Search found 283 matches

by shmidds
Tue Feb 27, 2024 8:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Variable Percentage Withdrawal (VPW)
Replies: 2256
Views: 605728

Re: Variable Percentage Withdrawal (VPW)

First off, many thanks to Longinvest and Ben Matthew for all the work they put into creating these tools.

However, +1 for the simplicity of VPW.
by shmidds
Fri Feb 16, 2024 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any recommendation of a book that chronicles the downward spiral of an ordinary person
Replies: 102
Views: 9235

Re: Any recommendation of a book that chronicles the downward spiral of an ordinary person

Edith Wharton, "The House of Mirth"
Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome."

On the other hand, my 1910 edition of Edith Wharton's "Italian Villas and Their Gardens," makes me happy.
by shmidds
Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity Zero Funds
Replies: 64
Views: 6074

Re: Fidelity Zero Funds

I call it the ZERO funds a gimmick
I was kind of disagreeing with this statement but thought it best to look up "gimmick" first.

gimmick
1. a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.

So yeah, they do seem a little bit gimmicky.
by shmidds
Thu Jan 25, 2024 8:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Replies: 254
Views: 41954

Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?

Today's Humble Dollar has a blurb about Habit Stacking. Basically coupling something you wish to do with an existing habit. I stumbled on this idea years ago when I decided I would walk at least a mile first thing in the morning. It didn't stick until I coupled that with not eating breakfast until after I completed the walk.

This has certainly improved the quality of my life.
by shmidds
Fri Jan 19, 2024 7:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066607

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Went to see Wonka with niece and nephew and their young children. It was a snowy day at a small local theater that had recently been updated with beautiful reclining chairs. I fell asleep immediately and during a few moments of wakefulness I gathered that it was something about Nazis.
Perfect!

Hmmm, that didn't come out the way I meant it. It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. However, the movie seemed to me to have a rather disturbing undertone. When I got home I read about references to nazis in the previous Willy Wonka movie and also a little about the author Roald Dahl's anti-semitism and his time as a fighter pilot in the RAF.
by shmidds
Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 9-10 days in Turkey - where would you spend it?
Replies: 38
Views: 5195

Re: 9-10 days in Turkey - where would you spend it?

I recommend reading Roger Crowley's 1453 about the fall of the Byzantium empire before visiting Istanbul. Great book.
I also recommend the chapters about Turkey in Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad. You can still see the big lazy dogs around Istanbul just as he described.

Aphrodisias is another ancient city worth visiting, similar to Ephesus but less crowds.

If you can make it to Cappadocia, a balloon ride is a must. It's thrilling to be in the air with a hundred other balloons around you.

Turkey is wonderful, I'm planning a trip to hike the Lycian Way next year.
by shmidds
Fri Jan 05, 2024 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Serpentine Belt Replacement
Replies: 29
Views: 2618

Re: Serpentine Belt Replacement

I have a 2005 accord. I replaced the belt and tensioner at 75k. There is an arrow and indicator bar on the engine that shows if the tensioner needs replacement, and your Civic might have the same indicators.
You can find their location and how to check their status by doing a quick YouTube search. It's possible that it should have been replaced on your Civic when the belt was replaced but wasn't.
by shmidds
Sat Dec 30, 2023 8:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wine - what are we paying more for … ?
Replies: 185
Views: 32766

Re: Wine - what are we paying more for … ?

