My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on May 30, 2025

This past week, regular readers may have noticed MDB going down. I battled with it instead fo relaxing on Wednesday night — wasting time building an entire new Digital Ocean Droplet/Server with an overnight (automated while sleeping) older “snapshot” set to run and be updated with backup data Thursday morning.

Tech support wasn’t all that helpful wanting me to look at what was running using all the CPU, etc. I suspected a networking issue since there was significant pre-planned maintenance the day before my problems started?

Maintenance will begin as scheduled in 60 minutes.

Start time: May 27, 22:00 UTC

Estimated duration: 2 hours

Components affected:
API, Cloud Control Panel, Cloud Firewall, Networking – NYC3

By Thursday morning (5/29/2025), both servers were up and running just fine and my overnight build of a new droplet now seems like a waste (now “destroyed,” DO’s word for eliminating the droplet). Let’s hope all continues to run smoothly?

In the same Tech Friday vein as a server going down, one of my newer Wyze Cams failed to update. After a “chat” to review what could be done, they instead issued a Wyze credit towards a new product. Hm … do I really want another cam?

Category: Blogs, Gadget, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: cams, cpu, digital ocean, droplet, linux, maintenance, network, server, tech friday, techfriday, wyze

Posted By RichC on May 29, 2025

This is a blogging test of a MarsEdit feature to include content that is on a different server — a Memorial Day 8-plane backyard formation flyover (it didn’t work). ☹️  

Also, an interesting bit of Area-51 “Skunk Works” Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk development trivia: 

The stealth bomber prototype secretly developed at Area 51 in the 1970s, that became the now officially retired Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, was named after the invisible rabbit in the Jimmy Stewart film – “Harvey” 🤔

RichC’s X.com LINK

Category: Aviation, Blogs, Books, Social Media, Software, Tidbits, Video | No Comments »
Tags: f-117, flyover, harvey, jimmy stewart, kindle, marsedit, mp4, nighthawk, reading, Software, trivia, video

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2025

This content is restricted.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: annalyn, drew, ellerie, family, granddaughters, katelyn, oostra, peak design, zonked

Posted By RichC on May 27, 2025

FYI, I have zero understanding of climate science beyond knowing that it is a politically loaded topic. I’ve tried to remain balanced on pollution vs economic issues my entire life — advocating for saving the whales, birds and manatees and for clean water and air in the 1960-70s when human offensives were clearly noticeable … but started to question things in the 1980-90s when global cooling, then warming and peak oil alarmists were clearly political. I was even an advocate for harvesting crops and seaweed/algae for biodiesel in the 2000s. It only gets more confusing from there … to the point it became glacier melt, ozone layers and CO2 levels. 

Never the less, I did enjoy this video for the aesthetics and continued attention. 

Category: Biodiesel, Environment, Science, Video | No Comments »
Tags: biofuel, climate, co2, Environment, nasa, ozone, pollution, youtube

Posted By RichC on May 26, 2025

Although Memorial Day posts have generally been focused on honoring and remembering on MDB, I’m breaking the tradition and will include a Music Monday song titled “18 Summers” from the Christian artist Matthew West. It so happened that my daughter sent his YouTube video and a comment regarding college and her girls (still a decade off, mind you!) … to which I said that I’d be including Matthew West and his song on a Music Monday … I just didn’t think it would be on Memorial Day. 😉 

Anyway, “18 Summers” is one of those “pull on your heartstrings” kind of songs that especially yanks on a father-daughter bond (see last week’s Throwback Thursday #TBT), but likely impacts every family (the years go fast). Also, it is a well done song, a great video and worth including.

Category: Holiday, Music, Video | No Comments »
Tags: christian, matthew west, Memorial Day, music monday, musicmonday, wikipedia, youtube

Posted By RichC on May 25, 2025

As with previous archived tidbits, I’m saving two more from WoodSmith magazine this month that I might want to try. The one above is using painter’s tape to cut more precise hand-cut dovetails. If I try again, this might help? 

The tip below the break is for pocket dowels and screws, a technique that I generally don’t use … but I might give it a try if using dowels? For me, instead of pocket screws to pull a joint tight, I’ve used an end bored dowel to both align and strengthen a frame or door frame, but I do like the idea of using slippery flat faced locking pliers (welding clamps) to keep things aligned (image left and below)! 

(more…)

Category: Archive, Tidbits, Tools, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, locking pliers, magazine, snippets, tips, woodsmith, woodworking, workshop

Posted By RichC on May 24, 2025

The U.S. penny, a staple of American currency since 1787, will no longer be minted after 2026, as announced by the Treasury Department. The decision comes as the cost of producing a penny has soared to 3.7 cents, far exceeding its face value. With 114 billion pennies in circulation, the move aims to cut losses for the U.S. Mint, which reported an $85 million deficit on penny production last year.

