Random Chat, Thoughts, Posts, and/or Rants Thread

[Antifragile]

TRUTH = PRAVDA in Russian media.

trusting trump to deliver anything honest is no different than trusting Putin.

yes, I said it.

 

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[Black_Dragon43]

Speaking of social media, now we have many alternative channels that seek to break the reign of Big Tech (aka Facebook, Insta, Twitter).

Trump's finally getting his social media platform out:

Trump to launch his own social media platform, calling it TRUTH Social | TechCrunch

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will launch his own social media platform, TRUTH Social, according to a press release by Trump

techcrunch.com

Troy Broussard and Ben Settle also launched SocialLair...and not a few gurus on my email list were already inviting their subscribers to follow them in:

Social Lair - Ben Settle Troy Broussard

sociallair.io

I got into Copy Junto, Daniel Throssell's lair...and while the platform was little bit slower than FB, it was clear of ads, spam-bots and the lair owners could enforce rules more efficiently.

Such platforms can help businesses protect themselves from censorship, and guard against trolls who spam bad reviews...and curate the list even more deeply.

Once Trump tastes the power of a technology company to make money, he may forget about real estate

 

[Kak]

I want to be excited about this, imagining a free-market, uncensored social media place without the bias you see from FAANG...

But, I know it will all be about Trump, and that kind of ruins it (and this is coming from someone who has supported Trump at least on a few policies)

It's doubtful his social network will be mainstream enough; it'll probably be all about him. But we will see.

Trump isn't free market whatsoever. He never once, throughout his entire presidency, found problem without a heavy handed government "solution."

The guy is a total d-bag. Just because he was marginally better than Biden, doesn't mean I'm excited about a social media platform that will create more big government republicrats out of historically conservative people.

There are still people that think he is the most conservative president ever because he "makes libtards cry." Call me old fashioned, but I would rather someone articulate a solid case for free markets that helps others UNDERSTAND than shit on them and further intrench their views. My hunch says he can’t, that’s why he reverts to attacks.

 

[Guest-5ty5s4]

Trump isn't free market whatsoever. He never once, throughout his entire presidency, found problem without a heavy handed government "solution."

The guy is a total d-bag. Just because he was marginally better than Biden, doesn't mean I'm excited about a social media platform that will create more big government republicrats out of historically conservative people.

There are still people that think he is the most conservative president ever because he "makes libtards cry."

He lowered taxes, fought to get American business competitive on the world stage (versus Democrats allowing American industry to just bend over and take it to foreign competition - competition that pays wages that would be illegal in the US, does not follow OSHA or EPA standards or anything near it, etc.)

On those two things, Trump was a great President. And we need more of that, from anyone willing to do it.

 

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[Kak]

He lowered taxes, fought to get American business competitive on the world stage (versus Democrats allowing American industry to just bend over and take it to foreign competition - competition that pays wages that would be illegal in the US, does not follow OSHA or EPA standards or anything near it, etc.)

On those two things, Trump was a great President. And we need more of that, from anyone willing to do it.

That "tax cut" was a hike on a lot of people.

American firms didn't become more competitive. They became more reliant on policy. The policy was tariffs. A MASSIVE tax on the top line. It is just corporate welfare of a different brand.

He also was at the helm of a massive explosion of money printing. He started it. Biden has actually done less of it than Trump because the hypocrite republicrats in Congress that supported Trump’s reckless spending, decided to evidently become “fiscally responsible” during the Biden admin.

Inflation is a tax on buying power. A retroactive wealth tax. By my estimates Trump took 15% and Biden took another 10% and counting.

He grew government and raised taxes. He just called it tax cuts.

 

[Antifragile]

That "tax cut" was a hike on a lot of people.

American firms didn't become more competitive. They became more reliant on policy. The policy was tariffs. A MASSIVE tax on the top line. It is just corporate welfare of a different brand.

He grew government and tax revenue.

