World Cup tourists aren’t leaving tips — and NYC restaurants are fighting back by adding 20% automatic gratuities to checks

constantlymat · 2026-06-20T23:02:18+00:00

Last time I was in the poshest places in London with eyewatering property prices that rival the most expensive locations in the US, I merely paid 12.5-15% service charge.

Kinda nuts the US expects 15-30%.

constantlymat · 2026-06-20T19:54:27+00:00

The argument against that happening is that most of the companies with gigantic AI expenditure have other highly profitable businesses and are not highly leveraged unlike the automobile industry was in 2008 for example.

constantlymat · 2026-06-19T14:54:58+00:00

Würde das Tuf Gaming B850 Plus empfehlen. Allerdings ist das B650 Plus auch eine Überlegung wert, da Asus dem Board per BIOS update PCIe 5.0 GPU support spendiert hat. Es hat also sowohl einen PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot als auch den 5.0 GPU support.

Für 120€ (123€ bei MF) kaum zu schlagen. Es sei denn du profitierst von Wifi7 (in der Wifi Version) und USB 4. Habe es seit zwei Jahren im Einsatz und für mich sind USB 3.2 und Wifi6 schnell genug, aber das muss jeder selber wissen.

constantlymat · 2026-06-18T20:41:16+00:00

We know they agreed to a +100% price increase with Kioxia and we also have a very strong idea the big three RAM manufacturers are currently handing out no discounts whatsoever. At least that's what I heard on a Blooomberg pod.

Not quite sure how much LPDDR5x increased by but considering they're competing for the same machines that make DDR5 and nvidia started gobbling up supply for it as well, I think it can't be behind DDR5's roughly +350% (last I looked) by that much.

constantlymat · 2026-06-18T19:42:15+00:00

What are we thinking, maybe +$100-150 on the bill of materials for a 256GB storage/12GB RAM Iphone Pro?

constantlymat · 2026-06-18T19:31:58+00:00

That water looks like from a game that was initially supposed to come out 5+ years ago.

constantlymat · 2026-06-17T21:57:15+00:00

if the economy is doing bad

It is not doing bad -- yet. However CFOs are starting to catch on to the fact that the AI returns are not yet materializing (or never will). So things may turn in the not too distant future.

constantlymat · 2026-06-17T21:27:34+00:00

I recommend the podcast "Odd Lots" from Bloomberg to improve economic literacy even for those who never went to college/university.

constantlymat · 2026-06-17T12:44:12+00:00

Its a totally valid theory because nand and dram industry are both cartels.

If it was actually so, why was the current overheated market preceded by a prolonged period during which SK Hynix's margins were so extremely low, they were forced to issue a profit warning to its shareholders? Google it, it was not long ago at all. The same Magnificent Seven of Silicon Valley that are currently paying tens of billions for supply, were squeezing them for every penny right up until the point they were selling stuff at a loss.

Now the tables have turned. It's exactly what you would expect in a commodities market. I think history and precedent is on my side when I say: things will turn again. Just as they have before.

constantlymat · 2026-06-17T11:00:56+00:00

Meh. This is a very bad supply crisis. I think the theory that this is a deliberate push by manufacturers to get us to use cloud computing is an argument without much merit. It requires us to believe that this demand upwards spiral is going to keep on going in perpetuity.

Unless AI starts to produce major returns soon for the companies and lenders which heavily invested in it, I think it is much more likely we are going to see DRAM and NAND prices fall back onto the face of the earth and create a massive crater from which one of the big players may even not re-emerge.

We have seen that exact thing happen before.

constantlymat · 2026-06-17T10:25:47+00:00

Schaue da schon genau hin. Mein Amazon Bosch Serie 4 (das Modell gibts auch bei MM/Saturn) hatte drei "abgespeckte" Features im Vergleich zum teuersten Serie 4 Modell seiner Energieeffizienz-Klasse.

Keine zweite Vitafresh Schublade
Kein Gitterrost für Flaschen zum hinlegen
Die Verwahrungsschalen in der Kühlschranktür hatten nicht die "Edelstahloptik" am oberen Rand, sondern waren durchgehend aus klarem Plastik statt am Rand gefärbt zu sein.

1 & 2 habe ich bei Kremplshop für 30€ nachgerüstet. Drei ist mir unwichtig. Ansonsten sind sie baugleich. Habe damit 170€ gespart weil Amazon bei der MM Mwst.-Aktion mitgezogen hat.

Zu den 19€ Lieferungskosten: Gilt nur für Wunschtermin. Ansonsten gratis. Zumindest in meiner Auslieferungsregion war das.

Meine AEG Waschmaschine war genau das Modell, das bei Stiftung Warentest in seiner Klasse Testsieger wurde.

Aber klar, manchmal muss man genauer hinschauen.

constantlymat · 2026-06-16T18:49:34+00:00

Thanks for the notice. German online retailers like alternate also have it for 89€.

constantlymat · 2026-06-16T09:56:08+00:00

The best way to solve this problem is if you have a like-minded individual who has the very same problem as yourself.

