Search found 34 matches

by chesley
Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Migrating files to a new computer by cable
Replies: 15
Views: 2048

Re: Migrating files to a new computer by cable

Hi. Just use a regular USB-C cable. Thunderbolt 4 ports are backward compatible. You probably won't lose any throughput, since the limiting factor would be your older Surface.
by chesley
Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Least acidic coffee beans
Replies: 86
Views: 8517

Re: Least acidic coffee beans

In general, Sumatra Mandheling is a low-acid coffee bean. Dark roasted coffee is lower in acidity, also. My favorites are Peet's dark roast, aged Sumatra and Dean's Beans dark roast Sumatra. I use an Aeropress daily with excellent results.
by chesley
Sat Jul 22, 2023 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: RESOLVED: Bring Verizon optical cable from cellar to first floor?
Replies: 21
Views: 1583

Re: Bring Verizon optical cable from cellar to first floor?

"stretching" Ouch! when routing the optical cable, don't tack it down with staples. You don't want to squeeze it in any way. Be careful about the bends; this is not like copper cable. Use about 10x diameter radius if possible.
Most importantly, treat the connectors very carefully. Keep it clean. If the caps are on hand, that will be best, otherwise don't use anything that will leave residue on the connector. Usually, the ends are cleaned with special dry wipes. Alcohol wipes are not the best for single-mode but okay if using the one-time use packets. Don't use cotton balls.
You shouldn't have any problems moving the equipment upstairs. good luck.
by chesley
Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Raised bed irrigation recommendations
Replies: 13
Views: 1717

Re: Raised bed irrigation recommendations

I have 4 3.5 x 8 ft raised beds. I ran 3/4 PVC from a rainbird valve and split to each bed. There is a ball cock valve at each bed with threaded end. I connected backflow preventer, 15 psi pressure regulator and threaded to 5/8" poly insert adapter. The layout in each bed depends on the veggies. I usually use 5/8" down the middle. If lettuce or bush beans, I like drip lines, i run poly to a T on the other end and run the drip line from the T in rows. For tomatoes, peppers, etc I use emitters with the 1/4" tubing coming off the poly running down the middle. I have all this on a timer. The days/week and duration depend on the temperature. If some of beds have plants that don't need as much, i can turn off the bed with ball cock...
by chesley
Sat Apr 22, 2023 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice for using parent as the "bank" and repayment/tax implications
Replies: 21
Views: 2419

Re: Advice for using parent as the "bank" and repayment/tax implications

You have it right. Just stay at or north of the IRS Applicable Federal Rates. right now mid-term (3-9 yrs) is about 3.5%
by chesley
Thu Aug 18, 2022 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Back Yard Fence -- DIY or Pay Someone?
Replies: 49
Views: 3133

Re: Back Yard Fence -- DIY or Pay Someone?

It looks like your property is relatively even ground. Nice. I suggest looking at the local equipment rental shops to find a one-person auger. There is a type with two wheels and a beam with the auger attachment on one end and the engine on the other. The wheel assembly is the fulcrum, so it is very stable. It is safe, easy to use, and, in my limited experience, works well in various soil conditions. Usually, there are options for auger diameter.

I don't care for the small, two handle, one-person augers, especially in clay.

(I am not sure what kids would be daunted by the "horse fence.") :happy
by chesley
Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Opening a bank trust account
Replies: 20
Views: 2576

Re: Opening a bank trust account

We use US Bank. When we created the living trust, we brought the document down to the branch office. They copied them and changed the joint account to the trust. We had just ordered new checks, so six years later we are still using checks that have our names. Same account number. No problems with direct deposit from my pension. No extra fees.
by chesley
Sun Feb 27, 2022 11:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard Government Obligations percentage inconstancy (VBIRX and taxes)
Replies: 22
Views: 2314

Re: Vanguard Government Obligations percentage inconstancy (VBIRX and taxes)

I also noticed differences between our 1099 and the Gov Income pdf. What I did appreciate was the breakdown within a fund of the sources--US Treasury and others. This helped me a lot because our state tax allows a deduction for treasuries but not other US bonds. I always made calculations based on the annual income report as that was the best source. The breakdown on the 1099 this year gives me more assurance that the state deduction is more audit-resistant.
by chesley
Sat Feb 19, 2022 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Adding Trust to homeowner's policy
Replies: 21
Views: 1768

