Posted By RichC on November 17, 2014
Hard to verify since Ino long using the iPad2 (now Air 2), but Apple has released an update iOS called 8.1.1. The update claims to “increase stability and performance” for those using older iPhones and iPads. This was a big complaint with the iPad 2 and will hopefully return performance to at what lease was acceptable on iOS7 for those still productive on older devices.
Posted By RichC on November 17, 2014
Amanda Brewer a 26 years old school teacher took this picture while cage-diving in South Africa. “What big teeth you have” … it does remind me of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale for those getting the seafaring version of the story.
Posted By RichC on November 17, 2014
I was hoping the global warming climate change gurus were right … and that at least those of use living in the midwest would have a little longer autumns and milder winters. Just joking, if you are planning to remind me just how serious an issue climate change is. Nevertheless, winter weather has arrived in earnest early in November this year as I shoveled our first measurable snowfall off the sidewalks. I suspect it will melt before the next snow, so won’t worry about the driveway (haven’t put the snowblower on the John Deere yet).
Posted By RichC on November 16, 2014
Checking the cold forecast for the week as I watch our fluffy snow coming down this afternoon deciding to either lazily settle back to watch some Sunday afternoon football … or get ambitious an go cut down the final dead tree? This one has fallen and is precariously leaning on another tree.
What to do, what to do? 
Posted By RichC on November 16, 2014
I’m not sure how essential this kind of added security is in the U.S. unless you are an “at risk” person … but I wouldn’t mind owning an SUV like this if I were living in a questionable overseas country. Great job by Texas Armoring in adding protection to a Mercedes, although not sure I’d be sitting so still behind the wheel with a AK-47 firing 7.62 rounds at my face?
This Is What It’s Like To Be Shot At With an AK 47 in a Mercedes Benz! SLOW MOTION VERSION IN 240 FPS: http://youtu.be/KHWGUQdMReY & PROOF THAT OUR CEO IS NOT A MANNEQUIN:http://youtu.be/Ar9j-IyEMck
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.”
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.
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.
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
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).