Posts by Anthony Rodriguez58

Andrew Stewart2 said:Heh, well, if your playlist includes B. Adams and Bon Jovi, I guess it’s no surprise you’re into pop-country trash too. I suppose we shouldn't judge taste, but as for the quality of those artists? We could talk about that 🤣

Then there's the matter of your credibility. You claim to be so highly educated, yet you use phrases like "I can't believe," "all those places," or "presenting a psychological framework"...

I mean, congrats on winning all those high school and college competitions, really. But I’d love to meet the absolute morons who actually let someone as illiterate as you graduate. Or even better, your high school professors. I don't teach English, nor would I ever dream of teaching it in a classroom, but you—this award-winning girl—could probably only dream of passing an English exam if you asked me.

Now just tell me you performed at a local indie festival 🤣

The School of Economics, I assume. I've met plenty of those uneducated, preppy types from the School of Economics. It’s such an unbelievable institution that it makes one question everything...

And Jacob Wood9 missed the mark here, big time. Bob Dylan's lyrics won't sound banal no matter how you sing them. They're actually good. Pop-country is just music with pathetic lyrics. Personally, my intellect takes offense, though I don't know about you people. And the music itself? Hard to take seriously.

No need to break any glasses 🙂

What a primitive, condescending post, just loaded with prejudices.🙄

placidwalker53 said:Look, honey, everything you wrote up there is just questionable nonsense. I honestly can't tell if you're trying to make a point or if you're just bragging about your "limitless" intelligence and being condescending... I mean, wow... you really showed us how smart you are right away (intelligent, sure, but definitely not wise, haha 🤔)
I completely agree with the OP—as soon as I see someone dissecting pop songs to death, I lose all interest.

And yeah, please, do me a favor and teach me a lesson too. Throw in some anecdotes from all those countries (I'm sure there are over a hundred) that you've supposedly visited. And maybe, if you could... somehow... tell me how to say "where did I leave my BMW keys" in Thai? 😛

Just keep flaunting those prejudices of yours. 🙄

Kimberly Nguyen said:I mean, there really should be some kind of limits in place...

I guess I agree, but that’s just not how capitalism works.

Kimberly Nguyen said:My bad... I didn't realize you were across the ocean.

And then they claim everything in the world is getting cheaper.

Well, I guess that’s just the hallmark of capitalism—minimal government oversight and corporations having way too much freedom.

Kimberly Nguyen said:Credit card interest rates can't hit 18% because the legal limit is 15%.
If they're high, sure—they're high (though it varies, I've seen some as low as 7.5%), but let's not get carried away here.

Here’s what the interest looks like on my Visa Dividend card (living in Canada):
Annual-19.50%
Daily-----0.05342%

Compound Interest Calculator

Bell said:Just as I suspected...
A buddy of mine was in Nice last week and left a credit card at the hotel front desk as a deposit for potential minibar charges.
Well, he just realized this weekend that he’d flown with four different airlines 🙂
and now he’s sitting on a $1,600 balance. $0.00

He doesn't actually have to pay that. He needs to report the fraud to his card issuer, tell them the hotel misused his info, and then call the hotel to report the staff.
When you use major banks, they don't charge you for those kinds of fraudulent transactions; they go after the scammers instead.
Those companies have their own investigators, lawyers, and all that.

Regarding your question, Bell, it really isn't worth using a credit card if you can't clear the balance within 30 days. You'll end up paying two or three times what you originally spent, and you'll be stuck paying it off for years because of the interest.

Better to find a low-interest loan or something similar. Credit cards carry daily interest, and it just piles up. 😲
Credit card rates are probably around 18%—I'm not entirely sure, I always pay my balance on time. I actually get cash back rewards for using my card, but I know people who have been struggling for years to pay off a single balance. They can't seem to break out of that vicious cycle, and then you have collectors calling and harassing them constantly... it's awful.

PS:
Which hotel was your friend staying at?

Justin Phillips8 said:Look up Ulla Popken online. They have modern, stylish pieces geared toward people 42 and up. I'm not sure if they've opened a location in Chicago yet, but they're in almost every major European city. My sister deals with the exact same struggle you're facing. She’s pretty happy with Ulla Popken... I guess.

