This morning, I noticed my tire pressures were 30 lbs psi, quite low for my high performance tires. Temps were in the mid 50's this morning. I checked the label on the inside of my gas cover and it said 35 lbs psi cold. So I drove to the dealership and after the car wash they had to add 7 lbs to each tire. On the way home, the sensors read 40 lbs psi, much higher than usual, but they told me the tires should be close to 40 lbs while driving at higher speeds. I then checked fuel economy - 31 mpg's at 65 mph. That is truly amazing for an 8 cyl 4.7 liter twin turbo engine.
Probably due to the higher tire pressures. All these months I've been under-inflated.
Using Ima's 5-8 year individual payback figure, which is stated based on modest interest, if you double that to reflect inclusion of employer contributions you are now in the 10 - 16 year range or actually a bit more due to compounding. The average person dies around age 80 I believe, add 10 -16 years to age 65 and most people are right in the range of breakeven.
The numbers that I cited from memory did have the employer's contribution included along with a small, small rate of return to get to the 5 or 8 year number. I'm just giving those from memory and I don't recall the source. But I know the pattern for the numbers because I was surprised by them.
The Disability under SS has become a disgrace because people are using up the 2 years of unemployment then applying for disability. There are attorneys here advertising to contact them BEFORE applying so they can massage the application to "ensure" your getting the disability. A major problem is there is no follow up for checking that people actually have that disability a year later. I know Judge Judy gets a kick out of putting people on the spot who tell her they have disability income. The disability was meant to be for people who could not work at all. Instead it is being interpreted that they can't work at a job they want or like one they used to have so they deserve disability. The gov't doesn't want to enforce this too well because the disability is covering up the lack of jobs in this country.
I am more concerned about disability than I am about the subsidy to SS and Medicare recipients. At least we worked for the right to collect it, entitlement or benefit.
@berri said: Either way, I think some of these SS studies are not fully reflective of reality and perhaps performed by lobbyist and special interest groups with an inherent factual sway and selective variable inputs.
Excellent post berri. This discussion is like everything else pertaining to gov. in the U.S. in 2014. There is no way to get an honest, straight forward answer on any issue because the only thing the politicians care about is keeping their job....and they will lie, cheat, steal, mislead and worse to attain that goal.
You'll never know how bad the fraud is but you won't cure it except by careful scrutiny - not by eliminating benefits for those that earned them. I'm in that boat. By dragging myself through work for years deathly ill I went to Sloan Kettering I the doctor told me it was way past time to throw in the towel. I was 3 months short of 61 and didn't start collecting for another 6 months (they don't start paying for it right away). Between that and my pension (which I earned by putting in the years - not disability) and the fact that my 8 year younger wife works full time we do all right. Not great but we're OK.
The SS system works and can be made actuarially sound for a long time with a few changes. The fraud people are the ones you have to go after. I had my then doctor tell me there were loads of people who were in worse shape than I collecting. That was in the mid-90s. I was not yet 50.
Medicare is a mess and they just threw me into it despite my only being 63. Turns out as soon as you collect two years of disability they automatically throw you on Medicare and once on they don't want you off. I had 22 months left in good, free insurance but that now becomes my secondary insurance and it's been made clear that there's not a thing I can do about it. Unfortunately, this cuts into my disability check. Fortunately other than more paperwork it won't result in overall less coverage.
Now if you want a mess, look at the NJ pension system. It was in fine shape in the 90s when our then governor grabbed the pension fund to pay for tax breaks and the state stopped paying in their share. Now that governor was a Republican but it hasn't mattered who is in power, they keep digging the hole deeper. Those of us that bought into the system have COLAs frozen forever and now new employees are in 401Ks instead.
Anyway, where I've been... Took my first retired old guy trip for almost two weeks. Visited my friend in Tallahassee and poked around the Florida panhandle which is one of the great undiscovered treasures though enough people are figuring it out that they notice the drop in the aquifer. Unlike most of Florida the water tastes like water - not sulfur.
After that it was up to see my nephew and his family in Apex, NC. Unfortunately I caught them just as they were moving so time was limited but it was great.
Prior to going the Mazda had a CEL issue which has been on and off. Original verdict was bad gas and Techron clears it up for a bit. (While in Georgia and Florida I only put Chevron in the car). The light never came back on. I'm home three days. The light comes back on. It took another bottle of Techron three days to clear it but now all is well again. In about 10 days I'll go visit my buddy with the real garage and such. I suspect that at 99K it may still have the original plugs. That might do it.
At any rate it proved to me that being on the road on your own is a load of fun. I plan an E-mail to one of our cohorts about a visit... BTW, unlike the rest of Florida, Tallahassee has hills and some nice twisties even though the high point in the state is only 445 feet above sea level.... Great little city in the middle of nowhere.
Sorry for the long post but it's been a while. The regulars will understand......
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
my short take on the federal government? It was originally conceived (that pesky constitution) to handle macro economic issues (national security, etc.), and has since evolved into focusing on (vastly more costly) micro economic functions (individual pocket books). Probably has a lot to do with the fact that it is run by politicians, not legislators.
entitlement programs? That was well covered. if you want to get the gov't out of the pension business, switching it to a defined contribution style made the most sense, but again, that puts the risk on the individual, and we can't have that now, can we?
Medicare/Medicaid/ACA? that is the one that can sink the country. This might seem odd coming from someone on the conservative/libertarian end of the spectrum, but if you believe that basic healthcare is a core national concern/vital issue, then just scrap the whole darned mess and institute national healthcare. There are decades of models elsewhere to follow and learn from. The inefficiencies alone would save a fortune. Heck, we basically already have it (everyone gets treated) so just do it right.
Then, we will all have more money for car shopping!
So, anyone shopping lately? I am still in limbo waiting for a few things to shake out (a job change that might cause me to start commuting again, and my daughter's college decision).
the college is the big one. Will drastically impact cash flow depending on which one is picked. Plus, a couple will come with the need for a new(er) car for her in another year which limits what I can do now.
but, shopping is still fun. Some amazing deals to be found. For some reason, I got interested in the Altima, and checked Fitzmall. all the 2014s look to be $4,500-5,000 off MSRP. Yowza. Wonder what they drive like?
Glad to see you posting again. Good luck with the car. Hope your friend can fix it easily. I'd suggest plug wires as well as spark plugs may be a cause of an intermittent code. Your friend should know when he reads the code.
I've been getting a gas cap loose code because my car probably has a problem with the valve that vents the gas tank to the atmosphere through the charcoal filter to trap gas fumes. It is suppose to close for testing the fuel system to be sure there are no air leaks to pollute the atmosphere; it's not closing sometimes so the light turns on. Now that spring is here I can get underneath to do some electrical checks.
