Israel’s 9/11: Hamas terrorist viciously attacked innocent civilians
Posted By RichC on October 10, 2023
Hatred runs deep in the middle-east as many in the Arab world have never accepted the State of Israel … which is probably an understatement. I haven’t posted on the “war” (as declared on Saturday by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) at this point since so much is unknown, but television news coverage is 24/7. I can’t imagine living in this powder keg region of the Holy Land, and now it is the worst it has ever been in my lifetime (and I was alive in 1967 and 1973). For the Jewish state, this attack and slaughter of civilians is a reminder of Adolf Hitler, the Nazis and The Holocaust.
On Saturday October 7, 2023, the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas located in the Gaza Strip in the south western corner of Israel, coordinated an attack using 1000s of rockets, drones and multiple wall incursions by armed killers into towns and military posts. Television and social media images saw them being cheered on by non-combatant Palestinians. This was an Iranian funded attack was weeks in the planning, according to the WSJ, and these Hamas terrorists murdered and butchered nearly 1000 Israeli citizens (over 100 discovered Monday, massacred in Kibbutz Be’eri near the Gaza border). They also took some of them as hostages back to Gaza. Most fear the number of dead will be higher and I assume that everyone knows that when the Israel military responds, that the lost of human live will be horrendously high. I’m not Jewish or an Israeli, but currently have little mercy as to the response. Exterminating Hamas is an appropriate human emotion at this point (also, 11 Americans were killed and some taken hostage we have been told).
For now we in America pray for a response from Israel that eliminates the terrorist threat and Hamas political rule in Gaza. There should never be a millitant threat from this area again (or from the Shia radical group Hezbollah, if they chose to strike from Lebanon – they are threatening). Even a measured response by Israel in such a heavily populated area in order to accomplishes the above objective is certainly going to see many more casualties. This is going to be a bloody war and will impact the the middle-east (and world peace) for a long time to come.
Music Monday: A Cover Band version of “Copperline”
Posted By RichC on October 9, 2023
It is hard for me not to enjoy almost any James Taylor music no matter who sings or plays the songs, but the music is especially enjoyable when it is the Lexington Lab Band (includes my schoolmate from high school, Rob Pottorf).
For Music Monday this week, here’s the group’s YouTube video of “Copperline” that was release by James Taylor on his album New Moon Shine in 1991. Well done gang.
Enlightening Biblical thoughts for the times in which we live
Posted By RichC on October 8, 2023
While doing a short devotional last week, few verses from chapter 4 of 2nd Timothy resinated with me. As with most Christians who spend time studying and reading the Bible, there are chapters and verses that often speak to us in the moment … or perhaps it just “wakes us up?”
For those of us in America who lived through the cultural revolution of the 1960s and 70s (thankfully as a child with sound parenting), we sense that a degrading rapid change is happening again. There is an attack on faith and it’s moral teachings … and for even those with traditional values and common sense outside of Christianity, it is apparent that there is an assault on America as we’ve known it. I know … it inevitably, but it is frightening to see such animosity toward our Christian faith, Biblical teachings and First Amendment right to practice and share our faith.
Books: Starting “The Next Hundred Years’ War” by Eran Nitzan
Posted By RichC on October 7, 2023
This past week I started a book titled “The Next Hundred Years’ War” — it grabbed my attention from the ‘Preface’ and captured my attention to the point I could not comfortably put it down.
Eran Nitzan, served as Israel’s economic attaché in Washington DC, and began his book with the back and forth conversation at a social meeting with different Chinese representatives. The polite back and forth highlights the difference between an “open” democracy and the “restrictive” Communist party’s hierarchy in a heavily controlled society; those representing China had little interests in social conversation, polite humor or sharing their personal opinions. Perhaps most interesting was the comment from a Chinese delegate that “you can’t feed a billion and a half people with democracy” (see excerpt below the break).
I can’t wait to see where the book takes readers has Mr. Nitzan addresses “the impact of the imminent war between China and the United States.”
