Home › Nicole Morales3 › Posts

Posts by Nicole Morales3

40 posts shown.

Economic Crisis, Stupidity, and the People in Economy · May 27, 2009

Ashley Rogers4 is basically auditioning for a role as a dictator :-). But honestly, they aren't wrong.

Give it a little more time and we’ll all start believing the lie that there are too many of us and we need to be suppressed. Like, let's bring everyone back down to a "reasonable" level. Unfortunately, most people in this thread are so obsessed with their own seven-figure salaries and profit margins that they’d probably end up on the wrong side of history in a heartbeat.

Economic Crisis, Stupidity, and the People in Economy · May 27, 2009

Jeffrey Torres said:Maybe someone's Calculator is acting up?
It's actually pretty simple.

The best way to wrap your head around the difference between millions, billions, and trillions is to think about time:
a million seconds is roughly 11.5 days
a billion seconds is about 31.5 years
a trillion seconds is 31,680 years!

One column shows the US and how the scientific community seems to use the American system, while the other shows the international standard.
3 thousand thousand
6 million million
9 billion 1000 million (1 milliard)
12 trillion billion

3 Thousand 1,000

6 Million 1,000,000

9 Billion 1,000,000,000

12 Trillion 1,000,000,000,000

15 Quadrillion 1,000,000,000,000,000

18 Quintillion 1,000,000,000,000,000,000

The system used in the U.S. is not as logical as that used in other countries (like United Kingdom, France, and Germany). In these other countries, a billion (bi meaning two) has twice as many zeros as a million, and a trillion (tri meaning three) has three times as many zeros as a million, etc. But the scientific community seems to use the American system.

Basically, when an American says "billion," they mean what others would call a milliard (nine zeros). When someone else says "billion," they’re talking about the number with 12 zeros, which Americans call a "trillion." A billion is just 1,000 million to them. So, if there were a thousand people, they could each walk away with $1,000,000.

Best online payment cards? in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Feb 28, 2006

Stay away from the dark side.

AT&T drops $1.8 million on rebranding in Economy · Feb 5, 2006

unknown, this is straight-up legendary!

AT&T drops $1.8 million on rebranding in Economy · Feb 4, 2006

Vicky said:Sure, there are exceptions, but around here, management still views employees as just another line item expense rather than the people actually driving value.

You're spot on. I remember back at Fizulic, the actual sales force—the guys out there grinding and actually bringing money into the company—were treated like a bunch of idiots who somehow "deserved" a commission check. Like they were doing the company a favor by earning their pay.

On the flip side, those clueless girls working in procurement (brand managers or whatever they call themselves) were treated like royalty. It was ridiculous. You’d have some Fifice sitting in an office with zero clue about sales, logistics, or how retail or wholesale even works, trying to lecture the rest of us. But hey, that's just how it goes. That's exactly why field sales gets axed because it's supposedly the "most expensive way to run a sales department." Meanwhile, the Fifice stay tucked away in their air-conditioned offices. Maybe Fizulic just likes having his little birds sitting pretty at headquarters. The worst part? Those office types actually made more than the sales team. It’s a total joke. Having administrators pull in bigger paychecks than the people actually bringing home the bacon is a broken way to run a business.

Are you guys prepping for a potential pandemic (bird flu)? in Health · Feb 1, 2006

cosmicskipper55 said:... 160 people infected across six countries, with 85 deaths reported,

Given how low the mortality rate actually is—just a little over fifty percent—there is NO damn reason to freak out...

Look, I’m not usually the type to lose my cool, but I am genuinely worried about whether this turns into a full-blown pandemic. If it does, even top-tier high-tech healthcare systems won't be able to pull much weight. Especially not some budget, quasi-socialist Canadian-style system; they won't be able to do anything meaningful to help people once things go south.

My biggest worry is my two kids, especially since my oldest deals with childhood asthma. Honestly, I don't know if it's crazy to stock up on enough essentials to last us two or three months. When it comes to my kids' survival kit, we're basically talking two bottles of Heinz ketchup and maybe a few boxes of Kinder Eggs.

Would young people still want to move abroad today? in Economy · Nov 13, 2004

papa štrumf said:😂 I’m reading all this stuff about how bad things are in Canada, and then I see you’re rocking a Canadian flag as your avatar. Honestly, I'm dying laughing here. 😁.

🙄 👎

Maybe try actually reading what I wrote for once. I never said life in Canada sucks. Look, I’ve lived in Canada and I’ve lived in America, so I can speak on both sides of the fence. I have perspectives that someone who hasn't actually lived through it just won't get. Period.

If anyone wants to pack their bags and leave, more power to them. Good luck.

Would young people still want to move abroad today? in Economy · Nov 13, 2004

goldengull3 said:Look, here’s the first thing: if you land an inheritance or your parents buy you an apartment, you’ve already cleared the biggest hurdle. Not being buried under a mountain of debt from a mortgage is a massive existential advantage right out of the gate.

