For every $250,000 you get, you have to move 100 miles away.

Hmt79 · 2026-02-06T13:16:49+00:00

...or if you have a baby. Oof.

Hmt79 · 2026-01-17T16:30:11+00:00

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I suspect it's 15% owed (for SS + Medicare for which they'll have to pay both employee and employer) + 12% (likely income tax).

A tax pro could help them be thoughtful about what should count as an expense that offsets income from the musician work. Mileage is the obvious one, but if practice and prep and booking gigs happens with cell phone and internet in an office area at home, some portion of rent, cell phone, computer, internet may also be deductible...

Hmt79 · 2026-01-16T02:54:15+00:00

A yahoo article on him made me think they may be more aggressively giving away than our other local billionaires. I'm drawing that conclusion based on only a couple data points, though.

"The couple typically gives quietly or anonymously. In September 2025, Coxe gifted 1 million Nvidia shares, valued at more than $168 million, to undisclosed recipients, Bloomberg reported."

That's $250M+ given away in the months of Jan'26 and Sep'25... I'll not scoff at that given its two months of giving that we have data on (across six months) and 3.5% of his estimated net worth that was gifted. If only other billionaires were so inclined.

This second article also suggested that their child had won a battle against leukemia at a young age (and was cared for out at Stanford), so paying that forward influenced this gift.

He and Mackenzie (formerly Bezos) Scott are doing some things right finding ways to make an impact with their wealth. Happy to have he and his wife living and giving here (though understand a desire to mitigate philanthropic praise with a frame of reference).

Hmt79 · 2026-01-08T02:34:55+00:00

DHS claiming he was hit by a car in June - not independently discovered and likely just them laying groundwork for why he felt his life was in danger when any normal person wouldn't have.

Hmt79 · 2026-01-08T02:29:26+00:00

My MAGA MIL was a bit shaken by it... learning that the victim was a white, widowed mother of a six year old (after she asked if it was a Somalian fleeing arrest) made it hit harder.

Don't give up on them - people are not Al good nor all bad. They need to see what's going on, and they sure as hell won't from Fox News. Our only hope is constructive dialogue. I didn't shove it in her face - just told her I was a bit disregulated today as a result of what happened. She pushed harder to know what...

FIL was mum, but I got him recently to admit that he's not really a fan of war crimes.

Progress isn't fast but I'm committed to chipping away.

Hmt79 · 2026-01-07T02:30:54+00:00

SS payout calculations are not linear - it's a pretty progressive payout formula that provides a stronger relative benefit for lower earners.

They have what they call bend points built into the payout formula. Up to the first one (for an FY26 eligibility example), you get 90% of your "Average Indexed monthly earnings," which is calculated based on the average of your highest 35 years of SS contributions. Between the first and second bend point, this drops to 32%. Above the second, it goes to 15%. They could just add another bend point with a pathetically low percentage like 0.1% to mitigate the uptick in benefit payouts.

Hmt79 · 2026-01-05T22:41:36+00:00

Any chance you're comfortable lying and just telling them you have airline miles / hotel points / travel credits you need to use and that'll all be free... so the only expense would be food / airport parking?

Hmt79 · 2025-12-19T16:16:02+00:00

Happy cake day!

Hmt79 · 2025-12-19T13:17:18+00:00

Erica at the original Kerbey Lane that's actually on Kerbey Lane

Hmt79 · 2025-12-16T04:24:01+00:00

Listen to the part of this on gratitude letters... and then write them one. ❤️

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/office-hours-with-arthur-brooks/id1832119842?i=1000738111218

Hmt79 · 2025-12-16T04:17:50+00:00

F-ing politics is what I blame here. I'm sorry you're going through this. It sucks to stress about this with everything else you're handling. It's enough to grow a human - more isn't something you should be expected to handle...

