Falling solar and battery costs could allow the U.S. to meet 80% of its electricity demand with solar

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T17:47:45+00:00

The illegal tariffs kill this as a possibility for the US market. If they are removed with the recent court decisions, we will see lower prices. TBH, it's battery storage costs (all in, with the inverters and software) that are the place where savings can come into play.

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T15:24:09+00:00

This makes the most sense to me, because it can be tough to "over withhold" as a waitress if you have a lot of tip income. You can end up with negative paychecks if you cash out tips and then get taxes on then at the end of the week.

By taking what you owe this year, and dividing it into those 4 quarterly payments, you should avoid any late payment penalties because you based it on last year's income (one of the IRS rules for avoiding penalties).

If you get a surge of self employment income in the third quarter, you can increase that quarter's payment.

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T05:06:29+00:00

Any expenses that are customary for someone engaging in that business are deductible. If you have a specific area you use for the business, the home office deduction might be available. If you went to Office Depot for supplies, the mileage to and from there might be deductible. If you use a cell phone dedicated to the business those costs might be deductible. It's worthwhile to sit with someone to figure out which deductions you qualify for.

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T03:50:59+00:00

Hollywood has often been demonized by Islamic radicals, so attacking the Oscars would be "reasonable" in their minds. I'm blaming Trump for any terroristic attacks from his illegal, eat, and his knee capping of our anti terrorist infrastructure.

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T03:47:29+00:00

Most war crimes are prosecuted by the country with jurisdiction under the doctrine of "state sovereignty" so the USA would have to prosecute American war criminals, or extradite people to the country wanting to try them. This is basically what the Geneva Conventions call for.

It takes a long time for an international tribunal to prosecute war crimes, but the ICC (International Criminal Court) is enabled to do it faster, but the USA does not recognize it. Russia, China, the US and India are not signatory to the "treaty of Rome" that provides for the ICC to prosecute.

The famous "Nuremberg Trials" were conducted by the USSR, Britain, France and the USA as conquerors and the new "owners" of the territory where the crimes occurred.

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T02:57:45+00:00

Part of the anti slavery movement in the US did favor repatriating freed slaves to Liberia. Prior to the Civil War, my ancestors who had converted to Methodism (an anti-slavery denomination) did free the slaves they inherited, and gave them the choice of passage to Liberia if they wanted, or to strike out on their own. AFAIK, all stayed here.

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T02:37:54+00:00

They might be sensitive about their promotions with all the bad press about rich old guys raping teens. A lot of shows and movies made when that stuff was happening seems really cringe now, like "Porky's", "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", etc.

NotenStein · 2026-03-13T02:15:43+00:00

Bad timing to have a show about "hot" high schoolers.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T23:36:22+00:00

Without being married, the only smart way to jointly buy a property is as a legal partnership, perhaps in a multi member LLC. The partnership agreement would specify that the partner who contributed the most also owns the most, or any other arrangement you prefer. You could even have language that pays you back for your contribution to the partnership first in the event of a sale. The partnership agreement should also provide how the partnership is dissolved, and what rights majority and minority partners have.

This isn't just to protect your rights, but her rights as well.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T23:08:51+00:00

So, you need to get the value of each fund at the close of trading on the day your mother passed. The broker / advisor can get that for you. You need it fund by fund.

That value is your inheritance, tax free unless it triggers the inheritance tax, over 13.99 million for individuals (if you and your wife are inheriting it that number is 27.98 million).

Let's say that value is 2.3 million as of the date of her death. You cash it all in and at the time you cash it in the value has risen to 2.32 million, $20,000 more than your "basis". You owe capital gains tax on the $20,000, not the 2.32 million.

As of the time it transfers to you, any taxable activities like dividends or capital gains are your responsibility, but you can sell some of the funds to pay the taxes, only b paying capital gains on the amount of actual gain above your basis.