Do you honestly think some stranger abroad is just going to hand you a roof over your head?

I’ve got this little amateur telescope in my room—I spend time looking at the stars sometimes—and man, I wouldn't just move to another country; I’d move to another planet if I could just get away...

You’re a smart guy, seriously, and I can tell America feels too small for you. I get it, because I felt the exact same way. But listen, you probably won't believe me when I tell you that moving isn't worth it unless it makes sense. It only pays off if you have a concrete offer from a specific company for a specific job.

But trust me, goldengull3, if you leave without that safety net, you’re going to regret it bitterly.

You mentioned that Canada and the USA don't interest you. Well, let me tell you about the reality here in Canada. You see people with PhDs and Master's degrees driving taxis, working night security, or doing manual labor on construction sites. Canada absolutely crushes it by importing specialists from places like Poland, India, and Pakistan, while back home, so many talented people don't even get a shot at anything. It’s not just that there aren't opportunities for immigrants—there are—it's that immigrants arrive with zero cash and they get stuck at the bottom. They have to take whatever soul-crushing job they can find just to survive. And once you get stuck in that cycle, it is incredibly hard to break free.

You have a family to think about. You’re going to have to bring home the paycheck just so there’s food on the table. In a situation like that, your passion for science is going to be the very last thing on your mind.

I doubt things are much different in Europe; if anything, their immigrant struggles might even be worse than ours. Just look around.

Anyone following the hostage situation in Russia? in World · Sep 4, 2004

So many dead kids. It's just sickening. I honestly can't wrap my head around how anyone could kill a child for any reason or ideology. Just look at those photos—the sheer horror and terror in the eyes of those little ones is haunting. What kind of world are we living in?

Lease agreements: Tips, questions, and experiences in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 18, 2004

boldcobra17 said:Word on the street is they’re looking at using an operating lease for those Charles Schwab villas. Does anyone actually know how that financing model works or what the deal is?

What even is an operating lease, really? Is it just a standard lease, or is this some weird term cooked up specifically for the US market—the kind of jargon Spajic used to hate on because he insisted that according to GAAP, we don't have any "special" local quirks?

So why call it an operating lease? Why not just call it a lease and be done with it?

Sunday shifts? in Economy · May 2, 2004

quietlynx7 said:Just some unfortunate case of social ineptitude. Some people call it being "clueless." Their perception of reality is totally warped. They see everything in black and white—it's either all or nothing. 🙂

What can I even say? She *worked* at Magma.
What, did you get screwed over? Look, even if you didn't deserve it, if you were working for me, you wouldn't last a day, and your boss would probably get canned right along with you just for hiring someone like you.

People like you just kill the vibe wherever they go. Is someone maybe paying you just to be miserable?

Something tells me the person who wrote this hasn't spent a single damn day on the job.

Retail is one of those industries in America where employees get paid peanuts while the owners rake in massive profits.

Speaking of Magma, let me give you an example: One of the cashiers at the Turbo Center over in Zitnjak had Fizulic come in just to mess with her, throwing out these creepy, suggestive comments. He pissed her off so much she absolutely tore him a new one. And guess what? She got fired for it, and they demanded an apology under threat of legal action. I can't remember every little detail, but somehow the girl actually ended up going back to work later.

We were doing inventory once. We stayed at the company for over twenty-four hours straight without a break. To "refresh" us, Fizulic brought in some sodas he got through a trade deal, but they were already expired. Do I even need to ask if we got paid for any of that?

One day, right before Christmas, Fizulic announced that all paychecks were being frozen indefinitely. Instead of actual money, we got vouchers that could only be used to buy stuff from his own stores. My "paycheck" ended up being a Timberland jacket that was (five years ago) on sale for 40% off $467, a shirt, some pants, and I actually had to cough up extra cash just for socks. Man, if he’d at least given us vouchers for groceries, that would be one thing, but instead, he forced us to clear out his boutique stock that nobody wanted because it was overpriced as hell.

I had already left Magma by the time the union tried to move in, but I heard there was a massive purge of anyone who supported them. And so on and so forth.

Whenever someone brings up the Labor Law, or any other regulation, you have to keep in mind this is America and laws here aren't always followed.

Don't talk about retail working conditions unless you've actually worked in retail. If you're still just a student or an intern, you'll face the brutal reality of the American labor market soon enough, and I'm pretty sure you'll suddenly drop this arrogant attitude.

Job opening: Veterinary Intern position available in Economy · Apr 27, 2004

Joshua Chavez said:Wow, someone’s salty 😁

I learned how to quote and write properly over 40 years ago. 😁 Plus, I run a small business in the private sector, so I actually have some skin in the game here. And look, I get that you think employees should just work for peanuts and be happy about it. Well, newsflash: they usually aren't. 😁

I never said workers should be happy because they're getting paid nothing. And honestly, it's great that in the US, veterinary interns actually have the freedom to choose where they work.

