Search found 2054 matches

by dolphinsaremammals
Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garden 'engineering' question
Replies: 21
Views: 3912

Re: Garden 'engineering' question

I thought pressure treated lumber leached harmful chemicals into the soil.

All the raised beds I've seen are shorter than yours and have no cross bracing. I.e. two ten foot ones vs. your twenty. It would give you easier access to the plants as well.
by dolphinsaremammals
Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Seller conceals known defects: fraud question
Replies: 53
Views: 9646

Re: Seller conceals known defects: fraud question

Lafder, there was a seller disclosure and here is where a blatant lie comes in. He checked the box that the septic system was OK. But an inspection was done in October of last year that said the septic system was inadequate. Absolutely nothing was done to upgrade the septic system since that time. My daughter's broker has secured a copy of the October inspection and, from what I am told, the seller is going to be confronted come daybreak on Monday Aug. 3 (today) with the both that inspection report and emails showing that he was fully aware of the contents of the report. (My daughter, I should say, lives in Maryland while I live in Oklahoma.) Unless the seller has more chutzpah than anyone I know, he should wilt when he sees that my daught...
by dolphinsaremammals
Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can executor take value of personal time?
Replies: 17
Views: 3131

Re: Can executor take value of personal time?

Why is Emily doing any work on the house? Sell it as is. If the price is low enough, someone will buy it. Otherwise Emily is opening a can of worms.

I would get 2-3 appraisals for the house value and show them to Nancy, so Nancy knows what is going on. If Nancy thinks they are too low, she can hire her own appraiser. Nancy being the individual she seems to be, I would communicate this in writing. Although on further reflections, Nancy may just be being sensible about the repairs not being something they should be messing with.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 11:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Maturing CDs -- Now What?
Replies: 15
Views: 5131

Re: Maturing CDs -- Now What?

Carl53 wrote: All non-brokered IRA CD providers that I'm familiar with provide RMD without any penalty charge for EWP. Some offer options to make additional penalty free withdrawals for customers that are 59.5 and up. Currently weighing some of these options for my in-laws.
This is true of all the credit unions I have CDs at. Also the rest of the CD is left alone to continue to maturity at the original opening interest rate.

It is also worth asking your financial institutions about benefits for seniors. Sometimes there are no fees for various items.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 11:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Landlord Question - Military Tenant
Replies: 25
Views: 3120

Re: Landlord Question - Military Tenant

It's only for three months after one of them leaves. Perhaps tenant 1 can afford three months of rent.

Is tenant 1 a problem tenant? That's the only reason I can see for your wanting to kick him or her out to rent to others on the same terms, since you have no real idea of the financial situation.

I would not give preference to a member of the armed services. [off-topic comment removed by admin alex] But once having entered into a contract, you have an obligation to honor it.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 11:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Seller conceals known defects: fraud question
Replies: 53
Views: 9646

Re: Seller conceals known defects: fraud question

The problem, Celia, with putting the matter out of mind is that my daughter is still under contract until the seller releases her. She can't make an offer on another house without running the risk of having to buy two houses. (It's a stretch, I know, but she wants the peace of mind of being totally loose from the unwanted contract.) I don't understand this as the seller would seem to have broken the contract. I do not have a high opinion of the realtor either. If I remember correctly, are there not dates in house contracts? So if the closing date is missed perhaps the contract is automatically void? I would carefully read the contract if she does not remember the provisions. I hope the realtor put the request for work to remedy the defects...
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Maturing CDs -- Now What?
Replies: 15
Views: 5131

Re: Maturing CDs -- Now What?

I'm more financially conservative than many people here. I would do trustee to trustee transfers into new five year CDs. Where I live, credit unions are creeping up interest for those to about 2.2%.

You know, of course, about the federal insurance limits on CDs at banks and credit unions.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Swim Goggles for Near-Sighted People
Replies: 18
Views: 5512

Re: Swim Goggles for Near-Sighted People

JonnyDVM wrote:No info on swim goggles but if you're a candidate for lasix I can't recommend it enough. Had it done five years ago and it was as good a decision as I've ever made. I see better now than I ever did with contacts. No worry about contacts floating away when swimming or diving. Worth triple what I paid for it. The procedure was painless, quick, and I used my HSA to pay for it.
I've heard that sometimes after Lasik people may see stars around lights and various other problems like hazy vision or worse.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tipping House Painters
Replies: 8
Views: 2927

Re: Tipping House Painters

It never occurred to me to tip house painters or other construction people. I do make sure there is cold soda around. It can get brutal working outside on hot days. I'm sure they wish it were beer, but I'm not motivated enough to go buy that since I don't drink it myself.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?
Replies: 141
Views: 48429

Re: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?

