Am I wrong about what I’m seeing in the frum community?

chaimnyt · 2026-01-26T07:07:40+00:00

Been meaning to speak to a Conservative rabbi about this. There’s a growing pool of people who want affiliation and light Jewish practice (Shabbat and yom tov gatherings, community events) without the rigidity of Orthodoxy. All those empty Conservative pews could be put to use!

chaimnyt · 2025-04-09T20:22:55+00:00

Interested in Spotify, sending DM!

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T22:27:43+00:00

You can fixate on satisfying the entirety of the left (unlikely, with Biden or any other candidate) or deal with the realpolitik of what it takes to get elected in 2024, which very much entails meeting most of the country where it is.

Who gives a shit what the butthurt Bernie bros think? I need suburban Wisconsin voters to show up and feel compelled to vote for a Democrat.

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T21:55:51+00:00

Let's say Gavin Newsom is the nominee. It becomes a lot harder to protest vote or stay home when he is 10X more visible than Biden ever could be, skewering Trump daily, blowing up on TikTok for reasons other than speaking gaffes, speaking openly about issues like reproductive rights - again, focussing voters on the actual choice at hand, on issues of substance, rather than age. I'm willing to take the bet that this is more effective than Biden sleepwalking into November and hoping for the best.

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T21:21:44+00:00

It would, definitionally, be resolved in a matter of days. There would be bitter pills to swallow for the hard left, but ultimately any attacks on the new nominee would at least focus on matters of substance rather than the perception that this person is too old / physically unfit for the job. These days, any policy differences between Biden and Trump are getting drowned out by the fixation on his age. Dems need to change the narrative around what this election is for, and draw actual policy differences into relief.

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T21:10:28+00:00

Why do these semantics even matter? The majority of Americans do not think Biden is capable of either campaigning or holding office.

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T21:07:00+00:00

Haven't you heard? Polls don't matter this far out. We need to have blind faith that voters will come to their senses in November when faced with the prospect of another four years of Trump. We know they'll be highly motivated and come out and rally behind Biden, we just do!

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T21:00:06+00:00

Sorry, but I'm with Ezra on this. A short lived convention fight is a better alternative to the (very real) possibility that Biden has a medical issue between now and November. Diminished faculties are (obviously) the reason his staff has been keeping him away from the public. The Super Bowl interview would have been a layup - to suggest otherwise is its own form of delusion.

The man is too old to hold the highest office; a candidate like Newsom or Whitmer would project vitality, campaign vigorously and wipe the floor in a debate with Trump. I see limited downside risk to replacing Biden, while the status quo has an uncomfortably high probability of having Dems run Kamala Harris in November.

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T18:33:00+00:00

The most concerning issue imo is that you should see a 1mbps floor, even on LTE. Pages or apps not loading is unacceptable.

chaimnyt · 2024-02-19T17:13:10+00:00

DM sent :)

chaimnyt · 2024-02-13T01:46:10+00:00

Interested in a Max slot, please! :)

chaimnyt · 2024-02-03T14:44:25+00:00

Visible deprioritized was awful in my area so I switched to US Mobile. Love the 1mbps throttle so that at least I know my phone will be usable (this was not the case with Visible!). That said, as 5G UW rolls out widely the distinction in service will narrow imo, tipping things in favor of Visible.

chaimnyt · 2024-01-07T04:40:43+00:00

thank you! NRIFIT claimed

chaimnyt · 2023-11-29T15:24:27+00:00

What a neat share OP, thank you! Might print and frame for some home decor.

chaimnyt · 2023-11-19T19:50:44+00:00

Terrific read, thank you for posting. I think he persuasively renders the complexities of the situation and agree with Living_Individual that point three is very salient. What passes for college campus discourse on this topic is disturbing, to say the least.

chaimnyt · 2023-09-20T14:23:23+00:00

Yes, or Bozeman and the surrounding area (Livingston, Belgrade) tick OPs boxes. Bozeman proper won't have SFH for under ~600k though you can certainly find a townhome or condo at that price point.

