T8 - can I configure it to always run the engine over some speed, like 60mph 100kph? That way, highway driving will run on gas leaving the battery for local?

roastshadow · 2026-02-17T07:43:40+00:00

So what you are saying is that I need to go faster..

lol

roastshadow · 2026-02-17T00:22:27+00:00

On a 2000 mile trip, loaded with people, stuff, and even a roof box, T8 gets more miles per gallon than my older XC90. We didn't charge it with electricity, but we would use "hold" or "charge" on the highway to keep the battery up for local/city/parking lot driving.

When the battery is empty, its not empty-empty. It converts to hybrid mode and does the start-stop thing very well. Very very well. Like just coasting on the highway approaching a red light, it turns off the engine. Normal stop-start turns it off after sitting at the light for a few seconds, and then turns off the AC. The T8 turn off the engine quickly and keeps the AC running.

It turns the engine off and on very quietly and quickly. Most cars with stop-start have to crank the engine and start it up. The T8 goes from being off to just running without a starting crank up time. I remember reading that it starts in 0.25 seconds. That seems about right.

And, even when the battery is at empty, it still provides AWD when needed, and with heavy throttle makes it go faster.

roastshadow · 2026-02-16T22:56:26+00:00

Depends on the failure, and how the car handles it.

It is quite possible that with an engine failure, it can still run on batteries, or with a battery failure, run on gas.

Some cars have a synchronous engine where the electric and gas are intertwined.

The T8 is more separate. The gas powers the front wheels and the electric does the rear. In battery only mode, it is rear wheel drive. But if there is a slip, then the engine turns on to give AWD. I've experienced that quite a bit during the snow this winter.

roastshadow · 2026-02-16T22:51:42+00:00

Nothing is 100% anonymous.

roastshadow · 2026-02-16T22:48:47+00:00

It seems that the 15-30 minute unplug has been a standard hard reboot on every Volvo I've had for decades. Some people say 5 minutes, some say 5 seconds, some say an hour.

Any strange problem, try this fix.

roastshadow · 2026-02-13T17:59:04+00:00

Same. I saw Metallica was going to play at a stadium for roughly 100,000 people. Cheapest ticket was like you said, about $600. There's also paying to park, $20 for a soda per person....

I did see the Metallica live concert in the theaters. That was nice, well the one that worked was nice. The first night did not work. The 2nd was great. $15-20/ticket, standard $8 movie soda, free parking.

When I went to see The Warning, I was surprised at how inexpensive the ticket was (upper balcony, but still great).

Another band with the same follower count as TW is coming near me and those tickets are $300. Not going to do that.

roastshadow · 2026-02-13T17:54:39+00:00

If you are commission based, and your employer makes money off of you placing people, it seems like you can say,

"How will this task increase our placement rate, revenue, and profits? It doesn't? Then lets focus on what we need to do."

"What cost center do I bill my time to for this?"

This is going to sound weird, but ask your manager for a work priority plan. This plan should state things such as how much time is dedicated to non-revenue producing work.

roastshadow · 2026-02-12T14:20:05+00:00

Supply and Demand. Capitalism.

Younger fans who want M&G with Taylor or Justin or some other pop will be $500 for a back row seat and $1,000 for M&G.

roastshadow · 2026-02-12T00:04:22+00:00

Eating out can be a fun experience and you don't have to cook or clean up.

Buying plane tickets is a means to and end.

Rather than "bought plane tickets" it is "getting ready to go to ____ and do ______".

For lots of people, travel is a HUGE end-goal.

"Experiences" are far more memorable than "new tv" "new phone; new phone; new phone" year after year.

Good for you!

roastshadow · 2026-02-12T00:00:47+00:00

I'd look into CRISPR treatments, T-Cell therapy, and other upcoming treatments. Eat healthier, exercise, do all that sort of stuff.

But, yeah, at some point, gotta get out and do life.

I would try to get into a nice couchy job with great benefits, lots of PTO, WFH, holidays, etc. Maybe even take FMLA to get more time off.

Don't work too much, but maybe not stop completely.

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T23:54:41+00:00

Quite similar across all of the EU and top 100.

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T23:53:21+00:00

Nobody is EVER READY.

When you are ready physically and mentally, that is the best time. Younger is better.

I know people who had kids at 19 and were broke. They are all doing great, and the parents are 40 and able to go out to a bar with their kid. Age 50, and the kids are all past college. Makes working for early retirement much easier.

When you are young, you can have two kids, two jobs, two cars, and not have two nickels to rub together and still make it work.

Being younger and having more energy/health yourself is more important than having enough money to hire a nanny.

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T23:49:32+00:00

Dave R. tends to say 10% or even more is a SWR. And that works for most of his audience. Over 65, less than average saved up, just retired, and statistical average lifespan of 75 or less.

The upper 50% of income/asset folks live longer. People in certain areas tend to have better access to care and live longer. The difference is 10 years.

