Posted By RichC on March 31, 2024

Spring weather (video below the break out our back window below) and the celebration of Easter seemed to have appeared out of nowhere just as March 2024 ends.
Thought: Today will likely be the last time many of us see Easter appear on March 31st (the next time Easter will be on March 31, it will be 2086). Yikes!

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” —Job 19:25

While doing some Old Testament sleuthing regarding verses that reference the Messiah, our Jesus, I read a couple verses this week that I’ll share for contemplation. The prophesy and recorded history preceding the birth of Christ, reminded me that the concept of “time” is very human. It has little meaning when it comes to God’s Omnipotence (God is in total control of himself and his creation), Omniscience (God is the ultimate criterion of truth and falsity, so that his ideas are always true) and Omnipresence (God’s power and knowledge extend to all parts of his creation, he himself is present everywhere). Just like thinking about “infinity” …  it is not easy for humans to grasp. 

“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.” —Isaiah 25:8

  Happy Easter!  

(more…)

Category: Faith, Video, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: christianity, easter, forgiveness, jesus, old testament, resurrection, verses

Posted By RichC on March 30, 2024

Seeing Mallard Ducks show up in the spring “like clockwork” had me wondering just how long this particular pair has been showing up at our pool (still covered) and landscape pond … and how long they live (see below)? 

For years ducks show up in the spring, have been chased by our dog Tootsie (for the 17 years of her life), and usually find a place to nest — it is sometimes odd where eggs show up? 

Photo from March 2020

What’s the Average Lifespan of a Mallard Duck?

There are a lot of factors that determine how long a mallard will live. Young ducklings have a high mortality rate because of factors like adverse weather, predation, and human-influenced factors. In the wild, mallards that live beyond their first year will typically live between 5–10 years. Because of the high mortality rate of ducklings, the average lifespan of all ducklings is just 2 years old.

When well cared for, mallards kept in captivity can live as long as 20 years.

LINK

Also this was an excuse to pull out my Lumix GX-8 camera and long-focus lens, so click photos above for larger higher-resolution versions. BTW, I’m semi thinking ahead for the April 8th Solar Eclipse. 😉 

Category: Nature, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: duck, ducks, mallard, pond, pool, tootsie, yard

Posted By RichC on March 29, 2024

Computer backups and synchronized cloud data storage are topics I’ve addressed previously too many times. Last year I was pushed into tightening my subscription-belt after losing my free 1TB Miami University Google Workspace account and opted to give the economical iDrive a try. 

So after using it for a while now, I’ve concluded what I suspected, it is not perfect. It doesn’t synchronize like Microsoft’s OneDrive and is not as robust when it comes to backups as Google Drive. Still, once it is set up and running a few weeks, it does seem to regularly handle backing up both my MacBook Air and older iMac every night. Thankfully I’ve not needed to “restore” a back up yet and am hoping that my attached HDs and Apple’s Time Machine will suffice? 

As for synchronized cloud storage, I’m sticking with my paid subscription to Microsoft’s OneDrive for daily use as it has been nearly flawless … as have my free versions of Dropbox, Box.net, AWS, Apple iCloud and Google Drive accounts … all running through oDrive (another post someday). 

Category: Computer, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, aws, box.net, cloud storage, google drive, icloud, idrive, microsoft, odrive, onedrive, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on March 28, 2024

As we approach another presidential election in November 2024 (it is still a long way off) … I find myself wishing we had Ronald Reagan on the ballot.

I’ve yet to decide whether he put my political ideology into words, or if his political desires and presidency formed the positions I hold today? Whatever, this is worth watching and listening to in 2024.

“The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would steal them away.”

– Ronald Reagan

Category: Business, Education, History, Memories, Politics, TBT, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: election, government, interview, johnny carson, Politics, president, ronald reagan

Posted By RichC on March 27, 2024

Amazing day for the stock market again. It looks like more high inflation and that this kind of strong market confidence may push off Fed rate cuts until inflation drops closer to 2%, unemployment begins to rise or the entire economy hits the skids.

On the other hand, this  irrational exuberance looking excitement (Crypto, $RDDT, $DJT, etc) has me remembering a few of those strong run-ups in the past and what eventually happened. Gulp!