I had an issue like that on my Accord. Tripped the CEL. tried the gas cap, and did not work. Turned out to be part of the evap system (purge canister?) something that was supposed to have a valve but it stopped working. Shop did the scan to ID the problem, then showed me the part (when they pulled it off) and how it was not working. New unit went on, and problem solved. That needed a lift to deal with considering where they had it hidden.
Stickguy, agree with a lot of what you are saying. Personally, I'm probably a right center moderate (dying demographic in American politics these days!). I see the current US medical system as broken, even before Obamacare. Instead of the gov, we have insurance companies running it - what's the difference, other than an insurance exec may get a bigger bonus the sooner he gets the seriously ill dead and buried? I've dealt with a lot of Canadians and I don't hear near the grumbling about their medical compared to here, despite the special interest propaganda and scare stuff.
Maybe one of the answers to Washington dysfunction is to return to part time legislators like a lot of our states have. They need to get stuff done and get back to their jobs. It would also be harder for all of the lobbyists to be involved at the level they are now. Also, I've taken to voting for the underdog often if the other candidate has too much money behind him (usually means they will have to be paying back those big contributors with favorable legislation). Talk about entitlements, how about special tax trusts and loopholes that permeate our tax code. I don't believe in soaking the rich, but I don't think it's fair that rich guys like Mitt Romney pay a much lower percent rate of income tax than most working stiffs.
Cars - we were looking at some, but nothing really does much for us. Too many tiny buttons and other electronic gimmicks which are also driving prices up and quality down. Our cars still have plenty of miles left, so we've decided to hold off for awhile. Maybe in a few years the automakers will get back to driver ergonomics and off the current nonsense like Synch and short tires/big wheels.
@stickguy said:
I had an issue like that on my Accord. Tripped the CEL. tried the gas cap, and did not work. Turned out to be part of the evap system (purge canister?)
There are two valves in the vacuum line that draws air from the tank to check for an air leak; this test runs under certain partially warm conditions. The purge valve opens vacuum to the tank. The vent valve closes and causes a suction. The suction is measured by a sensor in the top of the tank. My purge valve doesn't close off--part of the time. Other times it closes and computer gets a successful vacuum level that holds inside the tank. So I know it's not the tube to the purge valve which might have rotted. It would not work any of the time. So it's down to the valve being erratic. Exactly what you're describing.
I've just put off working because I can't get the car onto my wood ramps inside the garage. They slip on the carpeting when I try to back onto the ramps I made. So I decided it would have to wait until Spring. And Spring is here finally, at 8 degrees above Fahrenheit last night. Wish I were in Florida!!! Like some of our posters. I'm really, really tired of cold.
Nope not shopping here but I did get a mailer from a dealership with a key and if it started the giveaway car that car would be mine (along with a nice tax bill ). I filed that in my circular filing cabinet.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
TV Update, Well a few weeks ago the new vertical supports came in. Now being tax season I have limited time to do stuff like that so the weekend before last I tried to put it together. Well the holes on the supports lines up with the hole on the TV and the holes on the base. The issue was that they didn't line up at the same time.
Getting on the phone with Sharp didn't help so last weekend I just drilled it out so it would fit. So now my very big screen TV is set up properly and the surround sound is properly set up with it and last Sunday we watch the first thing on it properly set up. That was the movie "Cars 2". Hows that for a car tie in?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I'm still waiting to see how my government car payment...er...social security pans out but I'm still looking at the new Mustang design.
A friend who's into Fords tells me that the lots are loaded with 2014s. There might be some screaming buys when the new one arrives.
Ford is being stingy with info and I'd really like to see the weight of the various engine selections. I'm still enthralled with the grunt of the V8 but that 2.3L turbo might be the better handling car.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
" Tallahassee has hills and some nice twisties even though the high point in the state is only 445 feet above sea level.... Great little city in the middle of nowhere."
When I drove from Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego, I-10 was the only route to the west coast. From south Florida to I-10, it is as flat as a pancake. But once you hit the panhandle, it's like you left Kansas and landed in Oz. Ravines, hills, etc., are the lay of the land. I believe northwest Florida is the best held secret of the US. Truly beautiful with those rolling hills.
Great to hear you had a blast - you deserved it. And great to hear you are doing well - stay that way!
@snakeweasel said:
Nope not shopping here but I did get a mailer from a dealership with a
key and if it started the giveaway car that car would be mine (along with a nice tax bill ). I filed that in my circular filing cabinet.
Yeah, I get those all the time. If only they would seen those offers for something I want. Dodge sent me a $500 coupon then a $1000 one. Mitsu keeps offering me financing deals but the only thing I would want would be the Outlanders Sport to replace the wife's PT Cruiser, and that would just be for the better gas milage. Nissan keeps saying her car is in "high demand" and offer "top dollar" LOL.
Most of the local dealers who send these offers are getting slammed by the NYS Attorney General for false advertising.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@stickguy said:but if you believe that basic healthcare is a core national concern/vital issue, then just scrap the whole darned mess and institute national healthcare.
Then, we will all have more money for car shopping!
You could have something there stick. The bureacracy will be cut and the government will have more control over costs. There are trauma centres in Florida...where if you are unlucky enough to be taken to, you could be charged $30K just for a quick diagnosis.
Our Canadian healthcare system is far from perfect, and I am not sure if it can keep up, but a great majority of Canadians would much rather have our system. Broken arm, hip, knee replacement, heart bypass, annual check up, colonoscopy, birth, .....go in, come out, NO CHARGE. We do pay more in taxes, and we do pay a monthly fee, but, like insurance, you are protected from paying a huge life altering fee. Peace of mind...priceless.
Hush on the northwest Florida. Let's keep it our secret. Were it solely up to me we'd be moving to Tallahassee tomorrow.
BTW, while I was calling the Sloan billing department to tell them about the Medicare thing I ask what over my whole time they've billed out on my behalf. They said they'd send me all the stuff but answered my basic question - they've billed in excesses of a million bucks. I sure all here will agree it was money well spent.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
.go in, come out, NO CHARGE How about lab tests like the one I got a bill of $188 FOR TODAY?
Fezo...agreed the million dollar man with the 2 million dollar wit.
Farmer, a 4 cylinder Mustang??? NO NO please do it right this time and step up with a 5.0 V8
I can't wait until farmer gets down to Tampa. All those retirees putting around in beige Avalons and GMs with vinyl carriage roofs, and he dive bombs in with a bright red Mustang GT.
Good thing you've got medical coverage or you'd be in BK court! Of course given the health care and insurance racket, they'll probably get paid around $200K. Only those who can least afford it have to pay rack rate. But I'll still call you the Million Dollar Man
@dino001 said:
The truth is brutal - seniors are collecting about quadruple of what they put in, trend that was possible when the nation was young and life expectancy limited. So yes, Medicare especially is a social welfare promise that should have not ever been made in its current form and cannot be kept. If anything, it is one of the biggest generational Ponzi schemes the world has ever seen. The first step to fix anything, is to admit there is a problem. As long as we pretend that Medicare or to lesser extend Social Security, can be maintained in their current form, we will descend to more and more trouble.
