@stickguy said:
I loved taking my own car when we were allowed to. Make a fortune at the per mile charge. And nicer than the rentals they eventually required us to get instead.
I was lucky during my heavy traveling days that the company had a few really nice “pool” cars. He handed down his wife’s cars and his vacation home cars.
Around 2005 the fleet was
96 Town and Country
96 Grand Cherokee Limited
98 Navigator
2003 Navigator
There was an Altima and Subaru too.
I had lots of seat time in both Navigators. Great long distance cruisers
“This battery technology could increase the lifetime of electric vehicles to that of the gasoline cars—10 to 15 years—without the need to replace the battery. With its high current density, the battery could pave the way for electric vehicles that can fully charge within 10 to 20 minutes.”
I support the YT idea. You can be the next Scotty Kilmer! We need more of those!
My wife has one of those. It's a legal scheme where you collect money after retirement until you die. The best part, she is receiving more monthly income in retirement than when she worked. On top of that, she gets free Medicare Part C and free Medicare Part D. What a country.
My wife has one of those. It's a legal scheme where you collect money after retirement until you die. The best part, she is receiving more monthly income in retirement than when she worked. On top of that, she gets free Medicare Part C and free Medicare Part D. What a country.
I support the YT idea. You can be the next Scotty Kilmer! We need more of those!
My wife has one of those. It's a legal scheme where you collect money after retirement until you die. The best part, she is receiving more monthly income in retirement than when she worked. On top of that, she gets free Medicare Part C and free Medicare Part D. What a country.
I support the YT idea. You can be the next Scotty Kilmer! We need more of those!
My wife has one of those. It's a legal scheme where you collect money after retirement until you die. The best part, she is receiving more monthly income in retirement than when she worked. On top of that, she gets free Medicare Part C and free Medicare Part D. What a country.
I have a traditional pension; well half the traditional pension...divorce... Which, as my company offered a decent 401k plan, I didn't realize I had until I received a letter stating that the co. was freezing the defined benefits plan, here's what you'll get at age 65. With only 7 years on the payroll as of freeze, not a big amount, but just a lovely surprise. Now, at 50% lovely, it will be contributing to, but not covering HOAs, if we remain in Plymouth when I'm 65. And retired? With the ex passing away, I sent my kids to my company, I believe they each received a lump sum payout of her half of the pension, perhaps in an "inherited IRA."
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Many years back, one of my coworkers at Chevron had a wife who retired after many years with Southwestern Bell / AT&T. I can't verify the veracity, but he claimed she received free health insurance in retirement. Chevron provides me $94 per month to help pay for my Medicare, and they will do the same for a spouse. Not exactly a fortune, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick (as we used to say back in the day).
Sadly I’m not public sector. Just lucky to have a private sector pension from the old days. Minor medical benefit but they sure aren’t covering it! Still, it’s a nice extra amount and it maxes out at 60, so at the end of this year, my monthly cash flow (and car fund!) is going to go up. Still have to work a few more years but it will help build up the nest egg.
PSA: Follow up colonoscopy today; the "irregular" polyp discovered and removed in January had not returned, nor any new discovered. So, I'm good for another three years.
In January, I was told had it not been discovered and removed, it likely would have eventually turned cancerous. So, be afraid not of the prep, or scope! Git 'er done! Be happy, healthy and sane, my friends.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Up here what you get depends on what branch of govt you were with. The City of Halifax has the sweetest plan - when the Canadian equivalent of Social Security kicks in at age 65 the city pension doesn't get reduced accordingly the way most other pensions do, so those folks can end up taking home more in retirement than they did when working. That likely explains why their plan is in rough shape but whatever. Plus they and retired federal govt workers have their drug/medical coverage carry on past 65, and they get COLA indexing of the pensions. Provincial govt employees like me have the federal SS benefit amount removed from their pension payment at 65, and are forced to go on the public pharmacare plan at that age too, which is terrible in comparison the the coverage that applied up to that point. And we aren't getting any indexing for the next 5 years.
