My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on June 7, 2025

This week the long overdue task of polishing, brightening and coating the plastic headlights on three of our cars was on my to-do list. Our 2002 Honda Odyssey was likely the worst, but the others were not much better. Years ago I tried the toothpaste and rubbing compounds on several other cars, but without a “ceramic coating,” the yellowing and hazing reappeared.

This time a Cerakote kit that I’ve read about on automotive sites seemed like a better option. For $16.95 (now $17.95) on Amazon, even if off brands were cheaper, still seemed fair . Like I always do, if it is sized for one … it should work for three … right?  😉 

After the Odyssey, I tackled the 2010 BMW X5 35d next and the results weren’t bad. After this I’m sure the beams of the headlights will be a bit sharper for my aging eyes at night (I noticed the headlights were lousy driving home from my. granddaughters dance recital in Toledo).

The 2010 Acura RDX was not quite as stellar as the Honda, but still cleaned up nice. Below are sanding prep (2000 then 3000 grit) and a before (left) and after (right). 

Category: Acura, Automotive, BMW, Honda, Shopping | No Comments »
Tags: acura, amazon, BMW, cerakote, headlights, honda, odyssey, polishing, rdx, x5 35d

Posted By RichC on June 6, 2025

Testing a few Tech Friday blog updates that have scrambled the MDB server. For the “media” inclusion, here is a graph of 10-year Treasury yield this morning when the better than expected job numbers were released.

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Category: Blogs, Financial | No Comments »
Tags: jobs report, linux, server, tech friday, techfriday, test, update

Posted By RichC on June 6, 2025

When you supply personal data to ChatGPT, it may be accessed by OpenAI’s AI trainers, service providers, law enforcement (if legally required), or third-party apps (if integrated). Data is stored and potentially used for training unless you opt out, and breaches or model outputs could expose it further.

Other AI clients follow similar patterns, though some (e.g., Grok, Claude, NotebookLM, etc) have stricter default privacy settings. To protect your data, avoid sharing sensitive information, opt out of training, use privacy modes, and review provider policies carefully. Always assume that any data you input could be seen by humans or stored indefinitely, even with safeguards in place. (more…)

Category: AI, Privacy, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, chatgpt, claude, data, grok, privacy, psa, security

Posted By RichC on June 5, 2025

Brenda and I have successfully made another “trip around the sun” together, as the Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride song goes — 43 years now if my math is correct. We are now unofficially middle-aged in “married” years!
 

In the past I’ve posted a some maps saved to my “to blog on” folder (that’s not what it is called), so today I’ll include three after the ones yesterday illustrating an interesting way to look at the world post.

The one above is on the size of the Mediterranean sea compared to the United States. The one on the left was from a Wall Street Journal article on Reinforcing Europe’s Northern Front with Russia — interesting if you don’t realized where the northern borders are or the Baltic Sea is located. Finally below is one that was shared on social media on what the average hourly pay is in each state around the US — although I’m not sure how it is calculated? 

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Category: Misc, Music, Personal, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: anniversary, finland, jimmy buffett, maps, martina mcbride, Mediterranean Sea, norway, sweden, trip around the sun, wsj

Posted By RichC on June 4, 2025

As mentioned a few times before, I enjoy the visuals of maps, charts and the globe. One of the social media accounts that I follow on X.com is Brilliantmaps.com. A couple years ago they posted a visual of the country Chile compared to the U.S. and to Europe. Chile is a long, LONG, country. 😊 

Category: Human Interest, Misc, Social Media, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: brilliantmaps.com, chile, europe, geography, maps, united states, wikipedia, x.com

Posted By RichC on June 3, 2025

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, dance, drew, ellerie, family, granddaughters, katelyn, museum, peristyle, taylor, toledo

Posted By RichC on June 3, 2025

Here’s a note-taking tidbit from “out in left field” for those of us who have been taking shorthand notes their entire life and have never asked the question — or at least thought about it enough to even ponder the question?

When abbreviating the word continued or continue, do you scribble “cont, con’t, cont’d or contd” when you are taking notes? 

You might feel like there are many potential abbreviations that could be short for continued, like contd, cont’d, and con’t. If you’re struggling to remember which ones you’re supposed to use, you aren’t alone.

So, what’s the correct shortened version of the word continued?

There are two official abbreviations for continued: cont. and cont’d.

Link to ProWritingAd

Category: Education, Human Interest, Idioms, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: abbreviation, continue, continued, grammar, notetaking, prowritingad.com, writing

Posted By RichC on June 2, 2025

Although I mentioned the song “When Will I Be Loved” before on Music Monday … with the Linda Ronstadt version and her 1976 live performance in Germany … but didn’t realize that Vince Gill recorded the Everly Brothers song about 20 years later in 1994. Gill’s version was used in the the movie “8 seconds” which was a contemporary western film on the rodeo legend Lane Frost. Although I’ve never been attracted to “western” themed movies or television, I am adding this one to our movie list? 

So here are the three versions of “When Will I Be Loved.”
  

Do you have a favorite version? You know I do — 1975 of course!

Category: History, Movies, Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: 8 seconds, lane frost, linda ronstadt, Movies, vince gill, when will i be loved

Posted By RichC on June 1, 2025

While Katelyn was home with her family over the Memorial Day weekend, she made a comment about Drew’s hairline while he was swimming in the pool; she used the term “Widow’s Peak“ and it stuck with me as something “desultory” enough for MDB.

According to GrokAI (sketched an illustration too):

A widow’s peak is a distinctive V-shaped point in the hairline, typically centered on the forehead, where the hair converges into a downward peak. It’s a genetic trait, often inherited, and can vary in prominence from subtle to pronounced. The term originates from folklore, where it was associated with widows, as the shape resembled the peak of a widow’s hood worn in mourning. It’s seen in both men and women and can influence hairstyles, with some embracing it as a unique feature while others style their hair to minimize its appearance.

Perhaps the most prominent illustration of a Widow’s Peak that comes to my mind would be the legendary Count Dracula? I also thought of former speaker of the U.S.House, and Miami of Ohio grad, Paul Ryan … and supposedly the famous actress Marilyn Monroe once had a widows peak … although it is reported it was tweaked with some Hollywood electrolysis. Hm, who knew? 

Why is it Called a Widow’s Peak?

The widow’s peak is a physical trait most often noted for its name. Although the term “peak” is assumed to be a way of describing the distinct V shape, this trait actually has a more interesting reason for its name. The name can be traced back to 18th century England, where this hairline was originally thought to be a bad omen, signaling early widowhood. During this period, widows would typically wear a hat or hood that pointed down the middle of their forehead to signal widowhood. Thus, when a woman was born with this hairline that created a similar look to the headpiece worn by widows, it was assumed that that would be her fate.

LINK

Category: AI, Blogs, Human Interest, Misc, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: artificial intelligence, desultory, dracula, grok, hairline, katelyn, marilyn monroe, paul ryan, webmd, widows peak, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on May 31, 2025

Some of what I attempt to archive on MDB are the goings-on in our family for posterity. Taylor has definitely found his career niche and excels at socially interacting with coworkers and the citizens he serves in Batavia Township, Ohio.

In April it was putting on the Easter Bunny suit to the smile of children and parents and this month it was the grand opening of their “splashpad” at the community center (very impressive, BTW). His county’s local Clermont Sun newspaper published an article which included Taylor (archived PDF). It is wonderful to see how well Taylor fits in and has become an integral part of the community — and makes a mom and dad proud.

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Category: Archive, Local, Memories, Misc, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: batavia township, bowling, bowling ball, career, family, jeff pitts, jeffp, michael agler, planner, splashpad, taylor, zillow