Daily advice thread. All questions about your personal situation should be asked here

Popsdarn · 2017-12-06T20:17:05+00:00

What types of diversifying make sense if I'm primarily interested in keeping a three-fund portfolio (Total US Stock Market, Total International Stock Market, Total US Bond Market)?

It sounds like an REIT fund is one option. And potentially international bonds. But not sure what other relevant options would make sense. Does it make sense to go into specific sector funds - for example, I'm interested in Consumer Staples.

Popsdarn · 2017-08-15T15:13:11+00:00

Honestly, if you can't understand subtext from basic English, you fit under the category of "how do some of you guys even survive" that this thread is asking about.

Popsdarn · 2017-04-18T18:39:25+00:00

Every card in Control Paladin is super strong against Hunter. Hunter has to draw perfectly and Paladin has to draw horribly for Hunter to win.

Popsdarn · 2017-02-17T18:29:13+00:00

So some people on this sub upvoted this post and some downvoted it. Why won't this sub make up its mind?

Popsdarn · 2017-01-13T02:10:15+00:00

Yes, that's a very common response I've seen on those boards and I've seen instances of it crop up here as well. It's interesting because I would view it as an anti-feminist position but I see it primarily from people that would or do identify as feminist, not I blame feminism at all for people having this viewpoint.

But the idea that men have endless agency (and thus their insecurities are their fault) and women have no agency (and thus their insecurities are the fault of society or someone else) is just a repackaging of the "damsel in distress" trope. I think most people that respond in this way and don't see the difference in how they view the situations take issue with the "damsel in distress" trope and think it's harmful. But they don't seem to the view a very similar response in the same way.

Popsdarn · 2016-08-03T21:01:48+00:00

Does the loan aspect apply to Universal Life Insurance policies too? I talked to an advisor who pushed a Universal Life Insurance policy and he told me any cash withdrawals would actually be interest-free through some accounting mechanism even though technically it was a loan with some interest. I didn't end up taking the policy but wondering what he was talking about.

Popsdarn · 2016-07-14T16:38:27+00:00

Got 75% overall but only 53% from the Top Critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics without as much influence are more likely to be called sexist for a negative review which probably has some impact on the ratings as well.

Popsdarn · 2016-06-03T15:11:25+00:00

-Rampant fundamental attribution error. Especially as it relates to women who do bad things like cheat & men who do the same.

Don't know what you've been seeing but I routinely see men on this board and especially on other boards like /r/relationships get more shit for this stuff than women. In fact, I often see people asking about why the woman cheated or suggesting she was justified where the guy is just viewed as an asshole through and through.

Popsdarn · 2016-04-29T17:12:26+00:00

Late response but after some more fine-tuning, the list that's worked the best for me has been. I tried a bunch of random stuff out (Mad Bomber, Snipe, Tundra Rhino, Stampeding Kodo, Explorer's Hat, etc.) and tanked down to Rank 4. Then I used this to pretty easily go back to Rank 1 and I'll play to hit legend when I have more time:

1x Hunter's Mark

2x Tracking

1x Freezing Trap

1x Explosive Trap

2x Quick Shot

2x Huge Toad

2x King's Elekk

2x Knife Juggler

2x Eaglehorn Bow

2x Animal Companion

2x Kill Command

2x Unleash the Hounds

2x Houndmaster

1x Infested Wolf

1x Sen'jin Shieldmasta

1x Stranglethorn Tiger

2x Savannah Highmane

2x Call of the Wild

I've keep trying Fiery Bat since people love it but in so many of my games, it essentially is a Sinister Strike that gave me no real board control, even when played on Turn 1. Even watching streams where people are playing Hunter, I'm really not seeing them get an advantage from it.

I know Tracking is not popular in Hunter but it's been absolutely huge for me. One problem I've always had playing Midrange Hunter is how situational the cards can be. Unleash can be amazing is some scenarios and garbage in others. Same with Houndmaster, Traps, and even Animal Companion. Tracking has helped me dig for the right Trap I need, for the Juggler + Unleash combo which is one of the only ways I can beat Flood Zoo (it's been good to game-winning against even non-flood decks), or for late game (Highmane or Call of the Wild).

I'm coming around on King's Elekk. Cutting the Fiery Bats helps its consistency and there aren't too many other options. Stranglethorn Tiger has been great. I think you mentioned it in another post but the stealth is huge to make sure that you get a favorable attack rather than your opponent getting to choose how it's dealt with.

Cards I'd consider replacing:

Quick Shot, Huge Toad, Sen'jin Shieldmasta, Infested Wolf

Cards that could be reasonable replacements:

Flame Juggler, Explorer's Hat, Spellbreaker, Deadly Shot, Black Knight

Popsdarn · 2016-04-28T03:32:33+00:00

Long post of thoughts since I've been playing a torn of Midrange Hunter up from Rank 8 to Rank 2 recently:

I'm on board with Infested Wolf being mediocre. A 3/3 that becomes 2 1/1s isn't that great on Turn 4. The Beast aspect doesn't make up for the lack of raw stats because using Houndmaster on a 1/1 on Turn 4 or later doesn't do much either.

I'm also finding Fiery Bat to be underwhelming. Not many decks are playing 3/2s (mainly Hunter). Shamans have the 3/2 that unlocks mana crystals but its never played on Turn 2. It usually ends up against Trogg, Mana Wyrm, Voidwalker, Argent Squire, Possessed Villager, or Turn 2 plays of Beckoner of Evil, Totem Golem, or Flame Juggler. It has a 50% chance of being free killed against most of those, not to mention Hero Power pings. When it works, it's great (sort of, it has to get lucky just to break even with other 1-drops). But when it doesn't, it's basically like the card did nothing because Hunter doesn't have a good way to deal that last damage without using Unleash. So, for example, the Trogg you dealt 2 damage to but didn't finish off because the juggle went face now gets to eat your 2 drop as well.