Looks like they went through a period of time transforming the service by more automation and closer sync to the post office. The reduction of employees is amazing, sad for those who lost their jobs, but Netflix probably couldn't survive any other way, given their ever-shrinking customer base on the DVD side. I don't recall people ever being paid in Star Trek. This probably won't happen because too many people are invested in getting all the money they can, but I always thought that there people had access to some basic amount of money or food or housing credits or some such no matter what and they might or might not get paid for working, but that people could pick jobs that they really liked enough to work for nothing extra maybe. Otherwi...
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AAA Plus worth it?
Replies: 31
Views: 18723

Re: AAA Plus worth it?

My wife wanted to buy AAA. So she has AAA. She used them once in the past 13 years. And the tow was across the street (admittedly it was a six lane road and I'm not going to try to push a car across it) to the Goodyear shop for a new battery. She could have called on them once for a flat tire but one of her co-workers changed out her spare. Personally I wouldn't pay for AAA at all but happy wife, happy life. If we need a tow no big deal. Put it on a credit card or pay cash out of pocket. That said, YMMV. But remember, the man who owns the table (in this case AAA) is in the long run going to win the game. AAA sells batteries. As to previous question by someone else, I don't remember what AAA charges per mile over the benefit, but the web sa...
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on two houses
Replies: 11
Views: 2547

Re: Advice on two houses

I would move and remove all my stuff from the for sale house, after first having the new house painted and made ready while you don't have to live in that mess. I have never understood why "staging" a house is supposed to make it attractive to buyers. If a sofa is against a wall, I wonder if the wall is cracked. Plus the furnishings taste is unlikely to be mine. With the house emptied out, a buyer can better see what's what. Agree with paint, clean, trim and water the landscaping, keep a good temperature. Check your homeowner's insurance and liability insurance. I would worry about someone breaking in and ripping out the copper piping and appliances. In general, I hate alarm systems because they send me into high anxiety about get...
by dolphinsaremammals
Sat Aug 01, 2015 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AAA Plus worth it?
Replies: 31
Views: 18723

Re: AAA Plus worth it?

I have regular AAA. They will tow you further than three miles and charge you for the excess. That's what I do. So far it is cheaper than plus.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Protecting a young adult from his money?
Replies: 27
Views: 5495

Re: Protecting a young adult from his money?

I am under the impression that his issues are treatable. Why isn't that what's being addressed?"
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?
Replies: 141
Views: 48429

Re: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?

sambb wrote:I am also surprised that DVDs are still happening - streaming is so nice, and can choose things instantly.
I could never get Netflix streaming to work well on my system. All other video, no problem. I called them and they said they don't buffer, which sounded strange, but whatever.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?
Replies: 141
Views: 48429

Re: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?

MrNewEngland wrote:People still get DVDs?
Yes, I bit the bullet this weekend and carted off my box of video tapes to the local tape to DVD place.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?
Replies: 141
Views: 48429

Re: Netflix DVD delivery slowdown?

There was an article in the nytimes recently about how Netflix is upgrading its DVD processing. The number of customers is dropping, but it is still a big fat profit center. They have it incredibly speedily automated. Some machine takes a returned DVD package, removes the DVD, cleans it, tests it, packages it for the next shipping in the twinkling of an eye.

Of course, humans are much less necessary :(
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Owned a bank owned property & previous owned item
Replies: 10
Views: 1863

Re: Owned a bank owned property & previous owned item

You don't know who removed the things from the house. It may have been the failed flipper.

When I moved, I did forget some things - garden tools in the storage shed, etc.

I would give the hoop back, but I'd probably say they should get it themselves. I'd keep this at arm's length and probably politely set some deadline for them to do it so it doesn't drag on.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food safety - broken refrigerator
Replies: 20
Views: 4364

Re: Food safety - broken refrigerator

N1CKV wrote:I would not worry about the condiments. Growing up (and I'm not that old) we never put mustard or ketchup in the fridge, always the pantry.
I only considered mayonnaise bad if it turns clear.