Anyway, a lot of inexpensive supermarket wines also have a *lot* of sugar in them. Generally not so much that they are perceived as sweet, but enough that they counteract a lot of excess acidity and bitterness that might be perceived in the wine - and can also balance out the wine. This tends leads to a wine that doesn't taste sweet, that doesn't have (IMO) much character, but that is very easy to drink. And also very easy to produce in huge quantities because it's easy to achieve consistency over millions of bottles if you are able to adjust the sugar (it's actually a much more sophisticated industrial/chemical procedure than I've described, but that's the ultimate effect). Years ago I attended a blind beer tasting party. The different be...
by shmidds
Sat Dec 23, 2023 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712824

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Suggest anything by Gene Stratton-Porter
Great suggestion, thanks. I've never heard of her or the Limberlost Swamp. They'll go perfect with the stack of Bernard Cornwell books I'm getting ready to plow through.
check out Fredrick Backman

I read A Man Called Ove and enjoyed it but never thought to check what other books he wrote, thanks!
by shmidds
Sat Dec 23, 2023 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Q&A MIA
Replies: 25
Views: 2841

Re: Amazon Q&A MIA

Not one question shows without searching. If I type "a" in the search box it shows the first 2 questions. Then there is a "See 20 matching Q&A" link.
Thanks, another step but that worked!
But still strange that they buried the Q&As. I guess its another example of En****tification.
by shmidds
Sat Dec 23, 2023 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Q&A MIA
Replies: 25
Views: 2841

Re: Amazon Q&A MIA

Probably because it’s not gone. On my phone it’s right above the reviews.

Also, because unless the seller is answering the questions, it’s not actually that useful. It seems to collect more useless “answers” to dredge through than the reviews.
That hasn't been my experience. I don't shop on a phone. I use a 27" iMac and at a glance at the first five Amazon's Q&As I could usually find the answer to a question I had about a product.
by shmidds
Sat Dec 23, 2023 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Q&A MIA
Replies: 25
Views: 2841

Re: Amazon Q&A MIA

What I find strange is how few people seem to care that a very useful feature is gone.
by shmidds
Fri Dec 22, 2023 1:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712824

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

I have a bit of a yin/yang thing when I read books. For example, I read quite a few brutal Indian captivity narratives this summer. In between narratives I read Francis Mayes pleasant books about life in Italy. After reading Tom Mangold's almost unbearable account, The Tunnels of Cu Chi , I read Jerome's, Three Men on a Bummel . Anyway, I started reading John MacDonald's Travis McGee series (Wow!) a few month's ago after seeing it discussed here, and was looking for the opposite type of book to read in between. I was pleased to discover that L. M. Montgomery wrote a series about a young girl named Emily starting with the book Emily of New Moon . This series is somewhat autobiographical, has beautiful descriptions of P.E.I., and perfect to r...
by shmidds
Wed Dec 20, 2023 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Holy FUNGUS GNAT flies
Replies: 46
Views: 5616

Re: Holy FUNGUS GNAT flies

very nice update, OP, thanks.
by shmidds
Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Utility Pump Recommendation
Replies: 16
Views: 1573

Re: Utility Pump Recommendation

The cast iron Liberty and Zoeller pumps routinely last decades.
+1 on the Zoeller pump recommedation.

I have an SJE Rhombus Vertical Master Pump Switch that is separate from the pump. The Zoeller pump, without a switch, is plugged into the back of the SJE switch plug that is plugged into the receptacle.

This setup has been flawless, the switch never hangs up in our narrow sump pit, there is one less thing to go wrong with the pump, it's easy to trouble shoot whether the pump or switch is at fault by simply unplugging the pump from the switch and plugging directly into the receptacle, and makes it easy to have a replacement switch and pump ready to replace as needed.
by shmidds
Mon Dec 11, 2023 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggest me comedy movies to watch as family in Amazon Prime
Replies: 21
Views: 3161

Re: Suggest me comedy movies to watch as family in Amazon Prime

Just last night I happened across a small British comedy on Prime that was very well done: What We Did on Our Holiday.
Great actors, including David Tennant and Billy Connolly, but the kids stole the show.
Warning: Heavy Scottish accents. Family dysfunction and death, but very funny.
Nice recommendation, watched and enjoyed this movie last night.
by shmidds
Mon Dec 04, 2023 3:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Odd Truck Issue SOLVED!!!
Replies: 36
Views: 5579

