Archive: A few leftover Valentine’s Day photos to make me smile
Posted By RichC on February 15, 2024
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Happy Valentine’s Day: A NEW, but OLD, television series for us
Posted By RichC on February 14, 2024
After subscribing to PeacockTV in order to watch one of the NFL playoff games this year, Brenda and I found a new but older television series call “The Office.” 
We are not so disconnected from popular TV entertainment to not have known about it, but just never spent time watching television when it was in production (9 seasons from 2005-2013). Still … like other comedy shows for me … it is addictive and we are now hooked on the series.
So for Valentine’s Day this year we enjoyed the “Dwight” meme and likely continue with another episode. We’re paying for PeacockTV streaming service another month beyond January … so we can eventually finish the show. Also we are looking forward to watching the movie “Oppenheimer” coming to PeacockTV on February 16, 2024.
My Favorite Commercial from Super Bowl LVIII was by Volkswagen: “An American Love Story” #video
Posted By RichC on February 13, 2024
As a long time Volkswagen guy … I enjoyed the “An American Love Story” commercial (YouTube) in Super Bowl LVIII. Of course there were a lot of creative advertisements, but the VW one tugged at my heart-strings.
Those who know me, know that I’ve had a memorable history with VW vehicles, from my high school years (water damaged photos above), to my friend Charlie‘s microbus, to Brenda’s Wolfsburg Golf, Katelyn and my Jetta TDI years, Taylor’s GTI and now their current Tiguan and AllTrack (click links above to see a few photos).
This commercial has me wanting to own a Volkswagen again (and therefore it works)!
The passing of Toby Keith makes for a sad Music Monday
Posted By RichC on February 12, 2024
The passing of a great American patriot and country music singer/songwriter Toby Keith Covel last week from stomach cancer at age 62 was depressing. Surprisingly I have not posted about Toby Keith in the past on the blog or for Music Monday, but really should have considering his impressive career and devotion our military and their families through the years.
| Toby Keith – “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” Youtube music video below the break |
No song triggers “The Angry American” in me as much as “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” inspired by the death of Toby Keith’s dad and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The reaction was so strong that the Commandant of the Marine Corps James L. Jones told Keith it was his duty as an American citizen to record the song. “It’s your job as an entertainer to lift the morale of the troops,” Jones said to Keith. “If you want to serve, that is what you can do.”
Super Bowl LVIII: The Chiefs beat the 49ers in OT
Posted By RichC on February 11, 2024
It was an excellent Super Bowl from a football fan perspective … especially if your favorite team wasn’t playing. Both Brenda and I were hoping to see the San Francisco 49ers win, but only because we’ve grown tired of seeing the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs and winning recent Super Bowls.
The game came down to the final seconds in the 4th quarter as Patrick Mahomes again marched his team down the field to tie and take it into overtime for only the second time in Super Bowl history.
The 49ers scored first in OT, but only 3 points, but then KC marched the ball down and scored 7 to win. Final score: SF 22 – KC 25
Sloothing a college friend, a shoe throwing incident and a seagull
Posted By RichC on February 11, 2024
While on vacation and walking the beach, Brenda threatened a bird with her sandal who was boldly getting a little to close to her while we were snacking on a granola bar. I laughed at her as the thought about ONE of the Christmas break trips to Florida with my college and a memory came rushing back. I had to relay it to Brenda BEFORE she threw her sandal. If my recall is correct, one of my friends, Doug Fitch (we called him “Frog”), threw his shoe at a seagull; it may have injury it, but we really don’t know since it did eventually flop away down the beach — so … Brenda kicked sand and decided not to throw her shoe (the Pelican and birds below were at risk, but I wanted an excuse to include the video)! 😊
As we talked about it, Brenda mentioned that she didn’t remember Doug? He was one year younger than Jerry, Don, Dallas and myself, but a really great guy next to live next to and hang out with in Founders Hall at ONU. The age/class difference would make him two years behind Brenda at the Raabe School of Pharmacy, so she would probably not have known him.
