Subj : Solar TV Battery Test To : Nancy Backus From : Barry Martin Date : Sun Apr 26 2020 10:43:00 Hi Nancy! BM>> Snowed last night! Received just under 2" -- looks nice and clean out BM>> there! The forecast is warming up this afternoon, so probably all BM>> gone by evening. There is a prediction of 2-3" for late Thursday. NB> We had similar, in about the same time period, though we never NB> got more than about an inch at a time.... this past week there NB> were threats of snow that never really materialized... we've had NB> rain, though... and more sun than was called for, not that I'm NB> complaining.. Since then we've had more threats of rain (warmed up snow! ) which didn't quite materialize or get an tenth of an inch instead of the predicted inch. BM> True. You know people have been isolated too long when they start BM> chit-chatting with the telephone spammers! NB> Not there yet, thankfully.... I have noticed, though, that NB> there have been fewer of the spammer calls.... apparently they NB> aren't considered essential businesses... They couldn't arrange their boiler rooms to comply with the 6' rule! But yes, have noticed a lot less spam calls. The one in particular we've been getting is the same male recording but from scattered telephone numbers: Dubuque, IA, Lansing, MI, ...GA, WI. Probably several more. Maybe they bought the same Earn Money Quick package and instead of re-recording the message to customize it they just used the example?! BM>> And counselling ad alleviating concerns can take a while: need to BM>> break down what the other person built up. NB>> Exactly... and/or allow enough time for it all to spill out so NB>> that it can be worked on.... :) BM> And their normal isn't the same as anyone else's normal: "it's not BM> normal to be yelled at/slapped/hit?" (Semi-extreme example.) NB> There is that, too... lately more just a calming of paranoias and NB> such, though.... Focus moved to a different target. One thing the local NBC-affilate (TV) has done is air aa lot of one-minute calming spots: puppies and kittens playing, scenic wonders, etc. Also 30-second spots with the message "it's normal to feel overwhelmed and confused, here's how to handle it". BM>> Iowa taxes so I've have my IRA distribution taxed and then so far 100% BM>> refunded. With the new distribution going into effect in a few months BM>> (old one expires) I'm going to ask about having that changed. NB> You mean, you've been having taxes withheld from your NB> distributions...? As long as you get it back, that's not too NB> bad... :) Yes on the withholdings and refunds. I do recall asking when started and he said federal and state (IA) generally require, though could be lessened or none at all. At the time it seemed better just to 'go with the flow' and have the customary amount withheld. The short-term policy is expiring in a couple of months and the new one will start -- have to go down and do the paperwork; thinking having the withholding amount changed. BM>> I'm thinking because of the eventual upcoming inheritance just half BM>> the amount withheld (and refunded), just to balance things out. NB>> Inheritance isn't taxed, though... The only thing you'd owe any tax NB>> on from that would be if you inherited stocks, bonds or funds that NB>> continued to earn for you, and that gain would be taxed, not the NB>> inheritance itself... BM> I half-knew that. Combination of me half-expecting the rules to be BM> changed. The house in NH will be sold, so hopefully a bit of a BM> profit. Bank accounts and my Mother's IRA. Nothing all that BM> complicated. NB> With the house, you inherit the basis as of her date of death, NB> unless your name is on the deed already.... in any case, when NB> sold, there still shouldn't be more capital gains on that than NB> what is exempt from taxing, unless it's a very expensive NB> house.... The bank accounts are purely inheritance, so you won't NB> have personal tax on those... The IRA, if she's needing to pay NB> taxes on the distributions, you (or the estate) will need to pay NB> income tax on what's left... you might be able to set it up to NB> get as distributions rather than a lump sum, and then the tax NB> would be spread out over the span of distributions... Right, and thanks! Kept as guidance; all those little tax details are one reason I'm sort of keeping the tax preparation company on my 'payroll' so they have a history of me and I'm an established client, not just some deadbeat off the street asking for advice. Know most if not all of the records have me as co-owner, beneficiary, etc. Will probably do as distributions rather than lump sum as better for me. Get to play '20 Questions'with the financial advisor and the tax prep company! BM>>> ...There's talk of a $1,200 stimulus check because of the COVID-19 -- BM> FWIW I received mine on April 13th -- everyone else is jealous because BM> they