Any opened salad dressing that contains dairy should be suspect.

Everything else should be fine. I have to admit, I did laugh when I saw "Cheerios" were in your fridge.
Not only Cheerios, but Honey Nut Cheerios :D
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food safety - broken refrigerator
Replies: 20
Views: 4364

Re: Food safety - broken refrigerator

pshonore wrote:Most experts recommend NOT keeping whole onions, potatoes and bread in the frig. Apples should be fine as would be most fresh fruit.
What is supposed to happen if you keep whole potatoes and onions in the frig? I have done that for years. The onions sprout eventually and if they do that I plant them in the garden, more onions :D

I keep bread type stuff in the freezer and microwave it as needed. As a single person, that's the only way to keep it from going stale.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon reviews
Replies: 22
Views: 4770

Re: Amazon reviews

PaddyMac wrote:I pay attention to the Verified Purchase flag when reading a review, as at least it means the reviewer isn't making it up completely.
If you return a product, the verified purchase flag disappears.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 11:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon reviews
Replies: 22
Views: 4770

Re: Amazon reviews

dual wrote:
ieee488 wrote:Beware of the shills on the book reviews.
Amen to that. I am continually amazed at the number of 5* reviews for crappy books. I have learned to read the negative reviews first. It is easy to sort out the emotional "I hate it" reviews and the good negative ones that give the reasons for disliking the book. I can heed them or not depending on whether the reasons matter to me.
I find equally annoying: the ones that say I got a free pre-publication copy of this book and I love it, and the ones that say I haven't read this book, but I love all the author's other books, so five stars to this one.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food safety - broken refrigerator
Replies: 20
Views: 4364

Re: Food safety - broken refrigerator

Rupert wrote:You can always check the freshness of an egg by seeing if it floats in water. Google it. Personally, I'd eat the eggs. I grew up on a farm, and we never refrigerated our eggs. Also, butter does not need to be refrigerated. I keep mine out on the counter in a butter dish all the time. Do you seriously refrigerate your Cheerios?
Yes, years ago as a poor student I lived in an apartment building with mice and cockroaches. Since then anything that a critter can nibble on lives in my refrigerator. All food objects outside the refrigerator live in glass jars or cans, etc. except for fruit occasionally on the counter. See someone else's recent cowpea weevils thread.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with very small 401k from previous employer
Replies: 27
Views: 2689

Re: What to do with very small 401k from previous employer

$1435 is money. I would open a traditional IRA at a place I already had accounts. That ensures that you don't lose track of it. I have been very careful for decades to never lose a chance to keep money protected from taxes as long as possible. (I am not in a higher tx bracket as a retiree.)
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food safety - broken refrigerator
Replies: 20
Views: 4364

Re: Food safety - broken refrigerator

YttriumNitrate wrote:As for the eggs, most of the world outside the USA doesn't bother with refrigerating their eggs.
I read somewhere or other that supermarket eggs do not last as long as farm bought eggs, because the former are pressure washed of something, removing the bacteria-protective layer. I buy my eggs from a neighbor, and my understanding is farm eggs can last a few weeks unrefrigerated. I just don't remember how old these are, so I'm being cautious.
by dolphinsaremammals
Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food safety - broken refrigerator
Replies: 20
Views: 4364

Food safety - broken refrigerator

So last evening I pulled a pizza from the freezer part of my refrigerator and I noticed it was hardly frozen. I wrote it off to having put it in there 2-3 hours previously after doing my grocery shopping in 90 degree weather, although I got home promptly. But this morning everything was defrosted. The repair guy replaced a relay and said it was the compressor, affected both the freezer and refrig areas, and it would take 24 hours to get back up to temperature. My guess is 16-20 hours between the refrigerator breaking and it being fixed today. I am wondering if I have to toss everything and replace it tomorrow. Any ideas what might still be safe? here are my guesses: Safe: I keep pasta, rice, biscuit mixes, flour in there to avoid any critte...
by dolphinsaremammals
Thu Jul 30, 2015 5:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Strategies to reduce living costs for a single-person household?
Replies: 18
Views: 3717

Re: Strategies to reduce living costs for a single-person household?

