Posted By RichC on August 25, 2024
May the peace and tranquility one derives from imagining escaping to a cabin of solitude overlooking a mountain lake, be the same as when reading Proverbs.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Posted By RichC on August 24, 2024
So much for for trying to treat our tail and hairless Red Fox for mange with a feral cat in the area. Each morning or evening this black cat thinks I’m putting food out for her … or him?
So much for attempting to get the Ivermectin injected 
meatball to the right animal … although this feline will be cured whether it is mange or Covid19.
Posted By RichC on August 23, 2024
Well it has been a good run, that of my Fitbit smartwatch. According to long running rumors and a recent flurry of technology articles, these very long lasting 
Fitbit smartwatches (four days between charging) have finally officially met their end.
The Fitbit Versa 2 has been one of the best tech gadgets that I’ve ever had and I’d probably be lined up to buy another IF Google (who bought Fitbit) would continue to make and support them. BUT no, like HP did to my beloved Palm Pre and webOS … took the tech and patents that they wanted and flushed the brand down the toilet.
Very sad.
This week, Google unveiled its new Google Pixel Watch 3 at the Made by Google 2024 event, which showcased Google’s latest and greatest hardware. The Google Pixel Watch 3 is a true smartwatch, stuffed with features and boasting many of Fitbit’s best features, including its Daily Readiness Score. Usually available only for Fitbit Premium subscribers, Pixel Watch 3 owners get it absolutely free.
Unfortunately, we also saw some sad news for Fitbit fans: the Pixel Watch 3’s announcement spelled the end for other Fitbit smartwatches. Google quietly confirmed that there would never be another Fitbit Sense or Versa model produced. From now on, Fitbit-branded devices will be relegated to Google’s best fitness trackers: the Fitbit Inspire, Luxe, and Charge ranges. The smartwatch form factor would be exclusively reserved for the Pixel Watch line.
This is sad news. Fitbits were among the best cheap smartwatches you could buy: they lasted longer than most traditional smartwatches do today, and people loved the form factor. I know of at least three people in my everyday life who aren’t techie at all, who wear Fitbit Versa models they’ve had for years, and they love them. The Fitbit Versa 2 and 3, in particular, were very well received, and the Versa 3 hung onto the top spot of our best Fitbit guide for years after its introduction.
Posted By RichC on August 22, 2024
This past week the weather was cooler and clear … just right for evening and early morning skywatching. I didn’t bother to set up the Lumix GX8 camera on a tripod or use a different lens, but I did have the lightweight 14-140mm lens mounted and took a couple morning photos (above) and a photo at night (below).
For those who don’t pay attention to the supermoons, planets or constellations … the full moon in August is called the Sturgeon Moon.
The Full Moon in August is called Sturgeon Moon because of the large number of sturgeon fish that were found in the Great Lakes in North America this time of year.
The most common sturgeon in the Great Lakes is the lake sturgeon—males have a life span of 55 years, while females can live up to 150 years! It is also the American continent’s largest freshwater fish and can grow to over two meters long (6 feet) and weigh around 90 kilos (200 pounds).
Lake sturgeon was essential for Native American tribes living in the area and is the oldest and largest native species in the Great Lakes—the largest surface freshwater system in the world.
Posted By RichC on August 22, 2024
This content is restricted.
Posted By RichC on August 21, 2024
After spring gave way to summer, I put down a hardback book I started called “Red Nile — A Biography of the World’s Greatest River” by Robert Twigger, but after seeing this photo of a 22 feet, 2500 pound Crocodile in Niger, Africa, decided I wanted to pick it up again (it sits next to my reading chair in my home office).
The book is interesting in that those of us who see sizes through the eyes of our home countries (Europeans even more that Americans), have to rethink just how large 
the Nile River is (and Nile crocs too!) … or for that matter the immensity of Africa.
Posted By RichC on August 20, 2024
It is becoming the norm for me, but Tuesdays are often the day that I end up saving leftover weekend family photos to the MyDesultoryBlog.com.
Last weekend was a wedding in Maine for Taylor’s lifetime best friend Mike Agler. So Taylor (Mike’s best man) and Megan flew up to a beautiful and historic Inn to participate and celebrate with Mike, his now wife Addie and their families. They shared a few photos and video of just how much they enjoyed the settings and area. I could see them easily moving there IF the opportunity would arise. 😉
I’ll leave room below in case there is a better photo of the bride and groom.
Posted By RichC on August 19, 2024
After a mention of the phrase “time is on my side,” by an unmentioned Fox Business personality who thought it was a Rolling Stones title … it quickly lent itself to my Music Monday research list. It was “semi-correct” … but the song was actually “Time On My Side” and it was released first by a couple of other artists.
The song was written by Jerry Ragovoy (using the pseudonym “Norman Meade”) and first recorded by Kai Winding, according to a Wikipedia page. Then in 1964 it was first recored by “The Soul Queen of New Orleans,” Irma Thomas (that I remember from the Jimmy Buffett song, “Saxophone”). 😉
| Rolling Stones – “Time On My Side” | 1964 |
The Rolling Stones version release in 1964 peaked at #6 in the US and had an interesting “come to be” moment. It was “first recorded the
song in June 1964, within days of hearing it, at London’s Regent Sound studios. They used a briefer organ-only intro and guitars in place of horns to create a rock anthem song, with vocalist Mick Jagger imitating Thomas’ ad-libs. This looser arrangement was released as a single in the US, on September 25, 1964, and was included the following month on their US album 12 X 5.”
— LINK
Posted By RichC on August 18, 2024
Ridgid cordless tools have been my “go to” home power tool 
choice for some time now. If I were a contractor or tradesman, perhaps I’d pick a different brand, but for me having the Lifetime Service Agreement (LSA), mentioned previously, is the primary reason (although it is not perfect). Also, having them sold at the local Home Depot (like Craftsman Tools at Sears years ago) is another reason.
A few years ago, I purchased Ridgid’s largest spare battery (9Ah at the time) to pair with a 175 Watt Power Inverter and emergency iPhone or USB device charger. It has works just fine for a “short term” 110 volt backup power supply. I usually pair it with a “center of the room” lamp that uses and LED bulb … and works for at least 12 hours on a 9Ah battery.
Recently, I noticed that the Home Depot is now offering a larger Ridgid 12Ah battery in a two pack. Nice! If they weren’t $379.00 I would be interested and 
might double for an eBike conversion project?
Posted By RichC on August 17, 2024
Back in October of 2015, I was helping Taylor look for a “used” new car (he bought a BMW 528i) … and for me, the “wanting a diesel again bug” bit again, 
so I bought a 2010 BMW X5 35d that needed a little TLC (ie. a good deal).
So started a long process in getting it just the way I wanted it. Many modifications later and now well into the high odometer mileage life of a car (lots of road trips), it is still a beautiful SUV to me. It has definitely become a favorite do everything vehicle.
The driveway Wyze Cam had me admiring it again.