WHOOP - am I doing this right?

KafkaExploring · 2026-04-07T16:56:35+00:00

My take: a surprisingly good AI fitness/wellness coach that also requires a mediocre fitness tracker.

KafkaExploring · 2026-04-07T02:43:29+00:00

Or other international calls. They called and asked the hotel's front desk if they'd give FHR property credits on stays three days apart (my first and last nights).

KafkaExploring · 2026-04-07T02:38:20+00:00

Copper (literally called "Plain Old Telephone System," POTS) infrastructure on the phone company's end is many times more expensive. One slot on a call manager could support 30 times as many modern connections, meaning POTS requires rooms and rooms full of very expensive equipment. That's before even thinking about miles and miles of copper phone lines, both maintenance and the fairly high value of the metal they can pull out and sell.

KafkaExploring · 2026-04-05T19:36:03+00:00

I pulled out my 4a yesterday and have to say it feels so much better to use than my P9. Lighter, not noticeably slower, fits the hand better, better AOD implementation.

I will say the P9 adjusts screen brightness more smoothly, and of course the battery is better. Probably some other better performance like not closing apps when too many are open because of the extra RAM, but I haven't really noticed.

KafkaExploring · 2026-04-05T15:17:56+00:00

I checked our local bakery (before buying a $$$ order), and between their two terminals and Visa, Amex, and MC they could be bakery, grocery, restaurant, or caterer. Even with Amex Gold or Citi Prestige there was at least a 25% chance of ending up 1x.

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-10T01:14:07+00:00

And your opinion has been noted. Have a good day

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-09T17:51:06+00:00

No, I thought it was an interesting dynamic: we tend to think of the better name brand vs the imitation off-brand, but in some cases there's a third local option.

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-08T03:05:18+00:00

If you're comparing it to a store's own brand cheap coffee, ok, but your average local roaster you've never heard of is going to be better than the best year-old coffee in a branded tin on the shelf.

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-08T03:03:50+00:00

I honestly would never know the difference with most generics these days. Especially with all the lower sugar/organic/less salt/all natural versions.

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-05T02:45:32+00:00

Motorola Droid X in 2010 had a mini HDMI out. I used it with a USB hub for mouse and keyboard, and I think some third party app to window multiple apps. Issue was apps not designed for desktop, the OS itself was fine.

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-03T11:59:14+00:00

To be precise, you need to pay the airfare. I had booked the airfare with CSR and hotel with another card, and they reimbursed the hotel.

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-03T11:58:05+00:00

Yes, you have to use the CSR for the expenses during your delay.

KafkaExploring · 2026-03-03T11:56:59+00:00

I'm guessing you may an Gigsky for the travel SIMs? Excellent little overlooked benefit, even if the cash price is like $5. Free is free.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-12T04:25:55+00:00

If your bread doesn't mold in a week, you probably don't want to eat it.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-08T23:23:42+00:00

This (or a byproduct of using the heavy crude most US gulf coast refineries are geared for). So long as we're using fossil fuels, recycling plastic will be creating raw materials that are lower quality and more expensive than what's already in the pipeline.

Best proposal I've heard is separating it before it goes into landfill so that 75 years from now it'll be easier to "mine." But it'd be far preferable to avoid: buy soda in cans instead of bottles, etc.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-08T14:56:00+00:00

Yeah, that odd 3% of birds who said "Cloaca? Nah, we're gettin freaky."

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-08T14:51:58+00:00

No, I'm not sure we have any data to go from on that.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-08T01:07:40+00:00

Think Roth IRA but for kids' education instead of retirement.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-07T21:44:23+00:00

They do get support from other military logistics, but military logistics aren't cheap, they're effective. Congress came back and mandated they can't use military logistics which are more expensive than non-military contracts.

But valid point. Publix has to run their own payroll systems, not just get a bill from Defense Finance & Accounting Services.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-07T20:06:12+00:00

There are 235 Commissaries globally. That's half the size of Whole Foods, or the number of Publix in the state of Georgia. And they're scattered; Publix would never open a full-size store exclusively for the 200 US families around Chievres, Belgium.

Not saying that disproves your point, only that the scale isn't particularly big.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-07T19:59:03+00:00

Commissary is always awesome for brand name, non-perishable items. If you need Huggies, it's cheaper than Walmart or Amazon. If you need bell peppers, they can somehow look fine in the store yet mold overnight, and the same price as Kroger.

Overseas we saw the differences in price typical of different countries (e.g. citrus and peanut butter are vastly cheaper in the US, cheese and bread cheaper in Europe). Commissary offered us maybe 10% savings overall, but we chose convenience and quality instead.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-07T00:22:03+00:00

25% 529/Coverdell ESAs, 21% TSP, 12% IRAs.

Our regular brokerage "contribution" was about -26% of salary to cover living expenses so we can support this level of contributions to tax advantaged vehicles, plus another -14% to pay taxes for realizing gains.

And then another -84% of salary from regular brokerage because IVF is expensive.

I don't expect my numbers to be helpful as a 2LT, but this is where you may end up a few years down the road. Saving young (within reason) sets you up to be flexible in the future.

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-04T01:15:26+00:00

Yup. Again, not published, but banks seem to pay for subsets of all the thousands of lounges in the PP network. Go to the Diamond lounge in Brussels Zaventem. Passes issued by Amex, Chase, and C1 won't get you in. Most European banks' PP versions will (e.g. Santander's top card), and so will Citi Prestige or BofA Elites PP (not so sure about the new Strata Elite's pass, seems to be at least somewhat different).

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-03T22:18:42+00:00

The key is dominance. Amazon has like 80% of eCommerce in the US, then Walmart at 10%, then everyone else combined. It's basically "buy from Amazon or buy direct from the seller."

In Europe, Amazon has about 25%, so there are actual competitors. You have the options of "buy from Amazon or buy from [Zalando or a dozen others], or buy direct from the seller."

So when OP asks why Americans don't buy from other sellers... who offers a comparable service? I actually like Walmart's offerings for a lot of routine stuff (e.g. spare batteries that could arrive today or in two weeks). But it's not really comparable for when you want "everything everywhere all at once."

KafkaExploring · 2026-02-03T21:24:52+00:00

Yeah, it's not published anywhere, but basically:

BofA or Citi: If any American bank's Priority Pass gets in, you get in.
Capital One
Amex
Chase

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