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tuningfork

Are there quality differences in sound between wired headphones and Bluetooth wireless headphones? Does wireless cause any reduction in frequency reproduction, digital glitching, etc. that doesn't happen with good old analog wired technology?

tuningfork

I retired once I qualified for retiree health insurance, figuring I didn't have to worry about ACA ever. I wasn't expecting Megacorp to cancel retiree health coverage a couple of years after I retired, but they did. Now we get our health insurance via ACA and can either take a subsidy from the compa...

tuningfork

The virtual keyboard was useful when keyloggers were a bigger threat. That is quite awhile now and the feature is useless (if not counter productive as mentioned above). Modern keyloggers have the ability to capture screenshots whenever the mouse is clicked, so the virtual keyboard is false securit...

tuningfork

A cost I've never seen broken out is "estimated expenses for replacement of lost items." This definitely increases with age, part of the "normal" (I hope) cognitive deterioration. Not that I didn't lose umbrellas before, but not as often. hilarious... i hadn't thought of that! hopefully not high do...

tuningfork

I gave fictitious personal information when I signed up years ago. I use a disposable email ID for the contact as well. This can be done safely, but most people don't bother. Using a different email address for FB is a great idea. FB allows advertisers to market to people on their email lists, so y...

tuningfork

For privacy on FB, don't fill out your profile with things like your high school, favorite TV shows, etc. Just leave all that stuff blank no matter how many times FB nags you. For the things you're required to answer, like birthday, make sure you tag it as private. Don't accept any friend requests. ...

tuningfork

Similar situation here. In my case the symptom was blockage of the sewage line every 12 to 18 months that had to be rotorooted. They used a video camera to find the breakage, which was a few feet under a concrete porch (not under the house, thankfully). They had to cut into part of the porch, replac...

tuningfork

A telephoto lens can also be a prime lens. Prime vs zoom is orthogonal to focal length. However if she takes her kit on airplanes or hiking weight and size become issues. Something to consider when buying. I've taken full frame cameras on cruises and what I've ended up taking is smaller aperture le...

tuningfork

But ... after two days, I still have not received an email with a link or instructions to download the software. The status still shows as "preparing order", "email will be sent". Just chatted with the help center, and they're telling me it will take up to 48 hours for the gift card department to r...

tuningfork

I spent the first 6 months of retirement watching my finances like a hawk. Accounting for nearly every penny spent, frequently checking account balances, being very careful to make sure I hadn't missed some major category of expenses that would ruin my plan, and thinking how I might reenter the work...

tuningfork

Can someone who downloaded or bought DELUXE 2018 confirm it contains Schedule D? Reading online, it kinda looks like Deluxe no longer has that? I was looking here under Deluxe, and this does not state Schedule D is included: https://www.hrblock.com/online-tax-filing/deluxe-online-tax-filing/ Edit: ...

tuningfork

Walmart has 2018 deluxe+state for $18 https://www.walmart.com/ip/H-R-Block-Tax-Software-2018-Deluxe-State-Win-Email-Delivery/810000421 Walmart's price went down again - I just bought it for $18.17. Thank you! Got it for $18.17, a far cry from the $34.95 "lowest price of the year" offered to me dire...

tuningfork

Walmart has 2018 deluxe+state for $18 https://www.walmart.com/ip/H-R-Block-Tax-Software-2018-Deluxe-State-Win-Email-Delivery/810000421 Walmart's price went down again - I just bought it for $18.17. Thank you! Got it for $18.17, a far cry from the $34.95 "lowest price of the year" offered to me dire...

tuningfork

Although I'm happy with Lastpass, I both love and fear the cloud aspect. I like that I can be updating passwords on my desktop and know that the next time I use my phone or chromebook the correct password will be there. Having said that, the cloud storage of those passwords does present some proble...

tuningfork

Btw, my thinking on length is that for static situations like zipped files, it's good to have a long password if it's stored on the cloud. To protect from brute forcing. But for online/server/web type situations like email, bank accounts, the password can be of comparatively shorter (still long ove...

tuningfork

Btw, my thinking on length is that for static situations like zipped files, it's good to have a long password if it's stored on the cloud. To protect from brute forcing. But for online/server/web type situations like email, bank accounts, the password can be of comparatively shorter (still long ove...

tuningfork

"Bitwarden uses end-to-end encryption (e2ee) ... there is no way to recover your data if you lose your master passphrase. This is in contrast to services such as LastPass, which do not use e2ee, and can therefore recover your account if you lose your password. But they can also hand over your data ...