Re: Adding Trust to homeowner's policy

OP,
I browsed the insurance papers. When we made the change, the policy was modified to the living trust with each us as additional insured.
by chesley
Sat Feb 19, 2022 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Adding Trust to homeowner's policy
Replies: 21
Views: 1768

Re: Adding Trust to homeowner's policy

When we created the living trust and retitled our house and a property to the trust, the house insurance policies were changed to the trust. My understanding was that the name on the insurance should match the owner. Our PLUP, though, is in our own names. Makes sense since the living trust does not protect us from liabilities.
Not sure if this helps. I am no expert.
by chesley
Mon Jan 17, 2022 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard/Chrome/Yubico key
Replies: 8
Views: 1148

Re: Vanguard/Chrome/Yubico key

I know this issue with deprecation of U2F has been running in other threads. My only comment today is that Vanguard has not updated their website to invoke WebAuthn. It is getting a little late in a software cycle to be within two weeks of a hard stop and not have the remediation in place.
I seldom make changes to my VG investments, so I am not on Edge, so to speak. I expect Firefox will still work.
by chesley
Sun Dec 05, 2021 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard/Chrome/Yubico key
Replies: 8
Views: 1148

Re: Vanguard/Chrome/Yubico key

Encountered the same issue. I messaged VG and got a reply in a day from an IT person. They are aware of the issue and will have made the transition by February. In the meantime, click on the "allow" button and the yubikey will work per usual.

TL:DR the original Chrome and other web developers used FIDO U2F API. That has been superseded in the WebAuthn tools.

I don't expect any problems. Edge and Chrome are experiencing same.
by chesley
Sun Oct 31, 2021 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping retired friend who is all in cash
Replies: 22
Views: 4389

Re: Helping retired friend who is all in cash

bog007 -- thanks for taking the time to put that into portfoliovisualizer. I personally like LifeStrategy funds and am moving toward putting our own funds into moderate growth. If I pass first, it will simplify management for my wife and our son.

I understand various points of view. There is no need for you to understand our motivation for assisting our life-long friend. I have given her some links for reading. She needs to work on developing a budget, including travel. In the next few months, she may shop for a fee-only advisor.
by chesley
Sun Oct 31, 2021 12:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping retired friend who is all in cash
Replies: 22
Views: 4389

Re: Helping retired friend who is all in cash

Thanks. My role is to start her thinking about what to do. I don't think it appropriate to be closely involved in choosing the investments. I may be a second opinion, though. She is smart and independent, but has had only modest means.

I appreciate the commentary here.
by chesley
Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping retired friend who is all in cash
Replies: 22
Views: 4389

Re: Helping retired friend who is all in cash

Thanks all. She has a preference for Schwab, since they have an office nearby. She can look at its Target Retirement Index funds or consider Vanguard's LifeStrategy Conservative.
by chesley
Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping retired friend who is all in cash
Replies: 22
Views: 4389

Helping retired friend who is all in cash

Hi, We have a dear friend who is recently retired. She sold her home earlier this year and is still working with a CPA on the taxes for 2020 and estimating 2021. All the proceeds are in a few money market accounts. Like me before I discovered Bogleheads, she has very little knowledge of investing and will take some time before deciding what to do. She is single, 68 yrs. old. For a while she has been living with and caring for her mother. Her income: Social Security: $1,111/mo Pension w/ COLA: $2,973/mo $49,008 annual Monthly after Medicare and w/holding: $3,557 She easily lives within her means. Debt: No Debt Tax Filing Status: Single Tax Rate: 22% Federal, 6% State State of Residence: California Age: 68 Desired Asset allocation: not sure. ...
by chesley
Fri Oct 01, 2021 6:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Self install gutter guards - do they work?
Replies: 39
Views: 4792

Re: Self install gutter guards - do they work?

I installed the gutter guard from Costco. It was about 120' linear feet at my son's house. It was an easy install because I could slide the shield under the last course of shingles without much effort. There are cedar, fir and a large black maple that grace the roof and gutters. It has done a good job this last year. Don't know how long it will last, but it is excellent condition after one year. We aren't really in a snow area, just a little and maybe some ice.

we tried the box store guards that are mesh with unsatisfactory results.
by chesley
Thu Aug 26, 2021 7:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Removing Fence Stain From Driveway
Replies: 9
Views: 1022

Re: Removing Fence Stain From Driveway

if the area isn't too large, you might try Brakleen with a wire brush. Use heavy gloves and avoid skin contact. works well with oil-based stuff on driveways.
by chesley
Thu Jul 29, 2021 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Great independent/small chain grocery stores or markets in the PNW
Replies: 15
Views: 1483

Re: Great independent/small chain grocery stores or markets in the PNW

in Eugene, Oregon and some other cities, Market of Choice is an excellent, moderately-upscale, grocery store. Wherever you folks land, enjoy the Northwest. We love it.
by chesley
Thu Nov 12, 2020 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gaming PC Build: Newbie questions and feedback!
Replies: 120
Views: 9082

Re: Gaming PC Build: Newbie questions and feedback!

