plans | My Desultory Blog

Tech Friday: Life after switching to Mint Mobile has been good

RichC | March 12, 2021

Back in January I switched my “off contract” iPhone7 Plus over to Mint Mobile and a month later switched over Brenda’s iPhone7. The transition was smooth and pretty much glitchless. Service from our previous Virgin Mobile then Boost Mobile plan is basically the same, although initially restricted me to 3GB of data per month (now […]

Category: Cellphone, Financial, Gadget, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, boost, carrier, Cellphone, contract, iphone, iphone7, mint mobile, plans, review, sprint, switching, t-mobile, tech friday, techfriday, virgin

Woodworking: Tinkering on a prototype desktop book stand

RichC | February 20, 2021

The weather has been … well, wintery and I’ve been working on a self-designed prototype desktop bookshelf or bookstand with the thought of making a couple of them. Unfortunately desks … let alone books … are disappearing as a Future of Everything WSJ article mentioned this past year. The design is relatively simple in that […]

Category: Books, Hobby, Personal, Photos, Tools, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: blade, Books, bookshelf, bookstand, dado, desk, flat grind, jig, office, plans, prototype, tablesaw, walnut, weather, woodworking, workshop

Tech Friday: The wireless carrier blues with a positive ending

RichC | July 6, 2018

It is never fun playing plan games with wireless carriers, especially if you have been 100% satisfied with everything "as is." After switching to VirginMobileUSA last year due to a SUPER promotion, I could not be happier with Virgin’s special price and service … but all good things seem to come to an end. This […]

Category: Advice, Cellphone, Productivity, Tablet, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: aaa, carrier, Cellphone, data, hotspot, plans, smartphone, sprint, tech friday, techfriday, ting, virgin mobile, wireless

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry

RichC | March 22, 2015

Last year about this time I had mentally decided that Brenda and I would be cruising the Bahamas aboard our sailboaat Encore in March 2015, but as “life happens” those dreams were not meant to be. As the year progressed, both of our surviving parents had health concerns requiring more of our attention, Encore started […]

Category: Personal, Sailing, Travel | No Comments »
Tags: cruising, diesel, encore, plans, sailboat, sailing, volvo

We switched our cell service to Ting.com this weekend

RichC | October 6, 2014

After a few months of talking, we finally switch two of our phones to Ting. Hopefully the service won’t change and that with only two of us on the account we’ll be able to save a few dollars. As I mentioned before, my daughter made the switch a couple months ago after her move to […]

Category: Apple, Cellphone, How-To | No Comments »
Tags: apple, carrier, Cellphone, iphone, plans, sprint, ting.com