The city of Houston (4th largest in the USA) almost had to take bankruptcy a few years back due to underfunded pension plans for police and firefighters. When I was a young man, a pension was taken for granted if you worked for any big outfit. Today, they are few and far between. People starting out in the workforce today REALLY need to plan for their retirement.
@henryn said:
The city of Houston (4th largest in the USA) almost had to take bankruptcy a few years back due to underfunded pension plans for police and firefighters. When I was a young man, a pension was taken for granted if you worked for any big outfit. Today, they are few and far between. People starting out in the workforce today REALLY need to plan for their retirement.
I keep telling my kids that they need a 401K or put away money in an IRA if they don’t have pensions. Retirement is only possible with a good income. I was lucky that I kept my pension contributions in the State Pension Fund. I could never live on my IRA’s and Social Security.
The city of Houston (4th largest in the USA) almost had to take bankruptcy a few years back due to underfunded pension plans for police and firefighters. When I was a young man, a pension was taken for granted if you worked for any big outfit. Today, they are few and far between. People starting out in the workforce today REALLY need to plan for their retirement.
I keep telling my kids that they need a 401K or put away money in an IRA if they don’t have pensions. Retirement is only possible with a good income. I was lucky that I kept my pension contributions in the State Pension Fund. I could never live on my IRA’s and Social Security.
I had a pension with IBM for the first few years I was with them, along with a 401(k). The pension funding stopped, but credits kept getting added. Didn't amount to much, and when I was let go from them in 2016, I cashed it out as I didn't know what my job prospects were going to look like. Yeah, I took a hit on my taxes for that year, but que sera sera.
Oh, man those company cars look best up. Can’t French people drive without hitting things?
That’s what happens with a lot of “company” cars. If you don’t own it you don’t take the same care with it like you would if it was yours. Having said that, the company I worked for had a few cars for our site and if you banged it up you BETTER have a good reason for it. I never had a problem but heard what happened when you were responsible for the car. Because of that several folks I knew didn’t even want to use the company car for local trips. Just used their own cars and charged the mileage allowance on their expense report for that month.
jmonroe
When people bust up our company cars the consequences from the company isn’t nearly as bad as the ridicule you get from your fellow drivers. It’s sort of a self-correcting system.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I loved taking my own car when we were allowed to. Make a fortune at the per mile charge. And nicer than the rentals they eventually required us to get instead.
That’s called “living off the equipment”. Eventually you wear out your car and have to replace it for more than the mileage reimbursement. A lot of farmers and Uber drivers discover that to their dismay.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
well, I did not travel much. Maybe a trip to a client a few times a year if they were within a few hours of home. And occasionally a trip to the Virginia beach office. Not enough to wear anything out!
Got through jury duty today. Apparently I was part of the first civil court trial done virtually. So a few minor glitches to work through. But overall, it worked OK. Not worse than the normal process at the courthouse. And IMO way better for the jury pool, especially when we were on break.
thankfully I was not picked to be in the actually jury pool, so I don't have to go back tomorrow for the actual trial. That might be more interested. Most of today was zoning out listening to other people answer the same questions from the judge, and being annoyed at the lawyers for using preemptory challenges!
Many years back, one of my coworkers at Chevron had a wife who retired after many years with Southwestern Bell / AT&T. I can't verify the veracity, but he claimed she received free health insurance in retirement. Chevron provides me $94 per month to help pay for my Medicare, and they will do the same for a spouse. Not exactly a fortune, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick (as we used to say back in the day).
My school district screwed me out of health insurance and payout for unused sick leave after 27 years but I did get credit in the state retirement system and an overly generous pension considering what I made. Now I get a company match 401k and profit sharing which, if I made any money, would really add up to something.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@henryn said:
Many years back, one of my coworkers at Chevron had a wife who retired after many years with Southwestern Bell / AT&T. I can't verify the veracity, but he claimed she received free health insurance in retirement. Chevron provides me $94 per month to help pay for my Medicare, and they will do the same for a spouse. Not exactly a fortune, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick (as we used to say back in the day).