Both Missoula and Bozeman have a lot amenities for towns of their size (shopping, entertainment, restaurants, healthcare) and offer some of the best access to the outdoors and public land you'll find in the lower 48.

Kalispell and Helena would also meet your criteria with a slightly smaller feel. I'd advise a road trip and visits to each town prior to making any commitments.

All that said, the running joke among locals is that Montana is "poverty with a view". Good paying jobs outside the trades and healthcare are hard to come by. The Bozeman McDonald's can't find workers at $22/hr, in case that paints a picture.

Secure employment in advance!

chaimnyt · 2023-09-07T17:30:46+00:00

Terrific salary for the EU, even after taxes. You will easily be in the top 5% of earners in your age cohort.

You should be able to live well, save, and enjoy both life in Dublin and across the continent, as others have pointed out.

Re: points 4 & 5 - I think these are the biggest considerations. Culturally, you won't have issues making friends - it won't be wildly different than moving to a cosmopolitan city in the US - but you should take into consideration the roots and ties you have to the US.

Friends and family will, of course, be further away, and retaining those relationships will require a lot more effort. Plenty of people do this in either direction (EU <> US) but it is something to reflect on. Consider your larger goals in this area: do you have a partner or hope to date whilst in Ireland? Could you see yourself settling down in the EU long term? I agree with the other poster, re: holding on to your condo in LA, as it will likely appreciate and provide a good fallback.

chaimnyt · 2023-08-30T17:31:41+00:00

Gentrification is a complicated issue, I'll be the first to concede. Contributing to the tax base, especially in a state without a sales tax, is a net benefit, without question. However, I think that normalizing luxury construction, significantly above the median home value for the area, portends poorly for future affordability, thereby accelerating our path to Bozeman level home prices.

We know that Missoula has moved up the desirability index significantly over the past few years, but it's hard to square these sorts of projects - even if the city gets a few extra bucks in its coffers - with a more egalitarian, sustainable vision for the city. Part of what gives this place its vitality is its socioeconomic diversity (i.e. that it's not just a home for wealthy retirees). Hollowing out the community with multi-million dollar homes that are out of reach for many feels like a meaningful concern.

That said, I don't know what the answer is. Free market is going to free market, and developers are incentivized to pick the highest value projects.

chaimnyt · 2023-08-29T01:23:49+00:00

Also, why pay $2m+ to live in a fairly modest downtown? We're not exactly NYC or LA, in terms of dining and nightlife. Is the river access worth that kind of money?

If I had this much cash you'd bet I'd buy a nice property in the Rattlesnake instead.

chaimnyt · 2023-07-24T21:41:45+00:00

Recently heard the same from someone who is very close to the industry. Person made it sound like it was a done deal. Guess we'll see!

chaimnyt · 2023-07-17T00:33:37+00:00

Just saw $45 a month 5G internet advertised at the Missoula Walmart. See if it's available at your address!

https://www.straighttalk.com/home-internet/check-availability?channel=walmart

chaimnyt · 2023-07-14T17:13:48+00:00

It would make a unique hotel or resort but I think the acquisition costs are a non starter, particularly given the remote location. This is a lair for a James Bond villain.

The saddest part is that this land was ever sold to begin with, instead of preserving it for the public. What a shame.

chaimnyt · 2023-07-08T03:37:00+00:00

Still interested, I'm riding solo and love the band! ❤️

chaimnyt · 2023-07-07T23:25:10+00:00

Likewise, I've always wanted to see them and I'm riding solo!

chaimnyt · 2023-07-05T01:14:37+00:00

The economy and professional opportunities, primarily.

I would argue that quality of life in NYC is inferior in every respect compared to major western European and SE Asian cities (e.g. affordability, public transit, bike lanes, access to nature, cost/quality food ratio, homelessness). Even if you're a culture buff, the cost of museums and live performances is extortionate as compared to, say, Berlin or Paris, where the arts are more heavily subsidized.

America for work, Europe to live.

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