RichC | December 16, 2025
It is the time of year that I do my best to reach out to my existing Consolidated Printing and Publishing Co. customers that I’m still serving. The gradual slowing down of my nearly 40 year old business continues and I’m still doing my best to keep loyal and long time customers satisfied. Is maintaining […]
RichC | December 8, 2025
Today’s “Freebird” for Music Monday by Lynyrd Skynyrd is a 1973 classic, but I also recently heard “Freebird!” being exclaimed as a joke Fox Business as a way to “break the monotony” of a conversation and humorously “make fun of” each other on the 12-2pm slotted “The Big Money Show.” So for today … here’s […]
RichC | December 5, 2025
If you’re like me, having an online calendar that automatically keeps things up-to-date has been super convenient. I’m referring to things like airlines and hotel reservations showing up when emails arrive after purchasing tickets or making reservations. It has also been helpful with personal events like invitations from my daughter for the events in their […]
RichC | November 20, 2025
Wednesday evening was a big “hold your breath” moment for nearly every investor who still has Nvidia stock in their savings or retirement portfolios (nearly all mutual funds, ETFs, index funds, etc). I suspect all portfolio managers were concerned that $NDVA’s quarterly earnings and guidance might show some sort of chip order and AI buildout […]
RichC | November 8, 2025
In keeping with yesterday’s “a day behind” theme, the Tech Friday post for this week will be “a day late.” Instead of on Friday … it will be on Saturday this week; I’ll hopefully catch up and will try not to make this a trend. 😊 As the dawn of the automobile did to the […]
RichC | November 2, 2025
Sunflowers … Good Morning. Woke up to the gold in your eyes, Petals unfolding, chasing the skies. Dew-kissed leaves on the windowsill, Whispering secrets that time can’t steal. The world’s still sleepy, but you’re my dawn, Turning the shadows ’til they’re gone. Heads held high, no storm too strong. You bloom where the wild winds […]
RichC | September 21, 2025
What do you call a dog that is part Labrador Retriever, part Collie and part Dalmatian? A Colaberation. 😊 (photo assistance by Grok)
RichC | September 7, 2025
There’s nothing like the frustration of going to the doctor and thinking they are being paid for what they are worth … but then getting a follow up “Explanation of Benefits” (EOB) from your insurance company letting you know how much they were billed and how much YOU now owe. ☹️ Last month I finally […]
RichC | September 2, 2025
Last month the artistic skills of ChatGPT’s “Sora” artificial intelligence was experimented with in an attempt to emulate a favorite oil painting by my grandmother, Ruth Bluhm. It was “ok” but nothing to really get too excited about … after all, I have the original. 😉 But … after looking at the 2024 post “May […]
RichC | August 25, 2025
A bit earlier in the summer the Moody Blues song from 1978 called “Driftwood” caught my attention. Perhaps I was in a “mellow” mood while listening to The Bridge on SiriusXM, but it was noted as a appropriate song from my past for Music Monday. Moody Blues – “Driftwood” | 1978 While listen […]
RichC | August 21, 2025
Flaw in AI assisted research (404 links). Artificial Intelligence generated segment below for a recent blog post — and all are broken/non-existent links: Record-low unemployment rates for most demographics, including native-born workers Historic median household income growth, reaching an all-time high of $68,703 in 2019 4.9 million Americans lifted out of poverty in a single year […]
RichC | August 15, 2025
Last month I had a discussion with a friend and we debated how much of what we read on the internet these days is being created by … or at least assisted by … artificial intelligence. It was more concerning to him since his children are old enough to be regular users of AI (unlike […]
RichC | August 14, 2025
Previously I added the chart below to a filler post and contemplated posting something to TheHustings.news … but instead wanted to test the “HTML coding ability” of ChatGPT. The AI was “so-so” … but required WAY too much tweaking on my part and ChatGPT adding 3-failed (404) links is unacceptable (highlight below). Of course when […]
RichC | August 9, 2025
Since someone commented to me online, knowing that I’ve been tinkering with AI chatbots, “How much should everyday non-business users be paying for artificial intelligence?” I thought to myself and then decided to test the new ChatGPT4o … better known as ChatGPT5 … what “it” thought we should be paying (BTW, ChatGPT5 “really likes designing […]
RichC | July 20, 2025
The different Almanac forecasts have always interested me. They always seem to be part mystical science and crafty word selection? Who knows, but I still enjoy reading whatever version of almanacs that are available … but I do miss the paper versions. 😊 Generally, Claude.AI has not been my AI choice … but this question […]
RichC | July 18, 2025
The rise of AI in search and browsing is a double-edged sword. On one hand, AI-powered tools offer efficiency, delivering quick, synthesized answers without the need to navigate multiple websites. For users, this can feel like a leap forward—why sift through links when a chatbot can summarize the best information? However, this convenience comes at […]
RichC | July 17, 2025
I couldn’t help but remember a Memorex tape advertisement that ran in the 1970s for cassette tapes (above) … then in the 1980s for VHS tapes … when seeing the photo below: “Is it live … or is it Memorex?“ What do you think of when you see the shape of this island off the coast […]
RichC | July 16, 2025
After finishing the book “Kent State: An American Tragedy” by Brian VanDeMark last week, it occurred to me that the tensions in the U.S. aren’t all that different today than they were in the late 1960s and 1970s. Radicals on the political left today (we often see Antifa), just as some with like minds did […]
