tbone_

This

I thought the whole thing was pretty funny. But yea Nikki was the best.

The fugs have a greatest hits record huh? Who knew.

The planet isn’t going anywhere and doesn’t need anything to be “good” for it. “good for human use of” the planet is what you meant to say.

I did this with my kids adhd medicine once just because I wanted to see what she was experiencing. I don’t think it had the same effect though because I don’t have adhd (not the real kind anyway). But holy shit. I could not take that every day.

Yep, good for traffic for sure.

No one wants to hear their kid has to take a pill to function well in daily life. I was 100% in this camp. Until I wasn’t. FWIW, my daughter has made a 180 degree change in life since we got her ADHD diagnosed and treated. Not a simple process, and she was quite a bit older than your son. But it has literally given her her life back. Most satisfying thing I’ve ever experienced. Just one dude’s example.

Good for what?

Are those her undies she’s holding up?

This is a huge point imo and one I stress as much as I can. My kiddo has lots of advantage others don’t, she’s attractive (fuck off perverts), she’s smart, she’s white, and she has parents that take an interest, stay engaged, and have some level of means to help her out. And because to whom much is given much is expected so make sure you don’t squander your luck. She also has near debilitating adhd that she has to deal with and whatever she ultimately achieves in life she will have to earn because we don’t have that kind of means to bequeath to her. But she knows I don’t want to ever see any gloating, arrogance, or acting like you are better than anyone because you were lucky. But also don’t apologize or feel guilty about it despite what cultural media tries to tell you. Just be aware, be smart, be humble, be grateful, and helpful to others. And honestly I don’t feel guilty for trying to help her. I’ll pay for college, she’ll always have a place to live with me if she needs it, I have two rental houses I’ll never sell and she will inherit and knows to never sell - live in them or collect rent, your choice but never sell - and I’m teaching her the power of compound interest in investing starting as a teenager. But it absolutely comes with the message that just because you were born on 2nd base, I don’t ever want to see you acting like it’s because you think you actually hit a double.

Absolutely

Ok, so we’ve clearly established that the major trends and economic averages in terms of incomes and costs, and likely ability to create and grow wealth, have moved way out of favor for the younger generations. So here’s my question for parents: how are you dealing with this with your own specific kids? Because after all we aren’t raising averages, we’re raising specific individuals. I’m a believer that as parents it’s generally better to acknowledge shit like this and try to help them develop strategies and way to cope vs just complaining about it or burying your head in the sand. I’m the same with with social media. I hate it, wish it would go away, but it won’t and it’s part of the world and my job, as best I can, is to prepare my single spawn to be able to deal with it. I have no idea if this is right or not but I’m a huge believer in making sure I am a source of positive energetic for her. Not rah rah cheerleader shit, but just that I believe in her, and proud of her, and she has a fantastic future ahead of her because she lives in a world where she can make it whatever she wants. Don’t worry about conforming to anyone’s specific view of what or how she should be (including mine). And don’t get bogged down with the stress that can come from too many options (that’s a real thing imo). And that despite all the shit in the media, I think her generation (she’s 17) is going to do fantastic things - these kids care, they’re empathetic, and most I see genuinely want to make the world a better place. Which I contrast with my generation (X) - we were just a bunch of assholes in hs and college. The thing that’s strikes me most from the many teenagers I’m around though is a lack of confidence. My theory is they get so beaten down with social media, regular media, just negative messages everywhere (you aren’t skinny enough, you’ll never be able to afford a house, our country is horrible, gender roles are all screwed up and over compensated for, etc etc) that they are basically just scared shitless. They don’t have a bunch of years of examples of good shit happening to counteract the messaging. Combine that with just general challenges of being a teenager even in perfect times and it seems to me they just don’t quite know how to act or who to be. So I’ve tried as best I can to counteract all that with positivity energy. Not just preaching but in leading by example. Honestly I think that’s the number one thing missing from these kids lives. And our society does a pathetically horrible job of providing it. Anyway, I could go on all day about it, and I’m sure I’ll get accused of being polyanna, but that’s my approach. Positive energy. Firm believer here in the idea that the energy you put into the world is largely the energy you get back. What are other parents approach?

Bastards

JFC

I like to think of Starbucks in the context of Krispy Kreme. They both showed up around the same time. Krispy Kreme made it about the donut and disappeared. Starbucks made it about the experience and took over the world. Now they are losing the experience.

I ponder random what ifs from time to time. Like this: What if we had a social and economic structure that rewarded companies and executives based on how many people (US citizens?) they employed and how much they paid those employees vs how much return on (ever consolidating) capital they can create? I also wonder what if we as a country promoted massive investment in rail transportation instead of highways and cars back in the day. The geopolitical dynamics of oil would be much different today. But that’s a topic for a different discussion I suppose.

Personally I like it how we do it in AZ. Small state income tax, and very low property taxes (50bp on value vs 250-300bp on value in Texas). Keeps runaway property markets from killing my tax payment. If I have to pay more income tax, at least it’s because I’m making more money.

This is true. Can’t go up more than 2% annually while you own it. When you sell, sales price automatically triggers the new assessment.

I’d choose Tech 10 times out of 10 over UTSA or UTD. Say what you want about Lubbock but there’s fun to be had out there as a college kid. Plus sports.

I’m not normally one who digs the relic’d stuff, but oooh, damn that’s nice.

She’s not a stripper. I though Tamarindo was a cool town, fwiw

Of course we should. But beyond maybe some hand wringing, posting on message boards, and talk show commentary no one really cares enough to really do anything. Because what really drives the bus is people want to see the star player play. See Green, Draymond. The NBA is what it is.

Does anyone really care?

Nice pink suit Messier