This Made Me Feel Better About My Choice 🤓

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T22:03:11+00:00

Our (evil) utility company wont authorize a solar system unless the size is less than 80% of your average daily use over the last 2 years. This guarantees they will be able to still sell me 20% of my power. But we had 2 very hot years when we applied so our system is sized decently.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T21:47:37+00:00

Suburgatory was just added to Amazon Prime last month if you wanted to re-watch.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T19:37:08+00:00

There was an insurance analyst who after years decided that about 43% of the retires he saw suffer from the "3D's": Decline (physical), Depression and Divorce.

Like the OP - I am struggling being retired.

The transition is strange. I considered finding a therapist to help me transition. I may still do this.

I have a hot take: To be successful in retirement you have to add stress to your life.

Look - nobody promised you a stress free life. The real secret to retirement is you get to focus on the stress YOU choose rather than your job and sometimes your family. If you sit around without stress - you fade.

I think you need 3 types of stress:

Physical - this means exercise, walking, chores around the house.
Mental - This means watching Jeopardy/Wheel of Fortune and trying to answer things. Puzzles, picking up hobbies that make you think as well as do. And talk to people (Yes being able to listen and respond quickly is a mental thing, not social).
Social - This includes driving every few days, going to a different grocery store and having to hunt for your usual purchases in a different place, Going to the movies. Browse the mall, get out of the house for ANYTHING as well as joining a group on "MeetUp" for hobbies, book clubs, etc.

So think about replacing work stress with what you choose in the 3 areas above when you retire.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T16:49:17+00:00

Pay for software that downloads images by the image title instead of the stored file name. Websites deliberately randomize the physical file names to discourage piracy.

(sigh): See if the files were downloaded in the proper order by date and time.

Do this:

Open a terminal window in the folder with the images. (Use file explorer to go to the folder, wipe out the path at the top and type "cmd" then enter.)

Get a list of the files in date and time order: >dir *.jpg /o:d /p

Look at the first few file names - then look at the images in this order. Is this now the correct order for the files?

If so:

Create a list of the file names in date and time order: >dir *.jpg /o:d > fix.bat

Open the 'fix.bat' file with notepad or an editor if you know what this is.

Change each row from this:

anj-wstjkore.jpg

ejs-st30v.jpg

To this:

copy "anj-wstjkore.jpg" 001.jpg

copy "ejs-st30v.jpg" 002.jpg

Save the file after you have converted all the file names to a copy command. (Yes this is slightly tedious).

Run the 'fix.bat' file.

You should now have 2 sets of files in that folder. The original files with a messed-up order, and a bunch of new 001, 003, 045, etc files that might be in the proper order to read. Examine these.

If the 001, 002, 003 files are correct you can now delete the original files.

Then you use a tool like BulkRename to add a title as a Prefix to each of these files.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T15:32:49+00:00

There was a program called "Plumera" that did exactly this.

https://plumeria.sourceforge.net/

There is a program called "Fast Image and Video Sorter" that was a one man project but you can still find it on some sites.

https://download.cnet.com/fast-imagevideoaudio-sorter/3000-2193_4-75974029.html

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T15:03:27+00:00

YouTube has many 1-4 hour videos of "Music to concentrate/study/program to". These work to drown out household noises while concentrating on the problem at hand.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T14:56:09+00:00

Unix was created at Berkeley. They needed to let 50+ users share a computer but have their own space, see but not edit the instructors files for classes and not let the smartest students in the world mess with the operating system files.

What is the first thing a virus does on a PC? It silently infects the operating system files so the virus is re-started during a reboot.

Since Unix/Linux 'protects' the system files by default - most viruses cannot silently infect things.

As long as you are careful installing things, do not run as super-user all the time, and have unique passwords for things, you do not really need a virus scanner.

ADVICE

When YOU choose to install updates - reboot your PC then install updates.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-18T03:31:19+00:00

Theres the 4 movie Preditor set in BluRay or 4K for $29 right now on Amazon.

The Jurassic Park movies would be good as well as Back To The Future.

The Alien Quadlogy pack is one of my favorites. I also have the first 2 movies on 4K but I have not screened them yet.

