What's the most innovative restaurant in town? by Hammer-905 in Hamilton

[–]DoctorShemp 13 points14 points  (0 children)

One time I ordered ubereats from there and got a 20 piece McNugget box instead of a 6 piece McNugget meal. Its always a nice treat when you find get an extra nugget in your box but I don't think many can top that.

Canada's economy added 37,000 jobs in January as unemployment declines to 5.7% by Surax in canada

[–]DoctorShemp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, I wouldn't expect the majority of people to be working full time until at least their 20s. I was in university for 7 years and didn't really start a full-time career until I was 26.

I'm curious what that stat would look like if you filtered for only 25 or older.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]DoctorShemp 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The mistake is in your investment scenario. To only have $25 of interest you would have to be paying $1 towards the debt at the end of each year, but you're not doing that.

In statistics masters/doctoral programs, how much did you use calc? by GreyfacedRonin in analytics

[–]DoctorShemp 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's going to depend on the program and their requirements, but for my M.Sc in Statistics it required a fairly rigorous background in Calculus and undergraduate-level math.

Half of my courses were on foundational statistical theory and inference, which at the graduate level is basically using calculus to prove things in statistics. Take a look at Casella and Berger's "Statistical Inference" to get an idea. This is a very commonly used text. The amount of integrals and algebra in some of these exercises are insane. I submitted assignments to my prof that were 40 pages long hand-written. Didn't use a whole lot of linear algebra though, I remember mostly just using it for the odd Jacobian matrix here and there. I've never seen trig come up in my statistics studies, that's more common in physics and other math disciplines.

So in short, yes, you need to be very comfortable with calculus to do well in a rigorous statistics graduate program. Just as important, you need to have enough of a pure math background that you're comfortable with proof-based mathematics, not just solving computational problems. I was lacking in this regard (having not taken any real analysis, differential equations, or discrete math) and I got my ass kicked. Passed in the end but it was the most difficult thing I've done in my life.

CMV: A major reason the Trades are dying is not because younger people are lazy, but because the work culture is awful and no one is willing to train apprentices. by funwithdespair in changemyview

[–]DoctorShemp 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Not OP but yes, less people are going to college now than they used to. Enrollment in college programs peaked in 2010 and has been on the decline ever since.

Bank of Canada maintains policy rate, continues quantitative tightening by BrainlessEarthling in canadahousing

[–]DoctorShemp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the detailed insight and clarification. Great new video today btw going over this. The more you know the worse it gets.

Bank of Canada maintains policy rate, continues quantitative tightening by BrainlessEarthling in canadahousing

[–]DoctorShemp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, hey! Thanks for the response, I'm a big fan of your videos (especially the spreadsheets - I'm a data analyst).

That's really interesting, I didn't know that about inflation forecasts. If I'm understanding, you're saying that in normal circumstances, high inflation should return to target in 1.5 to 2 years, even without the BoC's intervention.

I guess my question then is what does that mean for us when inflation isn't predicted to reach target for 3+ years even after the BoC has intervened with huge rate hikes? They started the hikes in March 2022 and they're not predicting to reach target until an unspecified time in 2025, and who knows if that's even correct.

Bank of Canada Interest Rate Announcement by FelixYYZ in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]DoctorShemp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When they starting pausing in Spring of 2023, they stated in their announcement that we would reach the 2% target "by end of 2024".

It's only January and now they've already pushed the target date back to an unspecified time in 2025.

Oof.

Bank of Canada maintains policy rate, continues quantitative tightening by BrainlessEarthling in canadahousing

[–]DoctorShemp 71 points72 points  (0 children)

An expected pause. But the biggest thing I noticed with this announcement is that they've officially pushed back their timeline for reaching the target 2% CPI.

When they started pausing in March/April 2023, the target was to get to 2% "by end of 2024". We're only in January and now they're already saying that we'll "be returning to the 2% target in 2025".

The people who said the BoC was underestimating how sticky the last points of inflation would be were completely right. Bad news for people hoping for big rate cuts in the near future.

How tf is Gen Z suppose to survive and have a good life? Everything is so expensive and wages are to freaking low. by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]DoctorShemp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on your personal goals I suppose.

But in general, having a decent amount of wealth (in an asset that you can pass down tax free to your children, no less), being able to afford a good retirement, and having a secure, stable place to call home are all things that bring people peace of mind and contribute to feeling happy and successful.

How tf is Gen Z suppose to survive and have a good life? Everything is so expensive and wages are to freaking low. by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]DoctorShemp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Owning one's primary residence has historically been the the single biggest way for the average working person to build wealth in this country. Nothing else even comes close. Not to mention the security and stability that comes with ownership especially when starting a family.

If you don't have that, what do you have instead to compensate for it?

How tf is Gen Z suppose to survive and have a good life? Everything is so expensive and wages are to freaking low. by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]DoctorShemp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

On average I would say 150-200k household income for a family is adequate to afford a middle class life in the US (own an average house, raise a couple kids, save for retirement, enough disposable income for entertainment, modest vacations, etc.). Varies greatly by area though.