It is also looking more and more like the Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s third party campaign for president in November 2024 might be helping Donald Trump … not to mention Trump’s net worth rising. 

Category: Financial, Human Interest, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: $DJT, $RDDT, anigif, crypto, djia, economy, inflation, rfkjr, robert kennedy, shannahan

Posted By RichC on March 27, 2024

My friend Jeff has been busy traveling for business for the first half of 2024 and I “think” is scheduled to be in some 20 countries doing cybersecurity audits. I’m having a challenging time keeping up with his whereabouts, but do know after some time in Southeast Asia and New Zealand (video below) that he is now in Ghana, Africa. 

I’m looking forward to his eventual return and suspect his globetrotting with produce some interesting stories when we get together for lunch and coffees. Stay safe Jeff! 
 

Snippet video of the Volcanic Fields in Auckland, New Zealand

Category: Business, Friends, Nature, Travel, Video | No Comments »
Tags: africa, auckland, audits, cybersecurity, friend, ghana, jeff pitts, mp4, traveling, volcanic fields

Posted By RichC on March 26, 2024

As has become a routine, I’m archiving a couple family weekend photos. First, last week was Gigi’s rescue day (Taylor and Megan’s dog). It was in 2023 that they found her and after attempting to find the owner by posting signs etc … although they suspected she was abandoned after having puppies … adopted her as their own (creative photo Taylor!) 

Second, Katelyn decided to add some creative painting to her daughter’s (and mother’s) love of rainbows. 

Genesis 9:13-16

13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,

15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

And third, an AMAZING world title skating performance by Ilia Malinin on the March 23, 2024 — see NBC Sports YouTube clip below. 

(more…)

Category: Archive, Art, Faith, Personal, Photos, Sports, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: dog, family, figure skating, genesis, gigi, Ilia Malinin, katelyn, nbc, rainbow, rescue, sports, taylor, youtube

Posted By RichC on March 25, 2024

A Twitter/X.com social media contact from FoxBusiness, Brian Brenburg,  is a “DollarVinyl” shopper. He is always posting album covers that he finds for “a buck.” In January 2024 he posted one from The Steve Miller Band … that I once owned (college days and pre-basement-flood). It triggered a response from me and a 2007 live video of the band performing “Jet Airliner (2018 post)”. Great band and excellent music.

So for Music Monday, above is a LIVE performance video from 2007 and below a comment from the SMBOfficial.

(more…)

Category: Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: 2007, jet airliner, live, mp4, music monday, musicmonday, steve miller band, twitter, x.com

Posted By RichC on March 24, 2024

Today, Sunday March 24, 2024 is Palm Sunday … the Sunday before Easter. For Christians around the world, it commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. On this day, a cheering crowd greeted Jesus along the road, spreading their garments and palm branches before Him. For us today, it is time to get our hearts and minds ready to celebrate Easter … and to be prepared for the second coming of Jesus. 

It is also time for me to start counting down to April 15th … tax day … and a reminder for those who haven’t thought about it. I’m busy shuffling papers, downloading forms and planning out this year’s filing. Hopefully all will be in order and our filing will go smooth.  

So since I’m short on ambition, I’ll post a beautiful and “soothing to me” photo of the Marblehead Lighthouse shared online. The area and lighthouse has been a part of my history since going there with my parents and grandparents as a child (and even as a baby) … then while dating Brenda and eventually sailing during our years sailing Brenich and even Tulla! (1996 video below) 

Category: Faith, Misc, Personal, Photos, Sailing, Video | No Comments »
Tags: catawba, christianity, groupbiblestudy, island, lake erie, lighthouse, marblehead, ohio, palm, sunday, taxes

Posted By RichC on March 23, 2024

This should probably should have been a Tech Friday blog update post (or not at all?), but was something I noticed after cleaning up about 13 older posts with “issues.” Also I am hoping to test a “featured image” add-on to see if it work with social media alerts. 

Since 2005, I’ve been posting daily and the total number  is now over 8100 (it has become obvious when backing up data, photos and video). 

AND … to make this truly DESULTORY … here’s a photo from an X.com automotive discussion thread that has me to wanting to re-watch the 1973 movie, “American Graffiti.” 😊 

Category: Blogs, Movies, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: american graffiti, blog, movie, my desultory blog, posts, toad, twitter, x.com