We get free health insurance in retirement if you have at least 20 years of service. 6 and a half years to go for me.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Last day of the extended tax season. Even though we had an extra month to do your taxes we still had a lot of people waiting til the last minute and not having all their paperwork. Man I never want to slap people more than on tax day.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Last day of the extended tax season. Even though we had an extra month to do your taxes we still had a lot of people waiting til the last minute and not having all their paperwork. Man I never want to slap people more than on tax day.
Our CPA had to file an extension for us. The business docs are done, but because we are an LLC the amounts are passed through to the personal returns. The reached out last Monday asking for some additional info, which I suspect was meant to shave more off the tax bill.
Still don’t know if we owe or will get a refund, this year.
@oldfarmer50 said:
He could go to work for a rental car company even easier. They’ll pay him to test drive cars all day.
Speaking about rental cars, I read in the newspaper that the average midsized car or SUV rents for $135 a day down here in South Florida. I am assuming it is with the big three rental companies (Hertz, National and Avis). You can do much better with those outfits away from the airports. I did not find out the reason behind the high prices - perhaps posters who work for rental car companies can explain.
He could go to work for a rental car company even easier. They’ll pay him to test drive cars all day.
Speaking about rental cars, I read in the newspaper that the average midsized car or SUV rents for $135 a day down here in South Florida. I am assuming it is with the big three rental companies (Hertz, National and Avis). You can do much better with those outfits away from the airports. I did not find out the reason behind the high prices - perhaps posters who work for rental car companies can explain.
Corporate accounts get all of the deals. I rented in St Petersburg, last week, and paid $360 for 9 days, all taxes and fees included. (National)
Tried to re-book, about a week before arriving, to see if prices had gone down. There were ZERO cars available at that location for rent on a Friday! If they are renting everything they have, it's not surprising that prices are high.
I seriously doubt that those batteries are “draining toxins” into the ground. But, if I was an oil company or a gas station owner, I’d say the same thing.
jmonroe
Astute observation. I agree. That said, there are companies growing by leaps and bounds who are recycling car batteries. They’ve always been around as ALL cars have batteries in one form or another. Their business is exploding, now.
Can’t attest to France’s recycling efforts, or even if this story is true. What is true is they’re recyclable….from the metal to the batteries. Based on the condition of those cars in the pic, it’s no wonder they’re worth less than the cost to repair. They look pretty used up. No mention of their actual value as scrap, though.
And, as we all know, there comes a point when any car has no useful life left; where it costs more to repair the car than the car is worth. Sounds like these cars in Paris have found that point.
I doubt anyone here has anything in their fleet that has reached that point, though.
The Quest for Sight @graphicguy, you might be interested in this story about a Cambridge Biotech firm that working on bringing back lost vision lost to disease or injury. According to the Boston Globe, "unlike with other experimental gene therapies, Vedere Bio II hopes its gene therapy could treat a wide range of blindness-causing diseases, rare and common. They include retinitis pigmentosa, which afflicts an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, and age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, which afflicts about 2 million Americans. Initially, the firm hopes to target a subset of age-related macular degeneration patients with an advanced “dry form” called geographic atrophy. Read full article at https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/18/business/atlas-launches-second-cambridge-biotech-tackle-vision-loss/
Last day of the extended tax season. Even though we had an extra month to do your taxes we still had a lot of people waiting til the last minute and not having all their paperwork. Man I never want to slap people more than on tax day.
