Search found 2666 matches

by lightheir
Wed May 18, 2022 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any online resources to help find a good daycare?
Replies: 20
Views: 1626

Re: Any online resources to help find a good daycare?

Word of mouth is best, by far.

Online is very hit and miss, even with local-community focused groups like Nextdoor.

Best bet - ask any of your local friends and neighbors with kids - you'll be surprised how knowledgeable even one person can be, as most parents do quite a bit of research themselves before choosing.
by lightheir
Wed May 18, 2022 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any online resources to help find a good daycare?
Replies: 20
Views: 1626

Re: Any online resources to help find a good daycare?

Word of mouth is best, by far.

Online is very hit and miss, even with local-community focused groups like Nextdoor.

Best bet - ask any of your local friends and neighbors with kids - you'll be surprised how knowledgeable even one person can be, as most parents do quite a bit of research themselves before choosing.
by lightheir
Mon Mar 14, 2022 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do people store/watch their own home videos nowadays?
Replies: 31
Views: 5698

Re: How do people store/watch their own home videos nowadays?

I disagree with the 'don't watch them much' crowd nowadays. Honestly, I think times have changed. A lot of the resistance to not watching them much in the past was due to the sheer inconvenience of viewing them - whether it be Betamax, VCR, CD-burned, hard drive, SD drive. You needed a specific device in a specific place, which rarely happened. Nowadays, with icloud, google photos, and Amazon photos, all of which are optimized for video/photos, you can pull up pictures and videos of your entire family from 15 years ago in seconds. All organized automatically by date, and often video-tagged by face. I use it a surprising amount, whether it be on my phone, on my work computer, etc. I'd definitely recommend any/all of the big three of icloud, ...
by lightheir
Tue Mar 01, 2022 7:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wireless mouse problem
Replies: 27
Views: 2748

Re: Magic

Buy an Apple mouse. Very nice even though it has no balls. Definitely NOOOO to the Apple mouse. I adore apple products but this one is a dud for most folks. If you don't believe me, ask yourself why people aren't raving constantly about the apple mouse as they do over ipads, macbooks, and iphones. Because it kinda sucks. - Worst click ever on a mouse. Literally the loudest I've ever heard. You will drive yourself and anyone near you nuts if you're doing more than trivial clicking. - Can't tap-to-click like you can on a trackpad (which would have solved the above problem) - Doesn't track as well on nonideal surfaces - Charging port is on the underside of the mouse?!? - The no scroll wheel is functional (you slide a trackpad) however for any...
by lightheir
Tue Mar 01, 2022 7:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I hate my car. When will car prices and inventory normalize?
Replies: 168
Views: 21688

Re: I hate my car. When will car prices and inventory normalize?

I strongly predict that car prices will NEVER come down. This will be the new normal. Retailers are realizing that consumers are tolerating the rising prices of the current environment, and will likely do so for the foreseeable future. There's no way they are going to backtrack on their prices after getting consumers to pay these higher prices, especially as all of them benefit financially from doing so. Vehicle dealers and vehicle manufacturers absolutely hate their situation, and do not actually benefit financially from the shortage. The manufacturers are public companies, so all you have to do is to look at their reported revenues and profits, which have been suffering (although, the chip situation is getting better, which is the reason...
by lightheir
Sun Feb 13, 2022 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Prime membership increase to $139
Replies: 274
Views: 26840

Re: Amazon Prime membership increase to $139

Kinda off topic, but the public library is a total waste of time and money to me. The time alone it takes to drive there outweighs whatever benefits I get from a few free books - and the ones I find there in my GOOD local library are invariably NOT the ones that I want to read. Anything that's remotely interesting - 4 week waitlist. Our libary system also has a decently robust online e-book borrowing program. Now you're looking at 8-week waitlists for anything remotely positively reviewed or popular. So pretty much useless unless you are willing to 'read anything' I'll happily pay for Amazon prime and/or Kindle books to pay the $8 to save me the trips back and forth to the library. I'll also note you don't have to make a lot of money for ho...
by lightheir
Wed Jan 19, 2022 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I hate my car. When will car prices and inventory normalize?
Replies: 168
Views: 21688

Re: I hate my car. When will car prices and inventory normalize?