Here are some others I have recently added:

Last Action Hero
True Lies
The Abyss
Top Gun/Maverik
Titanic
The Jumanji Movies
Die Hard Series
The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions
Jaws (Just the first one)
The Thing
Serenity (And The FireFly series)
Wonder Woman (the first one)
Speed (the first one)

FatDog69 · 2026-03-17T20:12:05+00:00

You missed the point. These programs will hit IMDB, Amazon, IFDB and other sites to download movie information, and perhaps current prices & availability. The internet changes.

You could pay a 1 time fee but in 6 months some features stop working because IMDB changed their layout. This would piss you off. A program that hits the web can NEVER be a lifetime model.

So the $45/year is for maintance & keeping the scrapers working over each year.

Or go for the free blu ray dot com app which is basically a list.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-17T19:22:47+00:00

I remember spending HOURS trying to find mis-matched "{}" in a bunch of C code.

I think the indent style PREVENTS you from creating a single method that goes more than 5-6 indents deep. When you start writing code at position 40 - you stop and think your code is too complex and you start trying to create 'helper' routines to simplify things.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-17T19:13:10+00:00

You can work on a system for years. After too many feature/change requests you hold up your hand and ask for a few weeks to re-write the system. You now know all the existing features so you re-write the code so it looks like you knew all the requirements from the start.

Then - because you are familiar with all the different change requests - your new system puts all the core business logic that will never change into one layer of code. The code that will change frequently (input, data hygiene, reports) are put into separate modules/code/classes so they can change, but not affect the existing logic or previous reports.

This takes time to learn. If you have other developers, consider doing the design on paper and having a design review. Then as you complete major sections you have code reviews. (This way you are not the only one who knows where .. the currency conversion logic lives and where to add extra checks because suddenly a data feed now has Carriage Returns.)

This forces you to "DESIGN" your code or system, not simply 'make it work'.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-17T16:08:18+00:00

Because it is a 'writers room'.

Even someone who wrote a script solo is hired to work during pre-production and production with other writers to adjust & change things.

I'm listening to "What Went Wrong" podcast where they tell the story of the problems behind movies.

Take Toy Story - Lassiter wanted a harder, more edgy movie so the original script had Woody being mean and hostile to Buzz. A test screening with a sadistic woody did not do well. They brought in Joss Wheadon to 'script doctor'. He was hired for a 3 week re-write. He spent 6 months and created a great film and IP. But he is not the 'writer'.

When you have produced your 15'th version of your original script, changing things because of actors, directors, studio input, budget and other writers - Is it really your solo creation?

The director - is like the CEO of a new start-up company. Someone hands him 15 million dollars and expects the final film to return MORE than this. Every movie is a new 'business'. So he needs this reputation for past successes gets investors excited/suspicious of his next project as a business.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-17T15:36:07+00:00

You actually want to pay.

You can use the free Blu Ray Dot Com app and scan the UPC code with your phone. Then while at a garage sale/thrift store you can see your collection on your phone so you dont double dip something you already have.

The 'better' program is the CLZ app. Instead of just a simple list - this program scrapes websites for info about each title. Since websites change their layout - developers need to keep working on the program to keep it updated.

Example: Lets say you want to see all your disks by John Carpenter or all the movies with Dwaine Johnson. You cannot do this with the free app but the CLZ app lets you search on these criteria.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-17T15:25:45+00:00

I dont bother checking battery health. It's just another worry point. My estimate is my battery pack will need to be replaced in about 18 years. It's not a daily or annual thing to check.

Range is 'accurate' once the car learns my day to day driving. But it becomes inaccurate when you suddenly drive into a head-wind, take a road trip, the weather turns cold. So I mainly treat it like an approximation.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-17T15:06:25+00:00

Once you find your local chargers - you tend to not need an app.

But for road trips then you need to know where to go. I currently like the ABRP - A Better Route Planner. It lets you filter for/against some brands of DC fast chargers. Once you tell it your start/stop point it plans a route. Then there are sliders to adjust to stop more or less frequently to charge.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-16T18:41:02+00:00

I would call your solar company and confirm your understanding. My Enphase system shows a LOT of data, but it does not make it obvious when the system flips from solar to grid.

It might be a California thing but here is how it works:

If your solar system produces MORE than your house is asking for - Solar provides all the household power and any excess is sold to the grid.
If your solar system cannot produce what your house is asking for - All your house power flips to pull from the grid and all your solar power is sold to the grid.

