Two of my favorite things (Early Intel Mac edition).

[MBAir2010]

With the talk of the impact of tariffs, I'm wondering if my coffee habits will change. I'm assuming coffee pricing will be impacted--both by tariffs, and also if tariffs result in more inflation. I'd been thinking that I'd like to get an automatic drip maker again, but I might end up deciding on having fewer cups of coffee that are individually brewed. Time will tell...

I would not worry about coffee tho that is expensive these past several years.
im hearing that only huge imports like textile, steel aka goods used for manufacturing, etc will have a percentage hike
as other smaller items like asian coffee, basic foods and even sushinori will be the same price.

what irks me is the some supermarkets hiked up the prices of Canadian goods in February 25%
while Shimano bike parts went up 25% last week from some suppliers who had the parts in stock already.
why a bunch of sad companies they are cheating us like that!

 

[eyoungren]

I got some of the Sumatra coffee. It is definitely a big step past the previous coffees.

I was a bit worried that the Giant Rat of Sumatra might have stowed away in the coffee, but those fears were unfounded. LOL

(The Giant Rat of Sumatra was a case that was mentioned in passing in a Sherlock Holmes story.)

It's got a good taste and that's one of the reasons I keep getting it.

Also, we picked up two boxes of Seattles Best Portside Blend (K-cups) a few days ago. Two for one special, so 20 K-Cups for $6. Pretty good deal I thought, and it it turns out that on this particular buy the coffee is stellar.

 

[eyoungren]

With the talk of the impact of tariffs, I'm wondering if my coffee habits will change. I'm assuming coffee pricing will be impacted--both by tariffs, and also if tariffs result in more inflation. I'd been thinking that I'd like to get an automatic drip maker again, but I might end up deciding on having fewer cups of coffee that are individually brewed. Time will tell...

When my wife and I were first married there wasn't a lot of money, so we learned that there are some cheaper brands that do have decent flavor. One of those is Cafe Lavé, which coincidentally is made by the same company that makes Don Francisco. It's an espresso roast, costs about $6 a can and you can find it usually any place that has Don Francisco.

We put in half the amount we normally do when using this brand (and a few others) because the normal amount simply makes it bitter. Lately, due to finances, we've have to revisit this brand. But it's still good, so we aren't losing anything.

 

[WriteNow]

while Shimano bike parts went up 25% last week from some suppliers who had the parts in stock already.
why a bunch of sad companies they are cheating us like that!

How predictable!

 

[WriteNow]

simply makes it bitter.

For me, bitter coffee will go along with my feelings about how expensive everything has gotten!

 

[MBAir2010]

For me, bitter coffee will go along with my feelings about how expensive everything has gotten!

Every grab of a package of coffee has risen 10¢ since 2022 per month
And the quality decreased 25%!

 

[eyoungren]

Sunday morning Mac and coffee…

Peaceful sounds, running a three hour video on Youtube of Cyan's Firmament game. Stationary recording someone did just to get the ambient sounds of the ice and snow for the Juleston realm.

Combined with the Firmament soundtrack playing from Swinsian.



Coffee today is a frequent go to, Peet's Major Dickason's Blend.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

“Coffee today is a frequent go to, Peet's Major Dickason's Blend.”

That’s a decent coffee, good choice!

☕️

 

[eyoungren]

So, as of last Monday our one working vehicle has been declared dead (by me, too expensive to fix and not worth the cost). We are now relying on Amazon delivery, walking, riding (bicycle), Uber and starting tomorrow the city bus. That means, when it comes to coffee, that I must now use what I have.

One K-cup left this morning and no delivery of recently ordered K-cups until Tuesday. I've already made today's coffee in the main coffeemaker and I really didn't want to fill it again for four cups.

So, out comes the old…



Yeah, I can make a 8-12 cup coffee filter work in a 4-cup coffee maker. Yep!

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

So, as of last Monday our one working vehicle has been declared dead (by me, too expensive to fix and not worth the cost). We are now relying on Amazon delivery, walking, riding (bicycle), Uber and starting tomorrow the city bus. That means, when it comes to coffee, that I must now use what I have.

One K-cup left this morning and no delivery of recently ordered K-cups until Tuesday. I've already made today's coffee in the main coffeemaker and I really didn't want to fill it again for four cups.

So, out comes the old…

View attachment 2555708

Yeah, I can make a 8-12 cup coffee filter work in a 4-cup coffee maker. Yep!

Are you planning on picking up a new vehicle or are you going to try vehicle-less living?

I ask because I just got severanced out from my job and then uncle Murphy came knocking and my truck died (1996 Dakota extended cab) so I chose to invest 2k into a new ignition coil/dustributor/pcm which was the trade in value of the truck. My rationale was that I will likely have a commute with new work so needed a vehicle and did not want a car payment at this time. I could have said no to the repair & put that 2k towards a new vehicle but I know the rest of the truck pretty solid (motor/drive train etc) and I haven’t hit 100k on it yet lol (at about 70k).

Anyhow was curious on your thoughts as I know you work from home.

BTW I am drinking coffee from my ninja drip brewer with the stupid wonky broken timer while typing this.

