My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on November 16, 2021

The author Joe Scarborough is not one of my favorite TV commentators … although I did like him as a politician back in the 1990s. In 2020 he wrote (and narrated) a book published by Harper Collins called “Saving Freedom.” I’ve been contemplating it and since the digital is on my Glose reader app, thought it might be a good time to download it.

I have a trip planned so am hoping to save it for some quiet history reading (although still haven’t finished “Shattered Sword” by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully after detouring from Dan Carlin’s the Hardcore History podcast. The details regarding the Battle of Midway had me wanted to learn it from the Japanese perspective).

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

History called on Harry Truman to unite the Western world against Soviet communism, but first he had to rally Republicans and Democrats behind America’s most dramatic foreign policy shift since George Washington delivered his farewell address. How did one of the least prepared presidents to walk into the Oval Office become one of its most successful?

The year was 1947. The Soviet Union had moved from being America’s uneasy ally in the Second World War to its most feared enemy. With Joseph Stalin’s ambitions pushing westward, Turkey was pressured from the east while communist revolutionaries overran Greece. The British Empire was battered from its war with Hitler and suddenly teetering on the brink of financial ruin. Only America could afford to defend freedom in the West, and the effort was spearheaded by a president who hadn’t even been elected to that office. But Truman would wage a domestic political battle that carried with it the highest of stakes, inspiring friends and foes alike to join in his crusade to defend democracy across the globe.

(more…)

Category: Books, History | No Comments »
Tags: america, battle of midway, book, harry truman, History, joe scarborough, reading, saving freedom, soviet union, ussr

Posted By RichC on 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 Bruce Hornsby and the Range, he has a long and rich history in music … playing with such well known artists like Ricky Scaggs and groups like the Grateful Dead.

Category: Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: bruce hornsby, grateful dead, mp4, music monday, musicmonday, ricky scaggs, the way it is, youtube

Posted By RichC on November 14, 2021

Prior to 2017, I backed a ThingCharger Kickstarter project that was an excellent product. It was overpriced for what it did, but I ended up buying a couple extras for gifts (Brenda’s phone charging in photo at Katelyn and Drew’s house).

In 2017, after the business failure, founder Seymour Segnit started a new company telling early investors he learned from the mistakes in “running the business” and was re-branding a new line of premium charging products called MagFast. After much delay, pandemic manufacturing slowdowns and now shipping issue backlogs … we’re finally getting an initial backer shipping date list. One thing they did right was to keep backers updated ever step of the way … even when the news was less than positive. Since my order is in Batch 4, I’m hoping that a package will arrive in February 2022 … at least that is what the latest chart is suggesting.

EDIT updated shipping chart as of 3/15/2022…

Category: Cellphone, Gadget, Innovation, Marketing, Shopping, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: charger, ipad, iphone, magfast, segnet, seymour, smartphone, thingcharger

Posted By RichC on November 13, 2021

For Christmas in 1999, Katelyn and Drew gave me the MyQ hardware to “smarten up” one of the garage doors … well at least the opener. It permits a smartphone to control, adding authorize users and ability monitor garage door access. A couple of weeks I received a warning that the battery was “low” and needed to be replaced. It is now a couple years old, so that doesn’t seem too bad?

After contemplating a run to the hardware store, I opted to buy 10 CR2450 batteries for under $5.00 from Amazon. Speaking of Amazon, the MyQ setup works well with their Key Service and permits a delivery driver access to the garage … so as long as you trust them. So far, never a problem (see previous post).

I’m not a fan of replacing batteries, but it was no big deal since this one lasted two years and was pretty simple to replace. I only wish the Samsung Smartthings hub connected to the battery motion sensor and door sensors at the condo had batteries that would last more than 6 months.

Next on the “before winter” to-do list is to figure out why the LED lights I put up in 2018 on the back of the pool house garage aren’t working. Grr!

Category: Cellphone, Gadget, Misc, Photos, Shopping, Technology, To-Do | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, battery, garage, garage door, myq, pool house, poolhouse, repair, sensor, smartthings

Posted By RichC on 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.

Category: Music, Social Media, Tidbits, Video | No Comments »
Tags: friday filler, mp4, piano, talent, tiktok, video

Posted By RichC on November 11, 2021

Our driveway project is semi-wrapped up, but the landscaping company has yet to deliver our topsoil and river rock. The Creech’s rep did update me with a tentative date later this month, so we shall see if the weather holds them back again?

I finally moved the construction cones a couple weeks ago and we started to use our front driveway again … but no sooner did vehicles drive on the new concrete  again did a van drive off the edge. I was hoping that it didn’t crack the edge of the concrete (it did not) … considering that there isn’t any packed ground or at topsoil settled in to give the edge some extra support.

To make this a Throwback Thursday #TBT post, this time the delivery driver can’t blame it on snow or leave it perched precariously on our mailbox (Fedex). I didn’t even comment since the Amazon “girl” was super nice. I actually felt bad for her and wondered if she has trouble driving the van in far tighter driveways?  

Category: Misc, Photos, TBT, Technology, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, Cam, delivery, driveway, fedex, landscaping, prime, security, TBT

Posted By RichC on November 11, 2021

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Video | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, babysitting, bompa, brenda, crafts, drew, ellerie, family, games, katelyn, mp4, oma, perrysburg, playing, richc, veterans day

Posted By RichC on November 10, 2021

It may not be pretty, but hopefully the “fix” for the segment of driveway concrete that was poured when our driveway was replaced, without the proper pitch, will prevent puddling where the old and new concrete came together. We were not home to see the work, but after a cursory look (photos) on Wednesday morning, it looks pretty good.

We are still unhappy with the quality of work, the poor brushing and trying to beat the rain (damage to surface) and will likely have disagreement over our finally contracted payment amount. The company disappointed me several times in addition to the quality of workmanship and the cracking has already appeared:

1. No cut-thru for a spill/pipe in rear on a previous slap that we talked about initially,
2. refused to remove a stump or even contract a stump grinder after starting the project (I had to find someone to take care of this on my dime),
3. damage to blacktop in the rear that they “said” would be taken care of,
4. making me pay separate and out of pocket for the downspout drains that were clearly talked about
5. and a quirky unmatched flare at the road that doesn’t remotely match our previous driveway or others in our neighborhood.

Category: Archive, Misc, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: big pour, drain, driveway, hime, house, project, repair, subcontract

Posted By RichC on November 9, 2021

After learning to tie a Monkey Fist knot this past year, I decided to make a couple Christmas ornaments for my granddaughters. I was planning to attach them to their presents in December, but Brenda suggested they should have them before Christmas so that they could hang them on their tree. Yikes, now I need to get the little “year” tag done sooner!

Of course, even with my long to-do list, I found time to sit back a few minutes over the weekend after working outside. The autumn weather has been crisp, but with sunshine and no wind, it was very pleasant sitting in front of the fire on the back porch.

Category: Personal, Photos, Sailing, Tidbits, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: ani gif, anigif, backporch, chores, christmas, fire, gifts, granddaughters, knots, monkey fist, ornaments, projects, tdiclub

Posted By RichC on 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 was shocked at the views and retweets.

So for Music Monday, this post wrote itself and I’m including a YouTube clip highlighting Miles Davis and his “So What” composition.

Category: Financial, Music, Social Media, Video | No Comments »
Tags: charles payne, foxbusiness, idiom, idioms, jazz, miles davis, music monday, musicmonday, stock market, tweet, twitter, youtube