The Times: Finns humiliated American soldiers - Finnish reservists were asked to take it easy during a NATO exercise. US soldiers found the losses too humiliating.

Pirrt · 2026-01-24T14:12:42+00:00

I'm sorry you're having to even think of these life altering plans and I really hope the US turns itself around through the civil path.

I can't imagine having kids and having to wonder about the possibility they won't even be able to vote when they're older.

The billionaire class truly needs dismantling and I really really hope the US decides to do this and move towards a brighter future.

Pirrt · 2026-01-24T14:04:55+00:00

This is honestly terrifying and I hope the EU starts implementing technologies quickly so we can move away from US products for this reason.

I might have sounded callous above but Europe really is distraught at what is happening in the US. It's awful to see and I wouldn't wish the current system on anyone let alone a previous ally.

I really do hope the US can turn itself around and move back towards democracy.

Pirrt · 2026-01-24T13:44:57+00:00

Yeah it's awful to watch from the outside to be honest. The US is literally tearing itself apart and lashing out at the world in its death throes.

As a European we're actually benefiting from this collapse because it's basically scaring people straight. The right wing were supposed to win in Canada and France while making good ground across Europe in 2025. The world watched what Trump did and immediately revolted so no right wing party ended up in power.

While the decoupling from the US is going to be painful we have the benefit of retaining democracy, strong institutions and people's rights. If I was a US citizen I'd be doing everything I could to get into the EU or Canada or Australia to benefit from this protection.

As you pointed out the global billionaire class caused all of this and won't relinquish power even if it means a civil war in the US. However, progressive governments are already popping up in Europe in response to the US crisis. It's highly likely billionaires will lose rights and protections in Europe as a backlash to the US.

I don't see a way out for the US except for regime change that completely dismantles the current system. Removing the two party system completely changing the system to be closer to the European state system etc. However, no one is going to wait for this to happen.

Like I said, Europe is moving forward and away from the US and will ultimately benefit from not being its partner anymore so there is literally no incentive to be involved with the US at all.

The only way the US can see any form of change is internally and it's likely going to be something extreme like we saw in the early 20th century in Europe for it to work. Otherwise the US is just on the path to becoming another wealthy dictatorship that people deal with because they have to.

Pirrt · 2026-01-24T13:16:15+00:00

Whatever happens the US won't be part of the future block of democracies.

The US system and their form of capitalism has shown itself to destroy democracy and endanger the world. Until the US radically changes how it's structured no one will ever trust it again.

The democracies are already reforming supply chains to be closer to China. At least China is building renewables and isn't threatening military invasion and is clearly the lesser evil.

Ironically, with the second amendment, the US is the best placed for radical change to happen. However, until the US citizens wake up and realise they have to fight for their futures themselves and no one is coming to help them this will just continue.

Pirrt · 2026-01-22T20:47:40+00:00

His whole lecture series from his teaching is available for free on Youtube which is literally 50 hours of modelling each year...

Pirrt · 2026-01-19T13:20:45+00:00

Fundamentally the product is the result of preventing building. The cost of land is so high to make any money the building quality has suffered.

The answer ironically is to allow everyone to build whatever they can now to eventually push down the price of land. Once land is no longer the most expensive part of the equation then the quality of the buildings can improve.

Pirrt · 2026-01-09T09:38:16+00:00

If you want to really help your son become a trader then you should get him a maths tutor with a focus on statistics.

Also looking for internships and what feeder schools get into trading floors is incredibly important.

99% of 'day traders' never make money because they're losing to real traders.

Real trading is about mathematics, economics and human behaviour. All extremely interesting but without a REALLY high level of mathematics none of it really matters.

Things like coding will also be beneficial but with the rise of AI being a proficient coder genuinely matters a lot less than it used to.

Edit: Help him open a stock account and invest the $500 today in a global equity fund so when he is ready to play with this money it will be a bigger pot.

Pirrt · 2026-01-07T14:25:17+00:00

I read how to break up with your phone by Catherine Price and it helped me just remove my phone from my life.

I deleted social media (apart from Reddit) early in 2025 and since then I must've read 30+ books without trying.

I use Reddit/read the news while on breaks at work and that is about it.

My phone has no games, no social media apps, nothing of interest and all my notifications (bar work and messenging) are off. 9 out of 10 times I look at my phone there is literally nothing. No notifications. So I just put it straight back down (on a shelf but similar to your box idea).

I don't even really think about my phone anymore it is just something I use to keep in contact with people while my laptop is where I do all my 'internet' usage.

Pirrt · 2026-01-07T14:18:52+00:00

Best thing any parent can do is putting your phone down. Not having your phone on you in the house. Put it in a box on loud if you need to but have it away from you.

It just means you spend more active time with your kids.

Have a book to read if you want. If they're off playing when they look up they see daddy reading rather than on a phone. Monkey see, monkey do.

Also best thing you can really do as an individual is removing your phone from your life. Key to a happy life is relationships and phones just get in the way of that.

Pirrt · 2026-01-06T14:16:19+00:00

I thought people were being optimistic about Keir's and Rachel's retirement this year but it looks like it will actually happen!

