The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 21, 2015 8:37:11 GMT -5
Kinda. But then again I'm not fond of sunscreen so that's actually a much less messy alternative.
What is the last electronic gadget you purchased, and why?
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 21, 2015 8:31:43 GMT -5
Wait, what! Did I just see both milee and Virgil Showlion like the same comment! Eeeeee! That must be one of the seven signs! Group hug!
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 21, 2015 8:09:24 GMT -5
milee wow! Not sure why you felt that was needed but whatever. In fact - I would go so far as to say that if there were other topics posters wanted to add to that section, where more robust (yet respectful!) and contentious debate is desired, please ask. I'm sorry for my misunderstanding of the area; did not know that you or any other moderator was involved.
The comment was because I still don't understand why we allow people who are repeatedly disrespectful and misogynistic to moderate. And it's beyond me why anyone would want to go participate in an area like than named after (and presumably presided over by) a person who doesn't respect views other than his own, which are largely based in religion and lack of real world experience.
Milee - I'm a little late in getting back to this, was off yesterday for some Dr's appts. There are several mods who volunteered to moderate that section knowing it would likely generate more reports, require more documentation, and take more time. We are happy to do so since we want to encourage free discussion as much as possible without degenerating into an insult fest. I am very pleased to say that hasn't happened so far. Virgil has been very hands off in moderating that section, you will note, and I've probably put in more comments than anyone else (probably due to an overabundance of caution). As far as your other comments, everyone has a different view which is based on their own perceptions. There have been several threads where I've commented how interesting it is to note how two people can read the same story and have very different reads on it.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 19, 2015 14:27:15 GMT -5
milee wow! Not sure why you felt that was needed but whatever. In fact - I would go so far as to say that if there were other topics posters wanted to add to that section, where more robust (yet respectful!) and contentious debate is desired, please ask. That area was created with the specific intent of giving people more freedom to discuss items that tend to get heated. We don't know what interest there is if no-one speaks up. I can't make promises but it really is not fair to make such sweeping statements when someone took on additional moderation responsibility in order to allow more open discussion on certain topics. Personally, I liked it when the boards had a bit more honest debate. The problem is peeps got out of control and moderating and keeping things within the ToS got to be a bit much. and, AND this was my observation before I became a mod.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 19, 2015 14:00:46 GMT -5
I know someone who basically spent the kids' college funds to keep their oldest out of jail. The younger, who never did a damn thing wrong, is working close to FT and going to community college while the older continues to party and be an ass.
It's not fair and I feel for the youngest because there is a LOT of resentment there (and I don't blame them - oldest got to go away for two+ years, have fun, fucked up big time, and basically never said sorry I screwed it up for you).
Yea the parents' money, mostly. Some came from the grandparents but still I guess they have the right to spend it as they wish.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 19, 2015 13:31:52 GMT -5
Show off... Seriously stunning! Those views are killer!!!
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 19, 2015 8:23:37 GMT -5
Not quite two years ago when DH and I dove in head first and bought two multi-unit rentals in a month. Go big or go home.
You have four hours of time to yourself...what do you do?
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 18, 2015 16:41:10 GMT -5
After all, who needs rules? Just go ahead and shove your way to the front of line and eff anyone who actually believes in following the law of the land.
However, that does seem to be a bit of a recurring theme...
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 18, 2015 15:12:39 GMT -5
Hopefully we can just repair the one we have. If I have to get a permit for a whole new one I've got problems. My septic is too close to the river and too close to my well per current code. So I would have to pump it up hill behind my house about 200 yards to get it away from the neighbors well. That's one of the issues we have as well. Too close to current wells. If/when we have to replace, it will be expensive and our one neighbor will hate us because it will cause their irrigation (not drinking water, just irrigation) well to be condemned. Now you see why I baby ours. And now you know why ours was so expensive. Several core samples and two engineering studies later we were able to get a plan approved. We sat above a water table about 300 feet from a river. The system we put in should last for 40-50 years at least. The next system will have to have a pump installed to the back of the lot.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 18, 2015 14:22:29 GMT -5
We had to do a whole new septic system a few years back. Complete with installing an ejector pit because the old system was gravity fed and new code would not allow for that. Jacking up cement, reworking plumbing in the basement and pouring concrete. All in the project was over $20k and that didn't include putting the yard back together after it looked like it was hit by a bomb.
