I tried to buy an Anova last year but they (Amazon) kept sending me used ones. Multiple. The listing was for a brand new unit, not one that had been opened, scratched-up, and had who-knows-what-else done to it. Amazon support kept insisting that the next one I got would be brand new, sealed, but they just couldn’t get…

I tried to buy an Anova last year but they (Amazon) kept sending me used ones. Multiple. The listing was for a brand…

Agreed. The “let me walk you through this” response sounds to me like “I’ll speak slowly for you, idiot.”

Instead of badmouthing your current position/boss, use the opportunity to speak positively about yourself and the position/company that you’re interviewing with. Hint that you’ve done your research on them and that they’d benefit from hiring you.

I particularly like how Cruz’s yearbook quotation comes from a guy who was a social reformer, opposed to capital punishment and slavery. Buxton, while championing individual effort, comes from landed gentry who resented those of the upper class who did nothing to give back to society or those who got ahead by stomping…

One of the best tips that isn’t on this list is to know your own biorhythm. Are you a morning person? Get to the museum as soon as it opens. Do you get sleepy around 2pm? Time your lunch break accordingly so that you can go outside and get some fresh air & sunshine (if available). Prefer to study later in the day?…

Somebody (several sites, probably) recently did a head-to-head of rolling versus folding and determined that there was no space advantage to rolling. The wrinkle-prevention appears to be the biggest difference.

So if the average market return for the Dow is 8%, you’re saying you’re going to be unhappy with a return 7.9% or less. I think it’s unfortunate that you’re making money (passively, I might add) and still miserable, but if that’s the way you want to live your life I cannot force it otherwise. Keep chasing those…

The danger of charts like this to inexperienced investors is that they may assume there is a pattern and that they can predict what will happen this year or next.

Last time I had access to Consumer Reports (2 years ago) they rated this as the #1, recommended buy, upright vacuum. Dysons were rated lowest, despite their popularity. I have one similar to this and love it, except for the handheld rollerbrush attachment.

Last time I had access to Consumer Reports (2 years ago) they rated this as the #1, recommended buy, upright vacuum.…

You need to put the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany on your “must visit” list. They have many cutaway models of virtually every engine you can imagine, not to mention machines of all types from the dawn of the industrial revolution.

It’s confusing to me that you agree with not having to beat the market but don’t understand that beating inflation is the bare minimum return to qualify as an investment. I don’t believe I suggested that I or anyone else should target annual returns of 1.5-2.5%, merely that one should not expect to consistently exceed…

This is true, and follows my general advice to buy once and let it ride, rather than active trading to chase higher returns. But I neglected to mention additional investments, as you pointed to.

Vanguard funds are widely available. Just about any IRA custodian has access to their funds - ETrade, ScottTrade, Schwab, etc. Shouldn’t take more than a 30 second phone call (after waiting on hold, of course).

I’d like to remind everyone again to avoid the mindf*ck that comes with constantly trying to “beat the market.” The only number that you MUST beat is inflation. It’s natural to feel disappointed when your fund/manager isn’t #1, but if you’re beating inflation, your investment is still appreciating. Chasing the highest…

It depends on how many funds you want to diversify into. Your target-date fund probably has some of the highest fees around and, in my opinion, you’re not really getting anything for it. The theory is that the portfolio manager will, as the target date approaches, allocate the fund in fewer (riskier) stocks and in…

I want a top of the line, 4K, first-person drone too, but since I wasn’t sure how much I’d use it, I bought a cheap Syma. In addition to learning how to fly on something I won’t be devastated by destroying, I’ve found that I really don’t have enough free time to do more than just circle the house a bit.

I want a top of the line, 4K, first-person drone too, but since I wasn’t sure how much I’d use it, I bought a cheap…

It’s even worse when I wear my silk panties, not to mention the look I get from the missus.

Why do they have to be supermoto/motorcross bikes? I’m sure some people like them, but most of us aren’t 12 years old!

A good book on the subject (no connection) is Windows on the World Wine Course. It walks you through the various types of wines with lots of background info on history, grape varietals, growing regions, and winemaking. The author updates it every few years with current info on vintages and specific labels to look for…

“Ask your doctor if a combination of Xanax, Ambien, and vodka is right for you.”