My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on July 2, 2025

A Kindle book on hold at the library arrived just as I finished the last book (checked out twice), so the timing for a summer read was perfect. Likely I’ll be slow in reading “Kent State: An American Tragedy” published in 2024 and written by Brian VanDeMark, but I will do my best.

First off I was impressed with the immediate political balance. Meaning that I expected a left leaning slant to the tragedy that rushed to defend the protesters and throw all the blame on the conservatives who attempted to tamp down the unrest in cities and college campuses in the late 1960s and early 70s. VanDeMark didn’t start this way, but instead covered the protest and ensuing violence that lead to harsher and harsher police and eventual National Guard responses.

I’m still early on in the book, so there will be plenty of time to analyze the heavy handed tactics Ohio governor Jim Rhodes was using quell the unrest in Ohio at the time.

I’m unsure if the author’s intent was to use quotes and references from the day that all to closely mimic what we are seeing today on college campuses and protests in our cities across the country, but it sure makes me think about it (I’m likely to write more about that later).

After posting this, I also listened to an excellent Leaders and Legends podcast interview with the author Brian VanDeMark and wanted to include the direct link above and audio below due to too many broken links over the years.

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Category: Audio, Books, Education, Memories, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: book, brian vandemark, drew, family, granddaughters, katelyn, kent state, kindle, leader and legends, ohio, reading, social unrest, vietnam war, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on July 1, 2025

When you’ve been in a house for 30 years (how is it possible that we built in 1995?), eventually you end up  remodeling, replacing and repairing nearly everything. Although I “thought” our house was well-built compared to most, eventually things wear out (replacing plumbing fixtures and valves last month with my granddaughter’s’ help – below) and houses need continual TLC. 

This past weekend was no exception. A leak appeared in our master bathroom so it was up into the attic and on an extension ladder (which I never really liked — especially with DadH shaking it) … and with 90 degree temperatures outside to make it even more miserable. Eventually … after too many trips up and down … I was able to climb up and down both inside and out to fix the problem. Of course there is the spot on the ceiling yet to deal with … just one more reason to remodel our aging and outdated master bathroom. 

Speaking of remodeling, Brenda and I aren’t yet in agreement. I would sort of like to tackle the project myself … but her ideas are beyond my ambition and likely capability. So I’ve suggested she start the process of designing and finding a company to tackle the project (she wants to vault the ceilings, move walls and piping). That sounds expensive and with career years behind us, I’d personally rather spend less rather than more.

Onto a video: A small deer (fawn) was not able to jump the fence to get over to where the mother deer was watching … and spent the afternoon running back and forth. Kind of cute, but has me thinking that with less and less rural … and more and more suburban and lifestyle in our area, the future for the wildlife in our area is grim. 

Category: Nature, Personal, Photos, Repairs, Video | No Comments »
Tags: attic, chores, deer, fawn, fence, homeownership, house, leak

Posted By RichC on June 30, 2025

Of course it would end up being a Music Monday repeat from several years ago, but since I’ve already snipped the ani-gif from SiriusXM’s The Bridge, I’ll continue on as an audio instead of the 1972 video. 

The album by Gary Wright (1943-1923), The Dream Weaver was released in 1975 and included the single Dream Weaver which became a hit in 1976. It is surprising to me (if correct?) that he was performing the song in 1972 but that it took an album and 4 years before it became a hit. I still remember it well.

Interesting an lesser known tidbit: While in England, Gary Wright played keyboards on former Beatle George Harrison‘s triple album All Things Must Pass (1970) —mentioned earlier this year on Music Monday — and so began a friendship that inspired the Indian religious themes and spirituality inherent in Wright’s subsequent songwriting like, “Dream Weaver” references (not drugs as some have suspected).
 

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Category: Music, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: dreamweaver, gary wright, music monday, musicmonday, repeat, siriusxm, thebridge

Posted By RichC on June 29, 2025

Here a few natural tips to try if you want to keep pests away — it is worth trying! 

Category: Environment, Nature, Social Media, Tidbits, Video | No Comments »
Tags: bug, ideas, insects, mp4, pests, tidbit, tidbits, tips, video, x.com

Posted By RichC on June 28, 2025

The “pet detected” (???) as the WyzeCam tells me everyday is likely not going to be long for the world. She is a young and a bit too bold in walking around the yard in the afternoon each day. Perhaps it is the heat or just no predators this time of year? Anyway, I enjoy seeing her growing up this year (there are 3 of them, but only one bold enough to roam the front yard in the afternoon). 

It is summer so as to make this a little more “sporting,” how about some Yogi Berra baseball “Yogi-isms?”

Category: Gadget, Human Interest, Nature, Sports, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: baseball, deer, wyzecam3, yogi berra, yogi-isms

Posted By RichC on June 27, 2025

It has been HOT … very HOT this week, soooo … I’ve been thinking about how much sun two of our air conditioning units receive on the west side of our red brick house (it gets hot).

• Are they as efficient as they could be?
• Should I shade them more?

