u/Skier-Dude

Hi. I’m new here, so let me know if the question goes somewhere else.

I use Harry’s, so not familiar with safety razors.

My young adult son uses disposable razors and complains about skin irritation. I’d like to get him something more upscale, and am considering the safety razor.

Since he’s new to this type of razor, I’ve read about the adjustable Viking, and the Rockwell.

It would be awesome to get something that could be monogrammed with his initials, neither of these offer that.

Also, he travels a lot… a real lot, and usually with a carryon. I’m concerned he won’t be able to bring a safety razor with the blade onboard with him.

Do any of you have recommendations for traveling with a safety razor, and know of ways to have one engraved?

For travel, would it be better to get him a better cartridge razor?

Thanks.

Not sure how to word the question, but I know the “big box stores” have lower quality appliances than appliance stores. For example, plastic parts in faucets and lower quality parts in kitchen ranges and refrigerators compared to a plumbing supply store (brass parts in faucets) and appliance store (metal instead of plastic, thicker walls/materials).

I’m wondering which category Costco typically falls into.

We need to get a new storage/backup freezer. The one I bought from Lowes 23 years ago died a spectacularly dramatic death.

Sure, 23 years is a good life (though I’ve had freezers last longer); however, I know they’re not made to last like that any longer.

Thanks.

We have a 2023 XC40 B5 Ultimate. I bought it in April with 24,400 miles off a lease. It now has 28,000 or so.

Starting a few weeks ago, there have been times when all the sound stops working: radio/bluetooth, turn signals, warning indicators… everything.

That first time, I just let it sit and the next day it worked. However, waiting like that isn’t always (usually isn’t) possible. I later read that a 30-minute “lock and leave” will fix it; however, this is almost always unrealistic if we need to use the car. In fact, today I went to use it after it being locked at work for 8 hours and the sound system didn’t work from the start.

We learned about an infotainment “reset”, where we press the “home” button under the screen and continue pressing it after the “clean screen” mode comes on. Eventually everything goes black. After releasing the button it sort of reboots with “Volvo” on the screen. Then everything works fine.

We’ve been having to do this once a week or so. This isn’t our everyday car, so it’s not used often. That means the sound issue happens maybe 20% of the time we’re using it.

There doesn’t seem to be any consistent pattern that leads to it except maybe changing from radio to bluetooth phone connection, but sometimes it happens at startup.

Fortunately the reboot can happen while driving or sitting at a red light so it’s not like we have to pull over and wait it out. Even so, it’s very frustrating. Our other car has never needed a reboot.

We’re wondering if this is just something we have to learn to tolerate or is there anything that can be done?

Also, regarding the sound system: we learned during a recent road trip/vacation that Apple Air Play ONLY works with a hardwired connection to the phone? It’s a 2023 with Bluetooth. Why should it need a connection? (Or, is there a setting somewhere that we don’t know?).

Thanks.

I’ve read a lot of things that said you should increase mileage by no more than 10% per week in order to avoid injury.

However, a lot of training plans jump up in intervals far larger than that.

I’m curious what more experienced runners recommend. I’m guessing that as the long runs increase, a couple other runs during the week decrease.

Quick history: I trained for, and successfully completed, a marathon last October 2025. My training was based on intuition after looking at a few training plans and having done one in 2008. I focused on nutrition, rest, and stretching and listening to my body as I ratcheted up the miles.

As I think back and look at my running logs last year, I feel as though I dodged an injury bullet, and I’m trying to be more mindful this year.

The rules say you can only contribute your own earned income (your own or spouse’s).

How does the investment company (in this case Vanguard) know if you worked?

I’m not looking to break rules, just trying to understand them. And, mostly, my kiddo asked because he has worked this year but currently isn’t. But he wants to keep contributing.

So what if kiddo contributes more than he earned in a year (contributions from savings)? Or what if it takes a year to find a job and there’s a year he doesn’t make decent income? Or, I’m retired and not working but want to contribute from savings or an IRA?

How does Vanguard know? And is the IRS really checking?

Thanks.

EDIT: I have enough replies. Thanks. I now understand how the system and communication work.

Son saw an orthopedist and was diagnosed with knee plica, told that a membrane that goes away during growth didn’t. The only treatment is surgery, or not run at all. The latter isn’t an option, my son is only 23 and likes to be physically active.

I’m sending him for a second opinion with a sports medicine doctor. I wanted to hear about other runners’ experiences.

