OT - NO POLITICS The Dog Days Of Summer.........

[Glove Malfunction]

I guess my life for the next week is ok.

I don’t know what this tree is in front of my room but I wonder if it will survive in malden?

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That's a Royal Poinciana, often called the Flamboyant Tree. They're pretty common in humid areas, like all around the Caribbean.

I wouldn't know about airline peanuts as I avoid them and most airline snacks due to my nut allergy and because the chips are usually stale.

Two words will change all that: Biscoff. Cookies.

For stupid fun check

I'm a sucker for Xiaoma's Youtube videos. He's awesome. I love when he learns the basics of languages from other cultures, then goes to markets and restaurants and talks with them in their language.

 

[GordonHowe]

That's a Royal Poinciana, often called the Flamboyant Tree. They're pretty common in humid areas, like all around the Caribbean.

Two words will change all that: Biscoff. Cookies.

I'm a sucker for Xiaoma's Youtube videos. He's awesome. I love when he learns the basics of languages from other cultures, then goes to markets and restaurants and talks with them in their language.

I like him, too. He seems to be a nice guy and I greatly enjoy his interactions with different people, languages, and cultures. I have worked retail many times, and these episodes remind that making connections with others in kind and generous fashion is its own reward.

The only bit is, how can he eat so much? Even if it's a single Saturday or weekend, he puts a heck of a lot away. And let's just say it's not watercress and spring mix.

 

[caz16]

Here's an example of spreading happiness and joy for free. I am an avid contester (see posts about books...lol) and win often. When I win something that I can't use, I give it away with nothing expected in return except a simple "thank you". I have given away Keurigs and other kitchen appliances, gift cards, etc.

This summer I won 4 passes to Safari Niagara (there were many prizes to be won) and didn't want to go. I gave them to a guy I used to work with who has 3 little girls, who was very grateful. On Saturday the doorbell rang, there he is with his 3 daughters! They gave me a picture of themselves at the park, some flowers and zucchinis from their garden and a Cadbury's chocolate bar (UK - I am a chocoholic)! It absolutely made my day!!

I love my hobby, now that I am retired I can enter enter enter! My total is over $140,000 since I started about 20 years ago. Not bad, a hobby that pays and spreads joy!

 

[BMC]

@BMC

Why is personal property insurance so damn high and cannot be moved? My crappy used furniture and personal items can’t be worth more than $25k but they have to insure it for $225k? Probably a very small amount of the premium but that’s nuts.

At least I can pay with my credit card and get 2% back

With homeowners insurance the personal property coverage amount is a percentage of Coverage A (amount of coverage on the house) . It is either 50 or 70 % depending on whether you have replacement cost coverage on personal property.
As for the amount being too high- if you haven’t done it do an inventory based on replacing new for old. You will probably be surprised at how much you have & how much it would cost to replace it.

Savings tip: Look into increasing your deductible there can be significant savings there

 

[jgatie]

Bike lanes in Cambridge



The clip of a bike lane that was cheekily billed as being from “the Netherlands” and posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, had people doing a double take this week. That’s because it wasn’t filmed in a famously bike-friendly city like Amsterdam at all — it was taken in Cambridge’s Inman Square, which recently welcomed a network of protected bike lanes in a busy intersection.

The video was recorded by Somerville resident Aaron Greiner, 27, who often shares scenes of his bike rides along newly constructed paths. But this time he decided to “have a little more fun” when posting it online, and tried to make a point about bike infrastructure in the process.

I was on Huntington the other day, and the ENTIRE right hand lane is a bike path! Well, bike and bus lane. But what use is a bus lane right next to a section of the Green Line?

 

[Alicat]

With homeowners insurance the personal property coverage amount is a percentage of Coverage A (amount of coverage on the house) . It is either 50 or 70 % depending on whether you have replacement cost coverage on personal property.
As for the amount being too high- if you haven’t done it do an inventory based on replacing new for old. You will probably be surprised at how much you have & how much it would cost to replace it.

Savings tip: Look into increasing your deductible there can be significant savings there

I keep all of my reciepts when I buy any furnature or electronics and it came in handy when I lost almost 60% of my belongings when I got flooded. I have an inventory on my memorabilia and thankfully none of it was damaged but the appraiser told me to value it at $20k on my inventory. He was fantastic and definitely got me more than I expected. In total I think I got about $8K.

 

[Troublesome 85]

Storm mostly passed us hit up north. Just lots of wind and rain here some flood warnings.

 

[Alicat]

Storm mostly passed us hit up north. Just lots of wind and rain here some flood warnings.

