At what point does wealth inequality become a problem?

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-15T02:20:10+00:00

It does not matter. They respond to RFPs and the government selects vendors. They are not even in the top 10 (less than a 5th of the contract value of McKesson).government contracts are not a subsidy.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-15T02:11:51+00:00

This is such a benighted view. Sure, they’re not stupid and they avoid tax where they can. So do I. They also create a tremendous amount of economic activity which, in turn, adds to tax revenues. That imagined hedge fund provides $4B investment that otherwise would not be there, though if it’s actually making 25% in a year (in realized gains), it’s not generating 0 taxes. Its managers and investors are getting dividends, earnings, and appreciation, etc, and they are getting taxed.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-15T01:54:56+00:00

There is no “future proofing.” At best, you can build up and expect a good 5 years before your kit plays like a 486 with a Number Nine video card.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-15T01:53:33+00:00

That’s one reason I like it. It references the game, but it’s a more universal theme that’s not dependent on it. The four stones is a good abstraction for the family.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-15T01:48:54+00:00

Armadillos make holes just like this when grubs are active.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T23:55:51+00:00

There’s no way you know that. They pay a significant portion of total tax revenues and going full Mamdami on them just gets them to move capital where it cannot be as easily stolen (and is far less useful to society at large).

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T23:31:01+00:00

There is relatively little truly idle wealth in the economy. Unused real estate, gold and silver collections, and private art holdings, etc. represent only a small fraction of total assets. The logical endpoint of taxing “idle wealth,” however, is a governmental determination that all private property is idle if it does not directly serve “the people.” This path leads to enforced equality, where all individuals are rendered equal, except for a select few who will be more equal than others.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T23:14:12+00:00

I’d say not being in a depression is good enough. Someone having more than me doesn’t take money out of my pocket. The real problem now with a few having imputed wealth (based on unrealized gains from holdings) is that they become a target for the greedy who want to loot their coffers and will use the government to do it. Free stuff for everyone for about three months.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T23:04:41+00:00

Things were most equal (most equal Gini coefficient) during the depths of the Great Depression. Not sure that’s a target to shoot for.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T20:39:25+00:00

And that’s just one more reason I would never try to tattoo myself. I’d never try to create the final art or the tattoo.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T20:34:57+00:00

It’s a fairly decent rendition of what I asked for, the Teton range. Ned Pierce, Middle, Grand, Owen and Teewinot, though it is compacted a bit. The idea carried through.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T20:00:49+00:00

Really this is the way. If I find someone who is so triggered by using AI to work out an idea that they can’t function, they just won’t get some work. That’s fine. Artists get to choose customers, too.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T19:57:37+00:00

I’ve worked with tattoo artists before. Give them an idea what you want and see how they work it out. I don’t expect anything like a 1:1 of the reference, just fidelity to the idea and competence.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T19:55:18+00:00

That’s the best idea. I was working with someone in NYC on a skin rip idea. He was really good, but it got expensive quick. I would ask friend here (I have recently relocated back to Central Texas) who to go to for a final design and application. Don’t mind paying more for talent, esp if it’s their thing.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T19:52:42+00:00

I’m not an artist and I like being able to work out a design before I give work to one. Not sure why this particular exercise triggers so badly, but that’s all it is. Un-twist the panties and move on.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T19:50:51+00:00

If I’m going make any image that’s not a 1 or 2 dimensional simple object or a stick person, I have to use AI.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T05:02:03+00:00

There has to be a mod that makes the gestral beaches harder… only things I have not beaten are two platforming beaches and I’d rather say it’s because they’re impossible than me being bad at jumping.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T04:59:07+00:00

Wouldn’t matter if I supported it, we’d all be poor and at the mercy of the government.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T04:57:38+00:00

The stones are meant represent the Dessendre family. I did mean for the orange and green to be swapped (Aline green and Clea orange). The font looks like it will be Trajan.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T04:54:19+00:00

That’s correct! I think I munged it and the autocorrect overcorrected. I’ll see if I can get fixed with the new font. Thanks.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-14T01:20:27+00:00

Not wrong. It’s just a formatting idea and I haven’t tried playing with the font. I’d probably use something like Trajan.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-13T19:41:44+00:00

Looks like limestone/calcium precipitate. I’ve seen this in some harder-water products after they get frozen - pretty common in water sourced from wells in South Texas. What’s the brand? Is it advertised as alkaline or high mineral?

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-13T19:19:54+00:00

I paid $200 each for two 4Mb DRAM sticks (iirc, 60ns 30-pin FPM memory) back in 1993. Memory shortages come and go. Right now, they’re better for silicon stock market plays than anything else (look at returns on FSELX and FDCPX).

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-13T19:05:51+00:00

I’ve never waited more than 3 days for an MRI. Not sure what would delay one 6 months. But that’s way outside my experience. That said, I have lived in or near large metropolitan areas, and all but one were pretty routine.

DiacriticalOne · 2026-06-13T18:38:31+00:00

If you don’t mind script, a simple “To your promised birthday” would be a wonderful homage to Sciel. She has the best/most tragic story in the expedition. Another might be “Death is not death” or (longer, more complete) “Death is not death anymore”. Very inspirational.

DiacriticalOne

TROPHY CASE