A spreadsheet I created to optimize the charge of electrical car.

Spreadsheet to calculate lifetime miles before battery degrades to 70% of capacity.

I simply used the data I saw at a published link. Based on this, for most users 80% to 20% is probably the sweet spot compared to 100% to 20 or 30% most users may now be doing.

I would like comments on your own experience with your car to help others.

Is Tesla Model 3 actually cheaper than a Toyota Camry?

I am responding to this article. I do not agree with the author.
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/10/28/toyota-camry-honda-accord-buyers-dont-assume-tesla-model-3-is-beyond-your-budget/

I have owned Toyota camry for 14 years and Lexus for 20 years, Toyota Sienna for 11yrs.

I only financed the first car which was camry and paid off the loan in 2yrs. I kept it for 14yrs and sold it for $1000. My cost per yr in 1984 dollars was $1000. I always did oil change ever 7.5k miles and rotated tires and did the recommended 30k mile service. Really had no repairs because it was a reliable car. My average maintenance cost per yr including oil changes was about $500 over 14yrs.

I paid cash for a Lexus LS and disposed it for $10 after an accident. After 14yrs of that car my cosr per yr in 1998 dollars was $3200.  Avg maintenance cost over time was about $600 because I had a reasonable and reliable mechanic. Did not got to dealer after warranty.

I paid cash for another Lexus LS 2006 model Lexus certified 40k miles for $30000. It will last 250 to 300K miles.  It now has only 75k miles.

I know someone with Tesla Model S who paid $70k after rebate. It is no more luxurious than Lexus LS. I saved $40k and even if I drove 100k miles at 18mpg and $4 per gallon it would have cost me $22k. Even with zero fuel cost of Tesla LS that is $8k less. Used Tesla with 40k miles was about $45k when I bought Lexus. That would have be $7k cheaper? Not really. I would now have to replace the battery and it costs way more than $7k. Want to talk about the hassle of charging and range anxiety? Can an electric car be my only car?

My opinion is that plugin hybrid makes more sense.

Thoughts on generation gap

Let us look at household where 3 generations live under one roof.

Gen 1 Age 60+ retired
Gen 2 Age 35+ working
Gen 3 Age 10+ in school

G1 developed a life style when they were G2 and want to maintain it even though it may be a different time and place.

G2 has a newer lifestyle than G1 and financial responsibility for themselves as well as G1 and G3. They feel sandwiched between G1 and G3.

G1 is very much in what is current because that is all they know. Very hard for them to understand G2. Forget G3. G1 depended a lot on G3 when they were too young to go to school. After going to school they have to learn to be independent.

So how do we close this generation gap?

Here is a thought. As we get older we know that physical and mental capabilities tend to slow down and so we have to learn to adapt. Also in day to day living we see changes in kitchen appliances, transportation, media, technology and accept the change. In fact we often see people refusing to change struggle and work harder while those who accept change know how to make life easier for themselves.

So here is a thought. It is much easier if G2 connects with G1 when they finish education and start working. The moment G3 decides to live with G2 they very quickly connect with G2 or live in a retirement community with like minded G3s. When G1 get married and have children G0 then G1 will surely understand how their parents raised them from babies and start to connect with G2.

Tennis scoring is so unfair compared to other sports. Player can win most points or most games and still lose.

In most other sports, it is limited time and who ever scores the most wins. It is test of skill.

Examples of unfair match in Tennis.
6-1 6-7 6-7. Player A who wins 18 games vs 15 loses.

Even within a set.
Game 1. 40-0 plus 1 by Player A. Player A wins Total 4 points vs 0
   Score 1-0
Game 2. 40-40 Plus 2 by Player B. Player B wins. Total 3 points vs 5 Net 7 points vs 5
   Score 1-1
Game 3. 40-0 plus 1 by Player A. Player A wins Total 4 points vs 0 Net 11 points vs 5
   Score 2-1
Game 4. 40-40 Plus 2 by Player B. Player B wins. Total 3 points vs 5 Net 14 points vs 10
   Score 2-2
Game 5. 40-0 plus 1 by Player A. Player A wins Total 4 points vs 0  Net 18 points vs 10
   Score 3-2
Game 6. 40-40 Plus 2 by Player B. Player B wins. Total 3 points vs 5 Net 21 points vs 15
   Score 3-3
Game 7. 40-0 plus 1 by Player A. Player A wins Total 4 points vs 0 Net 25 points vs 15
   Score 4-3
Game 8. 40-40 Plus 2 by Player B. Player B wins. Total 3 points vs 5 Net 28 points vs 20
   Score 4-4
Game 9. 40-0 plus 1 by Player A. Player A wins Total 4 points vs 0  Net 32 points vs 20
   Score 5-4
Game 10. 40-40 Plus 2 by Player B. Player B wins. Total 3 points vs 5 Net 35 points vs 25
   Score 5-5
Game 11. 40-0 plus 1 by Player A. Player A wins Total 4 points vs 0 Net 38 points vs 30
   Score 6-5
Game 12. 40-40 Plus 2 by Player B. Player B wins. Total 3 points vs 5 Net 41 points vs 35
   Score 6-6
Game 12. Tie breaker 7-5 Player B wins. Total 5 points vs 7 Net 46 points vs 42
   Score 6-7

Player who won 46 points vs 42 loses.

Why is this?

Before and After Comcast TV and Internet.

I had Comcast Cable TV with Tivo and Internet for 10yrs or so. In May 2018 I checked my Comcast account and found out that the previous contract was expiring on Jun 22. So, I called Comcast and asked what I can get. I was told that without contract I would pay $185 which is $60 more for 150Mbps down, 6 Mbps up internet and cable TV with 3 cable cards for my Tivo. I was asked to call 1 week before contract expires to see what I can get and of course they want to add land line or mobile phone or home security bundle and 2yr contract and so on.

