My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on September 22, 2024

The number of times that the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 has come up in conversation recently had me interested to know just what is so good or evil about it. To even have Former President Donald Trump declare he “hasn’t read it or even cares to know what is in it,” yet it still has far-left progressives and the Harris/Walz campaign all up in arms about a think-tank policy proposal. It had me intrigued enough to research a little bit  … and also let AI do some light summary work.

Project 2025 Summary

Project 2025 is a comprehensive plan to reshape the U.S. federal government, established in April 2022. Led by the Heritage Foundation, the initiative aims to implement the agenda and ideologies of former President Donald Trump. The project’s primary objectives are:

• Dismantle the Administrative State: Eliminate the independence of federal agencies, such as the Department of Justice, FBI, Federal Communications Commission, and Federal Trade Commission, and place them directly under presidential control.
• Restore Family Values: Emphasize the importance of family as the foundation of American life.
• Defend National Sovereignty and Borders: Strengthen border security and national defense.
• Secure Individual Rights: Protect God-given individual rights to live freely.

The project’s flagship publication, “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise” (2023), outlines policy suggestions from over 400 scholars and experts. Key proposals include:

• Eliminating the National Flood Insurance Program and replacing it with private insurers.

Placing the entire federal bureaucracy under direct presidential control, a concept known as “unitary executive theory.”

Brave AI

Category: AI, News, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: ai, heritage foundation, project 2025, summary

Posted By RichC on September 21, 2024

The new iPhone 16 Pro Max has arrived and the set-up process begins. Sorry for the distraction; I’m probably going to be “trying” to get the new phone up and running this weekend. 😊 

EDIT Add 9/21/2024: (more…)

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Personal, Photos, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, iphone, iphone16promax, setup

Posted By RichC on September 20, 2024

One of the “very few” complaints with the Apple MacBook Air M2 is that macOS Sonoma 14.6.1 (and likely all recent MacOS versions) does not have a way to make the menu bar smaller in height. This is the one display dimension that has been the most difficult to get use to in coming from twin 27” side-by-side displays (iMac and Apple LED Cinema Display). Even with the old iMac running MacOS Catalina v10.15.7 the menu bar did not “waste” as much vertical screen real estate as the MacBook. 

Comparing MacBook Air M2 Sonoma (left) to iMac 27” Catalina (right)

There is an control center adjustment to “hide” the menu bar on the MacBook Air, but …  and a big BUT … is that the space gained is only visually hiding the menu text and does gain any useable space. One gains nothing in the display height dimension unlike perhaps removing the visual space under the notch extending the full width of the MacBook’s display?

Come on Apple, “think a little different” (smarter) for those of us wanting just a little more useable space on our ever shrinking notebook computer displays. 

Category: Apple, Computer, Software, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, mac, macos, menu bar, pet peeve, tech friday, techfriday

Posted By RichC on September 19, 2024

For many Apple iPhone 16 pre-order folks, this image is an eye-opening reminder of all the versions of the iPhone that Apple as made since Steve Jobs introduced it in 2007. I was a Palm OS user back then and was either still using the Palm Treo models or just starting with the Palm Pre (a great little pocketable smartphone – 2009 photo in Treo phone mount to the left). 

For me, I’ve really owned just two iPhones (iPhone 5s and 7 Plus), although have included Brenda’s iPhone 14 with an arrow in the image (previously she had an iPhone 7 not highlighted) for model designation purposes.

Personally I think they are all looking the same and would love to see a bit more innovation … maybe a flip-phone like my favorite Samsung i500 SPH from 20+ years ago running Palm OS? Come on Apple, bring us something really innovative! 

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Gadget, TBT, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, History, iphone, TBT, throwback, thursday

Posted By RichC on September 18, 2024

Investors and traders on Wall Street started today in a pensive mood as all impatiently waited for the much telegraphed “first rate cut since 2020.” Market journalists debated if Chairman Powell and the Federal Reserve board members would see the slowing economy as a sign that their tightening polices had stifled inflation enough to managed a “soft landing” … or if the U.S. economy is tipping towards a recession. The jury was split as to whether the slowing economy warranted a 1/4 point or a full 1/2 point rate cut to start the cycle … or if the bigger cut might indicate we need to be more concerned.

As an amateur when it come to economics, I’m not sure if inflation has been whooped enough, or if it might cycle back? Are we in for a recession … or did the Fed step in at the right time with a big enough cut to prevent a collapse? Time will tell … but the markets ended the day a little fickle with today’s 1/2 point cut. 

Category: Financial, News | No Comments »
Tags: economy, federal reserve, investing, stock market, wsj

Posted By RichC on September 18, 2024

When thinking about seasonal weather forecasts, it is enjoyable to check in with The Old Farmer’s Almanac. It has become a regular habit … although I can’t say how accurate year to year how close they are to what really happens?  