Re: Odd Truck Issue

I had a very similar issue on a 2007 Ford Ranger.
I had the same problem on a 1999 Ford Ranger, but hit a deer and totaled the truck. Problem solved.
by shmidds
Thu Nov 30, 2023 3:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to Buy Wool Sweaters
Replies: 28
Views: 3184

Re: Where to Buy Wool Sweaters

Appalachian Gear Company makes gear from Alpaca fiber that has advantages over fleece or wool.
Pricey, but the Alpaca fleece hoodie I have from them is my warm and comfy everyday go to mid layer in the winter.
by shmidds
Wed Nov 29, 2023 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Metal “minimalist” wallets?
Replies: 42
Views: 6274

Re: Metal “minimalist” wallets?

I highly recommend the carbon fiber wallet by WYN Labs that I’ve been using for 5 years. It’s thin, indestructible, easy to use, and a great value since it’s only $25.
Thanks for the recommendation! I've been using this wallet for a few days now and it's exactly as you described.
by shmidds
Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mitsubishi mini-split vs the mice and the mice won
Replies: 26
Views: 5078

Re: Mitsubishi mini-split vs the mice and the mice won

Our Mitsubishi condenser units are mounted on wall brackets several feet off the ground. The area is cleared of vegetation with stones below the unit. No mice yet.
by shmidds
Sat Nov 25, 2023 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are newer Kindles any faster?
Replies: 52
Views: 7017

Re: Are newer Kindles any faster?

Yes, but why don’t you get an iPad?
For my old eyes, reading on a Kindle compared to a tablet is, well, no comparison.
by shmidds
Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Audio (Audible) Books?
Replies: 23
Views: 2180

Re: Favorite Audio (Audible) Books?

Moby Dick
Don Quixote
Ulysses
To Kill a Mockingbird
by shmidds
Sat Nov 11, 2023 5:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cleaning Divided Light Windows
Replies: 8
Views: 1577

Re: Cleaning Divided Light Windows

I use a bucket of hot water with an ounce or two of Optimum-No-Rinse mixed in and two microfiber cloths, one for cleaning and one for drying. I also have an inspection sticker scraper with a single sided razor blade to remove any stubborn stains.
by shmidds
Mon Nov 06, 2023 7:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Holy FUNGUS GNAT flies
Replies: 46
Views: 5616

Re: Holy drain flies

Also make sure they aren't flying carpenter ants or flying termites. It's kind of hard to tell because they have twisted their bodies around in the sticky trap.

Yep, also could be a fungus gnat, etc.
OP, If you want to continue the diy route, buy a small pocket microscope for $10 on amazon and try to id the insect first.
by shmidds
Mon Nov 06, 2023 6:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Holy FUNGUS GNAT flies
Replies: 46
Views: 5616

Re: Holy drain flies

Step 1-Get a positive ID. Use a magnifying glass and look closely. Red eyes-fruitfly. Hump back-Phorid fly.
Cost >500k to get rid of Phorid flies at my megacorp building. We ended up flooding drains with purified water.
by shmidds
Sat Nov 04, 2023 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Youtube ads in overdrive [Removing website ads]
Replies: 81
Views: 6489

Re: Youtube ads in overdrive

Overdrive is a good descriptive word for Youtube ads. I reached my breaking point earlier this year and paid for Youtube Premium. I'm a bit annoyed that it is truly not ad free and that I have to fast forward through ads embedded in the videos.
I take consolation in the fact that Alphabet is 1.86% of my total stock fund and yesterday's Alphabet increase paid for several months of Youtube Premium :happy
by shmidds
Fri Oct 20, 2023 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tipping on expensive prix fixe dinner
Replies: 157
Views: 16759

Re: Tipping on expensive prix fixe dinner

Sounds like fun.
Share this thread with your friend, put both of you at ease, have a good laugh, and enjoy the dinner.
by shmidds
Wed Oct 04, 2023 7:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Your favorite installed bathroom accessories?
Replies: 80
Views: 9195

Re: Your favorite installed bathroom accessories?

