Search found 1755 matches

by jplee3
Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?
Replies: 101
Views: 4930

Re: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?

To OP: What you might find in an Olympus...... Some of my examples to help. Olympus OM D E-M1 MK II (micro 4/3 sensor) All Olympus M.Zuiko lenses. All raw. no effects. Capture One Pro. Hilton Waikaloa Resort Big Island, Hawaii https://i.postimg.cc/FH9h3hcb/temp-Imagekj5f-IE.avif https://i.postimg.cc/4xBhjfTw/temp-Image-SMc3a-C.avif image upload site Coronado Beach Resort. As Shot. No folter. No post proc effects. Just timing and lots of waiting. https://i.postimg.cc/x8x35f8k/temp-Image-NOjq-A3.avif free photo host Consider the new Olympus OM body and Zuiko lenses? j Excellent shots! BTW: it's crazy that they're out with the Mark IV now... I'm only on the Mark II lol. Hard to keep up - it feels like they're doing with the EM10 what they do ...
by jplee3
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?
Replies: 101
Views: 4930

Re: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?

Sandtrap wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:15 pm Full frame Canon with 600 mm "l" lens, tripod with gimbal. Taken within the shortest range of the lens so minimal to zero cropping.
Raw > Capture One > Photoshop.

to op:
what kind of photography do you have in mind?
what results do you have in mind? (snapshots, memories, etc?)

Image

j
If anything, probably quite a lot of landscape with some telephotos mixed in of finer architectural details on various buildings, etc.

I just got a DJI Mini Pro 3 not long ago so have contemplated bringing that but I likely won't - I don't want to lose it or have it confiscated or stolen.

Beautiful shot btw!
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

4nursebee wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:59 pm Maybe not related to your issues, but what are your windows made out of? We have wood casement windows (yours look the same) that have some moisture related issues, though never penetration. We keep them well painted and have a thin smear of clear silicone along the exterior wood/glass interface.
I believe these are vinyl retrofits (called Retrofins by Anlin).
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

I had a leak in my 1st floor window which was attributed to the vapor barrier paper being cut. The contractor had to remove the stucco laterally and above the window which required scaffolding to be built in order to visual confirm the cut. The overall cost was about $15k due to scaffolding, it probably would have been $6k-$8K without it. In my search for a contractor about 4 turned down the work and only 1 accepted and it was their specialty but they did it right. They showed me the cut, got permits, showed me how they did a leak test, and the whole nine yards. If it is the vapor barrier, you can probably test it by spraying water above the window for say 3 to 15 minutes depending on how big the gap is from a tear of the vapor barrier the...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

I think all homes are high maintenance and have problems from the original build. This is my second townhouse and I've spent lots of time and money on both houses. Neither of my houses was new so I was expecting maintenance cost and replacement cost. Yea that's true. But some can be higher maintenance than others... :D And I think the construction material types used as well as local weather are going to be factors with all of this. Take for example my parents' single family home up in the Bay Area. They've lived in that place since before I was born (so basically since the 70s). The siding on it (which I believe is wood) is fine - they've never had to do any major siding repairs as per my understanding and especially anything due to major...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to find reasonably priced contractors?
Replies: 31
Views: 3518

Re: How to find reasonably priced contractors?

[Topic is now in Personal Consumer Issues - mod mkc] How do frugal folks go about finding the best priced contractors? I usually do things on my own or have family members help out when they can, but I have a larger landscaping job I'd like to contract out. But lately the quotes have been through the roof. $2k for tree trimming. $4,500 to run some heat in the basement. $40k to finish my basement (did most of it with a friend for ~ $1,500). In the past, I hired handymen off craigslist. One was good, one did half the job. Just wondering since I haven't hired anyone in a number of years. So how do budget minded folks find reasonably priced pros? Angie's list? Facebook? Google? I plan to get 2-3 quotes. The job is installing green giant arborv...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

