tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40411957774929809422024-03-17T20:03:28.791-07:00Dr. Bob's Reviews, Ratings, Repairs, and RecommendationsReviews of products and techniques, explanations of repairs I've made, and recommendations (and unrecommendations). Disclaimer: I'm describing what I did. If you attempt the same, do so at your own risk. Your mileage may vary.Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-91362691009747350382022-06-29T11:31:00.000-07:002022-06-29T11:31:27.751-07:00Wireless Rii Keyboard and Mouse RKM 709 Easy Set Up and Use<p>A few years ago, I took "the Alaska cruise" through the inside passage from Juneau to Vancouver. I took a camera and a notebook (the paper and cardboard kind) to keep a record of my experience. As it turned out, I discovered that I could teransmit my reactions and assesments, my feelings and my judgments, much better by typing them in than by handwriting them. At that time I was happy enough to have a 7-inch tablet and a wireless keyboard. It was "a wonderful solution to all difficulties," (to paraphrase Swift). So when the opportunity arose to take another trip, this time to Hawaii, I searched for a similar set up to record my progress, discoveries, thoughts, and--should it occur--wisdom.</p><p>In keeping with my usual investigative strategy, I fed the data monster several search strings, including "wireless keyboard," "miniature keyboard," and such like.</p><p>Long story short, the Rii RKM709 2.4 Gigahertz wireless keyboard and mouse combination looked almost too good to be true. So I ordered one and it arrived in a couple of days. The items were nicelyk packed in a color-printed box (white background with black, blue, and turquoise accents. </p><p>But will it work with my system? The manufacturer says the keyboard and mouse are compatible with USB 2.0 or later, Windows XP,Vista, CE, 7, 8, 10; Mac OS, IOS, OSX, Linux, Android OS with USB interface, Amazon FIRE TV, Smart TV. My test set up was a Dell Core I7,</p>
I hope you will give it a try.
<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=virtualsalt-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B07BF3LFN3&asins=B07BF3LFN3&linkId=bda48639393079effe06a2a7ff074ec7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-4530454589770361322022-02-06T20:27:00.002-08:002022-02-06T21:11:57.815-08:00The Book of Ten Sayings 7The seventh entry in the Book of Ten Sayings might appear to be simple, but it actually counsels us to deep and ongoing thought, thorough and penetrating analysis. The saying is, <div><b>"Look to the end."</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>1. "Look to the end" is a reminder that whenever we have a decision to make, we must look to the overall goal or purpose. Asking, "Why are we doing this?" can save money, reputation, health, and even life. Asking, "Why should I want to do this?"--that is, asking the question before you engage in the action, can be even more valuable. </div><div><br /></div><div>2. "Look to the end" reminds us that our lives here on this planet have expiration dates, and considering the sum total of our input and output should help us organize all of the major (and many of the minor) tasks of life. </div><div><br /></div><div> 3. "Look to the end" encourages us to think about the effects the idea or plan or activity will have on other people. </div><div><br /></div><div>4. "Look to the end" stimulates us to ask, "And then what?" What will happen after the idea or activity is first acted on? And then what? Just what are the consequences? This saying is one of the most powerful because we notice that many people draw conclusions or make decisions based on the single effect deriving from the chosen solution. Cause, effect. But a little investigation often reveals that what we would really have is Cause, Effect, Effect, Effect, Effect, Effect. Many of these effects were not foreseen after only a shallow analysis was given to idea or decision. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. "Look to the end" is fundamentally a call to think about the long term consequences of decisions or proposed actions. Short term effects, even when not filtered by hopeful thinking, nearly always look great. But what about next year or next decade?</div><div><br /></div><div>6. And of course, "Look to the end" is whispered in our minds as we are encouraged to contemplate not only our life plan but our death plan. It is said that your view of death determines how you live. If you think that your life or earthly existence ends with your death, you will likely live for yourself, but if you think that your life, your soul or spirit, continues after you check out of Motel Earth, then you will likely learn to live and choose with the benefit of others in mind. </div><div><br /></div><div> And here is the cosmic irony: Selfish people tend to be much less happy than unselfish people. Selfish people spend their time trying to maximize their own happiness. As a consequence, they see others as means to that end. They exploit and use others to get what they think will benefit them most. And when they recognize that they are not happy, they soon they embark on the spiral down to misery. "Being selfish hasn't made me happy, " they they think, "so what I need is to be a lot more selfish." As the teenagers say, "Yeah, like that's gonna work."</div><div><br /></div><div>Being circumspect (circum=around, spect=looking) means that we should examine our position and know where we stand--that is, how and why we include the values in our personal set of beliefs. "What do I stand for, what do I truly value, and do my words and behavior reflect that?" </div><div><br /></div><div>Implied in this saying is the Christian virtue of Hope, one of the seven Christian virtues, and the classical virtue of Prudence (also known as Wisdom). </div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-31182718853400421412022-02-05T12:08:00.002-08:002022-02-06T21:09:58.961-08:00The Book of Ten Sayings 6The sixth entry in the Book of Ten Sayings reminds us what an amazing amount of control we have over our reactions to and feelings about the events of our lives. The Sixth Saying is <div><b>"Not the event, but the attitude."</b></div><div><br /></div><div> Let's begin the discussion with a <a href="https://amzn.to/3sgFnmh">short story</a> I wrote a while back.
THE STRANGE ADVENTURE
Once upon a time, so long ago that it seems like yesterday, circumstances so occurred that two youths found themselves lost together in the desert and forced to spend the night without the services of modern technology.</div><div><br /></div><div> “What a terrible thing,” said the first one. “We’re stuck out here all alone among who knows what frightening stuff.” </div><div><br /></div><div> “This is great,” said the other. “What an adventure. I can’t wait to see what happens.”
As the light began to fade, the youths happened upon a snake, sitting on a rock to get the last warmth it could find before the cold night set in. </div><div><br /></div><div> “Oh, no!” said the first youth. “Out here it’s just one problem after another. Now we’ll have to worry about that snake crawling all over us as we sleep.” </div><div><br /></div><div> “What a great opportunity,” said the second youth. “Now we can have some dinner.” Soon the snake was roasting on an impromptu fire, and in a little while, the two youths began to eat. </div><div><br /></div><div> “This is horrible,” said the first youth, spitting out the meat and nearly vomiting. “I can’t imagine a worse thing.”</div><div><br /></div><div> “Actually, it tastes rather mild,” said the second youth, eating with relish. </div><div><br /></div><div> When the next day came and the youths were rescued, they were asked about their adventure.
“It was the most awful, horrible experience I’ve ever had,” said the first youth, trembling from the memory. “I’ll be mentally scarred by it for the rest of my life.” </div><div><br /></div><div> “It was great!” said the second youth. “I think it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. What a fun time. I’m so glad I was there.” </div><div><br /></div><div> <b>The events we experience are less important than the meaning we give to them, for life is about meaning, not experience</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div> Suppose you are at a friend's house and you bump your head on an open door of a kitchen cabinet. Are more likely to minimize the event and tell your friends that you are okay or are you more likely to launch into a long complaint, in a tone of voice that makes your physical suffering very clear, and emphasizing how much it hurts and hoping it won't need stitches or leave a permanent scar?
If you were in the market, which of those two people would you rather marry?
