Random randomness

[jztemple2]

And hotel taxes. Florida feeds on those Disney and snowbird travelers.

As we are not those, we are happy to let the tourists and visitors help pay the state budget

[Zarathud]

And Vegas feeds on gamblers. Delaware the corporate registration fees. North Dakota the credit card companies. Alaska is a welfare state that outright pays people federal funds to live there.

Each state extracts revenue from somewhere.

[Isgrimnur]

Unpacking the State and Local Tax Toolkit: Sources of State and Local Tax Collections (FY 2020)

[Max Peck]

And hotel taxes. Florida feeds on those Disney and snowbird travelers.

As we are not those, we are happy to let the tourists and visitors help pay the state budget

The snowbird revenue isn't going to be what it used to be. You'll need to fill that budget gap with something else.

[jztemple2]

And hotel taxes. Florida feeds on those Disney and snowbird travelers.

As we are not those, we are happy to let the tourists and visitors help pay the state budget

The snowbird revenue isn't going to be what it used to be. You'll need to fill that budget gap with something else.

Hmm, not from what I've seen, there seems to be plentiful snowbirds. And tourists, and new businesses, etc. New apartment complexes and housing subdivisions springing up too. So even if there are fewer snowbirds, there are lots of everyone else.

[Daehawk]

so many taxes in this country and to think a tea tax is what we are famous for rebelling against.

[Isgrimnur]

Worst Name That Band game ever: Tool, A Perfect Circle, or Puscifer?

[stessier]

so many taxes in this country and to think a tea tax is what we are famous for rebelling against.

It was "no taxation without representation" that the colonists objected to, not simply the tax itself.

[ImLawBoy]

Worst Name That Band game ever: Tool, A Perfect Circle, or Puscifer?

I'm partial to The Soundtrack of Our Lives. Cumbersome and pretentious, all rolled into one.

[Jaymann]

I'm partial to: Garbage. Their early stuff is anything but. Some of the later stuff is pretty much...garbage.

[jztemple2]

And hotel taxes. Florida feeds on those Disney and snowbird travelers.

As we are not those, we are happy to let the tourists and visitors help pay the state budget

And in related news:

News: The Florida House will propose a bill to cut the state sales tax by .75% — from 6% down to 5.25%.

House Speaker Danny Perez says it's the largest permanent tax cut in state history, the first ever in U.S. history, and could save Floridians almost $5 billion a year.

We do love our tourists

[Holman]

Aren't many of Florida's tourists foreigners visiting Disney?

Does the state expect them to keep coming in the same numbers as before?

(Keeping this bland to stay out of R&P.)

[jztemple2]

Aren't many of Florida's tourists foreigners visiting Disney?

Does the state expect them to keep coming in the same numbers as before?

(Keeping this bland to stay out of R&P.)

According to Gemini, data indicates that 18 to 22 percent of visitors to WDW are from outside the United States. I guess the question is, how many of them would still want to come to WDW if it costs significantly more? I'm guessing that for many it's a once in a lifetime trip, so they probably would be willing to pay more.

[Holman]

I'm not sure cost is the only factor.

[jztemple2]

I'm not sure cost is the only factor.

Then I think we'd be going into R&P territory

[Fardaza]

I'm not sure cost is the only factor.

Then I think we'd be going into R&P territory

Korean, Japanese, Australians, and others are not going to stay away from Walt Disney World because of American (Floridian) politics. As jztemple2 said, for many it's a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

[gbasden]

Given that many countries are issuing travel alerts about the United States I'm not so confident. There are a number of stories about the drop in international travel here currently.

[Kasey Chang]

There are alternative WDW type experiences all over the world. They may opt for something... closer.

[Max Peck]

There are alternative WDW type experiences all over the world. They may opt for something... closer.

Or less dangerous for visiting foreigners.

[Kasey Chang]

Switching topics: Just for funsies, I decided to try "Mike's Mighty Good" Craft Ramen in cup-a-noodle form.

According to the cup, it's supposed to be "spicy beef", organic, blah blah blah.

Followed the instructions... Remove flavor packet and oil packet from bowl, add boiling water to soak noodle for 6 minutes, add packet contents to cup, mix, and consume.

The broth is pretty good, tasty even, without the usual Asian reliance on MSG, but the noodles... ARGH. Despite oversoaking in boiling water (I'm quite sure I went more than recommended 6 minutes) the noodle is still... Chewy, as if the center is not quite cooked through. And this was supposed to be "spicy" beef, yet I can barely taste the chile. If the Paldo Korean "Shin" ramen is a 4 (out of 10), this one barely rates as a 1. Yet this was like $2+ per cup. As what Brits call "pot noodle", the qty is also smaller than typical ramen packet.

Personal rating: 1.5/5, would NOT recommend or buy again.

I actually have another cup, supposedly "chicken ramen". I think I rather eat the flat pack stuff than this "premium" pot noodle.

EDIT: Tried the chicken ramen, same noodle, slightly better, but MAYBE I am just used to typical Asian "fried" noodles, but I've also tried the non-fried noodles (air dried / steamed, supposedly) and those are thinner and doesn't suffer from this too thick / too *audente* problem. Flavor is okay. Need more umami.