As a separate somewhat unrelated note: our new neighbors across the street are completely reroofing their house. I'm assuming there must have been some leaks they discovered with the last rains. The roofs on these homes are originally Spanish clay tile but it looks like they stripped their roof of it completely, had to rip the underlayment off as well as replace probably 40-50% of the decking, replaced the underlayment and are now getting ready to install what appears to be composite shingles ("Duration Cool Plus") on top. Makes me wonder if we should have just done that with our roof :T Of course, the underlayment on ours was supposedly re-done not that many years ago (I think in 2018) but the previous owner opted to keep the Spa...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

My guess would be that the leak has nothing to do with the weep holes but everything to do with the caulking around the exterior of the window since they were retrofit. Moisture running down your walls has probably found a crack in the caulking somewhere and getting between the window and the wall underlayment somewhere. Next time you are up there, touch the caulk and see if it is still pliable. My guess in your hot California sun, it is rock hard and cracked. You should really probably put on a fresh bead of silicone on the top and sides of your window trim. Never apply it to the bottom edge of the window to allow moisture a chance to escape should it find it's way back behind it. Flew the drone up there to get a closer look and this look...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?
Replies: 101
Views: 4930

Re: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?

the phone still does have some pretty serious limitations, especially having to do with telephoto (zoom) or if you want bounce flash. Anything far away and it is not great. I do not use my phone for bird photography or to take pictures of the moon, for example. +1. Another use case for zoom is architectural details. I don't use digital zoom on the iPhone because the results seem ugly to me. The iPhone also cooks your photos' colors and noise reduces automatically. With a standalone camera you can do the cooking yourself and not use noise reduction algorithms if you prefer, giving a sharper photo. Yes, I agree that zoom on the Iphone is horrendous. This is probably something I'd be missing if I were to only rely on it. I think there are pro...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?
Replies: 101
Views: 4930

Re: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?

Wow, thanks all. I didn't realize this would spark such a debate and make for an interesting conversation lol :) I was reading a bit more and Googling around and it seems the consensus (even here among some, at least) is that if I'm going to do any specialized shooting (one of which would be telephoto or long exposures) then I ought to consider bringing the Olympus. The only thing I can think of that I *might* want to take is telephoto shots. Then again, the only 'telephoto' lens I have is the 40-150mm which is a budget telephoto lens. The idea/appeal of night shots is also there but realistically I just don't know how that's going to be. The other thing I just thought of is how much my wife has complained in the past when I do bring a came...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

My guess would be that the leak has nothing to do with the weep holes but everything to do with the caulking around the exterior of the window since they were retrofit. Moisture running down your walls has probably found a crack in the caulking somewhere and getting between the window and the wall underlayment somewhere. Next time you are up there, touch the caulk and see if it is still pliable. My guess in your hot California sun, it is rock hard and cracked. You should really probably put on a fresh bead of silicone on the top and sides of your window trim. Never apply it to the bottom edge of the window to allow moisture a chance to escape should it find it's way back behind it. I was suspecting this is the issue before but above I ment...
by jplee3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 7:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

ddd wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:19 pm One of your photos shows that the left side wall has water damage, I cannot be the weep holes since water does not go up. Did you check the top of the outside trim. There might be a little hole.

Unfortunately i cant get up that high to check above the trim
by jplee3
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?
Replies: 101
Views: 4930

Re: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?

rob wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:09 pm The iPhone does it all and solves world peace crowd will be along shortly :D ....

Is photography a priority? If no then use the phone. It will get you some decent pics. If yes then your not likely to be asking the question.

Edit: Going on a 6 week trip soon and I'm trying to cull gear I want to take :shock:
I’ll likely figure out a way to bring the camera… and then get frustrated that i have to deal with all the additional chargers, batteries, accessories, etc LOL
by jplee3
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?
Replies: 101
Views: 4930

M43rds digital camera vs Iphone 13 pro max?