If you are one of those highly emotive people, what do you accomplish in each case? If you bring the focus onto yourself and claim to be important enough for everyone to focus on and sympathize with, what does that tell others about yourself?</div><div><br /></div><div> A great way to improve your attitude toward all the events in you life is to humble yourself and realize that there are more significant events than your broken fingernail or stained shirt occurring every day and night all over the world. Get serious and stop thinking, "What about me?" every time you talk or listen. Yes, your life, heart, and soul are important to God (which is why he has created a way through Jesus for those who love him to live with him in eternity), but to the world itself, you are just not that important. </div><div><br /></div><div> What makes some people so cheerful all the time (or at least positive), while others are always glum and suspicious? For some, if not many, they have decided to serve God in everything. Their attitude changes from, "Get someone else to do that," or "I'm not going to help," "Don't expect me to clean that up," to "I'll be glad to do that," "It's only mud, and skin is washable," "Looks as if we will be on this job for a while." You can see the difference in their faces and behavior. The "will do" people are happy--yes, happy--washing dishes, cleaning the floor, changing the oil, chopping the firewood, or whatever. The "that's too much work" folks are grumpy and negative, suspicious that you are trying to get them to do extra work.</div><div><br /></div><div> Back in the old, old days, before beginning work or a new project, people would always say, "To the glory of God," dedicating their hard and honest work to the Lord. Did that make their projects or tasks easier? Their labors needed the same number of buckets of floor mop and the same number of two-by-fours for the barn, but the tasks were indeed easier because their attitude was entirely different. They cheerfully labored to please God rather than to just get through the hateful task.
If you already know God, adjust your attitude to that of a joyful servant. If you don't known God, you have an important first task.</div><div><br /></div><div> Blaise Pascal says, "Let them recognize that there are only two kinds of person whom we can describe as reasonable: those who serve God with all their heart because they have found him, and those who seek him with all their heart because they have not found him."
</div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-6739520167275581112022-02-04T20:42:00.001-08:002022-02-06T21:01:43.084-08:00The Book of Ten Sayings 5The fifth of the ten deepest statements of wisdom, that, if followed as a set of life guiding principles, will bring both joy and courage, strength and justice, circumspection and maturity to whoever strives to live by them. As with many principles for finding wisdom, this fifth saying involves decision making, for life is all about making decisions, and the better the decisions the more successful and happier the life.
The fifth saying is, <div><b>"The more you get, the more you have; the more you give, the more you are."</b></div><div><br /></div><div> It seems to be a fundamental principle of human nature that we are born selfish, greedy, and avaricious. Even as toddlers (or maybe earlier?) we want to grasp everything dangled in front of our eyes. We can never get enough of the possessions of life. Often, we don't even bother to play with each new toy, because, after all, "He who dies with the most toys wins." The mantra says nothing about actually playing with the toys. The goal is acquisition. So, long before Johnny could buy a shiny new pick up truck and paste a bumper sticker on it saying, "He who dies with the most toys wins," Johnny had been dipped in the materialist cultural tea that was floating everywhere around him and he was easily converted into a committed consumer. </div><div><br /></div><div> As we grow up, we fill increasingly large toy chests with increasingly costly toys, now often referred to as "tools" and every year our "need" grows for larger booty. The first apartment squeezed into by the couple with the kid and the dog, soon gives way to the two bedroom house, then the three, four, and five bedroom house, still with one kid and a dog because the couple are too tired from working long and hard enough to have another kid.
Then one day they see this saying and think about it. Their first reaction is to mock the saying, claiming that it must have been written by an envious person of lower economic status than they. However, they both awaken the next morning with the thought that the saying is true: "Our houses are full, but our lives are empty." Everywhere they could find stuff, but nowhere could they find meaning. </div><div><br /></div><div> This saying is also connected with the concept of generosity and with the fourth traditional Christian virtue of charity, which in the old days meant love.
</div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-15321321282724203232022-02-04T17:40:00.007-08:002022-02-06T20:56:38.971-08:00The Book of Ten Sayings 4The fourth timeless truth in the Book of Ten Sayings is one that our impatient
and fearful age needs to meditate on.
The fourth saying:<div><b>This too shall pass.</b> </div><div><br /></div><div> The traditional story is that an ancient Persian king once ordered his wise men
to invent a saying that would be true and applicable to every time and in every
season, a saying that would comfort him in times of sorrow and temper him in
times of joy, a saying upon which he could meditate profitably regardless of his
situation, or what he faced, or how he felt.
The saying they brought him was,
<b>"This too shall pass."</b></div><div><br /></div><div>
Sometimes quoted as, "This, too, shall pass away," the
meaning is the same: We live a life of fixed, limited duration. The only things
of permanence are the lasting effects we have on those around us. We die and
pass away, and move to another realm where our attention is exclusive, giving us
no time to look back to earthly life to give warning or direction.
But if instead we seized our hours and minutes while here and employed them to help
others live better lives, enjoy their time here, find meaning in life, come to
know God, and for the ultimate benefit, find the Savior to take them with the
rest of us into the heavenly realms, then we will have led a life that sneers in
the face of evil and transitoriness. It would be a life worth living, however
long or short. </div><div><br /></div><div> So, "This too shall pass" is both a warning and a promise.
Understanding this truth allows us to see it as the match that can light the
candle of hope, set ablaze the torch of endurance, and illuminate the beacon of
patience. If only people would pay attention and remind themselves of this bit
of wisdom and allow themselves to be cautioned by it and show a little patience,
how many ships would have been spared from sinking among the rocks of haste, the
insistent pinch-in-the-shoe of eagerness, the and out-of-fuel crash of going for
broke (or rather, going for self-termination) by accident? </div><div><br /></div><div> This is another one of those two-edged proverbs that can cut both ways, possessing meaning in
multiple directions. As focused on and explicated in the notes above, the saying
is indeed an encouragement to persevere in the face of challenge. But sometimes
extended physical suffering or psychological trauma or chronic painful
physical suffering or emotional rejection can force a person to call upon this
wise summary of humanity and be reinvigorated.</div><div><br /></div><div> Finally, "This too shall pass"
serves us just as well when, in the middle of joy and celebration and love and
adventure, we remember that the experience will soon be over and we will return
to our previous lives. No, it does no good to yell at he conductor, "Make it
stop!" when we feel the ride slowing down when we want it to go on forever.
Are you winning? Are you losing? Are you happy? Are you sad? This too shall pass.
Implied in this saying is the Christian virtue of Hope, one of the Seven
Classical Virtues.</div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-11913913143356115782022-02-02T18:53:00.002-08:002022-02-06T21:02:43.725-08:00The Book of Ten Sayings 3What is the third most important saying of all time, one that will encourage wisdom and happiness, justice and equity? The saying is, <div> <b>"It is not right to do evil in order to bring about good."</b></div><div><b> </b></div><div> This saying is, first, a warning against moral short cuts, against choosing expediency over morality; for such is the great temptation of man, whether the temptation presents itself as covetousness, lust, greed, a handy lie, the imitation of justice, or any other dash around the right way.
Secondly, this saying entails another classical guide to wisdom: "Truth is always best." Whatever you suffer from telling the truth or doing the right thing, you will never have to add to your punishment the mental and physical tortures of guilt when your devious plan explodes in your face. The pain of knowing that you tried to fool, deceive, lie, cheat, steal, con another person only to see it shatter other people's lives as well as your own--that pain will not be there if you always told the truth.
This Third Saying also embraces the Bible's commandment, "You shall not bear false witness." </div><div><br /></div><div>Some shrewd but sad person once noted that if you tell the truth, the supporting (true) explanations come automatically; whereas if you tell a lie, you must think of two other lies to support, excuse, and explain every other lie that brings credibility the other lies. The exponentiation cannot be long sustained: The main lie needs two lies to make it believable. Each of those two lies needs two lies to explain them. Each of those requires two lies to keep the falsehood afloat. </div><div><br /></div><div> If civilization were honest and clear thinking, this saying could be summed up by, "Do only good." But since men are crafty and would soon claim that some expedient horror would actually be the "moral equivalent of a greater good," we must take care to avoid any ambiguity. </div><div><br /></div><div> Implied by this saying is the classical virtue of Justice.
