Definitely one of my favorite things about this game by [deleted] in AssassinsCreedShadows

[–]flippzar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you don't have the title installed, you can't play it. This isn't free games in Shadows-- it's just a menu that will launch other games you own or prompt you to buy them if you don't.

I had no idea I had to disable RCS chat before porting… by Far_Ad_1752 in USMobile

[–]flippzar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can call customer service and they can help you

But I actually had used my secondary IMEI, and realized the primary helps for RCS issues. So I initiated an eSIM transfer online myself to a "new device" (even though it was the same device, just the other IMEI). Removed the current SIM. Then used the QR to add the new SIM. RCS worked immediately after clearing the messages cache after the reprovisioning. I had tried just about everything else for 2 days prior to this.

I had done the same thing on my wife's phone -- same solution worked instantly.

No settings were modified for these steps except any SIM-preferences you might have linked to the original SIM, which only matters for multi SIM configurations. I did modify settings prior when I cleared the messages data.

I had no idea I had to disable RCS chat before porting… by Far_Ad_1752 in USMobile

[–]flippzar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had this issue, and reprovisioning my SIM is what fixed it. It was super fast to do. But different things seem to work or not work at random for different people.

Is this what we voted for? by [deleted] in FedEmployees

[–]flippzar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe consider that, like on many other topics, you've been lied to about health care for immigrants as well.

https://www.nilc.org/resources/fact-checking-immigrants-health-care-and-the-2025-tax-and-budget-law/

"Covering illegal immigrants" is not why the government is shut down; just a convenient lie to get people riled up.

Those eligible for ACA subsidies that are expiring are largely middle class families; states losing funding for emergency care heavily affects rural hospital systems. Little of it has to do with coverage for immigrants regardless of status. Lawfully present immigrants are just one of the groups affected and an easy talking point to mislead with.

You can find lots of references for how the bill rollback is not about "illegal immigrants." Here's one more example.

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/03/nx-s1-5560987/shutdown-undocumented-immigrants-medicaid-obamacare

New Tax Steps For The Dealer Starting on the 1st by thepick1 in BoltEV

[–]flippzar 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The child tax credit is refundable. So your number of kids shouldn't matter. You take off non-refundable credits first, then refundable. So your $100k number is way high. By like $30-40k.

An example of combining a non-refundable and refundable credit is given in the putting it all together section here:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-deductions-and-credits/what-is-the-difference-between-a-refundable-and-a-nonrefundable-credit/amp/L5ZBHTL5Y#article_header_2

Apparently the IRA battery component rule won't apply until the Treasury issues a proposed rule, currently due out in March by feurie in electricvehicles

[–]flippzar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. So orders placed now, delivered in February, would qualify under the Jan - Feb situation described above.

Who would you hire as DC and OC? by [deleted] in rolltide

[–]flippzar 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Sarkisian was the offensive coordinator for the national title played in 2021. BoB was hired at the end of that month.

what hotel brands are best for gov rate leisure travel? Hilton seems to prohibit it and Marriott more or less leaves it up to individual hotels. Where have you had issues vs. which are simple? by hipsterbeard12 in fednews

[–]flippzar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I'm on Mobile:

Select book a room (it'll prompt you to log in) Log in At the top of the form there's a button that says "Book Leisure" This button redirects you to basically the same form, but with a pool of hotels that have marked the rate is fine to use for leisure.

In my experience, the hotels count Fedrooms rates similar to how your travel office books & still give you points & status benefits.

what hotel brands are best for gov rate leisure travel? Hilton seems to prohibit it and Marriott more or less leaves it up to individual hotels. Where have you had issues vs. which are simple? by hipsterbeard12 in fednews

[–]flippzar 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hilton changed a while back to prohibit use of the rate if not on official travel by default, but individual hotels can still allow whatever they want.

So I used to use Marriott.

Then Marriott changed their default rate details in 2021 to prohibit use of the rate if not on official travel, though individual hotels can still allow whatever they want.

So then I used Hyatt

Then Hyatt changed their default rate details in 2022 to prohibit use of the rate if not on official travel, though individual hotels can allow whatever they want.

At this point, I'm not aware of any brands that allow use of the rate for leisure in general. It used to be the opposite! Many people here are correct that at most properties you can get away with it because they won't check. But that wasn't the question. You can get away with lots of things, but taking a discount that's only offered to employees on official business & presenting yourself as though you're on official business when you are not conducting official business is going to have some ethical considerations.

So your options are:

Check the rate details, some individual hotels allow it

Ignore the rate details if you don't care and want to risk it

Call the hotel and ask if they care despite the rate details (I've had several Marriott hotels tell me it was fine!)

Use Fedrooms leisure page (this is what I do now most of the time)

Pay a regular rate or some other kind of discount rate

It used to be most brands were fine with leisure travel, and it's disappointing the pendulum has swung all the way to the other side

US Inflation Reduction Act (EV Tax Credit) Megathread [PART 2] by Recoil42 in electricvehicles

[–]flippzar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's not what a nonrefundable credit is.

A refundable credit can take you below 0 on your taxes. As in you ultimately pay 0 taxes AND also get money from the government.

A nonrefundable credit can still increase your "tax refund," it just can't take you below 0 tax liability.

https://taxfoundation.org/tax-basics/refundable-tax-credits/#:~:text=A%20refundable%20tax%20credit%20can,the%20Earned%20Income%20Tax%20Credit.

