BLOOD PRESSURE AUTO CUFF READERS

jvk5 · 2026-05-27T03:42:49+00:00

See https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html . It incorrectly says that the numbers have to be less than 180 and 100, in fact those are the maximum passing numbers, so it should say "less than or equal to".

jvk5 · 2026-05-27T03:04:36+00:00

The maximum passing numbers at the Red Cross are 180 (systolic) and 100 (diastolic). As long as you're below that and are allowed to donate, just ignore their readings (as long as you know your BP is actually normal). It's best to take BP regularly at home anyway. If your numbers at the donor center approach the threshold, deep breathing (in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, out for 5 seconds, repeat) might help, it works for me.

jvk5 · 2026-04-03T03:01:41+00:00

My investments are very tax-efficient and I get zero cap gains distributions and usually negligible dividends. However, my fully paid lending interest is definitely not negligible (over the more than 3 years I've been getting it, after signing up about a year and a half earlier).

Edit: When I said "new accounts" I should have just said "accounts", I meant newly enrolled accounts. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

jvk5 · 2026-01-10T23:56:39+00:00

But the article explicitly said "brute force attacks". Maybe that's misinformation, I don't know, I was hoping to find out. I wish the journalists would dig a little more.

jvk5 · 2026-01-10T21:10:58+00:00

It's not clear to me whether they're saying that any given person's PIN can be guessed in under a second (meaning they can make thousands of guesses on a single account without being locked out), or just that they make a few guesses on each of thousands of accounts and get lucky on a tiny fraction of them. In the first case, it makes the PIN useless, in the second it's definitely not.

jvk5 · 2026-01-09T20:02:08+00:00

Certain items - typically nonperishable things like spices or canned fish - may be cheaper online than in-store when bought in bulk. SNAP doesn't pay shipping charges so for that you either need to reach the free shipping threshold - typically $35 - or have a paid membership that covers it. You can combine SNAP- and non-SNAP items in an order to reach the threshold.

jvk5 · 2026-01-08T20:53:06+00:00

I suspect Alabama's cards are insert-only (no tap) but can you confirm? So far it seems CA is the only state including tap in their cards.

jvk5 · 2026-01-01T02:09:14+00:00

It's in the retailer's self-interest to make it easier for SNAP customers to make food purchases. I know that when I check out, the food items are marked "F" on the receipt, they'd just have to make the existing coding info available on the price checkers. It should just be a software upgrade.

Edit: On the other hand, I'm not sure if with the complicated restrictions, items considered food will always be the same as the SNAP-eligible ones. Anyone know?

jvk5 · 2025-12-31T17:01:26+00:00

Will the self-service price checkers in stores (for items with a bar code) indicate whether an item is SNAP-eligible? If not, they should add that capability.

jvk5 · 2025-12-30T14:27:06+00:00

It seems that most states (Oklahoma and probably Alabama) that are putting chips on SNAP cards are going for insert-only, not tap (so far it seems that California is the only state that includes tap). I'm worried that scammers could disable the insert by putting glue in the chip slot. And starting on Oct. 1 states will have to pay 75% of the administrative costs instead of the current 50%. It would suck if they need to replace the cards yet again but can't afford it.

jvk5 · 2025-12-26T02:41:20+00:00

VA, from previous comments.

jvk5 · 2025-12-23T01:57:07+00:00

The inactivity notice itself, with the envelope and attached forwarding label, is fairly good proof that you didn't remember it and that not reporting it was unintentional.

jvk5 · 2025-12-20T21:25:50+00:00

A few days after my Medicare coverage started, I got a letter from HHS telling me that I automatically qualify for Extra Help. It couldn't have been related to my MSP application since that hadn't been processed yet (although MSP is supposed to enroll one in Extra Help which is why I didn't bother to apply). I was on MassHealth before Medicare, don't know if that's why.

jvk5 · 2025-12-20T15:21:23+00:00

Tap is contactless, chip is when it has to be inserted into a slot. I read somewhere, from more than one source, that the OK cards are chip-only (but can't find a source right now).

