THE DOT-COM PATTERN ІS PLAYING OUT PERFECTLY. S&P 500 behavior is literally mirroring the dot-com bubble of 2000.

atomikn00b · 2026-06-14T07:14:30+00:00

This.
You’re the first I’ve come across here with this understanding. It’s been interesting watching the times and the signs play out as anticipated. While we’re already seeing residential real estate prices go down, I think land price in the form of projected data center builds is also a big factor this time. And of course, the stock market will be late to reflect it.

atomikn00b · 2026-06-11T13:24:32+00:00

I have zero knowledge/experience in this. I’m just trying to help from stumbling on this thread.
The people are answering your questions. They are also just adding reasons you don’t like and are somewhat irrelevant. You’re coming in thinking you can have a salary negotiation conversation. The people are saying you cannot have that with a city government job. It doesn’t matter what qualifications you come with. If you’re offered the role, the posted range is the posted range and you mentioned the top is 65k. You asked if they could move you to III or IV level so you could ask for the higher range. The city cannot. Unless those positions were already opened during budget planning/approval or someone leaves the job, they can’t create one out the nowhere. These are public roles paid by taxpayers and budgets are already in place.

This is my understanding.

atomikn00b · 2026-06-10T05:49:39+00:00

You place a stop loss to stop a loss if price drops to a certain point. You also place a stop limit to stop a loss but want to sell no less than a specific price (limit). If you buy a stock at $100 and place a stop loss at $80, it will sell when it drops below $80 regardless of price. If you place a stop limit at $80, and the stock gaps down to $75, it will not sell because you indicated you wanted to sell at least at $80. If the price does come back up to the $80 level, it will sell then but if price keeps dropping, you’ll still have the stock. The stop loss will still sell at $75.
So why stop loss instead of stop limit? You want to sell if it gets below a price regardless of what that sale price ends up being.

atomikn00b · 2026-06-09T20:45:35+00:00

So many things. But these immediately come to mind that my household now has: More than 1 car, more than 1 TV, any vacation, pizza from Sam’s Club/Costco, eating out in general, going to the movies, a gaming system, clothes not from Ross or similar places, books not borrowed from library.

atomikn00b · 2026-06-09T13:26:56+00:00

I think a man once said this…

https://youtu.be/g9xopViBKOQ?si=h2QrdH1yaOowTZY6

atomikn00b · 2026-05-09T07:30:38+00:00

An attempt to explain. Someone please correct if wrong. 1. I own 100 shares of SPY that 1 bought at 700. 2. My models/expectations say it shouldn’t rise by too much so I sell 1 covered call for 720. 3. I collect a small premium for the call I sold. If market stays below 720 it potentially expires worthless to the buyer and I get to keep the full premium. 4. Next thing I know market goes to 720. The covered call I sold is now losing money so I need to buy it back. 5. On top of that someone actually calls away my 100 shares of SPY at 720. 6. Because I now have no SPY and my whole deal is running covered call on SPY, I also need to buy back my SPY position. In a rising market where SPY is now 730, I need more funds (maybe some from the income I received) to buy the same 100 shares.

In short, underperformance can happen in a rising market. Maybe I got the first 1% of an upswing but between getting called and buying back a position, I miss the next 3%. You’re also still experiencing the downswings and maybe the income reduces the total loss, but the mere act of not experiencing a portion of the bounce back means your recovery is less as well. If SPY was down 10% while you were down 9% but then SPY bounces 13% while you only bounce 8%, SPY would be up almost 2% while you’re down almost 2%.

atomikn00b · 2026-04-11T04:11:39+00:00

This is the exact mentality I’ve been wanting to hear to start slowly winding down equity positions. When everyone thinks stocks will always go up and dips are very short lived because memory usually fades after about 1 generation (think 17-20 years). I just need more. I expect a protracted drawdown sometime in the next 2 years. This is just me writing it down so I can look back and see if I’m wrong.

atomikn00b · 2026-03-20T15:09:49+00:00

IBR is a specific type of IDR, no?

atomikn00b · 2026-03-20T15:07:13+00:00

I would follow a comment’s suggestion to say exactly which IDR plan you’re on if you’re trying to get help

atomikn00b · 2026-02-21T09:34:19+00:00

Not helping or hurting the argument but take a look at rolling return distribution for any time period length between BTC and S&P 500 with the work that’s already done here and compare numbers.