Hey all, We are traveling to China in another couple weeks and I’m deliberating what gadgets to bring along haha. I have an Olympus OMD EM10 micro 4/3 camera that I was considering bringing along but I just got an Iphone 13 Pro Max and understand the camera on it is pretty darned good. Was also thinking about bringing my GoPro for kicks. I just want to avoid overpacking but at the same time if the digital camera is something that is going to be beneficial (compared to the Iphone) then of course I’d like to bring it along. The irony of all this is that I originally bought this camera years ago because it was more compact than a DSLR… with the improvements to cameras on phones though it seems like there is a bit of convergence :) Thoughts or ...
by jplee3
Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

Was looking for some advice on what we can do about a leaking window. I think water is getting in around the trim from outside. These are retrofits that were installed back in 2009 (and by Anlin). The outside of the house is stucco and is also exposed (there's no roof overhang) Before going to great lengths, check if the weep holes of each suspect window are clear or clogged by pouring some water in each window track and observing if the water comes out of the weep holes. If not, the holes may be clogged, which can allow the water to enter your house instead. If clogged, you can Google for guidance on unclogging them. So I poured some water in on both ends of the track (into the interior weep holes) and I see water coming out from the outs...
by jplee3
Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

Was looking for some advice on what we can do about a leaking window. I think water is getting in around the trim from outside. These are retrofits that were installed back in 2009 (and by Anlin). The outside of the house is stucco and is also exposed (there's no roof overhang) Before going to great lengths, check if the weep holes of each suspect window are clear or clogged by pouring some water in each window track and observing if the water comes out of the weep holes. If not, the holes may be clogged, which can allow the water to enter your house instead. If clogged, you can Google for guidance on unclogging them. So I poured some water in on both ends of the track (into the interior weep holes) and I see water coming out from the outs...
by jplee3
Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Re: Leaking Window?

Looks like AZ/CA. Are you 100% sure the roof doesn't leak? That can also manifest itself with leaks at the windows. I'm not 100% sure but the underlayment was completely redone within the past 10 years so there *shouldn't* be any leaks. The reason it looks like the window itself is because the inside frame/corner of the window seems to show signs of moisture. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPQ3B_vRFr_yCJlBEFbttHX2zDfOydpYtR8is3sMtJ78i5MJyBoaYVVwwwO_jb-NO3gXDnD-7R75HrTzO5IljI8YYn-oiwCPU4Ywi9fbdepaK57tM09WCjkYH-b7xj7OuiDquNfxk7c02iF34caAHJupA=w1192-h1589-s-no-gm?authuser=0 I could go up into the attic though and take a look there to see if there are signs of staining/moisture since there is attic space above where this room and wi...
by jplee3
Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Leaking Window?
Replies: 24
Views: 1877

Leaking Window?

Hey all, Was looking for some advice on what we can do about a leaking window. I think water is getting in around the trim from outside. These are retrofits that were installed back in 2009 (and by Anlin). The outside of the house is stucco and is also exposed (there's no roof overhang) The plantation shutter outside trim is warping and now that I look at the pics, it seems like you can see staining from water running down. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPzRYFb4kdpIcGo0-UNV7BmzK_dg2eX8TMeToQcU605o2eScXgyc2AHdXCeCdvnSXAEUa2Vu-q9mNQgv2X5FoqfWH4jcUn20R-dHJCvBc1zyrriqlP5sguzLFaHgAJ7aXnrerDE3FxF5ts7AaCXkSZmVA=w1192-h1589-s-no-gm?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczN_iJKIEzJ65NmtN3cls3dtau6VmjhB9M3dosrrSiM0jDM6R66Q4K...
by jplee3
Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc
Replies: 18
Views: 1533

Re: Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc

After watching and coaching kids for the last 9 years: kids are aggressive or not. and nothing you do will change that. Specific skills related to aggression can be taught. Lots of kids taking martial arts are reluctant to hit or kick other kids very hard. Even when everyone is in pads. Part of getting good at martial arts is learning to do this (in class when it pads, etc.). Young baseball pitchers often throw a lot of balls to the outside of the plate because they are afraid of hitting the batter (because lots of kids are nice and don't want to hurt people). A necessary skill to be a successful pitcher is to 'pitch inside' -- not aiming at the batter, but being willing to hit the batter if the pitch doesn't go where desired. Again, a tea...
by jplee3
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc
Replies: 18
Views: 1533