RichC | July 11, 2025
The Bombardier beetle is a remarkable insect known for its unique and powerful chemical defense system. Belonging to the family Carabidae, these beetles are found on nearly every continent and are especially famous among entomologists and naturalists for the way they defend themselves from predators. Key Characteristics: Chemical Defense:The Bombardier beetle can eject a hot, […]
RichC | June 27, 2025
It has been HOT … very HOT this week, soooo … I’ve been thinking about how much sun two of our air conditioning units receive on the west side of our red brick house (it gets hot). Are they as efficient as they could be? Should I shade them more? Here’s was ChatGPT thinks: Shading […]
RichC | June 20, 2025
Grok AI and I have become good friends over the past few weeks. I’ve been using artificial intelligence — with some success — in order to fix a few ongoing issues with MDB and the Linux server that has served me well for the past decade or so. No … I’m not updating or doing […]
RichC | June 13, 2025
The heavier metal backed credit cards being issued by some banks these days seemed like a good idea when they first came out, but in reality (at least mine) … they don’t seem that much more durable than the plastic versions? The Capital One SAVOR credit card that I carry primarily for “restaurants and grocery […]
RichC | June 6, 2025
When you supply personal data to ChatGPT, it may be accessed by OpenAI’s AI trainers, service providers, law enforcement (if legally required), or third-party apps (if integrated). Data is stored and potentially used for training unless you opt out, and breaches or model outputs could expose it further. Other AI clients follow similar patterns, though […]
RichC | June 1, 2025
While Katelyn was home with her family over the Memorial Day weekend, she made a comment about Drew’s hairline while he was swimming in the pool; she used the term “Widow’s Peak“ and it stuck with me as something “desultory” enough for MDB. According to GrokAI (sketched an illustration too): A widow’s peak is a […]
RichC | May 23, 2025
After asking both ChatGPT and Grok for some “value investor, dividend stock” advice on May 2nd (see link), I received an invite from Gemini 2.5 Pro to test an update. So I decided to ask the same question just to see what Google’s Gemini would spit out. Unfortunately I must have picked a busy time […]
RichC | May 18, 2025
Decades ago I struggled mightily with Meniere’s Disease (and I was looking for an excuse to use the word “mightily”) 😊 … but after having a surgery under the stress of the time to improve my vertigo … the hearing in my right ear is nearly gone. It is a known problem for both the […]
RichC | May 16, 2025
Having tested and used ElevenLabs “text to speech” artificial intelligence software in the past, at newer “Voice Changer” (and clean up) application came available recently. I’m not sure where it might be useful, but I especially liked the “clean up” (removing background noise) and “speaker boost” filter … but unless there is a reason to […]
RichC | May 9, 2025
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, was elected as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025. His election marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy. He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on April […]
RichC | May 4, 2025
Rogue planets, also known as free-floating planets, are planetary bodies that drift through the Milky Way without orbiting a star. Unlike typical planets bound to a stellar system, these objects roam interstellar space, untethered by a parent star’s gravity. They’re intriguing because they challenge our understanding of planetary formation and survival in the harsh environment […]
RichC | April 13, 2025
I’ve been known to grumble and complain about big government and taxes most of my life, but I’m not alone. In fact, before I was even born there were versions of this poem being published in newspapers. So as April 15th nears (tax day in the U.S.), it seems like it should be added to […]
RichC | April 2, 2025
During one of our many longish 9-1/2 mile winter beach walks this year, Brenda and I came across a couple orange objects. The orange ball that washed up during a heavy surf was pretty obvious … since they are used along the shore to mark life guard protected zones and swimming areas. There was a […]
RichC | April 1, 2025
Can GrokAI really pull off an April Fools Day prank in a blog post? Nope … artificial intelligence better leave this to humans with the talent for comedy. 😊 In a shocking revelation, xAI scientists claim gravity reverses every April 1st for 24 hours. “It’s nature’s prank,” says Dr. Fictus, a totally real researcher. “People […]
RichC | March 21, 2025
Have you ever wondered how the yearly floating date for Easter is determined … or why it is so late this year (April 20, 2025)? Almanac.com had a great article, but since I’m thinking about Tech Friday today, here’s what Grok3 AI has to say about it. 😉 The date of Easter Sunday is determined […]
RichC | March 14, 2025
Since I’ve not truly committed to using artificial intelligence tools from one company, I’ve been attempting to put each of the leading AI tools through their paces. Earlier this week I tested Otter.AI to transcript from an audio recording … and now for Tech Friday this week it’s Google’s Gemini and the “Deep Research” tool […]
RichC | February 28, 2025
Since I did not take Latin in school (it wasn’t offered), there are legal terms and phrases that need to be looked up … even for someone who has been around a while. Someone mentioned “Caveat emptor” to me the other day and although I recognized it as a common term, it required a little […]
RichC | February 23, 2025
While contemplating a couple widely shared Psalms from the Old Testament, I was curious as to what artificial intelligence might think about them … so I asked ChatGPT. 😉 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 (NIV) This verse is a declaration of […]
