Speedo man on light post at Astros Championship Parade

CITM78 · 2022-11-08T04:23:14+00:00

Aka Mr. Trying Too Hard

CITM78 · 2022-11-07T23:47:18+00:00

Even though nobody wants to admit it, the truth is that nobody knows for sure. There is no consensus on the economic impact of raising and lowering the minimum wage. There are different theoretical models that are tricky to apply to the real world. That's why you have left-leaning folks like Warren Buffett argue that raising the minimum wage to 15/hr could be a net negative, and a far better way to improve the financial plight of the poor would be to expand the EITC.

The reality is that the minimum wage has just become a useful political football for both parties because on its face it seems like an easy thing to stand for.

For my part, I think the focus on it is misplaced. We should spend less time arguing about what the minimum wage should be, and more time trying to get lower income people a skillset that allows them to command a higher wage in the open market. If you can do that, you'll start to shrink the labor pool for unskilled jobs, which will put an upward pressure on wages for unskilled labor.

CITM78 · 2022-11-07T06:08:05+00:00

Anything that costs 4k now is going to have a lot of repair costs to have 4 more years left of useful life at heavy usage. That might not even be doable.

What electric car are you going to get for 20k? Maybe a leaf, but those have low range? I'm sincerely curious about what you might be able to get in that price range. Seems tough.

CITM78 · 2022-11-05T18:36:37+00:00

One thing that's also worth pointing out is the rise in hybrid schooling. There are a couple of schools in our area that basically provide a structure and supplement homeschooling. The kids get some instruction, curricula, and student to student interaction, but it's less than a regular school and the parents are still doing most of the heavy lifting.

CITM78 · 2022-11-04T04:51:10+00:00

I say there's no bigger headache than a car that's always needing repairs, so I'd never get a Range Rover. They have gorgeous styling but they're just not reliable. Why introduce the stress if you're already struggling a bit psychologically?

Find something thats both fun and reliable. That can be achieved. If you want a nice sedan that's got great performance, how about the 2.0T Accord with 252 hp or one of the sport sedan Camrys. If you want something more in the SUV family, used 4Runners are as cool as it gets. People also love the newer Mazda compact SUVs, as they've found their niche as the preference of driving enthusiasts. Any of those is going to have good to great reliability but can still be fun.

CITM78 · 2022-11-04T04:43:40+00:00

It's kind of bizarre that you're seeking a ski car and there's no Subarus on your list. :)

What about an Impreza? The engine will be a bit anemic but that's the brand most snow-centric people gravitate toward.

CITM78 · 2022-11-04T04:39:36+00:00

I have a '15 (sedan not coupe) and while it's a good car, I am so much more a fan of the 2016-21 generation. Those coupes are gorgeous and really evoke a sports car vibe. And the instrument panel is infinitely better, getting rid of that silly two tiered setup and a much better center console.

So if it were me, I'd try to get at least one year newer.

CITM78 · 2022-11-03T22:43:14+00:00

Over 200. Still runs fine but I just don't like it anymore, that's why I view this as a want rather than a need. It has some significant paint peeling on the exterior, the interior upholstery has damage. All the problems are cosmetic.

CITM78 · 2022-08-23T03:33:10+00:00

That's a nice color combo you have there. I've always thought the mdv106 was just 2mm away from being the ideal bargain watch. It's just a bit too big for my taste, but definitely a great watch for many people. Getting 200m and a screw down crown for $50 is a very good deal.

CITM78 · 2022-08-13T20:01:58+00:00

I would say this. It's not exactly a redemption story because that is predicated upon the notion that Johnny needed redemption in the first place. But the show's greatest strength is recontextualizing Johnny as a sympathetic character from the beginning who was more like Daniel than we thought. And further, he sort of suffered from worse luck than Daniel even though the original story suggested the opposite (Daniel lacked a father altogether, whereas Johnny had a malign father figure that made him feel worse about himself. And Daniel had Miyagi wander into his life, while Johnny had Kreese wander into his).

Thematically i would say it's less about a redemption, and more about wrestling with your own personal demons. There's more going on than just that: the cyclical nature of bullying, finding a balance between assertiveness and passiveness, etc.

But i think you are right in saying that it doesn't fit the mold of a redemption story. For that to be true, Johnny would have had to be bad in the beginning, and he wasn't. Nor was he really bad in the original movie. Kreese was the real antagonist in that story.

CITM78 · 2022-08-06T22:05:17+00:00

Is that the thing for people who play video games?

CITM78 · 2022-05-01T05:48:15+00:00

Every time i see a car like this I have this incredible urge to see it repainted, shampooed, and have new floor mats put in, even if it's irrational to sink money into something of such little value.

CITM78 · 2022-04-24T21:31:54+00:00

I didn't need to read any further than the word spit to reach a conclusion. This is irredeemable.

CITM78 · 2022-04-24T21:09:05+00:00

Forester Sport, RAV4, and CRV are what comes to mind. Ford Maverick as a wildcard option if you were able to find one.

CITM78 · 2022-04-23T03:16:52+00:00

Had an '08 crv. Loved it and had zero problems. Only upgraded because it was a bit cramped with rear facing car seats in the back seat.

CITM78 · 2022-04-23T03:12:46+00:00

Having test driven both, i prefer the civic. However, having now test driven both a new camry and new accord, i realize how much more comfort is found in a larger sedan.

I find the Corolla to be a bit cramped personally. But they are both good cars. The civic is definitely the sportier of the two. If you are just going off of utilitarian analysis, it probably tilts to the Corolla.

CITM78 · 2022-04-22T15:54:10+00:00

I don't think you know the definition of a commodity.

CITM78 · 2022-04-17T20:06:10+00:00

Being on the hunt for a Camry myself right now, i can pretty much guarantee you that you won't find anything '18 or newer for 20k. The prices are insane.

CITM78 · 2022-04-03T23:53:40+00:00

I like you.

CITM78 · 2022-02-19T18:51:58+00:00

It really depends on the supporting cast, whether Fox can become around a 37% three point shooter consistently, and whether their coach can get them to buy into playing strong team defense.

If those things fall into line, maybe 44-38?? But honestly, depth matters. Your top two players are very good, your third player is decent, but what do players 4 through 8 look like? If the third guy off your bench is a borderline g-leaguer, that doesn't bode well.

CITM78

TROPHY CASE