I strongly predict that car prices will NEVER come down.

This will be the new normal.

Retailers are realizing that consumers are tolerating the rising prices of the current environment, and will likely do so for the foreseeable future. There's no way they are going to backtrack on their prices after getting consumers to pay these higher prices, especially as all of them benefit financially from doing so.

Decide how much you really want that car, and if it's something that would have more value to you by having it now rather than later, go ahead and buy it now, despite the higher prices. I'll almost guarantee that prices will not come down, given how long they will be sustained for (as well as inflation).
by lightheir
Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Two years of owning a Peloton:by the numbers
Replies: 54
Views: 11047

Re: Two years of owning a Peloton:by the numbers

Hi All I know the Peloton is discussed a fair bit so I thought I would share some details after owning one for two years. [*] I have been paying about $170/month for BIke Payments+ membership. This is just a bit over a nice Gym membership (for two people). The times I've used a Gym I tended to probably average 1-2 times a week so getting 3-4 times more workouts for a bit more money is a pretty good tradeoff. [/list] Suffice to say I'm very happy with this purchase. I avoided Covid lockdown weight gain (arguably lost weight) and it keeps mentally keep my head clear. I've also exercised more in the past two years than any time previous in my life.... That's a pretty expensive gym membership along with a lot of work to justify the purchase. I...
by lightheir
Wed Jan 05, 2022 5:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Car Phone Mount?
Replies: 37
Views: 3537

Re: Best Car Phone Mount?

I've tried a lot. Most are 'ok' but have annoyances. This one is the simplest and most versatile of the mounts I've used, and would recommend. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TZSC1P3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Note that it's a soft, pliable material, so you can squeeze phones of various sizes (including a large iphone 11 with case) into it no problem. Has a sticky resuable adhesive bottom, but you can try it in various places before securing it down firmly until you get the best location on your dash. Won't break because it's soft and pliable. You can easily remove it (nonpermanent), wash, and take in rental cars or other vehicles. Cheap enough that if you lose it, easily replaced. The only con with these dash ...
by lightheir
Mon Dec 13, 2021 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My mother's car was hit and severely damaged, insurance refusing any payment - tips?
Replies: 39
Views: 5268

My mother's car was hit and severely damaged, insurance refusing any payment - tips?

Thought I'd ask here for any advice - My mother (75 yrs old) today called me today, telling me she was at a busy Costco parking lot yesterday shopping, and on her way back to her car, she saw that 5 cars had been severely damaged, by one car that seemed to have swerved out of control and swiping all the cars. My mothers car was the first in the row, so it got heavy damage. The person who inflicted the damage apparently was a senior who was having a stroke at the time of the incident (at least that's what my mom told me) - he was immediately brought to the hospital for care. Police were on the scene as well and a police report was filed documenting what happened. My mother called her Allstate insurance (New York State), and they said they co...
by lightheir
Tue Nov 16, 2021 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does a cheap road bike really exist?
Replies: 244
Views: 24585

Re: Does a cheap road bike really exist?

Reading this thread is very intimidating. I thought I was doing OK riding my crappy, heavy 15 year old hybrid 3 or 4 times a week for 7 miles or so. Reading here makes me feel like an unwashed dunce. So, two things: 1) I have a EEEEE foot. I have a very hard time buying shoes. Now I have to try to find specific shoes for clipless? That's intimidating. 2) My BMI is 29.7, and I am about 210. Before I drop 3k on a lighter bike, shouldn't I just lose 20lbs? Or does a fancy road bike give me all kinds of other benefits? You don't need to be intimidated. Trust me, 90% of cyclists are a lot closer to you than the diehards, and if you're talking general populace it's like 95%+ more like you. 1) You don't NEED clipless. If you can't find EEEEE shoe...
by lightheir
Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best way to learn to draw and sketch? Good books to learn from?
Replies: 45
Views: 3808

Re: Best way to learn to draw and sketch? Good books to learn from?