The phase-out, backed by President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, reflects the penny’s diminishing relevance. Inflation has eroded its purchasing power, and many businesses already round transactions to the nearest nickel. However, the transition may pose challenges, as businesses will need to adjust pricing and cash-handling practices, potentially rounding transactions up or down.

The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Some see it as a practical step to eliminate an inefficient coin, while others, including collectors and small businesses, worry about the economic and cultural impact. The U.S. Mint is preparing for the change by planning commemorative coin designs for the 2026 Semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.

As the penny fades, its legacy as a symbol of American commerce endures, but its practical use in modern transactions appears to have reached its end.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Category: Financial, History, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: coins, currency, penny, us mint

Posted By RichC on May 23, 2025

After asking both ChatGPT and Grok for some “value investor, dividend stock” advice on May 2nd (see link), I received an invite from Gemini 2.5 Pro to test an update. So I decided to ask the same question just to see what Google’s Gemini would spit out. Unfortunately I must have picked a busy time and the results were slow compared to the artificial intelligence competitors … AND wouldn’t give recommentations.

Thinking summary: I will begin by performing Google searches to understand the current market sentiment and economic outlook for the next 12 months, and research general stock trading advice tailored for value investors, focusing on strategies that limit downside risk.

In parallel, I will search for dividend stocks that are currently favored by analysts for their stability and potential for gains over the next year, specifically looking for recommendations that align with value investing principles and risk mitigation.

I will analyze the gathered information to identify common themes in value investing advice and to select three dividend stock recommendations that appear to offer a good balance of limited risk and high potential gains, cross-referencing multiple sources.

Finally, I will synthesize this information to offer stock trading advice for value investors and recommend three dividend stock buys that limit risk of loss but offer the highest chance of gains over the next 12 months.

After 5 minutes of “thinking” .. I reset and asked again (three times different ways, but Gemini would not answer). ☹️ 

I understand you are asking for specific stock recommendations that fit your criteria of reducing downside risk while offering the best chance of strong returns in the next 12 months.

However, as I’ve mentioned, I am an AI assistant and I cannot provide specific stock recommendations or financial advice.

Here’s why this is the case:

1. It Would Be Irresponsible: Recommending specific stocks without a deep understanding of your personal financial situation, investment goals, risk tolerance, and existing portfolio would be irresponsible. Investment advice needs to be tailored to your individual circumstances.
2. Regulatory Limitations: Providing financial advice is a regulated activity that requires professional licensing. I am not a licensed financial advisor.
3. Market Unpredictability: The stock market is inherently volatile, and future performance is never guaranteed. What might seem like a good investment today could change based on numerous unforeseen factors. No one can definitively predict which stocks will have the “best chance of strong returns” while also ensuring “reduced downside risk” over a specific period like 12 months.

Instead of giving you direct recommendations, I can reiterate how one might go about researching stocks that could potentially align with such goals, keeping in mind the principles we’ve discussed:

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Category: AI, Financial | No Comments »
Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, chatgpt, failure, gemini, grok, investing, recommendations, stock, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on May 22, 2025

Democrats don’t want you to see what they are doing when they spend your taxdollars (and borrow more) … while Republicansl try to convince you that the Federal government needs to increase spending now and in order to cut spending later. 

BTW, the U.S. House passed the Trump backed One Big Beautiful Bill today. 

Key Points

• House passes Trump’s tax-and-spending bill, a major win for Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
• Bill extends expiring tax cuts, creates new ones, and cuts spending on Medicaid and nutrition assistance.
• Bill includes changes to SALT cap and Medicaid work requirements

Category: Financial, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: big beautiful bill, congress, dem, democrat, gop, republican

Posted By RichC on May 22, 2025

A “Year(s) Ago On This Day” highlight (column right) had me looking at a May 2011 photo of our family.

Katelyn’s NEOUCOM medical school graduation in 2011 made for a great memory for sure … but leaves me a little bit sad. Still, I’m so thankful all four parents were able to attend her graduation, but I wish they could have been “healthily” around for more. It was the last big event for all of them together and makes for a perfect for Throwback Thursday #TBT post.

It’s too bad my dad’s head was turned behind my mom, but it is still a great photo with MomC, DadC, MomH and DadH.  

Earlier this week Katelyn shared a Crossway.org Tim Keller post and it fit perfectly for today’s MDB post:

Keller loved to paraphrase the seventeenth-century poet George Herbert: “Death used to be an executioner, but the gospel has made him just a gardener.”

Category: Archive, Education, Memories, Personal, Photos, TBT | No Comments »
Tags: crossway.org, family, george herbert, graduation, grandparents, katelyn, medical school, neoucom, parents, TBT, tim keller, wikipedia