Miscellaneous Discussion Thread
We have a much more intricate tax code. Generally speaking, if a person has low/zero deductions/credits, then the tax withheld on his salary will be pretty close to actual tax owed. A person with the same salary that has, for instance, a large mortgage interest deduction, will generally get a sizable refund. Also, someone might have additional income like dividends and capital gains (everything is taxable in USA) that puts him in a higher tax bracket than someone who earns the same salary but had no other income.Quote: OnceDearRemarkably not!
In the UK, the exercise of filing is to determine the small amount of tax that we need to pay to balance the account. We aspire to pay our tax as late as possible even if that means a big payment due in January
A fundamental difference between the UK and US income tax systems is that in the UK, we don't tend to overpay throughout the year and then get a rebate. Under our PAYE system, we generally pay the correct amount and don't file anything! Where we do self assessment, that usually precedes us sending a small payment, or very unusually getting a rebate.
I'm always bemused when I read how popular your countrymens' idea of an annual rebate cheque seems to be.
I'd be annoyed to discover that I'd given my government an interest free loan every every year.
So it’s not like you just take someone’s salary, multiply times 20%, and there’s his tax bill. If that were the case then there would be no reason to over/under withhold
Too boringQuote: billryanI think my next move is to the Laughlin area. Winter there and travel in the summer.
Quote: AxelWolfToo boring
No, Billy is an old guy he will fit right in. Might even be a good bingo game on a Friday night.
Quote: AxelWolfToo boring
A year ago I would have agreed, now I'm not sure.
So says the article. If you can't get up stairs of 60 steps in 90 seconds, you should see a physician.
Quote:The new research, which was presented in Dec. 2020 at EACVI–Best of Imaging 2020, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC),
Quote: rxwine"How do you know if you're at cardiac risk when many traditional methods for accurately measuring heart health involve expensive or time-consuming procedures, or the oversight of medical professionals?"
So says the article. If you can't get up stairs of 60 steps in 90 seconds, you should see a physician.
I can't remember the last time that I walked up more than one flight of stairs. 60 stairs would probably kill me. I am thinking of selling my house because one flight of stairs is uncomfortable.
no gambling at all is legal in Hawaii - no slots, no table games, no horses, no lotteries - nothing
the last time I was there they had blocked internet access to this site and other gambling forums that I visit
they no doubt have illegal gambling - I'm not going to go looking for that
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NASA flies helicopter on Mars - 1st flight ever of aircraft on another planet - being compared to Wright brothers historic flight
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/nasa-mars-helicopter-makes-history-as-first-vehicle-to-fly-on-another-planet/ar-BB1fOlIm
Feven Kiflegiorgis, whose on-air name at KVVU-TV is Feven Kay, was sentenced last week to a $1,000 fine and ordered to take driving lessons, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
She was charged with reckless driving with a disregard for the safety of a person or property.
She was arrested at about 7:30 a.m. on March 20 after being found behind the wheel of her Audi, according to the report from the Metropolitan Police Department, reported the Review-Journal.
I was introduced to existentialism at that time in a course "French Literature in Translation."
I consider existentialism to be the closest thing to my personal philosophy, and the handbook if you will is Camus' "The Stranger."
I was introduced to the writings of Camus, Sartre and others by my professir, who was a contemporary of Albert Camus who had spent time and IIRC even fought side by side with him against the Nazis in the French resistance in WWII.
Powerful stuff for a kid from the suburbs.
Quote: lilredrooster................................
they no doubt have illegal gambling - I'm not going to go looking for that
They have a huge Chinese population, of course they have illegal gambling
Quote: MrVeven fought side by side with him against the Nazis in the French resistance in WWII.
This stuff was common in the 60s. My 9th grade English teacher was a young girl in the underground in Holland during the war. My 11th grade literature teacher was in the forces that freed the death camps in 1945. My 10th grade math teacher was a German girl whose parents immigrated here in 1946 and she absolutely refused to discuss anything to do with World War II. In 1964 we had an assembly where they showed us a documentary about the death camps. Not only did she refuse to attend, she left school and didn't come back for a week and almost lost her job. She fought really hard against the school showing this documentary. I'm sure she did, it embarrassed the crap out of her.
Footnote to the Eager Beaver mods, this is not political this is historical. There is a difference.
Quote: rxwineA Las Vegas television anchor was arrested after being found asleep and naked in her parked car,
This is her. Why are girls like this found naked in their car and I'm never around when it happens.
Quote: SOOPOOI can now get $5 slot free play by showing my proof of vaccination at Seneca Niagara. Now that’s a serious incentive to get vaccinated....
I wouldn't do it if it was $500. Don't like vaccinations, I only had one in my entire life and I had no choice.
Quote: SOOPOOI can now get $5 slot free play by showing my proof of vaccination at Seneca Niagara. Now that’s a serious incentive to get vaccinated....
Look Man we have our differences, but if you really need 5bucks I'm there for ya.
𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
well, I oversold in the title - I didn't actually beat them - but I diverted them when they're snooping on me
whenever I'm logged in to one of their sites in another tab I search for stuff like this - feminine stuff that I could care less about:
how to make a delicious tuna casserole
where to buy a fancy hat to show off at the Preakness
how to learn macrame
how to teach your child origami
can you make money selling your embroidery on ebay?
where can I get a bra that fits me good because I'm small chested?
can you buy Nora Roberts romance novels in hardback at a big discount?
how can you meet a man on the internet that you can really trust?
are internet dating sites safe?
which do you think are the luckiest slot machines?
does your man respect you?
etc. etc. etc...........................
so now I get ads that I could care less about
it's pretty funny.................to me anyway
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Quote: billryanWho wants to see ads that might actually interest you when you can waste your time attracting ads you have no interest in.
you have a point and it makes me look like an idiot
but I just don't like them snooping on what I'm reading and targeting me like that
if I'm interested in where to buy boots for hiking I don't want or need them to show me ads - I can find all the stuff I need myself
and I'm a fast typist so all the searching I indicated has taken me about one minute
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Quote: lilredrooster
but I just don't like them snooping on what I'm reading and targeting me like that
if I'm interested in where to buy boots for hiking I don't want or need them to show me ads - I can find all the stuff I need myself
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I realize we are all different, but I like the idea of directed ads and could care less who knows what I am searching for.
Damn do those ads work too. I'm just remembering how I've had ads for things I'd looked into and wound up buying from those companies and quite expensively I have spent. I'm actually surprised I've made some of these purchases now I think about it.Quote: lilredroosteryou have a point and it makes me look like an idiot
but I just don't like them snooping on what I'm reading and targeting me like that
if I'm interested in where to buy boots for hiking I don't want or need them to show me ads - I can find all the stuff I need myself
and I'm a fast typist so all the searching I indicated has taken me about one minute
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Quote: lilredrooster..............................................
𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
well, I oversold in the title - I didn't actually beat them - but I diverted them when they're snooping on me
whenever I'm logged in to one of their sites in another tab I search for stuff like this - feminine stuff that I could care less about:
how to make a delicious tuna casserole
where to buy a fancy hat to show off at the Preakness
how to learn macrame
how to teach your child origami
can you make money selling your embroidery on ebay?
where can I get a bra that fits me good because I'm small chested?
can you buy Nora Roberts romance novels in hardback at a big discount?
how can you meet a man on the internet that you can really trust?
are internet dating sites safe?
which do you think are the luckiest slot machines?
does your man respect you?
etc. etc. etc...........................
so now I get ads that I could care less about
it's pretty funny.................to me anyway
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How to make delicious tuna casserole is NOT feminine stuff
Quote: mcallister3200How to make delicious tuna casserole is NOT feminine stuff
If you don't cook it on the grill it is woman's work..
Quote: DRichIf you don't cook it on the grill it is woman's work..
I thought that man's best friend was his microwave.
Quote: MrVI thought that man's best friend was his microwave.
A microwave is not cooking.
A good woman's work. A not so good woman will lay there sometimes and a really bad one will only say they will later.Quote: DRichIf you don't cook it on the grill it is woman's work..
probably because your at home nappingQuote: EvenBobThis is her. Why are girls like this found naked in their car and I'm never around when it happens.
I cook alot and not always on the grill,, My wife says Im a good man for doing it,,, what would yours say??Quote: DRichIf you don't cook it on the grill it is woman's work..
Quote: EvenBobThis is her. Why are girls like this found naked in their car and I'm never around when it happens.
You don't like having witnesses I presume.
Just in case there is anyone reading this who is not familiar with the MegaMillions lottery (which is conducted twice a week with tickets sold in multiple states), it involves drawing 5 white balls from a group of 70 (that are numbered 1 to 70) plus one yellow Mega Ball from a group of 25 (that are numbered 1 to 25). Players chose five numbers for the white balls and one number for the Mega Ball and win if they match 3 or more white balls or the Mega Ball for that drawing and are paid based on how many matches they make. (There is also a Megaplier wager that adds to the ticket cost but increases the payout by a random factor for all except jackpot tickets.)
The image below shows the results for the MegaMillions drawings in April 2021. Note the circled numbers which show which yellow Mega Balls were drawn in the five most recent drawings.
Does this pattern of "random" drawings from balls numbered 1 to 25 seem unusual to anyone? Does anyone care to calculate this chances of these five consecutive results if the drawing is really random? (Or perhaps calculate or speculate on whether these represent genuine random drawings. That's the reason for the top-line question above about paranoia.)
Who feels "lucky" enough to pursue this "opportunity" for the next drawing (to be held Tuesday 5/4/21)? Just two days left in which to buy your tickets!
Quote: DocParanoia about lotteries????
Just in case there is anyone reading this who is not familiar with the MegaMillions lottery (which is conducted twice a week with tickets sold in multiple states), it involves drawing 5 white balls from a group of 70 (that are numbered 1 to 70) plus one yellow Mega Ball from a group of 25 (that are numbered 1 to 25). Players chose five numbers for the white balls and one number for the Mega Ball and win if they match 3 or more white balls or the Mega Ball for that drawing and are paid based on how many matches they make. (There is also a Megaplier wager that adds to the ticket cost but increases the payout by a random factor for all except jackpot tickets.)