The key is to draw something each day. [...] Most skills in life is all about practice. This is the best answer to the OP's question about whether you need "natural talent". There is no such thing as natural talent, or if there is, it's waaaaay over-rated (to paraphrase a book title ). What we see that looks like drawing talent is just the byproduct of a lot of work put in by that person. Lots of good ways to learn things. Books, videos, private and/or group lessons. But at the end of the day the route you choose matters far less than just sitting down and doing the thing . I surely do agree about practice. From what I’ve read, natural talent does exist and will then need to be developed through hard work, although some natural a...
by lightheir
Wed Oct 27, 2021 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Let's play chess
Replies: 987
Views: 97377

Re: Let's play chess

Marseille07 wrote: Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:42 am
lightheir wrote: Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:13 am Make an account, login, and you will be able to both play games AND view your entire game history AND engine-analyze them AND comment on them and save them.
What about my ELO? Can I play rated games?
Yes it will keep a rating for you once you play logged in. It will keep the entire history of your games as well and you can analyze with and without an engine AND store the analysis there.
by lightheir
Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Let's play chess
Replies: 987
Views: 97377

Re: Let's play chess

What's the easiest way to create a PGN from games? I have a couple of anonymous pickup games I played on lichess and took screenshots of moves. I now need to enter those moves somewhere and export as PGN. I have xBoard installed but to my surprise, one of the players has to be an engine! EDIT: I found this site, which let me enter moves and now my opera game loads on xBoard! http://www.caissa.com/chess-tools/pgn-editor.php You can direct PGN export from lichess. And replay and analyze it there with an engine as well. I couldn't find it. Unless I missed, I don't think it's available for anonymous pickup games. Make an account, login, and you will be able to both play games AND view your entire game history AND engine-analyze them AND commen...
by lightheir
Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Apple Watch - do you like it / use it?
Replies: 104
Views: 10622

Re: Apple Watch - do you like it / use it?

I have the cellular version. Love it.

I dont use the cell very much, but the few times I do, it's invaluable.

Still not enough for me to call it a 'must-have', but in terms of a nice upgrade, it's well worth it if you are in the Apple ecosystem.

My daughter has one and I love being able to contact her for pickups after school as well!
by lightheir
Wed Oct 20, 2021 10:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Kid Friendly Dinner Ideas
Replies: 59
Views: 5568

Re: Kid Friendly Dinner Ideas

When our child was around 6-years-old, I asked a colleague with more parental experience how to get him to eat a wider variety of foods. The response was a bit of an epiphany: “Why does he get to choose?” I'm not going to go off on a rant, but wife and thought this was parenting 101...until we met other parents. Always an interesting experience having other families (and their kids) over for dinner. Hah - I used to think this was only a 'weak parenting' issue until I had my own kid. Super picky about food when she was 6 (not anymore thankfully!). Refused most foods unless it was exactly the one she wanted, made EXACTLY the way she wanted. Even tried that terrible advice, 'well, if she's picky and not going to eat it, that's her loss, she's...
by lightheir
Wed Oct 13, 2021 5:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Let's play chess
Replies: 987
Views: 97377

Re: Let's play chess

Marseille07 wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:23 pm What's the easiest way to create a PGN from games? I have a couple of anonymous pickup games I played on lichess and took screenshots of moves.

I now need to enter those moves somewhere and export as PGN. I have xBoard installed but to my surprise, one of the players has to be an engine!

EDIT: I found this site, which let me enter moves and now my opera game loads on xBoard!

http://www.caissa.com/chess-tools/pgn-editor.php
You can direct PGN export from lichess. And replay and analyze it there with an engine as well.
by lightheir
Mon Sep 13, 2021 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Bike
Replies: 121
Views: 13674

Re: Electric Bike

Looking for some recommendations for an electric bike for around $1000. Usage scenario is mostly for riding on paved trails for pleasure and possibly for commuting to a job about 1.5 miles away from the house. Need to make the purchase by the end of the year, but flexible in terms of exact timing. For fitting purposes, I'm on the short side, 5'7" with 29 inch inseam. Never owned an electric. I have zero experience with decent bikes, mostly owned $200 to $300 hybrids bought at places like Target and Costco in the past that were fine for what I was looking for. If I might venture ... for the leisure applications and commuting distances you talk about ... would you not just be better having a sturdy mountain/ commuter bike? You would get...
by lightheir
Wed Sep 08, 2021 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Microsoft Office Home & Student edition - necessary?
Replies: 20
Views: 2423

Re: Microsoft Office Home & Student edition - necessary?