You and your son might look at the recent article on $500/$1000/$1500 gaming builds at Tomshardware.com. I have enjoyed the site and the discussions about builds and components. Read discussions about processor $$ vs graphics card $$.
by chesley
Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How long do account transfers generally take?
Replies: 9
Views: 634

Re: How long do account transfers generally take?

I was nervous also. I rolled my 457(b) into a Vanguard IRA last month. the Voya transaction was 6/26 and Vanguard posted in the IRA 7/14.
by chesley
Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wasp nest
Replies: 117
Views: 8601

Re: Wasp nest

with below surface nests, the OTC sprays are not particularly effective if applied from a distance. I have been trying with a yellow jacket nest under a tree roots. I sprayed directly into the hole (at night!) to no avail. I finally covered it up with gravel. In the past, with nests in the house wall, I have had to call a pest control service. I would suggest that with your problem. The powders they use and the method of application is more effective.

I have done an underground nest, in the past, with a screen to cover the hole, dishwater detergent, and a hose. I would not suggest that with the arborvitae. good luck.
by chesley
Thu Jul 30, 2020 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Toyota RAV4 Gas vs Hybrid?
Replies: 91
Views: 9754

Re: Toyota RAV4 Gas vs Hybrid?

We opted for a Forester because of the overall driving experience, but I liked the RAV4 Hybrid design feature that has the electric motor providing the power to the rear wheels. It is likely an improvement to the Toyota AWD system, which has been not as good as Subaru's.
by chesley
Thu Jul 30, 2020 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a new car using Costco
Replies: 42
Views: 5635

Re: Buying a new car using Costco

We purchased our Forester last year via the Costco program. It was a satisfactory experience. I was more than willing to do a round or more of email offers from dealers within 100 miles but that works best with current inventory. DW did not want the electric rear gate, but I wanted blind spot monitoring, keyless entry, and the Homelink rear view mirror that has the garage door opener. The local dealer got us a Premium with an unadvertised package that included what we wanted. The price was pretty good. (Still had to sit through the upsell for the add-on services. :annoyed )
by chesley
Tue Jul 28, 2020 2:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me hook up my washing machine to my shower arm
Replies: 15
Views: 2348

Re: Help me hook up my washing machine to my shower arm

And you want to connect to the cold water inlet? you plan to control the temperature with the shower control? odd to say the least.
by chesley
Tue Jul 14, 2020 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Indoor Plants + Gnats
Replies: 19
Views: 1243

Re: Indoor Plants + Gnats

Sounds like fungus gnats. I suggest treating with neem oil. It doesn't mix in water well, so a drop or two of dish detergent would help. A good drench usually gets rid of the larvae. I take the plant to the garage or deck since it kind of smells and to let the adults drift away.
I don't know which plants are sensitive to neem oil. I treated a philodendron, spider plants, and marantas. Fortunately, they didn't take hold in the orchid mixture.
by chesley
Sat Apr 25, 2020 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS Get My Payment up and running
Replies: 369
Views: 32428

Re: IRS Get My Payment up and running

Sat., 4/25, finally was able to add my ACH information. We e-filed our 2019 return in early March. I waited a while after the "Get my Payment" function activated mid-April because a lot of the buzz was that folks receiving SS would get direct deposit. It appears that may entail quite a wait. I tried several times to input the ACH information and got the same kinds of failures already reported. Our instance is that we filed, overpaid slightly on our estimated taxes, and applied the few hundred to 2020 estimated taxes. I think we failed because they did not program in the instance $0 refund and $0 tax due. Anyway, failed yesterday and succeeded today. Still won't hold my breath. We are fortunate that we don't need the money. Probabl...
by chesley
Fri Feb 07, 2020 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is the best concert you ever witnessed?
Replies: 434
Views: 39240

Re: What is the best concert you ever witnessed?

what a list! For me ...
1967 Monterey Jazz Festival Blues afternoon: BB King, T-Bone Walker(I think), and others were fantastic, but ... when Big Brother and the Holding company warmed up, people started to get up and leave. Janis Joplin started belting out Big Mama Thornton's Ball and Chain, they came back to their seats. epic.
1967 Most of the sessions at Monterey Pop
In those years, lots of jams at Golden Gate Park
by chesley
Fri Jan 24, 2020 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thicker/Flatter Dental Floss or Tape?
Replies: 34
Views: 3416

Re: Thicker/Flatter Dental Floss or Tape?

