Posts by Robin Rodriguez5

Look, this is a massive topic and definitely not a simple one. That’s why people usually just tell you to cut out alcohol entirely—it's the easiest, healthiest path to take. 😁 Most people realize there’s a huge variety of drinks out there, much like how diabetes comes in two distinct types. 😁

Jerry Moore2 said:basically, when you have a tumor, there's no pain

Give me a break. It’s a real walk in the park. 🙄

Why didn't you just get it operated on five or six years ago, like any sane person would?
A tumor isn't some minor infection you can just wait out.

Bradley Thompson9 said:Is that Nolicin good for E. coli too?

It’s used for that, among other things. Though, dealing with E. coli is a whole different beast altogether.

ruggedmarlin15 said:July 24th-28th

Hey, what's the lineup looking like for the concerts?

ruggedmarlin15

I have no clue—you're asking me? 😁
I'm not even there.

So, which concerts are on the lineup? 😁

He’s a cat guy and she’s a dog person—or vice versa—and they spend the whole movie hating on the other's favorite animal, only to reach this grand conclusion at the end:
Cat people shouldn't marry dog people.🙏

Man, that's rough 😢

Nikola Ari Peka said:To be honest, I don't really care anymore. Once they pulled the plug on the reality show, I lost interest. But, purely out of local loyalty—and because the kid actually put in the work—I’d hate to see him tank...

I think it was a massive flop. You might as well buy him flowers. There was zero reason for him to be up on that stage, begging the crowd to drink more just because the promoters are drowning in debt right alongside the announcement for Google. It’s a shame; the guys genuinely worked hard, but the timing was terrible. Besides, the math was always broken—expecting to cover the overhead for a concert like that just by selling beer is a pipe dream. That wouldn't have happened even if it were a hundred degrees in Phoenix.

Still, I expected (way) more people. The turnout was pathetic, regardless of the weather.

amberorca192 said:A wedding forum? What's the point of that?

It exists, and it works perfectly fine when someone starts messing around, just like you are now.😁>

amberorca192 said:it didn't work, even though some people managed to write 🙏

Do you hit up the wedding forums often? Honestly, if you aren't already, you probably should. 😁

amberorca192 said:Nah, just you. 👍

And I thought I knew better. 😢
So, was the forum actually working for anyone else yesterday? I couldn't get in, and honestly, I'm starting to suspect my computer is acting up again. 😲

Hey, everyone, all my messages are showing a timestamp of January 1st, 1970, and I can't even open them. 😲 Is anyone else dealing with this glitch?

Gary Harris6 said:If you've already cashed out on real estate, that cash is sitting there ready to use.
The whole betting shop analogy was just my way of saying I think most Americans spend their time at the casino trying to scrape together some profit.
Capitalism hasn't truly hit its stride here in the States yet, trust me. The government still feels the need to hold everyone's hand (well, most people).

What does a paid-off house have to do with this? You were explaining why someone wouldn't take out a mortgage at 6% interest (specifically long-term residential loans) and then fail to invest that capital. There are two main reasons:
1) The golden rule of investing—don't play with borrowed money or cash you can't afford to lose.
2) A mortgage is a restricted loan; those funds are earmarked strictly for buying a home. If you want a personal loan for other things, expect an interest rate much higher than 6%.

As for capitalism, it depends on your definition. Right now, the system here in America is actually much coarser and more deregulated than in most of the European Union, so in that sense, it’s definitely "shining." Compared to the American model, Europe is quite socialistic. We tend to lean toward the type of capitalism seen across most of the European Union.

Bringing up gambling really doesn't belong in this discussion.

Interest rates for cash loans aren't sitting at 6%. That rate applies to specific home loans where the bank secures a mortgage against the property; if you're looking to invest, you need liquid cash.

Your comparisons between the stock market and a sports betting parlor are pure guesswork, much like most of the nonsense being posted on this thread. I’ve been an investor for quite some time now. I don't dump my money into some government-managed retirement fund; I put it into stocks and index funds. Most of my wealth was built by selling services. I live in the American capitalist system, and frankly, I’m doing just fine in it, thanks for asking 🙂
It’s clear you all live in a socialist utopia that exists solely inside your own heads.

Gary Harris6 said:Look, you can find investments in places like Toronto that offer massive returns, but those always come with massive risks. Something about your logic doesn't add up. Banks are lending money at 6% interest, yet Vanguard funds are seeing growth of 20% or more. Who’s the crazy one here? Why wouldn't banks just dump all their cash into those funds? If they clearly trust the average American more than they trust those funds, then you know exactly how much stability those funds actually have.
In this country, there's always been an insatiable hunger for quick cash.

And where did you get the idea that banks don't have their own investment funds or don't invest in them? A huge chunk of stocks are owned by banks. Of course banks run their own funds, and they’re pretty successful—it's rare to see one with single-digit annual returns. Everywhere in the world, investment funds outperform standard interest rates on average; otherwise, they'd be pointless. Who would bother with funds if banks offered a guaranteed higher interest rate?

goldengull3 said:Look, let's settle this once and for all. You folks living abroad need to decide if America is a Nordic-style social welfare state with massive benefits, or if it’s just pure, unadulterated American capitalism.

You guys remind me of those two characters from The Muppet Show who can never be satisfied with anything...

👍

A colleague dragged me into this thread so I could get a lesson in history. 😁 Honestly, I haven't seen a group of Che Guevara wannabes like this since I was watching old war movies. Seriously, my friends living overseas—if things are so miserable back home and this "horrible" capitalism is such a nightmare, why on earth are you all living abroad? To be stuck in the 21st century arguing over whether socialism or capitalism is better is just tragicomic. Go ahead, name me one advanced socialist country that actually maintains a high standard of living.

There's a dedicated sub-forum for Parents and Kids here. 😛

zednouhi said:What are you doing hanging around my neighborhood lately? 😠 😁

I'm heading there more often, so expect to run into me all the time. 🙂

silvereagle37 said:I'm actually curious about this. If anyone knows the general ballpark for booking fees, let me know so I have an idea... I realize rates vary wildly, but what's the rough range? Also, how does it work when a DJ shows up—do they bring their own gear or just plug into what's already there?

We’re talking anything from $0 for some local indie kid to $70,000 for someone like Tiësto. There you go. Hope that clears things up for you. 😁