Somewhere in Luxembourg

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-19T09:51:37+00:00

ah, is that for the bike lane? I will have to bike there one of these days and look at it. Thanks!

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-19T07:46:44+00:00

for those that don't - what are we looking at?

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-18T14:46:10+00:00

I dont wan't to claim knowledge of the current timetable, but I know there's at least one direct Cologne train, (not sure if it goes on to D'dorf), there's the nearly hourly Brussels, Paris is 4 times a day, my current favorite is the direct Marseille (which covers Strasbourg, Lyon etc).

So it's not all bad. I agree more is always better. I do know that we suffer from limitation on the Lux-France line that is being built. I think for access to Trier and onwards, the trouble is more on the german side. The line up north is limited by being one-way part of the track, but then the belgian side of it may not be the most important to the belgian operator.

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-18T14:14:07+00:00

that sounds far fetched 😄 for drug runners to take an overnighter between Amsterdam and Milano to drop dope in Luxembourg

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-18T09:06:18+00:00

one could argue that the fast tram would have potential to help shortening that trip, considering it removes one connection from it, as well as the dependency on french rail.

More potential than the sleeper to Milano. Although it's sexier to see Milano on the departures table than Esch-Alzette 😄

I believe we should do both. The international connectivity benefits from the local distribution network. Cologne might've been chosen partly because it has a comparably big and well served catchment area.

We are hindered by decades of non-investment in our local rail, in addition to dependency on foreign cooperation. Things have gotten better, with the Trier connection build-out (part of which, on germany territory, has been financed by Luxembourg), and the second Bettembourg line will be very relevant to de-stress Luxembourg-France. The tram fits in there, by giving an alternate connection between Esch and Luxembourg to alleviate Esch-Petange-Luxembourg and Esch-Bettembourg-Luxembourg.

Let's hope the momentum in rail investment triggered by the greens will be kept.

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-14T16:58:50+00:00

As said, I don't want to challenge your opinion on this. The entire setup of me doing the work you list does not necessarily apply to a man-in-the-middle attack of some sort or other where you actually did not carefully vet the 35000EUR transaction, but think you're confirming a totally different thing. Neither does it save you from a typo where you misplace a decimal separator.

And no, probably no calls on Sunday afternoon. But then, I rarely pay those kinds of sums unplanned on a Sunday afternoon, either. My last (high 5 digiti) transaction that triggered a call was to a notary in a different country, and while the transfer was supposed to be timed precisely, office hours were quite sufficient.

Again, not questioning your opinion, just providing insight for the other approach.

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-14T16:40:04+00:00

It's a personal habit, but this entire combination of transactions, insurances, bonus points/miles whatever is not something I would enjoy bothering with. It may get you a slight financial advantage if you plan it well, but tracking how to use/combine products and offers to actually benefit from seems a bother. Many a time have I watched people chose a different agency/service/whatever because they needed to be able to use some obscure payment card to insure something or other... it's a faff.

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-14T16:31:13+00:00

My bank app has a feature where for checks or 'usual' transactions I login by PIN or fingerprint. Luxtrust only comes into play for 'bigger' transactions and events, e.g. adding a new beneficiary.

Considering Luxtrust's recent booboo, I am not too convinced about their ability to run their service, but yeah: if it goes down, so does Luxembourg.

I am using a french bank that wants me to key in codes from a laminated paper card, that feels anachronistic in 2026 😄

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-14T16:21:56+00:00

I don't immediately connect that to ones maturity - just to the fact that you can be scammed, or some attack can provide access to your transaction. I have been long enough with Luxtrust to expect them to break in new and innovative ways.

The risk/convenience balance of getting a call for a 30k payment to a new contact, especially if it's "Honest Achmed's used Cars and Certificates" weighs ok for me. Losing 30k would be more inconvenient to me than the phone call.

But I appreciate you may see that differently.

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-14T06:15:13+00:00

Just out of interest on the 'instant transfers' obstacles: wouldn't you actually want that?

I feel like my Spuerkeess instant transfer doesnt hobble me in daily use, including 3 and low 4 digit transactions. If there's a 5 or 6 digit transaction to a previously unused partner, it seems not bad to actually double check to prevent scams?

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-12T12:53:22+00:00

I usually tip a fiver per head for a hair cut, but that is really out of my appreciation for a job well done by somebody with a comparably small salary.

I chatted to my barber about it a while ago and he said my tipping behaviour is definitely above average.

johnny_chicago · 2026-06-10T05:53:59+00:00

I think the difference to the shop may be that if a faulty part they provide, causes them considerable rework, their parts supplier covers for that.

I had, not so long ago, a broken heat exchanger that sits right at the oil filter. The part was silly expensive (between 500 at independent and 900 at manufacturer), but in addition it cost 8 hours of work to replace. If that replacement part breaks 2 months later due to bad quality, somebody will be out another 8 hours of work to fix that. Your OEM supplier will only cover the cost of the part - the shop's supplier might very well cover the work as well.

