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Nice Guy Eddie

Certifiably Surly
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Everything posted by Nice Guy Eddie

  1. I find the $7m story sad. Maybe she didn’t need to go YOLO with the money but someone should enjoy their wealth while alive even giving it all away. Perhaps if you find yourself at 60 never having spent anything, you have no idea how to do it.
  2. If someone is trying to get out of a spiritual rut, I would first ask them why do they want to get out of it? Maybe that is where you are meant to be. perhaps the problem is the idea that one must be spiritual or religious. And instead of worrying about or trying to fix it, continue as-is. If someone is meant to be on a spiritual path, they will find themselves there without forcing it.
  3. You have to wonder if there is a chance he doesn’t get drafted at all. Does a GM and owner want to take on the circus drama of the Sanders family for a late round pick? Do you want to deal with Deion publicly and constantly declaring that the starting QB should be benched and replaced by Shedeur? I have to guess that someone will draft him because why not.
  4. I’m not sure there is a significant US market for this. I guess I could think of a use case or two for an average American needing it but there would be more use cases where it fails. as for cost and reliability, I guess you’re right but that’s assuming a lot. I could say that I’m developing a new car that legitimately rivals a Lamborghini but price it at $30k all while it has higher reliability. Easy to say and create AI images of it, but difficult to deliver.
  5. In 2024 there was plenty of talk that the stock market was overvalued when companies were reporting great numbers. Now every US industry is looking at lower numbers and we have consumer confidence dropping at alarming rates. Even if trade deals were quickly created, I don’t see how the damage can be undone. Let’s say the EU and China lower barriers to US products, will they even want US products? Buy American is on the verge of becoming toxic in America. It definitely is if the company associates with Trump.
  6. I’m not an expert in startups, debt or how they raise funds but this seems fishy to me. recap: Elon valued xAI at $80b (btw, he had no concrete justification for this) before the company absorbed Twitter last month. Twitter was valued at $33b in equity with that deal. Twitter and Elon also carried ~$13b debt which he has to raise to buy Twitter in the first place. today (cnbc link): Elon now wants to raise $20b from new investors valuing the combined company at $120b. It’s Elon’s claim that perhaps as much as tens of billions were created in immediate synergies even though the 2 companies previously had zero constraints from working together. The synergies should have already been realized even if they could be created. Conclusion: Elon couldn’t manage the Twitter debt reported to be upwards of $1.5b annually all while Twitter revenues plummeted under his watch. Add the Tesla sales and stock price worries, I see Elon as the guy at the casino ATM pulling money from his credit card and heading back to the blackjack table.
  7. Exactly. Perhaps VY didn't live up to some expectations as a #3 pick but that doesn't exactly equate to "didn't work out." He went 30-17 in 47 starts. 9000 yards passing, 1400 rushing. Accounted for 58 TDs. Colt played for double the years but his stats are much lower. Who's to say who had a better NFL career. Obviously if the success bar is starting QB super bowl rings, HoF, most passing yards, etc., then few make it to that level.
  8. Elon somewhat stepping back from the spotlight can help Tesla sales. I think that many potential Tesla buyers had enough and won’t come back. However a slightly quieted Elon + refreshed Tesla models + lower some price = increased sales, relative to today.
  9. Can you piggyback on another CPA’s quickbooks account but keep your data private? Throw them $50 per year or pick up the lunch tab?
  10. I’m a fan of MO and PM dividends but I think they’re horrible companies. I have to think that we will soon see a glut of bourbon in the near future. the distilleries have expanded and started up over the past decade or so, and have been storing more barrels than ever before. Tastes always shift and I could easily see bourbon failing in terms of popularity. And not that everyone will turn away from bourbon but I can see supply greatly outpacing demand. All good news for someone who likes bourbon.
  11. I've heard similar theories about the potential cliff ahead for alcohol bev companies. Studies show that 20% of Americans account for ~90% of alcohol sales. With the "top" 10% the vast majority. There are signs that GLP1 drugs can curb alcoholic tendencies as well as overeating. If just half of alcoholics could be successfully treated with these drugs, the alcohol industry would collapse. I guess it's theorized to be the same for soft drinks and snacks.
