PC Matic - Just get it!

I've been trusting the security of my PCs & Laptops to PC Matic for more years than I want to count.  I've also protected my daughters and grandkids computers (using all 5 of the licenses.)  To date, none of them has been infected with any virus, malware, or other crap.  It has kept the drivers up-to-date, and the PCs running smooth and fast.

Whenever I've had questions for their tech support, they've responded within hours, not days.

$50/year is cheap insurance - Just get it!

My review of the All Terrain KneeRover® Steerable Knee Walker - $299

I’m 6’1”, 245 lbs, 68 years old, and male.  I’m also a retired Director of Information Technology for the NASA Space Shuttle Program.  And I have 4 Morton’s neuromas; two in each foot.  (now only 3 after 1^st surgery)

After having and using this trike for almost 3 weeks.  Bottom line is I love it and I’d buy it again.

This thing is very solid, well-engineered, and extremely well-built!  Yeah, it’s $300 – but it’s worth it.

But if you’re “heavy” like I am, you definitely need to buy both the Memory Foam pad ($30), and the SheepSkin cover ($16).  And currently if you order directly from KneeRover, there’s free shipping and a 5% discount.

Equally important – WATCH the You-Tube Assembly Video!  The printed instructions do not cut it.  It is easy to assemble (after watching the video) and even the tools required are included!

And no matter how “macho” you think you are, install the training-wheel  stability-wheel on your weak side.  This is important and might save at minimum a skinned elbow.  Whichever knee you’re going to rest on the pad is your weak side.  As you go around a corner on toward the opposite side, you can easily tip over and unless you whip your bad leg down fast enough, you’re going to crash.  But with the stability-wheel, it’s just that – stable. 

I now have several miles on my Rover.  Most of them speeding up and down the hospital’s hallways.  I’ve learned a few more things.

1.    The hand brake is great!  And by pushing the button, it sets the parking brake!  (on bare floors, the skid marks come up easily)

2.    The easily removable basket is a must have – even if just to hold papers, keys, purse, sandwich, etc.

3.    When folding, turn the steering a tad to collapse the stalk beside the seat when putting it in the car.

4.    It’s so much fun; you may need a bell or horn to get the slow folks out of your way.  (my wife hates it when I holler, “Varroooom, varoom!” as I speed down the grocery aisles)

                           

KneeRover PREMIUM Knee Walker Knee Pad Cover - Featuring MEMORY FOAM for Maximum Comfort $29.99

Knee Walker Pad Cover by Vive - Faux Sheepskin Pad for Rolling Scooter - Plush Synthetic Sheepette - Greater Air Circulation, Helps Comfort Knee During Injury $15.99

Schwinn MY17-R270 Stationary Recumbent Exercise Bike

 

1. Note the model “MY17-R270” – be sure to get the 2017 model.

2. Mine didn’t ship with a user manual – only assembly instructions. As of this writing, the only manual available and downloaded from the website is for the 2016 model. I got the 2017 manual by calling customer support.

3. Some things I’ve found (2017 adds):

a. There is a Custom User Program capability, but it’s NOT listed in either manual. (It wasn’t difficult to figure out)

b. The 2017 DOES have BlueTooth^® capability – allowing at least automatic upload of sessions to the Schwinn Trainer app*.

c. Some kind of “VR Experience” capability – there is a page full of warnings for caution when using VR – but there’s no instruction or description of HOW to use VR with the bike.

d. I’m thinking there are other “Easter eggs”, but I haven’t found them… and I’ll bet the programming can be updated/upgraded!

4. * “Schwinn Trainer” is a smartphone app. “SchwinnConnect.com” is a website.

a. Both sync with MyFitnessPal.

b. Your session(s) can be downloaded to a USB thumb-stick, and then uploaded to SchwinnConnect.com via PC. If you choose to enable syncing to MyFitnessPal, the exercise is defined as “Stationary bike, general (bicycling, cycling, biking) “.

c. Alternately, if you open the app, “Schwinn Trainer”, your session(s) will automatically be uploaded to the app.

i. This is a great app. All aspects of the sessions are retained and displayed.

ii. If you choose to sync this app with MyFitnessPal (don’t sync both; you’ll get double entries – duh!) – it will define the exercise as, “Stair-treadmill ergometer, general “ – which is incorrect, and when synced with other apps/programs/websites is treated differently than “Stationary bike, general (bicycling, cycling, biking)”

iii. Contrary to both the user manual and the description of the app in the PLAY store, this app does NOT upload the sessions to the SchwinnConnect.com site.