Glad it wasn't as bas as it could have been.

Looks like Idalia is going to try and loop back around like Ivan did.

 

[b in vancouver]

I envy anyone who can sleep on an airplane. It's weird I've been fascinated by aviation & spaceflight since I was a small girl but I can never relax on an airplane.

The entire flying experience has turned into a nightmare for everyone. I've yet to discover a good reason for it. It's like the airlines have no respect for their customers.
It also doesn't help that too many people simply won't behave respectfully towards their fellow passengers

The companies are far from great but I have a lot of sympathy for the employees.
Kids going cross country on the train. Two days and twice they've had the police board. Once everyone had to move cars because a guy was having a violent mental health crisis and the other they had to disembark as a guy got drunk and started threatening and the RRU (SWAT) had to board.
Really thought the girls would see bear and bison more than body armour taking a train in Canada.

Way too much anger out there.

 

[RoccoF14]

I do not! I tried to lose it ASAP be ause I got teased so much.

Divvent hinny, it's a canny accent like!

 

[caz16]

Divvent hinny, it's a canny accent like!

My uncle lives in Scotland now and his accent is hard for people here to understand. Do you have family from Newcastle? You nailed it!

 

[RoccoF14]

My uncle lives in Scotland now and his accent is hard for people here to understand. Do you have family from Newcastle? You nailed it!

One of my best friends is a Geordie and I've been to Newcastle. (Been a Newcastle United supporter since 1983). I love that city and the people.

But yes, they can be hard to understand.....

 

[Bruinaura]

Glad it wasn't as bas as it could have been.

Looks like Idalia is going to try and loop back around like Ivan did.

Ivan clobbered our house. It was still standing but there was a lot of work to be done.

 

[Mione134]

Mass Health is now fighting with my doctors office and CVS about refilling my asthma prescription.

Keep in mind, I've had an inhaler since I was 15 years old.

This is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[caz16]

One of my best friends is a Geordie and I've been to Newcastle. (Been a Newcastle United supporter since 1983). I love that city and the people.

But yes, they can be hard to understand.....

My Dad was a die hard fan of Newcastle United. I wish I had known, I could have sent you some of his stuff. He passed away in February and my brother is a Manchester fan - we had no one to give his things to so they went to Goodwill.

 

[jgatie]

Mass Health is now fighting with my doctors office and CVS about refilling my asthma prescription.

Keep in mind, I've had an inhaler since I was 15 years old.

This is absolutely ridiculous.

I sympathise. I have an accommodation from my work HR for a condition I have. There was a turnover in HR recently and they lost all records of the accommodation, but they do have the doctor's recommendations. They are forcing me to be fully re-evaluated and reapply for the accommodations for a condition which has no treatment and no cure, all because they lost the paperwork. The world is truly f***ed.

 

[RoccoF14]

I sympathise. I have an accommodation from my work HR for a condition I have. There was a turnover in HR recently and they lost all records of the accommodation, but they do have the doctor's recommendations. They are forcing me to be fully re-evaluated and reapply for the accommodations for a condition which has no treatment and no cure, all because they lost the paperwork. The world is truly f***ed.

When I was in the Navy, they lost my medical records and I had to have ALL of my vaccinations updated. I think there were 7 in total, and we were getting ready to leave for a deployment so I had to get them done ASAP. Being the young, invincible, badass that I thought I was at the time, I went in to medical one day and told them to give me the works, all at once, including the first (of 2) shots for Typhoid. They laughed, but I did convince them to give me 5, and come back for the last 2 plus the second Typhoid shot.

When I got home, the world was spinning. Knocked me on my ass and I ended up sleeping for 20hrs straight. Lesson learned.

Also, I never let the Navy keep my medical records after that. I had them myself and brought them with me to every appointment. That came in handy when I broke my forearm mountain biking (hairline fracture). Was supposed to come back in for a permanent cast, but I didn't want to miss any flying time, so when I got home, those documents conveniently disappeared.....My arm healed just fine on its own.

 

[jgatie]

When I was in the Navy, they lost my medical records and I had to have ALL of my vaccinations updated. I think there were 7 in total, and we were getting ready to leave for a deployment so I had to get them done ASAP. Being the young, invincible, badass that I thought I was at the time, I went in to medical one day and told them to give me the works, all at once, including the first (of 2) shots for Typhoid. They laughed, but I did convince them to give me 5, and come back for the last 2 plus the second Typhoid shot.

When I got home, the world was spinning. Knocked me on my ass and I ended up sleeping for 20hrs straight. Lesson learned.

