Music Monday: Another year and more Van Morrison
Posted By RichC on April 17, 2017
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Learning the Lumix GX8 – Prime lens and flower pictures
Posted By RichC on April 16, 2017
With the buds and flowers popping this Easter weekend around Cincinnati, a sunny morning was a great opportunity to put the lesser used prime lens on my new Four Thirds Lumix GX8 camera. The 14-140 stabilized zoom is usually on my camera for convenience, but today I suspect the slightly faster f1.7 prime lens might be sharper at the smaller f16 and f22 aperture settings for colorful flowers … and know it is better for macro photography (focuses closer).
I’m still fighting with the “manual focus” mode (forgetting) as it is difficult to preview the images on a bright sunny day either on the small display or viewfinder (the photo at the top is way out of focus … therefore no “click-larger view” image).
Also before running outside for the depth-of-field closed aperture flowers photos, I pointed up at the ceiling fan for a series of shutter speed “stop action” tests.
Redbud trees are blooming as are the Lilacs, Magnolias, Tulips, etc (see a few more flowering plants below the break and “click” for larger photos).
Stand up for what you believe, but do it with love for one another
Posted By RichC on April 15, 2017
Standing up for your own views is a good thing. Recognizing the views and values of others is a great thing. Coming together in respect 
for others is much too rare a thing … but it is likely the only way we’ll find peace while living here on this earth.
Whether or not you accepted Jesus as your Savior or recognize the Deity of Christ (email me if you’re on the fence) … don’t let His teaching and message of LOVE for mankind get lost this Easter.
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. – Luke 15:4-7
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. – John 3:16-17
TechFriday: Lenovo Yoga 710, my everyday carry notebook
Posted By RichC on April 14, 2017
Last week someone asked me about my large screened notebook, the 15.6″ Lenovo Yoga 710 with an Intel i5-7200U CPU (2.50GHz), 8 GB memory and a rather smallish 256GB SSD. The question was whether I would recommend it. The answer is yes … if you can live with a couple small nits that I have mentioned before:
- right shift key
- questionable trackpad
- jumpy cursor (solved)
- small type resolution in the normal 100% full screen mode (adjustable)
Happy Anniversary Katelyn and Drew, plus drone video below
Posted By RichC on April 13, 2017
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Our Spring landscaping could use some sprucing up
Posted By RichC on April 12, 2017
It’s not exactly pristine landscaping this year at the Corbett abode, but seeing the rapidly growing grass and spring flowers popping out feels good. This is the first year that I recall actually missing winter.
A creative solution to washing hair with sparse facilities
Posted By RichC on April 12, 2017
Although this seems a tad bit goofy … as a backpacker, cruising sailor, vagabond traveler … there are occasions where water is limited or a proper bathroom facility is non-existent that this could come in handy.
Our Princess Annalyn is ready for the next StarWars movie
Posted By RichC on April 11, 2017
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Music Monday: Shambala, 1 of the top 10 Three Dog Night tunes
Posted By RichC on April 10, 2017
While listening to background music this past weekend (working on taxes), it became an easy decision post something on music. Next … decide 
which group and song to include without repeating something mentioned before on My Desultory Blog?
How about Three Dog Night???
The rock band was not necessarily in my record (or cassette tape) collection "back in the day," likely because their music was slightly before I was listening, but my college roommate Jerry Moody played their music all the time … so I listened.
One song, Shambala (written by Daniel Moore) never fails to get my toe tapping, so I’ll include the Three Dog Night version as the Music Monday song (it was also recorded by country artist B.W. Stevenson). Shambala was the first song on "side 2" of their CYAN album, but rose to a #3 single on the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 back in 1973 — I really have never given any attention (so why now?) As a performing group, Three Dog Night was in it’s heyday between 1969 and 1976 … with the original three lead singers reuniting the band in 1981 for a few years. 
They continued perform in the 1990s and 2000s with occasional changes in faces. Of the original "Three Dogs" —lead singers — only Danny Hutton continues to tour .. but to sold out venues, proving their sound and music is still enjoyed today! (Cory Wells passed way in 2015 and Chuck Negron left in the mid-1980s in his continuing heroin addiction struggle).
| Shambala | Three Dog Night – 1973 |
EDIT add from YouTube:
Netflix ratings system to thumbs up or down. Who is next?
Posted By RichC on April 9, 2017
Survey and ratings systems are a pet peeve of mine ever since finding out many places that use a rating scale (like 1- 5 or 0 – 10), will only count a perfect score as suitable to reward, 
complement or evaluate service, products and employees in a positive way. I’ve even stopped trying to offer constructive feedback since learning that often a slightly less than perfect score is recorded as a negative (particularly when it comes to a person and their service). Marking a 4 in a 5 point scale, or 9 in a 10 point scale is many times counted against an employee or team in an evaluation. Seems ridiculous right?
So my theory is to either rate a perfect score or not at all, unless a negative is really necessary … and in those cases post/add a comment as to why.
Netflix has decided against their old 5-star rating system and is going with a simple thumbs up or thumbs down (take a look next time you stream a movie). Good for them … it makes it easier and probably more effective … now how do we get service companies to do the same?
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.