1. Interestingly, I sent an email to Nautilus (manufacturer of the 270 and the app) questioning both the incorrect definition of the exercise AND the inability to upload the data to SchwinnConnect.com – their response ignored the incorrect definition and confirmed, "The Schwinn Trainer app does not currently sync directly with Schwinn Connect. You can still transfer data using a USB stick though."

5. Heart Rate Monitoring

a. The 270’s in “Contact Heart Rate (CHR) built-Sensors” pretty good – but you have to maintain contact with both hands and until I’m 5 or 10 minutes into the ride (when my hands warm up) it reads very high (180-190) – however once the contact becomes better it is very close to my FitBit Charge 2’s reading – AND it’s ”Average HR” for the ride seems correct –even though I frequently do not have both hands on the contacts.

b. The 270 does connect (wirelessly) with other HR monitors like a chest strap – but take note:

“The heart rate chest strap must be an uncoded heart rate strap from Polar Electro or an uncoded POLAR® compatible model. (Coded POLAR® heart rate straps such as POLAR® OwnCode® chest straps will not work with this equipment.)”

6. I’ve had it 10 days and have used it every day riding up to 45 minutes in a session.

a. The padded seat and perforated seatback are very comfortable, and feels very solid during the workout.

b. The 3-speed face fan works.

c. The included media cable connects an MP3 source to the built-in stereo speakers.

d. It is so quiet while pedaling that you can easily watch TV or watch whatever you play on your smartphone or tablet that you can place in the “Media Tray”.

e. The lower display (below the Media Tray) is configurable and can display the current workout values.

f. The “Water Bottle Holder” actually has 2 compartments and can hold things like a TV remote or phone in addition to a water bottle.

g. The seat adjusts quite a bit (I’m 6’1”, my wife is 5’4”)
and would accommodate a wide variety of heights.

h. The seat slide scale is pretty much useless – it’s hidden under the seat – it should be moved to behind the seat…

i. It was very easy to put together – the main components were already assembled, I had to attach only the stabilizers, handlebars/display, seat and pedals.

I’d buy it again and I’d recommend it to my friends.

2017 Ford Escape Titanium–Best One Yet!

2017 Ford Escape Titanium – Magnetic – MSRP $37,920

2.0 L EcoBoost 4WD

301 Tech Package

NAV System

Adaptive Cruise

Panoramic Roof

Location – Suburban Massachusetts – 70% 2-lane country/town, 25% 4-lane interstate, 5% city. About 1,000 mi/month.

Driving style – sporty/aggressive

5 Grandkids, year-round sporting activities – Grampy’s Taxi service.

2013 SEL (36,000 mi), 2014 Titanium (23,000 mi), 2017 Titanium.

I am a technology freak – was Director I/T with NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

Some prior vehicles – ’54 VW, ’64 Mini Cooper, ’71 BMW 2002, ’73 Citroen SM, ’37 Rolls Royce, ’75 Peterbilt (8V92 TTA) ’80 Vette (w/turbo), ’85 Isuzu Impulse Turbo, ‘02’05’07 Accords (V6-NAV), 2010 Fusion SEL.

For my ’13 and ’14 Escape, really my only complaint was road noise coming through and around the driver’s door. In the ’17, that’s gone. It is noticeably much quieter.

I had read that Ford had really listened to Escape owners’ complaints, suggestions, and wish lists – AND – that they made modifications to accommodate those items. I won’t get into detail, but they changed the “A” pillars, hood, windshield, door and front-end insulation, and door glass.

It all worked. It is quiet. You can speak in a normal voice at 80 mph and be heard in the back seat. It “feels” like quality. It’s solid. Firm, but comfortable.