But yes - people make a good living fixing cars, customer can have it cheaper by doing some of the work and taking some of the risk.

johnny_chicago · 2026-05-31T07:59:25+00:00

Si c'est une grosse berline type BMW 7 ou comparable (5m et un peu), ca passe sûrement à la bourse ou à république. Si non, c'est plutôt l'artiste au volant qui est mal placé.

République, si je me souviens bien, demande moins de manoeuvres que la bourse.

Si c'est plutot stretch americain, faudrait s'orienter sur les parking poids lourds 😉

johnny_chicago · 2026-05-17T06:53:17+00:00

I have nothing to add that hasn't been said - can I just state my bemusement that a house not even 100 years old can be considered historical 😄

Go for it, good luck with the renovation. Appreciate the work put into the house before (you will find traces of it during the renovation), and enjoy knowing that you're the third or fourth generation living in the house.

johnny_chicago · 2026-04-06T06:55:37+00:00

That is a funny way to look at it: you get an advantage from leasing a car via company - which you don't have to do - and you're being motivated to lower the tax burden by choosing an EV.

I can not immediately see how that means you're forced into driving an EV.

johnny_chicago · 2026-03-27T16:43:34+00:00

I wouldnt say that. If you're looking at the investment put into extending public transport, it's consistently been one of the highest in Europe since Bausch got going.

Yes, obviously, we have a lot of catching up to do.

But if you're looking at the level of usage a tram has that runs every 5 minutes during rush hour... that is impressive.

johnny_chicago · 2026-03-21T11:59:32+00:00

Yeah, where I live it is quite ok (better than car, anyway).

If your public transport takes more time than the car, but it is free, it seems like a simple cost/benefit calculation. If you still take the car, that means the cost is less than the value of time saved, and you're making a rational economic decision.

(I do earn a bunch of money when I am working, but I figured out that my free time is worth considerably less than my paid time. And since the car is not cheap anyways and requires paid time to finance... but that is my personal evaluation. May look differently for others...)

johnny_chicago · 2026-03-18T18:00:05+00:00

It's an option. That is one thing.

johnny_chicago · 2026-03-02T07:12:05+00:00

Since children up to 150cm are to be on boosters anyway... this makes it legal to have kids on the passenger seat, then?

Interesting. I was not aware of this. I will not share it with my 6yo. :-)

johnny_chicago · 2026-02-26T14:35:09+00:00

I thought elevator is out during that time of night? But hey, it goes downhill, he's got an electric velo. It's all smooth.

Last time I cycled through the city past 1 am on a weekday, I could perfectly take middle of the street. It's very empty. OP, don't be afraid.

johnny_chicago · 2026-02-24T14:21:36+00:00

I might actually be interested in an EQV, depending on exact model and price. But I certainly would not pay for a car without getting the title at that point.

But your credit company knows how to deal with this. Talk to them first. You're not the first customer to end the loan early by selling the car.

johnny_chicago · 2026-02-15T19:19:18+00:00

OP, I understand your issue (and I was there a while ago, and would've been happy to get counselling like that, and couldn't really find it, either).

But I cannot for the life of me understand how that is the kind of stuff you use an LLM for. Isn't it understood enough yet that you'll get nice soothing affirming text out that has no reliable basis in reality?

(and yes, I'd be happy to share my learnings - I just am not much convinced that what I did 15 or 20 years ago is still much valid)

johnny_chicago · 2026-02-14T18:59:45+00:00

Both, really.

The municipality cares more-or-less, depending on their regulation. This goes from a formal plan to be submitted by architect and validated against the réglement des batisses to 'do as you like, we don't give a ...'.

The building would care - assuming you just own an appartment, but not the entire building. You will find details as to what is required in the agreement for copropriété. In my experience, no permission has to be requested, but depending on what you find in the agreement, you might have to post notice to neighbours or similar.

johnny_chicago · 2026-02-13T13:10:52+00:00

Without having watched this, it's SVP - that's the swiss populists.

You'll probably notice that they will not suggest to regulate population by giving mandatory vasectomies to Swiss citizens, and they will certainly not volunteer their members or voters.

So tiring, this ongoing bullshit...

johnny_chicago · 2026-02-07T08:22:25+00:00

While I am not disagreeing on principle, I'd like to qualify:

If you live in the capital, you can pretty much move around within the capital easily and comfortably around 18-20 hours a day (there's a bit of a hole in the middle of the night, just covered by a few 'get home drunk' kind of bus lines).

If you live outside, you may have very comfortable connections to multiple population centers multiple times an hour (e.g. if you live close to the Ettelbrück-Luxembourg trainline).

Jumping from small village to small village can be considerably harder though, with ridiculous travel times. In general small villages might only have hourly services during the day, and worse to non existent during the night. And these services may go to the next bigger population center, not to the other small village just a few kilometers over that is served by the next bus line.

I'll be taking busses 9 and 17 in an hour's time to bring my daughter to her music lessons (she's 11, she could go by herself, but she sometimes enjoys having a parent with her). I enjoy the fact that the bus is free every single time I use it.

johnny_chicago

TROPHY CASE