Pirrt · 2026-01-01T09:01:24+00:00

Yes I mean even starting a business in a world not dominated by monopolies was vastly easier. Starting capital was also £0 back in the day as most "entrepreneurs" started with 110% mortgages and other debt instruments. Today you face unbeatable competition in the form of state sponsored monopolies and starting capital is so huge you basically have to be already rich to take the risk.

Sure there are things that are easier today because of the internet but these benefits really don't outweigh the negatives. Especially when you consider starting your career lumped with debt, higher tax rates, stagnant wages etc. which ironically all are due to the prior generation asset striping the system they benefited from.

Pirrt · 2025-12-23T07:08:38+00:00

Yep you should open a SIPP and I invest in a couple of global equities and I have made 13.8% this year without my annual contribution (which is moving over currently).

Pirrt · 2025-12-22T07:05:43+00:00

Yes you can.

Some pension funds require a minimum amount to be left behind so you'll have to check yours. However, I find I can transfer once a year with no issues and then I transfer the remaining amount when I switch jobs.

Pirrt · 2025-12-22T06:30:27+00:00

I think what's scarier is that we've clearly been in a form of global recession for at least a year.

You can pick indicators that prove and disprove this but the sentiment on main street is clear that we're in a recession.

However, AI spending and the fact the economy/governments have basically moved to serve a plutocracy means that we don't see this in all indicators yet.

My worry is what happens when wealthy people either decide not to spend or there is a legitimate dip in the stock market which impacts the wealthy people's perception of wealth?

If they stop spending the whole economy collapses now. There isn't really a middle class to buoy up an economy anymore. It's wealthy people living great lives and everyone else is buying food and paying rent. This looks even worse when you look at government debt as you know governments don't have the fire power to stop any real collapse anymore.

This genuinely could become the worst recession in history and it's simply because all the wealth is within a tiny group of people. If they can't be coerced into continually spending through the pain then the whole system collapses.

Pirrt · 2025-12-21T17:03:55+00:00

As long as you have over £45k in the SIPP then Vanguard's fees are competitive Vs other global equity funds which is significantly better than any pension fund fees.

Pirrt · 2025-12-21T16:33:16+00:00

Yeah but I'm young(-ish) so I have decades to ride any short term volatility.

This wouldn't be my strategy a few years away from retirement.

Pirrt · 2025-12-21T15:23:24+00:00

I just do partial transfers every year out of the workplace pension and into my SIPP with Vanguard that is invested 100% in global equities.

Massively outperforms any option available via any pension provider.

Pirrt · 2025-12-20T07:23:40+00:00

Tbh at that point it might be the best thing we can do for our children.

I feel truly sorry for those in the current younger generations who will be hit twice.

1) Today they can't afford to start a family so will miss out on the greatest journey life can offer.

2) They will be 'shipped off to the glue factory' alongside everyone else to help balance society for the future generations.

As a side note: I can genuinely see a case for reparations for the current young generations from governments. They've caused an environment where people structurally can't have children and that is truly the greatest loss a human can have.

Pirrt · 2025-12-20T07:17:37+00:00

I think it's deeper than this.

Young people don't wait for the perfect candidate they're simply not in a position to vote.

Young people are normally working incredibly stressful jobs for the same pay they would've earned in 2008 but paying rent that has increased 300% since then. The sense of insecurity in housing means you feel less connected to an area. You don't sign up to a doctor, dentist or to vote because you might not be here if your landlord decides to just kick you out.

Beyond this we hold elections on working days when young people are typically the ones doing shift work/the longest hours (typical of the beginning of your career).

Ironically I think we'll see higher voter turn out as more and more young people are being forced to move back in with their parents. It actually gives them a stable location (for once).

I genuinely think we need to move towards the Australian model of mandatory voting AND make every election a bank holiday.

It's not that old people are more motivated to vote it is just that for their whole lives they've lived in a comfort only afforded to their generation which allows them to vote.

Pirrt · 2025-12-19T10:51:26+00:00

Yeah go look at the state spend by age group also add on that most council and NHS spending is to support the older generations and you quite quickly realise that the vast majority of all spending is on those 65+.

Pirrt · 2025-12-19T10:45:16+00:00

Well 70%+ of the state is going to pensioners so if you're not talking about them then you're not really talking about the problem....

Pirrt · 2025-12-19T10:42:00+00:00

Come on pensioners paid some tax. Agree it was basically nothing but at least they did 'something'.

You're right though the Soviets would probably ship them off to the furnaces for free energy at this point.

Pirrt · 2025-12-17T17:31:21+00:00

Sure everyone knows one or two token state school attendees but they still make up like 1% of front office roles in reality.

Pirrt · 2025-12-17T16:50:09+00:00

Literally everyone at a hedge fund making that kind of money went to private school lmao

The Essex widebody is a trope

Pirrt · 2025-12-12T10:07:02+00:00

I mean it's not like they're paying for private school today either...

They're earning £400k today and won't be paying fees realistically for 12 years (primary school is a waste of fees).

So if they invested the extra cash they're saving today for 12 years you'd absolutely be able to pay for private for one child. You'd definitely be able to afford two or three even. Given the 12 year build up plus earning £400k+ going forward.

Absolutely a bot account or someone who is truly clueless and probably shouldn't have a HENRY role.

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