That’s why I don’t use a tax preparer, they get all upity when I want to cheat.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis Ultimate just like jmonroe's. '18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
When the Judicial Article was passed in the late ‘70s the Kentucky legislature set up a generous pension system, as most every judge would be making considerably less than an attorney in private practice. When the pension “crisis” hit Kentucky a few years ago the judicial pension system was revised even though it was almost completely funded. I evaded all that by going into the Senior Status pilot program.
I’ll probably see pennies on the dollar from my current retirement plan, but that wasn’t why I ran to begin with. I’m actually saving the state money as my judicial pension pays my health insurance and so I waive the prosecutor’s health insurance.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The Quest for Sight @graphicguy, you might be interested in this story about a Cambridge Biotech firm that working on bringing back lost vision lost to disease or injury. According to the Boston Globe, "unlike with other experimental gene therapies, Vedere Bio II hopes its gene therapy could treat a wide range of blindness-causing diseases, rare and common. They include retinitis pigmentosa, which afflicts an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, and age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, which afflicts about 2 million Americans. Initially, the firm hopes to target a subset of age-related macular degeneration patients with an advanced “dry form” called geographic atrophy. Read full article at https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/18/business/atlas-launches-second-cambridge-biotech-tackle-vision-loss/
Thank you. Very interesting. I go every Wednesday to my eye surgeon to keep a close watch on any signs of yet another retinal detachment. I’m printing this out and showing this to him tomorrow.
RANT du ‘jour…..the guy running the Post Office has been the target of the troubles we’ve seen over the last year or so as to its disfunction. As an aside, I went to the post office to get my picture taken for my Passport Renewal. I had noted longer lines over the past 12-18 months, and I’ve also noticed a lot of turnover at my local post office. Where there used to be people I knew by name working there, it’s been a carousel of unfamiliar faces the last year and a half.
Anyway, was talking to the postal agent who was taking my picture to send to the State Dept with my application for my Passport renewal. Making small talk, I mentioned that the crowd must be for tax day, and that I was glad I had put mine in my mailbox so the local postal worker would have it to be postmarked on MAy 17th. She said not to be surprised if I get a letter from the IRS asking for penalties because my Tax forms weren’t postmarked on May 17th.
I went into a mini neurotic fit. I asked how that could be? She said they had shifted away automated sorting, and timely postal processing and delivery so they could do hand processing. What?
The result of this idiocy, if you even take a letter to the post office in the a.m., on any given day, it may or may not be postmarked as mailed THAT DAY!
The Postmaster General can’t be fired, relieved of his duties, kicked to the curb, whatever they can do to him, fast enough.
Last day of the extended tax season. Even though we had an extra month to do your taxes we still had a lot of people waiting til the last minute and not having all their paperwork. Man I never want to slap people more than on tax day.
That’s why I don’t use a tax preparer, they get all upity when I want to cheat.
jmonroe
I had one yesterday that never used a tax preparer until now. The reason why he came to us was that he sold some rental property. Long story short when he did his taxes he screwed up his rental reporting and it hurt him when we did the return trying to correct the mess.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
RANT du ‘jour…..the guy running the Post Office has been the target of the troubles we’ve seen over the last year or so as to its disfunction. As an aside, I went to the post office to get my picture taken for my Passport Renewal. I had noted longer lines over the past 12-18 months, and I’ve also noticed a lot of turnover at my local post office. Where there used to be people I knew by name working there, it’s been a carousel of unfamiliar faces the last year and a half.
Anyway, was talking to the postal agent who was taking my picture to send to the State Dept with my application for my Passport renewal. Making small talk, I mentioned that the crowd must be for tax day, and that I was glad I had put mine in my mailbox so the local postal worker would have it to be postmarked on MAy 17th. She said not to be surprised if I get a letter from the IRS asking for penalties because my Tax forms weren’t postmarked on May 17th.
I went into a mini neurotic fit. I asked how that could be? She said they had shifted away automated sorting, and timely postal processing and delivery so they could do hand processing. What?
The result of this idiocy, if you even take a letter to the post office in the a.m., on any given day, it may or may not be postmarked as mailed THAT DAY!