I think this warrants a much longer explanation. Like a BOOK long...

So here, for anyone who's more than just talk and willing to put in work in understanding how good profit should be made, read this:



Spoiler alert: relying on government to make your business work, is not the right answer. And the right answer is not an easy path.

 

[Guest-5ty5s4]

American firms didn't become more competitive. They became more reliant on policy. The policy was tariffs. A MASSIVE tax on the top line. It is just corporate welfare of a different brand.

We did, because we got additional orders that were previously going to China, where if a worker dies on the job, they just roll them out, call the family, and get a new guy on there.

I don't like tariffs. But you know what else I don't like? OSHA, the EPA, labor/employment regulations that are uncompetitive globally, and having your 50+ year business ruined by politics and bad laws.

To those politicians:
"OH, you want to tax carbon (just one example of hundreds of burdens placed on American businesses) at home and destroy my business?

But you don't care about the #1 global polluters, using the same atmosphere, and you will just get everything built over there instead?

Cool."

Oh, or maybe the fact that in China, a worker is paid below US minimum wage? It is illegal to be that cheap in America. How are you supposed to compete on labor price when it is banned by your government? That doesn't count as 'government interference' to y'all?

 

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[Antifragile]

George Bernard Shaw put it succinctly when he said, “The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

 

[Guest-5ty5s4]

George Bernard Shaw put it succinctly when he said, “The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

Spoiler alert: relying on government to make your business work, is not the right answer. And the right answer is not an easy path.

Obviously, but whenever your business is humming along doing great and then the government starts shooting a .45 at you, shouldn't you try and make them stop?

I mean, I can vote for the guy shooting at me, or vote for a guy who wants to put a shield in the way!!

Not a hard choice.

 

[Kak]

We did, because we got additional orders that were previously going to China, where if a worker dies on the job, they just roll them out, call the family, and get a new guy on there.

I don't like tariffs. But you know what else I don't like? OSHA, the EPA, labor/employment regulations that are uncompetitive globally, and having your 50+ year business ruined by politics and bad laws.

To those politicians:
"OH, you want to tax carbon (just one example of hundreds of burdens placed on American businesses) at home and destroy my business?

But you don't care about the #1 global polluters, using the same atmosphere, and you will just get everything built over there instead?

Cool."

Yes, more competitive due to policy… Which means more reliance on government… Which means in reality, the company, on its own merit, is probably less competitive than ever.

Just because y’all were a beneficiary of it doesn’t mean America was.

All the new customers of yours that used to buy from China and get better deals, now have to pay more for an American product. Their numbers are worsened because of this.

I can both be excited for my positioning in a marketplace, and know the macro truth. You can compartmentalize.

Government creates no value, it just moves it around and steals most on the way.

 

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[Guest-5ty5s4]

Yes, more competitive due to policy… Which means more reliance on government… Which means in reality, the company, on its own merit, is probably less competitive than ever.

Just because y’all were a beneficiary of it doesn’t mean America was.

All the new customers of yours that used to buy from China and get better deals, now have to pay more for an American product. Their numbers are worsened because of this.

I can both be excited for my positioning in a marketplace, and know the macro truth. You can compartmentalize.

Government creates no value, it just moves it around and steals most on the way.

Well, do you support removing all of the government policies that make the USA unable to compete with the other countries then? (and also, we are still able to compete, just handicapped by these shitty policies)

Because they either need to do that, or find a way to globally enforce all of their shit policies on all countries.

It seems the Dems would prefer the latter option. Some libertarians and R's just throw up their hands and say "Oh well, we will just be hypocrites and get all the work done overseas while handicapping industry at home."

The good ones say "this doesn't make sense whatsoever. Why do we spend X in regulatory costs in America to do the same job that costs X - Y in this other country, with all these added inefficiencies like shipping across the world?"

(y'all ignored my middle post, the one with my best points)

 

[Kak]

Well, do you support removing all of the government policies that make the USA unable to compete with the other countries then?

