Dp26

Anyone paying a flat rate for all cards is getting ripped off (needs to shop around). The corporate cards and the high reward cards cost merchants more to process. Debit cards are cheap to process. Even in my case, MOTO merchant (never swipe) the type of card can have a drastic difference in the fee (I use a service which is interchange + ), rather than any particular flat amount per card or card type. I have not looked at any of the plug into phone readers, but I suspect they may advertise 2.6+.10, but they have exceptions for more expensive cards. Even that rate is robbery, as you can get 1.99+fee for swipes from many good outfits with little trouble. One also MUST look at what they charge for AVS, refunds, charge backs, investigations, monthly fees, equipment fees, no CVV, etc. There is simply no "fair" pricing which is a flat rate for all cards. Can ALWAYS be done cheaper with a "real" processor. V/M/A/D won the fight, keep it complicated, and make great money.

Normally, agree. However, I have seen electronic payments not be available, and prefer to have cash available. The instances of failure may get rarer over time, but consolidation in the actual back ends will make them devastating when they do inevitably occur. Consider when AWS servers fail, how many streaming services fail, and how many other front ends use AWS for their back end. Same for anything, yes anything, where processing is online. One simple point of failure (usually human error) can have severe consequences. Consider the times when a major payroll provider has had outages, and many employers had zero idea what to do (write manual checks, hand out cash, etc.). For payroll, as a for instance, failure to pay on time can subject the employer to fines, no matter the reason! and I guarantee, the provider has a clause absolving them from any consequences for outages. YMMV

We always keep cash nearby. Maybe not in hand, but accessible. Power fails, machines fail, etc. Same with a few paper checks. The last time I had a card compromised was at a parking garage for a major medical center. The parking was contracted out, and paid by card (or cash at the gate). The card system was hacked. It was a terrible hack, as they collected the data, but did not take the parking fee, so they were caught really quickly. IN my case, the card was attempted to use for uber rides in the area of the garage, so odds are a nefarious employee was involved. Again, the card issuers did not bother to investigate, since they have little loss - it is all dumped on the public, via making the merchant pay for fraud.

For the easiest reasonable secure solution. Bank with app which lets you disable/enable cards instantly. One per spouse (or two different accounts). Keep one active, keep one inactive in a lock box kept with you. Switch if ever needed. For charge cards, the issuer uses a different card number for each card. Ideally, they will also offer virtual (one time) card numbers via their app for online shopping. Only credit cards. They offer better and faster dispute resolution, and provide the baddies with no access to your actual funds. Remember, NO ONE verifies the name on the card when you tap (if ever), so it is fine to swap cards. It also makes the cards risky themselves, so the on/off functions are great. This is why phone/NFC pay is more secure, as you are likely to notice if your phone is missing much faster than a missing card. Phone also likely has another layer of security. Consider any swipe as a potential skim. Consider anything other than a tap a potential skim. Tapping does not give the machine or merchant your usual card data. Keep 3 or 4 days worth of cash handy as well, in case something happens on a weekend/holiday, or when you cannot get to a place to get cash easily. Me? I use gas company cards for fuel, so any risk of fueling is born by the company. I have 4 cards in regular use, via two charge accounts. Two bank accounts which we split funds in case we make a mistake. Several other charge cards which rarely get used. Candidly, wife shops online at many places, so we have her use one specific card. It gets compromised every couple of years, usually at a non US store. The real risks are fuel stops (easy to use skimmers on many), and nefarious employees who note or swipe card data. Card companies do not go after small thefts, as it is cheaper just to pay back the funds. The merchants are the ones who lose - because of the processing contracts - which means consumers are already paying for the losses via higher prices. The other thing, we ALL pay for card "rewards" via the fees merchants are charged, which are absolutely reflected in price of goods and services. If we do not use them, it is lost "money". Find a card or cards with a decent benefit, and use it/them. For instance, if you shop on AMZ, it is foolish not to use their card. AMZ card also has a decent fuel reward if one chooses to use it (it is a tap capable card).

For those who outlive the actuarial tables, it is a win. For those who are at or a little below the tables, likely also a win. For those who pass early, not so good. My grandmother collected for just shy of 50 years. A win. My sibs and I collected for an average of 10 years when my father passed. A win. My non working spouse and disabled child will likely collect for many years (hopefully 50 or more for our child), another win. We will max out our family amount for sure, and likely more, no matter the actuaries. I plan on working until I can't, and not collecting until FRA, but my family past, present, and future, still a win. While I am sure many beat the system via private, I have friends who will never recover from the last few market crashes, and wish they had taken more "wages" and maxed out their SS. There are means to avoid SE tax on earnings beyond "reasonable" wages. Contact an above middling business attorney who is also an EA. EA and JD after their name is worth paying for up front. For instance, S Corp. Owner/shareholders need to receive "reasonable" W2 wages, but any amount taken as a distribution is subject only to income tax. The rub is making sure to meet reasonable wage rules, not short changing your SS contributions (hopefully max if able), and once you have a good history, lower wages (still at least "reasonable") and increase distributions. Once you no longer need wages, if able, you can work to meet the "inactive" participant, and take only distributions. Again, seek expert advice, backed by good E&O insurance, as each situation is different.