I've been happily using only google docs for all office-type docs for years now in my personal life. I've felt absolutely zero need to use MS Office, as gdocs works so well and autoupdates and autosaves (as most web-based software does nowadays). I tried libreoffice before, but honestly, it feels almost dinosauric now to be working with software that is not built specifically for online. The online collab features have been hugely helpful for my family as well. The best part with Gdocs or any other web-based office software including MS office online, is that you are literally not tied to any computer. You can get on any computer with an internet connection, and have your full functionality and all your files near-instantly. No installs, no...
by lightheir
Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coming up with a splurge / hobby budget. $6k on a bike?
Replies: 46
Views: 4229

Re: Coming up with a splurge / hobby budget. $6k on a bike?

Any recommendations for coming up with a splurge budget for a hobby? I'm thinking about spending $5-6k on a new bike. I'll use it a bunch, financially I can easily afford it (but it still feels like a lot), is way more than I would have ever thought I'd spend on a hobby with no motor and feel a little guilty spending that much on something for myself. I might work up to something like $6,000 in steps. Do you know enough about bikes to know what you want in a $6,000 bike? Maybe a little experimentation first with $2,000 bikes might pay off. No amount of research will tell you as much as riding it and living with it for a year, trying it out in a variety of places and for a variety of things. You may want several different bikes for differen...
by lightheir
Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Overspending?
Replies: 91
Views: 11687

Re: Overspending?

The notion this guy is overspending is absolutely ludicrous. If anything he is UNDERspending. $23k/month sounds like a lot, but trust me, if you live in a HCOL area, it is not. And if a good third of it is going into mortgage payments, you're actually earning a lot of equity, which isn't quite the same as sheer expenditures. OP - don't freak out, you are utterly, 1000% fine. Seriously, you could up your monthly spending to even 30k+/month and still be a-ok, without worrying at all. I think people are comparing your expenditures in a HCOL area to theirs, and making a conclusion based on that, but trust me, I live in a HCOL area, and $23k/month is actually not uncommon around here. The advice to not go 'hog-wild' on rising expeditures is wort...
by lightheir
Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need help buying my first road bike
Replies: 63
Views: 5473

Re: Need help buying my first road bike

I think you're exactly right. A 2k alu bike with disc brakes and 105 will be all you will need, even at your best-highest level of riding. The Canyon Alu Disc looks great. I'd buy that one and feel quite confident about it. Not that others aren't equal or potentially better, but Canyon bikes are ridden by quite a few pros and are absolutely legit. The REAL problem is the lead-time for delivery of most of these bikes. I don't know if Canyon has that bike you want right now to ship, so check with them to get a realistic date as there is a backlog for most popular bikes, and 2k priced road bikes are squarely in that category of popular bikes. Last I heard, it was over a several month backlog for a Canyon bike, but that's better than the 9+ mon...
by lightheir
Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The psychology of frugality when you no longer need to be frugal
Replies: 152
Views: 28824

Re: The psychology of frugality when you no longer need to be frugal

You just need more time to 'outgrow' that college-frugal mentality. Not that there's anything inherently wrong in that mindset, but you have to learn to let go of the irrational fears that make you oversave when by every objective measure, there is no reason to. (Like ebaying items for $25 in your case.) It comes slowly and gradually for folks like you who have a well-ingrained frugal mindset, but you're young enough it'll likely happen on its own. Small life creep will take hold, and you'll start loosening the purse strings on your vacations, cars, home upgrades, hobbies little by little. But it's good to have started the way you did - you're super unlikely to get corrupted by all that wealth and go hog wild irresponsibly after those years...
by lightheir
Mon Aug 23, 2021 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hosting 200gb of family videos? (not through Google or Apple)
Replies: 15
Views: 1440

Re: Hosting 200gb of family videos? (not through Google or Apple)

Google 2TB $100/yr.

