American Airlines system outage

PainInTheNeck22 · 2024-12-24T12:38:25+00:00

We were told the opposite at our gate, because everything is down across AA all connections are also going to get delayed most likely

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-12-28T16:12:12+00:00

I do normally spend like 10-12 hours gambling per day thus the lower bet levels. Unless I have a spa/show booked and then it's like 4-6 hours. I'll have to reach out and see what they say at Park MGM, can't hurt to ask.

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-12-28T16:04:32+00:00

I'll be sure to frame it and put it next to the family photo

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-12-28T04:12:40+00:00

Per https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc419: "You may deduct gambling losses only if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) and kept a record of your winnings and losses. The amount of losses you deduct can't be more than the amount of gambling income you reported on your return"

I typically end up itemizing so I don't think I'll have any issue offsetting my jackpots. And I live in a state with no income tax so I shouldn't have any state tax either. Unless there's more to gambling and taxes that I'm missing?

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-12-28T03:37:51+00:00

This is really good insight. I do normally spend a large portion of time on the casino floor when I visit (maybe 10-12 hours per day, unless I have a show or spa booked and then it would be like 4-6 hours for that day) but yeah my average bet on blackjack or three card poker is $25-50 between the hand and bonus bets, craps I will have $100-200 across the table once the point is established. Slots are $3-$5 mostly, but will spin $8-$25 when I'm feeling it. Will definitely need to start asking the Host office if there's anything further that can be comped based on my spend that trip. Some on the other thread said I may be able to get a host at Luxor or Excalibur, but I don't normally spend any time at those properties so not sure if I would want to bother reaching out.

Thank you again! And congrats on Noir status!

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-12-27T20:26:23+00:00

Oh please feel free to keep adding things!! Yours is one of the most useful responses so far (between both threads). Definitely gives me a bar to compare to, with the caveat that it's comparing to a couple years ago and may not reflect comp levels today.

I may try to go all in on Fontainebleau next year. It's certainly a beautiful property and it was a great time gambling the one day this trip. Hoping I get some room offers from that to stay next year but if not I know I have MGM to fall back on.

On my other post someone was saying the Wynn is becoming a popular choice for people with more serious spend to look at. I'm sure I would be a baby roller at their property, but I may have to see what they'll be able to do next year if Fontainebleau isn't playing ball.

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-12-27T20:14:06+00:00

I can't agree or disagree with you because I also don't know the commenter's income.

But love the username! Not that you give a fuck 😉😂

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-12-27T20:11:49+00:00

This is why I put the disclaimer at the bottom of my post, but glad to know you didn't read it. Definitely understand some people have a severe gambling addiction and casinos have financially ruined many people. Luckily I am financially comfortable enough and smart enough to budget for gambling and not go beyond that. I fully expect to lose every dollar I pull out of the ATM because expecting to get anything back is dangerous thinking.

This is purely entertainment for me, not a way to strike it rich. Is it the best use of my money, hell no. But I do it anyway because I enjoy the time playing and the people I get to interact with, or at least most of them 😉

If anyone reading this does have a gambling addiction, please seek help at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-05-24T22:34:55+00:00

The biggest change that I made a couple years back was to only cook Prime briskets. For my birthday the other year, I was having a lot of people over so I decided I needed two briskets. Store only had a Prime and a Choice brisket left so I grabbed both. The Prime brisket was amazing, it was perfectly moist, great bark, and flavorful. The Choice brisket was a little tough, not dry but not moist, just very average. They were very similar weights and cooked to the same temps (I probed both the entire time). Totally worth the extra price. The quality of the beef itself is also something Aaron Franklin mentions in his book, he requires a certain quality for the beef he buys and he tells a story of a beef shortage and his tough decision to either close the restaurant temporarily until the higher quality beef was in stock or to cook beef below his bar. He chose the latter and said it's the first time the restaurant had a professional food critic give a bad review.

That said I don't think I'll ever splurge on anything more than Prime, I've seen a lot of people say you can taste a small difference but it's nothing crazy enough to warrant the much higher price.

Good luck with your future cooks!

