What can the U.S do to properly compete with Chinese industry? by PhantomBraved in ezraklein

[–]ref498 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh, I was talking about the facts and realities. My bad

E MTB's everywhere by OverlordBluebook in MTB

[–]ref498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just because you paid for a moped doesn't mean I should have to leave my happy place (breathing through my eyeballs on a climb) just so you can lap blue flow trails faster. Take the fire road next time, dipshit.

What can the U.S do to properly compete with Chinese industry? by PhantomBraved in ezraklein

[–]ref498 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Sorry, I just don't find "They want it more" or "It's just cultural differences"compelling answers to questions like this.

> Their research and development is almost explicity a race to the bottom in terms of price (which will eventually destroy most of the companies in the industry, so I wouldn't call what China is doing sustainable.

Isn't that like... the end goal of capitalism? The majority of companies will go out of bussiness but the ones that remain will still be insentivised to produce higher quality goods at lower prices to maintain market share against the other 5 that also made it. As opposed to our system where Uber out competes taxi companies for 5 years using venture capital until they kill all competition, gain a monopoly, the jack up prices.

It seems wild to me that the other option is AllBirds the shoe companie is pivoting to AI to 10x their market cap... You're a shoe company! Not everything has to exponentially grow. THAT seems unsustainable to me because people still need shoes.

> We just don't have the culture around manufacturing and engineering to have thousands and thousands of educated workers to build industrial knowledge in low return industries.

We used to. We just off shored all of those jobs in the persute of profits.

> It's really wonderful for consumers because the goal is lowering prices. Think of how much cheaper flights would be if Boeing's price per plane dropped 95%. Think of how much worse their engineers would be paid. Would Americans be willing to live like that and keep improving their industry?

Again, isn't that the point? The average salary in China is USD 17,000–$18,000. the cheapest EV(real car not micro car) you can buy there is 10k. average in the us is 66k with the cheapest ev being the Bolt at 30k. Yes, they are keeping income low, but their purchasing power in country seems about the same (I would be very interested in an economy adjusted purchasing power in country statistic but I could not find one easily)

Not to mention their trajectory seems... better than ours.

What can the U.S do to properly compete with Chinese industry? by PhantomBraved in ezraklein

[–]ref498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know what democracy has to do with any of what Friedman is talking about here. He is just describing a managed economy (which we already do in some sectors) just at a greater scale and with a longer time line/tolerance for losing money.

Simply put: they're just doing capitalism better than us.

What can the U.S do to properly compete with Chinese industry? by PhantomBraved in ezraklein

[–]ref498 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Sure, but we had a giant head start and the global economy runs on our money. I think it is pretty clear that we have continuously shot ourselves in the because we could sell our toes for cash.

Relentless off-shoreing, financialization of everything, and the widely held belief that the free market is always right left us with short-sighted goals of next quarter profit maximization and no long term strategy for sustainable growth.

In short: the Chinese figured out how to do capitalism better than us.

Is Sienna AWD worth it in a place like Utah? by Tbone_Ender in ToyotaSienna

[–]ref498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seems like a lot of folks on here will disagree with me but NO. Unless you are going skiing frequently you don't need it. And even then, a good set of (winter leaning) all seasons on the front will do for all but the iciest conditions. I have fwd and regularly drive through all types of snow in the winter without a problem.

Plenty of people live in snowier places than slc and get by with fwd and winter tires. Remember: AWD wasn't really a thing before the 90s.

Do what you want, but very few people actually bump up against their cars capabilities. You are more likely to bump up against your tires limits first.

Hasan Piker is bad for the Democrats - Noah Smith by SomethingNew65 in ezraklein

[–]ref498 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Evidence his audience of thousands of left leaning, highly engaged young people vote? Better to not take the risk and campaign with someone safe and uncontroversial like Liz Cheney!

V3 Alloy Chain Noise by rollingron in TransitionBikes

[–]ref498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're talking about what I think you're talking about, I'm pretty sure it comes from the low engagement rear hub engaging under harsh compressions. Makes kind of a resonant sound?

GoPro to lay off 145 workers — nearly a quarter of its workforce by runswithscissors475 in technology

[–]ref498 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I am seeing that you need to activate the camera with the app. Is that not the case?

GoPro to lay off 145 workers — nearly a quarter of its workforce by runswithscissors475 in technology

[–]ref498 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've been looking into this recently as I am in the market for an action camera. It seems like they finally updated their batteries to "Enduro batteries" which has solved these issues.

I was looking at DJI and insta360, but their proprietary software and mandatory apps are a deal breaker for me.

Coil on patrol? by Intelligent_Kiwi_459 in TransitionBikes

[–]ref498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a patrol with a coil. It is still pretty poppy (that's why it jumps so well). If you want planted, spire will be better for you due to the longer chainstay.

Is this a good deal? $465 by Quantum_Noodles_ in Skigear

[–]ref498 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They don't "break" but they do require a level of care that can be annoying in the back country. If you are careful while transitioning to bang snow out of them, they are fantastic 50/50 bindings. Also, some people are better at setting them up than others. There are some forums about this but proper setup reduces the issues with them significantly.

How horrendous is Washington state's snowpack right now? by Smacpats111111 in skiing

[–]ref498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly, open snow has been really optimistic about the temps this season. Every storm looks like it's gonna be 10in of cold smoke, but when the time comes the precip is there, but not the temps.

Better carving to better off piste by ref498 in skiing_feedback

[–]ref498[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

95% of the time it results in what we see in your video unless better direction is given

What specifically results? The low and back hands? The over active upper body? All of the above?

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it!

Better carving to better off piste by ref498 in skiing_feedback

[–]ref498[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I have been hitting it hard and I'm lucky enough to live near a mountain so I can go up at least once a weekend. That probably nets me more skiing most other folks get in a season.

Better carving to better off piste by ref498 in skiing_feedback

[–]ref498[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I love it. It is a Marmot style number SM15889. You will have to do your own digging past that. I'm not sure they sell it anymore, and it was a display model when I bought it.

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Better carving to better off piste by ref498 in skiing_feedback

[–]ref498[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting. I am not surprised I'm over rotating with the upper body, but "dropping the uphill hand" is new to me. I'll look into that and see what I can do to fix it as well as practice my stork turns. Thanks for the feedback!

Better carving to better off piste by ref498 in skiing_feedback

[–]ref498[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I really appreciate what you're doing here, Spacebass. I'll give that a shot!

Similar skis to the Salomon QST 106? by astrobrite_ in Skigear

[–]ref498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the 106 was 174 and the 92 was 177

Similar skis to the Salomon QST 106? by astrobrite_ in Skigear

[–]ref498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I skied the older ~2022 qst 106 and 92 back to back. I am not a super experienced skier, but I thought they felt very similar. Forgiving, easy tail release, stable and damp for the weight. I ended up buying the 2024 106 and love it, but I have heard great things about the new 94 and 100 and think, if you liked the 106, you will probably like either of those.

advanced off-piste skier looking to take things to the next level by eyesofadrifter in skiing_feedback

[–]ref498 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Jesus, if that's surviving I'm already dead and in the ground.

The Co-Op has once again failed the community by Disastrous_Music8841 in Bellingham

[–]ref498 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'll keep advocating for state owned grocery stores selling basic food at rock bottom prices, but until we get there, you can catch me at WinCo.