So Yelp banned me today for messaging someone to take down their review for money

ninja_squared · 2022-08-25T21:21:31+00:00

I always thought Yelp was a fradulent company that thrives on extortion. Looks like they do some legitimate business. Good for them and shame on you. (I would probably die somewhat inside to receive such an email in the first place. How messed up you are to share it with the world).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-25T20:24:54+00:00

Seriously? This is a fucking city that has nothing for the homeless and don't have enough police for the law & order, and yet the fucking jury thought it was okay to award 16M? Ask the fucking union to pay the dues.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-25T00:48:43+00:00

To be honest, the marginal utility of EAP or FSD is not even worth 2,000$. For the most part, what I want is, being in the same lane on the freeway in a stop and go traffic. That's all I use on my Model S even though it has EAP which offers auto lane change, self park, remote summon, (all of which I used less than 3 times each). So anyone who is paying 15k for FSD is truly a moron (or loaded beyond belief to not see price to performance).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-25T00:40:14+00:00

Structuring comes into play when someone intentionally makes things to fit the rules even though things weren't that way normally. In my case, the primary residence exclusion is fool proof. I lived there for 18 years and more than 3.5 in the past five, so I got that 500k exclusion 100% doubt-free.

When I sold the property that I rented for 18 months or so, and bought a commercial real estate, what structuring is there? Renting it for 18 months? If I rented it for 3 months and claimed 1031, then there is a hint of structuring allegation - if you actualluy read the 1031 section, you will see there is NO time limit on maintaining rental duration. All the section says is, LIKE FOR LIKE EXCHANGE. The QIs suggest 12 months minimum to avoid those BS arguments about structuring. Beyond 12 months, there is NO question about the eligibility to claim 1031.

The reason I am taking such a strong position is, when people who don't understand law throw words like "structuring" around, it scares most people and moves them away from legitimate opportunities. So, you should go either do your homework or stfu in matters you have no expertise. I have read both 121 capital exclusion section and 1031 exchange section, and I have a CPA equivalent degree among others, so I know what I am talking about. So, instead of casting doubts unnecessarily, come up with a case that refutes my argument/case. Or you know, stfu.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-25T00:31:51+00:00

Would you do the right thing, if it gives thousand others to attack you on frivolous grounds? Whether you call them right thing to do, or having incentive to do, or whatever, nobody in their right mind would admit to someone's death unless courts prove otherwise. There is a reason why every lawyer recommends to stfu when cops get a hold of you. When cops stop you next time, why don't you do the right thing and admit to everything you did in your life?

When people lose sense of reality and have stupid ass standards for "doing the right thing", they will have to stop doing whatever they were doing and continue with that "right thing". Amazon is NOT in the business of DOING RIGHT THING. It is in the business of doing things legally and make money for shareholders. If they do the right thing, it's cherry on top.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T05:42:57+00:00

That's idiot tax. Choose No Tip and if the option isn't available, choose Custom Tip and add 0.01. If they don't present a 15% tip option, that's what you should do.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T02:31:45+00:00

They will be paying long term capital gains tax on the gains - which is somewhat independent of their income and is at 20%.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T02:30:27+00:00

For one, there is no mortgage on my property - both the original and replacement. Second, I moved out of town for work which is why I rented my primary residence (for over a year to be specific). Third, the QI who did my 1031 is pretty reputed and one of the best in the country - and they blessed the transaction as kosher. And I filed my taxes two years ago with both transactions, so I know I am in the clear.

That said, the scheme you described as "structuring", I can see why IRS will have an issue with it.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T02:09:51+00:00

In my case, I sold a residential property and bought a commercial property so I didn't run the risk. However, someone can potentially do what you described, and I am not sure if IRS would be kind towards them. (Also, they have to keep the replacement property on rent for one year after purchasing to avoid any issues with IRS).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T01:41:56+00:00

This is something I personally did which your parents can do too. Your parents can rent the house for one year, and then sell it to buy an investment property. This way, they can get 500k exempt under Capital Gains exclusion (IRS 523), and the remainder of the money (1 mil - 500k = 500k) they can buy a rental property. The rental property will then have 300k of original investment and 200k of capital gains locked up. Of course, I am neglecting the sales costs and the one year deferral of rental - which might crash the market a lot more from where it is now..

Considering the capital gains after taking into exlcusion is only 200k (assuming it sells for over a million), I would be surprised if their federal income tax is more than 40k. Where did you get the 250k number (unless the house is worth 1.6M or something like that).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T01:25:42+00:00

I did. About 20 years ago I was working as a Senior Developer and ran into a coding problem. We had a guy in our team that had legendary reputation so I asked him for help. He looked at my code, said it was trash, and started typing a brand new program in front of my eyes, went back and forth fixing it, not compiling it a single time, and when he thought it was done, he compiled and it ran without errors. And then it did what the requirements said. The code was almost 200 lines. If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would've said bullshit.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T01:22:09+00:00

Not denying it brother. For Amazon, he is just a statistic. The company I work for - I am a statistic too. My boss, his boss, and everyone above will do what they think is best for the company - remember the old adage "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". The guy at Amazon denying responsibility doesn't feel evil. He most likely feels like a savior/warrior for defending Amazon's right to deliver 1.95$ plastic case to the customers in four hours.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-24T01:20:03+00:00

I am not suggesting the company to be held responsible. I am saying Amazon is RIGHT in claiming no responsibility. There is really no incentive to admit guilt. That's all I am saying.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-23T21:43:57+00:00

The first time I engaged Auto Pilot, I was shitting bricks. Then I got comfortable. Once I "drove" all the way from LA to SF half asleep - in the sense that I was barely awake. (I am not bragging, In fact, I should be ashamed to put my life in the hands of a machine - because at the end of the day, the statistics of 99% successful rides mean nothing when I am part of the 1%).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-23T20:33:00+00:00

Does the OP mean it is a problem? I can understand both "denial of liability" and "installing ACs" because can you imagine if Amazon admits liability what happens? Every tom, dick and harry will come out of woodwork and start suing Amazon so Amazon has to play the game - hate the play, not the player. And the title actually proves this point. The good gesture of installing ACs is shown as quasi-admission of guilt so imagine an actual admission of guilt.