tuningfork

I bought a Fitbit Alta HR early this year. It's a mixed bag, and I'm somewhat disappointed. The hourly reminder to move comes at the same time each hour even if you're currently active, so for me it's just a "it's 10 minutes before the hour" notification. There are plenty of times when 10 minutes be...

tuningfork

I predict Fidelity will not charge any monthly fees to these accounts. I predict (hope) that Fidelity will charge lower fees than other HSA providers to further establish them as a low-cost leader and to attract new accounts, and I predict (hope) that those fees will be waived for anyone who mainta...

tuningfork

This would be very good news. On my quest toward simplification I've consolidated all my investment accounts at Fidelity and Vanguard, except for my pesky HSA at HSA Bank (and the linked brokerage account at TD Ameritrade). Even if the fees are a little higher than HSA Bank, I will gladly move my HS...

tuningfork

I use Privacy Badger and do not see any of the ad spots you noted on those articles. It looks like I asked PB to block all third-party origins on CNET.com. I use Adblock and Privacy Badger. Default settings showed those ads in OP. I went to Privacy Badger and told it to block all the CNET-related d...

tuningfork

My advice, which echoes what some others have said: First, get a Password Manager like Lastpass or Keepass. Storing your passwords in a password-protected spreadsheet may or may not be secure, depending on the version of Excel, the strength of your password, etc. A Password Manager will generate com...

tuningfork

I use Privacy Badger and do not see any of the ad spots you noted on those articles. It looks like I asked PB to block all third-party origins on CNET.com. I use Adblock and Privacy Badger. Default settings showed those ads in OP. I went to Privacy Badger and told it to block all the CNET-related d...

tuningfork

Regattamom wrote: ↑
Thu Nov 08, 2018 10:07 am
The company is over 150 years old and very stable.

I once worked for a company that was over 100 years old and very stable. That company no longer exists. Bonuses were good until they suddenly weren't. Some things can change surprisingly quickly.

tuningfork

I have received two emails offering this software for $34.95 but none offering $29.95. I also used H&R Block for the past two years. I feel left out but may take advantage of the $34.95 offer. I got the $34.95 offer. Long time H&R Block user. The past two years I took the initial offer to get it in...

tuningfork

I use H&R Block software to prepare my state taxes, but rather than paying the fee to e-file, I go to my state's free online tax filing website. Transcribe the numbers, takes 5 minutes, submit. Free. This is for Colorado. Your state may not have this option.

tuningfork

I have one bond maturing every 2-3 months for the next 10 years. Although the login process is a pain, it's a lot more convenient than driving to the bank to redeem a paper bond. Treasury Direct sends an email when a bond matures, so that's the reminder to login and initiate the transfer. Not really...

tuningfork

Thanks, that's what I feared. I guess I'll have to deal with TD's annoying password entry game every time a savings bond matures.

tuningfork

Since you already have an account at Fidelity, call your rep and ask if they will give you free trades for a $400K account transfer. Then you can transfer in-kind to Fidelity and use your free trades to reinvest in index funds. As others have said you'll want to look at the cost basis of each invest...

tuningfork

A few years ago I converted all my paper savings bonds to electronic bonds at Treasury Direct. I connected my bank account to TD, chose a tax withholding percentage, and waited for my bonds to start maturing. Based on reading FAQs I was expecting as each bond matured it would be redeemed, tax withhe...

tuningfork

If you're looking at cloud as your off-site storage, expect to pay at least $5 per terabyte per month. That's what Backblaze B2 charges, which is what I'm using for more than one TB. Last time I looked, the typical consumer storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, etc. limite...

tuningfork

dknightd wrote: ↑
Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:18 am
Sometimes an OS upgrade will make your computer unrecognizable.