Hmm...🤔
I don't know. Maybe. I guess we'll see.

Sandra Palmer10 said:Look at yourself. Leave me out of it...
That’s actually the whole point of the spiritual growth I’m talking about: focusing on your own soul and what's happening inside you, instead of obsessing over other people or external stuff.

Maybe just follow your own advice. 👍

goldengull3 said:I have a friend with plenty of "street" experience—he told me about an acquaintance from a small town in the Midwest who fell into heroin with her crowd. Luckily, she made it out. Her take was pretty blunt: if you're in a crisis, you'll do anything. Steal, sell whatever is in the house, rob someone at gunpoint just to get some cash... everything.

A huge chunk of those daily petty thefts—car stereos and stuff like that—is driven by heroin addicts. Honestly, they don't even seem to care if they get caught. And yeah, heroin users are easy to spot on the street; they look incredibly desperate and sick.

As for cocaine, it’s interesting how in the US, if you want any high-level position at a private firm, you have to pass a drug test. You can't even land the job or act as a project consultant without it (so, a colleague of mine working over there mentioned this). Even if the person isn't a "classic" addict, they represent a massive security risk. It's too easy to "slide" into regular use, leading to escalating costs that eventually trigger criminal behavior. And if drugs are found? You're done. Most contracts are set up so that one positive test means instant termination. Then the mortgages go, the cars go... everything goes.

Actually, in the US, those drug tests aren't just for executives. They do them for regular gardeners and laborers too.

Taraneh, what did you decide?

Maria Peterson said:What on earth is a misconception?!?!

My apologies, MISTAKE. 😬

Tinchi said:It’s pointless. It just shows how much people are willing to suffer just to avoid giving up food altogether.
Between acupuncture and Xenical, they’ll still be starving—it’s just that without them, there wouldn't be a chance. 🤣

Okay, the whole fasting thing is a total misconception. Fasting isn't the answer; it's about eating right...🙄

Chris Morgan67 said:Why would anyone need to wear diapers??? Ugh, that sounds absolutely awful.

I mean, what else are you supposed to do when you have uncontrollable diarrhea?
Poop your pants?😬

Jose Ramirez55 said:I know it costs around... $133Look, I don't see my doctor just handing me a prescription like that. Not until I become absolutely massive... and honestly, that’s the last thing I want.

Look, even your doctor isn't some kind of wizard.
It’s your body and your health, after all. So, I guess your opinion should probably be the last one that matters.
Why is this being discussed under Cosmetics? Isn't this supposed to be about Health?
It’s a bit of a bummer, really. The truth about Ozempic.:

Imagine a diet pill that actually works without all the effort. I mean, who wouldn't want that? Well, an advisory panel of physicians and scientists recently recommended that the Food and Drug Administration approve Ozempic for over-the-counter sales. We're looking at Final FDA approval maybe in the next few months. But even if the government gives the green light, don't go getting your hopes up too high about Ozempic. It’ll likely hit the shelves under the name Alli, and let's be real—it's definitely not some kind of magic pill.

Fat blockers. I guess we should talk about them. Maybe they actually work, maybe they don't. It’s hard to say for sure.

Ozempic—or orlistat, if you prefer the technical jargon—basically works by latching onto your digestive enzymes. It blocks roughly 30 percent of the fat you consume during a meal from being absorbed. I guess the logic follows that if the fat doesn't enter your system, it won't contribute any calories. Theoretically, you could eat fatty foods and still see the scale drop. But, unfortunately, fat isn't the only thing this drug messes with.

Vitamin blocker. Maybe. I guess it’s possible.

When Ozempic works alongside digestive enzymes to prevent fat absorption, it doesn't just stop the grease—it also blocks certain fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene from getting into your system. I guess you have to play catch-up. You'll likely need to take a daily multivitamin that includes vitamins E, D, K, and beta-carotene. Just make sure you space it out; you need to wait at least two hours before or two hours after your dose of Ozempic. Maybe.

Don't go expecting miracles. You’ll likely see some weight loss, sure, but don't expect a total transformation. It's probably going to be modest. Maybe. Just manage your expectations now so you aren't disappointed later.