Re: Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc

Hey all Seeking some tips from those of you who played and really loved soccer growing up and now. Our son, 8, just joined AYSO this year and had his first game today. Either the other teams are all-star content or the team my son is on is just really that bad because they were blown out 5-0 today and the first game they played a few weeks back (he couldnt play) I heard it was 10-0. I realize this is probably not uncommon at this age and largely dependent on how ‘stacked’ certain other teams are too. There are a couple kids on his team now that dont seem very motivated but getting blown out also doesnt help with that either. Today was confusing because it was also his first game but even understanding the positions and what he is supposed ...
by jplee3
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc
Replies: 18
Views: 1533

Re: Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc

Know the rules Dribbling (use cones too). Head up Trapping the ball (feet, knees, chest) Kicking techniques (passing vs shooting etc) Juggling the ball with feet and knees Buy a small portable goal for outside It’s all about repetition and practice to master the basic skills You can toss or kick the ball during trapping exercises. Watch older kids or games on tv or in person if there are pro teams in your area. Even video games can help with understanding the game. Thanks all. Part of the issue is that he has a pretty short attention span and trouble staying engaged. I took him back to the park to practice and it was tough keeping him engaged and motivated. He gives up easily. I was trying to show him the physicality of guarding and shield...
by jplee3
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc
Replies: 18
Views: 1533

Soccer for kids - supplemental practice drills, suggestions, etc

Hey all Seeking some tips from those of you who played and really loved soccer growing up and now. Our son, 8, just joined AYSO this year and had his first game today. Either the other teams are all-star content or the team my son is on is just really that bad because they were blown out 5-0 today and the first game they played a few weeks back (he couldnt play) I heard it was 10-0. I realize this is probably not uncommon at this age and largely dependent on how ‘stacked’ certain other teams are too. There are a couple kids on his team now that dont seem very motivated but getting blown out also doesnt help with that either. Today was confusing because it was also his first game but even understanding the positions and what he is supposed t...
by jplee3
Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Health Insurance (China)?
Replies: 22
Views: 1523

Re: Travel Health Insurance (China)?

Be careful about charge card insurance... any insurance, of course, but some issues are more likely to occur with charge card coverage. That is, are pre-existing conditions covered (or any costs due to pre-existing conditions)? Note that "pre-existing condition" can be defined very differently for travel insurance than how many would define that term in everyday usage (at least in the USA). It's obviously very important to understand all of the Terms & Conditions of any insurance policy, but some problems seem to catch people by surprise than other problems. Here is a link to the Travel Insurance section of CruiseCritic. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/ Most issues are not limited to "cru...
by jplee3
Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Health Insurance (China)?
Replies: 22
Views: 1523

Re: Travel Health Insurance (China)?

Forgot to mention but we'll be there for two weeks. Not sure if length of time/visit matters (where one would not bother buying this for such a short time vs if we were staying for several months, etc)... on that note, my in-laws will be there for 3 months which is pretty long. Of course, they never would have thought of this themselves and are leaving tonight so it might be too late even if they wanted it.
by jplee3
Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for window restoration/replacement guidance for older home
Replies: 23
Views: 2005

Re: Looking for window restoration/replacement guidance for older home

I'm coming up on likely needing to go down this path due to at least one area (upstairs) where an exposed window (there's no roof overhang above) seems to have a leak where water is likely getting in around failed flashing. These windows are retrofits that I think were probably done in the mid-2000s. When it rains, the water meter picks up moisture in the general proximity of drywall around the bottom left corner. I am seeing some staining on the baseboard as well. While we were having some stucco patch work done when replacing our gutters, I had one of the guys go up there and apply some Vulkem around the edges of the window trim where it meets the stucco but that was more of a bandaid fix that likely didn't do much. Anyway, this feels lik...
by jplee3
Tue Mar 12, 2024 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Health Insurance (China)?
Replies: 22
Views: 1523

Re: Travel Health Insurance (China)?