Second best decision I made was to use a rubber/cork product for flooring. It is slip resistant dry AND wet, it is never as cold as tile, it is easy to clean due to no grout. These rubber / cork products are VERY different than typical sheet vinyl and are not available at your standard big box or even flooring retail outlets. They are typically used in commercial installations.
Wright used cork for walls and flooring in the Fallingwater bathrooms. Still there.
by shmidds
Tue Sep 19, 2023 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Socks that are thin, but warm?
Replies: 25
Views: 3176

Re: Socks that are thin, but warm?

Darn Tough socks are excellent but for serious hiking I use DeFeet Wooleators. They are meant for cycling, are thinner than any of the Darn Tough socks and not as durable, but they dry fast, are warm, and feel great.
by shmidds
Mon Aug 28, 2023 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What would you do with your journal if you kept one?
Replies: 12
Views: 931

Re: What would you do with your journal if you kept one?

I plan to hide all my Lemone journals in the attic, put some cash in each, and let some future owner have fun finding them.
by shmidds
Fri Aug 18, 2023 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rethinking "Keep Your Car for Ten Years"
Replies: 466
Views: 48774

Re: Rethinking "Keep Your Car for Ten Years"

My goal is 238,000 miles - the distance to the moon.

We drive a 2016 Forester and a 2005 Honda Accord.
We bought the Accord from my brother in 2011 for 10k and average $49/month in maintenance costs. The car looks and drives like new.

When I get the urge to buy a new car, I detail the existing car and the urge goes away.
by shmidds
Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: YouTube Premium
Replies: 29
Views: 3814

Re: YouTube Premium

Youtube Premium is worth it to avoid ads. Unfortunately you still need to fast forward through embedded ads.

I think the following is correct:

The monthly cost is $13.99. It pays to cancel the service and then sign up for the annual plan at $139.99 (11.66/month).
And, I think you pay an Apple tax if you go through your iPhone. Then the monthly cost is $18.99.

Anyone, please correct me if I'm wrong.
by shmidds
Sat Aug 12, 2023 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: WeatherTech floor mats
Replies: 50
Views: 5417

Re: WeatherTech floor mats

Good mats, but don't clean with Simple Green. It dissolves the glue holding the badge on.
by shmidds
Wed Aug 09, 2023 6:00 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Nuggets from Bernstein's "Four Pillars"
Replies: 57
Views: 9272

Re: Nuggets from Bernstein's "Four Pillars"

From page 346 of my Kindle edition:
"...occasionally a lazy fool can fall into a cushy lifetime sinecure," gives me a glimmer of hope.
by shmidds
Tue Aug 08, 2023 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Regrets
Replies: 114
Views: 15446

Re: Career Regrets

When I was your age, I read about something the author called “Lobstering.” The recommendation was to change careers every 15 years, using the metaphor of a lobster outgrowing it’s shell, for greater fulfillment in life.
That’s what I did. Scary at times, but no regrets.
by shmidds
Sat Aug 05, 2023 2:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Furniture shopping: having a hard time spending money
Replies: 56
Views: 4842

Re: Furniture shopping: having a hard time spending money

Go to the Reddit “Is my TV too high” thread. Look at all the ridiculous pics of TVs over fireplaces. Then find some way of relocating the TV and save yourself 8k.
by shmidds
Sat Jul 29, 2023 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Subscriptions Worth Paying For?
Replies: 97
Views: 14257

Re: Subscriptions Worth Paying For?

I recently subscribed to Youtube Premium because the commercials were getting ridiculous. Now I just need to fast forward through the embedded commercials.
But they just raised the price to $13.99. :annoyed
by shmidds
Sat Jul 29, 2023 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Purchase < $1000?
Replies: 231
Views: 28457

Re: Best Purchase < $1000?

