Rick
@rickkotrba.bsky.social
Lifelong Chicagoan, retired from careers including comedy writing & performing, television production & bookstore management.
Who invented text messaging anyway?
November 15, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Who invented text messaging anyway?
1. I enjoy consulting chatbots & post many of my adventures of that nature on Substack.
2. I have never used Grok.
3. This makes me want to not go anywhere near Grok.
2. I have never used Grok.
3. This makes me want to not go anywhere near Grok.
November 14, 2025 at 9:59 PM
1. I enjoy consulting chatbots & post many of my adventures of that nature on Substack.
2. I have never used Grok.
3. This makes me want to not go anywhere near Grok.
2. I have never used Grok.
3. This makes me want to not go anywhere near Grok.
Realizing that I didn’t honestly know what they officially call the form of government in Russia nowadays, I decided to look it up on Wikipedia.
They call it a “Federal semi-presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship.”
Okay, then. FSPRUAAD it is.
They call it a “Federal semi-presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship.”
Okay, then. FSPRUAAD it is.
November 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Realizing that I didn’t honestly know what they officially call the form of government in Russia nowadays, I decided to look it up on Wikipedia.
They call it a “Federal semi-presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship.”
Okay, then. FSPRUAAD it is.
They call it a “Federal semi-presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship.”
Okay, then. FSPRUAAD it is.
I wonder what was the first time in human history that something got renamed. There had to be a first instance, right?
November 14, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I wonder what was the first time in human history that something got renamed. There had to be a first instance, right?
Funny how some songs aren’t a big hit right away. Consider If I Had a Hammer, written in 1949, a 78 for the Weavers in 1950. It was a No. 10 hit for Peter, Paul & Mary in 1962 and won a Grammy & went to No. 3 a year later by Trini Lopez. More recordings would occur including one by Leonard Nimoy.
November 14, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Funny how some songs aren’t a big hit right away. Consider If I Had a Hammer, written in 1949, a 78 for the Weavers in 1950. It was a No. 10 hit for Peter, Paul & Mary in 1962 and won a Grammy & went to No. 3 a year later by Trini Lopez. More recordings would occur including one by Leonard Nimoy.
Great short memorable quotes can prove to be inspiring in perpetuity.
November 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Great short memorable quotes can prove to be inspiring in perpetuity.
I try to keep up with things. Really. You must believe me. But #1 on Bluesky is: Vine is rebooting as diVine. I’ve never heard of Vine. #2 is Ubisoft which for all I know could be toilet tissue. Then Fallout I thought might mean possible Presidential downfall in light of Epstein revelations but no!
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I try to keep up with things. Really. You must believe me. But #1 on Bluesky is: Vine is rebooting as diVine. I’ve never heard of Vine. #2 is Ubisoft which for all I know could be toilet tissue. Then Fallout I thought might mean possible Presidential downfall in light of Epstein revelations but no!
This Just In
“There is a MASSIVE COVERUP going on!”
I am old enough to recall how it played out on another occasion when there was a massive coverup within the federal government.
“There is a MASSIVE COVERUP going on!”
I am old enough to recall how it played out on another occasion when there was a massive coverup within the federal government.
November 12, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This Just In
“There is a MASSIVE COVERUP going on!”
I am old enough to recall how it played out on another occasion when there was a massive coverup within the federal government.
“There is a MASSIVE COVERUP going on!”
I am old enough to recall how it played out on another occasion when there was a massive coverup within the federal government.
Rick’s Geography Club
It would take me 59 hours to drive the 3,584 miles from my house in Chicago to the Goose Creek “Dr. Seuss Tower” in Alaska.
The good news is that the tolls would only cost $3.95.
It would take me 59 hours to drive the 3,584 miles from my house in Chicago to the Goose Creek “Dr. Seuss Tower” in Alaska.
The good news is that the tolls would only cost $3.95.
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Rick’s Geography Club
It would take me 59 hours to drive the 3,584 miles from my house in Chicago to the Goose Creek “Dr. Seuss Tower” in Alaska.
The good news is that the tolls would only cost $3.95.
It would take me 59 hours to drive the 3,584 miles from my house in Chicago to the Goose Creek “Dr. Seuss Tower” in Alaska.
The good news is that the tolls would only cost $3.95.
We could lower taxes by hiring me to be the spelling policeman.
For example, if I see a flower shop with a sign offering “bokays,” I can go in and write them a ticket and they have to pay a fine of $300.
For example, if I see a flower shop with a sign offering “bokays,” I can go in and write them a ticket and they have to pay a fine of $300.
November 10, 2025 at 6:50 PM
We could lower taxes by hiring me to be the spelling policeman.
For example, if I see a flower shop with a sign offering “bokays,” I can go in and write them a ticket and they have to pay a fine of $300.
For example, if I see a flower shop with a sign offering “bokays,” I can go in and write them a ticket and they have to pay a fine of $300.
For years, I used to do 7-LP record walls & my wife would have to guess the theme. One of the most insidious was Biblical Names. I remember it included an Enoch Light album and Peter, Paul, and Mary.
new record wall! will try to keep up with changing it each month.
here is November 2025:
here is November 2025:
November 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM
For years, I used to do 7-LP record walls & my wife would have to guess the theme. One of the most insidious was Biblical Names. I remember it included an Enoch Light album and Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Signs of the Times
The Dunkin’ shop in my neighborhood is warning ICE agents not to come in without a warrant. Looks like they’ll need to get their turkey cake or just their morning coffee and donuts somewhere else.