Hi all I called my health insurance provider through my employer to inquire about health insurance coverage for while we travel abroad. They gave me a resource where I can look up doctors in the country we'll be visiting (China) but also told me that everything would be out of network. Some of the doctors on the list might be contracted but others not... in my cursory check it seems *most* doctors are likely not contracted. Also, we are on a high deductible plan and $6k is the deductible for out of network providers. The only thing we would do is file a claim(s) with our provider when we get back so that any medical-related visits or items we had to spend money on could then be filed against the deductible... In our situation and context (...
by jplee3
Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Health Insurance (China)?
Replies: 22
Views: 1523

Re: Travel Health Insurance?

BrooklynInvest wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:44 am The one benefit of living in a country with absurdly expensive healthcare is that the rest of the world's services are incredibly cheap - and usually better.

I've never bought health insurance for overseas travel. My mother comes here from Europe and purchases a travel health policy. It doubles the price of her trip but better than risking bankruptcy if she's admitted to a hospital with something serious.
This is what I was wondering about - I know in Taiwan and I think Korea the cost of medicine/visits is a lot less than what you'd pay here in the US. I'm guessing it's likely the same or even more so in China...
by jplee3
Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Health Insurance (China)?
Replies: 22
Views: 1523

Travel Health Insurance (China)?

Hi all I called my health insurance provider through my employer to inquire about health insurance coverage for while we travel abroad. They gave me a resource where I can look up doctors in the country we'll be visiting (China) but also told me that everything would be out of network. Some of the doctors on the list might be contracted but others not... in my cursory check it seems *most* doctors are likely not contracted. Also, we are on a high deductible plan and $6k is the deductible for out of network providers. The only thing we would do is file a claim(s) with our provider when we get back so that any medical-related visits or items we had to spend money on could then be filed against the deductible... In our situation and context (a...
by jplee3
Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?
Replies: 14
Views: 1607

Re: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?

You may need some money when you land in China, and Mom really wants to help out. Here is my suggestion, and anyway you should register it for your incoming China trip. 1) Download and register Alipay account by using your US mobile number and US Passport. 2) Wait for a few days for the account is certified and approved by Ali 3) Send your account QR code to Mom, so she can transfer RMB to your Alipay account. 4) Alipay is almost accepted everywhere in China. 5) You can use the available RMB anyway you want in China. In addition, you can add your US CC into your Alipay account, so you can pay with it in case you spend out the RMB. My daughter just finished her China trip in Jan 2024 with her classmates. This is how I setup for her. Hint, t...
by jplee3
Fri Mar 01, 2024 4:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?
Replies: 14
Views: 1607

Re: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?

Thanks! If we load RMB into AliPay, WeChat, etc and end up having 'leftover' amounts what do you typically do with the remaining amounts? Can you transfer it back to the card? Or is it pretty much just stuck in your wallet until you use it up? For the anti-fraud/risk control I'd imagine it's a good idea to call the credit card companies ahead of time to inform them of your travels but it sounds like AliPay and or WeChat may *still* freeze the account from their side? There's no way to inform both ahead of time that I will be traveling to China and that I am expecting to use these apps to pay for things with the CCs I have linked? If you have any remaining RMB in AliPay/WeChat, they can ONLY be top-down to Chinese bank cards (so no foreign ...
by jplee3
Thu Feb 29, 2024 3:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?
Replies: 14
Views: 1607

Re: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?

Here is my experience based on my trip in summer of 2023, and my daughter's in Jan 2024 1) You don't need a single RMB cash if you have either Alipay or Wechat Pay, provided they are working. (They both require live internet on your phone) What I also mean is that the CC you setup within it having no issue for foreign transaction. Keep in mind that both Alipay and Wechat MAY freeze your account if backing by CCs, any time , for anti-fraud and risk control. Being there, and you have to call or create ticket in the app, which could be a pain when you need to finish the transaction. If there is already RMB in the account, then the freezing risk is much much lower . 2) For any transaction over RMB 200, your CC will be charged additional 3% fee...
by jplee3
Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?
Replies: 14
Views: 1607

Re: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?