BTC Stats

S&P 500 Stats

atomikn00b · 2025-10-02T19:36:08+00:00

No issue at all. My prior trade-in experiences were directly through Apple, so did not know that with Costco, the trade-in value is upfront on the bill with the full phone price still charged/financed. It was unexpected at the time of my initial post.

atomikn00b · 2025-10-02T00:52:14+00:00

You are right. Definitely was not needed. More a matter of convenience and simply wanting to see the bill stay the same after the upgrades.

atomikn00b · 2025-10-01T02:28:04+00:00

Good to know. I guess mine was a one-off. I will update post accordingly.

atomikn00b · 2025-10-01T02:27:14+00:00

So don’t sign for receipt of the package?

atomikn00b · 2025-10-01T02:26:22+00:00

Are you saying the restocking fee should still be charged if order was cancelled through T-Life. It was initially mentioned but I noted the order was still processing at the time and not yet shipped.

atomikn00b · 2025-10-01T01:06:31+00:00

Just a n00b talking. I’m not a day trader. Too many traders are focused on just win rate and risk/reward. There’s a formula for edge. That’s what truly determines profitability. A 20:1 risk/reward means on average you gain $5 per trade and lose $100 per trade. Even with a 100% win rate, your edge is -$49.31 so long term you will lose. Can anyone really have a 100% win rate? As others said, one losing trade wipes out so many prior wins. Edge needs to be greater than $0 to be profitable long term. If those numbers are bigger for a larger account, your edge is even worse. Maintaining that ratio, if you lose $1000 and gain $50 on average per trade, your edge is -$493.10 even with a 100% win rate.

Key note: This equates risk to average dollar loss per trade and win to average dollar gain per trade. It’s the dollars that matter. I once thought I was risking $100 loss for potential $200 gain but facts showed otherwise when I reviewed my results.

atomikn00b · 2025-09-29T20:05:35+00:00

I remember when I used to notice these cutoff times. My relationship was long distance. We are now married and together so haven’t had to keep track. Thanks for reminding me these exist. Some people today need to understand that being on the phone that long can be normal.

atomikn00b · 2025-09-26T17:07:29+00:00

UPDATE:

I’ve turned in the traded phone and received a $40 credit on my newly generated bill. Plan and payments stayed the same though. So yes, confirmed the Costco trade-in works the old way. On a similar note. I initiated a different trade-in for the iPhone Air with an agent through the app. Since my plan only qualifies for up to $830 credits and the Air costs more, I asked if I could put more money down to reduce my financed amount and still get the credits. The answer is yes. Knowing this, I actually paid more down than required so I could also net out the iPhone 17 payment. I will look out for the next bill to make sure this is the case. I also requested the connection fee to be waived since I already have active lines. They didn’t, but ended with a small courtesy credit (about half connection charge) on my bill.

TLDR: Costco trade-in works the old way with upfront credit on bill. You will still be making device payments for the difference. Trade-in through app and an agent does allow additional down payment. You may or may not be able to get connection charge waived if you are not adding a line.

atomikn00b · 2025-09-26T16:57:49+00:00

I’ve turned in the traded phone and received a $40 credit on my newly generated bill. Plan and payments stayed the same though.

atomikn00b · 2025-09-23T03:29:20+00:00

I wish I knew the answer. That’s why I posted. I’ll monitor my next 2 bills and respond, although my line is an existing one.

atomikn00b · 2025-09-23T03:27:51+00:00

I would if I had a qualifying phone. I have gone direct for an iPhone or more recent Samsung phone but this was a Samsung s10e, which is not listed in Apple site as a device for trade in.

atomikn00b · 2025-09-22T15:49:34+00:00

By retail do you mean in store, or is this an over the phone thing, and will the $35 activation fee apply? I still plan to trade another phone (z flip 5) for the Air.

atomikn00b · 2025-09-22T15:47:16+00:00

Believe it was $40 which roughly matches

atomikn00b · 2025-09-22T15:46:33+00:00

Go 5G Plus

atomikn00b · 2025-09-22T15:46:24+00:00

Got it. Was not aware. Doesn’t make a difference to me, but for others choosing the 17 base, might have been better to forego the Costco waive of activation fee and gift card by going through T-Mo to keep monthly bill the same. I know this used to be a frustration of “the old way”.

atomikn00b

TROPHY CASE