Yeah that sounds like bad advice. You’ll pay way more in the long run.

I’ve had the same router for almost 8 years with no issues. I got my modem 2 and a half years ago for $60.

A router and modem should last you 5 years at least. Even if you spent $100 on each (which is plenty to get quality equipment), that would only be $3.33/month. It’s $14/month to rent from Xfinity, so you’d spend $840 on rental fees in the same 5 years. You’d only need to live here 15 months to break even buying your own equipment (or less if you buy slightly cheaper equipment), and you could take it with you to your next apartment.

FYI after you sign up for Xfinity, you will be able to connect to the xfinitywifi network wherever you go. In an apartment building there will almost certainly be an xfinitywifi signal nearby. If you have trouble setting up your modem and router, you should be able to work on the xfinitywifi network till you get it sorted out.

Xfinity should be far less than that for a new customer. There are new customer deals for $30/mo. The only startup cost would be if you’re buying your own router and modem for the first time.

Tip for the future: Get yourself a renters insurance policy. It’s $10-$15 a month. It would cover a theft like this, as well as other property damage, liability, and living expenses if your apartment becomes uninhabitable.

And watch/lock up your valuables at the gym.

> Coffee: not sure. Harvard is super corporate now and I want to avoid adding Flour twice. But Zinnekens coffee is a delight actually?

Pavement - great coffee and unionized

If your apartment has gas it’s also Eversource.

That Xfinity package would be fine. Buy your own router and modem and take them with you wherever you move.

Does the lease say you can’t keep it installed during the winter?

I’m pretty sure landlords cannot prevent someone with a service dog from renting, so there’s no guarantee a dog-free building would actually be dog-free.

You don’t have to live in a bunker. At a minimum, get your omicron booster and wear a mask. 90% of people are not doing those two very simple things.

If you want to be extra careful, rapid test before gatherings. It takes 15 minutes and the tests are free.

Just because you can’t prevent COVID 100% of the time doesn’t mean you have to just throw your arms up and say, “oh well, nothing we can do!”

Cambridge just voted to install electric vehicle charging stations: https://pb.cambridgema.gov/pb9_evchargers

Username checks out

When you start chasing after someone who has not hurt or threatened you or anyone else, you’re the aggressor. Tell her to leash her dog, then move on.

No, the FDA has only authorized a single bivalent booster dose.

I know it’s not as convenient as a buying a sandwich, but you could try making them yourself. I’ve recreated the Rindge at home with great success.

It’s not a weekday, but I had no trouble getting a Lyft to Logan at 5am this morning. I’ve gotten one early on a weekday before too and it was fine.

Nope

> The company says it plans to increase electric delivery fees too, but it hasn’t filed those requests yet with the state.

Because they work. In many instances grad students are considered employees of their university.

Meetup? I don’t know if they have a tennis-specific group, but I’ve found groups for other sports there. And if there isn’t one, you could make your own.

> they will never spend more than what they can get out of you on a monthly basis.

In aggregate, you’re correct. On an individual basis it’s a crap shoot. We are basically gambling on our health, except the prize is you owe money you maybe can’t afford to lose.

I’m going to keep paying for dental insurance anyway because my employer subsidized it, so it’s cheaper than paying for cleanings out of pocket. Other people will keep paying too, so there’s still the question of whether this law would raise their premiums or lower them.

I’m more concerned about insurers pulling out of the state. But whatever insurers remain will have to comply with the law, so their profits will be limited. And if too many pull out maybe the state would step in and form some sort of state-run dental plan? I don’t really know what would happen. I’m still conflicted on this issue.

I’ve seen commercial machines for sale on Facebook marketplace

That’s called insurance fraud

All that matters is the total state income tax you paid. Doesn’t matter whether it was withheld from your paycheck or you owed it on tax day. You’ll get back roughly 13% of the total state tax you paid.

Sounds like you entered your income instead of your state income tax.

But there doesn’t need to be a 1:1 parking spot to apartment ratio.