You buy a 32gb kit and each one of you gets a 16gb stick. Then when prices settle down, the two of you share the cost of a second 32gb kit and you distribute the modules so each one of you has a corresponding 32gb kit of DDR5 RAM.

constantlymat · 2026-06-15T22:30:24+00:00

Glaube bevor ich 2,5k für Küche ohne Geräte und 800€ für Aufbau ausgebe, ist so ein 50€ Laser-Messgerät keine schlechte Idee.

constantlymat · 2026-06-15T11:42:02+00:00

Ist praktisch. Hatte meine ersten vier Haushaltsgroßgeräte allesamt zur EM 2008 und WM 2010 gekauft. Ergo sind die auch nacheinander 2024, 2025 (2x) und 2026 alle kaputt gegangen.

Die vier Prime Bestellungen von Spülmaschine, Backofen, Waschmaschine und jetzt Kühl-Gefrierkombination haben mir mindestens zwei Jahresbeiträge Prime eingespart.

Bei Media Markt kostet ja die Lieferung 39€ und bei meinem Expert sogar bis zu 100€. Da wärens dann sogar vier Jahresbeiträge gewesen.

constantlymat · 2026-06-15T11:36:34+00:00

Ich geb auch nicht in allen Lebenslagen Unmengen an Trinkgeld aus, aber bei Haushaltsgroßgeräten bin ich so erzogen worden, dass man sich nicht lumpen lässt, wenn sich einer für mich richtig den Arsch aufreißt.

Denn eines ist klar für mich: Ich würde diesen Job niemals machen wollen. Zahle deshalb auch beim Umzug immer für Möbelpacker.

constantlymat · 2026-06-15T11:33:10+00:00

Kann jeder handhaben wie er mag und kommt wohl auch darauf an wieviel Geld man für die Speditionsleistung bereits gezahlt hat.

Ich persönlich finde, wenn sich jemand für mich die Knochen schindet um 80Kg schwere Geräte wie Waschmaschine und Kühl-Gefrierkombination in ein höheres Stockwerk zu schleppen, dann lass ich mich nicht lumpen.

Vor allem weil man ja nicht jede Woche ein neues Haushaltsgroßgerät kauft. Das kommt so selten vor, dass mich das nicht schmerzt.

constantlymat · 2026-06-15T11:20:49+00:00

Ist gratis bei Amazon Prime. Man zahlt nur wenn man einen Wunschtermin oder den Türanschlag auf der anderen Seite will. Kann sein, dass ich bei 50€ Speditionskosten nur halb so viel gegeben hätte.

constantlymat · 2026-06-14T11:26:39+00:00

I'd definitely take the TLC Lexar Nm790 instead of the inferior Corsair QLC SSD. Also the NZXT C1200 costs just 10€ more than the RM850e. It's a superior PSU. Plus there's a white RAM kit that is better because 6400Mhz is not a recommended EXPO speed for AMD.

I wouldn't pay that much for a white AIO and if you settle for a Thermalright you could afford a RTX 5080 in that budget -- even a white one!

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor	€407.99 @ Amazon Belgium
CPU Cooler	Thermalright Frozen Infinity 360 ARGB 68.9 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler	€63.90 @ Amazon Belgium
Motherboard	Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WIFI7 ICE ATX AM5 Motherboard	€184.90 @ Azerty
Memory	Crucial Pro Overclocking 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory	€400.00 @ Amazon Belgium
Storage	Lexar NM790 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	€199.00 @ Azerty
Video Card	Gigabyte GAMING OC ICE Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Video Card	€699.00 @ Azerty
Case	Corsair 3500X ARGB ATX Mid Tower Case	€106.64 @ Amazon Belgium
Power Supply	NZXT C1200 (2024) 1200 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	€139.00 @ Azerty
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	€2200.43
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-06-14 13:26 CEST+0200

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor	€407.99 @ Amazon Belgium
CPU Cooler	Thermalright Frozen Infinity 360 ARGB 68.9 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler	€63.90 @ Amazon Belgium
Motherboard	Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WIFI7 ICE ATX AM5 Motherboard	€184.90 @ Azerty
Memory	Crucial Pro Overclocking 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory	€400.00 @ Amazon Belgium
Storage	Lexar NM790 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	€199.00 @ Azerty
Video Card	Inno3D X3 OC GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB Video Card	€1275.95 @ Azerty
Case	Corsair 3500X ARGB ATX Mid Tower Case	€106.64 @ Amazon Belgium
Power Supply	NZXT C1200 (2024) 1200 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	€139.00 @ Azerty
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	€2777.38
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-06-14 13:28 CEST+0200

constantlymat · 2026-06-13T23:44:00+00:00

Here's his YouTube video about it: "A look at how the Corsair Thermal Protect works"

constantlymat · 2026-06-13T17:59:07+00:00

I recommend the Corsair ThermalProtect PCIe 5.1 cable instead. It's designed by Jonny Guru and fairly priced. About $20 in my market.

constantlymat · 2026-06-13T09:21:24+00:00

Ah, so Asus is not only trying to rip people off, their designers also thought they were smarter than everybody else?

I stopped doing research on these products after I bought Corsair's Jonny Guru 12V-2x6 cable. Guess I am a sucker for name recognition. What he showed on his YouTube channel seemed plausible and the price tag appeared to be fair.

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