If you sit back and do some deep contemplation of this Third Saying, you will soon discover that it is a clearer and more straightforward way of saying, "The means cannot be justified by the ends," or, as more commonly phrased, "The ends do not justify the means."
</div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-38119532120217343692022-02-02T14:16:00.005-08:002022-02-06T20:46:01.947-08:00The Book of Ten Sayings: 2The Second Saying in the Book of Ten Sayings <div><b> 2. Know Yourself</b></div><div> How much misery and discontent and needless expense are created by people who don't know who they are or what they believe. At the basic level of rational survival, everyone needs a moral structure to make decision making easier. Of course, knowing that many or most people have no such moral code, the predators and exploiters are at the elbows of the naive and foolish, who let a stranger or a Hollywood film suggest proper and improper behavior--based on their own desire to shape decisions of their victims.
And, of course, the religious cults and the professional predators have a field day harvesting the thoughtless, whose only value is "fun" or "excitement." These folks are always falling back on, "Why not?" because they have not the depth to imagine a negative outcome.
"Here, Binkie, have some pills and booze. You'll feel great."
"Uh, Okay, I guess, why not?" </div><div><br /></div><div> If you are a young person, say under 30, you probably think that reading is a waste of time, because you can "always catch the movie." Or maybe you do read--the financial paper, the gossip mags, restaurant menus, romance novels--but don't spend a lot of time on them. Read to settle your brains and to develop a foundation of values and ideas on which you can build a life of meaning.
In addition to reading, you need to live a life and to analyze your adventures to see what they mean to you and what kind of person you are and what kind you're becoming. Do you like roller coasters or art galleries? Hot chocolate in a ski lodge or umbrella drinks at the beach?
Can you stand yourself? People who can't stand their own company are quite unfortunate because they are with themselves 24/7.
Seek to gain understanding--of yourself and others. </div><div><br /></div><div>Answer some of these questions after giving them some extended thought.</div><div> A. If you could be independently wealthy and not need to work, what would you choose to fill you life? Is there a particular type of career that appeals to you, but now, realistically, it doesn't pay enough to pursue?</div><div> B. If you were put in charge of a charity with $100 million dollars to give away to anyone you chose, how would you divide it out? </div><div>C. What is your view of human nature? Are people basically good or bad? What makes good people good? What makes bad people bad? </div><div>D. What single proverb sums up your life's philosophy? </div><div>E. How does your belief about death affect your belief about life?</div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-54579835632062905492022-02-02T11:49:00.015-08:002022-02-06T20:35:04.754-08:00The Book of Ten Sayings 1<b>Introduction</b> This "book" was intended to be an entire book when first conceived, consisting on an elaboration of the ten most important sayings of all time. But life circumstances have held it back into a very incomplete form. But perhaps there is a kernel of wisdom somewhere here that will resonate with you and help you to grow into a better person and friend. <div> The First Saying </div><div> <b>1. Put God First .</b></div><div>Some have accused God of being self-centered and even egotistical for wanting to be worshipped and at the center of humans' attention. But the truth is, the fallen creature known as man has been so corrupted by Satan (who IS the egotist) that the only way to get man from being self-centered is to shift his focus onto something more powerfully attractive. Focus on God, knowing him, serving him, loving him, and you will find a better opportunity for happiness than through any other activity.
Putting ourselves first results in unhappiness, to ourselves and others. </div><div>Take a look at those who can theoretically buy anything, including happiness. Often they embark on a trajectory that traces the meteoric path across the sky, running on alcohol, sex, drugs, and wild behavior.
But even ordinary teenagers can find misery--or death--by putting themselves ahead of everyone and everything else.</div><div> I probably sound preachy, so I will just close with an anecdote. One year my friend Phil and I were driving on the way home from a computer conference in Las Vegas. Suddenly a small red sedan raced up behind us, swerved onto the median to avoid hitting us, and raced out of sight. Perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes later, we drove into a traffic jam. It soon cleared up. It was caused by the little red car, which was lying upside down in the ditch that separated the two sets of lanes. We read later that the car contained four teens. They died either by having their skulls crushed when the the top of the car collapsed on them, or else they drowned in the shallow--but deep enough--ditch water in the median. </div><div> The most serious and damaging of the "Seven Deadly Sins" is Pride because it not only does harm by its own misguided and misleading attitude, but it also stimulates some of the other of the sins, such as greed (or avarice) and anger (aka wrath). Finally, Pride affects and damages both the prideful person and everyone he comes into contact with. Some of the Seven Deadly Sins can be limited, generally speaking, to their owner. Sloth, for example, harms only the slothful one directly, although the damage done by shirking duty and by a attempting to skate by with shortcuts has negative effects on others, also.
</div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-60647677010136155012021-12-20T16:12:00.004-08:002021-12-20T16:12:45.087-08:00Cox Cable remote pairing issues--can't get remote to workAre you trying to set up a Cox Communications cable remote and box, such as the Contour 2 HD BOx, but you just can't get it wor work right? Take a minute to read this over. It might save you hours of frustration.
Do you have more than one Cox Contour or other cable box in your house? Think a minute and you will probably see the problem. Suppose you have a 40-inch smart TV in your kitchen and a new, 50-inch in your bedroom. WHen you follow the instructions for pairing your new tv, the remote dowsn't work right. Volume up anddown or Channel up and down don't work. Or when the instructions tell you to enter the three-digit code on the screen, there is no such three-digit code.
Now here is the final clue. When you walk into the kitchen to get a drink of water, you notice that there is a three digit code on your old, 40-inch TV. Yes, your new remote is goofing up the setup codes on your old TV and not doing its job on your new TV. (Don't tell me you are stuck in the past when remotes sent out blasts of coded infrared signals to the TV. Oh, come on. THe Cox remotes talk to the boxes with RF (radio frequency) signals that can PENETRATE WALLS and talk to every TV you own. (So, if in an attempt to "clear the remote," you sent code 9-8-1 to clear your new TV from the new remote, what you likely did is to clear all your devices.
Okay, you have been in pain and doubt long enough. THe (in hindsight) obvious solution is to unplug all the other TVs and cable boxes and remove the batteries from the other remotes. Plug in one TV, one cable box, and batteries in one remote. Turn on the box and the TV and follow the ordinanry setup instructions. If you neeed to unpair, do so with all the other equipment off.
TVs are like people. THey often hear someting different from what you think you are saying. It's a case of "Are you talking to me?" And your answer is, "Oops. Sorry."
Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-25657481660363116892021-11-11T10:24:00.003-08:002021-11-11T10:24:31.633-08:00One and Only Chili (Also Known As "Loser Chili")One and Only Chili was painstakingly created to include every ingredient measured in a 1, as you will see by the recipe. The third iteration of the chili was so good that we foolhardily entered it in a Chili Cook Off contest, which resulted in the additional epiithet, "Loser Chili." Any, this chili is really good, is only mildly spicey, has a smooth feel on the palate, and happily is welcomed for leftovers.<br>
Ingredients for Step 1
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 tbsp minced garlic
Ingredients for Step 2
1 pound ground beef, crumbled
Ingredients for Step 3
1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
1 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
1 cup beef broth
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Step 1
Put olive oil, diced onion, and minced garlic into InstantPot and sauté.