The Dunkin’ shop in my neighborhood is warning ICE agents not to come in without a warrant. Looks like they’ll need to get their turkey cake or just their morning coffee and donuts somewhere else.
November 9, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Signs of the Times
The Dunkin’ shop in my neighborhood is warning ICE agents not to come in without a warrant. Looks like they’ll need to get their turkey cake or just their morning coffee and donuts somewhere else.
The Dunkin’ shop in my neighborhood is warning ICE agents not to come in without a warrant. Looks like they’ll need to get their turkey cake or just their morning coffee and donuts somewhere else.
Rick’s Guilty Pleasures
I found the Copilot chatbot is perfectly willing to discuss minutiae of the Below Deck reality TV franchise with me.
I wasn’t sure whether to explain to it that that wasn’t a swimsuit, it was Rocky’s underwear.
I found the Copilot chatbot is perfectly willing to discuss minutiae of the Below Deck reality TV franchise with me.
I wasn’t sure whether to explain to it that that wasn’t a swimsuit, it was Rocky’s underwear.
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Rick’s Guilty Pleasures
I found the Copilot chatbot is perfectly willing to discuss minutiae of the Below Deck reality TV franchise with me.
I wasn’t sure whether to explain to it that that wasn’t a swimsuit, it was Rocky’s underwear.
I found the Copilot chatbot is perfectly willing to discuss minutiae of the Below Deck reality TV franchise with me.
I wasn’t sure whether to explain to it that that wasn’t a swimsuit, it was Rocky’s underwear.
So who ARE you people that opted to follow me here (112 so far)? Mostly total strangers. Presumably SOMETHING I posted made you consider me worth having in your feed. But few comment here. I’d really like to generate some INTERACTION! So introduce yourself & let’s see where it takes us, okay? (1/2)
November 8, 2025 at 11:21 PM
So who ARE you people that opted to follow me here (112 so far)? Mostly total strangers. Presumably SOMETHING I posted made you consider me worth having in your feed. But few comment here. I’d really like to generate some INTERACTION! So introduce yourself & let’s see where it takes us, okay? (1/2)
Rick’s Random Thought
Human faces fascinate me. Some are radiant and make me wish I could get to know the person behind them. Others don’t.
Human faces fascinate me. Some are radiant and make me wish I could get to know the person behind them. Others don’t.
November 8, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Rick’s Random Thought
Human faces fascinate me. Some are radiant and make me wish I could get to know the person behind them. Others don’t.
Human faces fascinate me. Some are radiant and make me wish I could get to know the person behind them. Others don’t.
Most people live places we’ve never heard of.
Consider Ferris, Illinois.
As of 2020, there were 127 people in 57 households in the village.
Seems like they are having a rather different experience from those of us in large cities.
I see a place to work & a place to worship & that’s about it.
Consider Ferris, Illinois.
As of 2020, there were 127 people in 57 households in the village.
Seems like they are having a rather different experience from those of us in large cities.
I see a place to work & a place to worship & that’s about it.
November 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Most people live places we’ve never heard of.
Consider Ferris, Illinois.
As of 2020, there were 127 people in 57 households in the village.
Seems like they are having a rather different experience from those of us in large cities.
I see a place to work & a place to worship & that’s about it.
Consider Ferris, Illinois.
As of 2020, there were 127 people in 57 households in the village.
Seems like they are having a rather different experience from those of us in large cities.
I see a place to work & a place to worship & that’s about it.
#NovemberMovieChallenge
Day 4 - cashier or grocery checker in a movie
Emilia Fox as Sharon who the protagonist has a crush on in Cashback (2004 short film expanded into a feature two years later)
Day 4 - cashier or grocery checker in a movie
Emilia Fox as Sharon who the protagonist has a crush on in Cashback (2004 short film expanded into a feature two years later)
November 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
#NovemberMovieChallenge
Day 4 - cashier or grocery checker in a movie
Emilia Fox as Sharon who the protagonist has a crush on in Cashback (2004 short film expanded into a feature two years later)
Day 4 - cashier or grocery checker in a movie
Emilia Fox as Sharon who the protagonist has a crush on in Cashback (2004 short film expanded into a feature two years later)
If you were a boy in the 1950s and shopped at Sears, you looked like a dork no matter which hat you picked.
November 4, 2025 at 6:19 PM
If you were a boy in the 1950s and shopped at Sears, you looked like a dork no matter which hat you picked.
Rick Consults a Chatbot
This is how Copilot evaluated my breakfast.
This is how Copilot evaluated my breakfast.
November 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Rick Consults a Chatbot
This is how Copilot evaluated my breakfast.
This is how Copilot evaluated my breakfast.
Rick Tries to Keep Up
Apparently Bill Maher is now dating Al Pacino’s ex (on his right). I don’t know who the other two women are but the one on the far left looks like she should be dating Woody from Toy Story.
Apparently Bill Maher is now dating Al Pacino’s ex (on his right). I don’t know who the other two women are but the one on the far left looks like she should be dating Woody from Toy Story.
November 4, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Rick Tries to Keep Up
Apparently Bill Maher is now dating Al Pacino’s ex (on his right). I don’t know who the other two women are but the one on the far left looks like she should be dating Woody from Toy Story.
Apparently Bill Maher is now dating Al Pacino’s ex (on his right). I don’t know who the other two women are but the one on the far left looks like she should be dating Woody from Toy Story.
The Evil Three from the 1953 Superman episode of the same name just endorsed Andrew Cuomo.
November 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
The Evil Three from the 1953 Superman episode of the same name just endorsed Andrew Cuomo.