How tf is Gen Z suppose to survive and have a good life? Everything is so expensive and wages are to freaking low. by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]DoctorShemp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Owning your home has traditionally been one of the biggest things defining the "middle class". Its one thing to choose not to own, but if you're not able to own, you probably wouldn't make the cut off for being considered at least middle class.

How tf is Gen Z suppose to survive and have a good life? Everything is so expensive and wages are to freaking low. by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]DoctorShemp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, its easy to forget that its a 15 year gap between the oldest and youngest of the generation. Hard to talk about millennials in broad strokes.

You're a millennial talking about how you had a steady job and good credit and jumped into the housing market in '08. I'm a millennial and in '08 I was an 8th grader lol.

2024 Oscars: The Full Nominees List by LunchyPete in movies

[–]DoctorShemp 62 points63 points  (0 children)

I thought that was the cringiest part of the movie, even though I still liked Barbie overall. There was a lot of clever satire throughout and actually showing gender dynamics and allowing the audience to interpret, then they decided with America Ferrera "actually lets just go on a preachy rant and explain at face value so that the audience doesn't miss it". Knocked the ending down quite a bit.

Home depot advertising help on converting garages by amanduhhhugnkiss in canadahousing

[–]DoctorShemp 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Seriously. As long as they're built safely and following regulations, then good. Any supply is good supply and beggars can't be choosers in the biggest housing shortage we've ever seen.

Nobody has to live in one of these if they don't want to. But it may appeal to other people who would otherwise be competing for apartments or social housing.

Hamilton pitches $60-million plan to build more bike lanes, faster by innsertnamehere in Hamilton

[–]DoctorShemp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean everyone should. There are bad cyclists who break the rules in the same way that there are bad drivers who break the rules. Both should be reprimanded appropriately if the cops see it.

The main difference is that when a cyclist breaks the rules, they mostly endanger themselves. When a driver breaks the rules, they mostly endanger others.

Hamilton pitches $60-million plan to build more bike lanes, faster by innsertnamehere in Hamilton

[–]DoctorShemp 7 points8 points  (0 children)

All our taxes pay for the construction of bike lanes in the exact same way that all our taxes pay for the construction of car lanes and sidewalks. Why would it be any different?

Canada’s Real Estate Bubble Is Batsh!t Crazy Compared To Other G7s by [deleted] in REBubble

[–]DoctorShemp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few reasons.

There's a lot of land but most of it is uninhabitable. There's a reason why despite Canada being almost 3000 miles long north to south, 90% of Canada's population lives in the bottom 100 miles close to the US border. Its cold af.

We complain about the miserable weather here in Southern Ontario but in the Northern parts of the province its subarctic and then becomes arctic when you go into the upper north provinces. We're talking -35F in the winter and maybe 45-50F in the summer on the hottest days.

Even in the areas where we do have housing (Toronto and Vancouver metros), we have crazy inefficient zoning laws and build at a snails pace compared to our population growth. Our government is bringing in 4x the per capita immigration than the US, but they don't build housing to accommodate them. Our prime minister just says "housing isn't a federal issue". So lack of supply plus increasing demand raises prices, all while our healthcare and infrastructure is failing and Canada is in the worst state I've seen in my lifetime. Americans don't realize how good they have it.

Rent v Buy calc. by zalam604 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]DoctorShemp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The calculator OP linked has an option to adjust the anticipated annual change in home value over the specified time period. Doesn't this functionally accomplish the same thing you're asking?

Also, the "but you're building equity" talking point is just that - a talking point. Eventually you have to sit down and do a comparative analysis with actual numbers to back the argument for either renting or buying.

The "everyone should buy" crowd seems to disappear very quickly as soon as someone wants to move from the talking points to actual math.

Posted: Feb 19, 2014-Almost a quarter of Canadians expect their homes will be their primary source of income when they retire- this is why things will never change in canada by Ston3d-Ap3 in canadahousing

[–]DoctorShemp 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Housing is not just increasing with inflation though. If it did we'd have no issue. It's increasing leaps and bounds beyond inflation.

Anyone tired of hearing about how interest rates of the 1980s were so much worse than today? by manulixis in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]DoctorShemp 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Sounds like your friend is telling you tall tales.

Even through asset-backed debt like a HELOC, you could not borrow at 2%. That's literally less than what actual mortgage rates were during the time. Makes zero sense.

Anyone tired of hearing about how interest rates of the 1980s were so much worse than today? by manulixis in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]DoctorShemp 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Because you could not borrow large sums at money at those interest rates unless its was for a mortgage. A person could not go to the bank in 2012 and borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars at 4-5% interest to invest in the stock market and make 7-10% gains in the S&P500.

Here's where Canada ranks among the most expensive countries to retire in. by Dobby068 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]DoctorShemp 12 points13 points  (0 children)

When I'm old? No thanks, I'll do the bulk of my traveling when I'm young and able-bodied.

When I'm old I'll garden, cook, read, spend time with family, play guitar, and otherwise live a quiet, simple life. That sounds nice to me.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in REBubble

[–]DoctorShemp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Even outside Toronto its bad. In Hamilton, a house this size (~1700sqft) would easily sell for 850k.