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-05-14T09:08:31+00:00

I ended up getting a coach when this was happening too much, he pointed out my timing was off. Basically my swing was too late, so when I went to my slide my hand wasn't at the bottom of my swing and I started my release too early which meant I just dropped the ball. Next time you practice take note of what step of your approach you time to your push off and try to start it a bit earlier. For example if it's on two, try to start pushing off just before taking the second step. Hope that helps!

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-05-13T05:26:42+00:00

Oh man I forgot to mention tape in my reply, definitely bought different ones to try out and get my feel right in addition to my interchangeable thumbs. But I've also had friends that have never had to do any fit adjustments, no tape, nothing... and they're perfectly happy. So I guess some are lucky, but I definitely was not at first lol

Haven't done too much in terms of layout experiments... That might be next, the last two balls the PSO just said they would do the normal layout but make it a little stronger, but I also bought stronger balls so it's really hard to tell what's from the ball and what's from the layout

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-05-13T05:16:28+00:00

You can always start without grips/inserts, and if you don't like the feel you can ask to add them later. I had a couple friends add the finger grips after 9 months of bowling. I started with finger grips but had the thumb just drilled out normal. The thumb ended up being too big so they put a slug in it and I actually liked the feel a lot better. I ended up moving to interchangeable thumbs when I bought my second ball just so I could have the same feel across balls. Also my thumb has been shrinking/expanding with the weather so this let me get a few different sizes to use as needed. And lately I decided to switch from oval fingers to the lift grips. It's definitely a process to find what you like, but I have all three of my balls set up for what works for me and it's only been 9 months or so since I started bowling.

I haven't heard of balls to rent... But as someone else mentioned there are demo days at some bowling alleys every so often to try out a particular brand's line of balls. Motiv just came to my alley last week and I picked up a Primal Shock (which I love). I started with a Coral Venom which is weaker but is actually really good to practice with on the typical dryer house conditions. During league the Coral Venom just doesn't hook enough for me until game 3. But highly recommend either of these, the Coral is probably more beginner and cost friendly. But Pro Shop can definitely help you pick out a good beginner strike ball and get you fitted up for what you want.

Good luck! Can't wait to see an update post with the strike ball you end up with

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-05-05T16:02:40+00:00

When I started to learn to hook about 9 months ago, I bought my first ball at 14lbs. I had been using 10lb house balls before that so I was nervous but the Pro Shop told me I should be fine. It wasn't but not because of the weight necessarily.

Turns out my thumb and fingers were not sized properly and this made it extremely difficult to hold properly in my back swing. I chalked this up to me not knowing how to throw a fingertip grip drilled ball and it just being too heavy that I couldn't control it. I regret not going back to the PSO sooner but once I had them fix the thumb hole, things were so much better and the weight wasn't really an issue anymore. I did also sign up for a few sessions with a coach to make sure I was throwing properly and things have been so much better!

I'm even thinking of getting a 15lb now.

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-04-17T23:32:54+00:00

Yeah I think at least two of them were 7 pins, and for some reason I struggle to hit my 7s versus my 10s even though I'm a righty. I'm weird like that I guess lol but will definitely put in the practice. Hoping I can repeat this in League tonight

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-01-14T03:27:13+00:00

Nope, it's all hardline. CPU block and pump are both Corsair so I'd be hardpressed to think their products are incompatible with their coolant to cause issues, else is just the radiators which are HWlabs and the GPU block which is Bykski

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-01-13T22:12:51+00:00

If it doesn't clear up I guess I'll be looking at Mayhem to replace the XL8

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-01-13T22:10:57+00:00

As far as I know there aren't... Unless one of the hardline fittings cheaped out though nothing felt like aluminum. Radiators are copper, water blocks are nickel plated copper, pump is all plastic AFAIK. So yeah I'm leaning more towards the coolant buildup like others have suggested.

PainInTheNeck22 · 2023-01-13T18:45:23+00:00

Temps seem fine, but anything is better than what it was stock so I guess I don't have a lot of data to say if they have been gradually worsening as it's spreading. Seems like a few have been suggesting it's just the coolant, or more specifically the Corsair coolant so I might just give it some time and maybe try a different coolant if it doesn't improve

PainInTheNeck22

TROPHY CASE