50 years ago, $1000 of Craftsman tools and cabinet.
30 years ago, a Rubbermaid big wheel cart.
Iphone
Ipad
Kindle
by shmidds
Wed Jul 26, 2023 9:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Edinburgh sightseeing ideas
Replies: 18
Views: 1873

Re: Edinburgh sightseeing ideas

If you’re in good shape, you might want to climb King Arthur’s Seat.
by shmidds
Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rigid foam board insulation for attic access door
Replies: 31
Views: 4927

Re: Rigid foam board insulation for attic access door

Thanks! I'm inclined to following Cashboy's method
yep, that makes sense.
by shmidds
Mon Jul 24, 2023 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rigid foam board insulation for attic access door
Replies: 31
Views: 4927

Re: Rigid foam board insulation for attic access door

An excellent diy attic hatch cover instruction can be found at The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center-thehtrc.com.

https://thehtrc.com/2011/air-sealing-the-attic-hatch

The site stresses the importance of not only insulating but also air sealing attic access.
The cover is made from 2" thick foam board, is easy to build, and costs about $75.
For cutting the foam board I highly recommend using a jigsaw (borrow one if necessary) and use a bosch soft material jigsaw blade. The blade cuts through foam like butter. If not, buy and use an Olfa utility knife.
by shmidds
Wed Jun 21, 2023 8:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy a cordless Dyson vacuum ... and which one? (Update! OMG!)
Replies: 83
Views: 12377

Re: Should I buy a cordless Dyson vacuum ... and which one?

We have a Dyson V6 that's at least 5 years old, love it, and can't see going back to a corded vac.

Occasionally taking the vacuum apart and cleaning with compressed air really seems to improve performance and battery life. The current aftermarket Amazon battery is >3 years old and still working perfectly.
by shmidds
Sun Jun 18, 2023 5:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Professional dehumidifier vs amazon
Replies: 21
Views: 2707

Re: Professional dehumidifier vs amazon

I have a 50 pint Frigidaire humidifier that's been working fine for >7 years because I take it apart once a year and deep clean between the two coils. Just cleaning the filter on these portable humidifiers isn't enough.
by shmidds
Tue Jun 13, 2023 8:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Re Retirement "I wish I'd known..."
Replies: 299
Views: 54683

Re: Re Retirement "I wish I'd known..."

For simplicity's sake, I wish I had maxed out my ROTH IRA instead of 50/50 Roth/Traditional.
by shmidds
Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Will I be disappointed with counterdepth refrigerator?
Replies: 52
Views: 8830

Re: Will I be disappointed with counterdepth refrigerator?

If you have the wall space, or if you are able to remove a cabinet or two, two inexpensive counter depth single door refrigerators side by side with the doors opening towards each other can look high end.
by shmidds
Tue Jun 06, 2023 6:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel to Stornoway
Replies: 6
Views: 850

Re: Travel to Stornoway

We walked coast to coast across Scotland in May, 2019 on the John Muir Way from Helensburgh to Dunbar. Before starting the walk we spent some time in Glasgow. The city's trails, parks, gardens, and especially the bridges over the river Kelvin were beautiful.
by shmidds
Tue May 30, 2023 7:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Attaching a Mesh Bag to a stationary object?
Replies: 18
Views: 2132

Re: Attaching a Mesh Bag to a stationary object?

When I travel I always take a surgical latex braided travel clothesline and a small carabiner. You can use it to hang clothes to dry if necessary or to rig up a way to hang your bag.
by shmidds
Tue May 30, 2023 8:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Home exterior uplighting... tips/thoughts/insight?
Replies: 14
Views: 1011

Re: Home exterior uplighting... tips/thoughts/insight?

This is a suggestion for lighting placement.

We had a landscape designer update the lighting in the front of our house. The only uplighting was directed on the corners of the house to avoid shining in the windows. Combined with lights built into the stone porch steps and subtle path lights, the overall effect is great.