Step 2
Add ground beef to InstantPot and sauté, mixing with onions and garlic
Step 3
Add all ingredients to InstantPot and stir together thoroughly.
Close the lid on the InstantPot, make sure pressure relief valve is closed.
Press the Beans/Chili button, setting the cooker to cook on High for 20 minutes.
When cooking is completed, allow the steam pressure to go down on its own.
SERVE, garnished with green, red, and yellow bell pepper pieces, and a dollop of sour cream.
Robert Harris
November 11, 2021
Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-39425257847414583592021-01-30T21:59:00.000-08:002021-01-30T21:59:42.429-08:00Tonor TC30 USB Condenser Microphone<p> The Tonor TC30 USB condenser microphone has finally met all of my requirements for a good computer microphone. In the past I have purchased half a dozen microphones for use with my software--headset with mic, phantom power condenser, Webcam mic, and so on. My requirements were:</p><p>1. It must be easy to hook up and not require a bunch of elaborate equipment such as a phantom power supply. The TC 30 USB mic is, as its name says, connected to a USB port. Simple plug-and-play.</p><p>2. It should be quiet and not include a bunch of background noise on recordings. The TC30 comes with a shock mounting and a pop filter, and the signal to noise ratio is 68dB. Frequency response is 50Hz to 20kHz. If you wonder how adequate that is, do a sound test (there are lots them on YouTube) and see how good your frequency range is. I can hear from about 69Hz to 7500 kHz. </p><p>3. It should include a pop filter because I tend to pop my Ps into the microphone all the time. The Tonor TC30 has a very sturdy pop filter, approximately 3.5 by 3.5 inches. The mounting to the mic is very sturdy, eliminating the possibility of slipping during use. (Yes, I've had more than one droopy pop filter.)</p><p>4. It must be compatible with and work well with the software I use most. My programs are Audacity, Zoom, and Dragon NaturallySpeaking 15. Working with Audacity is excellent, with Zoom is very good, and with Dragon is functional (I think my PC, even though new, is running slow.)</p><p>5. It must be reasonably priced. I'm rather stingy, so I looked for a new mic in the $30 range, and found the Tonor30 USB.</p><p>6. It should come with good documentation, related to performance specs. Yes, it does.</p><p>Things I like about the TC 30<br /></p><p>1. If you like to make unboxing videos for YouTube, The TC30 is a great choice. The microphone is packaged in a beautiful box using high density foam like an expensive camera would be.<br /></p><p>2. There is a web site and an email address right on the box--and on the instruction manual--if you need customer support.</p><p>3. There is a two-year warranty.</p><p>4. Included at no extra charge are the pop filter and desktop tripod.<br /></p><p>5. The microphone includes a shock mounting that attaches to the tripod, keeping out much extraneous noise. <br /></p><p>6. The Tonor TC30 is rugged looking and appears to be solidly built. If you are looking for a mic for podcasts, this one has very impressive gravitas (it looks great). </p><p>Bottom Line: If you want a very nice mic for $30 or so, check this one out. I am very pleased with it.</p><p><i>Clean Hands Declaration: I have not received any payment or incentive to write this review or to express favorable opinions about the product. If you click on the ad for this product and purchase it from Amazon, I will be paid a small fee.</i></p><p>
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=virtualsalt-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B08CVP2HXP&asins=B08CVP2HXP&linkId=19eaabd9c7a72afa08df65e313d2e6e0&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-71488272079365474642020-12-23T09:49:00.002-08:002020-12-23T09:49:56.830-08:00The Twelve Days of Christmas Get Real<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Twelve Days of Christmas Get Real<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><s><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></s></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hearing the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song recently, I
thought at once that it is a bit dated. No modern young woman will agree to
marry an established young man who offers her only a few animals and some fruit
as a dowry. Here is the song upgraded to match the needs and expectations of
the 21<sup>st</sup> century young woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the second day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the third day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the fourth day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the fifth day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the sixth day<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six sprawling mansions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seven New York banks,,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six sprawling mansions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eight Eastern Kingdoms,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seven New York banks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six sprawling mansions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the ninth day
of Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nine diamond mines,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eight Eastern Kingdoms,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seven New York banks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six sprawling mansions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ten forest castles,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nine diamond mines,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eight Eastern Kingdoms,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seven New York banks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six sprawling mansions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eleven oil leases,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ten forest castles,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nine diamond mines,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eight Eastern Kingdoms,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seven New York banks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six sprawling mansions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twelve billion dollars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eleven oil leases,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ten forest castles,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nine diamond mines,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eight Eastern Kingdoms,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seven New York banks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six sprawling mansions,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Five tons of gold,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four fancy cars,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Three large yachts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Two private jets,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And an island in the South Seas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">—© 2020 Robert Harris. Copy, share, and use freely, but
don’t steal, alter, or charge for it.<o:p></o:p></p>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-1885775889388763512020-12-09T21:52:00.002-08:002020-12-09T21:52:23.629-08:00Waterdrop Plus DA29-00020B Refrigerator Water Filter, Replacement for Samsung DA29-00020B<p> I have been using Waterdrop Plus filters in my Samsung refrigerator for about three years now, and they have always been reliable. I am impressed by the solid feel of the cartridges and by the ease of installation. (Some instructions on other feathered tell the user to disconnect the water supply to the refrigerator before installing the new cartridge. This is not necessary with the <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;">Waterdrop Plus DA29-00020B Refrigerator Water Filter, Replacement for Samsung DA29-00020B. </span>The refrigerator has a spring loaded valve which keeps any water from leaking out with your removing or installing the new filter.)</p><p>What really impresses me about the water pump plus is the number of pollutants the filter removes or reduces and the degree to which it reduces them. According to the company's product description, the Waterdrop Plus is </p><p>+NSF 401 certified, reducing 99.2% of BPA, 96.6% of estrone, 95.2% of phenytoin, 94.4% of ibuprofen, 96.2% of naproxen, 97.2% of nonyl phenol.<br /></p><p>+NSF 53 certified, reducing 99.6% of lead, 99.99% of cysts, 96.6% of benzene, 98.4% of carbofuran, 96.6% of endrin.</p><p>+NSF 42 certified, reducing 97% of chlorine taste and odor.</p><p>+NSF 372 certified for lead-free material.</p><p>Installation instructions tell the user to run many gallons of water to rinse away loose carbon particles on filter before using the water. On all my Waterdrop Plus filters I found this to be unnecessary, because I never seen any loose carbon particle and the water tastes great from the first squirt out of the refrigerator water dispenser down to the end of the life of the filter.