I know you said not GOogle or Apple, but then you said you actually already use Google, so why not keep using it? Plenty of storage for you, well over 200gb
by lightheir
Sat Aug 21, 2021 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gym equipment for apartment
Replies: 36
Views: 3428

Re: Gym equipment for apartment

I'm looking for a cardio machine for my apartment. I am a 33 year old female. PS: I'm unable to work out at the gym because gyms in the Bay Area are either closed; or have restrictions. Equipment I have tried out so far: -I tested out the peloton bike but my bottom hurt after about 15 minutes. -I tried out the Sole E35 Elliptical. It felt amazing and I loved it; it felt like the elliptical at the gym. However its 80" by 24" which takes up a lot of space. Question: Ay suggestions for something that feels like the Sole E35 Elliptical but is not as huge? Make sure that you have a ground floor apartment before you buy. Many of my friends have been evicted or had to move because they bought and used equipment while not on a ground flo...
by lightheir
Fri Aug 20, 2021 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books that changed your life!!
Replies: 159
Views: 24561

Re: Books that changed your life!!

Plenty of books have changed my life in the way that great literature can - by altering my worldview, teaching me something significant, or moving me/transporting me in the way only an amazing book can. That said, I'll focus on the ones that changed the trajectory of my life or directly altered my behavior, since that appears to be what OP is going for. Apple II Reference Manual Applesoft II Basic Programming Reference The C Programming Language - Kernigan & Ritchie The C++ Programming Language - Stroustrup The Intelligent Investor - Graham Liar's Poker - Michael Lewis I'm similar - I'd identify a few textbooks I read in college and professional school as life-changing. Not because of the particular content material per se, which is su...
by lightheir
Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ebike regulations are the wild west
Replies: 13
Views: 1858

Re: Ebike regulations are the wild west

It varies slightly with e-bike, but a typical one is: Throttle only (no pedaling, just pulling a trigger) : 20mph max Pedaling + throttle: 28 mph max "Race setting" (if available): Maximum speed/power, no restrictions I encounter road-bike style e-bikes here in Norcal regularly now, and they seem to ridden on the roads (not shared pedestrian trails) that seem in line with the above. Meaning on any sort of decent hill, for me on a non-electrified racing bike, I have to put out a near-max effort to keep up with an e-bike, whereas I will drop them cold on the downhill sections where I often go 30+mph. On mixed-used pedestrian-bike trails, you shouldn't be riding over 15mph if anybody is around anyway. There are always a few riders wh...
by lightheir
Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are you in replacement mode?
Replies: 55
Views: 6326

Re: Are you in replacement mode?

I'm not in replacement move, I'm in REMOVAL mode.

I've spent $800 in trash removal this past year and I'm not done yet, paring down the clutter in the house. Really necessary after kids get a bit older
by lightheir
Mon Aug 02, 2021 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: EV charging solutions in dense urban environs
Replies: 80
Views: 5680

Re: EV charging solutions in dense urban environs

It's a big (120+ acre) campus and almost all of the chargers are in the main parking structure (I believe smaller lots have 1 or 2). I don't think asking employees to go move their cars after an hour of charging is going to be a time-effective solution, especially when many of these employees are in a manufacturing facility that is easily a 10 minute walk from the parking structure. Maybe kindly asking them to unplug and park somewhere else at lunch is possible, but good luck with that. Just no easy answer. It seems to me that there are a number of relatively easy solutions: * add more chargers * impose an idle fee if people don’t move their cars after they’re charged * start charging a fee, or increase the fee if there already is one, to ...
by lightheir
Sat Jul 31, 2021 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good mask for exercising
Replies: 26
Views: 2236

Re: Good mask for exercising

I ran extensively with a 2-ply (not thin) mask all last year, much of it in summer heat. I train for triathlons, so compared to noncompetitive runners, I tend to run pretty fast (6 min/mile-8min/mile typically), including interval work, so it's not just easy running. The most important thing for me actually wasn't the mask itself - it was a soft plastic 'mask bracket' that you slip under the mask to give it a noncollapsible shape when you are breathing hard. Otherwise, the sweat-soaked fabric will suck into your mouth and totally block airflow, mainly when you are running very hard. The mask bracket totally prevents this, and works great. You get used to the higher CO2 than normal pretty quickly as well. I had no problems flipping the mask ...
by lightheir
Wed Jul 28, 2021 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much did you spend on Furniture?
Replies: 70
Views: 9776

Re: How much did you spend on Furniture?

