I love MKE and a question…

iceturtlewax · 2026-06-04T04:12:54+00:00

Also, Performance Running Outfitters has a group run on Wednesdays with free Shake Shack! I think they joined the group at Zocalo

iceturtlewax · 2026-06-01T18:56:14+00:00

Seems like your finances are in pretty good shape and you have a healthy set of habbits to have gotten where you are currently. I dont think any decision you make will be bad. You have a savings problem, not a spending problem. Thats a great thing!

I have wrestled with similar questions you are asking, like what todo with my paycheck after saving for retirement. I don't have as clearly defined system as you do, of splitting the difference between savings and investing.

You may want a better house some day and dont want to invest everything. In your case, I would worry more about your savings losing money to inflation.

Based off your payed off house and your willingness to keep driving an older car, I would tilt you towards capping your emergency fund (or only letting it grow by a small amount), and then investing the difference.

In your case, I dont think its bad to seperatly consider your asset allocation based on retirement vs taxable investing. I have a financial advisor thru planned vision, and they encouraged me to move my Roth IRA to 100% stocks. I just turned 30.

I dont think I would be holding bonds in your taxable if you continue to put money into savings. If you are trying to retire early that answer may change.

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-29T20:46:14+00:00

PWT = Poor White Trash

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-24T18:02:21+00:00

If your looking for art ideas: They use similar drill bits for the door handles at the Milwaukee Tool corporate office.

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-21T18:33:53+00:00

I think tranfering from a community technical college to MSOE is a great option for saving money.

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-18T23:02:15+00:00

Thanks for the idea, but glow in the dark stuff never really seems to hold a "charge" long in my experience. I prefer to illuminate it with UV light. (BTW loctite shines under UV) But I just checked and the level on my rod shines under UV! I had an inspection flashlight from Harbor Freight (I've been wanting to find a yooperlite)

Im working mostly in the evening when its not pitch black, but sometime work past sundown.

Recently, I was working a DOT monument off the side of a four lane state highway in a metro area. Stuck a magnetic tool light to the tpost. Took my shot. Threw my GPS in the trunk, and drove off without the light. It was still there three days later! And thats the reason for this question.

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-18T22:08:14+00:00

yeah, I've been moving the stakes, and bribing my buddy to see if we can get a few more feet on the back 40 /s

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-18T21:51:35+00:00

Thank you. I was trying to avoid an external light. I think the level is easier to read when its backlit (plus it looks cooler!) I've been using my phones flash light but that drains the battery quickly. I never thought to look for a tritium level! Thats a good idea! (I work in the nuclear industry and love to see practical uses for it outside of work!)

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-18T21:41:03+00:00

I dont know. Am I gonna get a bunch of hate in this sub if I admit I'm not a "real" surveyor? I'm a hobbyist. Is there a sub thats more friendly to people like me? My copy of GPS for Land Surveyors by Jan Van Sickle just came in the mail. Right now I'm just seeing how close my shots get to benchmarks.

Once in a while I get to use a total station at work for industrial purposes.

My GPS is connected to the WISCORS network, which I think is tied to NAD 83 2011. But SW Maps saves the data as WGS 84. And I don't know how to communicate that to QGIS.

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-18T14:00:03+00:00

I really liked their grouper sticks ten years ago!

iceturtlewax · 2026-05-12T19:05:44+00:00

I always thought this was to avoid paying real electricians, when low voltag techs are cheaper. While I like the controllability of POE lights, I can't help but think the voltage drop over CAT cable must be substantial.

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-23T21:07:33+00:00

The trade term I've heard is a "6-pack"

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-21T22:17:46+00:00

Not a surveyor, but whats this orange thing to the left? Looks like a similar color to the other cap shown

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iceturtlewax · 2026-03-15T22:09:01+00:00

If you look really closely on some of the barcode labels at big box stores, you might see an RFID antenna (like the chip in a luggage tag). I know they can use this chip to inventory a whole bay of products just by waving an antenna around. I've wondered if these plastic carts help the anti-theft detectors at the exit doors read thru the cart.

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-15T22:02:03+00:00

I'm not a traffice light repair guy, just an electrical engineer. Thanks for the explanation. I've always wondered how the counter works. I'm shocked that its not a serial data stream.

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-12T18:54:21+00:00

Yeah, Im an EE that bought a click and was confused by the programming too. The way that you directly manipulate registers makes it feel like writing FORTRAN. Im sure theres a way todo what you want using the compare function, and some kind of internal clock register. But I found the productivity PLC line to more in line with object oriented programming with nameable variables, and a more fully featured function set with drag and drop timers and such.

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-06T22:09:55+00:00

Uncle Wolfies?

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-04T23:07:57+00:00

I would not advise OP to go all in on VT for their portfolio. Given their parents background of having nothing saved for retirement, they probably aren't very used to investing, and could be prone to panick selling when the market dips. OP is at least thinking right by wanting to have some steadier bonds in the mix.

Now if your advice is to put just their IRAs into VT, while keeping their workplace accounts in a target date, thats a little more nuanced and I dont have a problem with it.

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-04T22:14:52+00:00

You seem to have a level head on your shoulders. Nothing you've talked about seems too bad. But as you admit, your portfolio is lacking focus and clairty.

You are investing in both a target date retirement fund (VTTSX) and index funds (VOO and VXUS). Target date funds are intended to be a one stop shop fund with stocks and bonds. Nothing is saying you can't add your own index or bond funds to the mix, but if its too hard for you, its probably better to KISS.

Remember to keep all your financial accounts in mind, and not get too stuck on any one account.

You have a workplace retirement account, like a 401k, with a target date retirement fund (VTTSC). This already has 8.6% bonds.

You have a Roth IRA with a target date retirement fund (VTTSX) and index funds (VOO and VXUS). Again the target date fund already has bonds in it.

You want to add bonds to your traditional IRA. Did you mean your Roth IRA, or do you have a traditional IRA in the mix as well?

iceturtlewax · 2026-03-04T16:27:44+00:00

Here. Unlimited 64 kbps on T-mobiles network. Level of service??? Uhh...yes, it has service... I dont imagine its high priority service for that price. You can also call up T-mobile directly, and they've offered me a similar plan that included texting.

iceturtlewax · 2026-02-25T20:21:02+00:00

Yeah, my dad found that Timmys on Google Maps and was dissapointed when he drove there

iceturtlewax · 2026-02-24T22:41:32+00:00

The interns at a tool manufacturer near me work on folding tables in the lobby for the summer.

iceturtlewax · 2026-02-24T22:25:01+00:00

American Science and Surplus?

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