You may need some money when you land in China, and Mom really wants to help out. Here is my suggestion, and anyway you should register it for your incoming China trip. 1) Download and register Alipay account by using your US mobile number and US Passport. 2) Wait for a few days for the account is certified and approved by Ali 3) Send your account QR code to Mom, so she can transfer RMB to your Alipay account. 4) Alipay is almost accepted everywhere in China. 5) You can use the available RMB anyway you want in China. In addition, you can add your US CC into your Alipay account, so you can pay with it in case you spend out the RMB. My daughter just finished her China trip in Jan 2024 with her classmates. This is how I setup for her. Hint, t...
by jplee3
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?
Replies: 14
Views: 1607

Re: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?

adamthesmythe wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:42 pm It's not that much money. If I did mail it I would use regular mail.

Word on the street is that smartphone-based applications are used for payment by most merchants. Hotels and such will be happy with credit cards. I'm not sure you would spend as much as $300 worth.
Yep, this is my understanding too - there's no much need to bring hard currency (or at least a lot of it) since most things are digitized...
by jplee3
Thu Feb 29, 2024 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?
Replies: 14
Views: 1607

Sending foreign currency (Chinese Yuan) intra-US?

Hi all, My mom has some foreign currency (CNY... roughly $300~ worth) that she wants to send to us as we have a trip coming up soon and she won't see us before then (and has no other way to get it to us). What is the best/safest way to do this? Should she just wrap it in 1-2 sheets of paper, put it in a security/privacy envelope, and have it sent Priority & Certified? Or use one of those Priority Mail specific thin cardboard envelopes to send it (certified as well)? Side-question: for those of you who have experience traveling to China or have gone recently, how *much* hard-cash CNY should we plan to have on us? $300 worth seems like a lot to bring... I'm wondering if I should just have my mom send us what we actually *need* and then ha...
by jplee3
Wed Feb 21, 2024 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

However you do it, you won't see everything of note on your timetable, so I think it is wise to accept that fact and enjoy what you do see. Bear in mind that the terracotta warriors are not in the main city of Xi'an. As with the Great Wall, you'll need to take a car or bus outside of the city to the site. (And that destination has many opportunities for add-on stops for tourist traps, so those could delay you further.) In any case the warriors will take up most of a day. So if you want to see Xi'an--the city walls, the Muslim quarter or anything else, an extra day might be nice. On the other hand, you could easily spend a full week seeing notable sites in and around Beijing. Xi'an costs less than Beijing (for things like hotels). My advice...
by jplee3
Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

My wife really wants to see the terracotta warriors. I mean, we could extend a day in Xi'an too if that makes sense... I'm still on the fence about 3 nights vs 4 nights in Beijing and don't know what to do. The price hike of the Beijing hotel for an extra night is a huge reason I'm holding back but prices keep seemingly going up on it. I don't know why I didn't just book it and have multiple bookings back when I originally started booking the hotels. I think I just didn't want to have so much to keep track of.... sigh However you do it, you won't see everything of note on your timetable, so I think it is wise to accept that fact and enjoy what you do see. Bear in mind that the terracotta warriors are not in the main city of Xi'an. As with ...
by jplee3
Tue Feb 20, 2024 5:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

whyme wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 8:14 pm Bon voyage. Please come back here and let us know how the trip went once you've returned home (and recovered from jet lag).

Will do. I think we have the itinerary nailed down at this point.
3 nights in Beijing
3 nights in Xi'an
3 nights in Yantai
2 nights in Shanghai

My wife wanted to devote more time to Xi'an. Hopefully this isn't a mistake haha...