The Postmaster General can’t be fired, relieved of his duties, kicked to the curb, whatever they can do to him, fast enough.
Do you owe or are you getting a refund (no need to answer that here)? If you're getting a refund the IRS won't fine you for a late filing.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
He could go to work for a rental car company even easier. They’ll pay him to test drive cars all day.
Speaking about rental cars, I read in the newspaper that the average midsized car or SUV rents for $135 a day down here in South Florida. I am assuming it is with the big three rental companies (Hertz, National and Avis). You can do much better with those outfits away from the airports. I did not find out the reason behind the high prices - perhaps posters who work for rental car companies can explain.
Short answer, supply and demand. When the pandemic hit and the rental business dropped abruptly they sold off much of their inventory rather than let it sit and depreciate. Then when business took a sharp turn upwards they weren’t able to get enough new cars because of production disruptions.
We now spend most of our day rushing cars to the airport from every corner of the system because of the shortage. We’ll deliver 150 cars a day and someone waiting in line will jump in the car and go. Sometimes the shortage is so bad that the agents drive the customer to their hotel to wait for a car to become available. The other day we had a woman have a meltdown in the garage because she ordered a car and got a pick up truck.
BTW, National isn’t one of the big three. It’s a subsidiary of Enterprise which also owns Alamo. Hertz owns Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly. Avis owns Budget.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I was very happy that I used a pro to do my taxes this year. She brought it to my attention that as a self-employed contractor last year who missed work due to Covid, I was eligible for a deduction on my taxes. Something I wouldn't have known, or found out about on my own. More than paid for her services, and made me a happy camper.
Which reminds me of the old proverb, "The worker is worthy of his hire". The moral is, if you can find a good professional, be that a tax preparer or an auto mechanic or a handyman, you should definitely value them and your relationship with them.
RANT du ‘jour…..the guy running the Post Office has been the target of the troubles we’ve seen over the last year or so as to its disfunction. As an aside, I went to the post office to get my picture taken for my Passport Renewal. I had noted longer lines over the past 12-18 months, and I’ve also noticed a lot of turnover at my local post office. Where there used to be people I knew by name working there, it’s been a carousel of unfamiliar faces the last year and a half.
Anyway, was talking to the postal agent who was taking my picture to send to the State Dept with my application for my Passport renewal. Making small talk, I mentioned that the crowd must be for tax day, and that I was glad I had put mine in my mailbox so the local postal worker would have it to be postmarked on MAy 17th. She said not to be surprised if I get a letter from the IRS asking for penalties because my Tax forms weren’t postmarked on May 17th.
I went into a mini neurotic fit. I asked how that could be? She said they had shifted away automated sorting, and timely postal processing and delivery so they could do hand processing. What?
The result of this idiocy, if you even take a letter to the post office in the a.m., on any given day, it may or may not be postmarked as mailed THAT DAY!
The Postmaster General can’t be fired, relieved of his duties, kicked to the curb, whatever they can do to him, fast enough.
I don't know whether the post office has fallen apart, or it's just the neighborhood that I live in. But around here, the USPS sucks, big time. Half of the normal mail (envelopes) should have went to my neighbors on the same block. Half of the packages should have gone to the same street number one block over. Complaints do no good whatsoever. It's amazing that FedEx and UPS never have this problem, just USPS.
I never in my life had these kinds of problems with the USPS until I moved here in 2011. And the neighborhood is gentrifying, going upscale, but the postal service steadily declines, so it's probably not just this neighborhood.
Comments
I was lucky during my heavy traveling days that the company had a few really nice “pool” cars. He handed down his wife’s cars and his vacation home cars.
Around 2005 the fleet was
96 Town and Country
96 Grand Cherokee Limited
98 Navigator
2003 Navigator
There was an Altima and Subaru too.
