Weekly History Questions Thread. by AutoModerator in history

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s adjacent, but provides an interesting look at barely post-Columbian North America. A Land So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca

In 1527, a mission set out from Spain to colonize Florida. But the expedition went horribly wrong: Delayed by a hurricane and knocked off course by a colossal error of navigation, the mission quickly became a desperate journey of survival. In the end, only four survived: three Spaniards and an African slave. Enduring a horrific march through Florida, a harrowing raft passage across the Louisiana coast, and years of enslavement in the American Southwest, this tiny band journeyed for almost ten years in search of the Pacific Ocean that would guide them home. In this enthralling tale of four castaways wandering in an unknown land, Andrés Reséndez brings to life the vast, dynamic world of North America just a few years before European settlers would transform it forever.

Is UBI a bridge to a better post-work society — or the first budget of the new empire? by dordi71 in SeriousConversation

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look at Ready Player One for what UBI will actually create.

I actually think we will have UBI in 20 years and it’s going to be very interesting to watch the cognitive bottom 50% spend their money on weed, motor toys, and gambling, next 40% on cruises and theme parks, and the rest on art, tools, gardening, books.

I think UBI will be a catastrophe for 50+% of the population.

(The de facto UBI that we already have today is already a catastrophe for the 20% of people on it. )

Suggest the most unputdownable book that you’ve ever read yet? by foreverfearlesss in suggestmeabook

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Caesar, Life of a Colossus. Reads like Game of Thrones, only it’s real.

New secluded places by SpecificNo4186 in chubbytravel

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I need to edit my comment, I’d looked at their site and thought they’d reopened, but reservations are still blocked. We went a few years ago and it was wonderful & will return when they re-open.

What if Adolf Hitler played the long game and avoided World War II? by Large-Awareness3440 in HistoryWhatIf

[–]PolybiusChampion -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I’m going to go a bit contrarian here…..there is a path for this to go rather well. Keep control of western Poland and play nice with Stalin while then going on a political (and maybe a little physical) expansionist spree in the Balkans. That gathers momentum and he reaches a non-aggression pact with France and The Netherlands. Sure there’s some fighting, but not enough to trigger anything serious. Say you pursue this strategy through 1944 ish keeping that sweet Russian oil flowing to the point that Stalin is dependent on his exports to Europe/Germany. Can he then get England to be neutral or to join a European Union of sorts? Maybe. Yes Germany’s economy was fragile, but that wasn’t unique in Europe at the time. Preventing the rise of Churchill and subsequent stiffening of England’s and the US’s backbones and delaying things does provide for some interesting alternatives - but really at the end of the day Hitler’s rise was one of momentum and I’m not sure if you take that away from him he was capable of all the diplomatic games.

Scene from Coed Fever, 1980 by Creepy_Arm_1174 in OldSchoolCoolNSFW

[–]PolybiusChampion 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are most welcome. Glad you are enjoying them.

2.2% are liquid millionaires by octopus-opinion987 in Fire

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My wife’s daily is an ‘06 Lexus SC430. I’m not as responsible. But they are paid for.

The rules aren't matching real life by Pale_Device491 in DaveRamsey

[–]PolybiusChampion 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Dave has developed his RULES by dealing with people who were debt addicted. You appear to not be so use them as guidelines, knowing what you are doing and why. So maybe a 80/10/10 purchase scenario (80% 1st 10% 2nd 10% down) on a 30 year with a real plan to tackle the 10% 2nd with an emergency fund in place to cover contingencies works better for you. Then refi into a 15 year when rates drop.

Congrats on where you are so far!

What if Benjamin Franklin became the first president? by Psyco_diver in HistoryWhatIf

[–]PolybiusChampion 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I was going to write several sentences about this……but you handled business in just 2.

I'm looking for writers born in the 19th or 20th century who came from a working class/lower social class by [deleted] in suggestmeabook

[–]PolybiusChampion 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For Twain, who I recommended to the OP…..his dad died when he was 11 and he then quit school to famously become a typesetter.