Anyway, one thing led to another and I decided to do some internet sleuthing after remembering he was from Crestline, Ohio. 
I figured he might have landed back in his home area since he had a serious girlfriend and close relationship with his family. Sure enough, it looks as if he ended up founding the “Fitch Pharm Farm” outside of Ashland, Ohio. I enjoyed reading the history … very cool.
Hm … it might be a great place to take the granddaughters or meet Katelyn and family to learn about Maple Syrup and buy some Ohio milled pancake mix (would be great to send some to Jerry Moody too)!
What doesn’t belong here? Very Waldo-ellian! #DDJ #humor
Posted By RichC on February 10, 2024
Ok … so the title of this post is questionable. The twisting of the “Where’s Waldo” picture game with the Orwellian like doublespeak obviously shows that I was too tired in preparing to add this photo to the blog.
My plan in putting this “snail shell” in a palm tree was to
- See if it would still be there the next time we walk through the trails to the beach and
- For our granddaughter to spot it in the photo and find it when they come to Florida for vacation.
They may need help with the “find it” part
of the challenge (but I am thinking about them!)
Look below break if you can’t see the snail shell …
Tech Friday: Are we getting closer to a foldable Apple iPhone?
Posted By RichC on February 9, 2024
As an Apple advocate and device user from the 1980s and someone who as been begging for a foldable iPhone flip phone (or even slider) since using and retiring a foldable Samsung SPH i500 PalmOS device years ago, “I can’t wait”… as I mentioned to tech influencer Evan Kirsten.
We seem to be getting closer, but according to rumors, “an appearance won’t be until at least 2026.” ☹️
Apple is reportedly developing iPhone prototypes that fold like flip phones
According to The Intelligence, Apple is developing ‘at least two’ prototypes for iPhones that can fold in half.
These designs both fold horizontally, in a classic flip-phone design, rather than folding vertically like a book.
But, don’t expect to see these hit the shelves any time soon, as Apple says they won’t be ready until at least 2026.
Apple is reportedly working on ‘at least two’ prototypes of the folding iPhone. The report suggests that these will be horizontally folding, as shown in this artist’s impression
One year plus a few weeks using MarsEdit for blogging #TBT
Posted By RichC on February 8, 2024
This probably should be a Tech Friday post, but since a year has passed since starting to use MarsEdit 5 instead of Open Live Writer on MyDesultoryBlog, but 
I’m making this a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT post.
After initially tinkering with the trial in January of 2023, I purchased a license and started using in full time. After upgrading my notebook with a new MacBook Air M2, there has been no reason to turn back. So far I’ve added a few custom macros to smooth out the glitches in the way I personally use it (differences from the now retired Microsoft LiveWriter) and find myself useing Copy’em more than ever for links and formating macros; I’m pretty happy with the software.
Daniel Jalkut, the creator of MarsEdit has also been responsive and helpful with my questions and I’ve been increasingly tempted to add another app from Red Sweater called FastScripts. Stay tuned.
Audiobook: “The Hundred Year Marathon” by Michael Pillsbury
Posted By RichC on February 7, 2024
Started a “new to me” audiobook by Michael Pillsbury titled “The Hundred Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy To Replace America As The Global Superpower.” 
His experience and expertise on China is pretty much unmatched so what he shares offers an intense look at understanding the Chinese longterm philosophy and strategy. The possibility … or perhaps reality … that the Chinese Communist Party running China is playing the long game compared to the west’s laissez faire economic system and politicians who wear blinders is eyeopening (pun) and reminds me of Eran Nitzans’ book from a few months ago.
Currently about halfway through, but I’m learning a lot.
One of the U.S. government’s leading China experts reveals the hidden strategy fueling that country’s rise – and how Americans have been seduced into helping China overtake us as the world’s leading superpower.
For more than forty years, the United States has played an indispensable role helping the Chinese government build a booming economy, develop its scientific and military capabilities, and take its place on the world stage, in the belief that China’s rise will bring us cooperation, diplomacy, and free trade. But what if the “China Dream” is to replace us, just as America replaced the British Empire, without firing a shot?
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.