http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:02:30 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/images/early_r/misc/rss.jpg http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/if-you-volunteer-47390-new-post.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:57:28 GMT For those that do or have volunteered I would be interested in hearing what you do volunteer wise and what you enjoy or don't like about your particular opportunity.

I find I have too much time on my hands and thought it is probably time I used those hours in doing something different from what I am currently doing. I have been doing a bit of internet research and have found a couple of opportunities that might suit my personality. The first is as a volunteer tax preparer for United Way - as an accountant this would probably be a good fit for my skills. The second is as a food packer at the Food Bank (Freebird think you do something similar?).

I'm not going to pursue any opportunities with death or dying as I am not good emotionally in those areas, so anything hospital or hospice related is out. Most interesting volunteer opportunity I did find on Craigslist was someone wanted some zombie volunteers for a movie they were making. ]]> Other topics DangerMouse http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/if-you-volunteer-47390.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/what-did-you-do-while-the-board-was-down-47389-new-post.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:40 GMT It is a given I spend way too much time here. I was forced to find some other way to entertain myself yesterday so... Going through my deceased... It is a given I spend way too much time here. I was forced to find some other way to entertain myself yesterday so...

Going through my deceased FIL's old tools, I found an old Lufkin "Mezurall" tape measure. It's in great shape and I wondered how old it was, so I googled it and this was the first hit:

Popular Mechanics June 1951- Google Books

I spent a couple of hours sucked in going through the almost 300 pages (!) of the magazine. Closest thing to time travel I've ever done. The articles are priceless and some of the ads are amazing. ]]> Other topics REWahoo http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/what-did-you-do-while-the-board-was-down-47389.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/hulu-com-youtube-com-and-47387-new-post.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:14:09 GMT Can anyone suggest other video sites that are worth looking into other than Hulu.com and Youtube.com? I understand there are sites where you can see... Can anyone suggest other video sites that are worth looking into other than Hulu.com and Youtube.com? I understand there are sites where you can see movies and tv shows on the computer, but I have no idea what the internet site addresses are. Does anyone here know?:coolsmiley: ]]> Other topics Orchidflower http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/hulu-com-youtube-com-and-47387.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/101-year-old-driver-buys-400-horsepower-camaro-47382-new-post.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:39:31 GMT truth is stranger than fiction...

A 101 year old driver bought a 400 HorsePower "Transformers" edition canary-yellow Camaro.

I'll bet he gets the girl too.

Driver, 101, digs new generation Camaro | detnews.com | The Detroit News

]]> Other topics MasterBlaster http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/101-year-old-driver-buys-400-horsepower-camaro-47382.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/heres-an-interesting-dilemma-advice-47380-new-post.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:14:30 GMT So I starting chatting with someone on a forum as we seemed to have some common interests, etc. We've exchanged some friendly emails over the last couple weeks but nothing particularly personal.

Since I have too much free time, I Googled their forum user name yesterday. It turns out that they post to multiple forums frequently and use the exact same username for each forum and list their hometown as well.

They've posted a lot of very personal information on various forums (2 Google pages worth) including financial sites and self-help type forums. Everything about them from their medical conditions, financial information, "secrets" about past abuse, you name it. In 10 minutes I had this whole persons life history including address, spouses information, location of extended family, the works!

None of all that is my business but the person seems genuinely nice (perhaps a bit too naive) but I wonder if I should somehow mention to them that their entire life story is available to the world because they post under the same username everywhere?

Or should I just keep quiet and let them continue this trend? I don't want them to think I'm some weirdo internet stalker having been able to find all that, but I'm sure it's not unusual for folks to Google other people? I'm willing to risk losing them as a friend to help them out, maybe they can still delete some information or something.

But the big lesson for all forum people is DO NOT use the same username on each forum you use unless you want people to be able to track you. Google sure must be helpful to the police and private detectives.

Advice? ]]> Other topics Trek http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/heres-an-interesting-dilemma-advice-47380.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/were-you-always-an-lbymer-47379-new-post.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:50:07 GMT I thought it might be interesting to see how many people here were always LBYM types (saving money from their first jobs, etc) and how many "got religion" later.

This isn't necessarily about when you set your sights on ER--I know I tended to "save up" for things I wanted and went with the least glitzy items that would serve my purposes long before I started worrying about SWR issues. ]]> Other topics samclem http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/were-you-always-an-lbymer-47379.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/flooding-at-jones-beach-11-16-2009-a-47378-new-post.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:24:12 GMT pretty amazing flooding at jones beach. what looks like a boat launch is actually the stairs to the beach Image:... pretty amazing flooding at jones beach. what looks like a boat launch is actually the stairs to the beach











