Music Monday: Fleetwood Mac – “Over My Head” 2017 remastered
Posted By RichC on March 10, 2025
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We stay on the lookout for different crabs on our beach walks
Posted By RichC on March 9, 2025
While on our walk on the beach the other day, we spotted an unusual looking crab (posted a couple crab photos last month and this month too). After a little digging on the Internet, I think this crab appears to be a Florida Rough Box Crab (Calappa gallus) or a closely related species of Box Crab (Calappidae family) … and yes, I used ChatGPT (4.0) to research this from my photo. 😉
Here are some key details:
Identification & Appearance:
- Shell (Carapace): Dome-shaped, rough, and textured, often with sand or debris clinging to it for camouflage.
- Coloration: Typically reddish-brown, tan, or sandy-colored to blend into the beach environment.
- Claws: Box crabs have disproportionately large claws that they tuck under their bodies, giving them a “boxy” appearance when at rest.
- Legs: Short and sturdy, adapted for burrowing rather than swimming.
Habitat & Range:
- Found in shallow coastal waters, sandy beaches, and seafloors along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida.
- Often buries itself in sand for protection from predators and to ambush prey.
- Commonly found washed up on beaches after storms or rough surf.
Diet & Behavior:
- Primarily scavengers and carnivores, feeding on small mollusks, clams, and other shellfish by cracking their shells with powerful claws.
- Nocturnal behavior—most active at night while hunting or burrowing.
- Their camouflaged shell helps them avoid detection from predators like fish, birds, and larger crabs.
Interesting Facts:
- Sometimes referred to as a Shame-faced Crab due to how it tucks its claws under its body.
- Despite their intimidating look, they are not aggressive toward humans.
- Their natural defense mechanism is burying themselves in sand rather than fighting.
Is it too soon to talk about Graphite Aluminum-Ion batteries?
Posted By RichC on March 8, 2025
This is strictly a future hopeful and something I’ve read Tesla engineers are working on (Graphite Aluminum-Ion Batteries), but I can’t help but get excited about another new battery technology … yes again (see my 2005 post and unfortunately fallout and A123 bankruptcy in 2012). If it is truly going to be in the next Tesla vehicles and can solve the battery degradation, cold weather performance, fast charging 
problems … all for a lower cost than current lithium-ion batteries, then it is worth the added wait time … and they might even be better than the holy grail — Solid State Batteries.
Years ago (just spotted the link from 2006), I enjoyed visiting and test driving an early electric car — and the NmG was not ready for primetime (photo right). Now that many EV vehicles ARE ready and even exceeding what we’re familiar with in ICE vehicles, the real hurdles are:
- Charging infrastructure,
- Tme to recharge,
- Cold weather performance,
- Lower prices,
- and the unknown resale value / battery longevity.
EDIT add: Thought these were and interesting automotive statistics.
Tech Friday: An “On-This-Date” invention – The Telephone
Posted By RichC on March 7, 2025
This A.G.Bell Telegraphy patent filing was in a “history” email and decided that the hermit crab info using AI wasn’t really a fulfilling Tech Friday addition. So check out this patent that we still “sort of” use everyday … if cell and smartphones are included.
On March 7, 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for his revolutionary new invention: the telephone.
What do you know about Hermit Crabs and their stolen homes?
Posted By RichC on March 7, 2025
Brenda and I were debating crabs and shells after seeing a couple crabs on our beach walks and finding a beautifully polished Cowry/Cowrie shell (left).
I suspected that the hermit crab ate the snail forming the shell and used it for protection and “a home.” Of course I was wrong … but didn’t know it until AI sleuthing. Not being satisfied with the “text only” (below) … I fed the results into ElevenLabs for some audio.
ElevenLabs AI reading Grok AI information – text below break
Commentary: The President’s Joint Session of Congress Speech
Posted By RichC on March 6, 2025
President Donald J. Trump gave a 90 minute Joint Session of Congress speech on Tuesday night and since it went a bit late, I was unable to finish my commentary for TheHustings.News “right-hand” column (a request). Being a bit late, I’m unsure the editor will now find it timely enough to include, but am adding it to MyDesultoryBlog.
I’ve also been corresponding with a couple of other politically interested friends and one of them asked me about my process. I mentioned that I take notes on my iPad that helps me stay on topic. I don’t know if it helps the editor, but I also include my notes when sending to TheHustings.news (below the article).