[Unagi]

Al dente

To the tooth.

[Daehawk]

I think daylight savings time has broken my mind or the clock by the bed. Its an old alarm clock I got many many years ago at walmart. It has no autoset function its so old so I have to set it each year spring and fall to the new time. I could swear I set it this year and its almost right....see sometimes Ill look at it and it is an hour slow like its on the old fall back time. Ill come back to set it in a bit remembering to do it and its the right time. I have checked all the other clocks I have and they are right always. But I have seen this one wrong about 3 times now but when I come back to set and look its the right time again.

Its pretty freaky.

[Daehawk]

Got a letter from the property tax office. Got one a year or two ago. They've changed my tax values assessment...of course it went UP...by $70,000 dollars. Cant wait on my next tax year to pay...fuck me.

[Kraken]

One can appeal reassessments, but in your case I don't think pointing out all the problems that reduce your property value would be a good idea.

[Daehawk]

Im gonna at least call them and ask why such a large jump.

On another note I shut down my pc to clear it all out of anything that needed clearing with a full shutdown just now and I almost didn't get it back. Scared me. I pushed the power button and it lit up like it always has then went right back to completely off. What the? I thought..and pushed again...it come on again like normal stayed about 3 second and died.....3rd push and it booted and fired fully up.

Was like a cars engine trying to start up on a frozen cold morning. Man it scared me . This is all I have to the outside world. Im trying to build a newer better system to replace it right now with Drazz helping me. I have a good vid card and some memory. I think the cpu is ok..I think..no proof. But I need a mobo. I also have a case and psu..the psu I think is fine. Not sure there either.

It will be the end of next week when Ill have some money to get a cheap motherboard for the system. Its a socket 1151...a intel 9400f cpu. can use a micro atx but prefer a full atx so I can have some slots free. If all else fails theres a shop in my town that may be able to get me a mobo.

I hope it last that long lol..this system is now mostly 15 years old..can you believe that?? I need it to hold out a bit longer...its my lifeline to the world..I do all my banking with it..all my food ordering..got no car to do this stuff. Still have until Oct 2026 of mortgage..Im whittling it down...its near round $6000 now. Would hate to lose my home after all Ive done

So much fun weeee hahahahahI must be like a worst case scenario in a end of the world plan.....my dog died a week ago..no more animals .....I mowed the yard the other day for the first time this year and the belt started slipping then screaming and smoking...so no more mower belt....so cant mow again...lol. OMG what a life on the edge.

But Im here. its after midnight. I have enough food. My social security add on plan will refill its benefit card come the 1st...tuesday...and I can order some stuff I need. Then on the 3rd my check goes in and Ill pay my bills....its like a clockwork thing...every month same old same old....the 11th Ill have EBT....down to $154 a month on that one...how they think a person can live on $154 in food a month with prices the way they are is beyond my scope but it helps.

Seems my worrying about my pc post turned into a poor me post...dont care...Im an open book. I do look forward to being out of this mortgage debt and the credit card debt after that. Ill be 57 by then...and Ill have nearly $500 free each month..for me...whatever I want..to fix to replace to whatever..then.

EDIT: If im off the board longer than normal know its because my PC failed and Im trying to find a way back..not died or anything....maybe haha.

[Kraken]

Im gonna at least call them and ask why such a large jump.

That's prudent. But if they offer to come and inspect your property, and if it's in the condition that you told us it's in, you could end up condemned. So don't go along with that.

You've no doubt heard that puppies exist. I'll bet there's one in a shelter near you with your name on it.

[Daehawk]

Oh im sure there is but like I told my sister..dont find me any more animals. Ive buried my last one. Im too old now and the heartache is too much./

[Hrdina]

Worst Name That Band game ever: Tool, A Perfect Circle, or Puscifer?

I see what you're doing here.

[Isgrimnur]

[Jaymann]

Best user name seen so far this year (on bluesky): H. P. Minecraft.

[Jaymann]

Youtube somehow found a way to get around my ad blocker. Videos now start with a commercial of 3 or more minutes long that I can't skip. These are some idiot explaining the most basic rules of chess followed by hawking boards and pieces. I watch a lot of chess videos so somehow I got targeted.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Youtube somehow found a way to get around my ad blocker. Videos now start with a commercial of 3 or more minutes long that I can't skip. These are some idiot explaining the most basic rules of chess followed by hawking boards and pieces. I watch a lot of chess videos so somehow I got targeted.

Consider using an Invidious instance instead. Invidious is an open-source, privacy-friendly alternative front end to YouTube. Alternatively, you might try the FreeTube app—a downloadable desktop YouTube client built around using YouTube more privately.

[stessier]

You could also reconsider the ethical ramifications and consider Youtube Premium to avoid ads.

[Pyperkub]

Best user name seen so far this year (on bluesky): H. P. Minecraft.

They were probably Pufnstuf when they came up with that!

[jztemple2]

Any gearheads here? I'm one and I thought this was interesting: