I Called In Sick Today

[Napa_Don 688]

Just FYI, you don't need the "3rd" © wire for the nest thermostat but it sounds like you don't want to purchase it, regardless.

[InternetExplorer 2,609]

I want to. I am guessing I could get a rebate, too. I will investigate after I am done with this crush of projects I want to get done before review season.

[hank213 1,823]

IoT sucks. Don't do it until manufacturer's get serious about securing all this bullshit or at least adopting a reasonable firmware/software update schedule. Basically what you are doing is buying a fancy way to lock your doors that open other, more exploitable doors for thieves to get your money. The IoT is the achilles heel of home network security. Don't even get me started on the corporate big brother angle. I have 3 "smart" tvs not a single one hooked up to any network. I only bought the network capable models because of price and availability. Nigh impossible to find a high quality dumb tv anymore. NOW GET OFF MY LAWN!

[BigDMcGee 3,352]

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up on the Avalon. I'm always on the lookout for a car that fits well. How tall are you? I'm 6'6", and so foreign cars are usually a big problem. Do the front seats go way back?

 

I'm 6'5, but my legs aren't really that long, it's my torso/head that's the issue, but I have plenty of room driving, and there's plenty of room in the back seat for even tall people to sit behind me. Honestly, I've never been in a car that wasn't made in the 70's, that had so much interior room.

[InternetExplorer 2,609]

I have a bunch of Chinese smart plugs that I will be replacing eventually. I am sure they will never be patched for the most recent WPA2 vulnerabilities. I am pretty sure the rest of my hardware (chrome cast, google WiFi, Apple TV, etc) will be fine.

[InternetExplorer 2,609]

I have heard stories about the police being able to tap into google home / Alexa / etc. recordings with a warrant. Not sure if that’s true. Basically the list of things you should never do/have if doing illegal stuff is big and continuing to grow.

[SuitedAces21 2,722]

personally i love alexa and siri and our future AI overlords. i'm on their side.

 

it's so sad when going to work after a four day weekend is noticeably more difficult than a normal monday. being away doesn't refresh me, it just gets me out of my routine. i'm really not sure how i get up and go into corporate america for another 30 to 40 years.

[CobaltBlue 662]

I used to drive a BMW 740iL. I now drive a Honda Odyssey.

[Essay21 2,385]

I can only recoil at the horrible life choices that lead to such tragedy.

 

 

[brvheart 1,752]

IoT sucks.

 

What now?

 

I love my Alexa's. Are you saying I should throw them in the trash?

[CobaltBlue 662]

I can only recoil at the horrible life choices that lead to such tragedy.

This morning my 3.5yo said, "Daddy, my butthole burped."

[Essay21 2,385]

 

This morning my 3.5yo said, "Daddy, my butthole burped."

 

Sounds like I have a lot in common with the kid.

[hank213 1,823]

What now?

 

I love my Alexa's. Are you saying I should throw them in the trash?

 

Even with "nothing to hide" wouldn't you like your family's private conversations to remain so?

 

https://www.theverge...-history-listen

 

Number 3 should worry us all.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/internet-of-things-security-privacy-2016-8

[Napa Lite 3,278]

I figure all of my personal information has already been leaked by equifax, insurance companies, target, etc and I carry around a cell phone at all times. Privacy is non-existent at this point. I’ll set up my smart home with as much security as reasonably possible but I’m not going to sweat it.

[Essay21 2,385]

Hopefully my search history is revealed at the same time as everyone else. I’d hate to be the first.

[brvheart 1,752]

School year is over this Saturday and it couldn't come soon enough. I'm excited to have downtime until mid-July.

 

I just got a big raise (30%) and bonus this week, which was nice (and a little unexpected). Won't really change anything, the wife is already at home and the kids are starting to leave. One is gone, and one is leaving next summer. But I may splurge and get myself a "new" car. A 2011/12/13 Impala seems likely, although I'm definitely going to be looking at used Avalons as well. I'm a little hamstrung by refusing to finance a car ever (even at 0% because I'm stubborn), so I have to get something that I have the cash for. That may mean that I have to wait until next summer to upgrade.

 

I need more pics from Mexico's new house and am looking forward to the pics from Napa's place if he ever gets to claim it.

[InternetExplorer 2,609]

That’s so silly, not financing. I am probably going to just use margin on my brokerage to buy things in the future. As long as the rate is similar, seems like a good way to avoid the credit song and dance.

[brvheart 1,752]

That’s so silly, not financing.

 

Yes, it is. But I've never had a car payment in my life and at 43 it feels like I might as well try to keep the streak going.

[InternetExplorer 2,609]

Obv no “right” answer but I like staying invested. I did pay down my mortgage due to the tax law change - my rate was 4.375%, great with the deduction, not so great now that I don’t itemize.

[brvheart 1,752]

Now you just need to get married and get that 24k standard deduction.

[InternetExplorer 2,609]

I’m good thanks

 

I am so fast and loose with spending now that I don’t have the monthly payment. When I bought my condo, multiple friends’ wives straight to my face told me I was stupid. Not in a joking way, like actually condescending. I don’t know what it is about the certain type of girl, to just openly be mean like that. The contrast today is ridiculous. They both have houses in the $400-600k range, nice areas of town. Blows my mind, $6-9k/yr in just property tax.

 

Not to say I won’t someday live in a $500k house. I plan to do it when I have more security in my job and finances, and actually have a need for all that space. My CEO, otherwise great guy, but very aware of who has a huge mortgage vs. who has a lot of latitude in their employment, and I’m certain it gets brought up during raise/promotion discussions. It’s probably even more top of mind now, because we just lost an advisor who had a spouse with huge income. (I.e. quit and said, “I really don’t need your shit” on the way out the door.)

[Napa Lite 3,278]

We can be car bros, Brvy!

 

I sincerely hope you can come and visit if/when I get this house. We’ll eat ribs and drink Long Islands until the cows come home.

 

Or we could get super crazy and get tickets to the 15 course restaurant a few blocks from my place.

[brvheart 1,752]

Dude, you know I'll be there. Just let me know what tools to bring/what we can work on.

[hank213 1,823]

School year is over this Saturday and it couldn't come soon enough. I'm excited to have downtime until mid-July.

 

I just got a big raise (30%) and bonus this week, which was nice (and a little unexpected). Won't really change anything, the wife is already at home and the kids are starting to leave. One is gone, and one is leaving next summer. But I may splurge and get myself a "new" car. A 2011/12/13 Impala seems likely, although I'm definitely going to be looking at used Avalons as well. I'm a little hamstrung by refusing to finance a car ever (even at 0% because I'm stubborn), so I have to get something that I have the cash for. That may mean that I have to wait until next summer to upgrade.

 

I need more pics from Mexico's new house and am looking forward to the pics from Napa's place if he ever gets to claim it.

 

I have a '14 Impala and I don't know that I'd want to go much older. That of course assumes improvements in things like the infotainment system each newer model year which I guess might not be the case but, regardless, I would look to new models than '13 or '14.

[Napa Lite 3,278]

Yeah my 2011 is basic as shit and it’s not even the base model. Fake wood paneling on the dash. Just meh. It’s fine.