My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on November 24, 2023

A week or so ago, I went looking for an image of a Killer Whale (Orca) … and wanted one that had the happy look of a smiling Shamu, etc. It didn’t need to be a “real photo” so thought it would be a simple task for one of the artificial intelligence assistance. Microsoft’s Bing copilot AI came to mind so I pulled up the “chat bot” and typed in my request for a “smiling orca.” 

Bing Image Creator happily produced this … although it was not exactly the smiling happy look that was envisioning!! YIKES!  I think AI still has a bit to learn?

Category: Art, Computer, Social Media, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, bing, image, killer whale, orca, smiling, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving traces its origins to the 1621 harvest celebration held by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This historic gathering marked a season of abundance and marked the beginning of a tradition that would become a cornerstone of American culture.

Thanksgiving serves as a universal reminder to thank our Creator for our life in America and a time to cherish the simple joys while extending a helping hand to those in need.

With a little help from a “multiculturally appropriate” BardAI jabber: 😉 

Expressing Gratitude: A Heartfelt Practice

Gratitude, the cornerstone of Thanksgiving, is a powerful emotion that has the potential to transform our lives. It’s a recognition of the good things in our lives, a willingness to appreciate the positive, and a deep sense of thankfulness for the blessings we often take for granted.

Taking time to express gratitude is not merely a formality; it’s a transformative practice that fosters inner peace, strengthens relationships, and cultivates a sense of contentment. By cultivating gratitude, we shift our focus from what we lack to the abundance that surrounds us, fostering a more positive and optimistic outlook on life.

Thanksgiving Traditions: A Tapestry of Customs

Thanksgiving is a holiday steeped in cherished traditions that bring families and communities together. From the aroma of a succulent turkey roasting in the oven to the heartwarming exchange of gifts, these customs create a tapestry of memories that are passed down through generations.

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Category: Holiday, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: ai, bard, family, gratitude, thanksgiving, turkey

Posted By RichC on November 22, 2023

To Repair or to Replace? That is the question. (a butchered William Shakespeare)

I’m struggling to make it through the day with my aging iPhone 7 plus. Besides the failing battery, the smartphone still satisfies my needs so I’m not jumping up and down to replace the phone … besides the new iPhone 15’s are not really being discounted .. YET. 

So as I watch the battery draining  and monitor my off and on “airplane mode,” it is time to contemplate a self-replace of the battery. It could be a little bit of a challenge, but really doesn’t look too bad … IF I can find a decent quality replacement battery for a low enough price??? 

Category: Cellphone, Gadget, Idioms, Shopping, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: amazon, battery, hamlet, iphone7plus, smartphone, william shakespeare

Posted By RichC on November 21, 2023

Category: Aviation, Photos, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: airplanes, aviation, boeing, interesting, sizes

Posted By RichC on November 20, 2023

The Grass Roots was an American rock band that achieved significant success between 1965 and 1975. The band’s origins trace back to the collaboration of songwriter duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri, along with the involvement of Lou Adler. 

For Music Monday, here is their 1971 hit “Sooner of Later” from “Their 16 Greatest Hits” album in that same year.

Formation and Early Years:

• The name “Grass Roots” (originally spelled as one word, “Grassroots”) emerged in mid-1965 as part of a band project by Sloan and Barri.
• Their record company, Dunhill Records, aimed to capitalize on the folk rock movement, and one of the songs they wrote was “Where Were You When I Needed You.”
• The initial version of The Grass Roots featured Sloan on lead vocals and guitar, along with Larry Knechtel (keyboards), Joe Osborn (bass), and Bones Howe (drums).
• The band gained airplay on Southern California radio stations with their cover of Bob Dylan’s song “Mr. Jones (Ballad of a Thin Man).”

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Category: Music | No Comments »
Tags: bing ai, grass roots, m4a, music monday, musicmonday, sooner or later, wikipedia

Posted By RichC on November 19, 2023

Panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee in 2006 (click for larger)

After a brief discussion and look at current and previous maps of Israel and the area Christians study (the Holy Land)  … prior to … and during the life of Jesus, I noticed that the Sea of Galilee as well as most landmarks have had a variety of names. Perhaps I’m late in life to intimately study the geography, but just as it is when traveling in ancient areas of Europe, measuring history in centuries is challenging for those of us in America (we live in such a young country). 

What is most intriguing, beside the variety of names, is that the distance of travel between areas for “travel by foot” is still significant. There definitely needed to be a reason to go beyond ones home town, family and livelihood. Perhaps this is why so much of Christ’s ministry took place around this body of water? 

