bluebison10 said:No. It’s just that at my company, there are plenty of middle-aged employees with kids in high school or college. Nobody dares fight for their rights because they're terrified of being replaced. Meanwhile, the firm brings in outsiders who barely finished middle school—people with zero qualifications beyond entry-level labor. These newcomers are treated like saints just because they're willing to grind for 12 hours a day, even though they don't actually know how to do anything useful....
Not gonna happen, man. Look, the whole point of life is just making yourself and everyone else happy. It’s not about being selfish, but it’s not about just serving others either—it’s about finding that sweet spot right in the middle. Life isn't some math equation or a broken engine you need to fix; it's just an experience you're supposed to live through. Spending your days terrified of what's coming next, stuck in this constant loop of pessimism and staying on the defensive... it's pointless.
ambertinker41 said:Someone mentioned $120k for 70 square meters in the city, but unless you're 6.2 miles living northwest of the suburbs in some basement apartment, that’s a joke.
For $120k, you’re probably looking at a total gut renovation most of the time. Rent is sitting around $450-$500+, and mortgage payments are hitting $550-$800+ (if you aren't using an FHA loan to dodge the local taxes, then that's just the reality).
I also tend to think things will tick up slightly before stabilizing; that earthquake really threw the whole market for a loop. The alternative is everything skyrocketing, but then I'll be worrying about what to eat instead of how to cover the mortgage.
Anyway, if anyone has advice on where to park some cash for investment or savings—specifically for someone who doesn't have the time to check trends more than twice a month—I'm all ears. 🍿
Just go somewhere. Meet new people, get into some colorful trouble, sign up for an adrenaline sport or something. Quit your job and spend a year—or however long you can afford—just sleeping like a normal person and walking a dog. Honestly, those are the best investments you'll ever make.
That’s just a Miami thing to say, basically meaning "even if you're mocking me, you're probably right"—so I didn't mean he was literally making fun of anyone with his post.
If you listen to what the Kyiv Independent is reporting, they're saying about 14,000 Russian soldiers have been wiped out in just these last 22 days. That's more than all the American soldiers lost during the entire American War of Independence.
coastalheron12 said:Was there even a shred of a chance for Ukraine to hang onto its nuclear weapons? I mean, if they actually had nukes, nobody would be messing with them, right? And if it wasn't an option, then I guess "someone" was supposed to guarantee their arsenal so they wouldn't get attacked. But when someone actually gets hit, both sides end up facing the music—depending on who started the fight. 🤔
So basically, it’s just NATO's joke—they didn't stick to the guarantees. ☕
In any healthy society actually trying to make progress, you need friction. You need different opinions clashing, period. Without that, you’re just retreating into some echo chamber and letting your brain rot. Obviously, the dream is for these debates to stay civilized—where people actually listen to one another instead of just screaming and throwing insults like most of these online hellholes. Most places online aren't even debating anymore; they're just looking for a crowd to validate their own pre-packaged biases.
Emmanuel Macron is way more effective on the international stage than he is when dealing with stuff at home—not saying he’s bad domestically, just that he’s clearly in his element abroad. He’s a massive Europeanist through and through, always pushing for everyone to huddle under that big European umbrella and tighten up integration. On the flip side, you’ve got these "fiscally responsible" nations like the Netherlands and Denmark. They’re terrified—and honestly, I get it—that they’ll end up footing the bill for the "irresponsible" countries, like us or Bulgaria, who'd rather piggyback off the common pot instead of actually doing the hard work to become efficient. Also, unlike Merkel, who had this insane PR machine making her look like some legendary Mutti while she mostly just talked without much substance, Macron is much more agile and gets things moving. He definitely played his cards right, timing everything with the elections and coalition talks in Germany, and having France hold the EU presidency right now is basically a gift from the heavens for him. For a country like ours, that whole idea of a unified European monetary umbrella sounds like music to our ears.
Anthony Wright30 said:I haven't been following this thread closely, though I do happen to hold that Leadership Course certificate. I suppose one might wonder what exactly you all need from me?
coastalheron12 said:Total nonsense. How are you supposed to pick anyone if everyone is just checking boxes today? You know the drill: confidence gained from a Leadership Course, following the SOP to get the job done, then handing over the quality report once it's finished. To put it simply...
Listening to Mandic, Zidic, and Makovic was such a vibe—the show used to be on Saturday nights (maybe it ran a few seasons on Fridays too?), but it really hit the spot. Not every single time, obviously, but pretty often. Usually, by the time you're heading out the door, you're already halfway gone—just enough cultural elevation to help you peddle smooth lines at an Anchor at 4 AM.
That sounds like stuff Franjo Tuđman picked up during his training in the Yugoslav People's Army 🤷