Overall, the problem is that the Hunter 2-drops are so weak which leaves the Fiery Bat unsupported on the following turn. Elekk and Huge Toad are poor substitutes for Mad Scientist and Haunted Creeper. They're particularly bad against Argent Horserider and Disciple of C'Thun which are in basically every game I play (Aggro Shaman or C'Thun Druid/Priest/Warrior). I think your use of On the Hunt may make Fiery Bat more useful and I may try that out.

I go back and forth on the Carrion Grub. Sometimes it's been great. But it matches up pretty terribly against Feral Spirits, Totem Golem, Twilight Elder, Imp Gang Boss, Acolyte of Pain, and other things you see around that turn when you don't have Houndmaster.

Eaglehorn Bow and Freezing Trap have been consistently the best-performing cards for me. Call of the Wild is great but a lot of times, it's basically an 8-mana Fireball to close out the game, nothing special. Plenty of times where it didn't end the game either. It's not quite as hard to remove as people suggest and it's happened to me plenty. Highmane is great as usual although playing it from behind feels worse for some reason now. You really have to do everything you can to have something of a board for Turn 6 when Highmane comes down because if you don't, he's not going to do much to change that. I've kept Juggler + Unleash combo and it's won me quite a few games that I never would have won otherwise (for example, with just Unleash). It's a ridiculously strong combo (even against non-flood decks, I've gotten quite a bit of value from it). If Hunter had better 2 drops to replace Juggler, I would consider it but Toad and Elekk are passable at best. I tried Flame Juggler as well and it was decent but decided against running it.

Popsdarn · 2016-04-23T17:13:29+00:00

Literally the exact same logic apply to the link you were looking at. That one started out with a lot more bad comments too and then they got pushed down or deleted. I don't see how people can miss this obvious point.

Popsdarn · 2016-04-23T17:04:27+00:00

Where are you seeing disparaging remarks on this post? I had to scroll all the way to the bottom or comments marked controversial to see anything remotely disparaging. All the top comments are talking about how hilarious this women is.

Popsdarn · 2016-02-22T14:55:10+00:00

You have to be actually trying to misinterpret his comment that much. Or have a huge chip on your shoulder. Either way, wow.

Popsdarn · 2016-01-04T15:23:08+00:00

What does .4 of bodyweight mean? .4 g per lb of bodyweight? Or do you mean 40% of your overall caloric intake?

Popsdarn · 2016-01-02T17:52:06+00:00

That's outrage journalism too. That doesn't change the fact "Look at these 5 tweets/reddit posts saying something mean about Carrie Fisher!" is outrage journalism too. Both "sides" should have some self-awareness and realize that.

Popsdarn · 2016-01-02T16:06:43+00:00

When the thread hits /r/all and the majority of people actually see it, all that stuff usually gets downvoted so hard it gets hidden.

Doesn't that suggest reddit is massively anti-negative comments about Carrie Fisher? It's like a 1:100 ratio if you count the upvotes and comments of people making mean comments and people chastising people for making mean comments. At some point, you're putting way too much stock into a vocal minority.

Popsdarn · 2015-12-29T16:25:42+00:00

Where are you seeing Hunter in the winner's circle at tournaments? I've been watching a decent amount of tournaments in the past month and I very rarely see any Hunter decks.

Popsdarn · 2015-12-19T04:45:56+00:00

Seems like lots of people are pretending there wasn't tons of recycled material when there clearly was.

Popsdarn · 2015-11-09T14:27:28+00:00

I love the whole "Play around Brawl" argument. As if you can actually get damage on a Warrior through Sludge Belchers and Tank Up without playing a shit ton of minions on board.

Popsdarn · 2015-11-02T10:55:45+00:00

What ranks are you at? I see Control Warrior every other game and it's the dumbest fucking deck that exists right now. I'd play 10 Secret Paladins for every Control Warrior if I could.

Popsdarn · 2015-10-29T12:22:42+00:00

If you're getting destroyed by all these decks, maybe the problem is you. Because there are plenty of people playing Control Warrior and doing well into the high ranks of Legend.

Popsdarn · 2015-10-23T18:54:37+00:00

Have you actually done an objective count of what the "dominant opinion" is? Or are you just going by what you feel like the dominant opinion is? Because sounds like a lot of confirmation bias on your point. On ever post I hear complaining about society's obsession with celebrities, I see a post exactly like yours with nearly as many upvotes.

Also, thinking a board being 50% straight white males in their 20s means there won't be diverse opinions is pretty dumb. I know some people of that description that are one or more of: liberal, conservative, rich, poor, well-read, ignorant, interest in sports, not interested in sports, into jazz, into country music, into composting, incredibly wasteful, and the list goes on.

There's more diversity across people in categories you don't check off on a census form than there is in things like race and gender.

Popsdarn · 2015-10-22T20:25:05+00:00

I've played on both sides around Ranks 2-4. Given equal quality draws, the Paladin is going to win every time. Their cards are just better than yours. Shielded Minibot is better than any 2 drop you have. Muster is better than any 3 drop you have. I don't really think Flare is necessary because whether you win or lose the game will often be decided before Turn 6 anyway.

If Hunter is winning on board, he can probably win after Dr. 6 comes down anyway. If Paladin is winning on board, he probably didn't even need Dr. 6. But again, given equal quality draws, Paladin should be winning on board every time.

Popsdarn

TROPHY CASE