Where I live mini-apartments are coming into being. If you are happy without a lot of stuff, or can put it into storage for a few years, that may be for you. Do you have a relative you can share housing with - an older person who would feel safer with someone else around, or a younger person who wants to save money with reduced rent? I saved noticeable amounts of money in the last few years by: Ditching my television/cable. I just have Internet. I could stream or borrow DVDs from the library. I saved a small fortune no longer buying kindle books from Amazon but borrowing them from Overdrive. Cooking from scratch. This does not have to be elaborate. An omelet counts. Paying attention to what I buy. I ask myself if I really need something bef...
by dolphinsaremammals
Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rental Car Possible Damaged after I returned it
Replies: 18
Views: 3805

Re: Rental Car Possible Damaged after I returned it

Whenever I've returned a rental car, one of the employees and I check it over and note "no damage" on the paperwork. I check it over also before I take the car.

I guess this doesn't work if you drop it off at an unattended place, in which case I would take photos showing an identifying background.
by dolphinsaremammals
Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fed UP With Fed Ex
Replies: 26
Views: 6279

Re: Fed UP With Fed Ex

I ordered from chewy once and never again. They have woefully insufficient packaging.
by dolphinsaremammals
Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Keep paying the mortgage??
Replies: 67
Views: 10441

Re: Keep paying the mortgage??

I would move back to your previous home if possible. You don't want to be living in a home with mold, especially with a kid.

This is such blatant fraud that I have a hard time believing there isn't some legal recourse to this. Certainly the seller should lose his real estate license, not that that is going to do much for you. This isn't just finding a few things after the fact, it's intent to deceive.
by dolphinsaremammals
Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Auto collision with uninsured driver caused $5000 in damage. What to do?
Replies: 23
Views: 4455

Re: Auto collision with uninsured driver caused $5000 in damage. What to do?

This is why people have insurance, not only for the financial aspects but so that they don't have the hassle and expense of trying to do something about it themselves in an area where they are not expert.

I would say your brother's chances of getting money from an illegally uninsured driver are slim and none.

My recollection, perhaps wrong, is that the cost for uninsured motorist insurance is minor. I haven't looked at a breakdown of my premium in awhile, I just have the Amica people look at it every so often.
by dolphinsaremammals
Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Who are you able to share good financial news with?
Replies: 103
Views: 14230

Re: Who are you able to share good financial news with?

yosh99 wrote:Interesting you brought this up. I started my own business at the age of 50 and just last week, at the age of 64, I had an outstanding week of work. Largest client signing up for another three years, etc. and I had the strongest urge to call my parents, but they are deceased. There is no substitute for a parent when you want a real pat on the back. I never thought that at my age I would want to be parented so much.
What I would give to talk to my mother. They need email in heaven.
by dolphinsaremammals
Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: wife got in wreck with Honda CRV - no collison coverage
Replies: 113
Views: 17865

Re: wife got in wreck with Honda CRV - no collison coverage

When she has these accidents, are the kids in the car and jumping up and down and yelling, etc.? That would likely make me rear end someone.
by dolphinsaremammals
Wed Jul 29, 2015 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: wife got in wreck with Honda CRV - no collison coverage
Replies: 113
Views: 17865

Re: wife got in wreck with Honda CRV - no collison coverage

The interesting thing about the snapshot algorithm is the only driver input* it dings you for is hard braking. In other words, Progressive doesn't care about your rate of acceleration, top speed or cornering g forces, their data shows that a simple sort of the people who are inattentive enough that they regularly need more than moderate braking are those most likely to crash into something. I suggest if you find yourself needing to stomp the brakes more than a couple of times a year, you are not looking and thinking far enough ahead. I brake hard for birds. Lately I have noticed they swoop in from the side of the road and dip down in front of the car, making them much more likely to be hit than if they are at windshield level or above, bec...
by dolphinsaremammals
Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question on beneficiaries
Replies: 12
Views: 1880

Re: Question on beneficiaries

Boy, I would be a little upset if I was your wife. I understand the intent, but you don't pay enough attention to accounts to change the name in the event you get divorced. The beneficiary designation sounds like you are planning on a divorce in the future. IMO, this is a gross overreaction. "Divorce" is only one, of several, situations applicable to this designation. And, in exactly which of those situations would it be a problem with changing the beneficiary designation from the wife's name when that occurred. People apparently forget or don't get around to changing beneficiaries on remarriages or divorces. The OP seems to be trying to avoid that situation. I agree that the scenario of OP dies, wife remarries, wife dies, the OP...
by dolphinsaremammals
Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hefty Medical Bill
Replies: 38
Views: 5588