 

[eyoungren]

Are you planning on picking up a new vehicle or are you going to try vehicle-less living?

I ask because I just got severanced out from my job and then uncle Murphy came knocking and my truck died (1996 Dakota extended cab) so I chose to invest 2k into a new ignition coil/dustributor/pcm which was the trade in value of the truck. My rationale was that I will likely have a commute with new work so needed a vehicle and did not want a car payment at this time. I could have said no to the repair & put that 2k towards a new vehicle but I know the rest of the truck pretty solid (motor/drive train etc) and I haven’t hit 100k on it yet lol (at about 70k).

Anyhow was curious on your thoughts as I know you work from home.

BTW I am drinking coffee from my ninja drip brewer with the stupid wonky broken timer while typing this.

The driver's side CV axle is leaking transmission fluid. That is causing the transmission to slip, like if you had the clutch in on a manual when trying to accelerate. The end effect is that there is minimal acceleration until around 35mph. By that time, you've either been T-boned, or are seriously holding up traffic. Forget hills, forget inclines, forget trying to get out of a parking lot where the street has a slight grade (for the water runoff). It's dangerous, and eventually the car isn't going to move at all.

They want $8,200 to fix it. New CV axle, new transmission. We don't have that. We live paycheck to paycheck. I will most likely be forgoing the mortgage at the beginning of next month to have enough cash to buy a used but driveable car outright. I don't care if it's a beater as long as I don't inherit serious problems.

Long term, there is no way to sustain not having a car. Both cars are paid off, and there was minimal driving. Now we are forking out to get two people on the bus every day (one to school and back and one to make sure the other one gets to school and back). Then Uber on the weekend. My wife works 9 miles away. That's a 4hr and 22 minute walk each way and that ain't happening - especially when her shift ends at midnight.

Amazon is what is currently allowing us to eat. Grocery subscription on top of Prime.

PS. The other car is 28 years old, misfiring, burning coolant and sat for so long, emissions hoses and such are all cracked. That car is even more dead - although I can get the engine to start. Last time I tried though, I was worried about an engine fire so I shut it off.

PPS. First car is 12 years old with 141,000 miles. It's not worth $8,200. Maybe in 2016 when we got it with 100k less miles, but not now.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Understood. Old cars can be a pain for sure. My 1985 benzie is out of commission as well (dash key mechanism broke). The car runs fine but I cant start it because the mechanism behind the tumbler broke. This is within my technical car wheelhouse and can fix it, but I need to buy the $70 part. Ill get this done probably by end of October since I now find myself having alot of time on my hands lol. Once I get something new lined up I will look at picking up a new used truck probably in the new year Q2.

I thought about just washing my hands of them both and donating to PBS for a decent tax deduction but for, $70 I can regain a functional car and this was before I spent way more than I really wanted to fixing my 96 Dodge but whatevs, that how the cookie crumbled this time round LOL .

I wish you the best of luck in getting into a quality used vehicle!

 

[eyoungren]

Understood. Old cars can be a pain for sure. My 1985 benzie is out of commission as well (dash key mechanism broke). The car runs fine but I cant start it because the mechanism behind the tumbler broke. This is within my technical car wheelhouse and can fix it, but I need to buy the $70 part. Ill get this done probably by end of October since I now find myself having alot of time on my hands lol. Once I get something new lined up I will look at picking up a new used truck probably in the new year Q2.

I thought about just washing my hands of them both and donating to PBS for a decent tax deduction but for, $70 I can regain a functional car and this was before I spent way more than I really wanted to fixing my 96 Dodge but whatevs, that how the cookie crumbled this time round LOL .

I wish you the best of luck in getting into a quality used vehicle!

The irony for the 2013 Nissan Sentra (the 12 year old car) is that the engine is fine. There's just no delivery of power to the wheels. Sigh.

I'll be looking at a damaged car website to see if I can get the car sold. No idea how much I can get for it, but if it was working fine, I doubt it'd be much over $2k. Which is why we aren't (and have no ability) to fork over $8200.

The 1997 Honda Accord (28 year old car) is really worth nothing. It's sat too long and has rear quarter panel damage, plus all the stuff I mentioned earlier. The thing about this car is that my wife was with me on the day my parents bought it new. Then we got it in 2008.

Since I started driving at 16 (when I got my license), I have always had a car and they have always been free or paid off shortly. All were used and all eventually got towed away, but this is one favor from God I've always seemed to have. The Sentra is paid off because that was a condition to get into our home. My parents paid the remainder of what was owed.

The Uber driver that drove my wife home last night sells cars for his regular job. We have his number, so will be checking in with him.

Thanks for the good wishes, God will provide. He always does.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Indeed. 8200 is a catastrophic bill. I dont know anyone with that sort of cheese just in their pocket for a rainy day and even if you did, I dont know anyone who would put that into an existing car vs into a newer low mileage quality used car. It is hard to let go of these old cars (at least for me it is) sometimes though. This makes my wife kind of crazy I think haha, but I grew up riding around in the back of that benzie which was my moms car and my grandpa drove that Dodge for years, then my Dad and now me, so there is a sentimental value to them both. My wife sees them purely as tools and that is a rational way to view them I agree, but I am a sentimental old mac nerd I guess. Oh well, the butt divot in my driver seat is perfect and worth it to me.

