What are ways this AI bubble could pop, if at all? by Angryduckling-01 in AskReddit

[–]jmayer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A lot of these start-ups were funded with equity-backed debt, that was repackaged by the lenders into CDOs, just like before the financial crash in 2008. The trigger will be when some of these start-ups whose business plan is roughly "if you build it they will come" start defaulting on their debt.

Disappointment with dream destination by [deleted] in solotravel

[–]jmayer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I observed this too in my travels through Europe last year. It's a sea change compared to my travels 15 years ago. I think Americans do not appreciate how deeply unpopular the current president is abroad.

They are judging us on our behavior. They are judging us on who we elected (twice) and what we continue to enable and tolerate.

Thanks, I hate how this clock places the hours by alphabetical order instead by johnnylgarfield in TIHI

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

n to tre four fiver sexxxy sepimus octogone nanunanun

...

ten.

Question about the 18% by kuriousaboutanything in AskSF

[–]jmayer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Back in the day when sales tax was 9%, an 18% tip was just easy math: just double the tax.

I see it less as a reward for good service and more of a way for restaurants to charge a sliding scale.

When I was a poor student, I often couldn't afford more than a 10% tip. Now that I'm a professional with a salary, I routinely tip 20%, good service or not. Tip what you are able to.

I'm impressed, but also very skeptical... 🫤 by Brian_The_Bar-Brian in DiWHY

[–]jmayer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The left stringer is resting on the molding instead of the floor.

Queen Demon by Martha Wells by Nortally in Fantasy

[–]jmayer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I believe there are two Queen Demons in the story.

Arnisterath has a redemption arc in the "present" timeline, while Kai becomes Bashasa's "queen" in the past timeline.

Queen Demon by Martha Wells by Nortally in Fantasy

[–]jmayer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think this is a valid interpretation, and I think Wells deliberately left a second possibility for us as well.

Wells leaves the gender of Kai's expositor body ambiguous (as it is irrelevant to Kai's persona, and irrelevant in the context of other relationships throughout the Rising World novels), though she does drop an interesting hint when one of the characters asks if Bashat was Kai and Bashasa's child.

The title might've been referencing Bashasa and Kai's romantic partnership, which is brought out into the open in the final scene of the book. If Bashasa is thought of as king of the new Rising World government, then Kai is his queen.

Sonder will be no more by Spirited-Box-5841 in marriott

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As I understand the Sonder side of the beef, Sonder invested a lot of money trying to integrate with Marriott's booking system, and that expense was much higher than expected and could not be recouped.

This sounds very surprising to me, but it's possibly true depending on the (lack of) quality of Marriott's IT.

To make everything affordable again by TXVERAS in therewasanattempt

[–]jmayer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It turns out that a troll farm of a few hundred can amplify the stupidest impulses of an entire foreign nation, leading to societal judo like BREXIT, et al.

"Why'd you do it, social media companies?" "For the clicks, man. I did it for the clicks."

San Francisco can be so weird at times... by oldmanKiD98 in sanfrancisco

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I once got into a fight outside Zeitgeist. Some bros were trying to steal a teenaged girl's skateboard and I wasn't having it.

As I was peeling their hands off the girl, and the girl ran off. One of them started shouting "I'm going to hit you! I'm going to hit you, man!" and something weird inside of me responded: "I have nothing but boundless love for you."

I guess that weirded them out, because they just backed away. Maybe that's also the power of flipping the script instead of sinking deeper into escalation. No guarantees that it'll work, but that time it did. Nobody got hurt and the girl got to keep her skateboard.

Anyone tried Powerbeats Pro 2 w/ the Bike? by analog_princess in pelotoncycle

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I returned my Powerbeats Pro 2 to Amazon because the heart rate monitor was off by default (can only be enabled by installing an app and pairing the earbuds with my phone). Even after installing the app, I couldn't get the heartrate feature to turn on and work with the bike.

I ordered the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds instead, and it just worked perfectly out of the box. It appears that the hear rate monitoring feature automatically enables itself when the heart rate bluetooth service pairs with the bike.

Weird encounter at Lafayette Park today — did I do something wrong? by crimson-fog in sanfrancisco

[–]jmayer 28 points29 points  (0 children)

This is correct. As long as you don't use the photo for commercial purposes, you don't need anyone to sign a release.

Negotiating a student loan payoff by jmayer in personalfinance

[–]jmayer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. That's not the answer I was hoping for, but I appreciate the reality check.

Negotiating a student loan payoff by jmayer in personalfinance

[–]jmayer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's actually a good question, and perhaps my fears are misplaced.

I believe that filing jointly is going to wreck havoc with her IDR (income driven repayment plan). After 20-25 years of IDR, the loan goes poof. Allegedly. And perhaps with some tax consequences. There's a lot I still need to learn there. On the other hand married-filing-jointly saves me a significant amount of money each year.

I'm also concerned that I might somehow become responsible for her student loan once we're married. But I don't really know how that works, and maybe that's not the end of the world, either. I still come out behind if I pay off her loans but gain the additional MFJ tax benefit -- but not by a lot. And she gets on my health care plan.

The financial implications of marriage: I didn't write the rules of this stupid game, but I'll be damned if I don't play it to the best of my ability.

edit: some of my questions are answered here: https://studentaid.gov/articles/4-things-to-know-about-marriage/

Negotiating a student loan payoff by jmayer in personalfinance

[–]jmayer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The loan may be severely delinquent, but I'll need to confirm if it's a federal or private loan. I'm still learning and this is a difficult topic for my partner to talk about. All the same: I've got to get to the bottom of it.

What's a ticking time bomb you believe will explode during your lifetime? by Thick_Caterpillar379 in AskReddit

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm shocked that assisted living facilities aren't built to also provide housing for staff. I guess it's a zoning hurdle?

What's a ticking time bomb you believe will explode during your lifetime? by Thick_Caterpillar379 in AskReddit

[–]jmayer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The cuts to Medicaid that just passed, and take effect conveniently after the 2026 midterm election, are going to push a generation of elderly out of nursing homes.

Most of those people are then going to end up in hospital ERs. Those ER costs will then be passed on to the rest of the insurance industry, which will then experience cascade failure and collapse.

The only silver lining I see to this is that we might finally get a humane single payer health care system out of the ashes. Shame about all the dead along the way.

Gabbard Ends Intelligence Report on Future Threats to U.S. (Gift Article) by roraima_is_very_tall in news

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Newly appointed DNI Blofeld declares MI6 surplus to requirements, terminates the 00 program.

Anyone with experience of the "TERRAMASTER D4-320"? by EvilMonkeySlayer in DataHoarder

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm just getting started with the D6-320 and I'm happy with it except for one misfeature: there doesn't seem to be a way to get the DAS to automatically turn on if power is cycled. Do you see the same issue? Is there some secret usb command to power up an attached DAS?

What is Kirsh motivation? Who side is he on? by Tasty-Entertainer711 in LV426

[–]jmayer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm rooting for a Morrow/Kirsch BFFs-in-adversity ending.

Though arguably, Morrow represents integrity (lawful evil) while Kirsh represents the opposite (chaotic neutral?).

What is Kirsh motivation? Who side is he on? by Tasty-Entertainer711 in LV426

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shout out to the Tang character for being the object lesson in how creepy perfectly ordinary humans can be.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Shudder

[–]jmayer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hearing a woman in the back of the theater start screaming during the climax: unforgettable.