A browser upgrade sometimes does that too. With automatic updates by browsers and OS's being increasingly common, you can't easily control when your device looks like a different device.

tuningfork

A good friend of mine told me that her financial adviser didn't charge fees. :shock: I kept my mouth shut and we're still good friends. Same here with a former co-worker. He tells me "All his advice is free" and "My annual review with him is free" and "He's got us in all these great funds" and so o...

tuningfork

The biggest difficulty I've had with most ways to prepare oatmeal is the likelihood that the stove top or microwave container will boil over, requiring careful monitoring. Fixed by making oatmeal in the Instant Pot pressure cooker. It takes longer but I can do other things while the oatmeal is cooki...

tuningfork

If the issue was solved, it would be solved on your current chromebook as well. Perhaps it's time to upgrade to a cloud ready printer? This was going to be my reply. Keep your Chromebook, buy a new printer that support cloud printing. A Brother/Wi-Fi printer will be less than a new Chromebook. http...

tuningfork

A contributory IRA is currently protected in bankruptcy for 1.283mm with a 3 year inflation adjustment coming 4/1/2019. A rollover IRA is protected under the same conditions without a dollar limit. Would this same Rollover IRA protection apply to Roth IRAs that were funded by conversions from a Rol...

tuningfork

Facebook's purpose is to sell advertising and sell your information to other companies. Connecting you to other people is ancillary to that purpose. The more time you spend on the site, the more ads you see. The more time you spend scrolling past unwanted posts to get to the ones you want, the more ...

tuningfork

I've been getting annual flu shots for at least 15 years, never any reaction. However, once I started getting those shots I stopped having my usual winter illnesses that had flu-like symptoms. I used to get the shot at Safeway, where they would do it for free (insurance paid 100%) and give me a coup...

tuningfork

I finally got an answer from Fidelity, by going through their customer service chat. According to their rep, yes, this is legitimate. It's a new support feature they are working on rolling out, and I just happened to be unlucky enough to have accidentally tripped it before they announced. It's legi...

tuningfork

The Bogleheads are different from the American population at large in several key ways: - The Bogleheads have more money to lose. - The Bogleheads discuss their finances in this Forum and thus are more likely to become targets. - Many Bogleheads are STEM, legal, medical and financial professionals....

tuningfork

I've been in the decumulation phase for 5 years, not yet collecting social security or RMDs. I start each year with approx 2 years of anticipated expenses in cash (savings account). I spend from this account. Actually, I spend from my checking account and I have an automated monthly "paycheck" trans...

tuningfork

Another thread about calculating RMDs for multiple IRA accounts got me thinking it might be a good idea to combine my non-inherited IRA accounts prior to reaching RMD age. If I only have one IRA account, then it's that much simpler to calculate and take the correct distribution amount without having...

tuningfork

For $200 I would go the easiest route possible. If she's over 59.5 can't she just withdraw it? Tax on $200 seems minimal, and she would have one less account. If she's not yet 59.5 but it's on the horizon I would just wait. Makes me happy my 401k to IRA rollover at Fidelity went smoothly and quickly...

tuningfork

[Anyone have stats on how much cybercrime there is that involves people losing money from brokerage accounts or having thier bank account emptied? I am not aware of much.What I am aware of is a ton of companies getting hacked, losing data, and people getting hit with all sorts of identity theft iss...

tuningfork

My overall point is that banks don't have 2FA and in the case of those accounts it is certainly possible to transfer funds to a third party. Why would Vanguard bother if it is virtually impossible to subtract funds by gaining unauthorized access ? I can't speak for Vanguard's or any particular bank...

tuningfork

It seems as if every few days there is a new upgrade. I’m getting tired of it. Get it right Microsoft. Windows 10 updates monthly, although it seems sometimes the update comes out in several parts that might install on different days. I had updates on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Before that wa...

tuningfork

"2FA is safer than no 2FA", the risk being... ? Hackers who get hold of a cracked password database will go after the low-hanging fruit. If they have 10,000 account passwords and try logging in to one that has 2FA, they'll move on to the next account rather than go to the effort of hacking the 2FA....

tuningfork

FOGU wrote: ↑
Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:25 am

CyberBob wrote: ↑
Thu Sep 13, 2018 8:53 am

Dottie57 wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:48 pm
Unbelievable as it may be to some, not everyone has a cell phone.
You don’t need a cell phone, as there is also a voice-recording option to your home landline.
And if I am vacationing at the beach and not near my home landline?

Build a bonfire on the beach and use smoke signals.

tuningfork

Thanks to this thread I investigated some of the problems my toilet has been experiencing, and a new flapper fixed them. Pro tip: if you have an older toilet, make sure you use a flapper designed for older toilets. And if you have hard water or lots of sediment in your water, if you have troubles tr...

tuningfork

"2FA is safer than no 2FA", the risk being... ? Hackers who get hold of a cracked password database will go after the low-hanging fruit. If they have 10,000 account passwords and try logging in to one that has 2FA, they'll move on to the next account rather than go to the effort of hacking the 2FA.

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