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killjoy2012

What most of the people in this thread are missing is, that since the US government has been pushing CAFE standards higher and higher, the only way the OEMs can meet the mandatory fleet requirements is to produce an increasing number of vehicles using smaller and more efficient engines/technology, w...

killjoy2012

Well, just remember that you're talking to what's effectively 3 different companies. Ford: the product manufacturer who has almost no say over what the dealer does, or the lease terms. The Dealer: who is independently owned -- not owned by Ford. FMC: the bank. And while owned by Ford, is the money s...

killjoy2012

OP - For a new install, a NG direct vent is the way to go if you don't want the mess, maintenance and other headaches associated with a natural fireplace. I purchased and installed a Mendota direct vent fireplace about 15 years ago. I did a lot of window shopping, and the fire visuals produced by t...

killjoy2012

s8r - I'm in the USA and work in IT. I'd say your general assessment is correct - it sounds like people in the USA (such as a programmer) would make more here than in Finland. But I think you also need to factor in cost of living, etc. e.g. A 1 bedroom apartment in Silicon Valley will cost you over ...

killjoy2012

Hi Everyone. I'm a long time member and generally know better than to invest in complex things I don't understand, especially expensive things, and things that generally have a bad reputation. However, the financial planner my father used for a couple decades recently passed away and he was a 1-man ...

killjoy2012

OP: The price in the quote sounds about right. If you purchase an upgrade, I'd go for the modulating furnace -- Lennox markets that as "variable capacity". I live further north than you, and our heating season is much longer than cooling... so the modulating aspect pays off, especially in terms of n...

killjoy2012

The problem with some of these replies are that regardless of what the day-to-day dress code is in the office, that doesn't always apply to people being interviewed there. I work in IT at a major company, and most guys wear jeans, a sports polo or t-shirt, etc. -- all perfectly acceptable. But for p...

killjoy2012

I agree - go do some window shopping and make sure you know what you want. If you're just getting your first smartphone now, you may actually like the iPhone better than a Droid - JMO.

killjoy2012

One of the underlying issues people in this thread are hinting at, but not saying, is that using your cell phone w/ SMS codes really doesn't meet the "something you have" factor in 2FA. For multi-factor authentication, it's a combo of something you know (e.g. password), something you have (e.g. a ha...

killjoy2012

I spent 2+ weeks in Egypt touring from Cairo down to Abu Simbel in 2009. I'd strongly recommend you spend the money before the trip at REI and buy a couple pairs of adventure/mountaineering pants... lightweight, quick drying, fairly rugged pants. Many also have zip-off legs to convert to shorts. Des...

killjoy2012

This is one of those cases that if it's not broke, don't fix it (or replace it). Sure, if you buy a new central AC, it'll operate at a higher efficiency and lower electrical cost than what you have today. But even if it was 50% more efficient, at 120 HOURS of use per year.... vs. $3-6k for new equip...

killjoy2012

There's nothing wrong with McAfee - many businesses and residential customer use it everyday. Better question is why do you use it, when you could just use the Windows Defender AV that comes with W7/W10. Even if that is all you do, keep in mind that ads placed within those websites you listed are co...

killjoy2012

I've done a ton of residential and small business network and security work, mostly as hobby or volunteer. Also have several friends that are electricians, so have picked up some tips and tricks from them. My suggestions: I always favor wired Ethernet over wireless when the stationary aspect of such...

killjoy2012

Question to my fellow SE MI residents: The financial advisor my father and a couple siblings used recently passed away. The advisor owned & ran a small firm (him and a partner) and my family doesn't want to stick with that partner - need to move the accounts. Knowing that I'm fairly literate in this...

killjoy2012

Yea, I think it depends on what your itinerary is. Renting an RV and touring the countryside or national parks sounds great, but won't help you in a major city. So I guess it really depends on where/what you plan to do.

killjoy2012

It's hard to argue against Spain based on climate, cost of living, culture, etc. There's a reason why many Brits retire in Spain.

killjoy2012

How would one weld a brass valve to a steel oil pan and why would it be necessary? Technically, it'd be called brazing. But it is possible. It would be useful / necessary to prevent leakage. A leaky oil pan plug can range from being a nuisance to catastrophic. The problem with helicoils are that th...

