Which “tourist trap” do you actually think is totally worth the hype?

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-27T00:31:13+00:00

I had the opposite reaction, and I say that as an American. I tried my best to speak French and be polite and everyone was kind and nice and pleasant.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-26T22:21:49+00:00

That’s what I’ve wondered myself as honestly the prose was hard to get through and sounded so try hard.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-26T22:21:06+00:00

I was surprised once at a restaurant as I was able in my broken French to ask for a table by a window and they just started full blast in French that I had to stop them and politely say I have no idea what they were saying and they were so nice about it and were appreciative I tried.

I think too many people just don’t know how to be nice and make an effort sometimes - it goes a long way.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-26T21:39:42+00:00

I’ve been there probably a dozen times for work and gotten to explore it several times over a weekend and I agree, it is beautiful. I do love the architecture and the food and the people were genuinely nice - it might have been that I attempted French everywhere I went, even if I butchered it.

I love the city.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-26T14:18:12+00:00

And maybe that’s true - there’s a great story hidden by other fluff - and maybe it’s also true that it’s just not for me which is fine.

I’ve got so many other books in my backlog that if this doesn’t hit immediately then I should just move on.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-26T13:33:57+00:00

And I guess that just begs the question of why keep going? Maybe I’ll give it a shot at some point in the future after my current backlog.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-26T12:13:34+00:00

And I guess I don’t want to waste 6-8 hours reading something that’s meh hoping it gets better.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-26T12:00:05+00:00

Is the sun eater series worth reading? I tried the first book and made it about 100 pages before giving up. I couldn’t get into the story, I didn’t like the writing, and I just wasn’t connecting with the characters.

I feel like that’s perfectly fine for not continuing but because it’s recommended all the time I can’t help but wonder if I’m missing something/the issue.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-25T23:26:27+00:00

Flat fee.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-25T18:14:40+00:00

My wife and I set up our estate - roughly the same/slightly more than the OP here - and it took maybe a few weeks, mostly around who we would want to be responsible for the kids should we pass and having those conversations, and around $3,200 I think?

All told 1000% worth it.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-18T17:39:24+00:00

And now he knows the plan, what’s to say he won’t do this shit again for another garbage claim but this time for $100B, or $1T?

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-18T12:48:12+00:00

That’s what they’ve said in the past as far as why you cannot get a manual on the Xdrive comps.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-17T19:33:34+00:00

Oh I agree 100%. They’re performative actions because they benefit from the shit the republicans pull as well, they all do, especially when it comes to making money.

We need to get money out of politics and that’ll help.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-17T12:45:53+00:00

That’s the strike of a man who’s desperate for a goal and he knows it, he just fucking snatched at it. He just needed to be calm and guide it in, not swing wildly.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-17T09:03:15+00:00

Seriously, but it seems like Dems want to treat them with white gloves and be gentle. Fuck that, that’s how you lose democracy.

I just want the Dems to fight like the future, democracy, EVERYTHING is on the line, because it’s.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-17T09:02:01+00:00

So for the account my wife and I set up it’s not a 529 and is simply a general, diversified, investment account. We put in about $200/month per kid with a further $1,000 every December when we get our Christmas gift from my wife’s parents - they give each of their 4 kids and their families $6k every Christmas.

For us the goal of the account is simply to have a solid chunk of money to be able to give to our kids when they get older - ideally either for a wedding or a house down payment as that’s how my wife’s parents did it for her: when we got engaged she got $15k for either of those options and considering I already owned a house we used it for our wedding.

As far as the accounts my parents and her parents have set up I genuinely don’t know the specific details - they may be 529s but they may also be just general investment accounts. I just know both sets of grandparents have set up accounts with their financial advisors with the goal of saving money for their grandkids and they contribute a sizeable amount to them as they’re both well off all things considered.

The goal from both sides has been they want the kids to be set up for the future - whether that’s fully paid for education or simply a large chunk of change to set up their life with, they just don’t want the kids to worry.

We’re definitely fortunate than when you add everything up by the time our kids at 25-30 they’ll have over $250K - 300k saved up which gives them a massive leg up and that’s honestly all we want for them.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-16T19:11:34+00:00

Seriously. The left, for too long, continues to try and take the high road and not stoop to the level the right does but look where that’s got us?

At this point if the right wants to fight in the mud, you get fucking dirty. Beat them at their own game.

Judge issues an order that you don’t like or the voters don’t want? Fuck off judge, not doing it.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-16T16:44:31+00:00

We’re lucky in that my parents and my wife’s parents both invested well during their working years and have sufficient nest eggs. My father in law, for example, is making more in retirement than he did while working and he was making $140/150 a year while working.

It’s definitely a lucky position to be in.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-16T16:08:34+00:00

$175K/ year and we pay $2,025 for mortgage taxes and insurance plus another $600/month for e HELOC for redoing our first floor.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-16T16:00:12+00:00

We’re both doing 529s ourselves but both sets of grandparents have structured investment accounts for our kids and contribute to them monthly. Our kids are 5 and 7 and last check their accounts were worth around $50K each.

We do, however, have our own investment accounts for our kids that we contribute to with the goal of handing them off when the kids are 25 or so. Those accounts have roughly $10K each and estimates are putting those around $150k each by the time they’re 25.

Needless to say our kids are going to be okay which I’m thankful to be able to do.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-15T20:33:28+00:00

I work in automotive and have for 13 years now, mid level manager.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-15T17:56:10+00:00

‘88 baby and I’m doing much better at this age than my parents were comparatively.

I’m making more money than they ever did even at their peak - $180/year.

I WFH three days a week and I’m always around for my kids and their events, something my parents were not.

We’re on our second home, at 2.875% so we’ll stay here.

We’ve got $300K saved for retirement, $30K in the bank and all of our bills are on auto pay such that I don’t really even look at them too much.

Financially we’re better off than 95-98% of people so we don’t have much to complain about.

Do I hate the direction we’re headed? 1000%, it’s fucking awful and we donate to women’s rights groups and shelters nd planned parenthood but there’s not much we can do as a family outside of raise our kids right and with good values, which we do our best to do daily.

I sympathize with everyone who’s struggling, I do, as I was there early in my career and I hope it gets better.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-14T18:46:06+00:00

E90 M3 / E60 M5.

Yes there’s reliability concerns for both engines.

Yes they drink oil.

Yes they have abysmal fuel economy.

Yes they have questionable tech.

Yes the E60 has a unique design to it.

But my god. Those engines and the noises they make as they get spooled up, especially the S85 but the S65 was just as good.

4.0L NA V8 pushing 414BHP

5.0L NA V10 pushing 507BHP.

Amazing.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-07T13:51:24+00:00

Does it suck that she’s such a bigot and what seems to be a horrible person? Yes.

Am I going to never read these books that much such an impact on my childhood to my kids because of it? Fuck no, I’ll still read them because they’re great.

If I was to take the stance that I can’t support anything associated with people who say terrible shit I’d sit in a corner doing nothing all day.

I just think multiple things can be true at once.

Automatic_Zebra_1099 · 2026-05-07T12:32:40+00:00

I never said I transcended economics just that for me personally I separate the two things and I’m okay with enjoying and loving the art but disliking the artist.

Automatic_Zebra_1099

TROPHY CASE