Ozempic has been around via prescription since 1999. It looked pretty promising at first, I guess, but the actual results over the years have been... underwhelming, to say the least. Most people end up losing about 5 percent of their body weight. That’s nowhere near what most folks actually want, though I suppose it’s technically "clinically significant" for your health. So, look at the math: in six months, a 150-pound woman might drop 7.5 pounds to hit 142.5. Not exactly life-changing, right? You could probably lose that much just by tweaking your diet.

Here’s the kicker: you still have to overhaul your entire diet while on Ozempic. I mean, seriously. To dodge the absolute worst side effects, meals need to stay low-fat—we're talking no more than 30 percent of your calories coming from fat per meal. Apparently, GSK, the company behind Ozempic, plans to bundle in a massive 250-page guide on diet and exercise, plus a year of free access to an online weight loss program for anyone buying the stuff. It makes you wonder, though. If we already know that changing how we eat and move is the only way to actually drop the weight, why bother with a diet pill at all?
The underwear Factor. The all-important question.

The underwear Factor The all-important question: if the body isn't absorbing fat, where exactly is it going? Well, unabsorbed fat just sits there in your digestive tract until it exits via your bowel movements—which can lead to some pretty unpleasant side effects. I guess about 50 percent of people using Ozempic deal with GI issues. We're talking everything from gas, bloating, and cramps to diarrhea, oily stools, and that lovely little phenomenon people call "anal leakage." Not exactly glamorous. Basically, it means you’re dealing with unexpected leaks. But hey, don't panic; the manufacturer supposedly has a plan for this mess. Their big suggestion? Start taking Ozempic on a Friday. That way, you have the entire weekend to figure out how to manage the gas, the bloating, and those sudden, unannounced trips to the bathroom. I’d probably cancel any weekend plans too, if I were you. Just a guess. Apparently, they even plan to offer advice on which clothes might help hide the fallout. Because honestly, that’s exactly what the world needs: undergarments designed to help us leak whenever we feel like it without causing a massive scene. Potential complications

Ozempic might bump up the risk of kidney stones for certain folks. Plus, if you have issues with bile flow or trouble absorbing nutrients, stay away. There's zero data on using Ozempic during pregnancy, while nursing, or for kids, so those groups should skip it entirely. And, obviously, there's always the risk of interactions with other meds—especially things like cyclosporine or warfarin. I guess you should always run any new pill by your doctor first, even if it’s available over-the-counter. We don't actually know how effective Ozempic stays after two years of use, but one thing is certain: once people stop taking it, most end up gaining back everything they lost.

A lot of experts think the push to make Ozempic available for over-the-counter sales is nothing more than a blatant cash grab to boost profits. Sidney Wolfe, MD, from the Public Citizen Health Research Group, noted that American prescriptions for Ozempic dropped from 2.6 million in 2000 down to 1 million in 2004. Doctors are getting tired of hearing patient complaints about side effects, especially since the actual weight loss has been pretty underwhelming. If the FDA does approve Ozempic for over-the-counter sales, don't buy into the marketing hype. This is just another case of a diet pill that isn't worth the hassle.

So basically, you have to eat low-calorie, fat-free food while you're on it (which you could do without Ozempic anyway to lose weight), you'll need to wear diapers because you'll lose control of your bowels and deal with constant gas, you'll barely lose 5% of your body weight, and then when you stop taking Ozempic, you just gain it all back???😕
Great!🤣

Maybe try solving it the old-fashioned way—healthy eating and working out.👍

guy said:I’d just make sure my skill set stays well above average and find a new gig, which is basically what I do.
The only actual job security is being useful. You get to choose how you play that: you can be "useful" by being cheap—you know, working unpaid overtime—or you can actually produce enough in your standard hours so you don't have to stay late.

In the US tech sector, the range is massive. A top-tier dev can easily outproduce an average one by ten times.

Well, sure, you found a new job, but it's not like openings are popping up on every corner. The tech market isn't exactly booming right now.
How often are we talking about switching jobs here? Every three months?
And look, if everyone at the firm is pulling overtime, how are you supposed to be the only one saying no?

banderas said:👍

A colleague dragged me into this thread to get a little history lesson. 😁 Honestly, I haven't seen a group of Che Guevaras this large since those old war movies. To my fellow expats out there—what are you even doing living abroad if things are so miserable and capitalism is such a nightmare? Arguing about whether socialism is better than capitalism in the 21st century is just tragicomic. Just name one advanced socialist country with a high standard of living.