Re: Hefty Medical Bill

crambklyn wrote:Nope, no notification and my hospital is religiously affiliated.
As not an attorney, I'd say you're out of luck. I hope your son is doing well. I can understand dropping the ball while worried about his medical situation. But I don't see anything you can do at this point except try to negotiate the charges with his medical providers and hope to work out a payment plan.

Well, you might throw yourself on the mercy of your previous employer. Since they are a hospital and self-insured and religious, they might help out in some way. Especially if the medical procedures were done there.
by dolphinsaremammals
Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hefty Medical Bill
Replies: 38
Views: 5588

Re: Hefty Medical Bill

Spirit Rider wrote:
Thomas Hunt Morgan wrote:You are very close to the limit to enroll in cobra ( The later of 60days from leaving job or receipt of notification of COBRA eligibility)
It is only 60 days from notification, when you separate is not a factor.
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-consumer-cobra.html

I was confused and thought the above post was referring to notification of losing the OP's job. But from the link it is getting a notification of COBRA eligibility, which it sounds like the OP never got if the hospital said no COBRA. Is this a hospital run by a religious group?
by dolphinsaremammals
Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Roll over mailing logistics?
Replies: 6
Views: 1699

Re: Roll over mailing logistics?

nptit wrote:Assume you are rolling over after tax 401k contributions to a roth IRA. Fiduciary A sends a check to you and then you have to send the check to fiduciary B. Note I asked fiduciary A if they will send it directly to B and they will not only to me. How does one secure/ensure nothing happens to the letter/check when you mail it?
You can't. If it doesn't show up at B in a week or two, call A and have them stop payment and send you another one. There may be a charge for this.

I did several trustee to trustee transfers of maturing IRA CDs last month (directly between financial institutions). One check went into the ether, so I had to do this. Lost mail is quite rare, however.
by dolphinsaremammals
Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Re-open Probate?
Replies: 7
Views: 1788

Re: Re-open Probate?

clydewolf wrote: Then talk with the county probate court clerk.
That person was very helpful when I was an executor. I'm sure they see the OP's situation from time to time and will know what to do.
by dolphinsaremammals
Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: garage door opener resuscitation possible?
Replies: 23
Views: 3256

Re: garage door opener resuscitation possible?

deca, every several years I have a problem with my garage door opener or the garage door itself. I just call the nice people who installed it. I see your original company went out of business, but there are other companies out there. Except once when the opener had truly bellied up and needed replacing, it was easy to fix and not hundreds of dollars, less than $100 as far as I remember, plus the guy also did the stuff I never do like lubricate the tracks. The last time, the door was not staying closed unless I held the button down all the way through it lowering and then clicked it off and on quickly. It turned out it acted like this because the light sensing gizmo for obstructions had moved a little out of alignment when I unknowingly drag...
by dolphinsaremammals
Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: wife got in wreck with Honda CRV - no collison coverage
Replies: 113
Views: 17865

Re: wife got in wreck with Honda CRV - no collison coverage

What does your wife say about all this? She cries about it. She does not agree it was her fault. It was a mess from the day of the accident. A truck dropped cement or a steel beam and caused the first car to stop, then 5 cars after her ran into the back of each other. My wife was the last car. The front of our CRV is all mashed up and crushed. She says she tried to avoid the car stopped in front of her. They initially wrote up all cars as not contributing to the accident and only cited the construction truck. Problem is the construction truck has never been located. All the cars were charged as the rear ended each other. My wife does not agree with this. I talked to her about following too close. I know she says she was not following close...
by dolphinsaremammals
Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Deleted
Replies: 43
Views: 7841

Re: Major home renovation your thoughts

In an earthquake, I thought people generally headed for under tables or under door frames. If you have time to get to a specific room, likely you have time to get outdoors.

What I did with my CA house was have the house bolted to the foundation and plywood (or something) put in to prevent parallelogramming.