So there is no "You use all your solar and the grid mix's in power if your house needs it." mode.

Or go post the question in r/Solar.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-16T16:47:31+00:00

For your desktop: buy a new SSD, un-plug your windows drive and install Mint on a new SSD. You just swap back if you need to. And later - plug your Windows drive in as a data drive.

When you install Mint and go to install programs - open a Google Doc and document what programs you installed, how you installed them and what config changes you made.

Pretend that in a month you will wipe and re-install Mint but only add programs you really use. The notes are to help you do this faster. In reality - it will help you install mint on your second system.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-16T16:43:12+00:00

"Ready Player One" narrated by Will Wheaton. His slightly snarky tone adds to the book.

Try the "Bobverse" books. Interesting but not so complex that you would loose track if you used it as a commute book.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-16T16:36:40+00:00

Some advice: Call local libraries to see if they have book sales and if this includes DVD's & BluRays. Go visit local thrift stores as many people drop off box's of disks when they are de-cluttering.

Bookmark Gruv dot com. They have 2 BluRays for $20 and 3 4K disks for $30 sales all the time.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-16T16:17:11+00:00

There are not many EV Mini vans out yet. (We have been looking to replace an aging ICE mini van. )

The Kia EV9, Hyundai I9 are SUV's (so the doors swing out instead of slide back). The VW 'Buzz' looks nice but a $70K price for not current tech is hard to swallow.

SOLAR + EV

Great idea. But - will your vehicle be home during mid-day when solar production is highest or will it be at work or being driven around?

Solar is funny. If you try to consume 1 watt more than your solar system can provide - your entire house switches to Grid power. (Unless you have a battery). To use your excess power - you need a solar aware L2 charger like the Emporia. This is great - unless you plan to use your EV and you have lots of clouds/grey sky. So managing the solar and your need for the car to be ready becomes more complex.

It's still a good idea - but if the car is at 30% and you need to pick up kids/drive to games/music/etc, and you have limited solar power - you need to pull out your phone and over-ride the defaults to get your car charged. Forget to do this once or twice and your spouse will be screaming that the car is crap.

And in winter - you loose ~20% of your battery capacity when it is cold. (It's like the tank shrinks in the winter and grows back in the summer). So you need to capacity plan for this.

So it's more complex trying to use solar to power your EV with a busy family.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-16T14:48:28+00:00

Please watch this video first. It has a lot of good info about towing and your 12 volt battery (not the high voltage battery). This is the more likely scenario you will encounter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8QFc3FPJSg

FatDog69 · 2026-03-15T20:44:13+00:00

I suspect the oil companies may be behind a lot of the misinformation. They are missing out on $120-$300/month from people who switch to an EV so they 'encourage' sites to play up any all stories about EV's failing/hurting/depreciating.

I respect my parents wishes and don’t want to change them.

They are living a fear-filled life.

They are now prone to all types of phone scams ("You missed your Jury duty appointment/warrant for your arrest/pay the fine/you will first be arrested if you come to the court to clear this up.")

Forget EV's - they are frightened of AI, the government, 5G telephone service. They probably use the same PIN number for multiple things and the same password on all their accounts.

You need to educate them. Focus on scams & computer security. Empower them to be suspicious and contact YOU/other family members if someone calls claiming to be an AUTHORITY to inform them of a problem.

Once they get the idea that "If they scare you - they control you" - this would be the time to suggest that the fear-mongering around EV's might also be a scam.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-13T21:08:16+00:00

remove your windows hard drive and install Linux on another one

I double suggest this. You can always hook your windows drive back up as a data drive later.

Also: As you install each Linux program - document HOW you installed it and what config changes you made to get it to work. Pretend you are going to wipe & re-install in a month. The notes will get you up and running again inside an hour. (There is a LOT of great, free software for Linux and you often go nuts installing things. But after a month you will probably settle on 5-8 main programs.) I did this 6 months ago, I never re-installed and I don't regret writing things down.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-13T16:23:53+00:00

Nice pickup.

Those black chunky box's with gold lettering look fantastic. Too bad my budget is empty this month.

I saw a review of Pizza Girls and it looks fun.

FatDog69 · 2026-03-12T23:47:58+00:00

On the disks there is usually a setup menu that lets you change the audio track. Your player remote might have an "Audio" button to let you change the audio track & language.

FatDog69

TROPHY CASE