$35k 10 years ago, for real and this wasn't even for super-luxury stuff, just new, retail furniture.
by lightheir
Mon Jul 26, 2021 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Board games
Replies: 65
Views: 6786

Re: Board games

Gotta mention this one - I'm actually shocked it's not super popular. It's a card game (no board), but doesn't require any real space, is playable easily by 2 or more players (the more the better), has rules that are so easy that my 7 year old was easily able to play it without handicap her first time, yet despite its simplicity, can't be 'won' using any cheap trick or simple rule. PIT - the card game I'm hard to please with games, and this one was shockingly legit for how simple it was, and plays extremely well with groups regardless of ability. Get it, you can't go wrong, especially if you are short on space. (They now apparently sell several versions of this game, some of which have a large pad or other accessories, but trust me - the on...
by lightheir
Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Folding" Treadmill?
Replies: 9
Views: 1018

Re: "Folding" Treadmill?

Most folding TMs in the $1500 range like the Sole F80 fold very easily, very safely. I worried that the deck would be super heavy to lift, or come crashing down, but there's no risk of that - you pull a lever and it pulls up slowly automatically, and to flatten it, it does then same with the lever.

These TMs are too heavy to realistically move room to room regularly. They roll reasonably well on perfectly smooth surfaces, but any little surface change like a rug, and it's a pain at 300lbs.

THe fold does save space but as said, it's not as dramatic as you might hope.
by lightheir
Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to buy/install a hanging kitchen light fixture?
Replies: 9
Views: 833

How to buy/install a hanging kitchen light fixture?

Total newbie question here, but - I have to replace a kitchen light that hangs over our kitchen table since one of the bulb holders (small halogen style) no longer functions. Hangs at least 2-3 feet downwards from the ceiling. Assume I can spend reasonable amounts of money for this, so cost isn't a major constraint, within reason. I'm not sure what the best/most efficient way to do this is. I have ZERO interest in DIYing this. Don't even try and talk me into it! Do I buy a fixture at a retail store like Lamps Plus, and they can send an electrician over (I know that'll cost, that's ok) and they install it? Or do I have to arrange the electrician separately? Also, do they have consultants as to give advice to whether the fixture I choose will...
by lightheir
Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla Model Y Ride + Quality
Replies: 207
Views: 28851

Re: Tesla Model Y Ride + Quality

Presenting Car and Driver's 2021 EV of the Year Foreshadowing a future when an electric vehicle's range is secondary to how it drives, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is our EV of the Year. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a36877450/2021-ford-mustang-mach-e-ev-of-the-year/ "At long last, an automaker has given us an EV that competes head to head with Tesla on design, performance, price, and range, and it neither looks nor feels like it was built in a tent." I'm a bit surprised that the Mach-E beat out the Y. Have seen mixed reviews for it as well. That review sounded like they acknowledge that Tesla was clearly the more superior EV with far superior charging ecosystem. They seemed to only award the Mach-E because it's the first REAL com...
by lightheir
Sun Jul 04, 2021 10:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wireless Earbud suggestions
Replies: 7
Views: 1070

Re: Wireless Earbud suggestions

Apple airpods meets all requirements. If you use iphones, it's a no brainer.

It's actually not pricey for what it is, either. In this case, you will be receiving quality beyond the price of the earbuds, and superior (when all things considered together) to anything at its price point.

There are good cheaper options, but you will be giving something up compared to the airpods, which you can wear all day, and use in pretty much every situation.
by lightheir
Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric vs Manual Toothbrushes: cost effective?
Replies: 47
Views: 4511

Re: Electric vs Manual Toothbrushes: cost effective?