Most Recent Posts

11/27/21: A practical lesson for students who insist that socialism works
… »
11/26/21: Tech Friday: Sengled could have updated users immediately
Trying to keep a mish-mash of smart devices running in our home is proving to be challenging. Not only do some devices deplete batteries at inconvenient times, but other fail due to technical glitches that I can only… »
11/25/21: Happy Thanksgiving 2021
It has been a challenging couple of years for most of the country and the world in not only combatting the Coronavirus pandemic’s loss of life and economic impact, but the psychological stress. I am thankful we in… »
11/24/21: How much control are you willing to give to the government?
America has split down the middle on a lot of things that many of us took for granted just a few years ago. Our individual liberty is being eroded away with the help of progressives using propaganda and the heavy hand… »
11/23/21: Filler Tuesday? An annoying animated gif from Twitter
Sort of planned to save this embedded Massimo tweet for a “Filler Friday” post or something … but needed something to plug a daily hole this week while getting ready for Thanksgiving. 😉 This… »
11/22/21: Music Monday: An Ohio State Football win and the Sloopy Girl
Katelyn, Drew, Megan and Taylor (and a few more Oostras!) enjoyed last Saturday afternoon in Columbus watching Ohio State demolish the “then” #7-ranked Michigan State Spartans. It was shocking to see how dominate… »
11/21/21: Phrases to avoid. Most of us can work on these.
Saw a longer list of phrases on CNBC’s "Make It" website last week but pick out a few that I hear (or say) quite often. The easiest to correct are probably the ones that we stop saying …… »
11/20/21: A quick trip to Florida so as not to waste an expiring ticket
Brenda and I flew to Florida with a “use it or lose it” expiring Southwest Airline ticket …and hopefully as a way to earn a future companion-pass ticket (we’ll see how that goes). We were there for a long… »
11/19/21: Tech Friday: Interesting electric heater and Bitcoin mining setup?
How about mining Bitcoin and heating your house (room) with the excess energy/heat? For small room portable heating and cryptocurrency mining this looks interesting (although personally I’d rather install solar… »
11/18/21: Ugly sweaters? Jerry, Gary, Mark, DadH and RichC for #TBT
Every once in a while a memory gets triggered … and it happened while looking in my closet for a fleece or sweater with the weather turning colder. The photo below is from Christmas in 1990 and it seemed apropos for… »
11/17/21: Purchased a fair-priced 2-year subscription to NordVPN
When it comes to privacy and security, especially when traveling or connecting in hotels and coffee shops, every cybersecurity expert recommends using a VPN … and especially when connecting overseas or to … »
11/16/21: Books: Joe Scarborough’s “Saving Freedom” about “a strange little man” called Harry Truman
The author Joe Scarborough is not one of my favorite TV commentators … although I did like him as a politician back in the 1990s. In 2020 he wrote (and narrated) a book published by Harper Collins called “Saving… »
11/15/21: Music Monday: Bruce Hornsby and “The Way It Is” #video
I’m recycling a Music Monday song from a few years back (2017) with Bruce Hornsby performing “The Way It Is” from the 1986 album by the same name … but this time not just audio, but the official video on… »
11/14/21: The LONG wait for a MAGFAST charging kit is near, well 2022
Prior to 2017, I backed a ThingCharger Kickstarter project that was an excellent product. It was overpriced for what it did, but I ended up buying a couple extras for gifts (Brenda’s phone charging in photo at Katelyn… »
11/13/21: Replaced MyQ module CR2450 battery on the garage door
For Christmas in 1999, Katelyn and Drew gave me the MyQ hardware to “smarten up” one of the garage doors … well at least the opener. It permits a smartphone to control, adding authorize users and ability monitor… »
11/12/21: Friday Filler: Tickling the ivories (a TikTok video snippet)
A few times before, I’ve highlighted unlikely … or maybe just surprising piano playing talent on My Desultory Blog … and this Friday Filler video is no different. The first was Jacob Toliver in an Ohio hardware… »
11/11/21: Keeping delivery trucks and van on our new driveway #TBT
Our driveway project is semi-wrapped up, but the landscaping company has yet to deliver our topsoil and river rock. The Creech’s rep did update me with a tentative date later this month, so we shall see if the weather… »
11/11/21: Spent a couple days in Perrysburg with our granddaughters
This content is restricted.… »
11/10/21: Hopefully the new driveway drain will correct puddling?
It may not be pretty, but hopefully the “fix” for the segment of driveway concrete that was poured when our driveway was replaced, without the proper pitch, will prevent puddling where the old and new concrete came… »
11/09/21: Making Monkey Fist ornaments and a fire on the back porch
