Posted By RichC on June 1, 2023
This is a lunchtime test post after the WP to Twitter API broken in mid-May 2023 (last @mydesultoryblog to Twitter was on May 19th). If all goes well, this will automate a tweet when a new post is generated as before.
For the fun of it, here is the latest trending video on the news and social media.
Posted By RichC on June 1, 2023
The previous “refined” Cornhole game project for my granddaughters worked out so well that I decided to make a modified set for Taylor’s birthday in June this year. Thankfully I started it early 
since I’m modifying the project just a little bit to work on mortise and tenon jointery … and have been busy outside (now I’m under time constraints).
A couple of years ago on different woodworking project, the handcut mortise tenon joints for an oak Bitty Baby doll crib project were impressively strong, but I really haven’t mastered them using a square-chisel mortiser and router table with a coping sled (was going to make one) for the tenons. After getting the hang of it on a few practice pieces (photo right), the repetitive process was much quicker and accurate; I can see why they are preferred in furniture construction. So far, so good as the lightweight folding leg glue-up is curing overnight.
The mortising part is relatively straightforward as once the depth stop is set, the center drill is lined up in the center punch location and each “square hole” is relatively easy to repeat. There is some bottom cleanup for each mortise with a 1/4” chisel, but the clear pine was easy to cut. Same for the router table cut tenons … a little clean up using a utility knife made quick work of them (photo). I am wondering if the clean up would have been less with a spiral router bit rather than straight?
Posted By RichC on May 31, 2023
One would think after twenty some years of pool ownership, I would have invested in a cement sidewalk (pool decking) edger. Nope … it was not something familiar to me since we have never lived on a city lot or had sidewalks. Now after 40 years of homeownership, I’ve finally broken down and spent $79.20 at Amazon for a Worx 12AMP electric edger (now priced $123.53) … for the sole purpose of cleaning up the overgrown edge of our pool decking. So far, it is a great product.
A “most used” gadget for me is the Ember Coffee Mug that was a gift last year for Father’s Day. I use it twice each day … morning and evening … and it has been one of those premium gifts that is worth its expensive price. Thanks family!
But, last month the “coaster” malfunctioned and I tried to fix it (the little spring contacts no longer “springs”). Eventually I contacted the company and they promised to replace the coaster. A few weeks went by and so I followed up with an email and received an apology back. Good company!
Thanks for checking in! It looks like there was a processing error which has since been corrected. Your order will be on its way shortly. My sincere apologies for the delay. Thanks again for your patience and have a great one!
Stay Warm,
Ember
Posted By RichC on May 29, 2023
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Posted By RichC on May 28, 2023
The “hold” for the ebook by Yeonmi Park titled “While Time Remains” became available this past weekend and even though I haven’t finished the last book I started; I guess I’m going to “start” another anyway (it is a “forever problem” — start a book, but never finish it).
From all the interviews of her that I’ve watched and read, her insight from the perspective of someone growing up and living under the brutal Communist regime in North Korea, and now on what she is currently seeing in America is disturbing. Those of us who are watching the weaponization of government by power-seekers from the political left need to push back a little harder … especially at the ballot box. But more than that, we need to stop the brainwashing and leftist indoctrination by our education system and stop this growing dependence on government. I suspect I’m in agreement with Ms. Park, but her book should be an interesting read.
The North Korean defector, human rights advocate, and bestselling author of “In Order to Live” sounds the alarm on the culture wars, identity politics, and authoritarian tendencies tearing America apart.
After defecting from North Korea, Yeonmi Park found liberty and freedom in America. But she also found a chilling crackdown on self-expression and thought that reminded her of the brutal regime she risked her life to escape. When she spoke out about the mass political indoctrination she saw around her in the United States, Park faced censorship and even death threats.
In “While Time Remains”, Park sounds the alarm for Americans by highlighting the dangerous hypocrisies, mob tactics, and authoritarian tendencies that speak in the name of wokeness and social justice. No one is spared in her eye-opening account, including the elites who claim to care for the poor and working classes but turn their backs on anyone who dares to think independently.
Park arrived in America eight years ago with no preconceptions, no political aims, and no partisan agenda. With urgency and unique insight, the bestselling author and human rights activist reminds us of the fragility of freedom, and what we must do to preserve it.
Posted By RichC on May 27, 2023
Once again, politicians are taking our US SPENDING and BORROWING problem right to the wire. Everyone knows that eventually politicians will just raise the debt ceiling and borrow more. The Republicans want spending cuts and the Democrats want a “clean increase” so as to be able to pay promised liabilities (previous spending) and we all know they want to spend more. In other words, the credit card is maxed out and need a higher limit so politicians can borrow and make the payment on the credit card balance they owe … and then some. 
Our fiscal insanity is enough to drive normal budget oriented people crazy.