RichC | February 12, 2025
Excellent speech by US Vice President JD Vance on artificial intelligence in a summit in Paris, France. He told European and Asian leaders that the United States will dominate AI. Worth watching. NEW: JD Vance speaks at an artificial intelligence summit in Paris, France, tells European and Asian leaders that the United States will dominate […]
RichC | January 27, 2025
As commented in the WSJ, “DeepSeek has sparked a deep freakout.“ Stock Market Today: Nvidia Stock Sinks in AI Rout Sparked by China’s DeepSeek The Chinese artificial-intelligence upstart has trained high-performing artificial intelligence models cheaply—and without the most advanced gear provided by Nvidia and others. That has pulled the rug from under global companies benefiting […]
RichC | January 27, 2025
“Reelin’ In the Years,” a song by American rock band Steely Dan was written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The song features Fagen on vocals and is an early example of their easily recognized sound. I found it interesting to read that Fagen thought it “dumb but effective,” and Becker said it was “no […]
RichC | December 31, 2024
Wishing all who read My Desultory Blog a Happy and Healthy New Year … and may you all have the household size you desire and live in an ideal sized home. Playing with #AI (results not verified, but interesting) A chart comparing the average household size to home square footage in the US from 1940 […]
RichC | December 27, 2024
It will likely be busy in our household this weekend (as we’re having a belated family Christmas) … but saw this Friday Filler photo on social media and thought it was interesting enough to share (I’m not sure it is real or AI — click for larger)?
RichC | December 19, 2024
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is infiltrating almost everything we do on a smartphone, tablet or computer these days. Last week, my X.com feed sent a message that “you should try generating an image of yourself” based on whatever data it collects. I suspect it relies on my profile information, but am not sure what else it […]
RichC | December 13, 2024
Although I don’t have an Apple Watch like Brenda, but I think one is coming my way for Christmas now that I have a modern iPhone (my Fitbit Versa 2 is “still ticking after taking a licking” — old Timex joke). One of the features or apps that does not exist, is an app for SiriusXM.I […]
RichC | December 6, 2024
The annual Corbett Christmas Letter has been reduced to the ubiquitous Christmas card printed by one of the many card producers (below). This year’s card was ordered before our Thanksgiving famly get-together and unique Google “Add Me” AI feature used in the photo above on Drew’s new Pixel 9. Very impressive — hey, Apple, get […]
RichC | November 22, 2024
This past week, while digging up answers for tax planning for a Barron’s Advisor group that I participate in, I searched for the standard 2024 deduction changes based on age, etc. At the top of my Brave Browser search (their Leo AI engine), which I’ve found helpful several times, pop the summary below: This recent search […]
RichC | October 25, 2024
Nobody really knows when the next recession will come, but economists and those of us who monitor investments would really like to know before it arrives. This week while moving a few more dollars to the sideline, at least until after the November 2024 election and until mid-January 2025 (parked in a 3-month CD) … I […]
RichC | October 7, 2024
So let’s just say that I’m impressed with the ability to use Google’s “experimental” AI NotebookLM to not only summarize articles, but also to create fake podcasts (“fake” in search of a better word?) So after preparing a post for Sunday, I mentioned the AI software experiment to my daughter and ask for an article […]
RichC | October 6, 2024
In September, I read a couple of articles (1 and 2) in the Wall Street Journal talking about coyotes in our suburban and urban America and sent a copy to Drew and Katelyn (their camera just picked up a coyote walking by the girls playhouse – click for video). Anyway, we’ve been seeing them for […]
RichC | September 11, 2024
In trying to do something a litte different in remembering September 11, 2001, I saw the help of AI just to see what today’s tech tools can offer. Most of us have certain memories seared into our minds of where we were and what we were doing. I found it interesting to see what artificial […]
RichC | June 14, 2024
After chatting with Brenda’s sisters and brother-in-laws about booking flights for a trip together, I mentioned that I was partial to Southwest Airlines. My brother-in-laws are both Delta fliers … and have a long history of booking business travel with the major airlines — I did feel as if I were ruffling feathers (text updates […]
RichC | 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 […]
RichC | October 27, 2023
“In other news” as the 6PM nightly news talking head would say, Rich broke his Fitbit Versa 2 watchband last night while raking the first drop of the leave this year. Bummer … but thankfully replacements on Amazon are just $7.99 or $9.99 for THREE (two of the three are the wrong colors for me, […]
RichC | March 12, 2023
This past week my son Taylor and I had a father-son dinner together at Chili’s and enjoyed some “desultory” conversation … from the Ukraine-Russia war to ChatGPT. Eventually he commented, “Dad, you should let the AI system write or rewrite your blog posts.” Hm … how about I just ask the Chatbot to write […]
RichC | November 16, 2019
Here’s a WIRED article that made me think … although it has a misleading title line, even if that is what caught my attention and started me reading it. When does user-friendliness, algorithms and anticipatory artificial intelligence that is designed to help us make decisions, end up becoming "I don’t need to think at all" […]