<br /></p><p>You might be able to go cheaper for a water filter replacement, but I don't think you'll get a better one than this.<br /></p><p>The company warns you to select the right replacement filter carefully, matching the part number of the original. Would you have done that, you can relax and enjoy the satisfying piece of high-technology makes your life better safer.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-86276046308885816462020-11-26T15:41:00.002-08:002020-11-26T15:41:33.102-08:00Beware of Verizon Cellular Exploit<p> About a month ago, I decided my old smart phone needed to be replaced. Because I was already a Verizon customer with my phone connected to a family plan, I steered around those tempting "free phone" offers that have (almost) hidden requirements to upgrade to new services at prices that help Verizon offer such "good deals."</p><p>I was looking through the phone offers and found one that included a very cheap phone and something like only $24 a month service. Well, of course, that turned out to mean "$24 a month PER PHONE for 4 phones." I should have suspected that Verizon might pull a fast one on me, but I decided to ask a sales rep to sort things out and give me my options. </p><p>So, I clicked on "Chat" and talked to a rep for a few minutes. She couldn't answer some of my questions (Verizon's plans are fairly complex--the Web site at one point said my old phone could be traded in for $300, then the chat person later said $150, then finally $15.)</p><p>Okay, long to short. I picked a phone and added it to our service plan, and deleted my old phone. In a day or two the new phone arrived and all seemed well.</p><p>THEN, a month later, my credit card showed a charge for VERIZON*DIGITAL CHAT for $49.45. I searched all over the Web site to find a customer service link, but all the contacts had phone trees with no option relevant.</p><p>FINALLY, I called the 800 number on the bill and asked what was going on. The answer is that VERIZON CH ARGES YOU TO CHAT WITH A SALESMAN TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR PHONES AND PLANS.</p><p>There was no warning or statement that Chat cost money. I've never paid for Chat for any company before. So be forewarned. </p><p>To Verizon I say, "Start being honest about doing this before someone sues you."</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-59653694774534632512020-07-20T21:49:00.002-07:002020-07-20T21:49:53.906-07:00Intelius Background Check Product Review<div>A major disappointment. Or to be more narrative:</div><div><br /></div>I was creating a lesson on the persistence of information on the Web, and I thought some info from a background check company would make a revealing slide. So I typed in a name and the service at the Intelius Web site provide a reasonable presence. Like several of the other background check companies on the Web, Intelius apparently uses trained gerbils with abacuses to find information, because the user must sit through screen after screen of growing completion lines, while the screen says something like, "Gathering information on possible arrest records." I must have wasted five minutes waiting for these gimmicks to play out.<div>'</div><div>Finally, I was offered the report for $20 or so for a month of unlimited additional reports. I was a sucker, so I chose that. Then a screen pops up, saying that if I wanted to print or download a copy of this report, i would have to pay a few more dollars. This ploy turned out to be a major method of upping the cost of the report. For more details on criminal records, for example, please pay extra.</div><div><br /></div><div>The basic report is pathetic. Here is what I got:</div><div>1. Name and birth date, accurate</div><div>2. Possible Aliases, three listed, none correct</div><div>3. Possible Jobs, 9 listed, 6 correct, 3 incorrect, including owning a termite control company</div><div>4. Educational degrees: 3 listed, all correct (impressive)</div><div>5. Social Security Number: number not provided; location issued (California), correct</div><div>6. Possible Marriage Records: 6 listed, 0 correct.</div><div>7. Possible Divorce Records: 7 listed, 0 correct</div><div>8. Possible relatives: 6 listed, 4 correct</div><div>9. Related URLs: 10 listed, 4 correct</div><div>10. Possible P)hone numbers: 1 out of 6 correct</div><div>11. Possible email addresses: 1 out of 5 correct</div><div>12. A list of sex offenders living near previous addresses.</div><div>13. List of neighbors near various previous addresses.</div><div>14. Possible criminal records: incorrect traffic violation</div><div>15. Unlikely criminal records: About 12 criminal records none attributable to me, mostly traffic violations, but a couple burglary</div><div>16. 28 sex offenders near addresses</div><div>17. list of 6 web pages or connections, 6 listed, 3 incorrect</div><div>and a few more pages of the same junk.</div><div><br /></div><div>A purchaser could have gleaned a former address and a former phone number if he had been looking for it. Otherwise, every correct note is buried and confused by incorrect junk.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't spring for any of the "extra details." I felt somewhat cheated by the ploy of withholding info, especially after saying how thorough it was going to be (and that I had better prepared to be shocked at what I was about to learn).</div><div><br /></div><div>Bottom line: for me, Intelius is a waste of time and money.</div><div><br /></div>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-11526085583454578852020-05-02T22:40:00.000-07:002020-05-02T22:40:25.478-07:00The Best Computer Speakers, EverWhen you bought your latest PC, did you also get a pair of plastic-enclosed, cheap speakers so that your Zoom calls would have better audio than the tinfoil emitters built in to your new pride and joy? If so, I think you might have made a mistake. Over time, I've bought a number of "computer speakers," and since I'm cheap, they have all been under, say, about $75, usually more like $29. And they sounded like it. But that was before YouTube. I like to listen to music--of various kinds.<br />
<br />
For years, I had two Maranz floor speakers sitting on my desk on either side of my PC monitor. They were impressive and good, what with a near flat frequency response and 12-inch woofers in an unported three way system. I had them so long as my main stereo speakers that the foam mounting on the woofers crumbled. I liked them so much I had the foam replaced.<br />
<br />
But more recently circumstances so occurred (that is, my wife "commented" on them) that I was encouraged to give them to a housekeeper making his start in the world. So, I had a pair of hand-me-down Pioneer bookshelf speakers, two-way ported jobs, with 6 1/2 inch bass drivers. To power them, I bought a tiny amplifier Lepai LP 2020A+ which produces about 15 or 20 watts per channel. That little amp is great. I liked its performance so much that I bought another for my room with the treadmill, so I could listen to YouTube while exercising.<br />
<br />
Long story a bit longer, I saw an ad for some bookshelf speakers by Dayton Audio, for sale by Parts Express. These were the B652, with a 6-inch bass driver. But they were still just a tad large (and they were sold out, too) so I looked at Dayton's other offerings. And there they were. Our eyes met, the room grew warmer, excitement filled the air.<br />
<br />
So now, my "computer speakers," my musical sound while I am computing, comes from two Dayton Audio B452 speakers, driven by the newest little, cute as ever, Lepai LP2020TI amplifier. Yes, as the secret code hidden in the model number deciphers, these speakers are two-way (4 1/2-inch bass drivers and a tweeter). Not ported.<br />
<br />
The speakers are about 9 1/2 inches high and 6 inches wide, so they don't take up much real estate.<br />
The current (May 2, 2020) price is about $28 for the pair of speakers and about the same for the amp. So, for under $60, you can get a surprisingly wonderful audio system for your PC. I've tried several kinds of music with them, from vocal like "Be Thou My Vision" to EDM (electronic dance music). Crank up the amp and the bass will stun the termites in your walls.<br />
<br />
Both the speakers and the amp are from Parts Express (who paid me nothing for this plug).<br />
<br />
I'm just sayin'.<br />
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<br />Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-77681675626909564312019-12-16T11:21:00.003-08:002019-12-16T11:21:30.494-08:00My First Experience with Induction Cooking--I Love ItThis is my first experience with induction cookers, so, cheapskate that I am, I chose this Rosewill unit for about half the price of the other brands, that look like the same product with different names. At any rate, for the low price, I was surprised at the degree of control that can be selected on this: (1) how many watts of cooking power do you want? 300 up to 1800. (2) what temperature would you like to maintain? 150 to 450? (3) How long would you like to cook? and so on. A real surprise was the speed of cooking. We boiled some water as a first test and were amazed to see the bubbles starting up so fast. Then I made some eggs, and almost got back to the bowl too late. We made some spiced cider and the unit kept the standby temp between 200 and 250.<br />
