BeamerBikes

Dunno where I want to go with this post. Just a general frustration. I've encountered a handful of great guys (friends, bfs, and providers), who ended up in the throws of addiction. If they overcome and manage to make it into recovery, they end up significantly different than before. Most recent is a provider who was on the wish list. He had PnP in the profile and that was always why he stayed in the wish list rather than take a chance and hire. Sadly, a recent peak at his Twitter shows him having full-blown paranoia delusional events. CIA, FBI, CISA(actually a bit impressed that he found this agency), etc. Summer 2020, I reprised a caregiver role as one of my gay "dad's" partially recovered after getting lost in the bottle. He drank himself into a months/year long stupor that resulted in a rare condition that resulted in permanent brain damage. He's a shell of his former shelf. I've been in my adult years for 27 years now. Seeing friends/loved ones go through addiction whether it be alcohol or drugs is one of the harder parts of adulthood.

Bright side, their security operation is tight. One Time Passwords, virtual keyboards to prevent key loggers, and personalized image verification. All good stuff. Maybe not as slick as some banks fraud detection, but I'll take prevention anyday.

Correction, updates quarterly. Linked accounts only show face value unless you click into the linked accounts, then click into the detail.

Updates monthly. You may need to click through for detail. I will see the face value on Series EE and I, then click through to see actual value. This is true even for new ones bought this year.

I know I should also be more aggressive, but I can't pass up a close to 10% return with little risk. Yes, It's standing still vis a vis inflation, but in the end, you're limited on how much you can buy. There's definitely worse places to park 10k. Better places come with more risk.

Yes, thanks all and keep the tips flowing. Got busy with work. So to answer some of the questions. I'm leaning towards staying put at this place even though it's just me and the dog for the next several years. I want to enjoy whatever I put in so when the seller inevitably doesn't like it, I won't take it personal. I'm in Chicago burbs. There's a unfinished but heated/air conditioned basement underneath. Vinyl planks/look alike tile look like front runners. I'll retain carpeting upstairs. Furniture is in flux somewhat. Had a formal dining room set but its oversized for the space and never used so looking to try to repurpose that space somehow. First step - get it out of the house and redo the floors. Agreed no on the dark shade for floors. I have the traditional honey oak trim work so it'd clash. Plus dark colors need balance otherwise it makes the space feel small and well dark.

I fall under the standard heterosexual male stereotype... I dont have an eye for design/decor other than as a consumer. I want something that looks nice and not too edgey and also not something out of the 1800s whether rustic or gilded age.

Figured I'd poll the group. Anyone have advice/guidance on picking out new flooring? I've typically chosen carpeting and ceramic tile for my previous homes. I have this 2 story McMansion, and want to enjoy it abit before selling it. I was thinking of replacing the 1st floor carpeted sections with wood floors. How do you best visualize how the place will look with the new flooring? Any apps or just old school print a picture and overlay the floor pic on it? Also appreciate any comments on types of flooring to stay away from and why?

Aye. It's not an immediate access option for the youngest assets. That quicker access emergency fund stays in separate savings/money markets.

That Scooby-Doo clip brings back memories of the pre-post area. For my clinic/hospital, I had a later appt in the day. The waiting area for pre and post procedure was the same. As the guys came back after the procedures, it was uncontrollable cacophonies of flatulence all around me. Reminded me of how Leslie Neilsen would bring the fart sound machine with him and carry on in a completely normal serious tone.

I'll take standing still in I-bonds than going backwards without knowing it in a "savings"/CD/money market acct. I have to remind myself "when in doubt, zoom out" for the S&P. I'll admit waking up broke scares the bejesus out of me. The I bonds are replacing the emergency (last resort oh shit) reserves that were previously parked elsewhere.

The current drama with Ubiquiti and InfoSec Twitter is ubiquiti's lawsuit against Krebs for his blog reporting (light on sourcing) on their breach inflicting market loss. This was related back to the employee who leaked the user/passwords, then was the source for Krebs reporting using the cover the former employee was blowing the whistle on poor practices as I understand it.

Reference The Grand Budapest Hotel - Whatever we don't spend on Whiskey and Whores all shall be yours.