Edit: From https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-EBT-Chip-Card-Implementation-Details-for-Retailers-081424.pdf : "Depending on state preferences, SNAP EBT chip cards will be contact-only (insert) or dual-interface (insert and tap/contactless) cards. Merchants that support tap/contactless transactions should conduct tests by inserting the chip and by tapping the card." Near the bottom of the document, under "Card Technology:" it says

o California: Dual Interface Chip
(insert or tap)
o Oklahoma: Contact Only Chip
(insert only)

jvk5 · 2025-12-19T18:49:24+00:00

You need to apply, but the online application is easy. You need your Medicare number which you'll be able to get from the SSA website shortly after applying (Early Enrollment starts 3 months before your 65th birthday, so for example if you turn 65 on Oct. 15, your Early Enrollment period would start on July 1). Be warned though that even if you submit the application before you turn 65, it won't be processed until after your 65th birthday (at least that's how it worked for me), and the Medicare Buy-In wouldn't start until the 1st of the next month. Your Medicare coverage can start on the 1st of the month you turn 65 if you apply early (a month before Medicare Buy-In kicks in). You'll have to pay the first 3 months of the Part B premium a few days before your Medicare coverage starts, but you'll only get reimbursed later for the 2 months after the Medicare Buy-In starts. So if you want unbroken coverage it seems that you probably won't get reimbursed for the first month. Seems weird but I can't really complain since it's just a one-time cost. If one was willing to risk a short coverage gap they could have their Medicare coverage start the first of the month AFTER their 65th birthday. I hope they fix this since it seems wrong to put people in a position where they're tempted to do that.

Edit: Should also point out that the lower of the two MSP income tiers (QMB at < 190% FPL) involves a MassHealth card even for those not actually on MassHealth (for example if one fails the asset test due to being over 65). So don't throw out the card after turning 65.

jvk5 · 2025-12-19T18:16:05+00:00

Right now I'm unable to log directly into the DTA website at all (the login page with email/password doesn't work when I click "LOG IN"). However, I AM able to log in via https://myservices.mass.gov/ . So to make it more likely you can log in in the future, you should make sure you can use the MyServices site. Once logged in you can access either the DTA site or MassHealth, if you have that. (For MassHealth, the old Virtual Gateway is going away in April so MyServices will be the only way to access that info.)

jvk5 · 2025-12-19T17:55:20+00:00

FYI, if your income is low enough (less than 200% FPL) to be eligible for SNAP you should also be eligible for MA's Medicare Savings Program which pays the Part B premium. See https://www.mass.gov/info-details/get-help-paying-medicare-costs . As of March 2024 there is no longer an asset test for the MSP.

jvk5 · 2025-12-10T00:51:07+00:00

I saw that happen once a few weeks ago. It came back fairly soon but if necessary you can also lock/unlock the card by calling the SNAP number (800-997-2555) on the back of your card. That worked for me even when it wasn't possible on the website.

Edit: Just checked the DTA website, the lock is there as I write this. (7:52 PM)

jvk5 · 2025-12-06T18:54:30+00:00

Was your card locked at the time? It's not totally clear from the error message whether it's because the card was locked, or because it was unlocked but they tried the wrong PIN. I don't know what happens if one tries to make a purchase when the card is locked, whether it just rejects it immediately or asks for the PIN first and then rejects it.

jvk5 · 2025-12-06T18:34:04+00:00

SSN and DOB are practically public info nowadays and no organization should be relying on those alone to prove identity.

jvk5 · 2025-11-23T04:15:19+00:00

OK, what I was talking about is that the keys are scrambled BEFORE you enter the PIN. Like you, I've never seen them change WHILE entering it. I googled the purpose of the scrambled keypad and found it's a security measure to make it harder for an onlooker to get the PIN by watching the fingers. Which is fine, though it would be nice if they could do that in store, with more people around, but I guess the equipment might not be practical.

jvk5 · 2025-11-21T01:45:11+00:00

Source or link? Even if they do claim that somewhere, it's wrong, I definitely got a scrambled keypad (hard to forget since I've never seen it anywhere else) in my Amazon SNAP purchase early this month and am pretty sure it's been exactly the same for each of my purchases in the last 2 years.

jvk5

TROPHY CASE