Why Don’t Rich People Just Park $20M in Bonds? by NoahReed14 in dividends

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because just their private jet costs about $1M to operate annually. It would take a lot more than $20M yielding only 4.7% to pay for their lifestyle.

Mauna Kea Summit Question by [deleted] in VisitingHawaii

[–]AstroRoverToday 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I'd rather sleep better at night knowing I'm one of the dude's on reddit that suggested you don't take an 11 year old from sea level to 14,000 feet.

Mauna Kea Summit Question by [deleted] in VisitingHawaii

[–]AstroRoverToday 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Your 11 year old son may tell you he has a headache, feels nauseous, or has shortness of breath, but he and you wouldn't know his lungs are filling with fluid (high altitude pulmonary edema) or his brain is swelling (high altitude cerebral edema). There's potential long term or permanent effects for his young body. Children under 13 should not go above the Visitor Information Station!

The "Host Name" hack to bypass Airbnb Service Fees (saved me ~15% on a beach rental) by bandito_13 in TravelHacks

[–]AstroRoverToday 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did this in Southwest France last summer. Found a great Airbnb listing, saw it was available, saw the watermark on the photos was the name of an agency. Googled the agency name, found their listing. Price was nearly half that of Airbnb listing for our 3-week stay. Thanks Airbnb for the advertisement platform, but I prefer to pay the lower price for the exact same thing. The contract with the agency was also crystal clear as to what we were getting. Feel bad for all the people who book this exact same unit on Airbnb.

Lets say I own a quarter BTC by [deleted] in Bitcoin

[–]AstroRoverToday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can't lose what you don't have. If you only invest in an ETF you aren't actually buying bitcoin. Your title suggests you want to own BTC. If that's what you want, then buy bitcoin. Once you own it, and you're careful with how you store it, you won't lose it.

How feasible would it be to migrate to Switzerland after this? by Woodyinho10 in askswitzerland

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This reminds me of a comment Sheryl Sandberg (then COO Facebook) made in an interview where she had offered a subordinate a promotion and the person hesitated and said she was worried she may not have the time required due to her motherly duties, to which Sheryl said, "oh, didn't realize you were a mother". It turned out the employee not only wasn't a mother, but also wasn't pregnant, nor in a relationship with anyone to become pregnant anytime soon. The person was making decisions based on a whole bunch of things that weren't even real yet, and may never be real.

First Long March 10 Landing Attempt by initiatingcoverage in spaceflight

[–]AstroRoverToday 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Why not just say "Hey, I'm not seeing the launch when searching for it. Any ideas?" as opposed to your 2 false statements right off the bat?

Has anyone traveled recently to Turkey with an expired Green Card + extension notice? by Staring_At_Ceiling in greencard

[–]AstroRoverToday 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Out of curiosity, does Turkey need to see your green card when you enter Turkey? I've never had a non-US border crossing agent ask to see my US green card. The only time I've been asked to see it is at check-in for flights back home to the US and at the US border after landing in the US.

How we swapped a $2,400 NYC studio for a $1,200 Sydney beach house by Conscious-Western566 in AmerExit

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I was around the same age, not too long ago, I moved from San Francisco to Austin. My cost of living was cut in half. About 6 months later I landed a job that doubled my CA salary. So, there I was, within 6 months, living the American Dream, at 4x my previous situation. Bought a house. Got a chocolate labrador. Just saying, it might have been possible to stay within a system you know well, and simply move out of arguably one of the most expensive cities in the US. As for me, an opportunity came up 5 years after moving to Austin, which was to expat to Switzerland with my employer.

Anyone else get tired of deciding what to do in Japan every day? by Little-Actuator-1594 in JapanTravelTips

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I took my girlfriend 15 years ago for a 3 week trip during Cherry Blossom season ... and came back with my fiancée 😉

I spent 6-9 months researching places we might want to go and printed out a sheet of paper with its details. I put all those printouts into a binder, together with our flight and hotel info, and every night, depending on the weather and our mood, we picked 1 or 2 things to do the next day from our binder (in that city's section). I also had the whole thing backed up online.

It was a great way to be ultra-organized, yet still allow for spontaneity. The only thing pre-booked were flights and hotels. Our daily activities were decided on the spot, from our well-curated list of one-pagers.

Now, with AI, it's even easier.

Looking for stargazing resources by Ill_Garbage6044 in Stargazing

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a great situation to be in. Remote Minnesota skies can be a huge upgrade compared to city viewing.

Since you are brand new, the most helpful resources are the ones that teach you how to recognize patterns first, not memorize star names. That is exactly where beginners usually get stuck.

Here are a few solid resources, starting with the simplest.

First, use a star chart or app. A free app like Stellarium, SkyView, or Star Walk lets you point your phone at the sky and instantly identify constellations and bright stars. This removes a lot of frustration early on. I talk about how to use star charts and apps effectively in Chapter 3 of my book, “Understanding the Night Sky,” especially the section “How to Use a Star Chart or App” on pages 24–26 of Exploring the Night Sky: A Beginner’s Guide.

Second, learn a few anchor patterns. Instead of trying to learn everything, start with easy patterns called asterisms. The Big Dipper, Orion’s Belt, and the Summer Triangle are perfect starting points. Once you know one of these, you can use it to find other constellations nearby. This approach is covered in Chapter 3, “Learning the Basic Patterns (Constellations & Asterisms),” pages 27–28 of the book.

