Recessed Lighting - Bulb Types

When recessed light fixtures were first widely used in houses, the bulbs were 75 watts, giving 1100 lumens.  A federal law enacted to save energy mandated that R30 lamps had to be only 65 watts, giving 640 lumens.  Of course no energy was probably saved, as the new lights don't give enough lights to read by, so additional lamps are necessary.  Undoubtedly, some people installed more lights to make up for the lost brightness.
Now, with compact LEDs on the market, with much greater savings, there's no reason why R30s shouldn't be made with higher levels of brightness.  Will anyone make an R30 or BR30 that gives 1100 lumens?
One alternative is to use a PAR30.  These generally give a narrow beam, and may have a pattern to the light.
Another alternative is to use an R40 size LED.  These are longer, so they protrude from a 5" fixture.
I have sent this email to Feit Electric:
"Any chance you might introduce an 1100 lumen R30 or BR30?  When recessed lighting was first widely used, the lamps were 75 watts, giving 1100 lumens.  Federal law limited these lamps to 65 watts, which produce a paltry 640 lumens.  LEDs offer the promise of more light for less energy.  How about getting our brightness back to where it was intended to be?"

Costco countertops experience not up to Costco standards

I am disappointed to learn of all the bad experiences with Costco on Gardenweb.  I am very disappointed that they simply take a cut, but the rest of the process is unchanged.  I expected Costco would disrupt the market in a manner beneficial to both consumers and installers.  Costco should import the stone, own the stone yards, self-insure for damaged materials and homeowner property, and employ the fabricators.
We had a problem with an independent fabricator who messed up cutting some stone, which he should have replaced. But to buy another slab would have wiped out his profit and put him in debt.  So we bought another slab.  It's the same with any independent "handyman" who works with expensive materials that he doesn't supply.  A marketer who can overcome these problems could have a very good profitable business, while benefiting consumers and workers.  It seems to be a perfect match with Costco's business model.  Why aren't they doing it?

Google Maps Update is a Disaster

There's no "recently navigated" list.  All that shows up is a bunch of restaurants in my hometown that I don't need a GPS for and never used the GPS.
I make reservations for hotels all along a trip.  Before leaving home, I used to enter each address, hit navigate, then stop navigation.  Each hotel would then be saved in my "recent" list, and I wouldn't have to look for an address on a scrap of paper and key it in while driving.  You might suggest I enter them each morning, but i also have other destinations during the day, that make my hotel disappear!  Voice entry is a rare hit and mostly miss proposition.  In four days of driving in the south Atlantic states, voice has worked only once.

The interface is awful for what it does do.  If voice entry is accepted, the destination doesn't even show on the screen!  You need to open destinations and select the one you just spoke. 

All in all, this "update" is a disaster.  Try learning to use it, and then start driving and try having your untutored passenger operate it for you.  Instant frustration!

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

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I am troubled by the same behavior.  The ability to retain previously input destinations is a critical basic function of a navigation system.  Google Maps has all kinds of "gee whiz" bells and whistles I'll never use, but it seems to fail at getting me where I want to go without inordinate tinkering.  I tried using The C Man's advice, but the desktop version of Google Maps won't display properly on my Galaxy Note 2 with Android 4.1.2.  It looks OK at first, although tiny letters, and then when I touch to input the address, it jumps to magnify greatly to focus on the input area, and even after search is done, the magnification and location of the screen can't be changed.  I can't see what should be on the left or right extremities of the screen.  finger gestures change the magnification of the map within in its window, but not the screen as a whole.

The maps app shows that I am logged in.

Why can't nav just remember the last 50 places I've asked it to navigate to?

Before leaving on a trip, I like to enter every hotel and site to visit, so they will show up as recent searches.  Multiple destinations is cute, but I might want to add side trips in the midst of a 2 week journey.  It's very difficult to input a hotel address while driving, especially since I can't get voice recognition to work in such out of the way places as New York City and Boston, never mind the inconvenience and hazard of having to refer to a piece of paper to get the address each time.

I generally drive, and my companion is not as familiar with my phone as I am.  They find it frustrating and even maddening to input a destination.  So much easier to pick it off a list.