killjoy2012

$125k/year is £98k/year at today's rate. The 45% tax bracket starts at £150k, so $125k is nowhere near that rate. Deductions on £98k might be around £27.5k tax and around £5.5k NI for 2018/19, leaving a shade under £65k (approx $83k) of disposable income. As a US citizen living in the UK, you would...

killjoy2012

As an American who's visited NYC and the UK several times, I think what you're overlooking is the tax differences. Both cities are expensive. And yes, the cost of living items may be a bit different between the two places, as well as exchange rate fluctuations. The bigger issue in my mind is taxes. ...

killjoy2012

I'd look for a small, local shop to replace the pan. I'd be amazed if you couldn't find a shop to do it for $300. It's not a hard job at all, DIY.

Or go buy a Fumoto oil pan valve and have a welder weld the valve in permanently.

killjoy2012

All of the comments in this thread are interesting, but the reality is that hindsight is 20/20, the stock market isn't rationale (e.g. look at Tesla's evaluation / market cap), and no one knows what the future holds for GE. I personally don't see them going bankrupt. I do think they have a long road...

killjoy2012

I think most people that have worked with residential security cameras would tell you to avoid Foscam as well. In the world of cheap Chinese security cameras, the two companies you should probably be looking at are Dahua and Hikvision. That said, also beware that most of these Chinese cameras have f...

killjoy2012

SPG was great for gaining access to airlines you couldn't otherwise easily earn miles in and which have sweet spots for redemptions. The Marriott travel packages were also a great way to gain extra value. That said if you are going to travel in economy I don't see anything other than churning signu...

killjoy2012

The Westin, Dublin.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+W ... d-6.258649

killjoy2012

+1 for bigger generator, and +1 for Kohler over Generac.

killjoy2012

I don't think you can fly direct into Inverness - at least not from the states. It is tough enough to get to Edinburgh. :happy Flights to Inverness from JFK are routed through Manchester and from Atlanta they go through Amsterdam. You can get direct flights to Edinburgh from both Atlanta and JFK. I...

killjoy2012

With only 7 days, I'd certainly recommend picking one or the other - not both. I've visited Scotland 4-5 times now, and Ireland once. I think which to pick is completely dependent on where your personal interests lie. If Scotland, my strong recommendation would be to fly into Inverness, which is up ...

killjoy2012

You can certainly afford to do the addition/remodel. As a matter of principal, I'd pay back the family member for the student loan before kicking off a $200k renovation though. Also, I wouldn't kid yourself into thinking that a $200k reno is going to add $200k to your home's value. Financially, and ...

killjoy2012

1) Yes, seems reasonable. You could question the dollar amount of some of your line items - like what exactly is $1,300/month shopping for - but overall, it seems reasonable. 2) There are many online banking high yield savings accounts available that would get you a slightly better rate. e.g. Allian...

killjoy2012

A soundbar is fine for secondary TVs - bedroom, kitchen, etc. - but I would never use one on the primary TV in the household. Subwoofers make a huge difference. Rear surround speakers make a huge difference. Do they add cost and complexity - sure, but well worth it on the primary system.

killjoy2012

I've been to WDW many times. Thoughts: - Not sure hotel price point really dictates the amount of walking involved. All Disney hotels have Disney transport to the parks (bus, water shuttle, monorail), so while the Grand Floridian or Contemporary are physically closer to the MK park, not sure it woul...

killjoy2012

1) Cash - Will probably take at least 2 different Visa credit cards. I figure we'll want some paper Euros too. 1b) Or should I even bother with many Euros at all? Take no cash with you, Euros or USD. Take at least 2 NFT CCs, and your ATM card - notify all of travel the week before departure. Odds a...

killjoy2012

This whole concept of the national identity of a company is becoming more and more archaic. So many corporations are multi-national entities now. Even startups... Not sure what an "American" company means anymore. I worked for a couple of "US" tech companies where most of the R&D was done abroad (I...

killjoy2012

So you probably think the Buick Envision is an American car, but its competitor, the Honda CR-V, is Japanese. That "American" car is assembled in China with 86% Chinese content and 11% U.S./Canadian content. The "Japanese" car is assembled in both the U.S. and Canada, with about two-thirds of its c...