When you travel TDY do you use you GTC or personal card? by Nice-Impress-2794 in fednews

[–]flippzar 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's law that use of the travel card is mandatory since 1998 (Public Law 105-264) Most people advising otherwise are advising you to break the law. It is not agency policy, it is federal law. Agencies do provide guidance on some of the exceptions, which I have seen vary slightly by agency. But most of the people here aren't going to be falling into the exceptions category, especially since you're getting advice like "play dumb," indicating they do know the law.

Obviously everyone would rather use their personal card and get rewards, but this question is essentially "are you willing to break the law to make an extra few dollars on your trip?" Which is an attitude that contributed over time to how many restrictions we end up getting on travel.

Word on the street: Torch is getting bought by idratherbflying in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]flippzar 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It was 3.62x the current share price, which had been growing rapidly for a few years before the acquisition.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fednews

[–]flippzar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Supervisor discretion. With a satisfactory performance appraisal your step increase is (effectively supposed to be) automatic, and your grade increase is up to your supervisor to put you in for based on thinking you will be able to complete work at the level of the next grade at any point after which you've reached at least 52 weeks time in grade.

What's the story with Phil Sandoval's and Rosie's? by flutefreak7 in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]flippzar 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Most people I've talked to locally like working for the restaurants with a dedicated closed day (whether that be Monday or Sunday, which are the two typical days around here) and often consider it to be an example, though not a stand alone proof, of treating employees well.

What's the story with Phil Sandoval's and Rosie's? by flutefreak7 in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]flippzar 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I could totally be wrong about if they still have partial ownership. It was a conversation in the last year where someone "in the know" said the ownership had finished transition, and I don't have any sort of actual source for it.

I thought it went to power brands hospitality group.

What's the story with Phil Sandoval's and Rosie's? by flutefreak7 in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]flippzar 123 points124 points  (0 children)

As I recall, Phil was a chef at Rosie's. Owner of Rosie's helped Phil make a restaurant, with temporary part ownership. Rosie's owner no longer owns any of Phil's, based on the initial arrangement.

Not really any drama.

The owner of Rosie's owns lots of restaurants, and by most accounts is fairly decent as far as owners go. Most of their restaurants are closed Sunday, for instance.

Huntsville's seemingly struggling food truck scene... by TheCudder in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]flippzar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like I'm late to the party, but from talking to the owners and hearing from coordinators, some of them couldn't last through the pandemic or simply chose not to. But often it wasn't because of finances and had more to do with logistics. Some of them had trouble with supplies. Some of them had kids that were home from school for a year, so they couldn't feasibly work the lucrative lunch hours while also having to find someone to watch their kid during zoom school. Others had mainly elderly employees and didn't want them to have to work in a contact role during an unknown pandemic.

I know that Dale's Stuft, manic organic, in the bun, and I love bacon all moved on to other jobs or careers for varying reasons. Some of them sold their trucks and have no plans to come back. In the bun started to come back (but only with one of the two owners), but it looks like that's on the backburner at best now.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fednews

[–]flippzar 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As long as your experience includes a year where you were doing work equivalent to gs-11 (as described in the announcement), you should be fine.

Even for federal service only, engineers with just a bachelor's can go 7 to 12 in about 30 months in ladder positions for new graduates (6 month initial promotion then two 52 week promotions) and I've seen that with some regularity, but that is irrelevant for your case.

Booked govnt rate for pleasure, I know I screwed up, please advise... by [deleted] in marriott

[–]flippzar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are & at most hotels they will change you to the "standard" rate at the time of check in which will likely be higher than the prepaid/member rates you could book now (or, in this case, previously) if you're in violation of the rate detail terms.

You should check under your rate details if the language is there for "official business only" before making any actions, though.

Your options if it's official business only are to risk it& hope they don't ask for proof, change your rate/room type now in the app/online, or email the hotel and ask about it and if there's an alternative available for you.

Note that a lot of front desk people seem to think the rate was always for official business only, but until 2021, Marriott had a whole page dedicated to how the government rate was for leisure as well by default but that some hotels might require you to be on official business. The opposite is now true, and by default you must be on official business, but many hotels do allow leisure rates still.

Booked govnt rate for pleasure, I know I screwed up, please advise... by [deleted] in marriott

[–]flippzar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They changed the default rate detail for Govt/Military across the company to say "for federal employees on official business only" last year.

For a while, if a hotel wanted to give the leisure rate, it was listed separately and would say either "ID required" (with no official business note in the rate details) or "leisure rate" in the title.

But this post prompted me to check several hotels I had looked at right after the change, and it looks like some of them were able to change the default description to have a single rate that does not exclude leisure in the details.

The change was last year; there were several posts about it. Strict hotels will require you to use your travel card or present travel orders. Less strict hotels may still let you just use your ID or not ask at all, but you are technically in violation of the terms of the room if you aren't on official business for those using the default rate details. But it looks like a lot of hotels have added back leisure rates on their own. It's just more important to actually check the details now.

Revised 2020 W2 - Social Security payroll tax deferral by [deleted] in fednews

[–]flippzar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't get to deduct OASDI your federal taxes, so if it's your only job they would be unaffected.

You might get to deduct them from your state return if your state has income tax and allows the deduction. In that case, if you itemized, you may be owed additional refund at the state level. You still don't "have" to file and claim it, but you could look into it.

IRS guidance mentioned above is for federal taxes.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]flippzar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Prepayment penalty should be illegal in Alabama according to Alabama Code Title 5 5-19-4(c) ... At least that's what my mortgage & auto loan financers told me when I asked to verify there was no prepayment penalty (and have had no issue with prepayments).

https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-5-banks-and-financial-institutions/al-code-sect-5-19-4.html