard not to remember Grand Funk Railroad when you think about rock concerts from the 1970s (never attended though) and in particular their hit “We’re An American Band.” Here’s a LIVE version from 1974 posted to YouTube. Grand Funk Railroad, sometimes shortened as Grand Funk, is an American rock band who achieved their […]

Friday Filler: Splashing morning sunshine

| October 22, 2021

Just a very short 10-second video slow-motion snippet as a Friday Filler post and to say “good morning.” /p>

The Bankrupting of America – Stephen Moore for PragerU

| October 20, 2021

Here’s a short video worth 5 minutes of your time to watch and to contemplate before Congress and President Biden makes our spending spree even worse. “You can’t spend what you don’t have indefinitely ..” – Stephen Moore for Prager University. LINK to video

Friday Filler humor: Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force

| October 15, 2021

Who doesn’t enjoy a funny military rivalry video clip. HA!

Music Monday: Redbone – “Come And Get Your Love” (LIVE)

| October 11, 2021

In keeping with a inclusive music from the 1970s for Music Monday, you can’t get much more American melting-pot inclusive than the band Redbone. The Mexican-American / Native American rock band even gets their band name from a Cajun term for “mixed-race” person … and who doesn’t love their stage show and music? Here’s their […]

What happens when you make a Rhinoceros angry?

| October 6, 2021

Music Monday: Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

| October 4, 2021

When it comes to listening to the music, it is appropriate to be a bit more inclusive when it comes to songs that we listened to (and some danced to) in the 1970s. That included R & B, funk, disco and soul music from bell-bottomed dancing vocal groups like The Taveres Brothers or just Tavares.  […]

The cooler weather has us enjoying working in the backyard

| October 2, 2021

As summer turned to autumn, Brenda and I found ourselves enjoying a few more evenings and weekends walking around and working in the backyard. Last week it was cleaning up “the mound” (although we have a few) and getting it ready for winter. I dug out some deeper rooted plants that had spread and planted […]

Högertrafikomläggningen in Sweden

| September 26, 2021

What does it take for a country to switch from left-hand to right-hand driving? Sweden did just that in 1967 … with a lot of preparation. It was called Dagen H or “Högertrafikomläggningen.”

Music Monday: Michael W. Smith — Worship Forever

| September 20, 2021

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Music Monday: Carly Simon singing “Anticipation” #video

| September 6, 2021

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Music Monday: The songwriting gift that is Brian Wilson

| August 30, 2021

Who doesn’t know who Brian Wilson is or love his many decades of music … especially with The Beach Boys (even my kids played them on our amplified Echo and dance around a week or so ago)? 😊 I stumbled across his timeline on the BrianWilson.com which highlights each decade with photos and highlights. A […]

What does ZIP in the USPS “zipcode” stand for? #TBT

| August 19, 2021

What Does ZIP in zip code stand for … for Throwback Thursday #TBT? ZIP is an acronym using the first letters from Zoning Improvement Plan. … and who doesn’t grin at 1963 marketing: Zip Code: With the Swingin’ Six. 😊

The “replacing our driveway project” is finally underway $$

| August 18, 2021

It is a month and a half late, but concrete companies and for that matter most construction companies are very busy this summer. The COVID19pandemic has put most projects behind and perhaps we should be thankful to be on their schedule. Tearing out (video from Canary Security Cam) and re-concreting a driveway is one of […]

A birthday celebration and fun family weekend in Cincinnati

| August 17, 2021

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Music Monday: The Guess Who and “No Time” #video

| August 2, 2021

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Friday Filler Video: This dad make surfing with kids look easy

| July 30, 2021

Professional surfer Billy Kemper — and his son Lion — surfing together. Surfer Billy Kemper says he glimpsed at death after a wave broke his pelvis in half (CNN) – It was a tiny error in judgement, but within seconds he realized that the consequences could be potentially life threatening. “That wave sucked me up […]

The legendary Thomas Sowell and his economics, politics and social theory highlighted by Jason Riley for PragerU

| July 27, 2021

As a longtime subscriber to the Wall Street Journal (and for the last decade or so Barron’s), I’ve learned to appreciate certain journalists, economists and opinion piece writers like Jason Riley at the Manhattan Institute. When he told the inspiring story of Thomas Sowell for PragerU, I quickly viewed the video and applauded – well […]

Music Monday: Neil Diamond and “Crackin’ Rosie” from 1970

| July 19, 2021

It has hard for me to imagine that there is anyone who doesn’t appreciate the music of Neil Diamond? He may not have been at the top of my 1970s music listening list, but when it comes to soft rock, there are few men who can match his vocal talent. A Twitter snippet of a […]

Slow, but not necessarily steady, progress on my home office

| July 17, 2021

Slow progress on my home office as I continue to work in disarray; I am missing my accessory junk … including a small hanging TV. I don’t necessarily “watch” business television, instead listen to the stream via SiriusXM to my Aftershokz Aeropex headset. Occasionally though, do still find it helpful to have a video image […]

A week of summer with Annalyn and Ellerie at our house

| July 11, 2021

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Archive: Leftover personal family 4th of July weekend photos

| July 10, 2021

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Music Monday: Don McLean performing “Crossroads” live

| July 5, 2021

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To have both ears working, my balance and to be young again

| June 30, 2021

I enjoy the ocean but haven’t really had my equilibrium and balance back since my 2-year bout with Meniere’s Disease 20 years ago. That’s a bit depressing since I still have the desire to switch out our surfboard for a longboard (or SUP). That dream aside … my wife will tell you that I wasn’t […]

