Posted By RichC on December 3, 2014
I’ve entertained putting one of these siphons aboard Encore but haven’t ever used one (still do the suck on the hose thing). Every time I put a Harbor Freight version of this jiggler siphon in my basket, I take it out again since it looks too cheap. Might have to keep it in next time or buy one from SuperJiggler.com or Charlie’s Charts?
Posted By RichC on December 2, 2014
Posted By RichC on December 2, 2014
In talking with a long time customer today about shopping and using credit cards, the subject of FICO scores came up 
since they are printed each month on Discover Card statements (nice touch Discover). He ask me what a good score was and I “sort of” knew that over 700 was good and thought 760 was excellent, but could give him a definitive answer even though I’ve blogged on this topic a couple times before. Instead of guessing I looked up the information and found an excellent graphic (below) and helpful pie chart (above) explaining what is used to calculate a credit score (adding a WSJ PDF titled: “What is a FICO Score?“).
After a little searching online, I noticed Credit.org posted a great charge and set of numbers earlier this year. Check out their blog post or click the graphic for a larger version.
According to Credit.org …
It’s difficult to get exact answers to this important question. Every expert, credit bureau, and loan officer has a different opinion as to where the threshold between good and poor credit lies. In addition, “good” can be a relative term. Do we mean “good” as in excellent, or “good” as in “good enough”?You can start by comparing your score to national averages. According to FICO, the following proportions of consumers have scores in the following ranges:
- Up to 499: 2%
- 500-549: 5%
- 550-599: 8%
- 600-649: 12%
- 650-699: 15%
- 700-749: 18%
- 750-799: 27%
- 800-850: 13%
You can see that over 50% of the population has a credit score over 700, with 42% scoring below that level.
Lower credit scores aren’t always the result of late payments, bankruptcy, or other negative notations on a consumer’s credit file. Sometimes, a consumer who doesn’t have enough information on his/her file will have a low score. This can happen even if you had established credit in the past; if your credit report shows no activity for a long stretch of time, items may ‘fall off’ your report. (This is because your credit score must have an update provided by your creditor within the past six months; if you creditor stops updating an old account you don’t use, it will disappear from your credit report and leave FICO with too little information to calculate a score.)
Similarly, consumers new to credit will have no established credit for FICO to use when calculating a risk score. If there is just a little bit of information, you may get a score, but it may be low. This low score wouldn’t be because you made any mistakes, but because you are considered a risky borrower because the credit bureaus don’t know enough about you.
Let’s explore the numbers. Credit scores range from 300 to 850, with higher scores being better. Here’s a rough guide to what various score ranges mean:300-550: Poor credit. It is generally accepted that credit scores below 550 are going to result in a rejection of credit every time. If your score has fallen into this range, you need to work to improve your score. Often a bankruptcy filing will bring a score down to this level; over time, the score will improve if you make your payments on time, every time. Statistically, borrowers with scores this low are delinquent approximately 75% of the time.
550-620: Subprime. It’s possible to get credit in this range, but not guaranteed. If you do get a loan, it will be at very disadvantageous terms: you will pay much higher interest rates and penalty fees. In this range it is worthwhile to address any specific credit problems you have and try to boost your score before applying for credit. In this range, borrowers typically become delinquent 50% of the time.
620-680: Acceptable. Scores in the mid 600’s mean you will most likely be given credit when you apply for it. You still won’t get the best interest rates, but borrowers with scores over 620 are considered less risky and are therefore likely to be approved. In this range, borrowers can expect to qualify for a prime rate. Traditionally, “Prime” loans could be easily sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Delinquency rates in this range are between 15 and 30%.
680-740: Good credit. Scores around 700 are considered the threshold to “good” credit. Borrowers in this range will almost always be approved for a loan, and be offered very good interest rates. At this credit score, lenders are comfortable with the borrower, and the decision to extend credit is much easier. According to FICO, the median credit score in the U.S. is in this range, at 723. Borrowers in this range are only delinquent 5% of the time.
740-850: Excellent credit. Anything in the mid 700’s and higher is considered excellent credit, and will be greeted by easy credit approvals and the very best interest rates. In this high-end of credit scoring, extra points don’t improve your loan terms much. Most lenders count a credit score of 760 as just as good as a score over 800. Some people take this to mean that it’s not worth the effort to continue to improve your score after you get into this range, but as always, the higher your score, the better. Even if an extra 50 points in this range doesn’t help you get a better interest rate on your next loan, they can serve as a buffer if you have a negative item show up on your report (maxing out a credit card can penalize you 30-50 points. If your score is near 800, the resulting damage won’t push you down into a lower tier). The delinquency rate in this range is approximately 2%.