Tech Friday: New Brydge Keyboard for my 10.2 inch iPad
Posted By RichC on October 6, 2023
This is really nothing new … it is just an exact replacement of the Brydge 10.2 inch keyboard for my iPad (new above and 2020 photo below). After a few years of heavy use, my second Brydge Keyboard, now out of warranty, was starting ot show some age. This well made keyboard has a couple design flaws that I’ve been able to overlook, but they are still annoying. First, the stick-on rubber skid pads fall off after only a few months of use. I’ve yet to find a glue or epoxy that will hold them in place. Again … really no big deal. Second, the charging port is weak and care must be taken when plugging in the micro-usb cable.
The third and bigger problem is that keys pops off. They are not fastened with any kind of secure mechanism that I could tell and required a dab of instant glue to 
hold them back on … until they pop off again. Unfortunately, with gluing, they are not exactly as they should be. Besides that, I’ve also noticed that occasionally the Bluetooth keyboard has dead or dying keys. It is most noticeable when tapping the space bar but not having it transmit the “space” to the iPad. Tap, tap, tap … and eventually it will respond .. but it does make for irritation.
The company has changed hands since purchasing my first and second keyboards and since I was well out of warranty, I did not expect a repair or replacement. What I did expect was a polite reply to my email, yet the company didn’t even respond to my issue. Thankfully I was able to shop around and find a NEW out of production version of this 10.2 keyboard for $35 (the company now makes something totally different). If this one lasts me until I’m in the market for a new iPad, I’ll call that a win.
Woodworking: A Rockler inspired table saw taper jig idea
Posted By RichC on October 5, 2023
This isn’t the first time I’ve admired the clean professional, 
but “make-able” jigs from Rockler. This taper jib would be great to have when and IF I decide to make nesting tables. I do already have a “questionable quality” … but adjustable … taper jig that I quickly made for the high chair project, but would really like to have one similar to the one below for my workshop.
This design has non-skid sandpaper patches plus hold downs with adjustable fence and knobs all on a thin, flat base with an aluminum slide for the table saw. It is definitely something I could duplicate … so I’ll add it to my idea files.
The Woolly Bear Indicator – what kind of winter is coming?
Posted By RichC on October 4, 2023
As the leaves begin to fall, it is a reminder that winter is around the corner. Will it be a harsh one or mild? Check with the Woolly Bear.
Canadian and U.S. folklore holds that the relative amounts of brown and black hair on a larva indicate the severity of the coming winter. It is believed that if a Pyrrharctia isabella’s brown band is wide, winter weather will be mild, and if the brown band is narrow, the winter will be severe. In a variation of this story, the color of stripes predicts the winter weather, with darker stripes indicating a harsher winter. In reality, hatchlings from the same clutch of eggs can display considerable variation in their color banding, and a larva’s brown band tends to widen with age as it molts.
Another version of this belief is that the direction in which a Pyrrharctia isabella crawls indicates the winter weather, with the caterpillar crawling south to escape colder weather. There is no scientific evidence for winter weather prediction by Pyrrharctia isabella.
Searching MDB: Current blog calendar navigation tip
Posted By RichC on October 3, 2023
Let’s just call this a PSA since I’ve been busy rethinking My Desultory Blog themes after updating to PHP 8.2 and how at least use the thousands of old blog entries for reference … or more precisely, remembering things!
Anyway, the monthly “Archives” section is the same (select a previous month), but the “Calendar” was changed a bit. I know that it is hardly ever used, but I do find it helpful in drilling down to a day that something was posted. For this example, clicking on October 24th (from back in 2005) will bring up the post on Hurricane Wilma. Wow, 18 years ago!
Music Monday: “Island” – Jimmy Buffett lives in my head
Posted By RichC on October 2, 2023
It is still difficult to believe that Jimmy Buffett in gone and won’t be making new music or touring. I know I still hear his music in my head and wish there was a way to go back a few decades to enjoy a new albums and songs every year all over again.
| Jimmy Buffett – “Island” (YouTube link) | 1981 |
But it is not to be and I’m still thankful for the many songs and good memories. Here is “Island” co-written by Buffett and Dave Loggins of “Please Come To Boston” fame. The song was from Coconut Telegraph in 1981 and is today’s Music Monday pick (click on image to play on YouTube).
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.