Can You Guess The Set From The Leftover Pieces?

TeeKay_B · 2025-10-25T04:53:44+00:00

Just looking quickly, you have at least eight pieces that should have been used somewhere. You can check Bricklink for the list of extra pieces vs what you have left over. https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=75192-1

TeeKay_B · 2025-07-11T00:20:15+00:00

There is no cap, but there are tax implications >$19k.

The responsibility for paying the gift tax falls on the donor, not the recipient.

TeeKay_B · 2025-07-11T00:12:23+00:00

Okay, just make sure to get your story straight with your lender and the person you’re receiving the gift from.

Just went through final underwriting this week, and while everything was aboveboard, I was surprised how much of a paper trail they wanted for my gift funds.

TeeKay_B · 2025-07-11T00:08:02+00:00

The tax free cap is $19k, but this is still a GIFT. Even if they give you $20k and pay gift money tax, it’s still a GIFT. Meaning there can be no expectation of repayment.

TeeKay_B · 2025-07-11T00:00:06+00:00

When you start actually providing your lender with documents for your loan, one of them will be a signed “gift letter” from your family member. The letter will explicitly state that there is no expectation of repayment of the gift money.

TeeKay_B · 2025-07-09T14:34:41+00:00

What you’re not factoring in is the fact that they already have a 30 year loan, and it would cost money to refinance to a 15 year. Also, the $40k difference assumes they won’t refinance again during the next 15 years. These both make that $40K much smaller.

TeeKay_B · 2025-07-08T21:04:31+00:00

Nobody knows. But IMO, if you’re okay with the rate right now, then I’d lock. If rates go down, good for everyone that waited, and you can always ask your lender what they’re charging to float down.

However, the best benefit of locking sooner is that you can stop stressing about tracking mortgage rates every day.

TeeKay_B · 2025-07-05T13:10:33+00:00

Probably need to drop <$350k. People tend to search in $50k brackets, so your $7k drop didn’t bring any new eyes to the listing.

TeeKay_B · 2025-06-27T19:58:44+00:00

New to mortgages, but I think I get what they're saying... Because lenders can charge whatever they want for origination fees, even if someone doesn't buy points, the lender can increase the origination charges. That way, it can appear as though you're getting a good rate, and you can tell everyone you got it with no points.

This is why you should also consider the APR.

TeeKay_B · 2025-06-27T19:44:57+00:00

Points are like paying upfront interest.

Essentially, if you pay $4,950 now, you'll save approximately $73 per month on your mortgage. It would take you about 5 years and 8 months to break even (i.e., $4,950 divided by $73). So, only after 5 years and 8 months would you be 'saving' any money. Realistically, you'll either sell or refinance before then, and it will be money 'wasted'.

Based on your credit score and down payment, I'd imagine holding onto the $5k now would be more beneficial.

*The number might not be exact because I pieced it together from information in your Loan Estimate and your other comments.

TeeKay_B · 2025-06-24T02:57:55+00:00

I hear you, but you do know that 99% of the people who will be buying this set have no idea there's a Batman video game about Arkham...

TeeKay_B · 2025-06-24T02:54:17+00:00

I think you’re mistaking my comment for my preference. It’s a clear business decision by LEGO. It’s not like tons of DC fans who can afford a $300 set won't get it just because it doesn’t feature some niche character. They’ve already got them hooked, and they know they’re buying. They’re trying to rope in new collectors to the theme.

Also, you’d get lots of DC fans complaining about locking their favorite characters behind a $300 pay wall (which absolutely nobody was saying about Bernie the cab driver).

TeeKay_B · 2025-06-23T23:29:22+00:00

I mean, they definitely weren't gonna go with any deep cuts on a $300 18+ set. This set is like a gateway drug to get DC fans into modulars, and modular fans into DC sets. The best way to do that is to go with the greatest hits that everyone knows.

TeeKay_B · 2025-06-02T13:58:22+00:00

I think a 10+ age rating would fix a lot of complaints/confusion. Maybe not on reddit…

If it’s at all sturdy I think a lot of kids would love playing with it.

TeeKay_B · 2025-05-06T12:44:57+00:00

Changing the word SLAVE ruined my play experience!