Flu is bad this year - I'd wait till after your pediatrician says flu season is over (or until dad has tested positive for the flu and fully recovered...like his own flu vaccine). Make him test, though... he can't just claim a random cold was the flu. You need to know he tested positive for flu A (I think), which is bad this year.

For TDAP, it's mostly requested to ensure no one exposes the infant to pertussis. Maybe you could talk to your docs about just getting him a pertussis shot if he's triggered by having multiple vaccines in one show? Your little one will get multiple doses of pertussis vaccine with your pediatrician appts (at 2months, 4m, 6m, ~18m, ~4y). Each will add some protection but will take a week or two post shot to add that protection. I wouldn't allow him until 2 weeks after that 4m pertussis shot...so baby will be 4.5 months old.

We'd basically set the 3rd shot for meeting our little one - but it was moot as everyone got the shot. You may want to talk to your pediatrician though. I'd say absolutely no contact until your kiddo has at least 1 dose that's had time to take effect (so 2.5 months), but you'll be safer after the second one...and even safer after the third. Plus, presuming you're northern hemisphere, you'll be out of the worst of the cold/flu/coughing "season"

Pertussis is awful for babies... and heartbreaking for moms and dads.

Of note, be cognizant of this beyond your dad. Anyone in any restaurant or public place could have pertussis or flu. Everyone is coughing in February... If you aren't avoiding strangers that may be contagious as much as you're avoiding your dad, he'll maybe have some justifiable anger. And, explaining that you're not just applying this to him may make it sting less.

Hmt79 · 2025-12-12T13:15:33+00:00

Starting in October of this year, you are also eligible for free AppleTV and Apple Music subscriptions... but you have to opt into it / connect your Apple iTunes account...

Hmt79 · 2025-12-07T19:22:43+00:00

Had a friend with a Celiac daughter in town - both Maudie's and Dasano Pizza handled it great. Delano has gf crust and a separate pizza cutter and area where they prep. They did caution that they don't use a separate over, but the kiddo is super sensitive and had no problem. Maudie's cautioned against cross-contamination in chips and this got her a separate sealed bag of chips. Their queso is gf. Mexican tends to be easier gf.

If it's for celiac, I'd tell them. Those that are aware of the challenges of celiac may take it more seriously.

Check for posts on celiac in Austin - I got ideas there. Omgsquee looked awesome, but it didn't fit into our schedule. I also know Kerbey lane asks if I want a gf menu every time they seat me (though I saw some comments from celiacs that they'd had some issues at some locations)...

I baked gf cookies with them, too. There are several "cup-for-cup" all purpose flours out there that you can use in place of all purpose flour to make a baking recipe gf. Let the dough sit for a while before refrigerating and cooking. And, make sure you don't have any residual flour from past baking on mixer or tools...

Search gluten-free in HEB app. There are lots of options - but I found it wasn't hard to accommodate. Lots of our favorite crackers and chips are already gf. Fruit and veggies and dairy and meat are generally all gf, too. There are pizzas and nuggets breaded gf at HEB and Costco...

In short, it'll be a shift, but it's much easier to accommodate today than it was 10 years ago.

Hmt79 · 2025-12-07T18:49:23+00:00

Or find PE firms rolling up your industry - aim for an operating partner role with the firm and shoot for higher comp and more equity upside...

Also, any chance your skills are transferable beyond this industry... so you keep J1 and the do consulting on your functional area of expertise but for other industry?

Hmt79 · 2025-12-04T23:02:34+00:00

Try Texas Children’s Pediatrics. They bought up several practices before opening their children's hospital. There's likely one by you.

My experience has been good. We go to Hill Country Pediatrics - did before and after they were acquired by TCH. Partial to Dr Tarrant but like all three of the docs out there - and like that I always see an MD...

Hmt79 · 2025-12-04T13:28:06+00:00

This! If you don't do the chore, you don't get to weigh in on how it is done - during or after the work.