I had lots of seat time in both Navigators. Great long distance cruisers
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I support the YT idea. You can be the next Scotty Kilmer! We need more of those!
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You’re halfway there driver! All you need now is the test car! 🤪😜😀😁😛🤓
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
My wife has one of those. It's a legal scheme where you collect money after retirement until you die. The best part, she is receiving more monthly income in retirement than when she worked. On top of that, she gets free Medicare Part C and free Medicare Part D. What a country.
But younger people today have it so much easier lol
My wife has one of those. It's a legal scheme where you collect money after retirement until you die. The best part, she is receiving more monthly income in retirement than when she worked. On top of that, she gets free Medicare Part C and free Medicare Part D. What a country.
Social security?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Civil service job, I'm guessing
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And you would be right. Public school administration
Which, as my company offered a decent 401k plan, I didn't realize I had until I received a letter stating that the co. was freezing the defined benefits plan, here's what you'll get at age 65. With only 7 years on the payroll as of freeze, not a big amount, but just a lovely surprise. Now, at 50% lovely, it will be contributing to, but not covering HOAs, if we remain in Plymouth when I'm 65. And retired?
With the ex passing away, I sent my kids to my company, I believe they each received a lump sum payout of her half of the pension, perhaps in an "inherited IRA."
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
You’re halfway there driver! All you need now is the test car! 🤪😜😀😁😛🤓
Hey, I am going to ask the moderator to flag all those lol's.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
In January, I was told had it not been discovered and removed, it likely would have eventually turned cancerous. So, be afraid not of the prep, or scope! Git 'er done!
Be happy, healthy and sane, my friends.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I keep telling my kids that they need a 401K or put away money in an IRA if they don’t have pensions. Retirement is only possible with a good income. I was lucky that I kept my pension contributions in the State Pension Fund. I could never live on my IRA’s and Social Security.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I keep telling my kids that they need a 401K or put away money in an IRA if they don’t have pensions. Retirement is only possible with a good income. I was lucky that I kept my pension contributions in the State Pension Fund. I could never live on my IRA’s and Social Security.
I had a pension with IBM for the first few years I was with them, along with a 401(k). The pension funding stopped, but credits kept getting added. Didn't amount to much, and when I was let go from them in 2016, I cashed it out as I didn't know what my job prospects were going to look like. Yeah, I took a hit on my taxes for that year, but que sera sera.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
thankfully I was not picked to be in the actually jury pool, so I don't have to go back tomorrow for the actual trial. That might be more interested. Most of today was zoning out listening to other people answer the same questions from the judge, and being annoyed at the lawyers for using preemptory challenges!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
We get free health insurance in retirement if you have at least 20 years of service. 6 and a half years to go for me.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Last day of the extended tax season. Even though we had an extra month to do your taxes we still had a lot of people waiting til the last minute and not having all their paperwork. Man I never want to slap people more than on tax day.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Still don’t know if we owe or will get a refund, this year.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Speaking about rental cars, I read in the newspaper that the average midsized car or SUV rents for $135 a day down here in South Florida. I am assuming it is with the big three rental companies (Hertz, National and Avis). You can do much better with those outfits away from the airports. I did not find out the reason behind the high prices - perhaps posters who work for rental car companies can explain.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Speaking about rental cars, I read in the newspaper that the average midsized car or SUV rents for $135 a day down here in South Florida. I am assuming it is with the big three rental companies (Hertz, National and Avis). You can do much better with those outfits away from the airports. I did not find out the reason behind the high prices - perhaps posters who work for rental car companies can explain.
Corporate accounts get all of the deals. I rented in St Petersburg, last week, and paid $360 for 9 days, all taxes and fees included. (National)
Tried to re-book, about a week before arriving, to see if prices had gone down. There were ZERO cars available at that location for rent on a Friday! If they are renting everything they have, it's not surprising that prices are high.
