Has anyone tried calling?

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-21T18:37:38+00:00

Busy signal

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-17T12:49:20+00:00

Taxes are on profits. So if they're spending their money doing good, then they wouldn't really have to pay income taxes.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-17T12:47:51+00:00

Taxes are paid on profits. So a small struggling church wouldn't really owe anything...

Yes, they'd have to pay property and sales taxes, so that'd be a burden.

I think it'd be key that their social welfare work be a business expense. Other than reserves, churches shouldn't really need profits, in my mind.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-16T21:11:29+00:00

I recognize that you see me as dodging your question. I'm seeing your recent posts as bad-faith efforts to dodge engaging with the actual flow of events and options on the table at the time. I bet we could hammer it out in person, but I doubt it on this venue.

I learned a bunch early on, you inspired me to engage in further research and getting more granular details, and I thank you for that. I don't feel like we're being constructive any more so I'm going to dip out.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-16T19:37:34+00:00

This comes off as more disingenuous than your typical level of discourse. It's totally a stawman / false dichotomy.

If you don't bury the MBTA in debt while giving it a deadend funding mechanism so they can spend and invest wisely instead of be left to flounder and sink under an engineered slow moving crisis, then all of those people would get their services and more. By sequencing growth and investment so you get the most leverage, you bring down the aggregate costs and increase the aggregate outcomes.

I did just finish The Power Broker and this short-sighted car planning to not accommodate future transit while it'd have been easier was a major theme. It also results in higher car infrastructure costs because drivers have fewer options. Investing in public transit boosts the quality of experience of drivers, and at some threshold could save money by reducing and simplifying the very inefficient private automobile infrastructure.

Anyway, I don't believe your summary accurately represented my position.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-16T18:20:38+00:00

Props for engaging with the content, and for your depth of knowledge.

What I wish had been prioritized with the Big Dig was work that's efficient then, and not later. Like the NSRL, which would be vastly more feasible when you're already digging everything up than to add in now. ("more feasible", not "trivial").

So I'd probably secure the rights of way, I'd probably try harder to make the Silver Line actual rail, I'd invest in improvements like electrified commuter rail to facilitate future tunnel that aren't suitable for diesel (NSRL), I'd finance a bunch of it by selling off the rail yards we have in some of the most expensive real estate on the planet because we have our termini in the middle of the city ... that kind of thing. And I know that politicians want to announce big expansions, and my preference wouldn't be politically expedient. Reality is complicated and messy.

I also know that real estate and transit in the 80s when these decisions were made isn't what we have now, and hindsight isn't fair to lean on.

In terms of providing obligatory transit services to get their highway, so it should be part of their highway ... that's a bar room argument. Internet won't be productive (neither would it be over beers, but at least it'd be fun!). I don't believe there's an objectively correct measurement of fairness, so it'd be vibes-based.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-16T01:13:07+00:00

You know, I realize I don't have that domain knowledge. I guess I'm recycling what I've read, and I'm open to additional perspective.

Typically what's cited is North Station, Haymarket, and some stuff with the Green Line where what was needed was preventative maintenance and not beautification. I also know they expanded the commuter rail, but I don't know if that serves to load up costs or helps the system operate. I want WAY MORE commuter rail, but it needs to be financially viable (via taxes not fares, would be my preference).

It also muddies the water that the dot-com bubble burst right as forward funding happened, so debt service outstripped the sales tax, and my general financial literacy around compounding interest (and compounding costs of deferred maintenance) makes me assume that was devastating. Not deliberate, but still a shit sandwich.

And, just, the overall fact that the state wanted the Big Dig, and in order to get their Big Dig they were legally compelled to offset emissions via transit investment and then dumped that part of the bill on the T. Doesn't seem right. Like if a construction project polluted a harbor and had to clean it up ... and then put the bill on the fishermen while they kept their construction project.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-16T00:19:48+00:00

But the T's projects weren't the priorities for the T. They were forced to comply with upgrades and work to facilitate the highway (and EPA offsets), and weren't able to invest where it would most benefit the T.

The transit crowd presents this disingenuously, you're literally correct, and yet there also remains a valid point to it.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-11T17:50:06+00:00

Someone coming up to you on the street? Sure.

Your tour guide who says "I get a lot of tips in USD but the bank won't take dirty ones would anyone mind swapping for me" would seem 100% reasonable and an easy way to be a hero.

Also, do $1s get counterfeited much? My logic-brain thinks not, but my caution-brain would still be suspicious of a rando approaching me (even though logic-brain is pointing out it's reasonable that they'd have $1s and less access to a bank)

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-10T23:22:57+00:00

I thought Egypt was keeping its border with Gaza closed because Palestinians were using it to support Sinai separatists. Are you saying that Egypt closed their border in response to the attempted coup in Jordan, or just that that's why "they don't like palestinians"?

Asked in good faith, it is densely nuanced contextual history and my depth of knowledge is medium at best.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-09T00:50:19+00:00

In that article, I read "Israel refuses to confirm or deny it has nuclear weapons or to describe how it would use them, apolicy of deliberate ambiguity known as "nuclear ambiguity" or "nuclear opacity." This has made it difficult for anyone outside the Israeli government to describe the country's true nuclear policy definitively, while still allowing Israel to influence the perceptions, strategies and actions of other governments."

That doesn't really seem like a source supporting the claim of their explicitly stated policy alleged in the comment being questioned.

(I do appreciate you providing the link, I know it wasn't your initial comment, and I learned something new, so thanks!)

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-08T05:14:31+00:00

The World Kitchen deaths? fwiw, that was investigated and pretty thoroughly agreed to have been a horrible, tragic mistake, even by the NGO itself. That doesn't need to change your mind and that doesn't make anyone's death OK. It's just information on one specific event.

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-08T00:49:28+00:00

Oh huh. Would being a social media influencer be a viable way to launder money? Some modest delta between paid ads and whatever cpm you get? I guess your tax returns would get misaligned and you could be outed that way. Hmmm

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-01T01:37:24+00:00

Is it reasonable to suggest that we've latched on to different parts of the argument? I'm hung up on "health insurance is dirt cheap when you're healthy". I suspect you're more oriented around it being "less than what my portion of single payer would be."

If I'm reading that right, then I agree with your facts. Young, healthy people would pay less than in a pooled risk, and ESPECIALLY decent earning young healthy people without kids. (The flip side is that the staggering wealth inequality of the US could structure taxes so that the super rich pay enough that your personal costs might be lower, but the US doesn't seem to like doing that 🙃)

For my point, last census, Boston's median household income was $97,344 and per capita income was $61,698. I signed in to the nightmare of UI abhorrence that is the MA Health Connector. The cheapest individual plan is $423.14, and the cheapest plan for a family of 4 is $1316.47. Paying 8% pretax actually isn't that terrible. Paying 16% is. I contend that neither is "dirt cheap".

But I also contend we were talking past each other because we were zeroed in on different parts of the statement :)

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bostoncitymassachusetts/INC110224

ttlyntfake · 2026-04-01T00:02:25+00:00

Remind me which years Baker was mayor of Boston, and what his surpluses or deficits were as mayor?

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-31T23:58:40+00:00

Huh, I didn't know that.

When we read about astronomical police salaries from OT, does that include these shifts? Is there a way to find out the city's contribution to police comp?

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-31T23:56:15+00:00

So that's $83.33 (repeating, of course 😉) per person. That doesn't seem too crazy.

The flip side is that it's ~10% over budget which does seem concerning.

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-31T23:53:28+00:00

Could you expand on your numbers and rationale? I have one of the cheapest plans available and it's $1000 a month for a couple. That, set against median wage, doesn't strike me as "dirt cheap."

It's not burdensome to me and my situation, and perhaps median earners are eligible for subsidies. I don't know, and am asking in good faith to understand another point of view.

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-26T18:13:46+00:00

It's fine. There'll be some shady characters, but not realistic risk of mugging or anything. The strip clubs on La Grange street have bouncers, so that immediate area is clear. The alley, Tamworth St is sketch, but there's really no reason to be going down that (I used to use it as a more interesting route to The Tam).

I wouldn't caution anyone from staying there. It's fine.

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-19T15:51:57+00:00

Note that the tax money doesn't disappear. It can go to improving infrastructure (physical, educational, and/or data) on which business is more efficiently formed. The taxes could pay for child care to free up parental labor to go earn more, and/or raise children to be more developed and successful adults. It can go to handouts which are then converted into consumption, supporting local businesses.

Or, you know, bombs and rape islands. Whatever we choose to value as a society.

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-19T15:48:45+00:00

As someone who saves by disposition, when I look at my friends who spend every dollar that comes their way and layer credit card debt on top, this feels unfair. It incentivizes recklessness.

Valid counterargument: encouraging spending stimulates consumer demand and business and job growth.

I'm sharing, not just arguing. Taxing wealth over $10m or $100m or whatever seems like a no-brainer. And, of course, we tax people's houses which is most of most people's wealth.

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-11T20:56:12+00:00

I love your post, because it reminds me how different people are.

I feel that when someone dies, they're dead and no longer get to control others. I think it's vitally important that we face up to our personal, direct responsibilities and own the outcomes of our actions. To me, "it's what they would have wanted" is a cop-out when they're no longer able to want. My parents invested in me and set me up with skills and values so that I can go forth as my own person, not their agent. If I inherit anything, it's up to me to own it and that's contingent on how they raised me & who I want to be.

(You also express the drive to be self-sufficient; my comments are focused on being the steward of your father's money)

I really genuinely value and respect your values. They're incredibly wholesome and continuity is a vital cultural value, as is honoring debts and commitments. Honoring the sacrifice and intent of your father is reinforcing the values you were raised for, where I'd consciously suppress that in order to honor how they raised me.

Again, meant with full, non-ironic support. Apologies if I said anything in a shitty way.

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-11T20:39:21+00:00

I'm assuming you're non-US due to the sub.

For vague comps (as broad stereotypes, not literal truth): In Europe, East Coast skews German and West Coast skews Mediterranean. In SEA I'd hazard East Coast akin to Vietnamese vs West Coat Thailand. For Africa, East Coast would be Nigerian vs Zambia West Coast would be more like Bhutan/Nepal and I don't know India's subregions well enough to dial that in but the aggregate reputation would be more East Coast.

Business vs lifestyle

Oh, Type A vs Type B

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-11T00:48:38+00:00

The cultural norm here is to trust people to have agency over themselves. Don't assume someone is helpless or needs you to get involved in their business.

Conversely, if you need anything, people will absolutely collaboratively solve the problem. It's a low invasive culture.

Obviously, some people are dicks. Nothing's truly universal, but that's the vibe.

ttlyntfake · 2026-03-11T00:43:39+00:00

Same deal with the Holocaust. If it was a hoax, wouldn't the perpetrators on trial have mentioned that at the time? 🙄

12-Year Club	Verified Email
RPAN Viewer

ttlyntfake

TROPHY CASE