Whole new tank, leech field, relocate all the lines in. It was a mess.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 18, 2015 9:07:35 GMT -5
Ok - PSA. There is something called the "Wet method" for putting on screen protectors. Make sure your screen is absolutely clean!!! Then spray some more window cleaner on a few more times - do not wipe off. NOW put your screen protector on. It will "float" a bit on the liquid making it easier to scrape the air bubbles out with a credit card and reposition it on the screen if needed. Have a rag handy to wipe excess liquid away as you scrape the credit card across the screen (kinda like putting on wallpaper) The liquid will eventually dry leaving a super tight seal. DH did this for me last night and it looks great (ok - one tiny little pin sized air pocket that you can't even see when the screen is on). Yea, I trashed the first protector. Good thing I had two more.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 18, 2015 9:02:10 GMT -5
Not as productive as I'd hoped last night...
OTOH DH and DD (they were off yesterday) got most of the honeydo list done.
Gutters cleaned Front bed weeded Grocery shopping for sale items Screen protector put on my tablet Some straightening done in the basement
DD was supposed to mop the basement. Errr - apparently I haven't taught her how to do that well. We'll work on that together this Thursday (I have it off for dentists appts).
So for tonight? Window coverings!
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 17, 2015 12:48:24 GMT -5
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 17, 2015 12:38:55 GMT -5
I'm on the leading edge of Generation X and have been through two stock market crashes in one decade that wiped out significant savings. Yes, I've recovered but that is something that the previous generations have not experienced since the early 70's. stockcharts.com/freecharts/historical/marketindexes.html Like another posted stated, that wiped out the equivalent of 10 years worth of savings. Now imagine the lost compounding on that as well. DH and I ramped up retirement savings even more so we could hit our targets. It means we live nowhere near the lifestyle our parents did even though we make more than they did. Still, I think we're doing ok.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 17, 2015 9:40:40 GMT -5
Ok, super productive weekend until DH and DD came home early (6:30) so I didn't get to the jewelry chest.
Today/tonight I will:
1. Go over taxes with DH and efile fed and state. 2. Discuss window covering selections with DH 3. Discuss stain shades on dining room chair with DH 4. Get a few loads of laundry done (actually DH can do that during the day) 5. Maybe do one or two drawers in the jewelry chest?
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 17, 2015 8:35:16 GMT -5
bobosensei - DH and I have hundreds of CD's as well. He's got the entire collection ripped to MP3 files on our network and is very good about doing that whenever we buy a new CD as well. We have our network backed up to both physical media at home and a cloud backup solution. Since the music folder sync's to our PC's every time we connect to our network it's really like we have 4 backups. So there is no real reason to keep the physical CD's, but I do so anyway. Like you I can't see myself getting rid of them.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 16, 2015 17:33:22 GMT -5
I work downtown Chicago. While I try not to lose empathy I've seen too much to give cash anymore.
The ones with kids (or a dog, there are some that like to use that prop as well) are just trying to tug at your heart strings.
I've said this before, I would scrub toilets and floors before I'd ever let DD go hungry. What kind of parent would put their kids through that?
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 16, 2015 14:04:35 GMT -5
I suck at small tasks like that. It's worth paying Best Buy the money they charge to put it on right the first time. Ok. I've now wasted another 20 minutes of my life gone (how much did they charge and were they able to do it while you waited?)
