What did you do today?

[Spicoli43]

For those that didn't watch the Shawn Ryan video with Scott Mann, here it is again along with one featuring Sarah Adams.

The New Orleans attack is just the start thanks to the wide open border... Stay vigilant, keep your head on a swivel and DO NOT go into crowded areas until we have competent people running the Government.

Shawn Ryan... Navy Seal
Scott Mann... Green Beret Lieutenant Colonel
Sarah Adams... Former CIA

 

[Spicoli43]

So...... I applied to be a Spark driver (walmart deliveries)

"Once you are approved to use the Spark Driver app, to protect your account, you will be asked to authenticate your identity by using a driver’s license and taking a selfie."

NOPE

 

[Spicoli43]

Wow, Rep Hank Johnson is hilarious! But do we need another slow talking comedian in Congress?

And he's a Double College Graduate, including Law School!

 

[shan2themax]

"Once you are approved to use the Spark Driver app, to protect your account, you will be asked to authenticate your identity by using a driver’s license and taking a selfie."

NOPE

Yes you do have to do that. Alot apparently, because people try to use multiple phones, let their kids use it, let people who don't have a drivers license or valid license, car insurance, car, can't pass a background check... etc. You get the point. I've read some craziness out there

 

[Spicoli43]

Yes you do have to do that. Alot apparently, because people try to use multiple phones, let their kids use it, let people who don't have a drivers license or valid license, car insurance, car, can't pass a background check... etc. You get the point. I've read some craziness out there

That could be easily replaced by just meeting in person with a Spark representative. My picture uploaded with all my info is a Identity Thief's best friend, especially since everybody's Social was hacked and sold.

Oh... Fun fact... If you lock your credit like I did after that, your credit score plummets.

 

[shan2themax]

That could be easily replaced by just meeting in person with a Spark representative. My picture uploaded with all my info is a Identity Thief's best friend, especially since everybody's Social was hacked and sold.

Oh... Fun fact... If you lock your credit like I did after that, your credit score plummets.

I accidentally used the wrong payment account last week for a CC. As soon as I realized it, I made another payment from the correct account. I checked my accounts this morning, and low and behold they closed that CC account. Whatever, it was an honest mistake, I changed my direct deposit information and forgot to delete that account.

I have my accounts locked also

 

[PJB12]

That could be easily replaced by just meeting in person with a Spark representative. My picture uploaded with all my info is a Identity Thief's best friend, especially since everybody's Social was hacked and sold.

Oh... Fun fact... If you lock your credit like I did after that, your credit score plummets.

That's kind of scary!
Just like eBay, Etsy, etc. & the Social Security number thing. Giving personal data can be dangerous. After all, if Microsoft can be hacked, surely anyone can.

We used to sell some things on eBay until it became mandated to give them your Social Security number. (Not their fault. Government's new 1099-K rules effective January 2024 for any business that uses a 3rd party payment service.) Technically, only after $600.00 in gross does one need the number, but eBay now requires it to sell at all.

The Social Security number goes to their 3rd party payment handling company. That is two more places subject to hacking- one being off shore and one being eBay. (They also get one's address, name, date of birth- so a hack gives an identity thief all the data needed.) And, how many employees, potential crooks, have access to that data?

We tried to go around and use my wife's business. No such luck. Still had to give Social Security number and photo of driver license. So I tried my business, an S-Corporation where I am but a shareholder. Again with that stuff & even more! Good-bye eBay.

The purpose of the 1099 law was to provide more tax revenue. But, if people stop selling, they have less money to spend. Thus the economy suffers and tax revenue drops. I don't mind paying income tax on my junk-sale profits, but it has to be safe.

And-
I spoke with a Social Security Administration security person about giving a Social Security number to marketplaces like eBay or Etsy.
His reply: "Are you Insane?". Good enough for me!

Paul

 

[PJB12]

So...... I applied to be a Spark driver (walmart deliveries) about a year ago, got a text a few weeks ago to finish the process, then forgot to fi ish it. Fast forward to several days ago, I finished it. And I was supposed to potentially be able to start later this week. However, I got a notification from them earlier today, finished everything up and did 2 shop to delivery orders this evening. Made $33, drove a total of 14 miles, and then there is a $9 tip potentially (you have 24 hours to modify/remove tips) i spent a total of 2 hours doing it. Not to shabby.



Hooe everyone has a good New Years! I will probably be asleep before the ball drops, as I usually am every year.

One thing to check is if your car & health insurances are valid when delivering. I once looked into delivering for pocket money and found that my car insurance would not cover me. My health insurance would not either, but my work comp through my business would.
The car insurance offered a very inexpensive rider I could purchase for liability to others. It was about $200.00 per year.
Maybe worth checking into, especially liability to others.