In 1986 the Ancient Galilee Boat, also known as the Jesus Boat, was discovered on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee during a drought when water levels receded. It is an ancient fishing boat from the 1st century AD, and although there is no evidence directly linking the boat to Jesus and his disciples, it nevertheless is an example of the kind of boat that Jesus and his disciples, some of whom were fishermen, may have used.

In April 2011, Israel unveiled a 40-mile (64 km) hiking trail in Galilee for Christian pilgrims, called the “Jesus Trail”. It includes a network of footpaths, roads and bicycle paths linking sites central to the lives of Jesus and his disciples. It ends at Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus expounded his teachings. Another key attraction is the site where the Sea of Galilee’s water flows into the Jordan River, to which thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to be baptized every year.

LINK

Category: Faith, History, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: christianity, holy land, jesus, jordan river, maps, pano, panorama, sea of galilee

Posted By RichC on November 18, 2023

Just saving a couple photos after walking the debris covered walkway at Atlantic Dunes in Delray Beach, Florida after the “monsoon” of a November 2023 storm. The heavy surf wash away A LOT of sand beach and left a mess of branches and leaves on the trails we normally walk on. Thankfully the heavy wind, rains and low area flooding (ie. parking lots) gave way to sun and drier weather.

It was interesting walking and it will take a while for the beach to rebuild. It did remind me of a George Constanza  Seinfeld line … hence the title of this post. 

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Travel, Video | No Comments »
Tags: beach, delray beach, florida, mp4, rain, seinfeld, storm, wind

Posted By RichC on November 17, 2023

Really just testing a new X.com (Twitter) setup after the MyDesultoryBlog account stopped updating several months ago. An API change has made it more difficult for automated accounts to send out tweets.

Adding a photo to keep Apple aware that I still would really like an iPhone Flip! 😉 

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Social Media, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: api, flip, iphone, testing, x.com

Posted By RichC on November 16, 2023

Of course this was found on social media: X.com … so take it with a grain of salt 😊 (also tinkering with columns for WordPress)

🇨🇳 China – 0.5%

🇧🇷 Brazil – 5%

🇷🇺 Russia – 5%

🇦🇷 Argentina – 6.52%

🇮🇳 India – 10.5%

🇧🇩 Bangladesh – 12%

🇲🇽 Mexico – 12.9%

🇹🇷 Turkey – 17%

🇪🇸 Spain – 22%

🇿🇦 South Africa – 31%

🇮🇹 Italy – 34%

🇵🇰 Pakistan – 49~58%

🇬🇷 Greece – 51%

🇳🇬 Nigeria – 53~60%

🇩🇪 Germany – 56%

🇫🇷 France – 57%

🇵🇭 Philippines – 58%

🇧🇪 Belgium – 60%

🇦🇹 Austria – 73%

🇫🇮 Finland – 75%

🇨🇦 Canada – 83%

🇩🇰 Denmark – 86%

🇸🇪 Sweden – 89%

🇳🇴 Norway – 90%

🇦🇺 Australia – 92.8%

🇺🇸 USA – 95.5%

🇸🇬 Singapore – 96.43%

🇳🇿 New Zealand – 97.82%

🇬🇧 UK – 98.3%

🇮🇪 Ireland – 98.37%

🇧🇧 Barbados – 100%

🇬🇮 Gibraltar – 100%

Category: Blogs, Social Media, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: column, english, language, tidbit, twitter, x.com

Posted By RichC on November 15, 2023

After one year of Costco Executive membership it was time to ask the “is it worth it” question. Thankfully for us, after one year, it did pay for itself for the first year. For us, at least for the first year, being an Executive Member vs Gold Star Member at Costco did pay off, but we also bought too much stuff!

So how about in 2024?

After my back of the envelope calculations came up with a net gain of $26 for 2023, it was time to think about 2024; Do we upgrade or downgrade?  Last year’s sign up also included the $50 signup bonus whereas this year’s continuation will not? Hm?

The worth now comes down to our individual shopping habits and what we intend to purchase at Costco this year?

The Executive level membership costs $120 per year, which is double the cost of a Gold Star membership of $60. However, Citibank Credit Card Executive members receive a 2% cash back reward on all eligible purchases, up to $1,000 per year and can get free shipping on most online orders (we have not used that perk yet). The added plus, if you are close enough to use a Costco filling station, is that there is a 4% cash back on Costco gasoline (but depressingly no diesel pump).

So … if we spend the same this year as last, the 2% cash back rewards will still offset the additional $60 on top of the membership fee. We will go for another year. 

From Costco’s marketing pitch:

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Category: Advice, Financial, Shopping, Tidbits | No Comments »
Tags: analysis, cost benefit, costco, credit card, executive membership, Shopping