I decided to look for alternatives and tried Youtube TV for 1 week. It had pretty much all the channels we were watching and couple of channels like Comedy central and PBS available for streaming. What I found out was 3hrs of streaming Youtube TV per day uses about 16GB. If there are 2 users, the 1TB limit of Comcast would be reached.  I canceled Cable TV and subscribed to Youtube  TV for $40 per month unlimited DVR 3 simultaneous streams with 6 users on the account. No garbage taxes like Franchise fee, Broadcast fee, sports fee etc adding up to $17 by Comcast.

I asked Comcast what they would charge for 100MBps down 5 Mbps up no data limit and the answer was $90 1st yr, $105 2nd yr with 2yrs contract and then $125. I signed with ATT Fiber internet 1000MBps down 1000MBps up no data limit $80 1 yr contract $90 after that and no taxes. I even got

I completely canceled Comcast. No looking back. I am not signing any more contracts. It is about time Comcast and ATT realize that all they are are internet service providers and if they want to provide TV, it has to compete with Youtube TV or others like Sling TV no contract, cloud DVR.

How I connected ATT Fiber Router BGW210-700 to Google Wifi

You could do the same with any router I suppose.

The technician only knows how to hook up the equipment. He called a specialist and I myself had to work with that specialist to figure it how to do it.

If you do nothing, what ATT will do is give you their wireless router with 4 network ports. It is fine if you have a small house or just use wired ports in far away rooms.

When you get internet to your home, the ISP gives the modem what is called WAN IP address which is seen by the world outside your home. You want your router to get the WAN IP address in case you have cameras in your house for security you want visible when you are not home. Also, you want a better router which provides local IP addresses to your devices and it knows the WAN IP address to send or receive requests from outside.

To do that, there are some steps involved.

Login to the ATT router by connecting your computer directly to one of the 4 local ports on it and open your browser and type 192.168.1.254.

1. Firewall/IP Passthrough
2. Allocation Mode: Passthrough
3. Passthrough Mode: DHCPS Fixed
4. Choose from list: MAC address of the Google Wifi Router
5. Go to Home Network and Disable DHCP
Now save settings before you disconnect the wire to the router.

Power off the router BGW-210-700

Disconnect LAN port of Google Wifi router
Power up BGW-210-700 Router
Power up the Google Wifi router and using the app on IOS or Android
change LAN IP Address on Google Wifi  router to 192.168.1.1

All works. Only thing is if you have to change the setting of BGW-210-700
you have to factory reset it.

You can factory reset your Arris BGW210-700 in the following way(s)
1. When the router is on, press the button reset and hold for 30 seconds.
2. While holding down the button reset, turn off the power of the router and hold down the button reset for 30 seconds
3. While holding down the button reset, turn on the power to the unit again and hold for another 30 seconds

If you any other local router, follow instruction on how to change local IP address on your router to what your local cameras and printers are looking for. Mine is 192.168.1.x. So, unless I disable the DHCP server in ATT router, it will conflict with my router because it also uses 192.168.1.x. In any case you want DHCP sever to run only on your router and put the ATT router in Passthrough mode with its DHCP server disabled.

Yes. I know all this is complicated. Hope you know what you are doing or hire an expert....

How much bandwidth and data do you need to watch TV over internet?

Youtube TV in 1 week consumed about 4GB per hr for 1080p based on watching MSNBC, CNN, Tennis Channel and CNBC mostly. So, the 1TB limit on typical Internet packages give you about 250hrs a month or about 8hrs a day. Also, the peak bandwidth was about 8 to 10MBps. So, you need at least 20MBps down to watch reliably if you are the only person on your internet and you also have computer and cell phone using internet at the same time.

If you are single and working 8hrs a day on the average, 1TB is probably enough. If you have a roommate sharing internet and viewing internet video, you may run over 1TB limit. Also you need min 50MBps down to support 2 users. You will end up having to pay $30 extra to make the data unlimited currently on both Comcast and ATT.

On top of this you pay for TV over internet which can vary from as little as $20 to as much as $65 if you choose premium options such as Sling TV orange + Blue + packages + DVR.

If you have more than 3 users streaming Video you may still be OK as long as only 3 streams plus other no other video use on internet with 50Mbps down.

Hope this helps you decide what works for you.

Are you tired of phone scams and fraud? You can filter out all such calls (mostly)

Most of the unsolicited calls these days have a caller ID very close to your number or a 5 or 6 digit caller ID. Either you do not answer or set your phone to ring only when callers on your contact list call. That takes care of 99% of the junk calls. Needless to say that you should not give out any numbers on the phone unless you initiated the call to your bank, brokerage or IRS using the number posted on their website. You can verify who they are if they ask you questions to identify yourself and you too can ask them questions such as what was the exact amount of a transaction you made on a particular day that you know.

Scammers and Telemarketers can put out any caller ID and it is surely possible that they can put out the caller ID of someone in your list. That is a different issue and if that happens, ask your friends to send you a text message which identifies them with something only you told them and you call them back. Luckily, I did not yet have to resort to that but that is what we need to do these days.

Other thing to be aware of:

When on vacation be aware that your posts or photos or reviews if seen by public can clearly let the public know that you are not home. Not a good idea to post ANYTHING to public when out of town. Good to inform 2 or 3 neighbors and your major credit card companies of your travel plans to help prevent fraud. Better to avoid using credit card abroad. Debit card is safer. Better to use Debit cards with low or zero foreign transaction and ATM and take cash on a need basis at a very public ATM during the day.