Music Monday: Supertramp – Breakfast in America LIVE (1979)

| June 28, 2021

Last week a friend of mine include an album cover photo and said “strike this pose.” I laughed to myself wondering just how many people seeing it would know and remember “Breakfast in America“ and the Engilsh rock band Supertramp? Interestingly, even though I clearly remembered the band and the album, I did not realized […]

Birdhouses and raccoons and a great Drew and Katelyn photo

| June 20, 2021

Received nice photo from Katelyn and Drew last week and since I included one of Taylor and Megan last week, this is one that needed to be archived on my blog. Most most personal photos nowadays are of our granddaughters as Brenda and I have long ago moved past the stage of photos our ourselves […]

Music Monday: B.T.O. – Roll On Down The Highway

| June 14, 2021

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Books: Brave By Faith by Alistair Begg

| June 13, 2021

The current pile of books to read is too high for my nighttime side table;  I think I need to move a few to my office … or better yet, finish reading them! Since Alistair Begg is a favorite teaching pastor of ours (Parkside Church was our home church when we lived in NE Ohio), […]

Mexican lunches, salsa, discussions, reading and a good friend

| June 6, 2021

For years now … no, it is now decades … my buddy Jeff and I have gone out for lunch ever other week and almost exclusively to a Mexican restaurant … primarily for the chips and salsa (and relaxed conversation). Before that, we lived in different cities (he in Florida and then Alabama … and […]

Prepping for summer and admiring a porch view from a friend

| June 2, 2021

Although I’ve enjoyed summertime on the beach ever since I was a little boy (we live on a beach), there is something relaxing about seeing the photo above that a friend sent me from his families rented beach house in North Carolina … it look very relaxing. The older I get, the more I enjoy […]

Music Monday: Hard to believe Bob Dylan turned 80 last week?

| May 31, 2021

This should have been a post for last week’s Music Monday, but here’s a belated 80th Happy Birthday to the legendary singer-songwriter-poet Bob Dylan. What a unique and talented musician. So now they your 80 years old … Mr. Rolling Stone 🙂 … “how does it feel?” Bob Dylan with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band […]

Back to Perrysburg for Annalyn’s dance recital and babysitting

| May 28, 2021

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A Toledo Mud Hens game and Katelyn’s surprise birthday party

| May 26, 2021

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Hm, where did I park that VeeDub Beetle again? #humor

| May 23, 2021

Archive: Family photos from Katelyn’s birthday weekend

| May 18, 2021

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Music Monday: Mercy Me and their “Say I Won’t” music video

| May 17, 2021

My Desultory Blog‘s Music Monday does not include enough music from the Christian music genre and after hearing the story of Gary Miracle last weekend, I had to include Mercy Me‘s “Say I Won’t.”  

Music Monday: The Who – “I Can See For Miles” triggered by an astronaut Alan Shepard memory

| May 10, 2021

The Who was never at the top of my music listening list, but like all who grew up in the 1960-70’s era, we all knew the music. This past Wednesday was the 60th anniversary of Alan Shepard‘s flight into space and as a boy who grew up mesmerized by our NASA space program (still am) […]

Auto racing: Too close of a call for this flagman #video

| April 21, 2021

Thankfully no one was hurt at this Sprint car race, but this is too close of a call for any flag person’s comfort. Yikes!

Music Monday: Not my taste, but definitely Bluegrass talent

| April 19, 2021

This past weekend I saw what looked like an amateur musician in a college dorm or apartment video roll across my Twitter feed and thought, “this young man has talent.” It reminded me of a post from 2014 when Jacob Tolliver sat down at a piano in a Portsmouth, Ohio hardware store. This kind of […]

How do you dice and onion? Let’s check with Lifehacker.

| April 18, 2021

Is there a better way to “dice” and onion? The Lifehacker “Hack or Wack” crew gave the UK tipster’s method a try … and I’ll probably do the same even though they concluded it was “wack.” Still, there might be a couple modifications that could keep the onion flat on the cutting board and still […]

Experimenting with a Magnetohydrodynamic Drive demo

| April 13, 2021

You can take the boy out of school, but you can’t take school (and learning) out of the boy ( or older man at this point). Over the weekend, I was talking to Brenda about how I’ve been following the NASA feed (tweet below) and waiting for the helicopter to take flight on Mars. The […]

Music Monday: Sheryl Crow and NPR Music Tiny Desk Concerts

| April 12, 2021

Stumbled across a pre-COVID19 lockdown NPRMusic Tiny Desk Concert on YouTube when watching another video from an automotive friend of mine … and since I like Sheryl Crow “music” … I figured it would be an easy fill for Music Monday. Her “Soak Up The Sun” hit from 2002 was included a couple years ago, […]

Music Monday: Paul Simon (and Art Garfunkel) – Kodachrome

| April 5, 2021

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Weddings and Nice Weather indicates Spring 2021 has arrived

| March 23, 2021

Besides what has become an annual photo of one of our lilac bushes pushing out buds, this past weekend was the first weekend of spring. Besides the new growth and greening lawn, we celebrated with our neighbors of 25 years, Pam and Jim by attending  their son’s wedding in Cincinnati. It was a beautiful wedding […]

Music Monday: More Than a Feeling – Boston 1976

| March 22, 2021

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Music Monday: North of the U.S. border with The Guess Who

| March 15, 2021

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Happy Birthday Annalyn. Thinking about my granddaughter.

| March 4, 2021

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Music Monday: Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show video. Yikes!

| March 1, 2021

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Opinion: We need an all of the above energy plan in the U.S.

| February 25, 2021

As an advocate of renewable energy, be it biofuels, hydro, solar, wind, etc for decades, I don’t understand why Americans can’t come together on a united “all inclusive” energy plan? I know a few anti-solar/wind energy types, but usually they are just pushing back against the extremist wanting to do away with all fossil fuels […]

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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