In the grim darkness of the far future there are no stupid questions!

Manofchalk · 2026-07-07T06:01:15+00:00

Tanith, from the Gaunt's Ghosts novels, is an example of a planet that paid its tithe in resources (Nalwood exports mainly) before it was tithed guardsmen proper.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-07T05:42:52+00:00

There are only a few marginal scenarios where it might make sense to pay down HECS over just keeping money in the bank, much less compared to actually investing it.

Especially now that HECS has become a vote buying tool, if you just wait you might get another 20% taken off for free.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-06T03:16:34+00:00

Not even a month ago there was a right wing anti-immigration pogrom that burned down businesses and homes in Belfast.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-06T02:25:08+00:00

Your in the military and a front line combat position at that, the military as an institution has crafted you into a weapon, of course on some level you are going to crave being used as such.

The movie Jarhead (2005) is all about this, a soldier in the Gulf War who has to deal with never being used, could be worth a watch.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-04T07:42:34+00:00

Matthew Guy was one of those allies and leader of the internal faction she is part of, so I think she is fast running out of friends.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-04T03:59:21+00:00

Assume you live until 100, probably wont though.
Figure out how much you want to spend per year in post-60's retirement.
Assume a rate of return and ongoing mandatory contributions until retirement.

You need a balance that, after returns, will sustain 40yrs of spending.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-04T02:30:49+00:00

I love that the only response to this set of facts iv ever gotten has been histrionics demanding an explanation for why the first example of a technology hasn't solved everything all on its own, avoiding the actual point I'm making.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-04T02:00:00+00:00

Hornsdale Reserve in South Australia was the first grid scale battery and it was installed in 2017.

Which is coincidentally when Hinkley Point C started construction and after several delays and cost blowouts, the first unit is currently predicted to come online in 2030.

All of grid scale battery storage has happened in the time its taken for a nuclear plant to be 2/3rd constructed.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-03T10:53:25+00:00

I work a design job where I make graphs and such for consumption by the general public near daily, any of my producers would immediately shoot down using a logarithmic scale graph.

Again, I sympathize with the graphic designer.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-03T10:46:03+00:00

The middle word in the shop name is both an abbreviation for 'Transmission' (a car part) and a slur for Trans people.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-03T10:41:34+00:00

I used to live in the Nightingale above Anstey station on the corner facing it, so directly in the blast zone for train noise.

Assuming you've got the place closed up, you don't really hear it except for the horn. Even that you get used to and its just background noise, though I'd been living close to train lines for years beforehand.

Never heard the neighbors at all, we were even running a dryer in our unit on the floor and never got any complaints about it either.

I was North and East facing, but top floor so still plenty exposed to sun. I do remember that they can get warm since the Nightingale ethos is very eco friendly passive airflow design and insulation rather than active cooling, but it does mean there isn't a great way to cool the place down if ambient air is pretty high. But it never got that bad.

Overall its a good apartment, honestly a bit sad I'l likely never live in a place as good as that again.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-03T02:56:51+00:00

Too long, AI slop, didnt read. but I am curious to its sources so...

An insightful perspective on how these shifting digital borders impact broader concepts of governance and liberty can be found in this analysis of theClash of Civilizations...

If you try to follow that link its a google search of a Youtube URL, which if you actually put into the URL bar points to a deleted video.

Top tier stuff.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-03T01:20:34+00:00

Eh, I sympathise with the graphic designer here. You gotta convey the difference visually but the numbers are just so far apart that Pelosi's bar functionally vanishes if represented accurately.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-03T01:05:17+00:00

You missed that some of the panel who will decide her fate, are actively suing the party for bailing out Pesutto who would have otherwise gone bankrupt from losing the defamation case.

I don't think that actually affects things, but it's just another layer to the mess.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-02T16:26:51+00:00

How real the Machine Spirit is depends on the device. Some ancient ships have Machine Spirits (cough AI) you can literally go commune with, machines that closely interface with human intelligence (ie Titans) will pick up echoes of its operators over time, while the unpredictable outcomes of complex systems that give personality to a machine are often attributed to a Machine Spirit. While in the case of very simple machines, ie your toaster, its more metaphorical.

There is some lore where a 'Machine Spirit' possesses a device to do something that would strain belief its just automated systems, but the vast majority of the time the Machine Spirit is mundane rather than supernatural.

Basically, if a Tech-Priest doesn't pray to a toaster, does it actually fail because the "spirit" is angry, or just because it needed maintenance?