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 16, 2015 14:01:19 GMT -5
Almost never. If I'm too tired/worn out/sick to eat or cook I at least have a glass of milk.
ZaireinHD - I hope that is where this question is coming from...haven't had to deal with empty fridges since I was in my early 20's. Yea, it sucks to be young and broke with nothing in the fridge and a week until payday.
What is the last time you tried a new type of adult beverage? I've just discovered dry!! apple cider and it's delicious!
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 16, 2015 10:04:11 GMT -5
Putting the plastic screen protectors on my tablet
20 minutes later I still have multiple bubbles.
Ok, so I've had the tablet and protectors for - oh - about 10 months. Time to get the silly thing on, right?
I suck.
Seriously peeps, help! I've tried the credit card or ruler trick (worked for my drawing tablet).
Is it me of did I just have bad luck with the type of screen protector I got?
(Writing this looking at a screen which appears to be covered in rain drops).
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 16, 2015 8:30:44 GMT -5
One can only hope so mroped. However my observation has been the Chinese government views it's citizens as a tool to be used, not something to be protected.
I think it will take international pressure, in the form of companies refusing to buy from China unless certain standards are met, before serious reform will happen.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 16, 2015 8:01:10 GMT -5
Ok peeps, made it to Home Depot yesterday. Please let me say I had an absolutely amazing experience!
The guy I worked with (Raymond) was fantastic. Very friendly and not pushy at all. He let me check out a few sample books so DH and I can look at the samples in our own home. He's been in flooring and windows for 14 years so he was pretty knowledgeable.
The original quote was $9400 for everything and that was for natural woven roman shades in every room except the three smaller bedrooms where we went with honeycomb to save $.
Now admittedly this was for Hunter Douglas, but nope! Not happening.
Now getting Bali through HD I was able to upgrade the bedrooms to fabric roman shades and still do everything for $4500 or less than half the original quote.
Bali has more choices with the binding which I like as well. The reviews on the HD website is very good for that product as well.
The beautiful thing? Since we are doing more than 10 windows (the picture window counts as three) we get 20% off at any time (Bali has a sale through 8/30) so we don't have to rush if we don't want to. The price above includes the discount. That plus we can get 6 months same as cash, and Raymond said there should be a 12 months same as cash offer coming out soon for the HD card.
That will help with the cash flows since we're going to be starting (hopefully) on the kitchen as well.
My HD has excellent reviews on the installation. We'll see.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 16, 2015 7:10:01 GMT -5
DH and DD still out of town, won't get back until 9-10pm tonight.
So peeps, it's 7am and so far today I have:
Showered, dressed and gotten ready for the day Fed my older kitty Made my coffee Rinsed the cat's plates and loaded the dishwasher, emptied the sink from last night. Updated quicken and balanced all the accounts Screwed around on the internet a bit.
Today I plan to: 1. Do the paper review of the taxes (includes cross referencing all the numbers on the return to support). Remember I have rentals and am a tax professional by trade so I'm kinda OCD about this. DONE!
2. Do test stains on one of my dining room chairs (I have three stains to try - got those, the sanding brick, and tack cloth yesterday) Done!
3. Organize my jewelry chest. It's a mess. When we moved a year ago the movers (while it was well wrapped) tipped it on it's side and so jewelry is all over the place and under drawers in some cases. I did a half-assed job about two months after we moved in but it should be better.
4. Clean out fridge Done! Including taking out the veggie drawer and cleaning out the liquefied cucumber that someone (grrrr ) didn't pull out for at least two weeks.
5. Go grocery shopping. Done! Even stopped at the Dollar Tree and found my Awesome Orange laundry boost!
I told DH about the chair cushions and he wants to be able to have some input on the fabric. I guess that's only fair since I'm kinda color blind but he better do some of the legwork himself!
Oh, and
6. Take a nap. Naps are good. I rediscovered this amazing fact after I had DD and haven't stopped (she's 12yo now BTW). Done!