This post is directed mainly to Dino, Driver, and Mike. First, Dino, I don't have to make myself feel better by stating something that I believe to be true. Allow me to explain why. I will NEVER consider one dollar of my Social Security or Medicare to be an entitlement because:
I never asked the federal government to dip into my savings to spend my money on what they perceived to be more important projects or necessities. Had I been allowed to invest the contributions myself, I think that I would have achieved a much better rate of return. I don't consider that you are paying for my upkeep. It is not my fault or responsibility that the government has placed you in your current situation. Were I you, I wouldn't worry too much at this point. The system is solvent until 2033 and with a 7% percent adjustment in the contribution rate, it should remain solvent for 75 years beyond 2033 (Office of Budget and Policy).
My salary was frozen by the government for seven years from 1976-1983. During those years my contribution rate to Social Security and Medicare was never adjusted to accommodate for that freeze. I had to keep paying. In fact, my pension would have been higher had it not been for those lean years that were beyond my control. Though I disliked unions, it is no wonder that I rose in the ranks after what they did to us as educators. Like Richard Nixon, I forgive, but I never forget.
While paying into Social Security, let us not forget that I was still paying taxes to support those who couldn't or didn't want to work, in addition to the usual government programs.
Even today, I have to allow $200 per month to be withheld from my Social Security check in order to keep Uncle Sam afloat.
Mike, I fully understand the history and the intent behind the origination of Social Security. As you say, it was never intended to be a full pension plan. It was more of a supplemental plan to help people survive. Today, it is considered to be an insurance plan or policy for the future. I never considered it to be something that I could fully rely on for the future----thus my pension and my investments. I don't resent some people getting $2,500 per month in Social Security. My BIL is 82 years old and just began getting the maximum check. He practiced medicine for 54 years and deserves his check. He paid his share into the system. My point is that I have given the government plenty of money over the years. Whether they spent it wisely or not is debatable. My bottom line is that my Social Security check is MY money way above what they will ever be able to return to me----even if I live to be 200 years old.
Driver, bless your heart. I think that you're scanning posts again rather than reading them fully. I never said that the NEA wasn't Democratic and liberal. I did say that many members were also Republicans and conservative. You're still trying to make a blanket statement and it's simply not true. There is a difference between the majority and the entire group. Heavens no, I'm not taking this personally in the least as you said. I'm just stating my personal opinion. Remember now, personally and personal are different words with different meanings. And yes, of course we respect one another. It's only natural that the chips have to fall where they fall when you're expressing an individual viewpoint. After all, it's not your fault that you don't always understand. (Grin)
I apologize for the novelette. Thanks for your patience.
@fezo said:
You'll never know how bad the fraud is but you won't cure it except by careful scrutiny - not by eliminating benefits for those that earned them. I'm in that boat. By dragging myself through work for years deathly ill I went to Sloan Kettering I the doctor told me it was way past time to throw in the towel. I was 3 months short of 61 and didn't start collecting for another 6 months (they don't start paying for it right away). Between that and my pension (which I earned by putting in the years - not disability) and the fact that my 8 year younger wife works full time we do all right. Not great but we're OK.
The SS system works and can be made actuarially sound for a long time with a few changes. The fraud people are the ones you have to go after. I had my then doctor tell me there were loads of people who were in worse shape than I collecting. That was in the mid-90s. I was not yet 50.
Medicare is a mess and they just threw me into it despite my only being 63. Turns out as soon as you collect two years of disability they automatically throw you on Medicare and once on they don't want you off. I had 22 months left in good, free insurance but that now becomes my secondary insurance and it's been made clear that there's not a thing I can do about it. Unfortunately, this cuts into my disability check. Fortunately other than more paperwork it won't result in overall less coverage.
Now if you want a mess, look at the NJ pension system. It was in fine shape in the 90s when our then governor grabbed the pension fund to pay for tax breaks and the state stopped paying in their share. Now that governor was a Republican but it hasn't mattered who is in power, they keep digging the hole deeper. Those of us that bought into the system have COLAs frozen forever and now new employees are in 401Ks instead.
Anyway, where I've been... Took my first retired old guy trip for almost two weeks. Visited my friend in Tallahassee and poked around the Florida panhandle which is one of the great undiscovered treasures though enough people are figuring it out that they notice the drop in the aquifer. Unlike most of Florida the water tastes like water - not sulfur.
After that it was up to see my nephew and his family in Apex, NC. Unfortunately I caught them just as they were moving so time was limited but it was great.
Prior to going the Mazda had a CEL issue which has been on and off. Original verdict was bad gas and Techron clears it up for a bit. (While in Georgia and Florida I only put Chevron in the car). The light never came back on. I'm home three days. The light comes back on. It took another bottle of Techron three days to clear it but now all is well again. In about 10 days I'll go visit my buddy with the real garage and such. I suspect that at 99K it may still have the original plugs. That might do it.
At any rate it proved to me that being on the road on your own is a load of fun. I plan an E-mail to one of our cohorts about a visit... BTW, unlike the rest of Florida, Tallahassee has hills and some nice twisties even though the high point in the state is only 445 feet above sea level.... Great little city in the middle of nowhere.
Sorry for the long post but it's been a while. The regulars will understand......
So glad that you had a nice vacation to points south. It's good to have you back.
@stickguy said:
I can't wait until farmer gets down to Tampa. All those retirees putting around in beige Avalons and GMs with vinyl carriage roofs, and he dive bombs in with a bright red Mustang GT.
I just hopes he does it right and gets a convertible. Nothing screams out mid life (or late life) crises like that except the Vette.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@snakeweasel said:
I just hopes he does it right and gets a convertible. Nothing screams out mid life (or late life) crises like that except the Vette.
I don't know .. one of the vehicles on my mid-life crisis list is a V8 Mustang, but I think I'd stick with the hardtop. All the better for track days, IMHO.
snake....my "big screen" is a Pioneer, which was at one point in time, the top flat screen TV on the market. They've since exited that business. But, the TV is very heavy, especially compared to the ones out today. And, mine is only 6 years old, or so.
I've threatened to hang it on the wall, but I'm not sure I can find brackets that would hold it.
Pixar does a really nice job with their films, both visually and sonically. You'll be amazed at what some of the films look, and sound like, being played in the comfort of your home, on a quality system.
Going way off the reservation here, but may have an announcement on the personal front, shortly.
