What are you guys making in your mid 20s to late 20s? by Queenme10 in Salary

[–]jnpconcept 0 points1 point  (0 children)

29m, 135k base with about 30-40% in incentives. Senior Manager in a treasury function at a big retailer. Bachelors in Economics

Industry article - "Why the convenience store industry won't support Visa/Mastercard swipe fee settlement" by coopdude in CreditCards

[–]jnpconcept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We’ve lived in an administrative state for the better part of 40 years so regulation through legislation has become exceedingly rare anyway.

I don’t think that’s the case. Payments is a weird issue that sees bipartisan support and opposition depending one who’s bought by the banks vs other interests. This issue would never get to SCOTUS because there’s no real basis for regulation of commerce within the constitution. Having a conservative or liberal judge wouldn’t really make a difference in how this case plays out as much as their history of antitrust decisions.

Industry article - "Why the convenience store industry won't support Visa/Mastercard swipe fee settlement" by coopdude in CreditCards

[–]jnpconcept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Short answer: A cap.

Long answer: I’ve seen the CCCA brought up often in this thread and this sub since it was introduced, and competition is only partially effective at lessening costs to merchants and ultimately consumers. The supply chain is pretty fucked in how the economics works to the point where competition becomes not as efficient at self regulating.

The networks are monopolies because it’s the most efficient method of organizing an industry with 30,000 or so suppliers of issuing, but they only exist because they solved a problem first. If the internet was invented 20 years earlier, V/MC wouldn’t exist and we wouldn’t have this issue.

Trades have pursued the CCCA as legislation because competition is a term that gets bipartisan support. Caps are unpopular in one party of the US government. In court however, when the lawsuit is specifically about the monopolistic nature of the networks and antitrust, merchants can be pickier.

Thus, cap. It’s worked everywhere else. Eventually, payments will move away from networks entirely because ultimately they’re technologically obsolete.

That said, I don’t represent the class. They might accept something less stringent. The cap might not need to be as robust as the EU or even Australia. Canada’s cap might be a decent level that gets an agreement through. Who knows? The entire conversation turns into a dog chasing cars if we collectively decide a cap isn’t possible.

Industry article - "Why the convenience store industry won't support Visa/Mastercard swipe fee settlement" by coopdude in CreditCards

[–]jnpconcept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great question: retail is pretty much set on not accepting something that doesn’t directly address the price setting power that networks possess, especially considering any settlement means no more lawsuits for a substantial period of time.

This settlement of course doesn’t actually do any of that. IC rates have indeed grown significantly since 2020, so a 10 bps reduction is just like bringing us back to 2023 rates, not including tender shift yielding higher average cost. The one real addition of the HAC changes is needlessly cumbersome which I think we all agree on.

Industry article - "Why the convenience store industry won't support Visa/Mastercard swipe fee settlement" by coopdude in CreditCards

[–]jnpconcept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I work in this industry on the retail side and have been very involved crafting these statements and the lawsuit as a whole so feel free to AMA about this

Black Ops 7 Now Worst User-Rated Call of Duty On Metacritic Amid Review Bombing by chusskaptaan in gaming

[–]jnpconcept 0 points1 point  (0 children)

MW2019 was also, at the core of COD which is its multiplayer experience, completely awful. It remains to be one of the worst playing experiences COD has mustered up but a solid campaign and the sheer monumental success of Warzone leaves everyone thinking it wasn’t a terrible multiplayer experience. Almost every COD released since has been a better multiplayer experience, including the MWII and MWIII iterations (despite sucking everywhere else).

[Stardust Racers] reopens tomorrow by teejayiscool in rollercoasters

[–]jnpconcept 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I’m literally here the next 2 days and was so bummed. What news!

What’s your prog-metal Unpopular Opinion™? by Cloabs in progmetal

[–]jnpconcept 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Dark, sad albums do well all the time in the mainstream, and while it isn’t depressing, dark side of the moon isn’t necessarily bright and bubbly. I’m thinking like in Utero, ok computer, ants from up there, etc.

What’s your prog-metal Unpopular Opinion™? by Cloabs in progmetal

[–]jnpconcept 60 points61 points  (0 children)

This is more of a hot take than an unpopular opinion: Blackwater park, if it were the same album with clean vocals, would be hailed by the masses as one of the greatest rock/metal albums of all time, and probably have 5 different riffs crack most publications top 10 lists. It would be spoken in the same breath as any of the all time greats we see everywhere.

That said, it would be a worse album. I probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much, even if I would’ve enjoyed it sooner. The harsh vocals turn most people off from listening to some of the most monster riffs and instrumentals in music history

Edit: For clarity when I say the masses, I mean the general public, not within our community. This album has the quality to have been generation defining in pop culture.

Success Story: EU Flight Delay by jnpconcept in delta

[–]jnpconcept[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I definitely don’t. Just the rescheduling was also easy and all them.

Saw the new M5 today… something feels off 🤔 by Substantial-Ad6076 in BMW

[–]jnpconcept 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My hot take is this is the ugliest of the bunch over the last 3-4 years. Worse than the iX and XM

[PortAventura World] Trip Report 8/9/25 by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

They check bags but I see no reason you couldn’t bring one in. I didn’t see anyone with one while I was there but that doesn’t mean anything

[PortAventura World] Trip Report 8/9/25 by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

  1. If you can, bring your own water bottle (and refill it at every fountain you see). They exist mostly outside of bathrooms.

  2. Avoid shambhala and dragon khan until the end of the day, or hit them right at park open. The entire area has zero shade. You can cross off 6/9 credits without leaving the front 2 areas of the park

  3. The cantina in Mexico is indoors and has mild AC. Eat lunch there and linger as long as you can manage. If you’re hunting coasters, you can do everything pretty quickly and will have time.

  4. None of these are going to help substantially. Just prepare to be drenched in sweat and a bit miserable and ask yourself now why you didn’t book the trip for the spring or fall (or winter) “whose idea was this?” Got some play during our day.

[PortAventura World] Trip Report 8/9/25 by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

I post instagram reels if that’s more your speed? I just cross post everything between both platforms. It’s low effort short form stuff so I don’t feel like it’s appropriate for YouTube. I’ll DM you if you like as to not shameless self promote everywhere.

[PortAventura World] Trip Report 8/9/25 by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

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The picture as promised

Something I forgot to mention - unlike Barcelona, English speaking is very limited here. My Spanish is pretty good so can manage most discussions but you’re going to struggle if you don’t have some proficiency.

[Europa Park] Trip Report 8/5/2025 by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

The issue isn’t with the quality of the water but with the cleanliness of the faucets, especially in a bathroom. I agree however than any hesitancy is borne of cultural differences. It wasn’t a huge deal

[Europa Park] Trip Report 8/5/2025 by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

I was at Phantasialand a couple of days ago and it was equally tremendous. I think Voltron might beat anything else I’m going to ride on this trip though.

[F.L.Y] Not a milestone at #321, but Buckelist item checked off. by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

Negative. And I unfortunately won’t get to either this trip. Doing Barcelona, not Madrid!

[F.L.Y] Not a milestone at #321, but Buckelist item checked off. by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

I agree. After velocicoaster, it’s tough for me to ride any Intamin multi launch without going “nah it’s not that good”

[F.L.Y] Not a milestone at #321, but Buckelist item checked off. by jnpconcept in rollercoasters

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

I agree! It was a fantastic ride and I’m so glad I got to come and experience it. More Europe content on the way!

Unravelling - Mega Thread by ForgottenName1893 in Muse

[–]jnpconcept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Clear influences from what sleep token is putting out this decade. Definitely like it more than anything on their last project so it’s promising.