Electric toothbrushes are fantastic. I would highly recommend the Sonicare (any). They last literally forever and have good cleaning power. Definitely avoid the 'cheap' wannabe knockoff Sonicares on Amazon. I tried the most popular one on AMazon, the "Fairywill", and despite its thousands of 5-star reviews, I'd only give it a 2-star. It had literally half the vibratory power of the Sonicare and felt very insufficient after being used to the well-regarded Sonicare. If you're going with the electric toothbrush, you might as well consider a water-pik style water flosser. In this category, the Amazon cheap brands are good - the one I have is outstanding; so good I don't even floss with normal floss anymore and my dentist says my teeth...
by lightheir
Sun Jun 27, 2021 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does a cheap road bike really exist?
Replies: 244
Views: 24585

Re: Does a cheap road bike really exist?

I have always wondered if the bike weight or rider weight makes a bigger difference. I guess total weight would make sense. I ride a Diamond Back that i got free via a vendor promotion. Basically a cheap bike, would like to upgrade but not sure what to get. My favorite ride is to bike about 1.5 miles to the local park, ride 5 to 10 miles around the trails and then back home. Tried a hybrid bike and really like the speed, however the tires are just a bit narrow for the trails. I did not realize how slow a mountain bike is until riding the hybrid! I wouldn't think that small differences in weight per se would make much difference. If I gained 20 lb it might slow me down enough in a race, but I doubt if it would be enough to make a significan...
by lightheir
Fri Jun 25, 2021 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Apple vs PC Purchase Decision
Replies: 77
Views: 6871

Re: Apple vs PC Purchase Decision

Cut and paste from phone to macbook is like magic! (yes it actually works, if you 'cut' text or images on your phone, at near near your Macbook, you can do 'paste' on the Macbook and the phone info is magically pasted on your macbook. Works in reverse too.)
by lightheir
Fri Jun 25, 2021 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Apple vs PC Purchase Decision
Replies: 77
Views: 6871

Re: Apple vs PC Purchase Decision

The m1 Macbook air for $999 is so good now that if you are buying a laptop now, be it PC or Mac, unless you have a compelling reason to stick with PC (gaming, specialized software being the big two), there is no reason to consider any other computer. The design, performance, and ecosystem blows away anything at its price point (especially performance, which is surprising given it is a Mac.)

Just watch/read any of the numerous reviews and comparisons of the M1 Macbook compared to anything else. You'll see.
by lightheir
Fri Jun 25, 2021 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?
Replies: 193
Views: 30606

Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Jags4186 wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 7:07 am Based on a recent story I just saw about Peter Thiel, it seems the best quality of life improvement for $1000 is depositing into a Roth IRA and over a course of 22 years turning it into $5,000,0000,000.
If you take $1000 and invest it with an outsized 10% per year return annually averaged, you will have a whopping $8000 after 22 years.

Obviously if you invest in one of the highest-flying stocks over those 22 years, you'll have a chance at approaching Peter Thiel.

I've bought and held Apple for 22 years, and it's not even worth over half the zeros in the number you gave
by lightheir
Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bike Cameras
Replies: 62
Views: 5623

Re: Bike Cameras

Hello all Looking for recommendations for bike cameras - ideally helmet mounted. Gopro is rather too bulky and large for me. The need here is just to document insane driving behavior that may put me at risk - such as drivers running stop signs or doing stuff that can endanger me. ea I thought of doing this a few years ago. Then I realized that it won't result in anything material. I've stopped riding on the road, period. There was a company working on an early warning device for cyclists a few years ago. Used a rear facing camera, have no idea of the current progress. I’ve given up riding on roads as well - too dangerous/too many issues. I believe Garmin has a rear facing radar that will alert you to cars coming up behind you with distance...
by lightheir
Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bike Cameras
Replies: 62
Views: 5623

Re: Bike Cameras

Ignore the haters.

The product exists, works well. Cycliq Fly 6. A bit pricey, but it works. Look at youtube for plenty of 'interesting' selected videos.
by lightheir
Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bogleheads, tell me about your 40's?
Replies: 300
Views: 83123

Re: Bogleheads, tell me about your 40's?