I was curious what all your thoughts are on whether or not to buy the room rate that includes breakfast or not with any or all of the hotels. Right now, all the hotels I've booked are either Hilton in Beijing and Yantai, Holiday Inn in Xi'an and Hualuxe in Shanghai.
by jplee3
Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket
Replies: 16
Views: 1802

Re: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket

Removal: 50/50 water bleach mix in bucket (wear gloves) Soak enough rags in solution to place inside/on the rubber gasket where mold is present (usually its the lower ring of the gasket so I usually need 2-3 rags). Let the rags soak on the gasket for several hours until mold is gone - scrub away any remaining if needed. If the above does not work (usually does for me), buy a replacement gasket and youtube how to replace your specific model. Make sure to wear work gloves because the metal panels can be extremely sharp. I ended up in urgent care with stitches after replacing my gasket. Maintenance: After done washing for day, quickly wipe down door, rubber gasket and leave door propped open to allow air in. Leave soap tray open as well to ai...
by jplee3
Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

Regarding Yantai, I just had an argument with my wife on this in terms of *how much* time she thinks we really need to spend with her extended relatives there - especially if there's nothing really interesting to do in the area and considering we're flying halfway across the world for this trip. You can allow for some flexibility in Yantai... if you get bored, maybe leave early and make a short stop somewhere else (Qingdao)? However—especially since it sounds like you'll have the ability to communicate with the locals—I can't imagine anyplace in China where there is nothing interesting to observe. It is so different from what you are used to that the most mundane activities will likely be fascinating. And food is pretty glorious everywhere...
by jplee3
Sat Feb 17, 2024 2:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket
Replies: 16
Views: 1802

Re: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket

TheRoundHeadedKid wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 1:29 pm The best solution is to prevent it from happening by leaving the washing machine door to various compartments open so that they can dry out.
Correct. This was the result of the previous owners who left these machines behind. We have been using them but make sure to leave the door open and clean it every now and then. I did a pretty deep clean on them initially but they gunk up easily regardless.

I think the other best solution is to avoid front-loading washers LOL
by jplee3
Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket
Replies: 16
Views: 1802

Re: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket

Lalamimi wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:44 am I saw a "Reel" recently on Facebook, to use pine Sol. I assume dilute and pour around the gasket, then run the washer. Google might help.
Heh interesting. Pine Sol is extremely strong-smelling. I'm a bit hesitant on that tip - I can imagine my clothes smelling like it for days or weeks after attempting something like this... My wife absolutely hates the smell, so it's probably a good idea not to chance it :D
by jplee3
Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket
Replies: 16
Views: 1802

Re: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket

bob60014 wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:03 am Are you sure it's mold-mildew?

"Was also wondering what product(s) you might use to clean out the internal drains/pipes of the washing machine."

In 45 years of home ownership I've never cleaned these. If it makes you feel better, toss some bleach down and rinse.
Pretty confident that's what it is on the gasket.

The internal pipes/drains I think it's a combination of that and just sludge/gunk/build-up.
by jplee3
Sat Feb 17, 2024 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket
Replies: 16
Views: 1802

Removing mold/mildew stains from washing machine rubber gasket

Hey all Has anyone come across a product that *reliably* removes bad mold/mildew stains on a (front load) washing machine gasket. I've tried tub cleans with Borax, TSP, bleach, Odoban etc (yes in separate loads, lol) and nothing seems to be able to get these really deep stains out. I've tried scrubbing at and wiping the gasket with bleach, TSP, vinegar, and who knows what else but nothing has successfully removed the stains I know there are products out there like Zep and Star Brite for stain removal and even gels (presumably bleach) that coat the stain and draw it out. We also have a bottle of Simple Green... Has anyone successfully used any of these on a gasket like this and gotten bad stains out? Was also wondering what product(s) you mi...
by jplee3
Sat Feb 17, 2024 9:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

My wife really wants to see the terracotta warriors. I mean, we could extend a day in Xi'an too if that makes sense... I'm still on the fence about 3 nights vs 4 nights in Beijing and don't know what to do. The price hike of the Beijing hotel for an extra night is a huge reason I'm holding back but prices keep seemingly going up on it. I don't know why I didn't just book it and have multiple bookings back when I originally started booking the hotels. I think I just didn't want to have so much to keep track of.... sigh However you do it, you won't see everything of note on your timetable, so I think it is wise to accept that fact and enjoy what you do see. Bear in mind that the terracotta warriors are not in the main city of Xi'an. As with ...
by jplee3
Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