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 15, 2015 17:30:10 GMT -5
Taxes are done!!!
Printing them out now and will do a final "paper" review tomorrow when I'm fresh.
The "house" is buying me dinner.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 15, 2015 17:25:24 GMT -5
I'm surprised by some of the comments. I have always taken the annual review process very seriously.
My thoughts:
1. The comments given in an annual review should never come as a surprise. You should be giving feedback through the year and address performance issues immediately if there are any. Same goes for praise, which should be given immediately when a job is well done.
2. The annual review process should be used as an opportunity to discuss stretch goals, what your employee likes, and what your employee doesn't like about their role. I believe staff development is a key role for any people manager.
3. I keep a tickler file on each staff. Depending on how many are reporting to me we either have weekly, or bi-weekly meeting. I write performance comments in the file through the year so I have good notes for review time.
At one company I had 17 direct reports and 13 co-reports I had to write reviews on. If you stay on top of it during the year it really does go much easier.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 14, 2015 16:16:33 GMT -5
Lena - I'm actually thinking of changing the title to "Intended consequences of ACA"
The more I read and understand this piece of Sh!t the more I think it was designed to ultimately force America into socialized coverage. Of course I said that before the bill was passed and was told if I liked my insurance, I could keep...
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 14, 2015 15:11:17 GMT -5
Wait, what! alwaysbeoptimizing - I thought we talked you out of this!!! Don't even think about it mister!
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 14, 2015 15:08:49 GMT -5
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 14, 2015 14:43:31 GMT -5
@jma23 - again not making excuses, but you do realize the EPA does not have a limitless budget? There are far more superfund clean up sites out there than there are resources to clean them up. Add to the problem the fact that many of the original polluters either are not in existence, or are tied up in litigation with respect to their share of the responsibility which is often shared with multiple entities. The EPA simply does not have the resources to err of the side of caution by many multiples. And, and I'd be willing to bet they would be totally skewered if the press got ahold of how much "waste" there was in their management of taxpayer resources. I too would like to hear more about the long-term impact on the ecosystem. Building a closable sluice gate or valve would not of added much to the cost. How about digging a runoff hole/pond before hand ? That wouldn't cost much either. Especially when heavy metal contamination is possible. The engineering had to be second rate. Not acceptable for that type of pollutant. Yes I'm unhappy it occurred, but not with you. BTW - just noticed your tagline - cute! Morbid, but cute! Sounds like you know more about engineering than I do (which is painfully easy BTW). Wouldn't a runoff pond have to be sealed so the contaminated water doesn't seep into the ground/water-table anyway? Are there liners big enough and durable enough to be practical for that? I'm asking because I honestly don't know. I'll be the first to agree sometime our rules make us shoot ourselves in the foot. Somehow I'm willing to bet the cost effective, stop-gap measure you described isn't considered durable enough to be a permitted solution. Used to work for a major chemical company years ago so I picked up a little knowledge here and there. Cost effective stop gap solutions usually didn't fit the safety specs.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 14, 2015 14:27:56 GMT -5
People, IMHO - have a right to the option. you're absolutely correct that the right to the option should be there. However, I do worry about some of the kids that are being taught by barely literate parents.
Oped is obviously very bright, very well educated, and takes her role as an educator very seriously. Not all homeschoolers do, and unfortunately, most that I see are getting deficient educations.
For example, I'm pretty sure Michelle Duggar has no business homeschooling her kids since she doesn't appear to be well educated herself, and defaults to the "god said so" for all her reasoning.
I worry about some of the kids as well and agree with the premise that there should be some type of accreditation for the parent. From the sound of it, you have more that homeschool for religious reasons in your area than do I. Urban areas tend to be more liberal and the homeschoolers that I know, do so because their kids were not doing well in the public system for a variety of reasons. That being said, I've seen interviews with CPS teachers and am not convinced they are any more qualified to teach than your example above.
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