@berri said: they've billed in excesses of a million bucks
Good thing you've got medical coverage or you'd be in BK court! Of course given the health care and insurance racket, they'll probably get paid around $200K. Only those who can least afford it have to pay rack rate. But I'll still call you the Million Dollar Man
Our insurance carrier was recently billed $116,000. for a 5 day hospital stay for a family member. This was just basically room and board and did not include doctors bills, etc. The insurance carrier negotiated this $116,000. down to $25,000. total. Even $25,000. seems high to me for the services provided, and obviously they are making a profit at that amount. What kind of games are these folks playing anyway?
I agree with the above idea that everyone should just be thrown into medicare and let the gov. have complete oversight of our insurance and medical care industries. As it is now it is a complete disaster. Too much greed.
"Going way off the reservation here, but may have an announcement on the personal front, shortly."
That last sentence of your post definitely sounds "feminine"!
Mike...if you mean I'm having a gender change operation, the answer is an undoubtedly...."NO" (with all deference and respect given to two of the very best examples of being feminine, Karen and Kirstie).
Just found this that crossed my browser....looks like the "new way" of buying cars has begun.....
@sterlingdog said:Driver, bless your heart. I think that you're scanning posts again rather than reading them fully.
You know me too well...yes, I tend to scan because of time limitations. If it sounded like I was making a blanket statement that was not my intention......I meant to say a majority of members.
Same with union members, a majority will be Democrats. In Canada a portion of union dues goes to the socialist party - New Democratic Party - whether the member wants it to or not. Not sure about the USA. But, that shows you which way they are leaning.
About social benefits vs social security, I get your point. But that is going to happen in a country where 20% of the top income Americans pay 67% of all Federal taxes collected, and 49% pay no taxes (probably similar in Canada). You can justify that you are paying your fair share and taking out what you are entitled to, but, you are probably in the minority. Most people are going to withdraw more than they put in.
I apologize for the novelette. Thanks for your patience.
@Michaell@Edmunds said:I don't know .. one of the vehicles on my mid-life crisis list is a V8 Mustang, but I think I'd stick with the hardtop. All the better for track days, IMHO
It might be fun to hear what cars others would put on their (I hesitate to say it) bucket list. Let's say the magic genie appeared and you could have any car you want.
For me, I would have to consider a Jaguar convertible, and one of those Ghost II baby Rolls Royces...I don't want to be a pig about this;
@driver100 said:
It might be fun to hear what cars others would put on their (I hesitate to say it) bucket list. Let's say the magic genie appeared and you could have any car you want.
If the genie not only provided the car, but the funds to fuel, insure and maintain it, then I'm all over some fine looking Italian iron.
If I'm footing the bill for everything, I'd have to go with either an M235i or the aforementioned Mustang GT (5.0 V8 please).
On fraud lawyers and such. My brother is that rarity of a good, honest general practice lawyer. He hates the slip and fall chasers and such. The one that really bug him, and you'll see these all the time, are the ones that are offering to turn your structured settlement into ready cash. These guys are slime.
My brother had a young lady who, I believe as an accident victim, got a big award. My brother brought in a CPA and they worked out a structured settlement that would take good care of her and leave a pretty good nest egg at the end. Her boyfriend wanted her to buy him a new truck....
Well, somewhere down the road she fell for one of these shysters and now has nothing and no recourse. I'm not a capital punishment guy but they ought to hang those guys.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
I love what @qbrozen did. He found a relatively low optioned 5.0 Mustang GT with rebates attached to it. That's the way to go in my book. I think he paid less than $30K OTD.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I love what qbrozen did. He found a relatively low optioned 5.0 Mustang GT with rebates attached to it. That's the way to go in my book. I think he paid less than $30K OTD.
Yeah, I found a low optioned GT like that at my local dealer a year or two ago. Salesman was willing to offer invoice - rebates, which made the selling price around $26-27K. OTD for me would have been around $29K.
Wonder if that will be possible with the new 2015's?
Fezo, I believe most lawyers, bankers, doctors, teachers and other workers are honest and do their jobs well. It just takes a few rotten apples to tarnish a profession. As for the lawyers, I think there are just too many law schools chasing not enough legal work and hence, the ambulance chasers and the like. Tell your brother not to take it personally. You can't fix stupid.
@graphicguy said:
fezo...good to hear you're out and about.
snake....my "big screen" is a Pioneer, which was at one point in time, the top flat screen TV on the market. They've since exited that business. But, the TV is very heavy, especially compared to the ones out today. And, mine is only 6 years old, or so.
I've threatened to hang it on the wall, but I'm not sure I can find brackets that would hold it.
Pixar does a really nice job with their films, both visually and sonically. You'll be amazed at what some of the films look, and sound like, being played in the comfort of your home, on a quality system.
Going way off the reservation here, but may have an announcement on the personal front, shortly.
Does the personal announcement mean that we're going to hear wedding bells soon? That would be nice for such a gentleman as yourself. We would love for you to find a super lady who would share your enthusiasm for automobiles, boats, entertainment centers, and all things electronic. We await your announcement with great anticipation.
Well, I did the mid-life crisis car with my Jag XK (British Corvette. Well, no. Not really). But, I hope that I have deja-vu all over again in a few years (having traded the XK). Right now, if the genie (and would she look like Barbara Eden???) allowed, a Ferarri 458 Italia convertible.
More in the reality realm: Jag F-Type coupe. I just renewed my season lottery ticket...
'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...)
I agree with you totally regarding those union dues. With NEA, many of our members would ask me if they could just pay the local and state dues, not the national dues to NEA. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to do that. Many of our members didn't care for NEA at the national level and I was among them. Still, I accepted those leadership roles because I believed that we needed to make a difference at the grassroots level. I learned early on that the Washington office could have cared less what we were going through at the local and state levels. When I would go to the annual national NEA conventions across this country, the entire convention week focused more on the PAC unit of NEA and trying to tell us who we should support. That's when many of us would go for long lunches, shopping, or a tour of the hosting city.
Thanks for trying to understand my position on Social Security. I don't object to paying my taxes for services, nor did I object to paying in to the SS Fund. It's just that now I feel that I did my fair share and that my dollars are coming back to me as was promised. The system has been good for many people in this country who would have had no help in their declining years. I read last night on the Social Security web site that about 4% of people ages 62-84 do not and will not receive SS payments. The reasons include those who never worked the required 40 quarters or they were immigrants who arrived in this country too late to meet the same requirement. Naturally, many people died who made contributions but didn't live long enough to collect payments. I couldn't find any figures or percentages for that group. I would imagine that the number would be fairly large but I'm not sure.
@berri said:
Fezo, I believe most lawyers, bankers, doctors, teachers and other workers are honest and do their jobs well. It just takes a few rotten apples to tarnish a profession. As for the lawyers, I think there are just too many law schools chasing not enough legal work and hence, the ambulance chasers and the like. Tell your brother not to take it personally. You can't fix stupid.