J&J Listerine Gentle Gum Care is stranded/braided. Very soft. Hygienist recommended because the braiding picks up better. I like it because it is very comfortable.
(be a little cautious if your teeth are very tight. can pull apart, get stuck as you are taking it out)
by chesley
Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retirees: How do you handle quarterly tax payments?
Replies: 45
Views: 4293

Re: Retirees: How do you handle quarterly tax payments?

Great to retire! Estimated taxes are pretty straightforward. You may want to familiarize yourself with the process by reading Publication 505 from the IRS and go through Form 1040 ES. I have a new Excel worksheet for each year to estimate income, which is mostly carryover data from previous years. It is helpful to notate/anticipate any significant changes in any one quarter. I fill out the 1040ES and ancillary worksheets for the 1st quarter and just use that data for the remaining quarters.
If you have a large gain in a quarter, for instance, just walk through the F1040ES and its worksheets for the quarter. It explains how to catch up.
Enjoy your time going forward!
by chesley
Sun Sep 22, 2019 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone here has more 200k in a single stock ?
Replies: 58
Views: 10841

Re: Anyone here has more 200k in a single stock ?

Interesting thread. I also have a single stock valued at a little over 200k. It represents about 17% of my investments. First of all, my thanks to Bogleheads for opening my eyes to sensible investing three years ago. I retired about the time I found this forum. I have been selling my equities and converting to a three-fund portfolio. We took a big hit with capital gains the first two years and are slowing down now that there are only four non-Vanguard holdings left. We want to stay under the IRMAA yearly. we are at 415K VBTLX, 300K VTSAX and VTIAX. We will sell the three holding that are about 150K in the next two years and put it into the bond fund. I am undecided about what to do the the 200K in a midwest utility company. It is logical an...
by chesley
Wed Aug 14, 2019 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you "lock" computers in your home?
Replies: 77
Views: 7192

Re: Do you "lock" computers in your home?

*unlocks computer* I use full disk encryption on every drive, including removable drives. And I lock the computer when I'm not physically sitting at it. The main reason I lock it is that I'm required to do so at work, even if I'm just getting coffee or retrieving a printout. So it's easier to do it all the time. This is very important. If your drive is not encrypted, it is easily readable even without logging in. Either turn it on, or find a way to encrypt those files. Can you recommend software to encrypt a hard drive? On Windows 10, you can use BitLocker with Enterprise, Pro, or Education editions. For most with Windows 10 Home, you can use a 3rd party encryption. I don't encrypt the whole drive. I did this at work but at home I encrypt ...
by chesley
Tue Jul 02, 2019 12:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2019 Subaru Forester Eyesight System?
Replies: 101
Views: 7942

Re: 2019 Subaru Forester Eyesight System?

Find it interesting that so many posting here don't understand why OP would want to disable this feature. I also would as am quite content driving my vehicle without any electronic interventions. These things to me are not features but distractions and something else to break. Auto start/stop bothers me when the car NEXT to me has it. I understand am swimming uphill here, soon all cars will have these features and I will have few if any new car choices. Just my 2 cents............... Wouldn't a 1968 Camaro fit the OPs car needs perfectly? Probably doesn't even have lap belts. For years my dad wouldn't put on a seat belt. He wanted to be thrown clear of the fiery wreck when he had accidents. :shock: LOL! I was thinking that '60s muscle cars...
by chesley
Thu May 30, 2019 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good small SUV or AWD sedan recs
Replies: 39
Views: 2911

Re: Good small SUV or AWD sedan recs

Another vote for a Subaru Impreza 5-door. Subaru makes a very good AWD system. Much better than Toyota or Honda. We bought our daughter an Impreza when she moved to MA. Her commute is from Melrose to Andover. The car does well in the winter. Newer Subies have solved the head gasket problems. Highly recommended.