My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on December 29, 2021

This book is on my 2022 “want to read” list and I’m unsure if I’ll opt for the audio version, ebook or paper edition (Amazon options)?

While listening to the Brian Kilmeade (the books author) talking about the “battle to save America’s soul” on a Fox News program, it has become apparent that those setting the agenda are a new breed of progressive Democrats (now unapologetically advocates for socialism). The very few traditionally-minded liberal Democrats like Sen Joe Manchin and Sen Kyrsten Sinema, who are resisting another round of TRILLIONs of dollars in social spending, are exercising common sense. For Brian Kilmeade,  I’m either sensing effective repurposing of his book title … or a crafty way of marketing his book? In either case, it is indeed fitting though as. 

Our country is in a 50/50 ideological battle between those who want to preserve individual freedom and prefer smaller government … and those who believe power and control is better when it comes from Washington DC, the elites and their central planners.

I’m reminded everyday of why I’m a local and small government advocate versus a one-size-fits-all big Federal government proponent and voter. The longer I live, the further left in both social and fiscal policies our country is shifting and we are spending our way into a welfare state, we are at a tipping point. I know there are those who say what happened in Venezuela, Russia or China couldn’t happen here … but the direction we are going and the belief that “we can do socialism correctly” coming from the most vocal in education and leadership positions has me concerned – it has me thinking about my Overton window post.

Category: Books, History, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: agenda, america, book, brian kilmeade, frederick douglas, freedom fighter, joe manchin, kyrsten sinema, lincoln, overton window, Politics, president, socialism

Posted By RichC on December 28, 2021

As usual, I was late in coming across a simple workshop miter guide for my table saw, although more recently something I needed for my small bandsaw. While working on a Christmas project for my granddaughter, I needed to cut a bunch of small pieces where I didn’t lose so much wood to the table saw blade kerf. So, I opted to use the thin-bladed bandsaw to make the cuts and realized that I didn’t have a decent miter guide or miter sled (preferable). So, I took 30 minutes and made a small bandsaw sled jig (photo left) in order to make the cuts.

It just so happened a couple days later, up popped a YouTube clip with a great sliding miter guide idea … although once again, an indication Google is must be still detecting not only my interests, but tracking what I’m doing (I did not search for a miter sled or miter jig).

Anyway, I’ll include the video below and a couple screen captures above for my own archive so I can make “another” one for my woodworking workshop.

Category: Archive, Holiday, Tidbits, Tools, Video, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: bandsaw, big tech, google, granddaughers miter, guide, jig, project, sled, table saw, tablesaw, tracking, video, workshop, youtube

Posted By RichC on December 27, 2021

Social media is filled with nastiness and ugly news … but it is also a place for upbeat positive news, scripture, prayer requests and a shared love of song and some heartwarming father-daughter bonding.  I’m not sure who these “smiling” amateur singers are that appeared on my Twitter feed, but it made my day and it will make a great Music Monday addition.

Below is a semi-edited daughter and dad singing the 1967 Motown hit Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (Marvin Gaye’s YouTube) and on of Diana Ross in 1970 (Diana Ross on YouTube) singing it a couple years later. These current day amateurs did a great job too!

Category: Music, Social Media, Video | No Comments »
Tags: ain't no mountain, amateur, diana ross, marvin gaye, motown, musicmonday, social media, tammi terrell, twitter, youtube

Posted By RichC on December 26, 2021

Before the year 2021 disappears, it is worth highlighting Time magazine’s pick for Person of the Year  – although I generally just roll my eyes.

This time in picking Elon Musk, it is hard to disagree. The pick of Musk, the richest man on Earth, is a good one as he is not only an “influencer” … but an industry titan who’s disruptive drive in business is only surpassed by his innovative genius and visionary ambition.

His Tesla company has changed the way we look at electric vehicles and his SpaceX company has move space exploration into the private sector. He continues to be a force worth watching since he is only 50, has amassed $300 billion dollars and someone to pay attention to whether he making an eccentric tweet on cryptocurrency or someone building a humanoid robot. In any case, Elon Musk was definitely an excellent pick for Person of The Year in 2021.