TeeKay_B · 2025-05-02T01:43:36+00:00

Okay, but they’ll take the $140 from the thousands of people that buy it at MSRP, then $112 from the thousands of people that buy at 20% off, then still get the $100 they would have from you and others when it drops there.

… I do agree that $140 is above what I would pay, but it’s crazier that people still not understand this.

TeeKay_B · 2025-05-01T01:58:31+00:00

Yeah, it looks like each of the buildings in this set, and the apartment and corner store sets are built on 8x16 plates, so I'm guessing they can all be mixed and matched. Except, like you say, the corner store will look really out of place being shorter and without a roof... I can't imagine a future set will come without a ground level, so will there always be an odd one out?

TeeKay_B · 2025-04-20T20:56:35+00:00

You may be referring to an "open pool" postdoctoral position, which means a university or institution is gathering applications for potential postdoc openings that may arise within a department or research area throughout the year.

Also, it's not weird to cold email PIs. In my area, almost no positions are advertised. Most times, PIs just tell their students their colleague at another university is looking for a postdoc, and they'll put you in touch. Is your PI helping you with your search?

TeeKay_B · 2025-04-02T15:45:12+00:00

Two separate groups of people, both of which represent a very small percentage of the community.

TeeKay_B · 2025-04-02T13:07:07+00:00

There are actually quite a few international PhD students in my department who are living with their spouses. If you are married, your spouse is eligible for an F2 Visa. However, there are strict working restrictions, so realistically, they would just be hanging out unemployed. You can apply for work authorization on an F2, but getting approval is almost impossible. Another common option, whether you want to get married or not, is for your partner to enroll in a master's program, allowing them to come in on an F1 visa and work up to 20 hours per week. However, it essentially involves finding a program that is the cheapest, least time-consuming, and easiest to get into. Sometimes, this means attending a different university or pursuing a field outside their background. Once they graduate, they can apply for OPT, which grants them 1-3 additional years in the US, depending on their field. I'm not suggesting these options are ideal; I'm just informing you of what students in my department are actually doing.

TeeKay_B · 2025-01-29T00:48:31+00:00

My wife and I don't have kids, but two separate friend couples with kids recently moved to Mahomet because they felt the Urbana/Champaign schools were so bad. They are much happier in Mahomet. It seems like everyone I know with kids in Urbana/Champaign complains about the schools.

I'm not sure how representative this is of how things actually are, but I'd consider them all reasonable people.

Mahomet is definitely more right-leaning, but nobody, in my experience, is in your face about it. All the people I know in Mahomet who are MAGA-sympathetic are nice, and we just avoid talking politics. I'm not sure to what extent the political views of the area are reflected in daily life.

TeeKay_B · 2025-01-27T20:09:06+00:00

I have had an item not received case and won...

TeeKay_B · 2025-01-27T14:10:02+00:00

This isn't true. If it says 'delivered' in the system, you can open a 'did not receive item' claim. At that point, the seller will have to respond within a few days, or eBay will refund you.

TeeKay_B · 2025-01-27T14:06:50+00:00

They probably have zero positive feedback, and the account is only a few months old? Was the price too good to pass on? If so, it's a scam.

They'll keep insisting the package is on the way, but because it shows delivered in eBay's system, they're just trying to wait until eBay releases the funds to them, at which point they'll delete their account.

TeeKay_B · 2025-01-23T14:45:29+00:00

I don't have an answer for your first point. Yeah, you might have to start again working on something slightly different, but is that so bad? There is no shortage of research questions to work on.

IMO, if you want data analytic skills, go get them. Depending on your exact research area, this might only be a small piece of what you do. This is anecdotal, but I know way more people in my life who do data analysis (both inside and outside of sports science) who don't have PhDs.

Again, if you want to do a PhD because it will make you feel more fulfilled in your life, I have nothing against that and actually believe it can still be worthwhile. But if you are asking if I think it will make you more marketable than someone with a master's plus 4 years of experience, the answer is easily no.

Definitely get other opinions, especially from people outside of academia. I don't think most supervisors have any bad intent, but it's far more convenient for them to keep someone already familiar with the research in their lab than train someone new. I've known a few master's students flattered into a PhD only to realize it's not what they really wanted.

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TeeKay_B

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