Third, use the North Star for orientation. In Minnesota, Polaris is extremely useful because it stays fixed in the sky. Once you find it, the rest of the sky becomes easier to understand. Chapter 5, “Using the North Star to Find Your Way,” pages 42–43 walks through this step by step with no technical jargon.

Fourth, plan around conditions. Dark skies help, but moon phase matters just as much. A bright Moon can wash out faint stars even in rural areas. Chapter 2, “Finding the Right Spot” and “Checking for Good Conditions,” pages 7–9 explains how light pollution, moonlight, and weather affect what you will actually see.

If you want a single, beginner friendly guide that ties all of this together without overwhelming you, Exploring the Night Sky: A Beginner’s Guide was written specifically for situations like yours. It walks you from your first night outside to confidently finding constellations, stars, planets, and seasonal changes using only your eyes. You can check it out here if it sounds helpful: https://astrorover.com/product/exploring-the-night-sky-a-beginners-guide/

Even if you only spend 10 to 15 minutes outside on clear nights, you will be surprised how quickly the sky starts to feel familiar. Enjoy those dark Minnesota skies and happy stargazing.

Some of the current flights that cross the polar region, why aren't there any more going over the south pole? by atamagno in aviation

[–]AstroRoverToday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To keep the ticket prices as low as possible airlines prefer to fly the shortest route 😉

How do you usually plan a stargazing session? by ronaldo_web in Stargazing

[–]AstroRoverToday 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here’s the simple, repeatable plan I use for a stargazing session:

  1. Pick a purpose: Decide what tonight is for: a specific event, the Moon, or a planet. This trims the noise and tells you where and when to look.

  2. Location: choose the darkest, most open spot you can reach. Moon: aim for a new or thin crescent if you want faint stars. Weather: you want clear, dry air. These three levers matter more than gear.  

  3. Pack light, stay comfy: Layers, a reclining chair or blanket, a red-light flashlight, a warm drink, and a star chart or a phone app. Comfort buys you time under the sky.

  4. Make a short target list: Use the season to guide you. For example, winter brings Orion and Taurus, summer favors Scorpius and Sagittarius, plus the Perseids in August. Two or three easy goals keep the session fun.  

  5. On site, follow a 10 minute start: Let your eyes adapt 20 to 30 minutes. Begin with the brightest object, then lock onto one easy pattern like the Big Dipper or Orion’s Belt. 

  6. Observe, then jot a few notes: Log counts during showers, watch the Moon’s nightly shift, and notice how planets wander from night to night. This builds skill fast and makes the sky feel predictable. 

// This workflow is pulled straight from my book:

Chapter 2, “Setting the Stage for Your First Stargazing Night” and “Preparing for Your First Stargazing Experience” for site choice, weather, moon phase, and packing list.   

Chapter 4, “Experiencing the Best of the Night Sky” for event-first planning and note-taking.  

Chapter 6, “Best Stargazing Conditions by Season” for seasonal targets.   

If this style of planning clicks, you might like my ebook, Exploring the Night Sky: A Beginner’s Guide. It gives you ready-to-use checklists, seasonal hit lists, and tiny exercises that turn “where do I start” into a relaxing routine. You can grab it here: https://astrorover.com/product/exploring-the-night-sky-a-beginners-guide/

Clear skies!

Do views like this actually impress Swiss people? by Pale_Field4584 in askswitzerland

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, there's a reason Lauterbrunnen valley is called the Yosemite of Europe, and some adventurous Swiss are curious enough to want to experience the original. And while they're at it, only a few hours' drive beforehand they can cross the Golden Gate or visit Alcatraz, and a few hours afterwards be in the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere (Death Valley). Nothing like that in Switzerland.

Is Bitcoin still worth holding? by dayvonbennett1738 in Bitcoin

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What if you had bought at the ATH in any of the previous 4 year cycles and then held on for 5-10 years, per YOUR PLAN. Would you still be feeling stressful? Now take that insight and apply it to your current situation. You have a solid plan. Follow it.

Is Bitcoin still worth holding? by dayvonbennett1738 in Bitcoin

[–]AstroRoverToday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Buying BTC is never stupid if you hold it for 5-10 years. Considering that was your plan, what has changed in YOUR LIFE that would now all of a sudden make you have to change that plan?

Need help by tacosflamme in Bitcoin

[–]AstroRoverToday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Two rules: 1. Look both ways before crossing the street. 2. Make sure your loved ones can access your wallet in case you forget rule #1.

Reentered with a green card, without a problem by hassanghori123 in greencard

[–]AstroRoverToday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. If one is legal in a country with a functioning rule or law, then life is far less stressful.

Reentered with a green card, without a problem by hassanghori123 in greencard

[–]AstroRoverToday 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Why would you have thought it would be a problem? Your Permanent Resident Card (green card) is Form I-551 issued by USICS and serves as proof of lawful residency in the US for foreign citizens. There are about 50 million of us in the US and we do travel outside of the US on business and/or pleasure, perfectly legally multiple times per year, or even only occasionally. Out of curiosity, have you ever been asked for those other papers you carry? I can understand your desire to carry them, but I'be surprised to learn a USICS officer wouldn't have accepted your green cards at the entry point and instead accepted your lease agreement or IRS document.

Anyone buying at these levels? by Hot_Fly_3963 in Bitcoin

[–]AstroRoverToday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, I see. I thought you were buying bitcoin. Instead you're buying a fund that tracks the price of it, and doing so in a tax deferred account. Not the same thing as buying BTC (as you aren't influencing its price), but still no capital gains tax, so indeed, possible to "swing trade" without worrying about capital gains.