I love your "half full glass attitude" vs. the "half empty glass attitude". I agree that most professionals try to do a good job. We have a very good family doctor, and two of my former students are lawyers. One has always done our house closings and the other one takes care of my speeding tickets. They are smart, good, honest boys. I often think about many of my old friends who were teachers. They took from their pockets to buy things for the children, stayed up late at night planning and correcting papers, sponsored outside activities for no pay, etc. I like to think that the work ethic still means something in our great country. Though it may have slipped some from its pedestal, it's still out there among most workers.
@houdini1 said:
I agree with the above idea that everyone should just be thrown into medicare and let the gov. have complete oversight of our insurance and medical care industries. As it is now it is a complete disaster. Too much greed.
Some sunshine is needed on the various charges. If insurance companies were able to compete across state lines that would help. But the concept of high billing amounts that are marked down stated with MEDICARE. I recall long ago my urologist at a large Cincinnati hospital commenting they had to build on the new addition because the more debt they owed the more they would be paid from Medicare on the billed amounts, rather than having the payments marked down so much. I realized then that the game was on. I already knew that billing amounts were only for the uninsured.
let the gov. have complete oversight of our insurance
Doing that would only allow the government to ruin more things. Look at the VA. I talk with an elderly veteran who has to fight to get his hearing aid replaced. It fails so often he should be given a back up unit for the time the first spends being mailed back and forth by the local VA. In fact, the local large VA hospital and services are so bad, that he has driven to SE Ohio to other VA locations to get service. His family lives in that area so it's not as inconvenient as it sounds. Only recently has he relied more on the local facility. At 88 he has to be driven by his dependent son.
The government already protected the pharmaceutical companies from competition on pricing as a payoff for not resisting the obamacare takeover 4 years ago. So the drug companies can charge high prices instead of having pricing like the Canadian (salute to Driver100) pharmacy prices I can find on the internet for the same drugs sold here for much higher prices.
@sterlingdog said: I won't be greedy. I'll just take the XCC-763. I'm willing to pay for the fuel and the maintenance.(spoken like a true conservative )
What in the world is an XCC-763?
I looked it up and I got a site where you can buy a license with that number if you wish:
Are you looking for the pre-1963 registration plate XCC763 .
@sterlingdog said: I read last night on the Social Security web site that about 4% of people ages 62-84 do not and will not receive SS payments.
Here are some interesting statistics;
Percentage of Americans over 65 who rely completely on Social Security 35%
Percentage of Americans who don’t save anything for retirement 36%
Percentage of population that is 65 years of age or older 13%
**Out of 100 people who starts working at the age of 25, by the age 65: **
Will be considered wealthy 1%
****Have adequate capital stowed away for retirement 4%
Will still be working 3%
***Are dependant on Social Security, friends, relatives or charity 63%
Are dead 29% (might partially answer your question, number who don't collect)
**Americans older than 50 account for: **
Percent of all financial assets 77%
Percent of total consumer demand 54%
Prescription drug purchases 77%
All over-the-counter drugs 61%
Auto Sales 47%
All luxury travel purchases 80%
I find it scarry that 36% of Americans (same in Canada) have not saved anything for retirement.
Interesting that 13% of the population buys 47% of the cars!
Comments
I agree. Some great and interesting posts by Abacomike , Driver ,Berry and Dino.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
This morning, I noticed my tire pressures were 30 lbs psi, quite low for my high performance tires. Temps were in the mid 50's this morning. I checked the label on the inside of my gas cover and it said 35 lbs psi cold. So I drove to the dealership and after the car wash they had to add 7 lbs to each tire. On the way home, the sensors read 40 lbs psi, much higher than usual, but they told me the tires should be close to 40 lbs while driving at higher speeds. I then checked fuel economy - 31 mpg's at 65 mph. That is truly amazing for an 8 cyl 4.7 liter twin turbo engine.
Probably due to the higher tire pressures. All these months I've been under-inflated.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Using Ima's 5-8 year individual payback figure, which is stated based on modest interest, if you double that to reflect inclusion of employer contributions you are now in the 10 - 16 year range or actually a bit more due to compounding. The average person dies around age 80 I believe, add 10 -16 years to age 65 and most people are right in the range of breakeven.
The numbers that I cited from memory did have the employer's contribution included along with a small, small rate of return to get to the 5 or 8 year number. I'm just giving those from memory and I don't recall the source. But I know the pattern for the numbers because I was surprised by them.
The Disability under SS has become a disgrace because people are using up the 2 years of unemployment then applying for disability. There are attorneys here advertising to contact them BEFORE applying so they can massage the application to "ensure" your getting the disability. A major problem is there is no follow up for checking that people actually have that disability a year later. I know Judge Judy gets a kick out of putting people on the spot who tell her they have disability income. The disability was meant to be for people who could not work at all. Instead it is being interpreted that they can't work at a job they want or like one they used to have so they deserve disability. The gov't doesn't want to enforce this too well because the disability is covering up the lack of jobs in this country.
I am more concerned about disability than I am about the subsidy to SS and Medicare recipients. At least we worked for the right to collect it, entitlement or benefit.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Excellent post berri. This discussion is like everything else pertaining to gov. in the U.S. in 2014. There is no way to get an honest, straight forward answer on any issue because the only thing the politicians care about is keeping their job....and they will lie, cheat, steal, mislead and worse to attain that goal.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
You'll never know how bad the fraud is but you won't cure it except by careful scrutiny - not by eliminating benefits for those that earned them. I'm in that boat. By dragging myself through work for years deathly ill I went to Sloan Kettering I the doctor told me it was way past time to throw in the towel. I was 3 months short of 61 and didn't start collecting for another 6 months (they don't start paying for it right away). Between that and my pension (which I earned by putting in the years - not disability) and the fact that my 8 year younger wife works full time we do all right. Not great but we're OK.
The SS system works and can be made actuarially sound for a long time with a few changes. The fraud people are the ones you have to go after. I had my then doctor tell me there were loads of people who were in worse shape than I collecting. That was in the mid-90s. I was not yet 50.
Medicare is a mess and they just threw me into it despite my only being 63. Turns out as soon as you collect two years of disability they automatically throw you on Medicare and once on they don't want you off. I had 22 months left in good, free insurance but that now becomes my secondary insurance and it's been made clear that there's not a thing I can do about it. Unfortunately, this cuts into my disability check. Fortunately other than more paperwork it won't result in overall less coverage.
Now if you want a mess, look at the NJ pension system. It was in fine shape in the 90s when our then governor grabbed the pension fund to pay for tax breaks and the state stopped paying in their share. Now that governor was a Republican but it hasn't mattered who is in power, they keep digging the hole deeper. Those of us that bought into the system have COLAs frozen forever and now new employees are in 401Ks instead.
