Miscellaneous Discussion Thread
Quote: Joeman
Just one more question about Allegiant. (Ugh, I should have made this its own thread!) Mrs. Joeman has a smart phone, but I do not. If she uses the Allegiant App to check us in, can she put both of our boarding passes on her one phone?
Yes, as long as you board together. We ran into that this weekend where my wife was in boarding group 2 and I was in boarding group 3. I just waited and boarded with her group because I had the boarding passes on my phone.
My experience with checking in early is different than GWAE's. I have found checking in early I am less likely to get seats with my wife so I usually wait and check in a couple hours before the flight. My theory is they put you apart because they are hoping you will change your mind and pay extra to change your seats so you can sit together.
Interesting. Out of curiosity, do the passengers bargain/trade seats with other passengers so that they can sit with their party?Quote: DRichMy experience with checking in early is different than GWAE's. I have found checking in early I am less likely to get seats with my wife so I usually wait and check in a couple hours before the flight. My theory is they put you apart because they are hoping you will change your mind and pay extra to change your seats so you can sit together.
Quote: TigerWuHow is Pai Gow Tiles doing, nationally? Is it spreading or shrinking in Vegas and AC, or staying about the same? Is it spreading to other casinos around the country? Is there ever a chance I'll see it in some random Indian casino in the Midwest? Anybody want to get together and play for small stakes?
It failed at the Seneca Niagara Casino on the American side of Niagara Falls. There are always multiple tables at Casino Niagara on the Canadian side. I have met a few WoV visitors there to play tiles so if you are ever out this way...
Quote: JoemanInteresting. Out of curiosity, do the passengers bargain/trade seats with other passengers so that they can sit with their party?
Generally people are nice and switch if you ask nicely and aren't moving them to a middle seat. Everybody by themselves in a middle seat will gladly take an aisle or window if offered. If sitting together is very important to you it might be better to pay and avoid the stress involved of wondering if you will get seats together. If you are travelling with a child I would definitely buy a seat so they can be guaranteed next to one of you.
Quote: DRichQuote: Joeman
Just one more question about Allegiant. (Ugh, I should have made this its own thread!) Mrs. Joeman has a smart phone, but I do not. If she uses the Allegiant App to check us in, can she put both of our boarding passes on her one phone?
Yes, as long as you board together. We ran into that this weekend where my wife was in boarding group 2 and I was in boarding group 3. I just waited and boarded with her group because I had the boarding passes on my phone.
My experience with checking in early is different than GWAE's. I have found checking in early I am less likely to get seats with my wife so I usually wait and check in a couple hours before the flight. My theory is they put you apart because they are hoping you will change your mind and pay extra to change your seats so you can sit together.
I don't think they do that, but hell they might. I figured if you wait until close to boarding then most people have checked in and there are less seats.
Quote: DRichGenerally people are nice and switch if you ask nicely and aren't moving them to a middle seat. Everybody by themselves in a middle seat will gladly take an aisle or window if offered. If sitting together is very important to you it might be better to pay and avoid the stress involved of wondering if you will get seats together. If you are travelling with a child I would definitely buy a seat so they can be guaranteed next to one of you.
If you are with a minor they have to sit next to parent. If you are separated then you can go to the counter and they will move someone. I am not sure what the cut off age is for that.
On my last flight I saw 3 people move. 2 went from aisle to aisle and 1 went from middle to aisle.
Quote: teddysAre you up?
Yes, I'm way up; I believe because of my humility. I'm only in index funds. I never thought I could beat the market trading (although I made money as a BJ AP.) I never thought I could beat that monkey that Malkiel said would usually beat the money managers. The hardest thing for me has been to not react to news. I failed in this effort only once - after the tech crash of 2000. I pulled out and then jumped back in; I didn't lose a tremendous amount by doing this but I would have been better off if I had just stayed in. I never blinked an eye after black Friday or 2008. I know that there are some (very few) who can beat the market by trading. I never had confidence in myself doing that. I'd much rather play BJ as an AP then do that. I don't like the fact that in the market there is not just the risk of your stock pick underperforming due to bad management; there is also the risk that the market as a whole could pull your stock down as it goes down even if your underlying company is strong. It's just too much for me.