Bars across windows etc. would creep me out as a potential buyer. I believe there are code restrictions on them because of the above mentioned fire danger. You can fix windows so that they open a specified amount but no further.
by dolphinsaremammals
Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Durability of consumer goods
Replies: 44
Views: 6810

Re: Durability of consumer goods

Leesbro63 wrote:1969 and even 1992 cars should not be daily drivers IMHO. Safety advances since then negate any financial savings for keeping a car that long.
And yet, here I am in my seventies and not dead :D Also, as I noted, no one can hack the car and leave it disabled in the highway.
by dolphinsaremammals
Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ross Root Feeder
Replies: 24
Views: 5972

Re: Ross Root Feeder

john94549 wrote:Mind you, the weirdest scene was a deer drinking from the hot tub*. Woke up one morning, and there was this deer drinking, slurping, as it were. Yup, we put the cover on after that.

That said, it could have been worse.

*Of course, a deer drinking "in" the hot tub, say, with a gin and tonic, would have been weirder.
Is there chlorine or some such in hot tub water? If so, that must have been a very thirsty deer.
by dolphinsaremammals
Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Durability of consumer goods
Replies: 44
Views: 6810

Re: Durability of consumer goods

Interesting on landline phones. The old pulse code dialing ones don't work anymore, so your phone had a switch that updated it? ..... On cars. Yes it's nice to have an old car (assuming reliable). However there has been a step change in automotive safety: the addition of anti-lock brakes (ABS) and most importantly airbags (shoulder belts are actually more important safety features, if used, I do not know if there has been any significant change in the technology of belts in the latst 25 years). Cars are a lot safer than they were (albeit driver behaviour is probably still the more important factor: control of vehicle, avoiding excessive speed, wearing a seat belt). There's also a point about fuel economy,... I am presuming from this you ei...
by dolphinsaremammals
Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Durability of consumer goods
Replies: 44
Views: 6810

Re: Durability of consumer goods

Kitchen and laundry appliances used to last for decades years ago.

I have two working cars. I have never gotten rid of a car. One is about 22 years old (used to belong to my late mother) and the other is about 45 years old (my first car purchase.)

I have landline phones that are decades old.

If I buy good furniture, I expect it to last forever, with possible reupholstering. My living room sofa dates back to my parents' house in the 1950s and no idea how long before that. I have other furniture that dates back to the 1930s and a bookcase that dates to the 1880s and are still in fine shape. I have bought cheap bookcases and the like in college; those I expect to fall apart instantly.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is your home owner insurance going up 27% this year?
Replies: 35
Views: 6671

Re: Is your home owner insurance going up 27% this year?

Goodness, mine went down 8% and I didn't even notice until this thread caused me to look it up. It's hard to get homeowner's insurance here on the coast, so each year I'm just glad I don't slide into a horrifying number.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can you return food at a restaurant and not have to pay for it?
Replies: 46
Views: 22132

Re: Can you return food at a restaurant and not have to pay for it?

Years ago it was not unusual for me, after I had asked if an entree was vegetarian and told it was, to be served a dish that was not. Often it had chicken broth or somesuch in it, and the reply was, it's just chicken or its just fish. :oops: Now that vegetarianism is more common, that doesn't seem to happen. I used to leave it, pay my bill, and never return, primarily because I could never trust them to do it right in the future. Otherwise, as an adult, I have never been served food that I thought should be returned. I do remember as a kid on road trips with my parents, encountering way undercooked fried eggs more than once. I sort of ignored them. I don't remember my parents ever saying anything about that. Of course, I've never eaten in a...
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ross Root Feeder
Replies: 24
Views: 5972

Re: Ross Root Feeder

john94549 wrote: The weirdest tree to sprout in the past few years in our backyard, despite the drought, looks like a mini Christmas tree. Seriously, it's a cute tree, and nobody has any idea where it came from. Just popped up.
(1) Birds, squirrels, etc. eating items with seeds in them or (2) wind.
by dolphinsaremammals
Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Name and address security [Shred mail received?]
Replies: 18
Views: 3614

Re: Name and address security [Shred mail received?]

It never occurred to me to shred just name and address mail. As has been pointed out, someone can find that info in a nanosecond unless you've set up a corporation(?) to own your property.

I shred anything with financial, medical, etc. information on it. I don't shred anything else, because our recycling doesn't accept shredded paper unless it's in a plastic bag.