Anyway, where I've been... Took my first retired old guy trip for almost two weeks. Visited my friend in Tallahassee and poked around the Florida panhandle which is one of the great undiscovered treasures though enough people are figuring it out that they notice the drop in the aquifer. Unlike most of Florida the water tastes like water - not sulfur.
After that it was up to see my nephew and his family in Apex, NC. Unfortunately I caught them just as they were moving so time was limited but it was great.
Prior to going the Mazda had a CEL issue which has been on and off. Original verdict was bad gas and Techron clears it up for a bit. (While in Georgia and Florida I only put Chevron in the car). The light never came back on. I'm home three days. The light comes back on. It took another bottle of Techron three days to clear it but now all is well again. In about 10 days I'll go visit my buddy with the real garage and such. I suspect that at 99K it may still have the original plugs. That might do it.
At any rate it proved to me that being on the road on your own is a load of fun. I plan an E-mail to one of our cohorts about a visit... BTW, unlike the rest of Florida, Tallahassee has hills and some nice twisties even though the high point in the state is only 445 feet above sea level.... Great little city in the middle of nowhere.
Sorry for the long post but it's been a while. The regulars will understand......
Fezo, good to hear from you buddy and glad to see you are on the move !
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
my short take on the federal government? It was originally conceived (that pesky constitution) to handle macro economic issues (national security, etc.), and has since evolved into focusing on (vastly more costly) micro economic functions (individual pocket books). Probably has a lot to do with the fact that it is run by politicians, not legislators.
entitlement programs? That was well covered. if you want to get the gov't out of the pension business, switching it to a defined contribution style made the most sense, but again, that puts the risk on the individual, and we can't have that now, can we?
Medicare/Medicaid/ACA? that is the one that can sink the country. This might seem odd coming from someone on the conservative/libertarian end of the spectrum, but if you believe that basic healthcare is a core national concern/vital issue, then just scrap the whole darned mess and institute national healthcare. There are decades of models elsewhere to follow and learn from. The inefficiencies alone would save a fortune. Heck, we basically already have it (everyone gets treated) so just do it right.
Then, we will all have more money for car shopping!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
So, anyone shopping lately? I am still in limbo waiting for a few things to shake out (a job change that might cause me to start commuting again, and my daughter's college decision).
the college is the big one. Will drastically impact cash flow depending on which one is picked. Plus, a couple will come with the need for a new(er) car for her in another year which limits what I can do now.
but, shopping is still fun. Some amazing deals to be found. For some reason, I got interested in the Altima, and checked Fitzmall. all the 2014s look to be $4,500-5,000 off MSRP. Yowza. Wonder what they drive like?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Glad to see you posting again. Good luck with the car. Hope your friend can fix it easily. I'd suggest plug wires as well as spark plugs may be a cause of an intermittent code. Your friend should know when he reads the code.
I've been getting a gas cap loose code because my car probably has a problem with the valve that vents the gas tank to the atmosphere through the charcoal filter to trap gas fumes. It is suppose to close for testing the fuel system to be sure there are no air leaks to pollute the atmosphere; it's not closing sometimes so the light turns on. Now that spring is here I can get underneath to do some electrical checks.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I had an issue like that on my Accord. Tripped the CEL. tried the gas cap, and did not work. Turned out to be part of the evap system (purge canister?) something that was supposed to have a valve but it stopped working. Shop did the scan to ID the problem, then showed me the part (when they pulled it off) and how it was not working. New unit went on, and problem solved. That needed a lift to deal with considering where they had it hidden.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Stickguy, agree with a lot of what you are saying. Personally, I'm probably a right center moderate (dying demographic in American politics these days!). I see the current US medical system as broken, even before Obamacare. Instead of the gov, we have insurance companies running it - what's the difference, other than an insurance exec may get a bigger bonus the sooner he gets the seriously ill dead and buried? I've dealt with a lot of Canadians and I don't hear near the grumbling about their medical compared to here, despite the special interest propaganda and scare stuff.
Maybe one of the answers to Washington dysfunction is to return to part time legislators like a lot of our states have. They need to get stuff done and get back to their jobs. It would also be harder for all of the lobbyists to be involved at the level they are now. Also, I've taken to voting for the underdog often if the other candidate has too much money behind him (usually means they will have to be paying back those big contributors with favorable legislation). Talk about entitlements, how about special tax trusts and loopholes that permeate our tax code. I don't believe in soaking the rich, but I don't think it's fair that rich guys like Mitt Romney pay a much lower percent rate of income tax than most working stiffs.
Cars - we were looking at some, but nothing really does much for us. Too many tiny buttons and other electronic gimmicks which are also driving prices up and quality down. Our cars still have plenty of miles left, so we've decided to hold off for awhile. Maybe in a few years the automakers will get back to driver ergonomics and off the current nonsense like Synch and short tires/big wheels.
There are two valves in the vacuum line that draws air from the tank to check for an air leak; this test runs under certain partially warm conditions. The purge valve opens vacuum to the tank. The vent valve closes and causes a suction. The suction is measured by a sensor in the top of the tank. My purge valve doesn't close off--part of the time. Other times it closes and computer gets a successful vacuum level that holds inside the tank. So I know it's not the tube to the purge valve which might have rotted. It would not work any of the time. So it's down to the valve being erratic. Exactly what you're describing.
I've just put off working because I can't get the car onto my wood ramps inside the garage. They slip on the carpeting when I try to back onto the ramps I made. So I decided it would have to wait until Spring. And Spring is here finally, at 8 degrees above Fahrenheit last night. Wish I were in Florida!!! Like some of our posters. I'm really, really tired of cold.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Nope not shopping here but I did get a mailer from a dealership with a key and if it started the giveaway car that car would be mine (along with a nice tax bill
). I filed that in my circular filing cabinet.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
TV Update, Well a few weeks ago the new vertical supports came in. Now being tax season I have limited time to do stuff like that so the weekend before last I tried to put it together. Well the holes on the supports lines up with the hole on the TV and the holes on the base. The issue was that they didn't line up at the same time.
Getting on the phone with Sharp didn't help so last weekend I just drilled it out so it would fit. So now my very big screen TV is set up properly and the surround sound is properly set up with it and last Sunday we watch the first thing on it properly set up. That was the movie "Cars 2". Hows that for a car tie in?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I'm still waiting to see how my government car payment...er...social security pans out but I'm still looking at the new Mustang design.
A friend who's into Fords tells me that the lots are loaded with 2014s. There might be some screaming buys when the new one arrives.
Ford is being stingy with info and I'd really like to see the weight of the various engine selections. I'm still enthralled with the grunt of the V8 but that 2.3L turbo might be the better handling car.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
" Tallahassee has hills and some nice twisties even though the high point in the state is only 445 feet above sea level.... Great little city in the middle of nowhere."