Wondering if anybody here has had similar issues.

Son saw an orthopedist and was diagnosed with knee plica, told that a membrane that goes away during growth didn’t. The only treatment is surgery, or not run at all. The latter isn’t an option, my son is only 23 and likes to be physically active.

I’m sending him for a second opinion with a sports medicine doctor. I wanted to hear about other runners’ experiences.

Wondering if anybody here has had similar issues.

Just learned about this sub after posting in other subs. I noticed someone else recently posted a similar question so sorry for the similar posts

Does anyone know someone or a place I can send a blank to be made into a pen?

It’s not special wood by any means, but it has sentimental significance.

I didn’t think of this when I posted the question elsewhere, but being able to monogram or etch/carve a design would be an added plus.

I looked on Etsy, but not sure the search parameters so can’t filter through the 1,000 results for custom wood pens. I found a site called “Brad the pen guy”, but thought I’d start here.

Thanks.

Does anyone know someone or a place I can send a blank to be made into a pen?

It’s not special wood by any means, but it has sentimental significance.

I looked on Etsy, but not sure the search parameters so can’t filter through the 1,000 results for custom wood pens. I found a site called “Brad the pen guy”, but thought I’d start here.

Thanks.

Does anyone know someone or a place I can send a blank to be made into a pen?

It’s not special wood by any means, but it has sentimental significance.

I looked on Etsy, but not sure the search parameters so can’t filter through the 1,000 results for custom wood pens. I found a site called “Brad the pen guy”, but thought I’d start here.

Thanks.

This is my first car with leather seats, all my prior ones were cloth. The seats are black, and I underestimated how hot they’d get in the summer.

I know they’re vented and the air conditioning doesn’t take long; however, those several minutes are very uncomfortable.

Is anyone aware of seat covers that are compatible with the vented seats and won’t get as hot in the sun?

Thanks.

https://www.reddit.com/r/oops/s/L9EvnGgw2j

Hi. I’m helping my son set up a Roth as a college graduation gift. We're asked to do a settlement fund.

I did my Roth 20+ years ago so don’t remember how I set it up so the direct deposit goes straight to the investment as opposed to the settlement fund. I’m guessing this step is done after it’s all set up? I don’t want him to have to remember to invest the money/transfer from the settlement account, it’s best if it’s all automatic.

Also, I’ve read a lot on this sub about VTWAX (or similar) for 20-something year old new investors. Is there anything wrong with the 2070 target date account (other than the $1,000 minimum)?

Thanks.

The title says it all, but after driving a standard transmission for 40 years or so, pushing the knob forward to go in reverse is extremely counterintuitive.

I have very nearly rammed into cars behind me thinking I’m going to go forward and I’m not.

Given this is a European car, and standard is still very popular in Europe, I would think I’m not the only person who finds this odd.

EDIT: Yes, I get it. Other automatic transmission cars have reverse fore forward than drive. But Park is always the most front so you still have to move the handle back to put it into reverse. And, you slide it further back to put it into drive. It’s different if you’re pushing a side button (Honda CR-V is what we had) to put into gear, as oppose to a spring loaded toggle like the Volvo has. Pushing the knob forward is different than pressing a button and pulling the lever backwards to put into reverse, and still different from pressing a button to move the lever further back for drive. The Volvo had a spring loaded toggle. It feels different, and coming off a stick shift where 1st gear was always pushing forward, this feels unnatural. Yes, some stick shifts have reverse going forward, but none of mine, and most older ones, don’t.

I bought the JBL Bar 5.1 with detachable speakers in 2019 and I’ve loved it. We have a small-ish TV room and so it’s a good fit and sounds good. The size is perfect also.

However, several months ago the subwoofer started making crackling/distorted sounds almost like it is a blown speaker. However, it does it when there’s a pause in the bass. For example, when the scene pans to something and there’s no sound, or as a scene fades to a commercial. When there’s sound it’s ok. When I’ve blown speakers in the past, the distorted static sound is all the time. So, I don’t know what’s up.

I know it’s an older unit but I don’t think 7 years is old for speakers because there are no moving parts. I used to have stereo speakers attached to a Yamaha amp that lasted decades. I do play movies loud sometimes so maybe it is blown. However, it’s odd the weird sounds happen when there’s a lull in the bass or no sound at all.

Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Let me know if you need to hear it. I’ll see if I can upload a video. But if you’ve heard the crackling/static sound of a blown speaker, that’s what it sounds like.