killjoy2012

Heh, as much as I love Asus wireless routers (and am using one as we speak in access point mode), I couldn't imagine the aesthetics of mounting one on the ceiling, especially the big ones with 8 antennas. I'm personally waiting for the Ubiquiti UniFi nanoHD to come out. Maybe in that marble skin. I...

killjoy2012

the highly recommended Toyotas and Hondas on this forum are all made domestically with a majority of parts also being made domestic. Fake news. Are you implying that Toyota and Honda are as American as GM, Ford, and Chrysler? What's your definition of "made" - simply where final assembly is done? G...

killjoy2012

Just curious, what are the drawbacks you see with Google WiFi other than the cost? I'd rather not have my router capable of collecting and uploading data on me thank you. Google Wifi, and most of the residential mesh products on the market, use "the cloud" for managing your wifi. Meaning, when you ...

killjoy2012

While the vehicle may be out of warranty, the replacement condenser purchased and installed at the dealer surely comes with some level of parts warranty. Go there and talk to the Service Mgr.

killjoy2012

Speed-wise, just about any new wifi router will provide what you need. Getting 2400 sq ft, 3 floor coverage including some outside is asking a LOT of a single wireless AP regardless of brand or price point. I'm guessing your existing router just doesn't provide the coverage you're looking for, as it...

killjoy2012

OP - We used Costco Travel for a one week Walt Disney World vacation last December. The package included hotel and tickets - no airfare. We stayed at the Swan, and their price for the package was cheaper than my MegaCorp Disney ticket discount + booking a lower tier Disney hotel individually. It wor...

killjoy2012

Cummins Onan is the Cadillac.
Kohler is the Chevy.
Generac is Hyundai.

I'd suggest the Kohler, it's worth the price differential over the Generac. And if you're going to spend the magnitude of $ for a whole house generator, get the automatic transfer switch. Please.

killjoy2012

I believe their point is that Volvo is no longer the niche Swedish luxury car player it used to be, and that most people still commonly associate with the name/brand. Just as the American offerings are no longer the ugly, unreliable products of the early '80s that many here somehow still seem to as...

killjoy2012

One tangential piece of information, Volvo Car Group is majority owned by the Chinese company Geely. I heard Toyota is Japanese owned. I believe their point is that Volvo is no longer the niche Swedish luxury car player it used to be, and that most people still commonly associate with the name/bran...

killjoy2012

"cheap flights" are usually found by those that have flexibility in their schedule and are willing to travel during off-peak times of the year. A 2 week lead time where you need to be at place X between dates A & B is not a recipe for finding cheap flights - esp over the July 4 holiday. You can stil...

killjoy2012

A Surface Pro would be a better laptop replacement than an iPad Pro. Also at a much steeper price. The iPad Pro 12.9 starts around $799 (retail) and goes over $1000. The Surface Pro (newest version) also starts at $799 but with double the iPad's storage. The key word there is "starts". A Surface Pr...

killjoy2012

For people who are not that tech savvy or wanting to spend time on implementation, a mesh wifi solution will likely yield best results. That said, some of the mesh systems are built on a cloud-provisioned model, so you'd need to decide if you're OK with that - or not. Ubiquity Amplifi and Netgear Or...

killjoy2012

A Surface Pro would be a better laptop replacement than an iPad Pro. Also at a much steeper price.

killjoy2012

If you can pull it off, I'd do it. Beware that even if you can work remote, Spain is +6 hours from EST, so I'd assume you'd need to be willing to work 2-11pm or something like that. South America would be easier from a time zone perspective. You also need to thoroughly check out the immigration rule...

killjoy2012

Call another HVAC pro that services your brand and see what they find. Odds are it's an air flow problem if it's freezing up. Are all of your air registers 100% open? Cold air returns not blocked by furniture? Have you hosed out the outside condenser to get rid of all of the gunk (spider webs, insec...

killjoy2012

What value do you place on the degree(s)? Because you don't need to go to school to learn any of the above. Not to be argumentative, but if I can put a Band-Aid on a cut, does that make me a doctor? Anyone can pickup a book, learn the basics of coding a particular language, and get some basic skill...

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