When I drove from Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego, I-10 was the only route to the west coast. From south Florida to I-10, it is as flat as a pancake. But once you hit the panhandle, it's like you left Kansas and landed in Oz. Ravines, hills, etc., are the lay of the land. I believe northwest Florida is the best held secret of the US. Truly beautiful with those rolling hills.
Great to hear you had a blast - you deserved it. And great to hear you are doing well - stay that way!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Ditto!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
key and if it started the giveaway car that car would be mine (along with a nice tax bill
). I filed that in my circular filing cabinet.
Yeah, I get those all the time. If only they would seen those offers for something I want. Dodge sent me a $500 coupon then a $1000 one. Mitsu keeps offering me financing deals but the only thing I would want would be the Outlanders Sport to replace the wife's PT Cruiser, and that would just be for the better gas milage. Nissan keeps saying her car is in "high demand" and offer "top dollar" LOL.
Most of the local dealers who send these offers are getting slammed by the NYS Attorney General for false advertising.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You could have something there stick. The bureacracy will be cut and the government will have more control over costs. There are trauma centres in Florida...where if you are unlucky enough to be taken to, you could be charged $30K just for a quick diagnosis.
Our Canadian healthcare system is far from perfect, and I am not sure if it can keep up, but a great majority of Canadians would much rather have our system. Broken arm, hip, knee replacement, heart bypass, annual check up, colonoscopy, birth, .....go in, come out, NO CHARGE. We do pay more in taxes, and we do pay a monthly fee, but, like insurance, you are protected from paying a huge life altering fee. Peace of mind...priceless.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
._ I believe northwest Florida is the best held secret of the US. Truly beautiful with those rolling hills_
I think there are some of the nicest beaches in America there too
Hush on the northwest Florida. Let's keep it our secret. Were it solely up to me we'd be moving to Tallahassee tomorrow.
BTW, while I was calling the Sloan billing department to tell them about the Medicare thing I ask what over my whole time they've billed out on my behalf. They said they'd send me all the stuff but answered my basic question - they've billed in excesses of a million bucks. I sure all here will agree it was money well spent.
.go in, come out, NO CHARGE How about lab tests like the one I got a bill of $188 FOR TODAY?
Fezo...agreed the million dollar man with the 2 million dollar wit.
Farmer, a 4 cylinder Mustang??? NO NO please do it right this time and step up with a 5.0 V8
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
I can't wait until farmer gets down to Tampa. All those retirees putting around in beige Avalons and GMs with vinyl carriage roofs, and he dive bombs in with a bright red Mustang GT.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
they've billed in excesses of a million bucks
Good thing you've got medical coverage or you'd be in BK court! Of course given the health care and insurance racket, they'll probably get paid around $200K. Only those who can least afford it have to pay rack rate. But I'll still call you the Million Dollar Man
This post is directed mainly to Dino, Driver, and Mike. First, Dino, I don't have to make myself feel better by stating something that I believe to be true. Allow me to explain why. I will NEVER consider one dollar of my Social Security or Medicare to be an entitlement because:
Mike, I fully understand the history and the intent behind the origination of Social Security. As you say, it was never intended to be a full pension plan. It was more of a supplemental plan to help people survive. Today, it is considered to be an insurance plan or policy for the future. I never considered it to be something that I could fully rely on for the future----thus my pension and my investments. I don't resent some people getting $2,500 per month in Social Security. My BIL is 82 years old and just began getting the maximum check. He practiced medicine for 54 years and deserves his check. He paid his share into the system. My point is that I have given the government plenty of money over the years. Whether they spent it wisely or not is debatable. My bottom line is that my Social Security check is MY money way above what they will ever be able to return to me----even if I live to be 200 years old.
Driver, bless your heart. I think that you're scanning posts again rather than reading them fully. I never said that the NEA wasn't Democratic and liberal. I did say that many members were also Republicans and conservative. You're still trying to make a blanket statement and it's simply not true. There is a difference between the majority and the entire group. Heavens no, I'm not taking this personally in the least as you said. I'm just stating my personal opinion. Remember now, personally and personal are different words with different meanings. And yes, of course we respect one another. It's only natural that the chips have to fall where they fall when you're expressing an individual viewpoint. After all, it's not your fault that you don't always understand. (Grin)
I apologize for the novelette. Thanks for your patience.
Richard
Amen!
Richard
So glad that you had a nice vacation to points south. It's good to have you back.
Richard
I just hopes he does it right and gets a convertible. Nothing screams out mid life (or late life) crises like that except the Vette.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I don't know .. one of the vehicles on my mid-life crisis list is a V8 Mustang, but I think I'd stick with the hardtop. All the better for track days, IMHO.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
fezo...good to hear you're out and about.
snake....my "big screen" is a Pioneer, which was at one point in time, the top flat screen TV on the market. They've since exited that business. But, the TV is very heavy, especially compared to the ones out today. And, mine is only 6 years old, or so.
I've threatened to hang it on the wall, but I'm not sure I can find brackets that would hold it.
Pixar does a really nice job with their films, both visually and sonically. You'll be amazed at what some of the films look, and sound like, being played in the comfort of your home, on a quality system.
Going way off the reservation here, but may have an announcement on the personal front, shortly.
Our insurance carrier was recently billed $116,000. for a 5 day hospital stay for a family member. This was just basically room and board and did not include doctors bills, etc. The insurance carrier negotiated this $116,000. down to $25,000. total. Even $25,000. seems high to me for the services provided, and obviously they are making a profit at that amount. What kind of games are these folks playing anyway?
I agree with the above idea that everyone should just be thrown into medicare and let the gov. have complete oversight of our insurance and medical care industries. As it is now it is a complete disaster. Too much greed.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
"Going way off the reservation here, but may have an announcement on the personal front, shortly."
That last sentence of your post definitely sounds "feminine"!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mike...if you mean I'm having a gender change operation, the answer is an undoubtedly...."NO" (with all deference and respect given to two of the very best examples of being feminine, Karen and Kirstie).
Just found this that crossed my browser....looks like the "new way" of buying cars has begun.....
http://www.leftlanenews.com/tesla-reaches-legal-compromise-with-ohio-dealers.html
You know me too well...yes, I tend to scan because of time limitations. If it sounded like I was making a blanket statement that was not my intention......I meant to say a majority of members.
Same with union members, a majority will be Democrats. In Canada a portion of union dues goes to the socialist party - New Democratic Party - whether the member wants it to or not. Not sure about the USA. But, that shows you which way they are leaning.
About social benefits vs social security, I get your point. But that is going to happen in a country where 20% of the top income Americans pay 67% of all Federal taxes collected, and 49% pay no taxes (probably similar in Canada). You can justify that you are paying your fair share and taking out what you are entitled to, but, you are probably in the minority. Most people are going to withdraw more than they put in.
