Subj : Re: Solar TV Battery Test To : Barry Martin From : Nancy Backus Date : Mon May 04 2020 19:46:30 -=> Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 26-Apr-2020 10:43 <=- 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... BM> They couldn't arrange their boiler rooms to comply with the BM> 6' rule! But yes, have noticed a lot less spam calls. I had a darker thought on them... perhaps they've fallen prey to the virus, since they couldn't distance, and were packed into small spaces.... probably the callers themselves are considered expendable... and the bigwigs there are just laying low for the time being... BM> The one in particular we've been getting is the same male recording BM> but from scattered telephone numbers: Dubuque, IA, Lansing, MI, BM> ...GA, WI. Probably several more. Maybe they bought the same Earn BM> Money Quick package and instead of re-recording the message to BM> customize it they just used the example?! More likely it's one guy that spoofs the numbers to avoid being tracked down by the authorities... even if one reports the number to the watchdogs, it isn't really a valid number so they can't do anything to cut him off.... 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.... BM> Focus moved to a different target. One thing the local NBC-affilate BM> (TV) has done is air aa lot of one-minute calming spots: puppies and BM> kittens playing, scenic wonders, etc. Also 30-second spots with the BM> message "it's normal to feel overwhelmed and confused, here's how to BM> handle it". Our Public Radio has been doing the 30-second spots with an announcer or three from the station giving the guidelines for staying safe and healthy and ending with "we're all in this together... together..." And playing mostly calming music... :) 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 bad... :) BM> Yes on the withholdings and refunds. I do recall asking when started BM> and he said federal and state (IA) generally require, though could be BM> lessened or none at all. At the time it seemed better just to 'go BM> with the flow' and have the customary amount withheld. The short-term BM> policy is expiring in a couple of months and the new one will start -- BM> have to go down and do the paperwork; thinking having the withholding BM> amount changed. Having some withheld is probably good insurance... probably enough variant factors that it isn't a cut-and-dried type of thing, anyway... :) 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, unless NB>> your name is on the deed already.... in any case, when sold, there NB>> still shouldn't be more capital gains on that than what is exempt NB>> from taxing, unless it's a very expensive house.... The bank accounts NB>> are purely inheritance, so you won't have personal tax on those... NB>> The IRA, if she's needing to pay taxes on the distributions, you (or NB>> the estate) will need to pay income tax on what's left... you might NB>> be able to set it up to get as distributions rather than a lump sum, NB>> and then the tax would be spread out over the span of distributions... BM> Right, and thanks! Kept as guidance; all those little tax details are BM> one reason I'm sort of keeping the tax preparation company on my BM> 'payroll' so they have a history of me and I'm an established client, BM> not just some deadbeat off the street asking for advice. Know most if BM> not all of the records have me as co-owner, beneficiary, etc. Will BM> probably do as distributions rather than lump sum as better for me. BM> Get to play '20 Questions'with the financial advisor and the tax prep BM> company! I've recently been through all of this, settling my mother's estate... but rules can be different from state to state... Anything with you as co-owner will just go directly to you and not go through probate or be subject to tax... Beneficiary, it depends on what it is... insurance payouts are not taxed, but income (like the IRA) probably is... Just as well to go over it with your advisors... ;) 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 both NB>> of ours also begin with 0 too... I've heard of some other people that NB>> have gotten theirs already... Did you e-file your taxes this year and NB>> have the payment or refund taken care of electronically from/to your NB>> bank account....? BM> Yes to both parts of the question. Also filed in February. That's probably why you got yours so early.... the combination of all three.... :) 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 being NB>> taxed is concerned, though... :) BM> True, and have read in other sources it is not taxable. Not trying to BM> be pessimistic about it, just if I was running real tight with my BM> money would want to set aside a bit in case of a surprise. The good news is that if that bigger stimulus comes through, that won't be taxable, either.... 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 order NB>> TO spend, so as to stimulate the economy.... Just have to figure out NB>> what's still open in order to spend money at... ;) BM> True! The local TV stations are putting up ads for what is open and BM> how to contact. The station I usually watch for news has maybe a BM> 30-second spot with mini-ads of random lengths: some are cell phone BM> videos of a bakery "we're open" and a quick contact info; other BM> mini-spot might be a local restaurant taken with a camera. The BM> stations also has a webpage where businesses can list they're open and BM> contact information. IIRC the webpage is free, not sure about the BM> price of the TV mini-ads but other information indicates they're either BM> very cheap or free as a PSA type of thing. Haven't seen or heard of anything like that happening here, but then I don't watch TV, as you know... ;) Mostly we just keep our eyes open to see what might be still open when we drive by places... and if we particularly need something, take a chance that something might be open... generally it has been.... apparently we only need necessities as defined by the strictures... 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... BM> Yeahhhh. Got a semi-major But First with the 'security' cameras not BM> working properly: can see the recordings but not real time. Plus I BM> had created a back up machine when I switched the CPU heat sink and fan BM> on this one. I had never swapped the 'heat sink holder' before: always BM> was whatever came with the motherboard. Swap went fine, so far is BM> keeping the CPU to a maximum of 112øF vs. the old 180øF and shut down. Those both sound like worthy uses of your time... Good that the swap was successful, too... :) 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... ;) BM> Yes, see what happens on a fully sunny day which would be running BM> under ideal conditions and so find out what my maximum voltage would BM> be. Lesser sunny to overcast days would have less solar output and so BM> need to tweak the solar cell's positioning to make the best of what is BM> available. All seems like workable situations and all... ;) BM> ... Ship carrying yo-yos was hit by a typhoon and sank twenty-three BM> times. Oh, my.... ttyl neb .... Murphy's Philosophy: smile -- tomorrow will be worse. --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452) .