<br />
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: (1) induction cookers require flat-bottomed pots and pans that are magnet-friendly. To be sure your pot or pan will respond to a magnet, a refrigerator magnet is included in the box to test. (2) NOT ALL STAINLESS STEEL pots and pans are magnet-friendly. I learned this by accident just in the past few months. And, of course, aluminum is not magnetic. (3) A pot and glass lid are included in the package, making this a deal you can't pass up.<br />
The unit appears to be well made, including a thermostat-controlled muffin fan (like the fans that cool PCs).<br />
<br />
I'd say, if you want to find out what induction cooking is like, take a chance and get one of these.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=virtualsalt-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01M01SM6J&asins=B01M01SM6J&linkId=f6ad666fdaa65318b2b35a9aa09fdf13&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-6272106074858910262019-12-07T18:19:00.002-08:002019-12-07T18:19:22.206-08:00What I Found for Eczema, Psoriasis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Flaky Skin around the Eyes and Ears*****Disclaimer******Caution*****Read at your own risk*****<br />
<br />
The following blog entry does not constitute nor is it intended to be medical advice, a recommended medical procedure, a treatment, prevention, cure, or help for any disease or apparent disease condition, circumstance, symptom, or health event. This blog does not embody or imply any assurance of help or benefit. If you have a medical issue, get professional medical advice and treatment from a legitimately educated and licensed medical doctor.<br />
<br />
For several years, I have been bothered by flaking skin around my ears. I just washed it out each day with a washrag while taking a shower. Then for no apparent reason, the flakiness moved below my ears and then sideways across my eyes and eyebrows. This "attack" grew sore and tender. So bad was it that I went to Urgent Care on a Saturday. The Physician's Assistant gave me a prescription for an antibiotic ointment. I tried to keep it out of my eyes, but since some of the infection / problem was on my eyelids, that was difficult.<br />
<br />
When I got in touch with my regular doctor, she gave me a prescription for a steroidal cream. Steroids are definitely to be kept out of the eyes, since the eyes can become cloudy. I finally went to an ophthalmologist, who gave me yet another prescription for a different steroidal cream. She, like the others, said, "Just keep it out of your eyes." I was afraid to use it, since some of the gooky buildup was on he lower eyelash area.<br />
<br />
However, almost in passing, after we briefly discussed the fact that all that buildup is water soluble, the ophthalmologist mentioned that I might try Johnson's Baby Shampoo to wash my eyelids.<br />
<br />
Johnson's Baby Shampoo is my hero. A couple of times a day I run the tap to get warm water, pour a little Johnson's on my fingers, and wash my eye area--lids, brows, tear ducts, etc. There is sometimes some pain caused by the physical rubbing of the lower eyelashes, but there is no sting and no irritation from the shampoo. Then a gentle pat and gentler rub with a dry washrag or face towel and we're done.<br />
<br />
Johnson's head-to-toe wash and shampoo is even milder than the straight baby shampoo and works just as well for me.<br />
<br />
If you have similar skin issues, ask your doctor if trying Johnson's is a good idea.<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: I have not been paid or given any consideration of any kind by Johnson and Johnson, nor as of this writing has anyone from that company even contacted me.<br />
<br />
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Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-285421365714452482019-09-08T21:39:00.001-07:002019-09-08T21:39:05.611-07:00Fake and Counterfeit Academic Degrees Are Everywhere: How to Spot Them The proliferation of online degree programs, many of them legitimate, has encouraged some groups to offer fake degrees to anyone with sufficient money. Here are just a few ideas to help employers avoid hiring people who present fake or counterfeit degrees or certificates as a means of getting a job or a promotion.<br />
<br />
First, what is a fake degree? A fake degree is a diploma (such as an MA or PhD) that has been purchased from a degree mill that is not a genuine college or university and that requires little or no academic work. Give me $100 and I'll send you a PhD in Interpersonal Counseling or Social Accommodation Theory. For an extra $50, I'll send you a set of transcripts listing all the courses you took to qualify. And for another $100 (I'm just making all these numbers up as examples, since prices vary), I'll send you the dissertation you, uh, "wrote."<br />
<br />
I don't want to be sued, so I'll keep these tips general and simply state that these are red flags, if not screaming evidence.<br />
<br />
1. Find the school's web site. In the United States, virtually every college and university's online presence has an .edu (for "education") domain. If the place your candidate got a degree from has a .com (for commercial) domain, be very suspicious. The same caution holds for .org domains.<br />
<br />
2. What is the university's web site URL? Oddly enough, many of the questionable sites have the word "university" as part of the URL, as in www.riverbottomuniversity.com.<br />
<br />
3. Go to the university's web site and read some of the text. If the text appears to have been written by a non-native English speaker, be very cautious. Here are some examples:<br />
+ "comprehensive curriculum that prepare you to face"<br />
+ "interested in obtaining high level of education and expertise"<br />
+ "Earning a doctoral program, adds credibility to your academic profile"<br />
+ "Develop Expertise that are Essential for Successful Career in the Long Run."<br />
+ "Dissertation: For successful completion of doctoral program, it is must for students to complete their research work...."<br />
<br />
4. Admission requirements. Are there objective, third-party assessments required for admission? SAT, LSAT, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT? What are required scores? If there are no or only pro forma admission requirements, be suspicious.<br />
<br />
5. Graduation requirements. Read the requirements (or call the institution) and find out if credit is given for "life experience" or "career accomplishments" so that the number of required units is lessened or eliminated. How many classes and units are required? Is there the possibility of waiving some or all of the required work?<br />
<br />
7. Is the institution accredited and if so by whom? There is actually a Council for Higher Education Accreditation that lists the credible and authoritative accrediting organizations. <a href="https://www.chea.org/">https://www.chea.org/</a>.The United States Department of Education also accredits American higher education institutions. See the site at <a href="https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn">https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn</a>.<br />
Go to the institution's web site and search on "accreditation." There should be ample evidence of accreditation by one or more of the legitimate organizations listed on CHEA.<br />
<br />
8. If you are still in doubt about the genuineness of your candidate's degree, have him or her come in (or video conference by phone using Skype or WhatsApp) and discuss a paper or two or the dissertation submitted for the degree.<br />
<br />
9. Other resources to help evaluate the quality of a higher education institution. (Listed for information only; not endorsed or guaranteed.)<br />
+ <a href="https://www.geteducated.com/diploma-mill-police/degree-mills-list">https://www.geteducated.com/diploma-mill-police/degree-mills-list</a><br />
+ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_education">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_education</a><br />
+ <a href="https://thebestschools.org/magazine/online-college-vs-diploma-mills/">https://thebestschools.org/magazine/online-college-vs-diploma-mills/</a><br />
<br />
A Counterfeit degree is a certificate copied from a real degree (from a genuine, accredited institution of higher learning), with a faked name, degree, date, etc. If you suspect that your job applicant does not really have the degree claimed, in spite of sending you a photocopy, call the institution and ask.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, you just can't be too trusting these days. <br />
If you know the techniques for interviewing people suspected of plagiarism, you can often use them profitably by interviewing a job candidate or employee, also.<br />
<br />
+++<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-73661810714084068372019-07-27T12:10:00.001-07:002019-07-27T12:10:40.672-07:00DOSS Touch Wireless Speaker Investigative ReviewIf you have not read my previous review of the DOSS Touch Wireless Speaker, I recommend you look at it for an overview of the unit. This review includes the results of a set of "Bass Performance" tests, designed to discover how to get the best bass from the unit.<br />