And while I'm at it, why is it that after a destination is input by voice, the screen does not show it, but instead says "Choose destination" that must be touched to display what I just said????

In Maps "Tips and tricks" under "Save a place and find it later" it advises to "just pull up the info sheet . . . and tap Save"  I've never seen an info sheet except in the example.  Are these only available for locations that pay Google?  None of my hotels (Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Best Western, etc. seem to have info sheets.

Subaru Forester vs. Chevrolet Equinox

Just Got a New 2014 Subaru Forester

Got the Premium model - the first step up from the base.  Traded in a 2010 Chevy Equinox LT, also one step above the base.

Why did I chose to get rid of the Equinox?

• Two service problems concerned me.  First, the fuel pump leaked into the engine oil.  Later, the balance chain stretched and had to be replaced.  The lack of proper lubrication followed by the chain failure suggests there could be even more latent damage in the engine.  Both repairs were done with no charge, and GM has since issued a ten-year 120,000 warranty to cover these two problems.  But I still had concerns about other damage that might be deemed unrelated.
• The Equinox, like most SUVs, and most cars, has poor rear visibility.  Mine also lacked a backup camera, and I often felt I was backing up where I couldn't adequately see.

What did I like about the Forester?

• Much better visibility
• Backup camera included, although screen is too small to be as useful as it should be.
• 4-wheel drive
• Rated #1 by Consumers Union
• History of good trade-in values

What did I like about the Equinox?

• Comfortable seat.  I had the 8-way power seat in cloth.  I like being able to adjust the pressure points in a long drive.  I don't like sweaty leather seats.  I like to sit high as in a chair, with my knees supported and bent 90 degrees.  I had considered the Chevy Traverse, but your feet stick out straight as if in a kayak - just like most cars.
• EPA mileage rating: 22 City, 32 Hwy.  I had the 4 cylinder 2.4L.
• Thoughtful luxury touches:  Push turn signal lever slightly, get 3 blinks.  Key fob.  Sliding back seat, with lots of leg room.  Radio stays on a while after ignition off.  Leather-wrapped steering wheel.
• Logical and easy audio controls.  Bluetooth straight forward.  USB folders stay in order, with lots of info on screen.
• Lots of big storage places.
• Ability to shift gears manually.
• Selected cruise control speed displayed briefly on display

What am I disappointed about in the Forester?

• Seat not as comfortable.  Sharp edge on door felt if knee rests against it.  Accelerator is too close at same time steering wheel is too far.  Telescoping wheel helps somewhat.
• I have CVT, and while it has a downshift function, I can't downshift enough to control excess acceleration going downhill.
• While acceleration from stop is great, passing acceleration is not.  I have 2.5L.
• Audio system is inscrutable! Consumer Reports did note this, as well.  Very difficult to do a podcast or audiobook. Panel button terminology and abbreviations made up by a non-native English speaker. Bluetooth doesn't automatically pair with changed occupant, manual procedure required.  Cover on 12v outlet has no tether, can get lost.
• Android Bluetooth issues.  Not necessarily a Subaru problem, but still a problem.  Subaru audio lacks "Play" and "Pause" buttons needed by podcast apps.  No way to play anything on my Galaxy Note 2 but Samsung music unless use Media Button Router app.  Pausing is accomplished by turning the whole thing off.  When using Google Maps Navigation with podcast or radio playing, sometimes Nav voice comes through, but most of the time is silent.  A podcast usually goes silent when Nav should speak, but all that comes out is silence.  I'm learning to look at the screen when the podcast goes quiet.
• Cruise control is imprecise.  Can't tell what speed you're selecting until car gets to it, and you look at speedometer.  Difficult to resume after braking. Controls are on the right side of steering wheel;  would be better on left for countries that drive on the right.  I steer with my left hand, and shift and do other things with my right hand.  So, I need to bring the right hand up just to operate the cruise control, while the left hand would normally be at the ready.
• Few storage areas, and console storage is tiny.  Interior light must be switched on manually when tailgate opened.
• The multi-display at the center of the instrument panel is an LCD that is hard to see, especially with sunglasses.
• If the doors are locked from inside, you cannot open a door without first unlocking it.  This could be a problem in an emergency.