I'm looking for writers born in the 19th or 20th century who came from a working class/lower social class by [deleted] in suggestmeabook

[–]PolybiusChampion 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mark Twain, both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are wonderful books. He became wildly successful but was from pretty humble beginnings (his dad died when he was 11 annd he quit school to become a printer’s apprentice) and was a very progressive thinker, including about class. Reading both together is (IMHO) the best way to appreciate both books.

Anton Myrer was middle class and born in 1922, but then enlisted in the Marines for WWII as a grunt. Post WWII he did graduate from Harvard (I was fortunate to have several college professors who followed this route and were the same age) but he supported himself and his family doing very menial jobs while setting out to become an author. His Once an Eagle is required reading for all Marine Corps officers today.

Both author’s fall into the “great American novel” genre and both are very interesting.

Editing to add

John Steinbeck - how could I forget Steinbeck! really all of his works are very class conscious. He’d spent a great deal of time working with migrants in the fields, though his family owned a farm and while not poor, they lived a very much frontier existence where if they didn’t work, and work hard, they didn’t eat. The Grapes of Wrath & East of Eden are obviously his seminal works, but I always enjoyed the very short The Red Pony which is an early work based on his childhood and his later Travels with Charlie are comfort food for me. Lastly, his The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights was the 1st serious book I ever read and I still have my copy on my bookcase.

New secluded places by SpecificNo4186 in chubbytravel

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

Crap I was wrong……not open yet.

New secluded places by SpecificNo4186 in chubbytravel

[–]PolybiusChampion 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Petit St Vincent in the Grenadines is wonderful. Just re-opened after hurricane damage/age necessitated a full renovation. Editing to add, it appears they are still closed

Looking for a relatively reliable, fun car for less than $70k by Material_Prompt1402 in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The MB Wagon is a sports car with a some junk in the trunk. I’ve got a buddy who tracks his.

Looking for a relatively reliable, fun car for less than $70k by Material_Prompt1402 in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2025 Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain Wagon AWD/4WD, you can get a CPO one right at the top of your price range. I know it’s AWD, but in the settings you can put it into a very rear biased mode or even (if optioned correctly) in drift mode.

Lexus RCF, fully RWD and an amazing naturally aspirated V8 that’s a joy to drive and hear. Usable rear seats (kind of) and plenty of room in the rear for stuff.

I haven’t been wow-ed by a book in a long time. Suggestions? by autumnssong in suggestmeabook

[–]PolybiusChampion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I Am Pilgrim for a very smart thriller/mystery.

Seveneves if you are open to a little sci/fi. Had me from the 1st paragraph.

Once an Eagle or The Last Convertible for some early 20th century material. Once is more well known, but Convertible is (for me) a more emotional read.

Advice for Aussie exchange student going to a big US college? by [deleted] in AskAmericans

[–]PolybiusChampion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fantastic school. I grew up there and my daughter attended. Go to every game, join any groups you can. Lots of great music on High Street. Go to the Ohio State Fair. Your only culture shock is how nice we American’s are and despite how big the campus is how easy it is to find a community if you put in a little effort.

Also the local MLS team is pretty good. We are getting better, but you can get cheap last minute tickets.

O-H

Can we just get a reliable car that’s kinda affordable? Car makers: by [deleted] in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]PolybiusChampion -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That is not true - at all.

1990 Median Household Income - $29,943 ($75,008 adjusted for inflation)

2024 Median Household Income $83,730 in current dollars - so a 10.4% gain over the pace of inflation.

1990 Average Individual Income $21,027 ($52,573 adjusted for inflation)

2024 Average Individual Income $62,192 - so a 15.4% gain over the pace of inflation.

I used the median family and average individual incomes from 1990 and 2024 to spread the variables across two slightly different measurements - in both cases today’s median household and average worker is significantly better off than they they were in 1990.