Also, I never let the Navy keep my medical records after that. I had them myself and brought them with me to every appointment. That came in handy when I broke my forearm mountain biking (hairline fracture). Was supposed to come back in for a permanent cast, but I didn't want to miss any flying time, so when I got home, those documents conveniently disappeared.....My arm healed just fine on its own.

Oh believe me, after I get re-valuated (which is going to cost a fortune because the only Dr. who can do it is out of plan), I'm asking for a copy and putting it in my fireproof records safe.

 

[Kovi]

Here's an example of spreading happiness and joy for free. I am an avid contester (see posts about books...lol) and win often. When I win something that I can't use, I give it away with nothing expected in return except a simple "thank you". I have given away Keurigs and other kitchen appliances, gift cards, etc.

This summer I won 4 passes to Safari Niagara (there were many prizes to be won) and didn't want to go. I gave them to a guy I used to work with who has 3 little girls, who was very grateful. On Saturday the doorbell rang, there he is with his 3 daughters! They gave me a picture of themselves at the park, some flowers and zucchinis from their garden and a Cadbury's chocolate bar (UK - I am a chocoholic)! It absolutely made my day!!

I love my hobby, now that I am retired I can enter enter enter! My total is over $140,000 since I started about 20 years ago. Not bad, a hobby that pays and spreads joy!

Kindness and honoring each other is so simple sometimes

 

[Alicat]

There's a shortage of albuterol plus a recall in the US and many insurance companies are pushing back on name brand drugs and requiring prior authorization for the name brand stuff. Annoying yes but there is nothing sinister going on. How do I know this? I just picked up a new inhaler last week

Everything to Know About the Ongoing Albuterol Shortage and Recall

Asthma sufferers should know about the albuterol shortage. Are there alternative treatments for breathing problems, and how can you get them?

www.greenmatters.com

 

[Alicat]

I sympathise. I have an accommodation from my work HR for a condition I have. There was a turnover in HR recently and they lost all records of the accommodation, but they do have the doctor's recommendations. They are forcing me to be fully re-evaluated and reapply for the accommodations for a condition which has no treatment and no cure, all because they lost the paperwork. The world is truly f***ed.

That really sucks and they need to foot the bill since this is meerly a cya on their part. Make sure to document everything. Emails, forms ect. Ask for a copy of what they have. If they try to deny your accomodation, get an employment lawyer.

 

[jgatie]

That really sucks and they need to foot the bill since this is meerly a cya on their part. Make sure to document everything. Emails, forms ect. Ask for a copy of what they have. If they try to deny your accomodation, get an employment lawyer.

Thanks for the advice, Ali. I know this is not a stain on all HR persons. The last head of HR was really on the ball. They chased her out because of politics, and boy do I miss her.

 

[Alicat]

Thanks for the advice, Ali. I know this is not a stain on all HR persons. The last head of HR was really on the ball. They chased her out because of politcis, and boy do I miss her.

Most HR people are great but there a few that spoil the bunch. i'm guessing that the old HR kept your accomodation in their emails and not in a paper or electronic file. A lot of company's will just shut someone's email off and wipe it clean versus putting a hold on it and granting the manager or someone else in HR access to it. Bottom line is that employees should not have to deal with the fallout for their failure to store important documents.

 

[McGarnagle]

Most HR people are great but there a few that spoil the bunch. i'm guessing that the old HR kept your accomodation in their emails and not in a paper or electronic file. A lot of company's will just shut someone's email off and wipe it clean versus putting a hold on it and granting the manager or someone else in HR access to it.

Even on the company side there's nothing more frustrating than running into a problem because your predecessors were very bad at saving documents. The company switched HRIS/Payroll systems back in 2018 and the geniuses in charge then neglected to download or save much of anything at all, so we have just about nothing from before then aside from scattered PDFs of stuff in scattered shared folders. Once in a while I'll get a call because some former employee will want their W2 from like 2015 and I have to say that it doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Alicat]

Even on the company side there's nothing more frustrating than running into a problem because your predecessors were very bad at saving documents. The company switched HRIS/Payroll systems back in 2018 and the geniuses in charge then neglected to download or save much of anything at all, so we have just about nothing from before then aside from scattered PDFs of stuff in scattered shared folders. Once in a while I'll get a call because some former employee will want their W2 from like 2015 and I have to say that it doesn't exist anymore.

My last job at the diagnostic lab had all their employee files on one drive and not organized. It was an absolute nightmare.

So glad to be back where I am b/c our HRIS system houses payroll and employee files so it is so easy to find something. I make it a point to upload any documents I may have in my email at least 2x a month and I cc as much as I can so there is a paper trail.