• 14 Posts
  • 911 Comments
Joined 3 years ago
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Cake day: June 3rd, 2023

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  • I’ve been riding motorcycles Since I was 12. I’m in my 50’s. I’ve never had a road accident, despite having ridden crotch rockets for a few years. I’ve had a few dirt ones, but without major breakage.

    I have very rarely carried someone, especially because many passengers will intuitively counteract your leanings.

    I’m now considering quitting, because I’m aware that I don’t have the reflexes or 360° degree awareness I used to have.

    A lot of people shouldn’t be riding, they have a car mentality.



  • After having owned a few if these brands I decided I’d only own some Japanese, German or Korean cars. Never Italian or French. They are great the first 5 years or so, but age like milk. Owned an Opel and it was pretty good, but I guess it’s now off the list. Stellantis is the collection of the worlds least reliable cars.

    I drive a 26 year old Skoda (VAG group) which has had not a single major repair, except for timing belts, a clutch, and other consumables.




  • Many of these become enshittified. Bosh is an example. My sister kitted out her kitchen with many Bosch appliances when she renovated, like 10 years ago. All have had issues.

    The fridge has peeling faux chrome handles, the microwave button/wheel/control had to be replaced, the washer had the drum bearing fail, and the drum housing is sealed, so you have to replace the whole drum assembly, which costs as much as an entire budget washer…


  • I’ve been thinking along these lines for years. Contrary to what is often said, about landlords being leeches, I believe they provide a service. Not everybody can afford or wants to buy a house, but renting should be affordable.

    Land, however, is a finite resource, and should be taxed accordingly, to redistribute wealth, and normalize the market.

    I find people who invest on housing as a means to enhance their retirement, for example, fine.

    However, hoarding and speculation that leads to inflated markets is not.

    A proggresive taxation on individual owners, say 10-15% on the first 3 properties (maybe one or two could be second residences, why not), 20% on 5-10, 50% on 10-20, for example (I’m throwing numbers around) would make hoarding a diminishing returns game.

    Businesses should have much higher brackets, on residential. Commercial should be taxed, but less so.

    Empty residential should be taxed punitively, and also progressively, and after a certain period, made available to municipalities for social housing.

    Capitalism is good, when there are effective checks.

    Social housing should be a priority.

    There are tons of ways to promote a sane and socially responsible market.

    I believe in capitalism, with effective checks, and redistribution of wealth, progressively.