 

[PJB12]

Well, I don't know about the World tipping over, but Islands can, according to a Congressman that keeps getting elected despite not knowing that Islands are attached to the Earth.

Maybe that obviously brilliant & eloquent congressperson could convince congress to provide funding for balloons to put under Guam to keep it floating.

It worked for the Penguin in a Batman episode I saw.

 

[Spicoli43]

That's kind of scary!
Just like eBay, Etsy, etc. & the Social Security number thing. Giving personal data can be dangerous. After all, if Microsoft can be hacked, surely anyone can.

We used to sell some things on eBay until it became mandated to give them your Social Security number. (Not their fault. Government's new 1099-K rules effective January 2024 for any business that uses a 3rd party payment service.) Technically, only after $600.00 in gross does one need the number, but eBay now requires it to sell at all.

The Social Security number goes to their 3rd party payment handling company. That is two more places subject to hacking- one being off shore and one being eBay. (They also get one's address, name, date of birth- so a hack gives an identity thief all the data needed.) And, how many employees, potential crooks, have access to that data?

We tried to go around and use my wife's business. No such luck. Still had to give Social Security number and photo of driver license. So I tried my business, an S-Corporation where I am but a shareholder. Again with that stuff & even more! Good-bye eBay.

The purpose of the 1099 law was to provide more tax revenue. But, if people stop selling, they have less money to spend. Thus the economy suffers and tax revenue drops. I don't mind paying income tax on my junk-sale profits, but it has to be safe.

And-
I spoke with a Social Security Administration security person about giving a Social Security number to marketplaces like eBay or Etsy.
His reply: "Are you Insane?". Good enough for me!

Paul

I didn't know that about Ebay, haven't sold anything there since the early 2000's. I was selling lots of little things but quit when the USPS tripled their rates, followed by Fedex and UPS. I assume that was to make up for lost profits they had from giving Amazon a sweetheart deal on their shipping.

But yeah, I agree with not giving them that kind of info.

 

[Snoonyb]

That's why, with 2, seldom used exceptions, I'm cash-n-carry.

You have a want, remove butt-ox from chair, and enjoy the outdoors, while trekking to the store.

 

[zannej]

Hey all. Been busy. Some kind of viral crud going around and I'm trying to avoid it.
The hacking thing reminded me-- some of you may or may not remember that I said my brother's bank account got hacked TWICE and they emptied his checking and savings accounts. It took him months to get all the $ back (but he did not get the interest he would have accrued in the time the money was gone). He recently got a letter admitting that their systems got hacked and the hackers were able to steal account info and drain accounts. They didn't admit it was on their end at the time, but they are now admitting it.

Best friend said the lender is asking for an essay on some stuff and that the inspection will be the 8th or 9th and closing should be on the 10th for the house. Hopefully everything will go smoothly. He had to go to the hospital yesterday bc of kidney stones. He was initially treated like crap bc they thought he was a drug addict, but when he brought back a urine sample full of blood they took him seriously and gave him morphine and took care of him.

I got a cat hammock (basically a cat tree with a sort of scoop) on clearance at TSC. Bethesda wasn't sure about it at first. She spent 10minutes alternating between sniffing it and spinning in circles in it before she flopped down and slept in it for 12+hrs. She's currently sleeping in it while other cats are piled on me.

Kitties were fighting early this morning and I asked Princess to go break them up. She hopped up, ran out of the room, snarled, and the cat fighting stopped. Then she climbed back on the bed and got under the covers.

 

[shan2themax]

So..... big winter storm coming through, so I am staying in my makeshift office for probably 2 nights. I hope my back doesn't hate me for this. Lol.
It's weird to watch local news because I don't watch the news.
I sure am going to miss my puppy dog. I don't think I have ever been away from him for 2 nights in 11 years. However, I don't want to get an occurance for not being able to come to work. So..... here I am.
Hope everyone in the path has been safe!

 

[havasu]

Be safe girl!

 

[Ron Van]

Yes, we are gearing up for this “Polar Vortex” coming down from the North.



We just got this alert from the National Weather Service.



I saw a couple of snow flakes earlier but not much. Ruby and I bought a bale of wheat straw.



That way if everything else fails we can use the straw to keep warm like the baby Jesus did. Haha, just kidding. It’s really for the cats that live on our porch. Ruby has electric heating pads for the cats but if we lose power, I already told Ruby we’re not using precious generator power for cat heat.

The big fear is that freezing rain could bring down power lines that are haphazardly run through trees and what-not.

 

[Spicoli43]

You be Aight, Ron... I was thinking when you said "Polar Vortex" in Alabama, it would be a warning that the temp would go down to 70.

Edit... I just checked Windy, It's as cold in Alabammi as it is in Montucky!

30 degrees warmer than expected here though.

 

[shan2themax]

Yay! I am home finally. I do still work tomorrow, but I am so glad to be home. So is my puppy dog! I missed the fluffer a lot.