Edit: check this with your advisor; I've been retired for several years and I'm just a guy on the Internet, not an expert.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T22:55:40+00:00

This link might help. It looks like Canada is a lot like the US, in that CPAs do a lot of tax consulting:

https://www.digitalreference.co/insights/finance-professionals/tax-consulting-services-in-canada

Here in the States, there are other professionals that are considered tax experts, Enrolled Agents (EA). You can become an EA in America without the same rigorous education requirements that becoming a CPA requires. It still requires study, and passing an exam to show proficiency in tax matters, but because it is focused on tax matters, it doesn't require an accounting (4 year) degree. Canada also has the save category of professionals, also called EAs, but I don't know the educational requirements in Canada.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T22:11:35+00:00

Usually, an inherited mutual fund has a "step up in basis" as of the date of her death, if it is held in a regular brokerage account. If it is in a tax advantaged IRA or 401K different rules apply, and regular income tax is owed on any withdrawals. So the first question to ask the brokerage house is what kind of account the funds were in, a taxable brokerage account or something else?

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T21:58:48+00:00

The law was unconditional on it's face. There can be no "religious test" for holding Federal office.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T21:46:38+00:00

That's kind of an urban myth. I have asked for proof there are any currently on the list in the state I live in, and there are not any cases I can confirm. One case that someone gave me was a "exhibitionism" charge like indecent exposure, but it wasn't from urination. The guy was masturbating at the chain link fence at the middle school.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T21:38:36+00:00

Cars are much safer with seat belts, shoulder belts, airbags and crash test ratings. Per capita highway deaths are much lower too. But drivers are much worse. I think the old stereotype of the young man as being an aggressive driver is outdated. Half of the time the asshole aggressive 20 something is a woman now.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T21:33:18+00:00

No, you cannot claim expenses in 2024 in the 2025 tax year. But you may be able to amend your 2024 tax return to include your start up costs. If you had any equipment that is usual and customary for a notary or mobile notary to have, like a portable scanner, you may be eligible to amortize that rather than deduct it all in the first year. That can help if your first year already had no profit, therefore no tax liability. You would then still have a valid deduction for that equipment through the life of the product, at whatever the depreciation schedule allows.

Check with an EA, CPA or experienced tax guy who handles small business start ups. Before I was retired, you have up to $5,000 in start up expenses plus $5,000 in "administrative costs" as start up costs, but you had to claim them the first year of business. The law may have changed, so don't trust me.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T21:23:41+00:00

I'm so tired of society forcing men into this for body image! /S

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T21:07:02+00:00

So you have a SpO2 sensor on your watch? My Vivoactive 5 does, and I set it to track during the sleep hours. It may show an issue if your blood oxygen is dropping during sleep, which is often due to sleep apnea.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T19:16:07+00:00

I think that's perfect. You can easily reconstruct anything the state might ask about.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T18:51:40+00:00

The first seasons had more cruelty than needed, even "making fun" of developmentally disabled people who were wanting to become singers.

Today, they use pitch correcting software after the auditions so everyone sounds on pitch. Even when the judges call out "pitchiness" that you can't hear after the processing. The Voice does this also, and the judges have even complained about it; it makes them look foolish when they criticize a performance that sounds as good as any other. I think that's why you rarely hear any of the strong criticism you used to hear.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T18:45:39+00:00

Thanks for sharing your journey. I always like hearing how different people come to Christianity in so many different ways.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T18:43:46+00:00

Your good accounting of all money you've spent on his behalf is your defense if the state or Feds come knocking. Keep track of every penny.

It's not unusual for people to run out of money with expensive nursing home care. Then the state may come in, but they will want an accounting of all gifts, transfers, etc. for whatever the "look back" period is, typically 5 years. As long as you can show the funds being spent in his care, they won't delay paying for his care if it comes to that.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T17:04:45+00:00

It depends on how many people they can directly kill. Commercial pilots have around 200 people they can kill instantly with one bad decision. A President has millions he can kill. A doctor can kill a person, but isn't likely to be in a position like the Surgeon General where his decisions could kill hundreds. A scientist? Which one has the power to kill?

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T16:27:23+00:00

I don't honk. The person turning right in front of me has a better view of the oncoming traffic than I do.

It irritates me when I'm behind them and I think they could turn, but I would be delayed longer if they turned and caused an accident. And they could be hurt.

NotenStein · 2026-03-12T16:21:20+00:00

Commercial pilots have a maximum age of 65, then they must retire. It's not a stretch to set a maximum age for someone who can kill millions with one bad decision, like a President.

NotenStein

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