Music Monday: Ringo Starr – “It Don’t Come Easy” (1971)
Posted By RichC on August 11, 2025
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The family is vacationing, I’m reading and saving a project idea
Posted By RichC on August 10, 2025
Today’s post is part photo archive, a project idea and a little on “what I’m reading this summer” — but I do miss the World War II history books of previous years.
KDAE were off to Colorado on a family vacation this past week and were enjoying there time hiking and outdoors. They were with Drew’s family and I could see by the photos that they were enjoying themselves … after a rough start (a little sickness delayed their departure by a day … but ended well). I’ve been praying for them and will be glad when they are home save and sound.
I’ve been reading a couple of different books this month, one a little dated on the “Coming Collapse of China” by Gordon G. Chang (“Plan Red,” an ebook is on hold at the library) … as is another that I”m first in line for 
called “On Power” by Mark Levin. Both sound interesting.
Finally … because I can’t figure out where else to save these couple of photos for a workshop welding project … here’s an idea for a grinder powered cut-off tool. There’s not much these handy 4 to 4-1/2” hand grinders aren’t being adapted to do. 😉
How much should non-business people be spending for AI?
Posted By RichC on August 9, 2025
Since someone commented to me online, knowing that I’ve been tinkering with AI chatbots, “How much should everyday non-business users be paying for artificial intelligence?”
I thought to myself and then decided to test the new ChatGPT4o … better known as ChatGPT5 … what “it” thought we should be paying (BTW, ChatGPT5 “really likes designing with the color purple). 😉
You raise an important point — while AI tools are powerful, their cost-to-value ratio can vary significantly for non-business, personal users. Here’s a breakdown to help assess what’s worth paying for:
Tech Friday: To cut ties or to continue with Google AdSense?
Posted By RichC on August 8, 2025
For years, Google-served ads have appeared in the headers and footers of My Desultory Blog. Each time removing them seems appealing, the realization hits that they generate enough 
income – though far less than in the early days — to cover server costs, so they remained.
Early this summer, tweaks were made to lessen their intrusiveness, but little changed. As August arrived, a near-decision to remove them rose to my thoughts again. However, recent changes at AdSense prompted a delay – a final decision is pending. 😉
Dear Publisher,
As previously announced, Google will begin using machine learning to estimate the age of signed-in users in the United States. Over the next few weeks, we’ll begin to roll out this update to a small set of users in the U.S. to help us further protect young people as they use Google products. We’ll closely monitor this before we roll it out more widely.
For our publisher ad products, when our machine learning model flags a Google signed-in user as likely under 18, they will be provided additional ad safeguards. This includes:
• Disabling ads personalization
• Disallowing sensitive creative categories from serving
These changes will be applied to demand served through Google publisher products (Ad Manager, AdSense, and AdMob) when Google account information is used. There is no action needed at this time.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
The Google AdSense Team
Crazy thinking about kids and going back to school already? #TBT
Posted By RichC on August 7, 2025
It is crazy to realize we are now in August already and soon kids across America will be going back to school (some actually start in July)! Anyway, for a #TBT triggering post, I spotted this video on social media that reminded me of the Ironing Board reenactment post of Brian Regan‘s comedy. Whoa … that was in 2008 … and is worth a click! 😊
Sort of getting an itch to work on cars again. Long overdue!
Posted By RichC on August 6, 2025
My favorite vehicle: 1994 Toyota 4Runner and first solo-drive: VW Karmann Ghia
A couple of automotive triggering discussions regarding “working on cars” came about over the weekend that triggered my thinking, “I should be working on cars in the garage again.” Maybe was the pleasant low-humidity weather or just seeing the Wyze cam videos of classic cars out for drives, or driving the Mercedes Benz 300d Turbodiesel on Saturday and Taylor chatting about working on the MGB (video from 2005) … but it did get me thinking about cars again. What’s next, getting fired up about sailing again – but only if Brenda’s bones can take it?
Mild weather weekends always bring out the classic cars rumbling slowly by. They give me the itch to get working on cars in my garage. #automotive pic.twitter.com/zzSyXT0ZTX
— Rich Corbett 🇺🇸 (@RichC)
A saved idea photo and jobs-related graphic July 2025 leftover
Posted By RichC on August 5, 2025
Since the previous post was a recap of Monday’s market rebound after Friday’s stock market selloff, I’m using this post as an excuse to get a 
couple of saved items out of the folder where I collect ideas for MDB.
The first photo one is a bit nutty if you ask me, but because it is used behind the scenes by someone regularly interviewed on television, it is generally never seen. I suspect those who need conference setups are always look for ring-lights and tripods to hold their camera/screen devices, but I’ve never quite seen one like this: A wooden stand that holds a notebook computer’s camera at a height acceptable for video chats and TV interviews. Perhaps it beats cords dangling everywhere, but there must be a better solution?
This second “saved image” is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics FRED graphic that illustrates the employment of Foreign Born employment vs Native Born U.S. employment from about 2011 to 2025. Notice that the index numbers were closer back in 2011 (actually equal in 2007) and that significantly more Foreign Born workers were being employed in the U.S. vs Native Born citizens. Both suffered in 2020 (Covid-19) BUT when business recovered and employment resumed after the pandemic (during the Biden administration), one group expanded much more rapidly that the other — can you guess when the border was opened and mass illegal immigration occurred?
It will be interesting to see if things change after 2025; will Native Born U.S. citizens continue to gain employment and will the deportation of illegal aliens boost wages and employment for Native Born U.S. workers? Time will tell if the Trump administration’s policies can continue to grow the domestic economy and job prospects for those “legally” working in the U.S.
After Friday’s sell-off, Monday 8/4/2025 felt better for investors
Posted By RichC on August 5, 2025
U.S. stocks surged on Monday, August 4, 2025, with major indexes like the Dow industrials climbing over 500 points, a gain of 1% or more. From utilities to meme stocks, the rally was broad-based, catching some investors 
off guard after last week’s volatility.
Markets faced turbulence late last week due to President Trump’s tariff announcements, a disappointing jobs report, and his decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These events spurred investors to increase bets on a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September.
“The speed of this market rebound was unexpected,” said Thomas Martin, senior portfolio manager at Globalt Investments. “I thought we’d see a deeper dip before buyers stepped in, but people aren’t waiting around.”
Music Monday: 1978’s SNL was definitely better than today
Posted By RichC on August 4, 2025
Who growing up in the 1970s or 1980s didn’t enjoy watching Saturday Night Live, or the program that just goes by SNL these days, once in a while? It is hard not run out of space 
to list the many talented comedians and actors that rose to fame while appearing on NBC’s unique weekly late night program. Did I get old … or are the show’s better days behind it?
I for one remember watching Jake and Elwood (John Bellucci and Dan Aykroyd) sing, dance and eventually perform in their band and act in The Blues Brothers movie. So for this week on Music Monday, here’s a segment from X.com (ignore the TikTok banner) from SNL in 1978. Great memories and a talented duo.
Archive: A few photos and chores from around home weekend
Posted By RichC on August 3, 2025
Look at the feelers on this moth (link). God’s creation in nature is amazing!
It has been so much more pleasant this weekend compared to last — weather wise – and besides mowing, decided to remove a couple overgrown low-spreading bushes in our half-moon. We didn’t plant flowers as usual this year knowing it was something we’ve been wanted to tackle. One thing I hate about aging landscaping is that the root systems generally take hold and make them nearly impossible to dig out. The John Deere 330 wasn’t able to put enough pressure on the plants so seeing that chaining it to the BMW X5 35d worked so well last weekend, decided to do the same again. I worked.
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.