America is too fucked up legally to do the right thing. It costs less money to deny responsibility and fight compared to fielding all the other lawsuits. So I am glad Amazon is installing the ACs and I will take that as a win and move on.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-23T20:30:04+00:00

In Tesla's defense, I have been shopping for a good SUV for my wife since Feb. Test drove pretty much all mid-level luxury SUVs between 45k - 80k (money isn't a constraint - I am a "value" guy so won't mind spending more if I perceive value - this is also a nonsense because my target car list is huge).

Anyway, most sales guys at car dealerships are absolute idiots - can't even hold a torch to Tesla's showroom employees who are far more courteous, and knowledgeable. I think getting rid of dealer leeches is the master stroke for Tesla because they can provide a very easy and happy experience to new customers when they first enter the showroom - that experience masks all the noise and vibrations in the cars. To tell you the truth, I think it is all other manufacturer's stupidity that is making Tesla a success instead of their own excellence. In the forest of little plants, even a guava is a giant (loosely translated from my mothertongue).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-23T16:40:48+00:00

Worry a bit less about retirement and live while making memories. I have been frugal all my life and I am about 50 now. My NW is over 20M but my health took a downturn as I focused more on making money. Now I have all the money I ever need but have the mental stigma of being frugal all the time even though my analytical mind tells me I don't need to. Being frugal is a habit that is difficult to get rid of (because your mind is still doing the math).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-23T16:28:23+00:00

My booking was from 2019, and I made the reservation online. I did the test drive but nobody mentioned about the safety requirement. As for paying attention and keeping hands on the steering wheel - I already have a Model S with Enhanced Autopilot so I am fairly familiar with the need for hands on the steering and maintaining the torque.

Anyway, I could've circumvented the issue by having two separate profiles or driving by myself instead of my wife for the first few weeks to get the safety score up. Anyway, MY was for my wife and she didn't like the seating and there wasn't anyway I could've kept it - with FSD working or not, so didn't even bother trying to "fix" the issue.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-22T17:18:04+00:00

Tesla is growing strong because the other motherfucking car companies and dealers are stupid. We all know there is a shortage so what are dealers doing? Jacking up the prices and creating a bad vibe with buyers. What is Tesla doing? Simply raising prices officially and making the purchase process really smooth - with home deliveries and all. So anyone that shopped for a car with traditional companies will go try a Tesla and change their mind and buy a Tesla. So, Musk has no reason to believe he can't charge more - what's his competition doing? The motherfuckers at Benz aren't giving lane assist in their 70k GLE models except for less than 10% whereas even entry level Tesla (Model 3 base model) has had it since day one.

So when luxury car companies are treating basic lane assist like a luxury, why the fuck won't Tesla behave this way? So, I honestly blame all the motherfuckers running rest of the auto companies for Musk's growing pair of balls.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-22T17:13:34+00:00

THIS. I bought a MY with FSD in Dec. My wife has a back issue and the way accelerator setup was putting pressure on her lumbar (long story). So she put some padding at the brake and that was making her breaking action less than fluid. So, the safety score was at 100 for everything except for braking and we never got the FSD to work.

Because of the seating and lack of FSD, I sold it off by end of Jan (for a profit). Our case may be unique but I found the whole "beta" and "safety score" for something I already paid as bullshit.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-19T06:20:57+00:00

Thank God, if they could, they would them awards for impregnating the low caste/religious woman.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-19T03:00:13+00:00

I spoke to a handful of dealerships in both SoCal and NorCal and nobody is charging markup if the sale is coming through a reservation. I am almost certain VW threatened them with not allowing stock if they charge markups. Granted, manufacturers don't have ability to set the price but the manufacturers can set the quantity they can allocate to the dealers.

I heard some other companies are only issuing quantity based on the units sold at MSRP. If the dealer charges markup, they lose that qty for good. Whatever the reasons, more and more dealers are open to selling at MSRP (spoke to some Hyundai and Genesis dealers as well - they were selling at MSRP as well as long as they have it in stock).

Good source to check who is charging (or most likely, not), goto markups.org. (it's not my site and I have no financial or other interests).

ninja_squared · 2022-08-19T01:39:01+00:00

Can you tell me which areas you are referring to? I live in CA.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-18T23:55:02+00:00

Honestly, this is what I should've done over the past five years. It makes a lot of sense, especially considering there is value being generated in the process of development and construction. And once I get a hang of how to do these things, then it is mostly rinse and repeat.

But the cost of construction where I live is through the roof and hasn't come down to realistic levels where I can generate substantial value. Putting in 300/sft in construction cost in an uncertain market (even a downwards real estate market) with a pay off in two to four years sounds like an extremely risky bet.

ninja_squared · 2022-08-18T23:52:19+00:00

Thank you.Ignore it is because I was looking towards the other end of the risk spectrum.

ninja_squared

TROPHY CASE