Of course, different lenders have different standards, and your experience may vary. You may have a high credit score, but a negative public record on your credit file may hurt your chances of getting a loan. And remember, while credit scores don’t take your income into account, lenders will, and if they feel you simply can’t afford the loan you’re applying for, they won’t approve you no matter how good your score.
So you can see that getting to a score in the mid 600’s might enable you to qualify for credit, but a score of 680 or above is the threshold for “good” credit. And if you can get your score up to the mid 700’s, your credit will be considered excellent, and you will have few worries when it comes to qualifying for credit at favorable rates.
Posted By RichC on December 1, 2014
Last week oil prices hit multi-year lows after the Organization of the Petroleum Countries (OPEC) decided to maintain their current production rate. This indicated that they are either comfortable with the current price of oil or more than likely want to force producing areas with a higher cost per barrel to stop exploration, drilling and oil production. CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera reported findings (click map below) that estimated the breakeven price per barrel for several areas around the globe. The range is shockingly wide … from an expensive breakeven of $100/barrel in Alberta’s oil sands to an amazingly cheap $10/barrel in Saudi Arabia.
Brent crude hit a five year low of $67.53 but is back up over $70/barrel early on Monday, while U.S. crude is at $67 having traded as low as $63.72.
"The market is still very much in panic mode," said Energy Aspects’ chief oil analyst Amrita Sen. "Once we get over the panic, Brent prices will probably stabilize at around $65-80 a barrel in the short term."
Posted By RichC on December 1, 2014
After my blown tire fiasco I realized all my tires on the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel were aging and decided to play it safe and replace them. It made sense since I’ve been driving the car on longer trips than originally intended.
Besides tires, I had the slow leak in the spare tire fixed and added a new LED trunk bulb (photo above), which does an amazing job of lighting up the trunk — it was $3.50 on EBay — and making it easy to find things after dark.
Posted By RichC on November 30, 2014
While buzzing up the interstate in the old Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel, I noticed a slight mushiness and then a boom. After I unloaded a full trunk of junk onto the side of the road, while the snow was blowing (ugh!), I made a tire change that would have made NASCAR pit crews proud. Unfortunately my full size spare was only half filled with air (probably a slow leak?) and my 12 volt compressor/ jumpstarter was in my Honda Pilot. A quick search for “free air” found a Walmart just as they were opening – thank you.
What shocked me was the destruction of the tire; trend was still good, but assume the age of the sidewalls was the culprit?
Posted By RichC on November 29, 2014
I received a letter from Liberty Mutual, my auto insurance company, earlier this month “appreciating my loyalty” … until I looked at the details – Eligible in 2019 — hmm, must be a mistake?
So … I first called the number on the bottom of the letter and reached the corporate folks so that they could look into this. I mentioned that I’ve been insured with Liberty Mutual since I was 16 years old and have always been with them, assuming that my loyalty would matter IF I ever had an accident. Knock on wood, I’ve been driving for 40 years, have multiple cars, added a wife and raise two children who were covered and learned to drive while on our policy … and none of us has ever costs Liberty Mutual more than a windshield stone chip repair and broken glass window last year “due to vandalism.” Those items over a 40 year span were covered for the most part without question or fanfare … so I was satisfied with the company.
Now … before you think I’m foolish for blindly staying with the same company, I’ve occasionally done comparisons and had Liberty Mutual review our policy and discounts (we also have Home and I have a Life policy) and yes they have usually been a few dollars higher, but always reasonably close. To me, it was not worth switching thinking “loyalty” made a difference … but now I’m seriously rethinking.
After getting a call back from the underwriting office, they indicated that the broken glass claim triggered the “loss of my accident forgiveness” but my rates didn’t go up yet. What, glass claim when we’re talking accidents costing insurance companies thousands if not 10’s of thousands on medical claims??? After talking with my local agent, it seems that Liberty Mutual changed their policy three years ago and now includes “glass” claims against the accident forgiveness policy … indicated he should have told me about that. (would have been helpful … but then I probably would have switch three years ago?)