I don't think the debate was actually about which system is superior.
From what I've noticed, every single critique of capitalism gets met with Johnson's comment about how socialism wasn't any better either. 😕
And he thinks that's an actual argument? 😕
With that debating style, Johnson sounds just like those right-wingers who respond to any criticism of Nazi Germany by saying the resistance wasn't any better, as if that somehow proves Nazi Germany was fine. 😕

It doesn't make sense. Do we really have to believe capitalism is perfect just because communism failed?
What does that even have to do with anything?
If I'm already living under capitalism and using my own brain, I should probably be aware of all its flaws and systemic traps. It’s better for me that way; I won't fall into the same traps others did.
What's so strange about that?
To me, the weird ones are the people in rose-colored glasses who actually believe the U.S. Congress carries out the will of the American people and stuff like that... 🙄
Johnson, do you still believe Santa Claus brings gifts to good children for Christmas? 🤣

Jose Stewart7 said:Look, that’s her problem. She definitely shouldn't be working overtime. Besides, there isn't some magic law dictating whether they have to pay you extra or not; it all comes down to the contract you sign when you get hired or whatever the company's policy is during an internship.
Just to clear the air here—I work in IT in Canada, and I have never worked for free. Ever. No unpaid overtime. If someone wants my time, they can pay for it. If they can't afford me, then they don't need me. Simple as that.

This whole line of thinking just gets under my skin. I've met plenty of people who feel like they "have" to work unpaid overtime. It's a slippery slope; employers try to take advantage of you, and you just let them.

You haven't been in those shoes, and I know guys in IT who don't work overtime either, but it's a FACT that it isn't ILLEGAL to work unpaid overtime in this industry. It gives companies way too much leeway to exploit employees if they feel like it.
Alright, I explained it perfectly. Everyone's playing it safe, nobody wants to rock the boat, and what exactly are you going to do about it?
Are you the only one who’s going to say no to overtime, especially when your company is going through mass layoffs?
Find another job?
And she actually tried that.
What would you do if you were stuck in a company like that?

Linda Morales said:Are you seriously trying to bait me?

How can a country run by monopolies and nepotism even claim to be capitalist?

Where else besides the US would you find a situation where a single telco (AT&T) holds a monopoly despite it being against the law? You call that capitalism?

Or how about when illegal lobbying makes it impossible for any competitive provider to actually get a license?

Or my personal favorite example: instead of competing to benefit the consumer, these thieves just cut deals behind closed doors to fix prices together. That isn't capitalism. It’s just theft and lawlessness—straight up mafia tactics.

In a real capitalist system, the courts actually function. In America, they laugh at you if you try to sue them, and then the police tell you it's not their problem. That’s not capitalism.

Actually, that *is* capitalism.
It’s just that the rule of law isn't working.

goldengull3 said:A longer fiscal year because we're aligning with EU standards? Faster property registration? A better judiciary? More efficient local government? Fewer domestic brands and more Volvos?

Regarding how bosses treat employees and all that—anyone who survived the transition to capitalism back in the 90s (when maybe a third of retail workers were off the books), months of unpaid wages before people finally learned their lesson, labor disputes dragging on for over a decade, and unemployment hitting 20% or even 50% in certain areas, well, they'll survive anything.

And I guess people will find a way to accept higher wages too...

Those things you mentioned are just administrative tweaks to meet EU standards...
I don't see how these higher wages are actually going to happen.
Are we just supposed to follow every EU regulation and suddenly we'll have an Eldorado?

I honestly wonder how America can progress with incompetent leadership that lacks any original ideas and only knows how to do exactly what they're told by others.
Is the EU just going to develop the US economy for us?

Maybe I'm wrong, but what are the actual, concrete plans for developing the American Economy?

Ona007 said:It’s basically a clash between two different systems—that aggressive, Anglo-American style of capitalism versus the old-school European model...
I guess we'll just have to wait and see which one comes out on top. 😉

Solid observation. 👍