But even at 43, you still HAVEN'T grasped the basic laws of economics, which is why I told you to go check out the diaspora. Your comment proves it. It doesn't matter if you or I feel bad that a vet intern can't pull in more than maybe forty grand or whatever the starting salary is. Because the REALITY is that's what a vet intern makes.

So what's your actual point? Are you saying it's better for a vet intern to just sit on the couch earning zero dollars—and learning nothing—than to actually get out there, earn a paycheck, and master the craft? I haven't met a broke veterinarian yet, so interns don't need to worry about being broke either. Unless, of course, they decide to think like you.

4) You can't learn anything useful from the diaspora. 😛

Because Americans in America INVENTED business, economics, and everything else people try to teach you, right?

5) You're a joke. 🙂

I try.

Job opening: Veterinary Intern position available in Economy · Apr 27, 2004

Yeah, seriously, go take a look at the debate happening over on the engineering thread in this subforum.

Job opening: Veterinary Intern position available in Economy · Apr 27, 2004

Hold up, hold up, I see you! You probably think an intern working at a private clinic should be pulling in, what, at least $2,500 a month? Am I getting warm?

And since you want to talk about the economy without actually knowing how things work, maybe try swinging by the diaspora subforum and just... read. Like, seriously, read and learn and absorb stuff, okay? Maybe one day you’ll actually understand what people are telling you.

Let me break it down for you since you're clearly struggling... In my first post, I specifically said "private" clinic.

"Private" means the whole point of the business is to turn a profit. What kind of production level does a vet intern have? They're someone who has to make enough money to cover the boss's cut before they even see a dime for themselves. So, you can pretty much deduce the cash isn't flooding in, though that doesn't mean there's zero. As an intern, the real "profit" is honing your craft so you can actually be productive soon and get paid accordingly.

Instead of "vet clinic," swap it out for whatever you want: an accounting firm, a retail shop, a medical or dental office, a law firm. Boom. There, I just gave you a free lesson. And you still think I'm being difficult? Yeah, sure.

Job opening: Veterinary Intern position available in Economy · Apr 27, 2004

Joshua Chavez said:Let me just drop one crucial line here:

Are you seriously expecting someone from out of town to just reach out to you? You probably already know the local vets in your area and can just call them directly.😉 Hmmm... then again, maybe they know you too.😁
Yeah, right...

Look, Joshua Chavez, I’m obviously not a vet, and I don't live in your neck of the woods. But I happen to know perfectly well that there are ways to set up an apprenticeship or a junior vet position. I also know that the pay isn't exactly life-changing. Still, it’s a solid way to learn the ropes and actually get prepared for those big-deal board exams vets have to pass.

And what the hell is your point with that weird quote about knives???

Job opening: Veterinary Intern position available in Economy · Apr 25, 2004

It’s good to see there aren't any unemployed vets hanging around here... Or do you guys just stay away from forums like this?

Job opening: Veterinary Intern position available in Economy · Apr 23, 2004

Yo, anyone home?

Job opening: Veterinary Intern position available in Economy · Apr 22, 2004

I've got a full-time opening for a veterinarian or a vet intern at a private practice out near St. Louis.

The pay isn't going to make you rich or anything, but if you want to actually get your hands dirty and learn the ropes, this is it.

If you're actually serious about this, hit me up in my DMs.

Starting a small business in Business, Accounting & Taxes · Apr 6, 2003

Here’s what I’ve been chewing on lately:

Why the hell is it that after I’ve already paid income tax on my paycheck or whatever else I pull in, I have to get hit with sales tax every single time I walk into a grocery store? It feels like double dipping. You take a cut of my earnings, and then when I actually go to spend what's left, you take another bite.

And honestly, why should I be the one footing the bill for everyone else's massive screw-ups? Why does the government feel entitled to blow my hard-earned cash on anything and everything except the basics—like fixing our crumbling highways, building decent hospitals, schools, or public parks?

Maybe some smart people will finally wake up and realize that politics isn't some grand ideological battleground; it's just about how someone manages other people's money. At some point during the next election, we need to stop obsessing over petty culture war nonsense and start asking the real question: how is my tax money actually being spent?

There’s still hope!

Are We Moving Forward or Falling Behind? That's the Question. in Economy · Mar 3, 2003

Lisa Grant2 said:The biggest issue is how everyone just bundles holidays with weekends and then descends into this collective, chronic whining session, constantly looking for someone else to blame...

Just look at the Germans; they clawed their way out of absolute hell twice in a heartbeat... HOW, exactly?

I guess the Germans are just smarter, so they didn't need Americans holding their hands... or whatever.