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Can’t attest to France’s recycling efforts, or even if this story is true. What is true is they’re recyclable….from the metal to the batteries. Based on the condition of those cars in the pic, it’s no wonder they’re worth less than the cost to repair. They look pretty used up. No mention of their actual value as scrap, though.
And, as we all know, there comes a point when any car has no useful life left; where it costs more to repair the car than the car is worth. Sounds like these cars in Paris have found that point.
I doubt anyone here has anything in their fleet that has reached that point, though.
@graphicguy, you might be interested in this story about a Cambridge Biotech firm that working on bringing back lost vision lost to disease or injury. According to the Boston Globe, "unlike with other experimental gene therapies, Vedere Bio II hopes its gene therapy could treat a wide range of blindness-causing diseases, rare and common. They include retinitis pigmentosa, which afflicts an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, and age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, which afflicts about 2 million Americans. Initially, the firm hopes to target a subset of age-related macular degeneration patients with an advanced “dry form” called geographic atrophy. Read full article at
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/18/business/atlas-launches-second-cambridge-biotech-tackle-vision-loss/
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
When the Judicial Article was passed in the late ‘70s the Kentucky legislature set up a generous pension system, as most every judge would be making considerably less than an attorney in private practice. When the pension “crisis” hit Kentucky a few years ago the judicial pension system was revised even though it was almost completely funded. I evaded all that by going into the Senior Status pilot program.
I’ll probably see pennies on the dollar from my current retirement plan, but that wasn’t why I ran to begin with. I’m actually saving the state money as my judicial pension pays my health insurance and so I waive the prosecutor’s health insurance.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
https://jalopnik.com/the-colonial-pipeline-was-fine-but-it-was-shutdown-to-1846911689
Anyway, was talking to the postal agent who was taking my picture to send to the State Dept with my application for my Passport renewal. Making small talk, I mentioned that the crowd must be for tax day, and that I was glad I had put mine in my mailbox so the local postal worker would have it to be postmarked on MAy 17th. She said not to be surprised if I get a letter from the IRS asking for penalties because my Tax forms weren’t postmarked on May 17th.
I went into a mini neurotic fit. I asked how that could be? She said they had shifted away automated sorting, and timely postal processing and delivery so they could do hand processing. What?
The result of this idiocy, if you even take a letter to the post office in the a.m., on any given day, it may or may not be postmarked as mailed THAT DAY!
The Postmaster General can’t be fired, relieved of his duties, kicked to the curb, whatever they can do to him, fast enough.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Speaking about rental cars, I read in the newspaper that the average midsized car or SUV rents for $135 a day down here in South Florida. I am assuming it is with the big three rental companies (Hertz, National and Avis). You can do much better with those outfits away from the airports. I did not find out the reason behind the high prices - perhaps posters who work for rental car companies can explain.
Short answer, supply and demand. When the pandemic hit and the rental business dropped abruptly they sold off much of their inventory rather than let it sit and depreciate. Then when business took a sharp turn upwards they weren’t able to get enough new cars because of production disruptions.
We now spend most of our day rushing cars to the airport from every corner of the system because of the shortage. We’ll deliver 150 cars a day and someone waiting in line will jump in the car and go. Sometimes the shortage is so bad that the agents drive the customer to their hotel to wait for a car to become available. The other day we had a woman have a meltdown in the garage because she ordered a car and got a pick up truck.
BTW, National isn’t one of the big three. It’s a subsidiary of Enterprise which also owns Alamo. Hertz owns Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly. Avis owns Budget.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Which reminds me of the old proverb, "The worker is worthy of his hire". The moral is, if you can find a good professional, be that a tax preparer or an auto mechanic or a handyman, you should definitely value them and your relationship with them.
I didn’t want to trust the postal system for our tax payment... I bit the bullet and paid online.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I never in my life had these kinds of problems with the USPS until I moved here in 2011. And the neighborhood is gentrifying, going upscale, but the postal service steadily declines, so it's probably not just this neighborhood.