After learning to tie a Monkey Fist knot this past year, I decided to make a couple Christmas ornaments for my granddaughters. I was planning to attach them to their presents in December, but Brenda suggested they… »
11/08/21: Music Monday: “We’re having a Miles Davis Rally”
Although I usually don’t purposely listen to jazz, I do appreciate hearing it when it is played and discussed. Last week when Fox Business host Charles Payne mentioned “We’re having a Miles Davis rally” in… »
11/07/21: A Blue Whale in clear water off the coast of Western Australia
Maybe it is just me, but seeing this drone photo of a Blue Whale off the coast of Western Australia was impressive. Australia is one of those countries on my bucket list, but it is such a long and expensive flight …… »
11/06/21: The Ridgid cordless tool LSA left me a little disappointed
The Ridgid brand of cordless tools have been my choice for the home workshop for a few years now and until this past week I have had a positive experience. Earlier this year Ridgid even replaced a couple failing… »
11/05/21: Advice: My current thoughts on hardware crypto wallets
Although I’m not an all-in cryptocurrency buyer, trader or investor (pick your poison), I do own and am accumulating small amounts of different crypto. After a fair amount of reading this past year, my conclusion is… »
11/04/21: Energy Independence: Oil was once dictated by OPEC #TBT
Not to many years ago, the United States was on its way to becoming energy independent … until the American fossil fuel industry came under attack from within our own country. This time the reason is not due to our… »
11/03/21: For many people, working 40 hours a week would be a dream
There was a Q & A “workfriend” letter in the New York Times a couple months ago suggesting that a “40 hours a week is not sustainable.” A 27 year old made the comment and it triggered my GOM (Grumpy… »
11/02/21: Archive: Our Halloween Trick or Treating Goblins for 2021
This content is restricted.… »
11/01/21: Music Monday: Boston Dynamics’ Robots emulate Mick Jagger
Last week the “Spot, robot dog” people at Boston Dynamics released a YouTube video of their robots dancing and moving like Mick Jagger to their 40-year old 1981 “Start Me Up” from the Rolling Stones Tattoo… »
10/31/21: The WorkerB Power Pack for the Sailrite LSZ-1 sewing machine
A new upgraded motor is now offered by Sailrite for their line of portable sewing machines (called the WorkerB Power Pack). The lack of slow speed control has been one of the only issues that we have had sewing with the… »
10/30/21: Our October 2021 vacation with KDAE to Delray Beach, Florida
This content is restricted.… »
10/29/21: Tech Friday: I removed Facebook (now Meta) from iOS devices
It has been a slow process in giving up on Facebook … now Meta. I really never used it much as a social media platform, but stayed in touch with family over the years with it. The past few years I’ve tried to check… »
10/28/21: A response test, but also an online advertising warning
I noticed that Thursday’s post disappeared from the blog so in a quick attempt to repost the graphic, here we go again. One of the “very small” perks of using the Brave browser on the web is that it… »
10/27/21: Production oriented 1950s old-school drywall skills #video
When it comes to tradesmen building houses, it is hard to beat an old-school drywall installer. Check out this vintage YouTube video:… »
10/26/21: Halloween gremlins creep in to finish off our Florida vacation
Let’s start with "we had a great time in Florida" this past week" (more to come) … but the cleanup weekend ended with a couple gremlins. I blame it on the "uncarved" pumpkins left by the… »
10/25/21: Music Monday: “We’re An American Band” LIVE in 1974
It is hard not to remember Grand Funk Railroad when you think about rock concerts from the 1970s (never attended though) and in particular their hit “We’re An American Band.” Here’s a LIVE… »
10/24/21: Embarrassing Ohio “First in Flight” License plate blunder
When your state takes pride in home of the Wright Brother’s and their “First in Flight” Wright B Flyer, you’ve got to at least get the flying direction correct. (Thanks for the link, Drew!) Ohio had to… »
10/23/21: Are you interested in Cryptocurrency? Where will you keep it?
It is probably inevitable that we will all be using cryptocurrency someday. The early adopters are already immersed and getting comfortable investing and trading it … perhaps too comfortable??? Risks of Leaving… »
10/22/21: Friday Filler: Splashing morning sunshine
Just a very short 10-second video slow-motion snippet as a Friday Filler post and to say “good morning.” /p>… »
10/21/21: The many political ‘ISMs’ discussed in our culture today #TBT
Every time I use political term with an “ism” these days, I sense I need to clarify the meaning as much as for myself as to the person I’m talking too. Often I’ll refer to an online resource in order to be sure… »
10/20/21: The Bankrupting of America – Stephen Moore for PragerU
Here’s a short video worth 5 minutes of your time to watch and to contemplate before Congress and President Biden makes our spending spree even worse. “You can’t spend what you don’t have… »
