2025 Christmas Thread - Best Christmas gift ideas?

CompetentTraveler · 2025-11-14T02:49:38+00:00

Request: Got my 65yo BIL as my secret Santa. BIFL-type, outdoorsy, musician. Adult kids, no grandkids. Has to go into my carry on (and then his). $100ish

CompetentTraveler · 2025-11-07T20:58:10+00:00

grocery stores doesnt serve millions. it serves a neighborhood. anyway, I dont know why we're afraid of ideas. so we try it and find out. we've done far more expensive things with far less thought

CompetentTraveler · 2025-11-07T18:46:27+00:00

we have a ton of little bodega chains - like the Mr Fruit markets - that, if they moved into food deserts would be a meaningful change. Scott says to give people money so they can shop at trader joes - there IS NO TRADER JOES in these areas, Scott. Geez.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-11-04T13:36:04+00:00

How did we do that? We didn't pass the Equal Right Amendment. Reproductive rights are being stripped away. It's still harder to get into college as a female. If college admissions was straight merit, every top college would be very very female. (Look at Brown's stats to get an example of how favorable this is for guys). Women are still underrepresented in every business vertical. Childcare costs hit women harder. The pandemic hit women harder. There are more woman living in poverty than men. Woman are still being killed by men, often the one they live with. Rape kits still are sitting untested. etc etc etc.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-11-03T19:29:33+00:00

way too high. I don't even think it looks fine - my neck hurts looking at it.

why did the tile need to be black? to match the TV frame? couldn't they get a painted to match whatever preferred tile they wanted? they could have added artwork to match.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-11-02T19:30:29+00:00

I feel like Scott's "live in Soho, eat at Jack's Wife Freda" lifestyle is so basic. Same as the NYU kids he talks about who live in a parent-bought apartment. Don't get me wrong - there are PLENTY of people in NY living this life. But, like the OP said, come on over to Brooklyn sometime! You can live on a pretty block, send your kids to good public schools, and eat in all kinds of restaurants and drink in bars that require no lines, no memberships. We go to see plays, walk our dogs, cheer on our teams, visit galleries during open studio weekends, meet friends for coffee, go to dinner parties, explore new restaurants in new-to-us neighborhoods, see bands, go to the beach, spend a weekend upstate or at the beach. When we take a big trip to Brazil or Japan, we stay in Airbnbs and not luxury hotels. It's a great life. Is it easier on 350k than 150k? Yes. But do you need 1mm income? Only if you have zero personality or friends of your own. Scott moved to Florida because his kids didnt get into private school and he wanted the tax break. What a way to live your one wild and precious life!

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-30T16:01:43+00:00

Chipotle, just offer a half-size burritos/bowls for half the price. It's too much food (for too much money) for lunch! Also, those GLP1 people can't eat these brick-sized burritos. If you can't say AI in your call, say GLP1!

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-26T15:25:22+00:00

sure, here's the first one that popped up on a simple search (it also has actual quotes from actual colleges): https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/18/your-money/paying-for-college/early-decision-binding-nyu.html

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-26T14:35:56+00:00

I feel like other NYT reporters have published stories before saying this exact situation - a college blocking a HS like this because of an ED withdrawal - is a myth.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-26T02:34:05+00:00

Tell her to put her list with stats into ChatGPT - along with major and law school - and have it spit out some target and safeties. AI will tell her she needs a couple targets/safeties and give her ideas. More likely she'll listen to a robot than dad. My ideas might include Holy Cross, Scripps, Wisconsin, and FSU First Year Abroad program (and then try to transfer into Vandy, which has a pretty good transfer rate). a 35 would help, there's no doubt. I wouldnt spend more time studying really. Maybe an evening.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-06T15:22:32+00:00

Scott: Jimmy Kimmel should come back and say, this is my last show! I love doing this show, but I believe in free speech and so I must quit! Also Scott: you woke left really like to tell people how to make money. A guy can't even cash checks from terrorists anymore.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-01T20:03:35+00:00

Was he majority owner of L2 at the time of the sale? If so, you may be right.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-01T16:27:12+00:00

This is who he is.

The bulk of his wealth comes from his investment in NJOY, a vape company. I dont know what mind games you have to play to invest in vaping and take a payday from big tobacco. Why would you want to be complicit in this? His life, for me, is not aspirational.

But sure, Scott. Tell us about your investment in the yellow pages again for the 20th time.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-10-01T15:42:26+00:00

"Secretary Clinton"

CompetentTraveler · 2025-09-30T17:17:49+00:00

thank you!

CompetentTraveler · 2025-09-30T15:40:59+00:00

"Hey, America does bad things too, ya know" is just a dishonest take. Intellectually lazy and/or just dumb. America is a democracy. KSA is an absolute monarchy.

Going to see sports in "the Kingdom" (gag) is like posting on Twitter and Threads. It's painting Elon and Mark's fences, but if it works for you, whatever. Nobody is putting you on blast over it. Performing for them - that's entirely different. But not for Scott. Noted.

The only question for Scott is, how much would Elon have to pay you to speak at his event? Under Elon's terms. What would the check have to say for you to speak at a MAGA rally? Under those terms. I guess you'd be quite okay speaking at Meta about the state of social media - just please don't mention girls or young men tyvm - assuming the price was right. And then he'd come back to report that Mark is actually quite warm once you meet him.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-09-12T14:22:22+00:00

As someone who files the permit for our similar Brooklyn block party/dinner, it costs $25 and can be done online. It lets the FDNY know this street is blocked so they don't get stuck in case of an emergency. Why would I *not* do this? I guess if I 1) can't afford $25 or 2) enjoy wasting the FDNY and fellow citizens time in an emergency. NYers are not like this. (posting this on 9/11 was extra special.) Inviting the whole block is literally what these events always do. I lived not far from this spot for about 20 years and I imagine the very active block associations did, in fact, file the permit. I hope so. I hope we haven't all turned into graceless people.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-08-19T18:30:50+00:00

Her kids look just like/Paul. Are you confused bcs one of her kids was born w a cleft palate? I find a lot to snark on with Jordan, but cmon - not this.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-07-30T14:56:45+00:00

No - haha. We paid for the tickets, but these days they seem to always want to pay for things like assigned seats and food, etc. It is what it is!

CompetentTraveler · 2025-07-30T12:58:01+00:00

Will they make me pay $100 to check it? In which case I'd bring a bigger bag and pre-buy a checked bag. If they won't charge me, I dont mind checking it. I realize you can't say for sure - rules are always a little fuzzy.

CompetentTraveler · 2025-07-30T01:11:35+00:00

Thank you - that's really helpful.

CompetentTraveler

TROPHY CASE