Kevin's Social Blog: May 2013

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Kitty corner versus Catty corner

Is there a difference between Kitty corner and Catty corner?

Apparently all: "All these are Standard variants of an idiom, based on folk etymologies developed from the French cater (quatre)—“four”—prefixed to corner(ed); the idiom means “diagonal” or “obliquely opposite,” as in The gas station was kitty-corner(ed) [catty-corner(ed), cater-corner(ed)] from the flower stand."

Monday, May 27, 2013

Invisible Shoes

http://www.invisibleshoe.com/store/index.php

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Frontier Ag

Dawn and I frequently pass a grainery on our way to Davis. It turns out to represent Frontier Ag:

"Frontier Ag Company is a merchandiser of diversified agricultural and renewable biomass commodities. With over 25 years experience working closely with growers, mills, and commercial partners in the California Central Valley community, and experience in the emerging renewable biofuel & energy industry, we focus on helping clients procure multiple types of crops, by-products, and biomass. We offer product pricing and logistics at favorable value; Helping clients maximize financial return and product availability."

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Auto loan basics

How much can you afford?
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/how-much-can-you-afford.aspx

How much can you afford to spend?
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/04/how-much-can-you-afford-to-spend/index.htm

Prius Dreaming

Dawn and I decided to purchase a Prius as our next car.

Some firms offer aftermarket mods, including EV mode for about $13,500...though it seems a bit limited.

Prii younger than 8 years old with under 100,000 miles on the odometer (10 years and 150,000 miles in CA) are covered under Toyota’s original battery warranty. (via)

Replacement batteries for the 2001-2003 Prius cost $2,299, and those for the more common 2004-2009 model currently run $2,588. (via)

the 2004-2009 Prius is more fuel efficient than its predecessor. (via)

http://priuschat.com

The Dust to Dust dust-up:

http://priuschat.com/threads/prius-myths-and-their-rebuttals.26050/page-7#post-711827

Car shopping tools

Car bargains
https://www.checkbook.org/auto/carbarg.cfm

Consumer Reports' April issue annually lists the "good bet":

Acura RL (link)

2012 $40,450 - $42,650
...
2004 $9,025 - $9,025
2003 $7,650 - $7,650

Acura TL (link)

2012 $29,750 - $35,850
...
2004 $9,850 - $9,850
2003 $5,975 - $6,650 * transmission issues?

Acura TSX (link)

2012 $25,500 - $28,450
...
2005 $10,500 - $10,500
2004 $8,775 - $8,775

Ford Fusion (link)

2012 $16,150 - $22,825
...
2008 $8,925 - $12,175
2007 $7,575 - $10,525
2006 $6,375 - $8,525

Honda Fit (link)

2012 $16,050 - $17,550
...
2008 $9,875 - $10,575
2007 $8,550 - $9,200

Honda Civic (link)

2012 $15,425 - $21,050
...
2008 $9,400 - $14,975
2007 $8,075 - $12,750
2006 $6,825 - $11,050
2005 $5,800 - $8,075
2004 $4,850 - $6,950
2003 $4,200 - $6,200

Lexus ES (link)

2012 $34,100 - $34,100
...
2004 $10,300 - $10,300
2003 $9,175 - $9,175

Lexus IS (link)

2012 $32,300 - $57,175
...
2004 $9,750 - $9,750
2003 $8,475 - $8,475

Lexus GS (link)

2011 $37,200 - $42,225
...
2004 $10,200 - $10,925
2003 $9,075 - $9,750

Mazda MX-5 Miata (link)

2012 $21,725 - $26,700
...
2005 $9,500 - $11,425
2004 $8,175 - $9,925
2003 $7,300 - $8,800

Mazda Mazda3 (link)

2012 $15,025 - $23,400
...
2009 $10,675 - $15,950
2008 $9,300 - $13,425
2007 $8,175 - $12,175
2006 $7,100 - $8,600
2005 $6,100 - $7,750
2004 $5,175 - $6,425

Mercedes Benz E-Class Sedan (V6) (link)

2012 $41,200 - $51,300
...
2004 $10,950 - $16,925
2003 $9,625 - $14,675

Nissan Altima (link)

2012 $15,850 - $22,775
...
2008 $10,525 - $15,850
2007 $9,250 - $13,275
2006 $7,575 - $10,775
2005 $6,250 - $9,775
2004 $5,525 - $7,525
2003 $4,650 - $7,150

Subaru Impreza (link)

2012 $20,150 - $28,425
...
2007 $9,550 - $22,400
2006 $8,075 - $19,925
2005 $6,950 - $15,525
2004 $5,475 - $13,375
2003 $4,150 - $6,775

Toyota Corolla (link)

2012 $15,125 - $17,225
...
2008 $9,350 - $10,525
2007 $8,175 - $9,350
2006 $7,250 - $8,525
2005 $6,575 - $7,900
2004 $5,850 - $7,000
2003 $5,225 - $6,000

Toyota Matrix (link)

2012 $16,700 - $18,600
...
2007 $9,075 - $9,825
2006 $8,125 - $9,200
2005 $6,950 - $7,850
2004 $6,100 - $7,000
2003 $5,325 - $6,150

Toyota Prius (link)

2012 $21,825 - $24,775
...
2006 $9,650 - $9,650
2005 $8,375 - $8,375
2004 $7,100 - $7,100
2003 $5,375 - $5,375

Toyota Corolla (link)

2012 $15,125 - $17,225
...
2008 $9,350 - $10,525
2007 $8,175 - $9,350
2006 $7,250 - $8,525
2005 $6,575 - $7,900
2004 $5,850 - $7,000
2003 $5,225 - $6,000

Toyota Camry (link)

2012 $18,450 - $25,375
...
2006 $8,950 - $11,625
2005 $7,925 - $9,950
2004 $7,175 - $9,050
2003 $6,650 - $7,875

Volkswagen Golf, Rabbit (link)

2012 $17,125 - $30,850
...
2008 $9,725 - $10,525
2007 $8,375 - $9,200
2006 $6,950 - $10,625
2005 $5,950 - $9,250
2004 $4,950 - $12,275
2003 $4,250 - $6,825

Volvo C30 (link)

2012 $22,025 - $22,025
...
2008 $14,050 - $15,100

Volvo C70 (link)

2012 $32,900 - $32,900
...
2004 $6,750 - $8,075
2003 $5,550 - $6,850

Volvo S60 (link)

2012 $27,375 - $35,450
...
2007 $10,750 - $15,450
2006 $8,600 - $11,925
2005 $6,950 - $11,175
2004 $5,850 - $10,550
2003 $5,025 - $8,025

Volvo S80 (link)

2012 $27,050 - $27,050
...
2006 $8,400 - $10,275
2005 $6,650 - $9,950
2004 $5,450 - $8,950
2003 $4,875 - $8,450

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Freedom isn't free

The Free Software Foundation published a 2012 gift guide:

http://www.fsf.org/givingguide

which features laptops from ThinkPenguin: https://www.thinkpenguin.com/catalog/notebook-computers-gnulinux

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Herman Miller Aeron Stool’s high variant

The Herman Miller Aeron Stool’s high variant represents the nicest one (again, personal preference, here) I have found:

Sunday, May 05, 2013

FODMAP

Day one

http://www.bakeat350goessavory.com/2012/02/roasted-turkey-breast-tenderloins.html

http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/Red-Lobster-Nantucket-Baked-Cod-Recipe.html

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Standing desks

The WireCutter posted a nice overview:

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-standing-desks/

Kevin's Social Blog