Here’s was ChatGPT thinks:

Shading an outdoor air conditioning compressor unit can improve its efficiency, but the impact is moderate rather than dramatic. Here’s a balanced breakdown of the benefits and limitations:

 

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✅ Benefits of Shading an AC Compressor:

1. Improved Efficiency (Up to ~10%)
   On very hot and sunny days, placing the compressor in the shade can lower its operating temperature. Studies by the U.S. Department of Energy and utility companies suggest shading can improve efficiency by 2% to 10%, depending on conditions.
2. Reduced Heat Load
   The compressor’s job is to release heat from your home. If it’s baking in direct sunlight, the surrounding air is hotter, making it harder for the unit to expel that heat. Cooler ambient air (via shading) helps it cool more effectively.
3. Potentially Prolonged Lifespan
   Excessive heat can increase wear on components, especially if the compressor is working harder than necessary. Shading can reduce thermal stress on the unit over time.

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⚠️ Limitations and Considerations:

1. Airflow Is More Important Than Shade
   While shade helps, unobstructed airflow around the unit is critical. Improper shading (e.g., placing a box or tight enclosure around the compressor) can trap heat and reduce performance.
2. Natural Shade Is Better
   Using trees, shrubs, or structures placed a few feet away (not directly over or against the unit) is ideal. Artificial covers can work, but they must allow for full ventilation above and around the unit.
3. Placement and Climate Matter
   In very hot and dry areas, shading may have a more noticeable impact. In milder or humid climates, the gain might be negligible.

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Category: Advice, AI, Energy, Ideas, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: air conditioning, artificial intelligence, chatgpt, electricity, energy, shade, sun, temperature

Posted By RichC on June 26, 2025

If we are to be honest … every once in a while we notice quirks in our own personalities and habits. I caught myself this past weekend while my son-in-law Drew and I were putting away the dishes from the dishwasher. He has been around long enough to know where we keep plates, bowls, glasses and cup and was busy helping me put them away while we chatted. I caught myself … TOO LATE … in correcting the exact shelf and location for one of the cups — like it really matters! 

Yes, I recognize that I have a few eccentricities or perhaps an obsessive-compulsive trait that has me wanting something a certain way? I’ve never thought about it when asking Brenda to put my tools away or put the scissors back where we keep them (I’m convinced she purposely resists) … but when pointing the exact spot I keep a particular odd-ball cup … I noticed it.

So sorry Drew, I’ll work on it and try not to be so OCD (although he just smiled and put the cup away where I pointed). 

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Category: Human Interest, Misc, Personal, Productivity | No Comments »
Tags: cups, dishes, drew, ecentricities, habits, kitchen, mayo clinic, obsessive-compulisve, ocd, shelf, trait

Posted By RichC on June 25, 2025

While updating a few more Linux server items elsewhere today, I learned a little bit more that might help out my older “droplet” that refuses to function the way I want due to so much old software. Yes … overdue for an overhaul, but the older I get, the more comfortable and set in my ways I become.

This late day post is merely a test and an excuse to post a bunch of screen grabs from a Social Security and Medicare webinar I attended yesterday — nice job by CRFB.org.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization committed to educating the public on issues with significant fiscal policy impact.

Our bipartisan leadership comprises some of the nation’s leading budget experts, including many past heads of the House and Senate Budget Committees, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Government Accountability Office.

As an independent source of objective policy analysis, we regularly engage policymakers of both parties and help them develop and analyze proposals to improve the country’s fiscal and economic condition. These efforts have reinforced the Committee’s role as an authoritative voice for fiscal responsibility and an educational resource for policymakers and the general public. We are also a trusted budget watchdog that assists journalists across the country in understanding fiscal developments in Washington.

Category: Blogs, Financial, Retirement, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: crfb, medicare, screenshots, social security, testing, webinar

Posted By RichC on June 25, 2025

This is a test of the XPoster plugin debug mode and updating again.

Category: Blogs, Social Media | No Comments »
Tags: test

Posted By RichC on June 25, 2025

As a Father’s Day present, I received a very nice coffee table book about Gas Stations. Since I worked at a Sidney, Ohio I-75 gas station as a “pump jockey” when I turned 16 years old, it brought back some great memories of wearing the Shell uniform. I’ve commented a couple times before and still remember the part time job fondly.

I repeat it too often, but remember rolling the penny indicator 1/3 of a tick short every fill-up so as never to pump more gas per shift than I was collecting money for. Also there was an incentive to finish the pay period “in the green” and that difference would end up in my pay check! The big incentive was to sell quarts of oil since we would receive an additional 25 cents for every can of oil we sold. It was a priority to check the oil for as many customers as we could convince to check their oil level and show them the dip stick. 😉

Usually coffee table books aren’t for “reading” … but this one was a quick read with photos — thank you Katelyn, Drew and the girls (and for my very entertaining card too — see below). 

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Category: Automotive, Books, History, Memories, Video | No Comments »
Tags: book, coffee table, family, gas station, History, reading