Anytime!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
It might be fun to hear what cars others would put on their (I hesitate to say it) bucket list. Let's say the magic genie appeared and you could have any car you want.
For me, I would have to consider a Jaguar convertible, and one of those Ghost II baby Rolls Royces...I don't want to be a pig about this;
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If the genie not only provided the car, but the funds to fuel, insure and maintain it, then I'm all over some fine looking Italian iron.
If I'm footing the bill for everything, I'd have to go with either an M235i or the aforementioned Mustang GT (5.0 V8 please).
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On fraud lawyers and such. My brother is that rarity of a good, honest general practice lawyer. He hates the slip and fall chasers and such. The one that really bug him, and you'll see these all the time, are the ones that are offering to turn your structured settlement into ready cash. These guys are slime.
My brother had a young lady who, I believe as an accident victim, got a big award. My brother brought in a CPA and they worked out a structured settlement that would take good care of her and leave a pretty good nest egg at the end. Her boyfriend wanted her to buy him a new truck....
Well, somewhere down the road she fell for one of these shysters and now has nothing and no recourse. I'm not a capital punishment guy but they ought to hang those guys.
@Michaell
I love what @qbrozen did. He found a relatively low optioned 5.0 Mustang GT with rebates attached to it. That's the way to go in my book. I think he paid less than $30K OTD.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The Genie will pay all expenses for the life of the car.
How old did you say you were?...................and you still believe in genies?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Yeah, I found a low optioned GT like that at my local dealer a year or two ago. Salesman was willing to offer invoice - rebates, which made the selling price around $26-27K. OTD for me would have been around $29K.
Wonder if that will be possible with the new 2015's?
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@fezo
Good to hear from you my friend. Glad you are getting around & enjoying some of the sights of our beautiful country.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Fezo, I believe most lawyers, bankers, doctors, teachers and other workers are honest and do their jobs well. It just takes a few rotten apples to tarnish a profession. As for the lawyers, I think there are just too many law schools chasing not enough legal work and hence, the ambulance chasers and the like. Tell your brother not to take it personally. You can't fix stupid.
Does the personal announcement mean that we're going to hear wedding bells soon? That would be nice for such a gentleman as yourself. We would love for you to find a super lady who would share your enthusiasm for automobiles, boats, entertainment centers, and all things electronic. We await your announcement with great anticipation.
Richard
Well, I did the mid-life crisis car with my Jag XK (British Corvette. Well, no. Not really). But, I hope that I have deja-vu all over again in a few years (having traded the XK). Right now, if the genie (and would she look like Barbara Eden???) allowed, a Ferarri 458 Italia convertible.
More in the reality realm: Jag F-Type coupe. I just renewed my season lottery ticket...
'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...)
I agree with you totally regarding those union dues. With NEA, many of our members would ask me if they could just pay the local and state dues, not the national dues to NEA. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to do that. Many of our members didn't care for NEA at the national level and I was among them. Still, I accepted those leadership roles because I believed that we needed to make a difference at the grassroots level. I learned early on that the Washington office could have cared less what we were going through at the local and state levels. When I would go to the annual national NEA conventions across this country, the entire convention week focused more on the PAC unit of NEA and trying to tell us who we should support. That's when many of us would go for long lunches, shopping, or a tour of the hosting city.
Thanks for trying to understand my position on Social Security. I don't object to paying my taxes for services, nor did I object to paying in to the SS Fund. It's just that now I feel that I did my fair share and that my dollars are coming back to me as was promised. The system has been good for many people in this country who would have had no help in their declining years. I read last night on the Social Security web site that about 4% of people ages 62-84 do not and will not receive SS payments. The reasons include those who never worked the required 40 quarters or they were immigrants who arrived in this country too late to meet the same requirement. Naturally, many people died who made contributions but didn't live long enough to collect payments. I couldn't find any figures or percentages for that group. I would imagine that the number would be fairly large but I'm not sure.
Richard
I love your "half full glass attitude" vs. the "half empty glass attitude". I agree that most professionals try to do a good job. We have a very good family doctor, and two of my former students are lawyers. One has always done our house closings and the other one takes care of my speeding tickets. They are smart, good, honest boys. I often think about many of my old friends who were teachers. They took from their pockets to buy things for the children, stayed up late at night planning and correcting papers, sponsored outside activities for no pay, etc. I like to think that the work ethic still means something in our great country. Though it may have slipped some from its pedestal, it's still out there among most workers.
Richard
I won't be greedy. I'll just take the XCC-763. I'm willing to pay for the fuel and the maintenance.
Richard
Some sunshine is needed on the various charges. If insurance companies were able to compete across state lines that would help. But the concept of high billing amounts that are marked down stated with MEDICARE. I recall long ago my urologist at a large Cincinnati hospital commenting they had to build on the new addition because the more debt they owed the more they would be paid from Medicare on the billed amounts, rather than having the payments marked down so much. I realized then that the game was on. I already knew that billing amounts were only for the uninsured.
Doing that would only allow the government to ruin more things. Look at the VA. I talk with an elderly veteran who has to fight to get his hearing aid replaced. It fails so often he should be given a back up unit for the time the first spends being mailed back and forth by the local VA. In fact, the local large VA hospital and services are so bad, that he has driven to SE Ohio to other VA locations to get service. His family lives in that area so it's not as inconvenient as it sounds. Only recently has he relied more on the local facility. At 88 he has to be driven by his dependent son.
The government already protected the pharmaceutical companies from competition on pricing as a payoff for not resisting the obamacare takeover 4 years ago. So the drug companies can charge high prices instead of having pricing like the Canadian (salute to Driver100) pharmacy prices I can find on the internet for the same drugs sold here for much higher prices.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
What in the world is an XCC-763?
I looked it up and I got a site where you can buy a license with that number if you wish:
Are you looking for the pre-1963 registration plate XCC763 .
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Here are some interesting statistics;
Percentage of Americans over 65 who rely completely on Social Security 35%
Percentage of Americans who don’t save anything for retirement 36%
Percentage of population that is 65 years of age or older 13%
**Out of 100 people who starts working at the age of 25, by the age 65: **
Will be considered wealthy 1%
****Have adequate capital stowed away for retirement 4%
Will still be working 3%
***Are dependant on Social Security, friends, relatives or charity 63%
Are dead 29% (might partially answer your question, number who don't collect)
**Americans older than 50 account for: **
Percent of all financial assets 77%
Percent of total consumer demand 54%
Prescription drug purchases 77%
All over-the-counter drugs 61%
Auto Sales 47%
All luxury travel purchases 80%
I find it scarry that 36% of Americans (same in Canada) have not saved anything for retirement.
Interesting that 13% of the population buys 47% of the cars!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250