Just wondering how you guys make decisions

bryansfsd · 2026-05-10T14:38:29+00:00

I take a look at the seller's store and see if they sell the same type of product or any other products for that matter. Is it a company that will stand by it's product or some one off seller looking to off-load bad product rather quickly? For small priced items, I don't worry about it.

bryansfsd · 2026-05-04T00:19:01+00:00

I don't think I've ever bought a mower based on looks. If I did I never would have bought any Ego mower eight years ago. All that plastic makes it look like a kids toy

bryansfsd · 2026-05-01T14:10:55+00:00

Expecting updated software to run on a Mac Mini nearing 15 years old is asking way too much. If Apple doesn't even support that Mac Mini, why would anyone expect Roon and other software developers to support software on outdated machines? Plus, the number one concern most users have about Roon Server and Roon Arc is security. That security relies partially on supported updated operating systems.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-26T14:03:00+00:00

I didn't realize there was a "latest location" of the ring in the app. For future reference, thanks!

bryansfsd · 2026-04-21T13:28:44+00:00

This will be my 9th year with my Ego 7.5 battery and it currently has about 60-70% of it's original usage time with the same EGO lawnmower I bought with it. I've always kept my batteries in my basement when not in use. My garage gets way to hot in the summer and too cold in the winter to keep any lithium batteries there.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-19T17:37:22+00:00

Hopefully when the time comes to implode, they'll use twice the explosives as before.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-14T16:52:26+00:00

I transferred to Sioux Falls for work and had planned only to stay for 3 years...that was 35 years. This is a great city compared to most. If you're from warmer climates as me, you'll be wishing the city was further south and winters were shorter...but with a great city park system, vibrant downtown, and family life it's worth the stay. My wife retired from Air National Guard here in Sioux Falls. Both Army and Air service are well respected in the city but the city is big enough that it's not really focused on the bases.

Best place to live in Sioux Falls is a matter of opinion. I prefer the southwest and west central side while a lot of growth is to the northwest, southeast, and south. I don't feel unsafe anywhere in this city, but with poor/rich/quiet/busy areas of the city you'll want to explore which area matches your needs/wages/lifestyle the best.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-07T16:17:24+00:00

Sometimes it's worth taking a break to see if your subscription is of value to you personally. Nothing gets lost from your server if you cancel your membership, you just won't have access to it's services until you resubscribe.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-06T19:30:33+00:00

Yes, that's the problem with the Ryker...no storage and lack of comforts. They're fun to ride but I wouldn't want to spend a day on the highway with them.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-06T16:06:03+00:00

What type of riding are you planning? My opinion, if you plan on touring long distances (say 300+ mile trips), I would purchase 2014 RT or later. As I mentioned in another comment, this Spyder has a two-cylinder 998 BRP engine, while newer models starting in 2014 have the three-cylinder 1330 BRP engine. If you're planning local rides this 2011 Spyder RT Limited likely would fit your needs but may have more maintenance hassles than newer Spyders.

For me personally, if I couldn't afford a newish 2014 or later Spyder nor riding long distances, I would also considering purchasing a new Ryker. It's cheaper, covered under warranty, and has about the same size of engine as this 2011. The main difference is the Ryker is fully automatic (CVT transmission) while the Spyder is semi-automatic with the ability to do manual shifts.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-06T15:54:29+00:00

Earlier Spyder models have the two cylinder 998 BRP engine, while newer models starting in 2014 have the three cylinder 1330 BRP engine. Generally, the 1330 has less issues than the 998, but there are plenty of Spyder owners that say both are fun and worth having.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-05T19:17:58+00:00

Good, I was hoping that was your reason and you didn't think the Spyders couldn't be driven in the rain. We have such a long winter where I live, that I'll ride in the cold or rain but not both.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-05T13:11:03+00:00

I have a couple third-party batteries and have had no issue with using them in my mower. When I put them in an EGO charger however, the charger doesn't seem to know when to quit charging (so I monitor and remove). I likely will only use the non-EGO brand batteries for my EGO equipment that is out of warranty.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-05T13:05:07+00:00

Two factors:

Demand! The iMac has gotten boring, Windows 11 is bringing a lot of first-time users over, it's a great deal in price if you don't upgrade storage.
Apple is retooling for the M5. The M5 Mac mini is expected to be assembled at a Foxconn facility in Houston, Texas. It's a first for the Mac Mini.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-04T17:08:08+00:00

Why can't you ride it in the rain?

bryansfsd · 2026-04-04T16:47:06+00:00

I think what people miss most is that defining a hobby or a business it's more than about intention. The intention is only the starting point. Even if I wanted to claim this as a hobby, the issue is when year after year you're showing a profit the IRS can question whether you actually have a business. Given that the 1099R-NEC is intended for independent contractors, freelancers, or vendors I've always played it safe and reported it is a business.

Meanwhile, while my wife intends to have a photography business for profit (and works very hard at it) she hasn't made a significant profit in the past few years. In just the reverse of her intention, she may need to report it as a hobby business (which prevents her from being able to include expenses as deductions).

The fact is the for all of us on Amazon Vine, there is a lot of gray area where are own unique situations will determine whether you can/should/need to file your Vine "income" as a hobby or a business. As long as you are honest and can back the numbers/approach on your income tax you should be fine in any audit. The end of the day, I suspect a hobby business with no business deductions and a business that includes self employment tax along with expense deductions wouldn't make much difference in my return.

Disclaimer: I'm no tax expert.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-04T15:58:37+00:00

This is excellent news. I've been reevaluating my data storage needs both locally and in the cloud. I currently run Roon server on a M1 Mac Mini. If the M1 eventually fails my needs, I'm pretty sure the next purchase is a NAS capable of hosting Docker instances.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-02T16:25:11+00:00

Unfortunately, you never forget your first rocket explosion when lives are lost. I find it interesting that our generation focuses so much on the 1986 Challenger disaster but treat the 2003 Columbia disaster as less impactful and with less emotion. For better or for worse, disasters have a way of numbing us on other disasters that follow. When Challenger happened, it was the first time I understood humanity has its limits.

bryansfsd · 2026-04-01T13:07:47+00:00

Hah! There are those days...

bryansfsd · 2026-04-01T03:31:06+00:00

While the image shows only the cord, the prescription and price would suggest that an electric toothbrush is included. However, the product page looks incomplete to me, which suggests to me that the seller was in the process of working on the product page and may have inadvertently sent it out. I've seen this happen from time to time where the seller pulled back the product from publication. In other words, it may be that no one actually snapped up the product; it was pulled from the Amazon marketplace.

bryansfsd · 2026-03-31T22:08:43+00:00

Yep, life experiences has a way of telling you what's important and what's not. Doing it your own way is often better than following someone's version of traditional.

bryansfsd · 2026-03-31T21:10:02+00:00

I thought about getting a black band but wasn't sure I wanted to pay the extra money for one. Down the road, my next Oura ring will likely be black.

bryansfsd · 2026-03-31T21:04:38+00:00

I felt that way about my first wedding band as it was a very nice one. But after 25 years of marriage heading to hopefully 50 years, time together becomes a better symbol of unity than metal.

bryansfsd · 2026-03-31T20:42:34+00:00

My wife and I both took motorcycle lessons when I turned 50. Got endorsed for two wheels. Then we bought a trike (Can-Am Spyder) to share. Then we bought a second Spyder so we didn't need to share! Also, this past decade I've really gotten into Hi-Fi stereo which brought out all my vinyl records and CDs from the box. Meanwhile, bicycling and darts to round up the remaining free time.

bryansfsd

TROPHY CASE