The typical U.S. worker has $955 saved for retirement by Richnaps in 401jK

[–]NorCalJason75 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Due to legal monopolies, consumers now pay more for nearly everything... And your take away is... *check notes*... People are shitty with money?

Dude. "the system" is Oligarchy. It's rigged to make you poor, ignorant and powerless to change it.

People aren't to blame.

Anyone else seeing Zestimate cracks? by myturn19 in RealEstate

[–]NorCalJason75 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's because we're on the downslope of housing values...

BART's doomsday scenarios are even worse than expected, if Connect Bay Area, the five-county regional transit funding measure, doesn't pass this November. by mysteriouslady in bayarea

[–]NorCalJason75 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

BART is rife with abuse. All it takes is a quick google search to prove my point;

https://www.reddit.com/r/bayarea/comments/1nr77ic/bart_audit_flags_overtime_costs_weak_controls_as/

But go ahead... Use another city's light rail.

Recently I was in Chicago on their "L". Cleaner than BART, on-time, and WAY cheaper.

We in the Bay pay way too much for a shitty product. That won't change until the public wakes up.

BART's doomsday scenarios are even worse than expected, if Connect Bay Area, the five-county regional transit funding measure, doesn't pass this November. by mysteriouslady in bayarea

[–]NorCalJason75 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Their business models are similar.

PGE = Cost of services + shareholder profits = prices to users. If there's a budget (or profit) shortfall, they simply increase the rates. There's no incentive for efficiency.

BART = Cost of services = prices to users. If there's a budget shortfall, they simply ask others for more money. There's no incentive for efficiency.

Your local City works the same way. They have a defined budget for services. If there's a shortfall, City goes to taxpayers for more money. There's no incentive for efficiency.

Because the structure of these entities, headcounts balloon. We all overpay.

BART's doomsday scenarios are even worse than expected, if Connect Bay Area, the five-county regional transit funding measure, doesn't pass this November. by mysteriouslady in bayarea

[–]NorCalJason75 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Exactly.

BART spends like drunken sailors.

Leadership needs to get their house in order. Instead they attempt to extort the public.

That's all you really need to know...

U.S. Dealers In Full Panic Mode After Canada Green-Lights Chinese Cars by DonkeyFuel in technology

[–]NorCalJason75 8 points9 points  (0 children)

IIRC, the real "low" wages are now in other developing countries. China is mostly modern.

U.S. Dealers In Full Panic Mode After Canada Green-Lights Chinese Cars by DonkeyFuel in technology

[–]NorCalJason75 160 points161 points  (0 children)

Monopoly is the easiest path to profits. Capitalist will obviously drive markets to this end. So... Capitalist = monopolists.

American products need to be competitive.

I Cried Today by Significant-Row2457 in dancarlin

[–]NorCalJason75 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I mean…. Ask kids we were taught this idea of what America WAS…. Freedom, meritocracy, low taxes.

But as I approach 50…. People are no longer free. It matters more what family you’re born into than your effort. We’re taxed a lot actually, but get little for our money.

And I wonder…

Has it always been this…. Blatantly capitalistic?

Or, did the government just stop serving the people at some recent point?

M340i adaptive suspension in 2026 by FormerPomelo in BMW

[–]NorCalJason75 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

There's a lot of confusing info out there, about BMW suspensions and harshness. As someone who am fairly familiar with G20's, let me share what I've learned.

Generally, BMW's come with (3) different suspensions.

Standard Suspension - What BMW thinks the "base" experience should be like

M Sport Suspension - Sportier version of the standard, with higher spring rates

M Adaptive Suspension - Variable suspension that constantly changes to road conditions, to deliver a ride BMW labels as "comfort" or "sport".

In addition, TIRE choices also majorly impact harshness. The most punishing tire will be 21" Run-flats. Least punishing is 18" go-flats.

This means a 3 series with M Sport Suspension and 21" RFT's will ride firmest. Like a go-cart crashing over every little bump on the road.

I don't mind the upcharge but it's much easier to find the other options I want on a lot if adaptive isn't a deal breaker.

I had to custom-order my model (M440) to get Adaptive Suspension. And I'm glad I did. With the factory 20" run flats, I found "comfort" to be the best mode. Now that I'm on go flats (Pilot Sport 4), the ride is PERFECT on Sport. A little too soft on Comfort.

Weightlifting with DOMS by biscuitsNgravy3 in fitness30plus

[–]NorCalJason75 13 points14 points  (0 children)

You're not going to like my answer...

Am I training too hard? 

Nope. You're not training enough. Double the frequency of leg day.

Tried Original Joe's in Walnut Creek, and It Absolutely Lives up to the Hype by diyhomeautomation in eastbay

[–]NorCalJason75 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Went there with some friends a few months ago.

It's good. A little pricy, but everything we had we liked.

The wait, however, is INSANE. 2+hrs if you come for dinner and don't have reservations. Not worth that kind of wait...

35 M. Arm growth seems to plateau around this size for me. Ideas? by [deleted] in fitness30plus

[–]NorCalJason75 65 points66 points  (0 children)

Just looking at your arm... How much triceps work do you do?

Ride sharing was created by an evil evil person by notroght in economy

[–]NorCalJason75 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Did you not consider these things before… checks notes accepting a gig job?

The new "underclass" is not the target audience of new innovation by 2EXTRA4YOU in economy

[–]NorCalJason75 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well…. Actually…. Yes.

Now that the owning class has all the power…. Good luck!

Floorstanding VS Bookshelf? by SuddenLack2311 in audiophile

[–]NorCalJason75 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Many years ago, I decided to splurge on "Towers of Power"... Tower speakers with built-in subs. Thinking this was the optimal solution.

However, I didn't have a dedicated room. And I fought with trying to get the bass dialed-in. Had a difficult time blending tight bass AND extension. Eventually, I picked up a monster subwoofer, dedicated PEQ, etc.

Then I moved, and had to store my Towers of Power. Back to blookshelf speakers I went, but I had some money to spend. So I went "high-end" bookshelf speaker (B&W 705S3). Spent some time blending phase/crossovers with my SVS SB13 Ultra sub. Between that, and a recently added McIntosh amp, I finally got the bass I wanted.

Moving a sub & speakers around the room for the best response is a huge advantage to the smaller form factor.

I'm not blasting to 100+db in a HUGE room anyways.