This picture of the snow on the top of my car is about 7-8". Look at that thick layer of ice!

It is supposed to snow a little tomorrow and then again this weekend. I am so glad I will be off work for this next bout.


That ice actually made getting rid of that much snow a little easier. Only took me about 20 minutes.

I'm going to relax a bit and enjoy being home. Hope everyone is staying safe out there.

 

[zannej]

I typed up a long message but bumped the wrong button on my mouse and it all got erased.
Hope everyone is staying warm and safe. It got down under 32 here last night.

I'm too lazy to re-write everything up so I'll give abridged version: Sunday we had bad thunderstorms and multiple power outages (ones that lasted more than an hour) that seem to have killed the Starlink dish. Modem works but couldn't detect the dish and dish wasn't trying to find signal.

Monday I got up at 6am to start cleaning the living room (ultimate goal was to make it easier to get to the cables for the dish that was buried in the bottle and trash mountain Mom created. I had to take out old empty boxes and move some furniture around to get rid of bottlenecks. Tapped out around 1pm to go pick up the new Starlink kit (Best Buy had the newest version for sale and in stock). Also got the longer cable and pole mount adapter.

Actually talked to Starlink CS and they were very nice.

Tuesday around 2am Mom woke me up to ask me to set up my phone as a mobile hotspot so she could play some online games. Our mobile hotspot speeds are abysmal. But it was enough for me to order the starlink kit on Sunday night and to communicate with Starlink CS on the ticket portal. Went back to sleep, got up around 7:30am and resumed cleaning. Mt Bottle Trash needed to be tackled. To his credit, my brother did haul out a bunch of trash bags when I filled them and I even got him to empty the kitchen trash bag and haul it out. That's something he hasn't done in about a year. He still left overflowed trash all over the floor and I still need to clean that up.

Friend arrived a little before 5pm to come install the new dish. I got him a climbing harness. I continued cleaning while he worked on it. It felt like it only took 5 minutes for him to get it all done. Bro was motivated wanting fast internet back so he helped get the new cable through the wall and I got it in place and picked a spot for the new modem. It's a better design. Bro plugged stuff in and then went through whatever steps on the app were needed to get it up and running and its faster than the old one. Friend said it actually took him about an hour to set everything up before he left to go warm up. Had grabbed some fleece-lined pants for him from Samsclub as a thank you gift so he was happy.

He didn't come inside so I sent him pics of the cleaning progress and he said "OMG, there's a FLOOR!"

Anyway, I continued cleaning but tapped out just before 7pm. Had to get some info for bro to finalize some setup stuff for the account-- the wifi name and password and stuff-- and then set up the stuff on mom's computer so it would log her in automatically when she got up. I then woke her up and told her the internet was fixed.

She was very happy and thanked me multiple times for cleaning up. She then said I could get takeout in town bc I was way too tired to cook anything. Bro actually cooked something for her while I rested. Got some shroom & swiss burgers from BK, stuffed my face, and then racked tf out. Bladder woke me up about 20min ago.

It was 32 when I went out yesterday. Thermostat says its 31 now. Kitties are piled on and warm and I'm about to go back to sleep.

Edit: Forgot to mention my friend got some bad news and good news. The bad news is that the address he's moving to doesn't have fiber. The good news is he's cleared for closing.

 

[shan2themax]

You had a busy few days @zannej! I am soo proud of you for getting things cleaned up some. I know it's hard to want to when you fight other people for help.

It was 23° this morning here when I got in my car.

I am at work and getting stuff together for my work day.

Happy Friyay to me!

 

[zannej]

Thanks, Shan.
Read on the homesteading forums that Bacpacker passed away and was very sad. Was trying to read posts through the tears.
I waited until afternoon to start on round3 of living room cleanup. I am happy to report that I cleaned up Mr Bottle Trash. I do need to vacuum the floor but need to find a vacuum that works. Mom had been thanking me and hadn't even noticed that I'd cleared bottles near her desk. I got rid of the rest of them. I couldn't get behind her chair to clean up because she was in the chair and there's a narrow area.

I piled up trash bags in the front room and then asked my brother to haul them out. He actually complied and the pile was so high it was taller than him. He's burning it now. I asked him to keep an eye on it but he went back to his room so I'll have to keep checking (my room is at the front with a window facing the fire- bro's room is at back of the house).

It feels good to have that cleaned up. I even cleaned up underneath end tables and stuff.

I need to get the latest "after" pic following some rest.
This is what it started as:


Progress


This was my stopping point last night because my back wouldn't allow me to do any more.

Today:

Ran out of room for more pics but will maybe add some later. Cleaned up all the bottles around and behind the TV on the floor.
This is the bonfire:

Other than cooking for Mom, that was what I did today.