10/19/21: Archive: Long curtain rod without center support ideas?
While tuned into Fox Business over lunch last week, a segment highlighting people bulldozing beautiful homes in New York’s Long Island’s West Hamptons in order to build even more beautiful dream homes. One such… »
10/18/21: Music Monday: 1970s Orchestra music and “Nadia’s Theme”
Last week I heard Nadia’s Theme playing on SiriusXM 70s on 7 while driving and it brought back memories of listening to Henry Mancini’s orchestra as well as the 1976 recording by Perry Botkin Jr and Barry DeVorzon.… »
10/17/21: Pyramids: Amazing human-powered ancient engineering
Saw this last week posted on the @ArchaeoHistories Twitter feed. This is how the pyramids looked when they were built four thousand five hundred years ago. Where it was covered with white limestone and its top was made… »
10/16/21: Investors are concerned as the Fed tapers and inflation rises
A friend contemplating rolling over his 401K to an IRA asked me a bond investing question the other day as he would like to balance his portfolio of stocks by adding some bonds after the rollover. Since he has never… »
10/15/21: Friday Filler humor: Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force
Who doesn’t enjoy a funny military rivalry video clip. HA!… »
10/14/21: Our first Mercedes Benz sedan, but not the oldest #TBT
Although I’ve highlighted our 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL before (see photo in front of my parent’s house in Sidney) and this fall photo at West Branch State Park reminds me that autumn is the perfect time to take my… »
10/13/21: Tidbits: A favorite kitchen product – Glad Press’n Seal
When it comes to tools in the workshop, there are a few of them that I keep at arm’s length or in a small toolbox. The same goes for kitchen utensils and products. One of my favorites, if not thee favorite, is… »
10/12/21: From not being diversified to owning too many tickers?
For most investors, the normal criticism is that they are not diversified enough … or at least they often own too much of one sector or one stock (happened in the old days when companies often matched or did a partial… »
10/11/21: Music Monday: Redbone – “Come And Get Your Love” (LIVE)
In keeping with a inclusive music from the 1970s for Music Monday, you can’t get much more American melting-pot inclusive than the band Redbone. The Mexican-American / Native American rock band even gets their band… »
10/10/21: Archive: Weekend chores, family photos and a drip distraction
This content is restricted.… »
10/09/21: TRILLIONs more in spending? IRS tracking at the $600 level? Where are the sensible leaders in our Federal government?
If you think about it, the IRS will probably need far more than another $80 BILLION tax dollars to hire enough agents to track and follow up on every American who has a bank account or transaction over $600? A major… »
10/08/21: Book: “Arriving Today” by Christopher Mims (a WSJ+ selection)
Although my interest in productivity in running a business has waned a bit now that I’m no longer aggressively working or growing a small business, I still have curiosity when it comes to the direction things are… »
10/07/21: How do you prevent birds from hitting picture windows?
… Boom … Our new windows are really not that clean, but obviously the reflective quality is not helpful and looks painful for birds flying into them. I’m starting to wonder if we should rig up some kind of… »
10/06/21: What happens when you make a Rhinoceros angry?
… »
10/05/21: Logging in and adjusting to new My Desultory Blog security
I received an email from a regular blog reader questioning the new Sign-In feature that I implemented last month; it hinders anonymous viewing on My Desultory Blog for some posts. Yes it is a restrictive change, but it… »
10/05/21: Catch-up Tuesday personal blog posts are becoming a habit
This content is restricted.… »
10/04/21: Music Monday: Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
This content is restricted.… »
10/03/21: Patriotism and respect for our American Flag #audio
While slowly getting going on Saturday, the Fox and Friends Weekend broadcast was on in the background. A frustrating … and depressing story … from an older veteran, retired Col Leonard B Scott III, the “Old… »
10/02/21: The cooler weather has us enjoying working in the backyard
As summer turned to autumn, Brenda and I found ourselves enjoying a few more evenings and weekends walking around and working in the backyard. Last week it was cleaning up “the mound” (although we have a few) and… »
10/01/21: Lunch with Jeff, the economy, inflation and more nukes in China
What once was a weekly or at least bi-monthly lunch with my friend Jeff, has shifted to once every 3 months or so since COVID19. It’s not all due to the pandemic as changes in work habits and eating out habits has… »

November 2021
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

November 2021

Most Recent Posts

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

Search

Year(s) ago on this day

Archives

Categories

Most Used Tags

Contact

Meta