Yeah, the I bonds best fixed rate was around 3.5% from the mid to late 90s. She may be referring to EE bonds for those high fixed rates. With I bonds, As long as the fixed rate is something and inflation doesn't reverse, it should pay something in any given year. In the future, it may make sense to trade up to a higher fixed rate from zero. I'm viewing these as my future booze and stripper money in my 60s. I will have my retirement acct and savings. Viewing the bonds as the ultimate oh shit fund. By my 60s, I won't be able to take it with me so might as well put the money to work for my entertainment.

Yeah, the ring alarm pro has a whole house internet backup option included, but they want you to replace all your existing home network. That's a decent option if you aren't tied to your home router/wireless setup. I opted for the Ubiquiti backup since I'm already down the Ubiquiti road even if the popular kiddos on Twitter Infosec are anti Ubiquiti these days. The money in my case has been spent. Not going to rip it all out on idealism. Ring Alarm base also includes a cell backup. I have to look into how that the basic cell backup works. I'm sure they are using an LTE network.

I have an alarm system mainly for fire/flood monitoring and secondarily for the insurance discount. I installed a basic system at my family's property when it was for sale. Again mainly for fire/flood/freeze monitoring. The old systems installed up until the 2000s required a landline phone connection. The cellular backup device was a way to get around the landline requirement and still have monitoring. I'm only updating now to continue the fire/flood monitoring, and insurance discount. I don't know how much deterrence an alarm system really is for burgarly. I'd rather rely on more common sense stuff. Keeping the place well lit. Locking the doors/windows. Etc

Just a FYI for folks. If you have an older residential grade alarm system with a cellular primary or backup, you may want to initiate a test call to your alarm monitoring service. A popular cellular backup device used 3G networks, now being shutdown this year. I noticed my cell backup device flashed red, and sure enough no longer online. No notice from the alarm company. Not a huge deal. I'm overdue for a home security overhaul. Going down the Ring Alarm / camera route. No Telco landline needed and comes with a cellular backup option to internet.

One of the forerunner advocates for a cashless society was one of the Abba guys. His brother's apartment got broken into, and the thought removing cash would deincentive robbery and make fencing harder. Wonder if it's also a safety issue for new clients or particular neighborhoods. Communicating no cash means his place likely has none on-hand.

TreasuryDirect.gov is the only way to buy I bonds unless you can go the Tax refund route for paper bonds. For I bonds, they only issue them electronically through TreasuryDirect.gov or paper based through tax returns. Important to note that the I bonds are a variable + fixed rate. The variable rate adjusts every 6 months. There may come a time in the coming years where it makes sense to cash in the bonds issued this year when the fixed rate exceeds the inflation rate. There's no penalty after 5 years. The 1 year to 5 year penalty is forfeiting the last 3 months interest.

I've had a few colonscopies before 40yo as part of the diverticulitis journey. Echoing the prep is more of a hassle than the procedure itself. I found that the twilight sedation the versed option left me groggy, and that's a good thing. They will use air to assist the scope. You'll be tooty and bloated immediately afterwards being groggy might be preferred. I had acouple using propofol sedation. It clears your system faster and you may notice the bloated feeling. Side note I had a coworker who didn't opt for any sedation because he wanted to go back to work afterwards. He was an odd odd duck. Bless his heart. Some things I don't want to remember. Getting scoped is one of those.

Therapy, getting active, moving, gym... All great suggestions... You're not happy at present situation. Only way to improve that is to embrace a change needed. Staying stuck won't help. So start small and stay consistent.

Check your profile by entering rent.men/(youruserid)

Apparently I have a single 5 star client review from 2016. I can't remember who that might be since it's so long ago. Had a lull in hiring from 2017 to present. Edit- I had to use Google timeline. I'll gladly trade some privacy for the mental reminders. Oh it was a Vegas adventure.

Same behavior Tried desktop mode and one emoji shows... see screenshot below I flipped to dark mode and it all renders normal - i prefer the dark theme anyhow

Related to new site on my android s10 - chrome browser - I'm getting a getting the unknown emoji box with the x through.