With each of my three Escapes I’ve said that they are the best “driving” vehicles I’ve driven – and I mean it. Its computer makes the outside wheels go quicker than the inside wheels when cornering, providing an effortless ride around the apex.  I’ve only once entered an off-ramp too fast, and yes the Escape’s systems evaluated that and the car slowed itself to a safe speed.  I have yet to encounter a situation that the Intelligent All-Wheel Drive couldn’t handle.  Snow, mud, gravel, open fields, etc. – it goes where and when I want.

The 2.0 L EcoBoost and 6-speed transmission are a great match. Yeah, the complaints are true – at highway speeds (70-80 mph), it does shift often when in hilly country – but so what. Coming off the line, there are very few who can beat me to the lane-merge. And if I keep my right foot planted, I’m at 3-digit speed before all 4’s, most 6’s, and quite a few V8’s. While it might be my imagination, I can actually feel the 5hp increase. My 2010 Fusion would burn the front tires upon hard launch, and even chirp them when hitting 2^nd gear. I’m sure that if this ’17 was putting power to only the front wheels, it would be doing the same.

For the last 5 years we’ve driven about 70% city/urban, and 30% interstate. It’s New England with hills and 2-lane roads. A lot of stop-and-go, stoplight racing and when on the 4-lane, 75 mph cruising. Both the ’13 and ’14 averaged 18 mpg overall. On trips to Vermont there’s only 50-60 miles of 4-lane, the rest of the 140 mile trek is 2-lane, but the average on those trips is easily 22-24 mpg.

The little things:

1. Sync 1 & 2 sucked. They worked, but voice recognition and function navigation was terrible.

a. Sync Destinations app was great. Find a location with your smartphone and send it to your car. It worked easier than the in-car searching. And I miss it in my ’17.

b. Sync 3 is a great improvement! Voice recognition is much better. Address and POI searching is a lot easier.

c. I do think the radio/music muting when a NAV prompt comes on should be improved. My past Escapes muted to very low, this ’17 doesn’t mute enough. After a trip yesterday, I think the ’17 mutes to a predetermined level while the ’14 muted to a percentage relative to the volume level of the NAV prompts. In this ‘17, if the NAV prompt volume is low, the radio can actually be louder than the prompts.

2. Paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Put them back on the shifter. I use them only for downshifting to slow down. This isn’t a race transmission – the automatic does just fine. I drive mostly in “S” sport gear. You have to move the shifter in to Drive and back into Sport to re-engage automatic shifting anyway. Yeah, I wanted them and thought they’d be “cool”, but since I have to use the shifter anyway…..
And I do NOT like the “VOICE” button on the wheel – it’s awkward to use – I have to look for it each time – when it was where the right paddle is now, it was much more convenient! On the left, you lose the Cruise Control’s “Suspend” paddle. Please put them back.

3. NAV next turn is gone from the above-steering-wheel display. – I’m guessing the lane-keeping graphics took the real estate – but I miss it.

4. Seat memory. – You have to be in Park or Neutral now. You can’t just hit the button when stopped at the end of the driveway, or at the first red light.

None of these are a big deal. I’ll get used to the changes.

Bottom Line:  I’ve driven Pilots, CRVs, Edges, Lincolns, Mercedes, Lexus, and even a $150k Range Rover Autobiography.  I don’t care about “being seen” and although I could afford higher prices, I still pick this Escape.

Lastly, Acton Ford in Acton MA, and Charlie Arbeene – I’ve been with Acton for over 5 years – their Customer Service is outstanding.  They listen to you, they give accurate time and cost estimates, and they are very polite! 

I’d specified and priced this same exact vehicle at 3 other regional dealers.  Two were obviously young and inexperienced sales persons who tried to tell me what I needed rather than listen to what I wanted, and the 3rd argued that I couldn’t get what I wanted built within the required timeframe.  One refused to price it unless I went in face-to-face, and the other two priced higher than Acton.

Action had my order built and delivered 3 weeks ahead of my schedule, and included an additional rebate that had come out AFTER I’d signed the contract.

I do a ton of research.  I read every review that I can find.  I read the Owner Manuals – almost cover to cover.  I usually know more than the dealer’s folks, especially the salesmen.  Not so with Charlie.  He did and does his homework.  Although I adamantly argued a point about the Android Remote Apps, he politely kept his cool and when he pointed me to a bit more documentation that proved me incorrect, he was gracious and didn’t make me feel like the idiot I was being.