So really my long term loyalty didn’t matter and just like banks nowadays, insurance companies aren’t looking at the big picture. That’s too bad, because at one time I would have recommended Liberty Mutual, but now they have irritated me enough to look for new car insurance, but to take my home and life policy elsewhere too. Not only that, but I’m currently frustrated enough to not even recommend them as I have in the past, but also will end up bad-mouthing them to others (and from the way I was treated over this issue, they probably don’t even care!) 
My advice for auto insurance nowadays:
Shop around and think carefully about my story before choosing Liberty Mutual as a company to do business with. (yes, written while I’m still fuming … so factor that into the equation.)
Posted By RichC on November 28, 2014
With the “Elio upgrade Holiday Promotion” that will help lock in my “SIL” (Spot in line) and 50% bonus offer on an Elio … and a need to spend money on Black Friday without going to the stores [/sarcasm], I’ve upgraded my “ALL IN” status making a true commitment to this new car company. Paint our Elio red please.
More than likely a person would be smart to wait a couple years for all the bugs to be worked out … but what’s the fun in that? 
Posted By RichC on November 28, 2014
Our family was not together this year for Thanksgiving, but Katelyn, Drew and Taylor made the most of the holiday … well particularly Taylor and his friends Tyler (L) and Nick (R). The three buds up in Williston, ND stretched the weekend out and decided to drive up to the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Lake Louise and Canmore, Alberta.
LINK to a few more photo on Flickr
Posted By RichC on November 27, 2014
I couldn’t believe it, but Katelyn and Drew have picked out and set up a real Christmas tree already. I know she is probably anxious for Christmas, but before a tree before Thanksgiving seems a little crazy … but then it is Minnesota?
Christmas aside, it is time to celebrate Thanksgiving … like they did in 1598 in El Paso, Texas. Yes Texas. It seems according to some that in 1598, a few years before the pilgrims in 1621, the first Thanksgiving celebration was in El Paso, Texas. I read a little questionable history about the Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate who may have celebrated the “first Thanksgiving in North America” (although it might be a Texas bias claim?) 
It’s an interesting thought though that the Spanish may have “had a thanksgiving” and were breaking bread with the Indians of the area.
Juan de Oñate was a member of a distinguished family that had loyally worked for the Spanish crown. His father had discovered and developed rich mines in Zacatecas, Mexico. Oñate, himself, had opened the mines of San Luis Potosí and performed many other services for the Spanish king. But he wanted to carve an unquestioned place in history by leading an important expedition into unexplored land.
He was granted land in the northern Rio Grande Valley among the Pueblo Indians by the viceroy of New Spain. The viceroy moved to a new post, however, and his successor was slow to grant Oñate permission to begin his expedition. Finally, in 1597, approval came. To reach his new holdings, Oñate chose to bypass the traditional route that followed the Rio Conchos in present-day Mexico to the Rio Grande and then northward along the Rio Grande into New Mexico. In the summer of 1597, Oñate sent Vicente de Zaldívar to blaze a wagon trail from Santa Barbara in southern Chihuahua, along which could be found adequate water supplies. Zaldívar underwent many hardships, including capture by Indians, in carrying out his instructions. No mention of the hardships was made, however, when he made his report to Oñate. (The trail blazed by Zaldívar has become the route of the modern highway between Chihuahua City and El Paso.)
By early March 1598, Oñate’s expedition of 500 people, including soldiers, colonists, wives and children and 7,000 head of livestock, was ready to cross the treacherous Chihuahuan Desert. Almost from the beginning of the 50-day march, nature challenged the Spaniards. First, seven consecutive days of rain made travel miserable. Then the hardship was reversed, and the travelers suffered greatly from the dry weather. On one occasion, a chance rain shower saved the parched colonists.
Finally, for the last five days of the march before reaching the Rio Grande, the expedition ran out of both food and water, forcing the men, women and children to seek roots and other scarce desert vegetation to eat. Both animals and humans almost went mad with thirst before the party reached water. Two horses drank until their stomachs burst, and two others drowned in the river in their haste to consume as much water as possible.
The Rio Grande was the salvation of the expedition, however. After recuperating for 10 days, Oñate ordered a day of thanksgiving for the survival of the expedition. Included in the event was a feast, supplied with game by the Spaniards and with fish by the natives of the region. A mass was said by the Franciscan missionaries traveling with the expedition.