  12. I don't see how a test of auto-taxis in Austin will help Tesla. I'm sure that Musk has his fans in Austin but at a scale, he must be wildly unpopular there. I'm not a fan of Uber but I would use them all day long before stepping into a Tesla Taxi. I'm wondering how long we have (12-18 months?) before Tesla formerly merges with his AI company. Musk is more about raising money and creating excitement, and there is zero excitement around Tesla right now. A car company that isn't selling cars cannot maintain this valuation much longer. An AI company can support a higher PE value.
  13. Your post had me check PEP vs KO. Over the past year, KO is up 20% and PEP down 18%. Why the discrepancy when they had tracked closely for the previous 4 years? Has Pepsi made some missteps along the way?
  14. From how he acts, I mistakenly thought Markwayne was ex-military. Now that I learn that he inherited his business from his dad and fought in a few MMA fights, it all makes much more sense.
  15. I don’t disagree that a young woman wouldn’t want unless I was paying. Which is the same with sharpe now.
  16. 100% serious. I’m 50 and single and wouldn’t go near a woman under 30. Trust me, you’re in the minority in wanting to date a near-child but that’s the type that are the loudest.
  17. Obviously not illegal but why mess with a 19 year old when you’re in your mid 50s. Maybe find someone who wasn’t in high school within the last year.
  18. Not saying this is your situation but my elderly mom would become verbally abusive to contractors or condo workers after her drinking would get to a certain level in the afternoon. Perhaps they showed up at 1:30 when they had communicated 1:00 so it set her off. A few times I had to intervene to get workers to complete their job because she had kicked them out the day before. I also believe that she had a few run ins with neighbors while in that state.
  19. Like others, I feel so much better when I lose 10 lbs but I can talk myself into being bad with food for a few weeks and gain 5 back before I know it. Crazy how we so often don't do want makes us feel the best. I've also noticed that many have talked themselves into saying that they look the best when they're overweight and how bad they would look if they dropped to their high school/college weight. Perhaps I don't want to be at 140 like at some points in high school but I'm not happy at 180. for reference, I'm 5'9". Not to mention that almost every study says its much healthier overall to be lean. Talking about people in 1st world countries.
  20. sorry to hear this. Like you're realizing, she cannot live on her own any more. Maybe she can survive without burning down the house or severely injuring herself but that's a low bar. A 10-12 year old could most likely manage that but you wouldn't want them on their own either.
  21. The state dept wouldn't be responsible for relations with the 51st state. Well, actually Canada would become a US-territory, like Puerto Rico, to keep them from voting.
  22. Maybe but I think the overall market would flip out if Trump started controlling the Fed. It's not like Trump would appoint an industry respected candidate. He would appoint someone with two qualifications: loyalty to Trump and willing to do whatever Trump wants. And it wouldn't stop with Powell. Trump would start to go after each Fed board member who pushed back. Can you imagine a Fed Chair whose main message would be praising Trump?
  23. Those kids have the look on their face that they were forced to attend. Most likely they spent all weekend asking Mom if there was anyway they could stay home. Of course, Hegseth couldn't attend an easter Monday (???) at the WH without his kids.
  24. Presumably this drop is entirely due to Trump's public statements of wanting to dictate Fed actions including firing his appointee, Powell. The relative day-to-day independence of the Fed has long been viewed as a stabilizing force. Obviously President have influence via Fed appointments but since their term is 14 years, one President cannot fully appoint the board. By all accounts, Trump is afraid to fire anyone in person or on the phone. He didn't mind firing Bret Michaels in the Apprentice boardroom but cannot do the same for an actual professional. Not that he's believed to be able to fire Powell, he obviously has the ability to ask for his resignation. Or anyone's. But he's too much of a coward to ask Powell directly.
  25. If Putin/Xi wanted a game plan to erode America's global influence wouldn't their plans look exactly what we're doing?
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