Yes of course! I’d love to get government out of the way and really see what our industries can accomplish.

My problem is that Trump and his tariffs did the opposite. They added instead of subtracting. More government is not the solution to too much government.

 

[Guest-5ty5s4]

Yes of course! I’d love to get government out of the way and really see what our industries can accomplish.

My problem is that Trump and his tariffs did the opposite. They added instead of subtracting. More government is not the solution to too much government.

Ok, that's the only point I wanted to make on this thread. I know you agree with that, just not sure if everyone responding does, and good conclusion.

I agree.

(I still vote for the better option when both are bad, though)

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Federal Reserve Board announces a broad set of new rules that will prohibit the purchase of individual securities, restrict active trading, and increase the timeliness of reporting and public disclosure by Federal Reserve policymakers and senior staf

Following a comprehensive review, the Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced a broad set of new rules that will prohibit the purchase of individual securi

www.federalreserve.gov

So kind of the Fed to restrict their money-making after they've already made their millions and billions.

No different than these asshat billionaires promoting socialism after they used capitalism to earn their billions...

 

[Kak]

Federal Reserve Board announces a broad set of new rules that will prohibit the purchase of individual securities, restrict active trading, and increase the timeliness of reporting and public disclosure by Federal Reserve policymakers and senior staf

Following a comprehensive review, the Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced a broad set of new rules that will prohibit the purchase of individual securi

www.federalreserve.gov

So kind of the Fed to restrict their money-making after they've already made their millions and billions.

No different than these asshat billionaires promoting socialism after they used capitalism to earn their billions...

Socialism for thee, but not for me!

Warren Buffet, Jamie Dimon, Mark Zuckerberg, Ray Dalio, Mark Cuban, Jack Dorsey… Who else?

 

[ElleMg]

I've been off social media since 2017, besides FB Business. I feel so split on Reddit. On one hand it's one of the best places to get tech/web dev support and be involved with more niche communities yet at the same time every time I reinstall I end up getting into the dopamine loop of enjoying cool/funny stuff and useful content, and pissed off at useful idiots.

I don't usually find it hard to draw the line in the sand with things that cause issues, I can easily walk down the confectionery aisle without picking anything up, or use Facebook for business without checking my news feed, yet Reddit always seems to get me caught up.

 

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[ElleMg]

 

[Antifragile]

Obviously, but whenever your business is humming along doing great and then the government starts shooting a .45 at you, shouldn't you try and make them stop?

I mean, I can vote for the guy shooting at me, or vote for a guy who wants to put a shield in the way!!

Not a hard choice.

Long day… slow reply from me. But I wanted to get back to you.

The best entrepreneurs thrive despite, rather than because of their government.

You vote for whoever is best for you, but that’s missing the point entirely. Business is like a war without bullets. No one is actually shooting real bullets at you.

"Coach Clark: “We believe our values are best accessed through this mind-set: Grateful for everything; entitled to nothing.”" (Charles G. Koch, Good Profit)

 

[Lex DeVille]

 

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[Rabby]

How did we become such an enlightened society? How did we get so in touch with all of our feelings, and subtle facts lived experiences such as how minor facial tics during a conversation are actually literally acts of violence, and literally kill people, while coming to the wise understanding that being murdered or left to die or refused medicine are expressions of positive change and justice?

Funny you should ask:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1EA2ohrt5Q

 

[ElleMg]

I'm usually here to rant or be sassy or overshare but today I feel so good.

Had a couple days not feeling good about creating content so decided to go back to the basics. Created a couple of videos solving issues I've experienced related to [niche I have a nerdy interest in]. I like helping people and sharing something you enjoy is fun. Starting from zero is refreshing and exciting.

This time I started the project with my big goal/why in mind, as opposed to a small project orientated goal - something that ended with me feeling guilty and defeated a few months ago.