The image below shows the results for the MegaMillions drawings in April 2021. Note the circled numbers which show which yellow Mega Balls were drawn in the five most recent drawings.
Does this pattern of "random" drawings from balls numbered 1 to 25 seem unusual to anyone? Does anyone care to calculate this chances of these five consecutive results if the drawing is really random? (Or perhaps calculate or speculate on whether these represent genuine random drawings. That's the reason for the top-line question above about paranoia.)
Who feels "lucky" enough to pursue this "opportunity" for the next drawing (to be held Tuesday 5/4/21)? Just two days left in which to buy your tickets!
I’ll give you 10-1 odds the megapliar number is not a 5 or 25. Tell me how much you want to bet. (Assuming the drawing hasn’t happened already!)
Quote: daveyandersen1I cook alot and not always on the grill,, My wife says Im a good man for doing it,,, what would yours say??
My wife would be thrilled with my effort to cook but very disappointed in the result.
For clarification, there is a substantial difference between the Mega Ball number ( 1 through 25 on a yellow ball) and the Megaplier number (from one of 15 balls numbered 2 through 5 in various frequencies) selected in an in-advance drawing to determine the payout multiplier for winning tickets for which the player has paid for the Megaplier option. Thus, the Megaplier number can never be 25 and has a rather low (1 in 15) probability of being 5.
Thanks, but I will turn down the chance for a 10 to 1 wager that the Megaplier number will be either 5 or 25. Looks a bit like 3 to 2 odds against me.
I've never heard of a double-sided tv. Does anyone have one? I can't imagine there is a large need for these things. Most sets are against a wall.
Quote: billryanIs anyone familiar with two-sided televisions? I'm looking for a fifth-wheel or park model trailer and saw a video of a high-end trailer that featured a pop-up 60-inch tv. The voiceover said it was double-sided so people in the kitchen area as well as people in the living room.
I've never heard of a double-sided tv. Does anyone have one? I can't imagine there is a large need for these things. Most sets are against a wall.
I would bet that it’s 2 flatscreens back to back getting and the same HDMI input.
Quote: DocWell, I am not completely sure whether SOOPOO's post illustrates (1) the inadequacy of my description of the MegaMillions lottery or (2) how cleverly sneaky he can be in offering a wager.
For clarification, there is a substantial difference between the Mega Ball number ( 1 through 25 on a yellow ball) and the Megaplier number (from one of 15 balls numbered 2 through 5 in various frequencies) selected in an in-advance drawing to determine the payout multiplier for winning tickets for which the player has paid for the Megaplier option. Thus, the Megaplier number can never be 25 and has a rather low (1 in 15) probability of being 5.
Thanks, but I will turn down the chance for a 10 to 1 wager that the Megaplier number will be either 5 or 25. Looks a bit like 3 to 2 odds against me.
Aw shucks Doc! I was trying a swindle on my old compadre! I do not play the lottery, so am not aware of the details.... But my point is that I trust the lottery to be random.....
Quote: gamerfreakI would bet that it’s 2 flatscreens back to back getting and the same HDMI input.
Those are my thoughts as well. It's a nice touch as it rises out of the room divider.
Quote: DRichMy wife would be thrilled with my effort to cook but very disappointed in the result.
She would be thrilled just to get you off the couch, no matter what the reason was.
Quote: SOOPOOAw shucks Doc! I was trying a swindle on my old compadre! I do not play the lottery, so am not aware of the details.... But my point is that I trust the lottery to be random.....
That is my expectation also, at least for lotteries managed by the government. It's just that the recent results shown in my first post on this topic just seemed so unreasonable for a truly random drawing that I thought someone might provide the calculations on just how paranoid such an opinion might really be.
Quote: rxwineIs there an appointment app where if you make an appointment the business can just send an email, and it will go straight to the electronic calendar on your phone posting itself automatically on the correct date with time and location?
Outlook itself does that. Sends an email with an embedded attachment to update your calendar.
Quote: unJonOutlook itself does that. Sends an email with an embedded attachment to update your calendar.
Thanks, I guess I'll have to figure it out then.
3 for $105 or 6/$119. Tough choice.
The sales rep said about two-thirds of buyers upgrade to the six-pack.
In NYC, they estimate a pie should cost under $5 to be profitable. Assuming that is true in Detroit, the company is barely breaking even on these upgrades, and since you don't get offered the upgrade until you were going to buy the three-pack, it seems like it's not very well thought out.
Their carryout special is pretty strange, as well. A pizza is $21.95, but a pizza and a pint of ice cream are $18.99.
Quote: billryan
Their carryout special is pretty strange, as well. A pizza is $21.95, but a pizza and a pint of ice cream are $18.99.
Now you are talking my language. I always look for the deals.
Was it from Buddy's? I think that is the only Detroit pizza I have had.