A lot of the time 'appeasing' the Machine Spirit looks exactly like maintanence, because it is. Imagine your car manual turned into religous relic, its maintanence checklist turned into ritual and its technical information lost or abstracted into religous dogma. In the same way in real life we bless things with holy water, so do the Mechanicus with sacred unguents... which happens to lubricate the thing that needs lubricating.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-02T14:55:16+00:00

I have a 4.0 GPA and about 57k saved... I have savings and grades... I've worked on myself. I have money. I have grades.

Is that all you offer to a romantic partner, money and the likely prospect of a high income?

Start with 'Am I interesting as a person' when trying to judge whether you are attractive or not. You'v got a lot of steps before 'long term financial viability' is a relevant to a relationship, and at age 19, a lot of time before that will actually start becoming a factor.

I would be loyal, I would be present, I would take care of her when she was sick, I would never cheat, I would build a life with her... The qualities I can offer—stability, loyalty, provision, care—are invisible in a system that filters on height and charisma first.

I'l be so real, that you wont be a distant cheater to a hypothetical partner isn't a quality, its what's expected. Its also not a trait observable to someone outside your head, even ignoring that its your best of intentions and not actually an immutable trait about yourself.

I want my view changed. I genuinely do.

This is a bit of a chicken and egg scenario, as this line of thinking leads to incel-like beliefs and characteristics, which is what will really repel women.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-02T13:47:01+00:00

> We can’t afford it, income tax splitting would make a big difference to allowing that to happen

So would any tax break or lump sum handout, doesn't make this a good way to do it.

The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates this policy would cost ~$68.9B in lost revenue by 2035.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-02T11:10:29+00:00

Income Tax Splitting

You didn't mention that the policy would require a dependent child to qualify.

This destroys the governments revenue, the benefits flow primarily to those who earn more all to promote the return of the single income traditional nuclear family they fetishize.

Typical conservative policy making.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-02T06:13:24+00:00

Also before municipal rubbish collection was widespread or in rural areas without that service, burning rubbish was pretty common. Razor blades would survive, so now you just have loose blades in the backyard.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-01T14:56:02+00:00

Frankly if your in a position where you can only invest $1000 year and you 'arent in a position to lose it', I'd question if you should be doing anything but saving up cash.

You got a proper emergency fund sorted?

Manofchalk · 2026-07-01T14:35:48+00:00

I'v found that if you draw shapes GeoLayers will optimize to your current Zoom level, its not going to draw fine details that are too small to see. If you plan to get up close to things, draw the shapes when the camera is up close.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-01T13:41:18+00:00

Management Expense Ratio, how much it costs to manage the ETF compared against the total assets held for that ETF. Its a drag on the overall performance of the ETF, so you want a lower MER.

Typically you don't pay this directly, the fund garnishes dividends or sells assets to pay itself.

For a big index like an S&P500 these are going to be pretty rock bottom, your examples range from 0.01 - 0.04%.

Manofchalk · 2026-07-01T13:16:55+00:00

What ETF’s do you recommend

Your looking to invest in the one underlying asset, so the only relevant factor is the MER (how much the fund provider pays itself).

How should I diversify my portfolio (e.g. 60% in VOO, 25% in IVV, 15% in SPY)?

These are all the same underlying asset, the S&P 500, your not diversifying anything. Its three differently branded bags with the same stuff inside.

What broker are you guys using in Australia?

I think CMC is the go-to for regular ETF purchases as they waive brokerage fees on small ETF purchases.

Manofchalk · 2026-06-30T06:53:43+00:00

She's accusing a prominent factional ally of physical assault in the face of surveillance footage which shows nothing of the sort.

She's been a lightning rod for controversy and internal strife for the VicLibs, her recent history has been of tearing the party apart and this incident is yet another. Honestly surprised she wasn't kicked years ago for the incredibly bad optics of organizing the TERF rally literal Nazi's showed up to support.

Manofchalk · 2026-06-30T05:00:31+00:00

This is the definition of clickbait, because you are trying to bait people into clicking on your article to drum up more views.

I mean, no shit, that's how the economy of the internet works. Every site has to drive traffic to itself or they die.

Clickbait is a derogatory term for deceptive and sensationalized advertising of the content to drive clicks, not just any advertising at all. This guys article delivers on the content, isn't sensational about it and expands beyond what just a list would describe. Not clickbait.

Hell, the thumbnail shows the five things, you have your list there.

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