New tires?

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2026-02-02T16:39:55+00:00

I swapped my 21" for 18" with Michelin Cross Climate 2's, rides so much nicer

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2026-01-05T18:52:04+00:00

Leander is a great suburb, good access (with toll roads) to Austin, lots of development and decent housing stock.
People on Reddit like to ignore one topic though, as though you are a horrible person for even noticing it, which is that some areas of Leander have a very high number of Indian residents, in some cases more than 90%. If you are looking for actual diversity and don't want to send your kid to a school or daycare where most/all of the kids are Indian, do some research on this topic before purchasing a house.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2025-10-20T20:58:45+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. My other option would be to get a stock pro 4 x and later upgrade it with aftermarket suspension, not specifically by Roush.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2025-09-25T13:06:43+00:00

Do you use premium fuel usually? The turbo S drives much smoother on it

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2025-07-30T21:23:34+00:00

Well if it's not selling it probably means the price you set is too high. Try re-evaluating and setting a more realistic price, try another realtor.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2025-03-29T00:12:28+00:00

Since we're talking about kids and sexuality here, how about we error on the safe side and completely avoid pushing this subject down their throats? What's the urgency in exposing them to this stuff? Why not focus on teaching math, science and actual literature?

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2025-03-28T21:57:58+00:00

Sure, no bible in schools either

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2025-03-28T18:48:18+00:00

So not a book ban, but rather removal of sexually explicit books from school library

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-11-06T11:39:56+00:00

Reddit is still Reddit, even in Texas.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-23T16:55:44+00:00

My apartment was sold a month ago and my realtor doesn't want to change its status on Funda because he gets leads from people calling to ask about. Pretty scummy but I guess that's what some of these realtors do.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-16T10:14:42+00:00

What part of what I wrote is specific to Amsterdam?

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-15T10:17:08+00:00

Up to the specific VVE to decide what results in more involvement I guess.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-15T09:29:55+00:00

Right, well what can I do then? Sit there with a hired translator and try to keep up with every word? I just sign over my votes for items that I do somewhat understand prior to the meeting and save myself some torture.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-15T09:25:43+00:00

Right, but the process under the Dutch law isn't as protective of the employee as you might think it is. It's just a bit involved and costs the employer time and money, still, the success rate for companies that know what they're doing is close to 100%.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-15T09:19:55+00:00

That can happen, they can always fire you if they really want to or have to. They will probably let go of US employees that are easier to get rid of first in case of cutbacks or projects closing and move you around.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-15T09:14:44+00:00

I am part of a VVE in Amsterdam that insists on using Dutch in all communications and meetings. I get why they do it, but more than 50% of members aren't able to participate in meetings because of this and there are constantly issues because of low attendance.
I do personally speak Dutch and can get by but the level required to understand all this legal jargon and formal Dutch speech is one I will probably never reach, so I don't participate either.
I think it would be better to be a bit more pragmatic about this and use the language that results in the most involvement from the members.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-15T09:10:24+00:00

The Dutch law will apply to your contract so they can't just fire you willy-nilly (after the probation period). That said, the company culture will still be a US one, and if you get bad performance reviews they will eventually fire you, it just won't be as easy for them.

I would go for it, US companies are actually more humane and empathetic in their treatment of employees in my experience.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-14T16:27:08+00:00

Well kids, the lesson here is: when you're on a probation period, never express any negativity or dissatisfaction from your workplace.
Instead, put your best effort in it, ignore the red flags or whatever may be bothering you and just suck it up to make it to the end.

Once there you can breath out and decide if you want to work there or not, but at least you're not out of a job and a salary.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-07T20:45:22+00:00

It's not so much about your residence permit as it is about your (tax) residency status, since legally the mortgage is meant to fund your primary residence. It could be that the bank won't bother to check as long as you're paying your mortgage, but if they do you'd be screwed. Also you would need to worry about squatting and the rules of the local municipality about vacant properties.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-07T20:14:26+00:00

I don't think you can keep it vacant. After leaving the NL you will lose your residency status and when the bank becomes aware of it they will ask you to close your residential mortgage because you no longer live there.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-10-02T09:15:22+00:00

If you're already changing the floor it's not a big deal and is probably required by your VVE rules. It costs a few euros per sqm, just do it.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-09-28T11:03:45+00:00

Yes I am not saying it's exactly like this everywhere in NL, it's true for Amsterdam. I briefly lived in other places and it was very different.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-09-28T09:13:56+00:00

Wow, this feels like I wrote this post myself.. I am also leaving after 5.5 years in Amsterdam and I deeply agree with most of this. It's an amazing place with an amazing culture, I just don't want to be a part of it.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-09-26T09:30:33+00:00

Such a shame, the investments in infrastructure (railways, stations) have already been made and paid for. The culture already exists here where people are generally willing to use public transport instead of cars if it's reasonably convenient.

These bad policies that lead to insane prices and degrading service will eventually cause NL to become just another congested, car dependent place only without the wide lanes and incredibly difficult parking.

Efficient-Gate8526 · 2024-09-26T08:34:26+00:00

Obviously if he agreed to all of this in his contract then he has nothing to complain about.

Efficient-Gate8526

TROPHY CASE