<br />
Background: Bass sounds are at the lower end of the audio frequency spectrum. The lower the bass sound, the larger the size of the sound wave. To generate a low-frequency sound wave in a speaker, the size of the speaker and the amplifier power needed to drive the sound must be big. That's why you see 250 watt amplifiers and 15-inch woofers. So how can the dinky 1.5-inch speakers in the DOSS Touch unit have any hope of producing a deep bass sound?<br />
<br />
The answer lies in the way sound waves can propagate. In brief, if you are a tiny speaker that by itself cannot produce a sound down to, say 40 Hz, then you get help from the surface you are sitting on. In other words, since sound is just vibrating air, the little speakers can vibrate a relatively large surface and the surface will act similarly to a woofer. That's what a "passive radiator" does: it radiates vibrations from the dinky speakers to the surface where the speaker is sitting and the surface vibrates at a much lower frequency, creating a richer bass than the unit by itself can produce.<br />
<br />
Okay, okay. So just what effect can placing the unit on various surfaces have on delivering better bass? Here are the results of my own, highly subjective testing. The table shows the degree of bass enhancement provided by each surface or setup, with better bass being indicated by more plus (+) signs.<br />
<br />
Music: "What a Feeling" from Flashdance<br />
<br />
Bedroom Floor, upstairs, laminate: +++<br />
Bed, bedroom: ++<br />
Bathroom, tile floor: ++++<br />
Bathroom, tile floor, DOSS Touch positioned facing a wall, 8 inches from wall: +++++<br />
Kitchen, Quartz counter top: +++<br />
Open room, DOSS Touch suspended on a 2 foot by 2 foot piece of 1/4 inch plywood: ++++<br />
Open room, DOSS Touch suspended on 2 foot by 1.5 foot plastic storage bin lid: ++<br />
Laminated particle board desk, facing listener, 1 foot from edge: ++++<br />
Laminated particle board desk, unit facing wall, 8 inches from wall: +++++<br />
Listener lying on back, DOSS Touch placed facing listener at bottom of rib cage: ++++<br />
<br />
Conclusions<br />
The bounce created by placing the DOSS Touch about 8 inches away from a wall, facing the wall provided the richest, best bass response--and that is a great sound. Just by itself the unit puts out a surprisingly rich low frequency range, entirely unlike the screech and slap "music" put out by the previous generations of tiny speakers.<br />
<br />
The other notable discovery is that a listener can truly feel the music by placing the DOSS<br />
Touch on the ribs, so that the base of the unit is over the last two inches of the rib cage. As noted above, that experiment earned a ++++ score on our evaluation.<br />
<br />
Random tips:<br />
To turn the unit on, press and hold the round button on the back until you hear the first of three chimes. Then release the button.<br />
<br />
For first time paring, put your phone or tablet in Bluetooth ON mode. Then turn on the DOSS Touch. Your phone or tablet will show all the available Bluetooth objects. If you don't see a listing for DOSS Touch right away, click on the Bluetooth address, such as FC:58:FA:EF:C1:DD and soon the name DOSS SoundBox will appear and connect. Next time, pairing will be quick and automatic and the SoundBox will play some tones to let you know that is is connected.<br />
<br />
Note that the DOSS Tech will automatically connect to the last device when you turn it on. So, if you want to connect it to a different device, you must first disconnect the previous one. So, to change from your phone to your tablet, first disconnect your phone.<br />
<br />
To increase volume, use your finger to wipe around the blue circle on top in a clockwise direction. When you hear a beep, the DOSS Tech is at full volume. It should be quite loud. If not, you must increase the MEDIA volume on you phone or tablet.<br />
<br />
I've been using the DOSS Touch SoundBox regularly since I got it and I continue to be impressed by the music it renders. When you can't listen to music on your home system, such as at the beach, in the park, on the lunch tables at work, this unit is worth your serious consideration.<br />
<br />
Still recommended.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-88882482085490919522019-07-23T16:06:00.002-07:002019-07-23T16:06:50.353-07:00DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth V4.0 Portable Speaker ReviewThis is a review of the DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth V4.0 Portable Speaker with HD Sound and Bass, 12 Hour Playtime, Built-in Mic, Portable Wireless Speaker for iPhone, Samsung (Black).<br />
<br />
Talk about exceeding expectations, this DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth speaker was a pleasant surprise out of the box. I had begun to wonder--that is to say, I had come to doubt--whether any small speakers could put out decent midrange music, much less, any sound that one would identify as bass. I had been to many Consumer Electronics Show expos, where 20 or 43 vendors all featured those tennis-ball sized speakers and swore that the music was fantastic (it was almost always acid rock so no one could tell whether or not it was any good). One booth had daisy chained a dozen or more of those itty bitty speakers together, in hopes, I suppose, that the combination would produce both better volume and better sound. But the result was, "BZZZZT. Thank you for playing. Next!"<br />
<br />
I am also quite skeptical of product reviews since they can be faked to support one's own product or criticize a competitor's product. (And often, the most negative reviews seem to reveal that the person condemning the product didn't follow the directions.)<br />
<br />
But all that to say that I really wanted to get a small, stereo, portable, Bluetooth speaker that I could carry easily and connect to a phone or tablet. So I did a bunch of research. Reviews, specifications, thinking, and doing some decision making activity all led me to take a chance on the DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth speaker. According to the specifications listing, the unit contains two 1.5 inch, 6 watt speakers (for a total of 12 watts) and a 2.6 inch passive (bass) radiator. The unit weighs 560 grams or 19.75 ounces (19.6 on my postal scale). While there is no necessary correlation between weight and sound quality, if you have had any experience with those little, mostly plastic speakers for your phone or PC, speakers that if you sneeze will be blown off the table, speakers that produce pretend music, then the attention-getting weight of the DOSS Touch Wireless speaker unit creates a feeling of hopefulness. "There just might be something here that actually works," I thought.<br />
<br />
And I was right. Whether you want to play "What a feeling" from Flashdance, Beethoven's Emperor Concerto (even at low volume), Elvis' "His Latest Flame," Pharrell Williams' "Happy" with crisp top-hats on the drums, "Far Away" by Libera, with its high vocals and cathedral acoustics, the DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth speaker unit will do it justice.<br />
<br />
OF COURSE, the sound won't match what your $3,000 home entertainment system can produce, but the sound is very, very good I think. No doubt your home entertainment system rolls down the bass to 40Hz or even lower, and up to, say 22,000 Hz. The DOSS unit specifications lists a range of 100 to 18,000 Hz. Not 20,000? Well, most men by age 35 can't hear above 15,000, and even if you can hear tones that high, there isn't all that much up there.<br />
<br />
Signal to noise ratio is listed at greater than 55 decibels.<br />
<br />
I haven't listened to the fancier units, so they may or may not reward the extra cost. But this 12 Watt Bluetooth unit will allow you to enjoy those 50-song YouTube mixes, or the radio, or your downloaded music all day long.<br />
<br />
Recommended.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=virtualsalt-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01CQOV3YO&asins=B01CQOV3YO&linkId=9eb9b6186c061bde81c939b0f092214b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-8163060877915301942019-07-21T07:37:00.000-07:002019-07-21T07:37:02.484-07:00OneOdio Studio DJ Monitor Stereo Over the Ear Headphones ReviewI had been using some inexpensive, on-the-ear headphones for quite a while, when I took on the project of finding and sharing some "action-adventure" music with a friend. In order to let him hear the true sound (and feel) of the music, I needed better sound reproduction. I searched Amazon up and down and compared features and reviews before deciding to give a try to the OneOdio Studio DJ Monitor Stereo Over-the-Ear Headphones.<br />
<br />
Out of the box, I was quite impressed with the flexibility of the phones, but my main concern was the sound. Would it be any good? Answer: To my 68-year-old ears, it is excellent. Rich, satisfying bass was my number one consideration, and the OneOdio Studio delivers. The higher sounds are crisp and clear also. No doubt the 50mm drivers have a lot to do with the bass quality.<br />
