My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on October 25, 2025

The 2025 World Series is finally underway. Brenda and I have been watching the playoffs all autumn long, but unfortunately have watched each of our early picks (they were hopes really) drop like flies. The Reds, Guardians and Tigers all fell early in the playoffs, but we have settled on rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays this year (and have tired of watching the LA Dodgers, Astros, Red Sox or Yankees). 😉 

So … starting Friday night at 7pm (last night) … the two powerhouse teams that have weathered this year’s playoffs will prepare for a great World Series. Batter up … or perhaps it will be led by pitching this year? 

An “EDIT ADD” below (thank AI): 

The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in Game 1 of the 2025 World Series, marking their first victory in the Fall Classic since 1993. The game, played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, was defined by a historic nine-run sixth inning, highlighted by Addison Barger’s first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history.

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Category: AI, Sports | No Comments »
Tags: 2025, baseball, blue jays, dodgers, mlb, wikipedia, world series

Posted By RichC on October 24, 2025

First up, the Consumer Price Index inched up a tenth of a percentage point in August from 2.9% to 3% on an annual rate (numbers were pre-government shutdown). This is ties into the second important number of 2.8% — the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA). This is key for Social Security recipients as it is designed to offset the impact of inflation (cough, cough) by giving them the previous year’s increase in 2026.

Personally, I have a little more interest in Social Security the closer we get to it, in that it becomes a big part of my (our) financial planning going forward. The bigger decision is should we delay applying in 2026 … hoping that we live long enough for the increase to pay for itself? Also there is the real concern that Social Security might not exist in its present form once the Trust Fund is depleted in the early 2030s? 

Category: AI, Financial, News, Retirement | No Comments »
Tags: cola, cpi, gemini, inflation, retirement, social security, wsj

Posted By RichC on October 24, 2025

After a few days of owning/driving a “previously loved” 2019 Tesla Model 3, I’m learning a little more about it each day … and as the 2003 McDonald’s jingle goes, “I’m lovin’ it.” 😊

So far the Tesla has surpassed my expectation as for driving pleasure. It is solid on the road, very fast when acceleration is needed. It is very comfortable for my recent 200 mile drive and a Supercharger stop for 28 minutes (some extra based on my “range anxiety”). The stop was simple — just plug/unplug and go as all the billing is automatic to my default 4% cash back Citibank Costco credit card. 

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Category: Automotive, Personal, Photos, Technology, Tesla | No Comments »
Tags: charging, lima ohio, model 3, supercharger, tech friday, techfriday, telsa app, tesla

Posted By RichC on October 23, 2025

Sent this to an aviation friend as he routinely posts a “Triple Tail Thursday” photo on X.com. 

Overview of the Connie Triple Tail

The term “Connie triple tail” likely refers to the Lockheed Constellation, commonly known as “Connie,” which features a distinctive triple tail design. This aircraft is a propeller-driven airliner built by Lockheed Corporation starting in 1943.

Key Features of the Lockheed Constellation

Design and Structure

• Type: Airliner and transport
• Engines: Powered by four 18-cylinder Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclones
• Tail Design: Notable for its triple tail, which allowed it to fit into existing hangars
• Fuselage: Dolphin-shaped, enhancing aerodynamics

Performance

• Maximum Speed: Over 375 mph (600 km/h)
• Cruise Speed: 340 mph (550 km/h)
• Service Ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,300 m)

Historical Significance

• Production: A total of 856 units were built between 1943 and 1958.
• Uses: Served as both a civil airliner and military transport, including roles in the Berlin and Biafran airlifts.
• Retirement: Last scheduled passenger flights occurred in the late 1960s, with some aircraft remaining in limited service until the 1990s.

The Lockheed Constellation is celebrated for its elegant design and significant contributions to aviation history.

Category: Aviation, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: connie, constellation, junkyard, lockheed

Posted By RichC on October 22, 2025

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Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Tesla, Video | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, babysitting, brenda, drew, driving, ellerie, family, katelyn, ohio, richc, tesla, whitehouse

Posted By RichC on October 21, 2025

More to come, but a new to us 2019 Tesla Model 3 now replaces Brenda’s 2010 Acura RDX. We are as excited about having a Tesla, as is the seller for us “finally” owning a Tesla (aka: Drew).

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Category: Archive, Automotive, Photos, Tesla | No Comments »
Tags: brenda, drew, garage, tesla

Posted By RichC on October 20, 2025

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Category: Music | No Comments »
Tags: changes, changesbowie, david bowie, hunky dory, mp3

Posted By RichC on October 19, 2025

Most of Salvador Dali’s artwork is not really my taste, but Brenda and I do own a couple of prints that I received as partial payment for some printing work I did for an art gallery when I was first starting Consolidated Printing and Publishing in the late 1980s. After admiring this drawing from 1949, I will reconsider my thoughts on bizarre paintings and flamboyant surrealist artists. I like it.  

“Deux danseurs” (Two Dancers) is a drawing by Salvador Dalí created in 1949, showcasing his surrealist style. The piece features intricate pen and ink work, reflecting Dalí’s technical skill and unique artistic vision.

Category: Art, Business | No Comments »
Tags: 1949, Art, artist, cpp, deux danseurs, drawing, salvidor dali, two dancers

Posted By RichC on October 18, 2025

Brenda and I are beach walkers and when in Delray Beach … or any beach for that matter … we walk in all kinds of weather. A week or so ago we were surprised at the heavy erosion along Florida’s Atlantic beaches, which can be somewhat normal with storm surf, higher winds and tides. This year the hurricanes haven’t really been an issue, but area beach flooding and erosion has been a problem (video from Thursday). 

EDIT add: Re-testing the AWS Amazon Polly text-to-speech AI just in case you might want the text and article below in audio.

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Category: Audio, Blogs, Environment, Nature, Personal, Photos, Travel, Video | No Comments »
Tags: conservation, delray beach, eggs, florida, green turtles, ocean, turtles

Posted By RichC on October 17, 2025

Not that this Tech Friday update is at all important … because it is not … but I’m thinking about changing the encoding of clunky video on MyDesultoryBlog.com … and perhaps elsewhere?

The time it takes to re-encode, upload and save video to archive has improved as computers and internet connections are now faster, but still saving bloated, rarely viewed, video take up space … and backup storage (one or two files is no big deal, but 9000 posts worth of stuff has become a bigger deal). So it still seems like a good idea to keep code efficient, photos smallish, audio compressed and video to reasonable web and device sizes with Handbrake. Part of me thinks it is “all for naught,” but I’m still thinking old-school and  compressing or scrunching things anyway. 

The latest video comes from a Wyze Cam video at our Florida condo that required a lanai repair. Now that the exterior concrete work is finished, the crews are busy putting up the screens on the porch and hurricane shutters. Not that I’m watching constantly, but it is still nice to know who is coming and going in and out of the condo.

I’ve been reluctant to upgrade to the newest version of Handbrake since I had issues with newer versions years ago … but I’m using today’s post and video encoding as an excuse to get up to date.

Category: Blogs, Idioms, Repairs, Technology, Video | No Comments »
Tags: Cam, condo1718, encoding, handbrake, hurricane, shutters, Software, tech friday, techfriday, testing, wyze