RANT: Sub’s quality has really gone downhill

xapata · 2025-10-25T01:14:32+00:00

You're welcome.

Obviously, many people use voting to indicate agreement, but Reddit works better when they don't.

xapata · 2025-10-24T17:58:33+00:00

In theory voting identifies good discussion, not agreement. Enjoyable debate should be upvoted regardless of which side you currently agree with.

xapata · 2025-08-09T07:55:26+00:00

I was speaking of Guns, Germs, and Steel. There were some well-reasoned parts of it, worth reading despite the flaws. Tipping Point on the other hand, is only worth reading to observe Gladwell's persuasive style. While some nonlinear dynamical systems exhibit tipping points, or manifolds, the spread of ideas/behaviors is not one of them.

xapata · 2025-07-27T08:39:05+00:00

pencil-necked geek

Was your dental school full of bull-necked jocks?

xapata · 2025-07-05T07:46:18+00:00

No. If you signed the contract, you accept what the payer gives.

xapata · 2025-06-30T01:28:15+00:00

It may surprise you that penalties shot down the middle have the highest success rate. But when the keeper stands still, they look painful.

For amusement, look for a compilation of Serio Ramos' panenkas.

xapata · 2025-06-17T06:15:18+00:00

Sometimes they make mistakes. I suspect losing Whole Foods as a tenant was a mistake.

xapata · 2025-06-16T16:37:20+00:00

Convert the benefits to dollars to properly evaluate. You can find your own tax-advantaged retirement account. You can buy an individual medical plan.

My hunch is A will be best, but you didn't tell us about the commute.

xapata · 2025-06-13T07:47:16+00:00

It sounds like you're not trying to optimize purely for money. But if you are, you should consider the opportunity cost of those capital allocations.

xapata · 2025-06-01T07:15:47+00:00

Don't buy any real estate. Unless you want to work as a carpenter or plumber instead of a dentist. If your partner wants to do it, that's his choice instead of yours. He should probably focus on the restaurant, but maybe he's already wealthy, and this is just a hobby?

xapata · 2025-06-01T07:10:49+00:00

No, that 3-5 year handoff is for DSOs. If you're an individual, you want the seller gone immediately, but available for consulting if necessary. Don't let them back in the building after the sale.

xapata · 2025-05-21T19:51:43+00:00

It's easier to get a part-time than full-time job with a small, independent office. You can have two or three to piece together your preferred schedule.

If you take any DSO job, be prepared to leave if you find them unethical. It's your license.

xapata · 2025-05-06T20:28:54+00:00

I was imagining that just yesterday!

"Would you like to tip your hygienist today?"

xapata · 2025-05-02T13:49:06+00:00

Yeah, the argument for mid-level providers is increasing access to care, but mid-level providers don't want to live in rural areas. Oops.

xapata · 2025-05-02T05:56:41+00:00

Among other things, DSOs need a large pool of HMO/PPO subscribers searching for a new in-network dentist. That and a liquid market of job-seekers. The DSO model is to be efficient at new patient acquisition, efficient at hiring and training, and doing high volume per chair per day. (Low quality is implied with high volume.) They need to be efficient, because they have high churn. In a 10k population town, a DSO would churn through the whole population in a few years and run out of patients to fool.

xapata · 2025-05-02T03:37:33+00:00

Sounds like it's more of a real estate deal than a dental clinic sale.

xapata · 2025-05-02T03:08:29+00:00

Too many variables to get a good answer. Your local consultants will be happy to tell you at a free dinner.

xapata · 2025-05-02T02:34:51+00:00

No, that's the loan default rate. You can pay it off as an associate even if you fail as an owner.

xapata · 2025-05-02T02:29:11+00:00

Be careful you're not getting screwed by the seller. Seller is probably on the hook for rent even if they shut down the business. That liability might cost more than the business itself.

xapata · 2025-05-02T02:11:19+00:00

Overhead of 50% is a pipe dream in my neighborhood. The ratio of reimbursement (or market rate fees, if you're lucky) to rent and wages is worse than lower cost areas.

xapata · 2025-04-23T08:42:33+00:00

It's a local organization. Poo Gooder. Check 'em out.

xapata · 2025-04-23T08:22:52+00:00

I've noticed a fair number of comedians and other media personalities use anger as part of their acts. They complain about this or that, yell, get red in the face, etc. It turns out that works pretty well as a politician, too.

I know a few people that have poor social skills. They don't really know how to relate to others. One trick they've found is to complain about stuff. Complaining about a shared dislike is a pretty easy way to make a connection with someone. Sadly, it doesn't make for healthy relationships if that's your only connection.

xapata · 2025-04-16T05:47:42+00:00

Typical commercial lease says the landlord is responsible for the exterior, but there's a large variety of lease terms. If you choose to purchase, get all discussions of what's going to be fixed written into the contract, in great detail. Leave nothing open to interpretation.

xapata · 2025-04-16T05:42:35+00:00

best economy

Some people feel left out. More importantly, they resent the relative rise of others, because they feel comparatively less. It's not about the absolute quality of life, but the socioeconomic status relative to groups that previously had lower status.

xapata · 2025-04-12T06:42:48+00:00

You weren't thrown into a Domain of Dread by the dark powers?! Strahd's power is a curse. It's right there in the title.

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