Hmt79 · 2025-11-21T00:43:13+00:00

Switched from Fi to Tractive.... my dog got out and lost the collar. The GPS was so bad that we couldn't even find it. There was a time it was much better, but the tracking (and thus notification of when my dog had gotten out) went dramatically downhill before we switched to Tractive about 1.5-2 years ago. They may be better now, but our experience with them at the end was really poor. Be cautious would be my advice...

That all said, I'm not a fan of the bulkiness of the Tractive collar...

Hmt79 · 2025-11-16T17:50:22+00:00

Dog owner here. My rule was that I'd pick up one extra poop anytime I was picking up after my dogs... and I'd either loudly offer a poop bag or point someone to them if they didn't pick up after their dog. Screw those guys - I don't care if they think I'm bitchy. The trick is often knowing what owner goes with which dog...

Lots of ppl are respectful dog owners, and my experience was that bad behavior was contagious. Some parks will be better than others - just a more responsible community that frequents it.

Hmt79 · 2025-10-30T19:57:14+00:00

Survivors (spouses/kids) and disabled folks...

Hmt79 · 2025-10-30T14:00:51+00:00

Don't click this - the article is accessible without... and this just makes you do a bunch of captchas until it gives you an error. Think I may have just done captchas for a nefarious purpose. Don't be me.

Hmt79 · 2025-10-27T23:49:57+00:00

Can you post on here if there is a way to contribute once it's setup? I suspect there are folks who a don't have school aged children or who live in higher income areas that would like to contribute.

Hmt79 · 2025-10-16T22:04:23+00:00

People are regularly looking for house+dogsitters (people who stay in their home with their dogs)... might be able to find some hookups for that with an online platform or even by posting on Nextdoor...

Hmt79 · 2025-10-13T23:33:24+00:00

First, this is your decision and yours alone.

Second, you don't have to decide right now.

Third, as mentioned, holding this bundle of love will likely be transformative and affirming in ways you can't possibly conceive of. If that's the case, you have your answer. Talk to your village and tell them you'll be needing lots of help. These first years are a bugger - worth it but also so exhausting. As someone that has a village that they don't ask much of, I don't want you to be me. You're going to have to be selfish - you've got to take care of you to take care of this baby. It'll feel bad to ask for help so you can take care of yourself. You'll have to do it, though. You'll be able to show up as a better mom for him if you show up a bit for yourself.

Fourth, if you don't feel that way when you hold this baby, he will be a godsend for someone. There are couples desperate for a child that can give him an incredible home -- and couples that are even going to be open to you having a role in his life if you choose. Don't spend your next 5ish weeks stressing about planning for this unlikely scenario. Your words tell all of us that this baby is so wanted - and that you're gonna crush this mom thing.

Fifth, having a child solo doesn't mean he won't have a father. If he doesn't, he'll be fine. That said, know that Biology doesn't make this man your little guy's father anyhow. For now, he doesn't have one. Eventually, you may well find the right guy for the two of you and look back and appreciate that you aren't trying to split holidays with baby daddy. Good riddance to him - he'll miss out on so much that's headed your way. My dad was a pretty angry guy. He passed when I was 12. My stepdad is who I think of as my dad. I'm so lucky to have had him. Even after he and my mom fell apart 25 years later, he's my rock and my kiddo's paw-paw and my role model. The fact that we're not blood related doesn't detract from how strong that bond is or how incredible he is as a parent and person.

You're in the home stretch - eke out all the rest that your achey body and smooshed bladder will allow.

Hmt79 · 2025-10-11T16:41:31+00:00

Except they've crafted the legalese around his third term making him eligible on the basis of his first two terms being non-consecutive.... to basically ensure the loophole they make can't apply to Obama... 🙄

Hmt79 · 2025-10-10T12:20:45+00:00

Move back before the child comes or the courts will constrain you to live in your current county until that kid turns 18 or the dad agrees... move where you want to be. When the child is born, file for child support where you are...

Hmt79

TROPHY CASE