]]> Other topics mathjak107 http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/flooding-at-jones-beach-11-16-2009-a-47378.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/hole-in-one-47376-new-post.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:01:32 GMT In May 1998 at Beaver Brook Golf Course in Haydenville, Mass., Todd Obuchowski was credited with a hole-in-one on a par 3 hole after his tee shot... In May 1998 at Beaver Brook
Golf Course in Haydenville, Mass., Todd Obuchowski was
credited with a hole-in-one on a par 3 hole after his tee shot went
over the green and onto a highway, hit a passing Toyota driven by
Nancy Bachand, ricocheted back to the green, and rolled into the
cup. At least eight golfers witnessed the shot. [Newsday, 5-24-98] ]]> Other topics MasterBlaster http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/hole-in-one-47376.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/cleaning-out-the-house-47374-new-post.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:03:10 GMT In preparation for my move I have been cleaning stuff out. Goodwill and Craigslist are my friends. So far the oddest thing I have found is the old... In preparation for my move I have been cleaning stuff out. Goodwill and Craigslist are my friends. So far the oddest thing I have found is the old album: All Pooped Out, by Yogi Yorgesson, with Johnny Duffy and the Scandahoovians.

Any takers? :) ]]> Other topics Martha http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/cleaning-out-the-house-47374.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/us-airways-and-mastercard-ripoff-47373-new-post.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:25:49 GMT If you had occasion to be in a US Airways area of a major airport in the last 6 months or so, you no doubt saw many kiosks where folks were... If you had occasion to be in a US Airways area of a major
airport in the last 6 months or so, you no doubt saw many
kiosks where folks were hawking a MasterCard that had a
number of airline-related benefits, most notably a 25,000
frequent-flyer mile bonus upon the first charge to the card
and payment of a $79 annual fee. Flight attendants were
even trying to sell it in the cabin.

So I signed up, made a charge, and paid the bill including the
annual fee. That was 2 months ago. I still have not received
the frequent-flyer mileage bonus. I have made perhaps half a
dozen phone calls, some lasting well over 15 minutes, and there
has been no resolution. Agents occasionally try to tell me that
there is no such bonus until I've charged $25,000. More often,
they agree that there's a problem and promise to resolve it.
Most recently I was issued a "case number" and told it would
be resolved in 7-10 days. Today I was told "oh no, it's 30 days".

Obviously it's long since gotten to the point where it's not worth
my time to deal with this, for 25,000 miles, especially with the
way miles are being devalued these days (remember when you
REALLY could get the promised free round-trip for 25K miles ?),
but this kind of thing really pisses me off, and I hold a grudge
when anyone tries to screw me over.

So I'm posting to every forum I can, to expose the sleazy behavior
of MasterCard and US Airways, to attempt to reach other victims to
possibly organize some sort of group action, and to urge everyone to
avoid doing business with either one of these companies. ]]> Other topics RustyShackleford http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/us-airways-and-mastercard-ripoff-47373.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/er-haiku-any-takers-47371-new-post.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:34:42 GMT 17 syllables? My time is my own...]]> How much can you say on the topic in 17 syllables?

My time is my own
Slave to the man no more, I
Do as I please now

:whistling: ]]> Other topics Janet H http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/er-haiku-any-takers-47371.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/whos-done-with-their-christmas-shopping-47367-new-post.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:47:22 GMT My SIL and Sister were discussing how they need to get going on their Christmas shopping - I pick up gifts throughout the year during my various... My SIL and Sister were discussing how they need to get going on their Christmas shopping - I pick up gifts throughout the year during my various travels, so there is no pain shopping this time of year! Wooohooo! :coolsmiley: They are getting good souvenirs from Germany, Newport, RI, Virginia, and DC. NO MALLS for me!

One bummer this season - we had a minor flood in the basement, and my holiday cards (5 boxes of the good funny ones!) got all wet & moldy - I usually pick these up on clearance after the holidays, so will have to suck it up and buy regular cheapos. Also lost a couple puzzles that were in the box of "gifts" >:( ]]> Other topics Fireup2025 http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/whos-done-with-their-christmas-shopping-47367.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/funny-clever-photos-or-pictures-47358-new-post.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:31:32 GMT Image: http://1.media.tumblr.com/91wJ5FjbSqz879ufutMqKQI4o1_500.jpg *Never piss off a woman who owns a backhoe *
Never piss off a woman who owns a backhoe ]]> Other topics mickeyd http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/funny-clever-photos-or-pictures-47358.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/what-the-bunny-has-been-doing-since-he-left-the-forum-47352-new-post.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:24:12 GMT Looks like he's been heading up an "I told you so" study... :)

Apple Macs no safer than PCs from computer phishing attacks
]]> Other topics REWahoo http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/what-the-bunny-has-been-doing-since-he-left-the-forum-47352.html http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/ideas-for-a-cheap-desktop-47351-new-post.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:06:17 GMT I'm looking for an inexpensive desktop for my MIL. All she does with it is read email a few times a week and an occasional web search. Her current machine is a creaky old Dell with 256K RAM that is mind numbingly slow. Lately she has had to restart it a number of times to get it to work (whatever that means - she lives an hour away). ???

My thought is to get an off lease Dell with no monitor, but with XP, so she doesn't have to learn anything new.

Anyone want to step in to CFB's shoes and make a recommendation? ]]> Other topics travelover http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/ideas-for-a-cheap-desktop-47351.html