When I picked up the car it was full of gas and detailed beautifully!  Charlie went over every aspect of its functions and operations with as much detail as my wife and I needed.  He has twice called to touch base and ensure my satisfaction.

-PJ

Services INCREASE – Price DECREASE!

Renewing services contracts for TV-Internet-Phone is worse than prepping for a colonoscopy.  And if you understand the differences between what you have and what they’re selling – you’re (1) a genius, or (2) dealing with Verizon.

I was with DirecTV from 1995 until 2011 when I moved to a location where the only providers for the 3-services bundle are Comcast and Verizon.  Keeping DirecTV for TV and using Verizon or Comcast for phone & internet was/is just too cost prohibitive.

As of last month, the phone + 50/50 internet + TV service for 3 TVs (2 DVRs) with a recording capability of 4 simultaneous recordings and whole-house access was costing $178 per month.

The services worked pretty well – every system has glitches now and then.  M major complaint was managing and coordinating the 2 DVRs and their recordings schedules.

I called (800) VER-IZON and talked with a nice lady who offered to upgrade me to Quantum.  The difference is that the DVR is 1 box that can record 6 shows simultaneously, any TV can FULLY control the DVR, and every TV can PAUSE live TV.

2-year price lock at $173/month.  2 additional recordings, $5 bucks less.  And yeah, I’m limited to 100 hours, but there’s an eSATA plug… and for $10/mo., I can expand to 12 recordings and 200 hours. 

Longhorn Steakhouse got me again…

I wanted a steak.  I wanted a filet mignon.  I wanted to try Willy’s in Shrewsbury.  Due to a series of Murphy’s Law events we ended up at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Marlborough. 

We’d been there before – several times.  Very good food, good service, reasonable prices.  But don’t go there looking for a “Filet Mignon”

We asked our server if there were any “specials” – she handed us their Specials Menu.  When she came back to take our order, my wife held up the specials menu and pointed to the salmon.  With the specials menu in my hand, I said I’d have the 8 oz. filet with the Caesar salad and a loaded baked potato.

 

Harvest Mushroom Filet*

Our most tender center-cut filet topped with a trio of shiitake, oyster and cremini mushrooms in a hearty bordelaise. Served with choice of side & a hand-chopped salad.

The above is the picture that was on the menu.  Does that look great, or what!

When our meals came, this is what was placed in front of me…

Not quite the same…..

I questioned our server as to where my “filet” was.  She said something about this was their filet, and while it may not look great, it “…sure does taste good…!”

About then, déjà vu hit.  The last time I was at this same Longhorn Steakhouse, I’d ordered a filet from their specials menu.  Different menu, different filet special, but same bait-n-switch.

A “filet” is any boneless cut if meat (or fish).  A “filet mignon” is cut only from the beef tenderloin muscle.  It’s a fairly long and tubular muscle with the grain running lengthwise.  When you cut a filet mignon, you cut a cross-section of that muscle.  When serving, you stand it up so that the grain is up & down (see the top pic which does look like a filet mignon).

So, while I did get a “filet”, it certainly was NOT of the same cut as the picture on the menu.  Yeah, it was cooked correctly, and yep, it tasted great.  But it’s texture wasn’t buttery, it’s flavor not subtle, and it wasn’t the same cut as in the menu’s picture.

That’s TWICE that I was fooled by the picture….damn…

Chinese Marbled Eggs

These are NOT hard to make – but I doubt I’ll do it again.

There are a few recipes, but they mostly consist of:

• 6-8 eggs
• 2 tea bags black tea
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 pieces whole star anise, or 1 teaspoon ground star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns
• half of an orange peel

The procedure is to hard boil the eggs normally, then crack their shells, add the ingredients back into the water, and simmer for 1½ – 2 hours.

They were O.K., but heavy anise taste – I didn’t get any soy taste.

Because I like love PA Dutch red-beet eggs, I’m going to try again using the same procedure, but replacing red-beet pickling juice for the ingredients.

PJ