As of 25 May 2023, the U.S. debt ceiling is $31.38 trillion, which means that the Treasury Department is not allowed to go into debt beyond a certain limit unless explicitly authorized by lawmakers. However, the amount stipulated in late 2021 has been exceeded since January 19. While the debt ceiling was not suspended this year, financial maneuvering, also referred to as extraordinary measures, has been keeping the U.S. from defaulting on its debt. — Statista.com
BUT … is this borrowing problem today really the biggest problem. Probably not. That will be Social Security and Medicare in 2031and beyond. This makes me think, perhaps those elgible for Social Security should start collecting a smaller monthly check before it becomes significantly less than promised? (currently, delaying Social Security beyond ones FRA is worth an addition 8% per year!)
As a result, the CBO is expecting that Social Security benefits will need to be cut by 31% beginning in 2031 if no changes are made to the program.
The Tax Foundation laid out the Social Security and Medicare predicament this week as Speaker McCarthy quarrels with the President Biden over cutting spending and raising the debt ceiling. If it is this difficult to agree on some restraint to spending, it doesn’t look good when it comes to the proverbial untouchable Third Rail of Politics (aka: Social Security and Medicare – its political suicide).
An aging U.S. population and a declining worker-per-retiree ratio (now only 3 to 1) have contributed to the cost of financing Social Security and Medicare. Under current law, Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be insolvent by 2031, and Social Security’s Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Fund by 2033. Without reforms, Social Security benefits would be automatically reduced across the board by 20 percent, and Medicare hospital insurance payments would be cut by 11 percent. Absent any reforms, the 2023 Trustees Report shows that a significant payroll tax hike of 4.2 percent would be required to close the current funding gap for OASDI and Medicare.
Given the dire outlook presented in the Trustees Report, policymakers must reform these programs to ensure their long-run stability. Below, we briefly review various proposals over the past decade to reform Social Security and Medicare. The list is not exhaustive, but it illustrates the possibility of tackling this issue with a measured and bipartisan approach..
Conclusion
While policymakers should also continue to focus on wasteful and counterproductive discretionary spending that continues to raise deficits, we should not lose sight of the fact that Social Security and Medicare are the largest contributors to our growing deficit and debt crisis. For too long politicians on both sides of the aisle have chosen to ignore the problem. The risks to our economy will only continue to grow the longer we wait to address them.
Posted By RichC on May 26, 2023
This test is more for my own curiosity than any kind of controlled tech test, but since I’m often away from convenient 110VAC charging plugs, I would like to be able to recharge iPads and iPhones on the go. 
A few years back, I preordered a package of products from a startup company called Magfast as an early backer, mostly because I was impressed with the “marketeer” and founder’s previous product (the business side of his previous company failed). This new product line has been very slow to come to market and has soured me on Kickstarter-like backing, but it is now shipping, albeit slowly. I received a couple of their battery products call Magfast Life and Magfast Extreme and was recently notified that Magfast Air would soon be shipped. I previously posted that there was a problem charging low-draw devices like my Aftershotz Aeroplex headset, but all in all it does “eventually” charge an iPhone.
Conclusion: 10% to 45% = 2 hrs | 45% – 65% = 3 hrs | 65% to 90% = 5 hrs
So this test is to see just how long a basic iPad takes to recharge from 10% back to about 90% utilizing a fully charged Magfast Extreme. Interestingly I’ll be interested to know just how many LEDs showing power left in the Extreme will still be available for other devices if there was a need (ie. power outage).
Power drain on the Magfast Extreme battery pack: 10 LEDs to 5 LEDs in 5 hrs.
Posted By RichC on May 25, 2023
It looks as if the dog Megan found a month or so ago … and tried to find its owner (it was probably abandoned) … has now found a new home with Taylor and Megan. They have named her Gigi.
Since both Megan and Taylor have grown up with dogs, perhaps it is no surprise that they are both warm-hearted and would like to give this animal a home. Unfortunately, a dog of this breed (pitbull mixed) is likely one that dog shelters find difficulty in finding homes, especially if there are children around.
Unfortunately we hear of way too many stories of a gentle family pitbull, or pitbull mix dog, turning on children and viciously biting (and in too many cases the bite/attack ends up in death). All I can say is “I voiced my opinion strongly” and would have preferred that if they MUST have a dog, that it should be a different breed. So now Taylor and Megan, my lecture is to be very careful, do not trust her around children or other animals. There is a liability and danger of this breed … so reconsider one more time at to what is wise. I know you are both adults now and make decisions for yourselves, but sometimes the safest thing even at this point is to “just. say no,” it is not worth the risk.
Here are dog attack statistics on breeds that were responsible for a dog bite-related fatality:
- Pit bulls – 284 deaths
- Rottweiler – 45 deaths
- German Shepherd – 20 deaths
- Mixed Breeds – 17 deaths
- American Bulldog – 15 deaths
- Mastiff – 14 deaths
- Siberian Husky – 13 deaths
In addition to Pitbulls, Rottweilers have obtained an unfavorable reputation over the years. Combining the figures for both dogs computes to 76% of the total fatal dog attacks.
And to end my negativity and lecture on a brighter note … and something that brings fond memories for me … here’s a photo of our late dog Tootsie with her head stuck in a box. This is a Throwback Thursday #TBT photo that brings a smile to my face.
Posted By RichC on May 24, 2023
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