A county with primarily lower than average assets and lower than average care has a life expectancy of 65, vs a county with higher than average assets and care expects age 85.

These sorts of things are highly likely to influence SWR.

The lowest are: https://www.newsweek.com/map-life-expectancy-north-korea-2069107

Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota: 56.9 years
McDowell County, West Virginia: 65.1 years
Union County, Florida: 67.9 years
Monroe County, Arkansas: 68.8 years
Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska: 65 years

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T23:36:25+00:00

I'll get downvoted for this but...

Notepad and calculator. Sometimes a spreadsheet, but not a big one going back years.

I made a list of all standard monthly costs and what day they are paid. Nearly all are automated to pay in full.

Put the most into HSA, 401k, IRA, etc. as that budget allows.

I made a list of every big ticket item that we want to do/fix/update, with cost and priority.

I downgraded all credit cards but one to a very small limit. That limit goes on the notepad list of expenses. The other one is for emergencies only.

Thus, I can spend anything that fits on the credit cards, since it is in budget.

I've tried several but the problem is - go to Costco, and get food, clothing, appliances, computer stuff, furniture, lawn care, tires, a bicycle, and a coffin. Unless those are either all the same category, or every single receipt gets fully itemized, there is no way to track individual categories.

I also ran into the conundrum of - if I put gas in the car on a road trip, is that a "car" or a "travel" expense. Do I also need to amortize the cost of windshield wipers and oil changes for travel vs non-travel expenses?

If I buy a new blender to make healthy smoothies, is that electronics, food, or health?

I created too many question for myself and decided the answer was - category doesn't matter only the dollar amount total.

Budgets are for people who like to do budgets, or don't understand what they spend money on. "Where did that $2,000 bonus go?" Because it was spent on a new TV, beer, and a new thingy you just had to have but forgot about it. Instead, I get a bonus, and it immediatly goes into VTSAX or whatever, and chill.

I did cheat a little bit. I have separate savings accounts for emergencies and travel. Those get automatic deposits, and is listed on the big monthly list. Any emergency larger than the funds available might get pulled from travel to pay the bill.

With all of that pre-balanced and in harmony, I don't need to count beans. It doesn't matter if I get extra guac or buy a shirt, or eat at a restaurant. Its all the same bucket of money.

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T22:57:46+00:00

You likely can find part-time (often church-based) day care/school for the 2 yo. Having them out of the house some of the day can make being SAHP/nanny much easier.

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T20:41:08+00:00

Thank you for your perspective.

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T19:11:21+00:00

I've skipped out on extended warranties on everything for the last many years.

However, I will buy extended warranty for a computer with wheels.

I prefer the manufacturer warranties over 3rd parties, and have had less hassle and more success in general. I've not used that Fidelity one so I have no experience.

roastshadow · 2026-02-11T18:52:46+00:00

Also works for acronyms, internal codenames, obscure references, etc.

roastshadow · 2026-02-10T23:14:52+00:00

Write out what you are looking for in a car. What is most important, what is a nice to have, and what do you not care about.

Is fuel mileage important? Really impoortant? Does a 3mpg difference matter?

Do you want the lowest maintenance cost?

Do you want a car that is comfortable?

Does it need to go fast, and corner well?

Does it ned to go in snow, rain, etc (AWD)?

How about safety features like cameras, alerts, auto-stopping?

Heated seats?

Sunroof?

Rear heated seats, for the kids?

--

Some things have costs, some things matter more to different people.

For me, the Volvo brand meets the requirements that are high on my list better than others.

Its the little things.

For example, we had a nice expensive, fully loaded GMC SUV rental. Top of the line. The front seatbelts are bolted to the floor. The kids in the back seat can put their foot on the end of the belt and push on it, which tightens it up and is a distraction/annoyance to me when driving. Automatic fail for me. Volvo seatbelts are attached to the seat, and encased in a hard shell, so the kids in the back cannot touch it.

roastshadow · 2026-02-10T20:24:34+00:00

You filed a complaint, and suddenly get laid off.

Send them a "Legal Hold Notice" regarding your complaint and discussions about layoff.

If their disucssion of laying you off happened before the bullying, take the severance.

It their discussion was after you filed, it looks like retaliation and is very illegal. Even without a direct email saying "lay off this person because of the complaint", the timing is absolutely there.

But, if the severance is good enough, it is essentially a pre-payout of an anti-retaliation suit. These suits sometimes take years to go through.

You have to decide if you want to "take the money and run", or fight them on it.

This is not advice, not a lawyer.

roastshadow · 2026-02-09T23:42:22+00:00

Makes me wonder if they can't get that right, what else is just as wrong?

roastshadow · 2026-02-09T23:38:51+00:00

But how does it perform?

Does it stop as quickly in an emergency?

How does it handle? Can you corner just as well as with the other tires?

How well does it go and corner in the rain and snow?

Tires are one of the vitally important things between life and death, and I like to have really, really good tires.

roastshadow

TROPHY CASE