<br />
In addition to the beautiful sound, these headphones are amazingly feature rich:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The audio cable is 9 feet long, so you can plug it into the phones and to your TV.</li>
<li>One end of the audio cable has a 3.5 mm plug and the other end of the cable has a 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) phono plug. Now here's the flexibility: Plug the phono plug into the headphones and the 3.5 mm plug into your phone, tablet, aux out, amplifier, iPad, notebook PC, or desktop PC . Or, plug the 3.5 mm plug into the headphones (yes, there are both jacks on the phones) and the phono plug into your amplifier, mixing board, turntable, guitar, keyboard, or other device.</li>
<li>More flexibility. Plug into the headphones into the left ear socket (the 6.3 mm phono plug) and another cable into the 3.5 mm plug on the right side of the phones and you can share the signal with another pair of headphones.</li>
<li>A short cable with a microphone in it is also included.</li>
<li>The soft, over-the-ear cushions are very comfortable for long-term wearing.</li>
<li>The headphones are apparently designed to be worn on top of the head, but I adjust mine down and sometimes wear them behind the head.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Perhaps the $300 headphones sound better than the OneOdio Studio headphones, but if you're in the market for some very satisfying, comfortable, high-quality headphones (with 50mm drivers, no less), these are to my mind--make that, to my ears--an excellent choice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=virtualsalt-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01N6ZJH96&asins=B01N6ZJH96&linkId=7a39b452eb6612f0c768a6a04fd70ebe&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-34275892050426572042019-07-01T12:59:00.000-07:002019-07-01T12:59:15.643-07:00Alpatronix CX102 QI Wireless Charging Pad ReviewA just-too-quick wave filled the charging socket with sand on my wife's Samsung Galaxy S7. We tried to blow out, shake out, tap out, and pick out the sand, but the port was just inoperable. We went to the wireless provider store, where, after some further ineffective attempts to fix the socket, they suggested a new phone. Then one of the reps said, "Why don't you just use a wireless charger? They are only $40." I thought that was a good idea, but wife nixed it.<br />
<br />
When we returned home, I went to the local wireless store, where they offered a brand-name wireless charger for $60. I declined and went home to Amazon. After several hours of research, I bought three Alpatronix CX102 chargers. I have all three installed and working. They are well designed, well made, attractive and, of course, functional. And they are among the lowest priced chargers currently available. The descriptions of these chargers are often confusing, so here is a brief clarification:<br />
<br />
1. Wireless chargers are called wireless because you don't need to plug the phone in to anything. You simply place the phone on the charging pad and the phone will charge. The phone must have an internal, inductive charging capability. Samsung and Apple phones as well as many others have this capability. You can google your phone withe a question to find out if it supports wireless charging. (Does my Xoompa phone support wireless charging?)<br />
<br />
2. The charging pad must be plugged into a USB wall connector, which is not supplied with the pad. You can use the wall adapter that you use every day to charge your phone. The Alpatronix CX102, like most of the other charging pads, comes with the pad and a USB cable.<br />
<br />
3. Speed of charging is determined by the wall adapter and by the phone's capability. If you have one of those swap meet $5 adapters, you will get a 5 watt charging speed on most any phone. If you have an iPhone, and if you use the Apple adapter, you will get a 7.5 watt charging speed. If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, you will get a 10 watt charging speed. Selection and switching are automatic.<br />
<br />
4. To use. plug the USB cable into the charging pad and into the adapter and then plug the adapter into a wall outlet. A green light will come on, indicating that the pad is ready. Place your phone on the pad. The green light will begin to flash. When charging is complete, the green light will return to a steady glow.<br />
<br />
I've been using the CX102 for only a couple of days, so this review will need an update at some point. But so far, these units work as well as the higher priced pad I bought first. And the Alpatronix comes with much better documentation.<br />
<br />
So far, I highly recommend them.<br />
<br />
According to the packaging, the Alpatronix CX102 meets the Qi (pronounced CHEE) open interface standard for wireless power transfer, the FCC standard for conformity and the CE European standard for safety. And it comes with a great warranty.<br />
<br />
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<br />Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-91210331510244257442019-03-17T16:43:00.000-07:002019-03-17T16:43:07.298-07:00Channellock GLS-3 Griplock Plier Set ReviewI've been using Channellock tools (needle nose pliers, wire cutters, linesman's pliers, and water pump pliers (aka slip joint wrenches) for about 50 years. They are excellent in quality, design, and usability. They are my go-to tools.<br />
<br />
While watching a repair show, noticed some repairmen recommending Knipex pliers for their grabbing ability. The guys were salivating over them because of their ease of use and quality German manufacturing. So I did a little research and discovered that a set of three 7, 10, and 12 inch pliers is about $90 on Amazon. Then I discovered on YouTube some video reviews for Channellock pliers, a set of 6, 10, and 12 inch pliers for $29. I love the design, with the angled head and the cut jaws that allow an unslippable grip on bolts and nuts.<br />
<br />
So I ordered the Channellock set. The pliers are an amazing bargain and they are lighter than the old, flat jawed versions. The pliers are very well made (in the USA), and they feel great in my hand. Like the Knipex models, the Channellock pliers feature the cut jaws that allow a positive grip on angled work. Grab one of these and you can imagine removing that water pressure reducer, tightening that air hose coupler, or installing the new shower head in the bathroom.<br />
<br />
I like these so much that I'm thinking about ordering a second set, for jobs where it is necessary to have two pliers on a tightening or loosening job.<br />
<br />
Highly recommended.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4041195777492980942.post-54537838291329730642019-01-22T17:25:00.001-08:002019-01-22T17:25:27.146-08:00Beware of Avas Flowers--Why I Will Never Use Avas Flowers AgainI was totally fooled and conned by the Avas Flowers web site, from beginning to end. I wanted to send someone flowers from a local florist in Garden Grove, California, so I googled "Garden Grove Florist" and the "Avas Flowers Garden Grove" web site came up. This is the first deception. There is no Avas Flowers in Garden Grove, California. The Avas company simply displays a fake web site with the name of the city that the searcher typed in added in. So if you searched for "Tustin Florist" you'd get a fake web site with the logo "Avas Flowers Tustin" displayed. It turns out that the Avas company is just another flower drop shipper like 800Flowers or ProFlowers. Avas is just an order taker that forwards the order to a real florist nearby the city you choose, adds a substantial markup and lets you pay them.<br />
<br />
The second deception was in the offer of "Free Delivery." When my order was completed, the final billing screen said "Delivery: Free" but there was a $15 "Handling Fee" added on, which was not disclosed until the last moment. Can you imagine, "Free oil for your oil change [but there's a $100 pouring fee]"?<br />
<br />
The third deception was the size of the bouquet. On the selection screen, I chose a bouquet labeled $43. When I went to the next page, there was a "Choose the size" option, with the radio button preselected on a more expensive size. The choices all appeared the same on the screen, so it was not clear how big a bouquet I was choosing.<br />
<br />
Deceptions four was that I paid extra for a "large greeting card." The bouquet was delivered with half a sheet of plain, folded paper, no cardstock, no envelope, and the words broken in half at the ends of the lines.<br />
<br />
Deception five was that I chose three balloons at extra cost. The bouquet was delivered without balloons.<br />
<br />
The $43 bouquet was about the size of a $30 bouquet elsewhere, and with the extras and "handling fee" added, cost me about $80.<br />
<br />
Caveat emptor: buyer beware.<br />
<br />
"Free delivery from Avas Flowers of Garden Grove." Yeah. Right. And did I mention that was with a claimed "online only" discount of 45%?<br />
<br />
That's what I get for clicking on an ad in the search results. Not anymore.<br />
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<br />Robert Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069593164020624659noreply@blogger.com1