I’d venture a guess that they are probably more accurate than hurricane forecasting.

Researchers predict a hyperactive 2024 hurricane season

On April 29, the Colorado State University Tropical Weather & Climate Research team released their forecast for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. They are expecting this season to be one of the most active in history.

They are predicting 23 named tropical storms or hurricanes, meaning the storm has reached a development stage with sustained winds of at least 39 mph.

From those 23 storms, they predict eleven of them will reach the status of hurricane and five will develop to at least category 5 with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or more.

LINK

EDIT add: Buzz Aldrin mentioned that last Saturday 9/14/2024 was International Observe the Moon Night, so I took the the time to enjoy the south sky view from our backyard. It was nice. 

Category: Weather | No Comments »
Tags: buzz aldrin, farmers almanac, forecasting, hurricane, moon, weather, wikipedia, winter

Posted By RichC on September 17, 2024

Most “guys” I know can get pretty anxious when waiting for a pre-ordered tech gadget to arrive (or perhaps even a new tool).  I ordered a new iPhone Pro 16 Max last Friday, which was the first day it was available to order … and besides wondering about having buyers remorse, I am anxious for it to arrive.

This afternoon, while updating my iPad to the latest iOS18, the Apple Silicone Case fitted for the new iPhone Pro 16 Max arrived (note the bigger size). After opening the box, I was a bit concerned that it is going to be too big for my pocket. The size compared to the Apple iPad and to the borrowed iPhone XS that I’m using, seemed considerable larger. Thankfully though, when looking at it compared to my old waterlogged iPhone 7 Plus (in new case below) … a phone that I’ve comfortably used for 7 years … it doesn’t seem quite as overwhelmingly large.

Still … I’m anxious for the phone to finally arrive … and impatiently waiting. 😊 

Category: Apple, Cellphone, Gadget, Photos, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: anigif, apple, brydge, ipad, iphone, iphone 16 pro max, preorder, silicone case, update

Posted By RichC on September 17, 2024

It has been a couple years since we added new thin layer of asphalt on top of the existing base layer and it was starting to show signs of cracking at the edges … nothing major, but weed roots are never good. So while it is dry and before winter this year, I decided it might be a good idea to seal it. The quotes came back high and we probably could have comfortably gone another year, but talked to the owner about petroleum prices dropping and he was able to tweak the price for me. So … we’re doing it in 2024.

While finishing up the Bame Utility Trailer refresh, I decide to add a couple coats of leftover Deks Olje that I had on the shelf from years ago (might have been from our first boat, but that doesn’t seem possible?)

Anyway, it should help the pressure treated lumber … and Oostra Oak shorty drop-in tailgate to to last for the rest of my life? FYI, the first presure treated sides and stakes lasted about 25 years without any finish! 

It did seem a little overkill to build a NICE drop-in tailgate out or 3/4″ Oak for a utility trailer, but it was a fun mini project. 😊

Category: Archive, Misc, Personal, Photos, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: asphalt, bame, blacktop, d, driveway, project, rear, sealing, trailer, utility

Posted By RichC on September 16, 2024

It has been a longtime since I’ve turned up the radio louder than normal in the car (my Menieres issues) … actually I can’t remember when; it has been that long. Anyway, over the weekend I was running out to the hardware store and picking up Brenda’s favorite takeout, Chinese “Sweet and Sour Chicken” while listening to SiriusXM channel 27 The Bridge. Linda Ronstadt’s memorable version of Phil Everly’s (Everly Brothers) 1960 top ten hit, “When Will I Be Loved” came on. I loved Linda Ronstadt’s harmonies that begin the song so I turned it up … and kept it playing louder than normal (do senior citizens still do that?) While listening it triggered a radio display photo for a Music Monday post.

Instead of the version off of her Heart Like A Wheel album, here’s and overseas live performance from YouTube in Offenbach, Germany back on November 16th, 1976 … and back then, I was still in high school! 

Category: Music, Recipe, Video | No Comments »
Tags: germany, linda ronstadt, live, music monday, musicmonday, offenlach, when will i be loved, youtube

Posted By RichC on September 15, 2024

The summer growing season is over and I’m eating the last of the tomatoes that KDAE brought from NW Ohio. They were a real treat and “all for me” since I’m the only one in the family who loves and eats tomatoes. They were so much better than store bought.

Also, I know I sort of promised not to archive more snippets from woodworking magazines, but because I’m staring at a couple of clamps on my workbench, I might need to build this (below). (more…)

Category: Archive, Ideas, Personal, Photos, Tidbits, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: clamps, garden, jorgensen, rack, tomatoes, workshop