 

[eyoungren]

Indeed. 8200 is a catastrophic bill. I dont know anyone with that sort of cheese just in their pocket for a rainy day and even if you did, I dont know anyone who would put that into an existing car vs into a newer low mileage quality used car. It is hard to let go of these old cars (at least for me it is) and this makes my wife kinf od crazy I think haha. But I grew up riding around in the back of tha benzie which was my moms car and my grandpa drove that Dodge for years, then my Dad and now me, so there is a sentimental value to them both. My wife sees them purely as tools and that is a rational way to view them, but I am a sentimental old fool I guess. Oh well, the butt divot in my driver seat is perfect and worth it to me.

I feel the same way. Although, one particular car my dad owned, that I inherited, I was pretty happy to see go. It's only sentimental if the majority of the time they are contributing to happy memories.

 

[WriteNow]

They want $8,200 to fix it. New CV axle, new transmission.

Ouch!

I imagine you might have thought of this, but it might be worth getting a second opinion. Although--even though one can save a lot on repair costs sometimes--I'm not sure in this case you could save enough to make the car worth bothering with.

I remember my father having fifth gear fail in one car with a manual transmission. The car was drivable, thankfully. He briefly priced the repair, and when found out the repair was a new transmission at $2K he decided he'd live without fifth gear. It seems like transmission failure is often the thing will a doom a car.

Good luck!

 

[WriteNow]

It is hard to let go of these old cars (at least for me it is) sometimes though. This makes my wife kind of crazy I think haha, but I grew up riding around in the back of that benzie which was my moms car and my grandpa drove that Dodge for years, then my Dad and now me, so there is a sentimental value to them both. My wife sees them purely as tools and that is a rational way to view them I agree, but I am a sentimental old mac nerd I guess. Oh well, the butt divot in my driver seat is perfect and worth it to me.

The sentiment is understandable, given that this truck has history. There are times I think of cars that are long gone--some I had, some that existed in the family--which have memories tied to them.

On a practical level, though, what I read above makes me think it's worth keeping that truck going. Yes, the money could possibly go towards something else--but no guarantees that something else won't have its problems. Plus, I don't know about the Dakota, but I know I've heard poeple make compellng arguments that older with trucks can often be better. I know someone, in fact, who recently made this argument. He sunk time and money into a full size truck that's at least 30 years old. But he told me that it would cost a fortune to buy something today that would equal that truck.

 

[MBAir2010]

on the TVs, there was a news story of a coffee shop here in Southwest FL that
(now hold your coffee mug tight.....)
"offers a free breakfast sandwich with a cup of coffee purchase?"

aint that supposed to be the other way around?
of visa-versa, coffee gouges the purs-a!

I guess the price of coffee won't go down in our lifetime

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

$15 cup? There’s a place in town approaching this price point but I am never going to pay that much for a cup on the regular. Granted I don’t get a free breakfast sandwich with it which definitely adds value - improves the money math somewhat if it’s in that $15 range and both are well executed.

This mornings cup + 08MBP / MX Linux

 

[eyoungren]

Ouch!

I imagine you might have thought of this, but it might be worth getting a second opinion. Although--even though one can save a lot on repair costs sometimes--I'm not sure in this case you could save enough to make the car worth bothering with.

I remember my father having fifth gear fail in one car with a manual transmission. The car was drivable, thankfully. He briefly priced the repair, and when found out the repair was a new transmission at $2K he decided he'd live without fifth gear. It seems like transmission failure is often the thing will a doom a car.

Good luck!

I thought about it, but that would require driving it to another shop. And if the diagnosis is the same, driving it back. The check engine light came on at one point - and all the codes point towards transmission failure.

Since neither car is usable, I've dropped the insurance already. And AAA, which I could have used to tow it just never got paid earlier this year because of other things.

 

[mortlocli]

Re coffee filters:
When I had a coffee filter machine
..just used folded paper towels as filters.

Just a thrifty guy.

Amusing thing: when my dad first got that machine as a gift
Came home to find my dad n brother trying it out for the first time.

They'd put instant coffee in it.

See what you think of this they said, giving me a cup

Tried a taste n said:
"If I drank that, I'd get a guts ache "

Yep - worked so much better with the right stuff .

Hey - we ain't hill billies - we be Kiwis. Lol

 

[mortlocli]

$15 cup? There’s a place in town approaching this price point but I am never going to pay that much for a cup on the regular. Granted I don’t get a free breakfast sandwich with it which definitely adds value - improves the money math somewhat if it’s in that $15 range and both are well executed.

This mornings cup + 08MBP / MX Linux
View attachment 2556949

Lol.. look at the coffee ring to the left of the touch pad.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Lol.. look at the coffee ring to the left of the touch pad.

Well … in my defense, the laptop is the flattest surface around my overstuffed lazyboy so is more often than not where my cup of joe gets sat!

I am after all an ambidextrous coffee drinker