... I keep telling myself I want to be the "40 best shape of my life" type of guy but still putting it off.... just can't find the motivation to do anything differently. Kids are 6 and 7 and my 30's have FLOWN by. It's the kids. They do that to you. They have FAR FAR more energy than you do, and they hoover it all up. Between work and kids and a decrease in over all energy levels as you age, it all works together to make fitness an uphill battle. I used to be super into fitness in my early 30s (I averaged 4 to 5, 1 hour work outs a week), and then as kids came along that dropped and I took breaks, gained weight, etc. I still workout but no where near as regularly. In my case I have noticed more frequent injuries and those injurie...
by lightheir
Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bogleheads, tell me about your 40's?
Replies: 300
Views: 83123

Re: Bogleheads, tell me about your 40's?

... I keep telling myself I want to be the "40 best shape of my life" type of guy but still putting it off.... just can't find the motivation to do anything differently. Kids are 6 and 7 and my 30's have FLOWN by. It's the kids. They do that to you. They have FAR FAR more energy than you do, and they hoover it all up. Between work and kids and a decrease in over all energy levels as you age, it all works together to make fitness an uphill battle. I used to be super into fitness in my early 30s (I averaged 4 to 5, 1 hour work outs a week), and then as kids came along that dropped and I took breaks, gained weight, etc. I still workout but no where near as regularly. In my case I have noticed more frequent injuries and those injurie...
by lightheir
Wed Jun 16, 2021 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Computer/Security
Replies: 41
Views: 3815

Re: New Computer/Security

If you're admittedly less of a tech-interested person as you mentioned, I would definitely recommend Apple products. I've used everything extensively - PCs (still do) were my main for 15 years, Chromebooks, and macs, and the Macs are hands down the easiest, most reliable, and most secure for the less-experienced user. Current-gen macs and iphones are very good with regards to computer security. You obviously still need to use discretion while surfing/downloading stuff, but in terms of getting hacked or someone breaking into your system or stealing it, they do an excellent job. Their devices, both laptops and phones, are now built around security, with fingerprint and facial recognition for fast logons (you can still enter a passkey if you'r...
by lightheir
Tue Jun 15, 2021 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rx home delivery?
Replies: 103
Views: 8682

Re: Rx home delivery?

In Noracl we have Alto pharmacy. They have their own couriers that drop off, and shockingly, dont' charge extra for your meds, which seem to be totally fairly (low to me!) priced. Super easy to use web app as well.

It's a shockingly good business model that I believe is being copied/duplicated and funded to a large scale as we speak across the country by many competitors.

The only glitch that happened once is that during the lockdown they ran short of a med my wife needed so she had to get it from another pharmacy but otherwise, it's made the once-painful process of going to the pharmacy on a weekly basis, totally unnecessary.
by lightheir
Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Income req’d to afford pricey private school tuition?
Replies: 21
Views: 5435

Re: Income req’d to afford pricey private school tuition?

As a native of super HCOL Norcal, and seeing what my neighbors do, I'd say that quite a few of them make a lot of financial sacrifices to send their kids to the expensive private schools here. For sure, they're not all just running around with $70-100K extra per year (I know this from conversations and gossip with various neighbors....)
by lightheir
Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which is a more BH vehicle: a cargo Ebike or a Camry? [Ways to move around your community]
Replies: 63
Views: 11098

Re: Which is a more BH vehicle: a cargo Ebike or a Camry? [Ways to move around your community]

It is, technically many of these bikes are legal only for "off road use". It is not legal to have more than 750w on a bike without registering it as a motor vehicle, but there are e-bikes all over the place pushing 1500+ nominal. There is generally nothing on the bike indicating how much power it has, and increasing the power is often just a simple software change so the chances of getting in trouble for having an overpowered e-bike are slim. It's a gray area that will have to be defined as they become more popular. I've spent just as much time on 2 wheels in my life as 4. I've clocked 45+ on a road bike more times than I can count (and 180+ on a motorcycle on tracks); I'm not concerned about my ability to handle one. With an ine...
by lightheir
Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dance Lessons
Replies: 17
Views: 1753

Re: Dance Lessons

My wife does this ballroom style. I don't.

Lessons are EXPENSIVE, just remember that. And with ballroom, you will likely be steered toward a competition or ball, where you generally have to pay for the professional instructor to be there with you + his and your hotel (you can share the bill if more than one of you competitors are going with him.) Then add the dresses, makeup, etc. - it's one of the more (most?) expensive hobbies you can do. Just keep that in mind if you decide to go ballroom.