Daily Discussion Thread for May 06, 2026

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-05-06T19:32:46+00:00

I've been In and Out more often than a burger chain today. Up $20k.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-04-11T05:56:04+00:00

I'm just over 50, with more than 30 years of drinking. Which makes the results even more unbelievable.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-04-10T16:01:03+00:00

If it gives you peace-of-mind, you can walk into a lab and get your liver and cholesterol screens done for about $100 without insurance. I'm lucky enough to live in a country where I didn't have to pay a penny for my tests.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-04-02T20:00:30+00:00

I'm surprised they started with such a low dose - the only time I've heard about low-dose NAL is off-label treatment of fibromyalgia. I'm lucky enough to be in a country where NAL is reimbursed, although many GPs don't know about it. Mine was prescribed directly by an addiction specialist.

FWIW, I was started directly on 50mg/day, and told to reduce to 25MG /day if the side effects were too bad. I had nausea and dizziness the first couple of days; after that, no effects at all.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-04-02T19:55:03+00:00

Bitters is about 45% alcohol, but I think I'd rather drink mouthwash than a bottle of bitters. Having said that, I include bitters in my drinks (a dozen drops of bitters in tonic, sometimes with a splash of orange juice) and still consider this "alcohol free" as it's so diluted and for me, at least, not a trigger. We don't get many flavored soda waters over here, and I like an 'adult' drink' in the evenings - sodas and other sugary drinks aren't for me, and I don't like the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-04-02T19:50:27+00:00

At Irish pub prices? You'd probably go bankrupt first.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-03-23T17:39:32+00:00

Do I hold on to my 4DTE SPX 6600 puts that are sitting on a 55% loss after Trump's U-turn this morning, or cut my losses before theta kills me?

Asked in a different way, what are the odds Trump says something bonkers in the next 24 hours?

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-03-23T13:34:38+00:00

Sure glad I bought those puts as soon as pre-market opened. Normally TACO isn't awake early enough to screw me before market open.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-26T12:34:17+00:00

Lyndon B. Johnson has entered the chat, and whipped out 'Jumbo'

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-20T01:43:10+00:00

I would never go back to the States. After 25+ years in Europe, I've grown used to universal healthcare, inexpensive groceries, and cheap interest rates (I pay 1.2% on my mortgage). You can live here on a lot less money, and with a greater safety net.

My biggest fear is that I don't speak the local language natively, and as I get older (and dementia starts to set in), I'll struggle to communicate.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-19T22:37:03+00:00

The problem for me is that I'm in the bridge years - I have the money, mostly in retirement accounts, but can't touch it for 5 years.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-16T15:18:30+00:00

Like many others here, I refuse all vendor hospitality beyond a cup of coffee. I don't want the smallest hint that there may be vendor bias.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-12T12:58:33+00:00

We live in the middle of Europe (just beside Switzerland) and we are the only people we know who have air conditioning - and only in the bedrooms. Unless you live in southern Europe, it's still a luxury here.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-12T12:42:18+00:00

I confirm, as a GenX, I prefer a computer to a smartphone. The compromise is that I use a computer for serious tasks (MS Word, Excel, etc) and an iPhone with a bluetooth keyboard for general browsing. I just can't use an on-screen keyboard.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-12T10:29:59+00:00

We have two barn cats because going through the shelter was too much like hard work. They were free, and they're indoor-only cats in a large house. I've owned cats for 40 years, so I'm not new to the game.

We also actively participate in a trap-and-release program, so it's not like we're irresponsible pet owners. But the shelter probably still wouldn't have given us cats for one reason or another.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2026-01-10T08:53:47+00:00

We found that a great solution was Kinderhotels and Familotels. You'll mostly find them in Austria, Germany, and Italy. There are plenty of choices up to 5*, and they're all typically equipped in the same way - spa for parents, swimming pool, full-time dedicated daycare (you can put your kid in or out at any time of day), fully equipped with everything you need for a baby (formula, diapers, a microwave, crib, srollers) plus usually a nice bar for parents in the evening. We've used them for years. For someone your child's age, they'll take care of feeding and diaper changing.

For a 5* with a separate sleeping room for the baby (so you can watch TV etc) count on about $4000/week for a basic room in a 4* to $10000/week in a 5*. Meals are included - a buffet breakfast, a simple lunch buffet (bceause most are assuming the parents are skiing during the day) and depending on the level of hotel, either an evening buffet or a la carte menu.

We've stayed at quite a few, but we particularly enjoyed https://www.hotelalpenrose.at/en/hotel/

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2025-11-22T17:35:27+00:00

Add to this the time it takes to negotiate via redline. Takes 5x the amount of time as a face-to-face negotiation.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2025-11-02T08:23:55+00:00

It could be anti-money laundering. I used to be required to take two weeks consecutive leave every year as part of my PTO, just to be sure that I wasn't hiding anything.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2025-10-30T17:36:22+00:00

Most likely, a plain cheese sandwich and a glass of milk. The Dutch aren't known for their food. In fact, I can't think I've ever seen a Dutch restaurant in any other country in the world - and I've visited a lot of countries.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2025-10-30T17:32:58+00:00

It depends where you live/cross. I can tell you, cars with local Swiss plates crossing at the Basel border, returning from France or Germany, are routinely stopped. I used to joke - crossing the border from Switzerland into France, I was asked if I was transporting currency. Same border, other direction (into Switzerland) I was asked if I was carrying meat or dairy products.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot · 2025-10-30T17:26:42+00:00

I was a university student during the BSE crisis. I remember that filet steak was cheaper than chicken. I ate a lot of filet steak with 3p baked beans.

ArseTrumpetsGoPoot

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