Thank you for the history. It is always wise to look back. However the benefits alter a recipient's taxation when received, just remember, at least at present, and since my first paycheck in the 70's, the contributions are taxed for all wage based taxes. Since the benefits may also be taxed on receipt, some amount is double taxed, one on contribution, and again the taxable portion of the benefit on receipt. For those who calculate things such as if they can beat SS via private means, this must be factored. Personally, I believe SS will never be allowed to fail. If our basic way we elect and appoint leaders changes, it could change, but the odds of such a change are slim, and getting smaller each election cycle. Many things changed during that administration. IIRC, it was the first administration (and repeated by all subsequent through Trump) to have altered FWH closer to the "edge" to make net pay appear higher. Candidly, the current basic calculations are causing some (those who trust the W4 defaults, which is no longer wise) to be under withheld, which was not the case ever before. While I certainly have an opinion politically, I am comfortable limiting conversation to the results/ramifications since I have to deal with them no matter how they make me feel... Again, candidly, how current politics uses taxation issues ensures those in any field handling any form of taxation will have permanent lifetime employment/income. What I mean is there is no reason to anticipate any tax system getting simpler, and like repair of anything, fewer and fewer learn how to DIY.

Anyone with PII in their charge, using a known insecure OS (such as non supported, by MS) is derelict in their duty. Financial reasons are just an excuse, MS publishes end of life data, and good business means planning for things like obsolescence and death. Air gapped means nothing, as there are still humans who will insert media into the computer ports, which as anyone who remembers floppies knows, means unsafe. Heck, the humans may share their own phone internet access so they can surf on the supposedly non connected computer. Of course, anyone who believes in privacy is a fool, as there is no such thing. Ask any CCW holder or applicant, in CA, within the last 10 years about privacy, which included judges, and certainly at least some DV victims.

Likely as previously thought, only if you have some sort of physical mail receiving address in the relatively narrow band of southern Canada / northern USA (I think I read 44 to 52 deg lat.). While there are reports of at least some in TX being offered service, it does not mean it is really "open" yet. Maybe some with an address in SD, depending on the location...

Class seat has only the two front seats meeting federal standards. The back belts do not have to meet any rules...

I was the one who was able to educate the 11. Search for probation person (son). Homeowner (dad) refused to allow entry, struggled, and was arrested for defending himself and his privacy. The testimony of a Sgt. was the key. He admitted the son, while having given the address on earlier forms, was known to not be a current resident. This meant, under the law, there was no right to search. Not guilty eventually, after the other 11 realized the police are not always correct. While I happened to know the rule, the 11 were convinced by reading back and discussing how the Sgt knew the son did not live in the home for quite some time. For me... We need to be sure all reasonable people appear to serve. Consider what you would hope for of it were you or yours at the defendant's table. The judge was great, pointing out the only items to consider were the testimony and evidence. The lawyer's words were not testimony, whether opening, questions, or closing. The toughest part was heeding the reminders to not research and only decide the case based on the testimony. The prosecution was sloppy. No inquiries as to our experience with the police. We were not asked to volunteer any information either. Maybe the DA was pushed to prosecute a bad case. Defence attorney presented a good case, and thankfully, the Sgt. was perfectly honest stating he approved the search while knowing the son was not a resident, and that there was no immediate threat or information the son was actually present.

Have it. Like it. Only concern is I happened to be wanting to clean the filter one day while it was running. Took the screws off, and can feel the intake air sucking and holding the cover up. Hints at some air restriction, but for me, the lesser sound is most important. For me, it has been on near a year. 5db (using phone app) better, which in a small rv, is a huge deal. We can actually talk and hear while under the AC.

Yep, a good reminder why I stopped posting. While you may disagree, other have reasons for keeping cool, maybe even medical needs. Signing out until I forget unproductive, and maybe written as nastygram or just smart Alec replies

Gasser for me... although rare these days, could vapor lock while sitting off, and restart tried before cooling off, if the conditions are right. If the staff would like me to shut down, I would ask they allow me to park and hook up, then I will come back for paperwork. They likely already have collected the first night as a deposit. A electric rad fan is on my to-do list, not only for efficiency, but for better idle cooling.

24 ft class c. Engine heat radiates in cab, although we have added insulation which helps. 3 greyhounds, 3 humans, one AC. One human is of the age where hot and cold comes in "flashes". The few cents of fuel we burn is nothing compared to having overheated occupants. Because of where we live, when we go east during anytime other than winter, we have at least one overnight in high temps.

If needed, mu gen goes on at least 30 min before arrival, and goes off 15 to 30 after plug in (assuming hookups). Need to get and keep the inside cool, without having the engine heat overwhelm the AC. If really hot, the engine may also be running so the engine ac to help. This includes/covers the check in lane, as sometimes check in can take awhilem We almost always arrive before dark. No complaints so far, including no gen at all locations. Same of the power goes out or is low voltage (which autoformer cannot handle), if needed, gen is used with no complaints so far, even if no gen locations, or outside quiet time.