I don’t always agree with all the commentary that I send … but try to fulfill the editor’s request and present a best case “right-column” support article. I justify this just as if I were a lawyer preparing a defense for a client or as a required assignment in a debate class to argue an assigned point of view. In my case, it is relatively easy to add commentary that supports a conservative, small government, Republican point of view, but it is not always to do the same for everything President Trump says (but is likely true about all politicians). 😉
America is Back
On March 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump stood before Congress and the American people to deliver a forceful, unapologetic vision for America’s future. Unwavering in his commitment to economic prosperity, national security, and restoring law and order, the President laid out a blueprint for a stronger and more prosperous nation—despite the predictable and ever-present resistance from the Democratic side of the aisle.
One of the most striking moments of the evening came when President Trump openly addressed the partisan divide that continues to define Washington DC. “Once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud,” he stated. “I could find a cure to the most devastating disease, announce the greatest economy in history, or bring crime to the lowest levels ever recorded, and these people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won’t do it no matter what.” His words resonated with millions of Americans who have witnessed firsthand the political obstruction and unwillingness of his opponents to acknowledge progress.
The speech was not without drama. Representative Al Green (D-TX) was removed from the chamber, a symbol of the deep-seated opposition Trump continues to face. Yet, despite the partisan theatrics, the President pressed forward with his ambitious agenda.
At the heart of Trump’s speech was a robust economic plan designed to put more money back into the pockets of American citizens. He announced sweeping tax cuts for all Americans, emphasizing a pro-worker, pro-business agenda that includes making these tax reductions permanent. Among the key components:
- No taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits.
- Tax-deductible interest on American-made car loans.
- Retroactive expensing for businesses, ensuring companies can reinvest and grow.
Taylor will be the Easter Bunny this year in his township
Posted By RichC on March 5, 2025
We received a fun message last week as Taylor announced that he was invited to be the Easter bunny for the families in Batavia Township. We saw a photo of him trying on the head from the costume and our family had a good laugh.
He will be a great bunny and has the perfect demeanor for little kids; I can’t think of anyone better to be dressed as the Easter Bunny (prepare yourself if you click more).
Happy Birthday Annalyn! We wish you were here!
Posted By RichC on March 4, 2025
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Music Monday: John Mellencamp and “Cherry Bomb” (1987)
Posted By RichC on March 3, 2025
For the fun of it, I veered from using SiriusXM and went with an old favorite streaming service, Pandora, for a couple days … because it streams on my Apple Watch to my AfterShokz headset.
One of the songs being streamed was the 1987 hit by John Cougar Mellencamp (mentioned before) called “Cherry Bomb.” Likely if you enjoy most of the music that I’ve posted on Music Monday in the past, you’ll enjoy John Mellencamp’s music as well. Although this song is from 1987, it still brings me back to “those glory days” … as my friend Jeff commented. 😊
| John Cougar Mellencamp – “Cherry Bomb” | 1987 |
Watched the SS United States being towed to the Gulf of America
Posted By RichC on March 2, 2025
The nearly 75 year old ocean liner, the SS United States, was towed southbound in the Atlantic Ocean on February 26, 2025 and headed towards its finally 
resting place in the Gulf of America (previously Gulf of Mexico) somewhere off the coast near Destin, Florida to become an artificial reef.
The 1951 (christened), 990 ft, 45,400 Ton displacement pride of the United States ship that still holds the record for “highest average speed in crossing the Atlantic Ocean” (see Blue Riband) back when steam powered ocean liners ruled the sea. It spent nearly 20 years transporting the fortunately travelers to and from Europe from its maiden voyage for the United States Lines until 
1969 when traveling by jet airliners made more sense.
After seeing the unusual twin funnels go by on our morning walk, Brenda and I fondly recalled our honeymoon cruise … and many family cruises … wondering what it would have been like to sail aboard one of the purpose-built ocean liners back in the day (the only one still in service is the RMS Queen Mary 2).
I can recalled back in my childhood our family “touring” the RMS Queen Elizabeth and my great Aunt and Uncle Grathwol’s stories of traveling across the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary. Thinking back, Brenda and I should have cruised on the SS Norway (was SS France) for our honeymoon (but really have no regrets a more modern cruise ship — the MS Starward was modern for the 1980s, but primitive compared to today massive, but “ugly” cruise ships). 😉
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.