The worst case scenario is I gain experience with my video editor, see how YouTube has changed compared to when I last used it, gain confidence & help a few people out (already did that!).

I feel good knowing I'm making effective process towards where I'm going even if the line isn't linear.

Anyway this is for everyone here who inspires me:

 

[MTF]

I started with a variation of wim hof method (the app is decent), and then just normal "apnea tables" as the divers call it. All you need is to google it and get started. But I ONLY do them lying down in case I pass out, it's a real risk. So NEVER do it in water or standing up.

EDIT: Here's my routine but it's still experimental.
- 8 minute deep breaths warmup
- negative breath hold
- positive breath hold
- 1 minute heavy breathing
- positive breath hold
- repeat as desired, but performance usually doesn't improve with more reps
- at least a minute breathing normal for recovery

then i try not to do anything strenuous for about 15 mins after just in case there's some weird delayed hypoxia thing going on. negative holds put me in this dreamy space while the positive holds give me a lot of energy!

I did an introductory freediving course today aimed at surfers (so it focused more on holds than going deep; we also practiced walking on the ocean bottom with a 10 kg weight). I have to agree that apnea training is pretty cool and very relaxing. At the end of the course we measured my static hold underwater and I was shocked to learn I did 2:40.

I got some app recommendations and will continue this training and possibly do a full freediving course.

 

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[SteveO]

I did an introductory freediving course today aimed at surfers (so it focused more on holds than going deep; we also practiced walking on the ocean bottom with a 10 kg weight). I have to agree that apnea training is pretty cool and very relaxing. At the end of the course we measured my static hold underwater and I was shocked to learn I did 2:40.

I got some app recommendations and will continue this training and possibly do a full freediving course.

You sound better already.

 

[Kak]

I’m probably the only person on the forum that has made money off of the brand new, shiny, BITO etf…

By buying puts and shorting the hell out of it.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I’m probably the only person on the forum that has made money off of the brand new, shiny, BITO etf…

By buying puts and shorting the hell out of it.

Looks like a good place to take some option bets, pretty liquid, and ETF's based on futures tend to have a natural downward drift due to contango. (Look at USO for an example.)

Because of this, I'd lean to selling vertical call credit spreads and buying puts.

Contango Conmigo: Why a Bitcoin Futures ETF Could Be a Bloody Ride

Regulators maintain the futures market is a lower-risk way to list bitcoin. But there’s a major catch.

www.coindesk.com

The only concern I'd have is the ETF only trades in business hours. BTC trades 24/7. This doesn't give you flexibility during big moves in off market hours.

 

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[Kak]

Looks like a good place to take some option bets, pretty liquid, and ETF's based on futures tend to have a natural downward drift due to contango. (Look at USO for an example.)

Because of this, I'd lean to selling vertical call credit spreads and buying puts.

Contango Conmigo: Why a Bitcoin Futures ETF Could Be a Bloody Ride

Regulators maintain the futures market is a lower-risk way to list bitcoin. But there’s a major catch.

www.coindesk.com

The only concern I'd have is the ETF only trades in business hours. BTC trades 24/7. This doesn't give you flexibility during big moves in off market hours.

Nice!

I won’t stick around for long anyway. I’ll just come back for a bite here and there.

 

[Black_Dragon43]

I’ve made decent money off crypto this year, traded more actively early on when I had more time, and now doing a bit longer term plays.

Imo there are several undervalued cryptos. ALGO was one. I bought at $0,90, sold at $2,20s with my first batch. Am in it again now.

Crypto is one of those markets where I think you can easily make a full time income day trading with a $100K account if you know what you’re doing and are a smart lad. Where volatility is high, earning potential is also high (and ofc the chance of losing your shirt is high too haha)…

 

[DoingDeals]

When your passive income is more than expenses are you retired?

 

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[Guest-5ty5s4]

When your passive income is more than expenses are you retired?

You are financially independent. Retirement is optional

 

[Raoul Duke]