haven't seen their accounts being deposited yet. I'm guessing BM> done in Social Security Number order and mine begins with 0? NB> We didn't get ours yet... but I don't think it's in SS# order, as NB> both of ours also begin with 0 too... I've heard of some other NB> people that have gotten theirs already... Did you e-file your NB> taxes this year and have the payment or refund taken care of NB> electronically from/to your bank account....? Yes to both parts of the question. Also filed in February. BM>>> will be nice for the now but I'm thinking will be counted as an income BM>>> next tax season (so don't spend all of it!). Maybe was a good thing I BM>>> ended up postponing donating my books until this year: can counter-act BM>>> the stimulus check tax! NB>>> From what I've seen, it shouldn't be considered income to be taxed, NB>>> and as long as your income is less than $75000 ($150000 joint) you'd NB>>> be getting $1200 each... Maybe it counts more like a tax refund, or NB>>> is like a household credit.... BM>> I hope they phrase it as a gift as Iowa taxes the federal refund! BM>> (It's not like the taxes are horrible here, they just like to get money BM>> to run the state properly.) NB>> Most likely it would be treated as a refundable credit, not taxed at NB>> all... BM> That seems to be. Not that I'm trying to look at the dark side but BM> more of being slightly prepared for potholes in the Road of Life. NB> It's not like it's all that large an amount, anyway, as far as NB> being taxed is concerned, though... :) True, and have read in other sources it is not taxable. Not trying to be pessimistic about it, just if I was running real tight with my money would want to set aside a bit in case of a surprise. BM> Local news had an interview with a finanacial advisor -- from the same BM> company my broker is with (private firm). Was sort of funny as the BM> advice was to spend the money and not pay off bills, etc. 'Funny' BM> part was he commented normally he'd advise paying down credit cards, BM> bills, etc., with this kind of money but in this instance would be BM> better to spend. NB> Well.... the point of it is to put money into people's hands in NB> order TO spend, so as to stimulate the economy.... Just have to NB> figure out what's still open in order to spend money at... ;) True! The local TV stations are putting up ads for what is open and how to contact. The station I usually watch for news has maybe a 30-second spot with mini-ads of random lengths: some are cell phone videos of a bakery "we're open" and a quick contact info; other mini-spot might be a local restaurant taken with a camera. The stations also has a webage where businesses can list they're open and contact information. IIRC the webpage is free, not sure about the price of the TV mini-ads but other information indicates they're either very cheap or free as a PSA type of thing. BM>> As for storing, thinking I might 'store out in the open': dawned on me BM>> to use the TV as a monitor for my Raspberry Pi weather station. Of BM>> course have a But First but that was expected! NB>> That's a thought... :) BM> Haven't done too much -- other 'ends and odds'. NB> And But Firsts, no doubt... Yeahhhh. Got a semi-major But First with the 'security' cameras not working properly: can see the recordings but not real time. Plus I had created a back up machine when I switched the CPU heat sink and fan on this one. I had never swapped the 'heat sink holder' before: always was whatever came with the motherboard. Swap went fine, so far is keeping the CPU to a maximum of 112øF vs. the old 180øF and shut down. BM>>> Figuring the same potential issues with the solar cell power project: BM>>> overcast is producing low voltage while a bright sunny day could BM>>> produce too much voltage, NB>>> I suppose that is a possiblility.... Does the buck-boost work NB>>> with the solar cell setup, too, then....? BM>> It can, and read where it has been used with solar cells. Now to get BM>> my Round TuIt on that project... Overcast today, plus Autumn, plus a BM>> But First. NB>> Eventually you'll get to that again... on a nice sunny day.... ;) BM> True. OTOH don't want a too-sunny day as will skew the experiment and BM> make any ol' placement look right. ...It'll get done. NB> Dunno... one could run the experiment on a variety of variously NB> sunny days, and see if it makes much (or any) difference... ;) Yes, see what happens on a fully sunny day which would be running under ideal conditions and so find out what my maximum voltage would be. Lesser sunny to overcast days would have less solar output and so need o tweak the solar cell's positioning to make the best of what is available. ¯ ® ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ® ¯ @Q.COM ® ¯ ® .... Ship carrying yo-yos was hit by a typhoon and sank twenty-three times. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .