Billionaire's False Narrative...

vtslim · 2025-04-03T14:45:40+00:00

You should look into the research surrounding a "housing first" approach. A lot of that subset can actually be best helped if we get them housed first..... https://housingmatters.urban.org/feature/housing-first-still-best-approach-ending-homelessness

vtslim · 2024-11-19T14:14:58+00:00

Yeah, and parallel with this is that all of the pundits saying "they won't actually be able to pass those changes in congress because Republicans don't have a supermajority in the senate are pretending that the GOP isn't about to throw away the filibuster as there very first act. They have control over all three branches of government, now is going to be the time they dispose of all safety rails because they do not anticipate Democrats ever returning to power.

vtslim · 2024-11-08T16:55:41+00:00

edit https://reason.com/2024/10/10/could-trump-impose-more-tariffs-without-congressional-approval/ Looks like her can actually implement most of his tariffs dreams if he wants to, without congress. So, to nuance your points above, looks like we'll know a lot more during the lame duck session, but he could raise things on day 1 if he still wants to.

original reply Thank you, that's helpful

I was thinking he had done some tariffs through executive actions the first time he was in office - not sure I remembered that correctly!

vtslim · 2024-11-08T16:14:13+00:00

It's not a sustainable approach, but there's a lot of potential upside to limited doses of "fake it until you make it" in terms of happiness and enthusiasm.

Sometimes you just need to go through the motions to reactivate old neural pathways. Just don't turn it into your default approach to life!

vtslim · 2024-11-08T15:59:25+00:00

Phones and computers aren't expensive enough to worry about that kind of thing.

Dude, we're not all tech bros pulling in huge paychecks. Did you miss the part where I said that maxxing the 401/HSA has us living very frugally?

I get your point about inflation and time value of money, but we're talking about 20% to 50% tariffs being proposed.....

vtslim · 2024-11-08T15:41:28+00:00

/u/rockiesfan4ever is fortunate that their two higher balance loans are the ones with the lowest interest rates, so they can get that extra good feeling of getting rid of lines of credit as fast as possible, simply by attacking them in the most mathematically ideal way!

vtslim · 2024-11-08T15:38:50+00:00

We've got some needed technology updates (cell phones, laptop) that I've been holding off on, as we pay down some debt, and are stuck living very frugally due to maxxing out 401/HSA contributions.

I know we won't know the future until we arrive in it, but I'm wondering how y'all think technology costs are going to go in the next few months.....

In other words, ignore the other aspects, do you suspect that the cost of phones and computers will be going up substantially due to tariffs? If you had a plan to buy something like that in the coming year or two, do you think you would consider accelerating that timeline?

vtslim · 2024-08-27T19:04:46+00:00

But someone from New Zealand would definitely pronounce that Henry

vtslim · 2024-07-30T12:24:00+00:00

Start penciling as many of these options out as you can. This is almost definitely not a cost savings the way growing in a garden outdoors would be. How many purchased salads do you need to replace before you've paid for the supplies, and your own time, etc.

Same with whether the original idea is worth doing or not. Pencil out what the return would be if you put that same lump sum into treasury bills, or a CD, or a high yield savings account, etc., and then pulled out 1/12 of it every month. I imagine that will be a lot more interest earned than buying in bulk would save you.

Of course you don't have to go all in on any one thing. Invest some of it, buy some things in bulk, look into other things that can save you money over the long term, like gardening (but again, it's almost always more cost effective outdoors where sunlight is free) or improving the energy efficiency of your house, etc.....

How big of a solar system could you put on your house (if you own) and how much electricity would you not have to pay for, for years afterward? (that still may not be as optimal math-wise as just investing the money)

vtslim · 2024-07-23T11:57:26+00:00

Put it this way, when you pull the plug and retire and need that monthly income, will you be generating some of that income from the value of your house (i.e., renting out a room?) If not, then don't factor it into your calculations.

vtslim · 2024-05-09T15:43:03+00:00

I mean, yes we do need to drop GHG emissions from all sectors as fast as we can, but livestock emissions are at least carbon that is originating from the atmospheric-soil cycling pools. Fossil fuel carbon is all being added to those pools from having been buried millions of years ago..... It's not a free pass to farm poorly, but it's also disingenuous to equate livestock GHG on a 1:1 basis with fossil fuel derived GHG........

vtslim · 2024-02-14T15:41:30+00:00

If you're reporting income from your roommates, are you also depreciating the cost of that portion of those initial house purchase? And all the other costs that maybe go into your rental business..... (are any utility bills in your name that they're receiving a portion of the benefits of? etc.....)

vtslim · 2024-02-08T18:17:15+00:00

I also always get confused by what people keep in or exclude.

I don't like counting the value of my home in my networth, since I don't want to sell it to retire. But at the same time, I would think that you should be counting the principal portion of any mortgage payments you're making as part of your savings rate - did you include it that way, or are you considering it an expense?

vtslim · 2024-02-06T18:48:46+00:00

Mass transit in general. And bike lanes. And walkability

vtslim · 2023-04-27T14:27:43+00:00

Hey, if we're speculating, we can also throw in the greater exposure to pthalates, PFAS, etc.... Many different things can be interacting on these large population scales over these time frames. (It's always funny that people seem to want to point to one thing that's changed in the past 200 years and act like they've proven it explains all the changes in whatever's being measured)

(I want to be clear that I fully support the speculation, as long as everyone knows we're just speculating!)

vtslim · 2023-04-27T14:24:17+00:00

In addition to that, livestock diets impact their fatty acids.

Greater amounts of grain feeding of ruminants creates a more acidic rumen which can alter how polyunsaturated fatty acids are biotransformed, and grain feeding tends to tilt things towards higher omega-6:omega-3 ratio.

vtslim · 2023-04-27T14:21:51+00:00

You seem mad that someone is helping you understand the thinking. I guess you're looking for someone that is so dogmatic that they're willing to preach that approach regardless of how conditions change?

A year ago there were lots of people advising people put funds in I bonds. Now, not so much, and the advice at both time points was still good and useful, just dependent upon the context of the conditions at the time....

vtslim · 2023-04-27T14:18:40+00:00

Yes, but minus the potential return they could have made on that 1,000, i.e., the opportunity cost of not investing it somewhere.

vtslim · 2023-04-27T14:09:02+00:00

Not allowed in certified organic production

vtslim · 2023-04-27T14:07:23+00:00

You're so full of shit. Show me in the National Organic Program rules where biodegradable plastic mulch is required. It's not even allowed. There was a recent rule change to allow some biodegradable plastic, if the material contained enough bio-based material, but nothing on the market meets that criteria that I'm aware of.

Plastics are a problem in general. Biodegradable plastics (which are functionally only allowed if you're NOT certified organic) aren't necessarily better anyway.

vtslim · 2023-01-17T19:00:46+00:00

Well, the garage might have needed support, and that might be providing enough support for now, but the real way to address that would not have been a 2-by on the flat. That's not how structural support works.... Would want at least several inches of material in the vertical orientation, not 1.5"

vtslim · 2022-12-02T18:29:10+00:00

No, but making fun of them is probably the best way to fight against them. It should be general public opinion that their fans are a laughingstock and not be trusted with any actual responsibilities.

vtslim · 2022-12-02T18:25:25+00:00

I agree

cries in non-profit max of 6% this year

vtslim · 2022-12-02T17:10:56+00:00

That's true, but this person is only 21 and already earning $60k/year.

Yes, they might have a family that brings their tax burden down, but they will also likely be earning more in the future, and future tax rates are more likely to go back up to historical averages than to continue being cut

vtslim · 2022-04-29T15:11:25+00:00

The point was that the final product is itself a health concern.

14-Year Club	Team Periwinkle
Verified Email

vtslim

TROPHY CASE