Posted By RichC on November 15, 2014
Some of the political hot-potato news this past week was related to self described “off the cuff” comments from MIT’s Jonathan Gruber a respected health economist. He helped craft President Obama’s health care law and was captured on video commenting about the “stupidity of the American voter” and suggesting the law was passed dishonestly (NYTimes). Democrats have been scrambling to distance themselves from Gruber, while the GOP (video above) and right wing blogs relish in the added fodder after their huge win early this month.
The key to passing the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) was to prevent the Congressional Budget Office from scoring the “spending” as federal taxes. Key to “selling” it to the public was to give Americans options as to how to obtain and finance health care coverage. Just as the government requires a business to install/pay for “government compliant” handicap access ramps without a “scored tax” by the C.B.O., Obamacare would mandate specific healthcare coverage to be purchased by all and require both businesses and individuals to aquire it on their own, or be subject to penalty.
Referring to the Congressional Budget Office, Mr. Gruber said in an academic panel discussion last year (a tape of which surfaced this week): “This bill was written in a tortured way to make sure the C.B.O. did not score the mandate as taxes. If C.B.O. scored the mandate as taxes, the bill dies.”
Category: Health, Politics, Video |
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Tags: congress, government, grubering, healthcare, mp4, obama, obamacare, Washington DC
Posted By RichC on November 14, 2014
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is the 2015 Green Truck of the Year announced by the Green Car Journal. It is the most fuel-efficient truck in the U.S. beating out four other trucks, including another Ram – the 1500 HFE. The other finalists included Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and the Ford F-150. The magazine made the announcement at the 46th annual San Antonio Auto and Truck Show.
more
Category: Automotive, Diesel |
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Tags: diesel, dodge, ecodiesel, truck
Posted By RichC on November 14, 2014
It’s official … the weather has turned cold in much of the country… Taylor in Williston, ND is below zero already; Katelyn and Drew in Minnesota are near the single digits (photo from Katelyn’s Juke) and here in Cincinnati I’m showing about about 19 degrees early Friday morning.
I know it happens every year (2010), but am always disappointed when autumn unofficially turns to winter. This is about the earliest I can remember having ice on our little pond (photo above)? I’m still holding out for a few more warm days.
Category: Weather |
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Tags: autumn, cincinnati, fall, minneapolis, weather, williston, winter
Posted By RichC on November 14, 2014
Sharing a intense photo featuring a “feeding” Great White Shark and a young seal in False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. *The Great Escapes* by Leisureescapes.net
Category: Nature, Photos |
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Tags: great white sharks, seal, south africa
Posted By RichC on November 13, 2014
So much for posting about refrigerator shopping … and good thing I measured.
appropriate Samsung RS22HDHPNSR Side by Side refrigerator
Today was “slow down day” since our old, ugly, broken fridge is still working and the size has me re-thinking the “good deal.” The previously mentioned refrigerator that I “was” planning to purchase is not going to fit our kitchen without some modification … and since buying the appropriate Samsung adds nearly $600 more to the price it is probably not the right time to buy (and Brenda wasn’t as convince we had to act now).
Category: Advice, Misc, Personal, Shopping |
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Tags: appliance, refrigerator, samsung
Posted By RichC on November 13, 2014
Last year about this time (almost exactly this time) I was shopping for a refrigerator to replace the very old one down in the Florida condo. 
Ever since then, the aging white Kitchen Aid refrigerator in our house just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore … even though it still keeps the condiments it cool. Ok, so that was a lousy joke, but what is shocking to me is the amount of “rust” showing up around the water dispenser. I’m not sure refrigerators should rust like that? Also, the brand has broken plastic parts that must weaken and get brittle with age? Anyway this time I started the search process (within dollar limits) and am considering those “fail zones” and avoiding Kitchen Aid – take note manufacturers if you want repeat customers and referrals.
Brenda and I are partial to a stainless look in keeping with the trend that moved away from “all white” and towards stainless steel. I was impressed with the engineering that went into our more expensive Bosch dishwasher, but am currently interested in really good sale price on a French door-ed Samsung with the very quiet “Twin Cooling Plus™ cooling system.” The size fits perfect in our kitchen’s opening and like the way the French doors close as compared to the Whirlpool. The ice maker is huge BUT could be a problem IF the cubes fall behind the rolling drawer freezer???
After going to the Home Depot and looking several models in person, I still have a few questions: I’m wondering if the sides will show and if the stainless steel matches the Bosch dishwasher (not that it matters) and what my wife thinks (now that matters)!
Category: Misc, Personal, Shopping |
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Tags: appliance, bosch, depot, home, refrigerator, samsung
Posted By RichC on November 12, 2014
Currently the Ello.co “minimalist” social network is in beta and
by invitation only and populated with creative types and fewer
social restraints. This is “pretty open” but I can’t say I’m overly
enthused with some of the content, although haven’t given it a fair shake.
The black and white and simplistic text and graphics on pages are appealing, as is the “plan” to remain ad-free. I was disappointed my normal @RichC was taken — so signed up as @RichCorbett and nosed around for 5 minutes. So far I haven’t adding many friends or started any posting … and will mention that I have a few “invites” – send me a message while I have them (first come, first served).
Category: Social Media |
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Tags: beta, ello, invite, networking, social
Posted By RichC on November 11, 2014
There was a day when being an Apple Macintosh computer user put one in the minority … but not anymore it seems. The photo below is of journalists in the White House press corps traveling in China … take a look at their desks.
The number of Apple logos made me chuckle and I could help but forwarded it to my recently converted buddy who at one time badmouthed Apple and ballyhooed Windows computers; Jeff, a network administrator once said he would never bring Apple devices into his network environment, but now has a work and personal iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Macbook Pro. Looks like I’m not the only one living an Apple Life.
Category: Apple, Computer, News, Politics |
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Tags: apple, computers, macbook pro, press corps, whitehouse
Posted By RichC on November 10, 2014
One of the highlights for parents who have “some” technological prowess is that we can stay in touch with our children no matter where they are living and working. Between instant cellphone, 
emails and text messages with our kids, Taylor, Katelyn and Drew, we also enjoy sharing photos and Facetime calls even for small things. Brenda and her mom chatted on video with Katelyn this weekend and 
Brenda was able to show new curio she picked up at an estate sale. Its not quite as nice as being together, but sure helps to stay connected.
Today our “group messaging” was about the snow and colder “polar air invasion” pushing into their area (North Dakota and Minnesota … photo below from Katelyn and Drew’s house in Wayzata, MN). I joked about just wearing shirt sleeves, raking a few leaves and getting in one final mow (Brenda on mower this afternoon) in here in Cincinnati.
Category: Personal, Photos, Weather |
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Tags: brenda, drew, family, katelyn, snow, taylor, weather