Category: Automotive, Business, Financial, Human Interest, Social Media, Space, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: $TSLA, cbs, cover, elon musk, person of the year, spacex, tesla, time magazine

Posted By RichC on December 26, 2021

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Holiday, Memories, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, boxing day, brenda, christmas, christmas eve, drew, ellerie, family, katelyn, megan, oostras, Photos, richc, taylor

Posted By RichC on December 25, 2021

Wishing all who read My Desultory Blog a very Merry Christmas, good health and a very Happy New Year.

Category: Holiday, Humor, Video | No Comments »
Tags: christmas, Humor, mp4, new year, reindeer, santa

Posted By RichC on December 24, 2021

It is not easy to follow Christ, but His teachings, AND gift of salvation, are what we sinners need.

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

– Matthew 4:19

While mailing out our Christmas cards, decorating our Christmas tree and reflecting on this past year, I listened to a message shared by Christian follower/friend Steve Martin on Twitter (see … there are some positive uses for social media). It was from 2012 (I think) by whom I assumed was his church pastor based on a reference in the audio — Mark Anderson <- his book link. I thought it was still timely in setting my mind and focus on the birth of Jesus this Christmas season … and who knows, someone else might agree?
  

Category: Audio, Blogs, Faith, Holiday, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: christ, christmas, christmas eve, cross, jesus, mark anderson, message, mp3, twitter

Posted By RichC on December 23, 2021

While posting to the blog yesterday, I noticed a “Year(s) Ago On This Day” post archiving the stamped concrete was being pour/stamped for our backporch – 14 years ago). And even more shocking is that we were building our house back in the winter and spring of 1996! (click on house photo below of Katelyn, Brenda and Taylor)

The comment I made on the post regarding “the only thing slower is the airplane project” made me chuckle … to which all these years later I can say that the MGB project is even slower!

Reminiscing aside, I’m thankful to have had all these years to enjoy our home with our kids growing up, but I am still shocked at just how rapidly the time has gone. How time flies!

Category: Idioms, Memories, Personal, Photos, TBT | No Comments »
Tags: backporch, brenda, construction, home, house, idiom, idioms, katelyn, memories, project, taylor, TBT, throwback, thursday, time flies

Posted By RichC on December 22, 2021

It has taken me a long time to cut into the outfeed table that I added to my Delta table saw in 2019, but I’ve finally added “the notch.”

The spacing between the often used Shopsmith band saw and my lumber rack has always been tight … so tight that I’ve found myself angling it to give me a little more standing access. For the last year or so, I’ve gone back and forth with the idea of moving the 7 foot long semi-portable tool all together and adding a much better chip and dusk collector to this space. Instead, I added an office storage cabinet (will eventually move), a dust collection box and moved the small, but loud DC3300 dust collector to under the lumber rack. This keeps the hoses out of the normal pathway near the door.

To gain standing space, I cut out a 3-3/4 inch notch for the head of the Shopsmith, which I often chuck with a deburring wheel or sanding drum … and keep the bandsaw permanently in place.

I previously added a dedicated 220 volt drop for the table saw and separated duel 110 volt outlet for the bandsaw. The added bonus is that the base of the Shopsmith (the lathe tool holder and tailstock, etc) hide underneath the outfeed table AND it holds the hinged “leaf” up and in place sturdily. The extra few inches is precisely what I need to stand comfortable between the lumber storage and the bandsaw … but still, “the notch” is as unsightly on the outfeed table as it is on an Apple iPhone.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Productivity, Tidbits, Tools, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: dust collector, notch, outfeed, table, tools, vacuum, woodworking, workshop

Posted By RichC on December 21, 2021

The planetary astronomer and science guru, Dr. James O’Donoghue, that I follow on Twitter posted a great video illustration that explains today, December 21st … or more appropriately a couple of days that occur as the seasons change.

Today is the winter solstice and it marks the shortest day in the northern hemisphere. On December 21st (or 22nd), the earth receives the least amount of sunlight and the short illustration below best explains the tilt of the Earth and how it effects our seasons and why it happens (the tilt is the relative position to the earths north pole pointing as it points towards the star called Polaris). This tilted position, while making an elliptical path around the sun, brings us the winter solstice and the opposite happening, usually June 21st or 22nd, called the summer solstice or the longest day of the year (these dates depend on the shift of the calendar). Check it out.

Category: Education, Science, Social Media, Space, Tidbits, Video | No Comments »
Tags: astronomy, dr. james o'donoghue, earth, mp4, science, seasons, solstice, summer, sun, twitter, winter