I wouldn't let a few extra bucks on hotel unduly influence your itinerary. You're spending a lot on this trip and that's just a rounding error. I'll stand by my recommendation that Beijing has a lot more cultural interests and attractions and Shanghai is more business-focused. How much is a room at the Park Hyatt for your extra date in Beijing? Depending on the cost, could be worth it for the kids to experience the lagoon starlight pool alone. Is it going to be kind of cold during this time of year that we're going for the kids to go for a swim? YES! It’s an indoor pool in the basement of the hotel, along with the fitness center — but is absolutely spectacular. It’s huge. Artificial but really classy and well done. The Park Hyatt is a real...
by jplee3
Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

I wouldn't let a few extra bucks on hotel unduly influence your itinerary. You're spending a lot on this trip and that's just a rounding error. I'll stand by my recommendation that Beijing has a lot more cultural interests and attractions and Shanghai is more business-focused. How much is a room at the Park Hyatt for your extra date in Beijing? Depending on the cost, could be worth it for the kids to experience the lagoon starlight pool alone. The hotel rate is going from 3-4 nights causes the overall stay there to skyrocket by at least 30-40% Is it going to be kind of cold during this time of year that we're going for the kids to go for a swim? BTW: is this the hotel? https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/china/park-hyatt-beijing/beiph?icamp=...
by jplee3
Fri Feb 16, 2024 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

Any thoughts on this? As far as why Yantai is in the picture: my wife has relatives and her parents will also be there visiting them so she's trying to make it overlap. We may do a day trip to Qingdao from there or something. Thanks for the update. If it were me and the overall trip length were fixed, I might reduce the itinerary to Beijing, Yantai (maybe Qingdao) and Shanghai. You are going to spend almost as much time traveling back and forth to Xi'an as you will visiting there. But if Xi'an is a main attraction, go for it: you'll feel rushed on this plan, but you'll have many memorable experiences. And the family visit to a less-famous city might turn out to be the best of all. Bon voyage! My wife really wants to see the terracotta warr...
by jplee3
Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

Ok everyone. So we have a revised itinerary and we booked the intl airfare as well so this is happening: The itinerary I'm still unsure about between Beijing and Shanghai (originally we had slated an extra day in Beijing but then I thought it might be better to balance things out with more time in Shanghai - also, the nightly rate of the hotel in Beijing increases significantly if you stay the extra day, which doesn't seem to make much sense but I guess demand is *that* high for the extra day that we would have considered staying): 3/31/24 Sunday lax to pek 4/1/24 Monday arrive in beijing/recover 4/2/24 Tuesday beijing 1 4/3/24 Wednesday beijing 2 4/4/24 Thursday beijing 3 4/5/24 Friday beijing to xi'an 1 4/6/24 Saturday xi'an 2 4/7/24 Sund...
by jplee3
Sat Jan 27, 2024 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 11070

Re: Best tours for China?

One other question regarding flights inside the country - is it best to buy those ahead of time or better to wait until we're there and buy local flights a few days in advance (e.g. Xian to Shanghai and then Shanghai to Yantai)?
by jplee3
Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aftermarket tow hitches?
Replies: 21
Views: 1559

Re: Aftermarket tow hitches?

beernutz wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:51 am Last year I installed a Curt on our 2011 Lexus RX-350 to hold a bike rack. A local RV place quoted me over $550 for the Curt hitch and install not including a wiring harness but I found the same one on Amazon for $166 and installed the hitch myself in about an hour and a half. I already owned a torque wrench and the hardest part was cutting a bit of the vehicle's plastic underside cover. Works great.
Do you have ramps? Or did you have to jack the car up? I don't have ramps and would prefer not to jack anything up if I can help it. I know of the trick to ride your car up onto the sidewalk for an oil change so wondering if maybe I could do something like that for this install?