Quote: lilredroosterYes, I'm way up; I believe because of my humility. I'm only in index funds. I never thought I could beat the market trading (although I made money as a BJ AP.) I never thought I could beat that monkey that Malkiel said would usually beat the money managers. The hardest thing for me has been to not react to news. I failed in this effort only once - after the tech crash of 2000. I pulled out and then jumped back in; I didn't lose a tremendous amount by doing this but I would have been better off if I had just stayed in. I never blinked an eye after black Friday or 2008. I know that there are some (very few) who can beat the market by trading. I never had confidence in myself doing that. I'd much rather play BJ as an AP then do that. I don't like the fact that in the market there is not just the risk of your stock pick underperforming due to bad management; there is also the risk that the market as a whole could pull your stock down as it goes down even if your underlying company is strong. It's just too much for me.
We are very similar, but it's also my age. I need to be in index funds to get the diversity.
Are you re-balancing now? I am. It's a good time for that.
Quote: odiousgambitWe are very similar, but it's also my age. I need to be in index funds to get the diversity.
Are you re-balancing now? I am. It's a good time for that.
I started re-balancing several years ago as I started to approach retirement age. I did it by buying only lower risk bond funds for my new purchases. For the last several years I have maintained a significant cash position but I'm thinking that I need to end that part of my strategy. Cash just can't make money and reflects a person who is very risk averse and I'm not really that. Interestingly, (to me), while the money managers generally cant beat the index stock funds, it was quite easy for me to find quite a few who beat the bond index funds over the long term without a great deal more risk. You don't hear that from the talking heads but I believe it's true. Buy and hold is the only strategy I'm comfortable with.
Time to rebalance. Sell your stock winners. I believe the market is at an irrational high right now. There is nothing supporting it.Quote: odiousgambitWe are very similar, but it's also my age. I need to be in index funds to get the diversity.
Are you re-balancing now? I am. It's a good time for that.
What to put it in? You might want to try individual bonds. Online brokerages like Vanguard and Schwab have a large inventory. And the commissions are so low, I can't believe it. $2 per $1,000, or $1 per $1,000 if you have $250,000+ in assets with Vanguard.
I also like Solar Bonds from SolarCity, paying 4.4% for one year, $1,000 minimum. You can buy them online. No commission. If you would say, though, "That's way to high, something is up with them," I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you.
Quote: teddysTime to rebalance. Sell your stock winners. I believe the market is at an irrational high right now. There is nothing supporting it.
What to put it in? You might want to try individual bonds. Online brokerages like Vanguard and Schwab have a large inventory. And the commissions are so low, I can't believe it. $2 per $1,000, or $1 per $1,000 if you have $250,000+ in assets with Vanguard.
I also like Solar Bonds from SolarCity, paying 4.4% for one year, $1,000 minimum. You can buy them online. No commission. If you would say, though, "That's way to high, something is up with them," I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you.
I've found buying individual bonds tricky and difficult. There may be low commissions but the bond has a fluctuating price. For example you may have to pay $10,800 for a $10,000 bond. I once priced a corporate bond that was yielding 6% and after paying the overage on the price you would actually get about 1%. Also, high yield or junk bonds run the risk of default; in which case you may end up getting nothing or way less than anticipated. By contrast a high yield bond fund may get a few defaults but the manager is buying hundreds of bonds so it is not a catastrophe. I also strongly believe that the availability of info on individual bonds is not good; not anything like what is available for stocks. I believe a fund manager can get a way better deal on an individual bond than a private investor. Here is a cut and paste from the news service Reuters on April 20 about the likelihood of certain bonds defaulting:
The default rate on U.S. junk bonds is on track to reach almost 6 percent by year-end, following a slew of rating downgrades among energy and commodity-related companies in the past two years, Moody's Investors Service said on Wednesday.
After driving 11 miles we finally find the hotel. Gps wasn't putting it in the right place. We get there the and front desk girl has no idea what we are talking about. We try calling 4 points and no one answers their phone. Probably dealing with new people and turning them away. After 15 minutes and a line of about 6 people all from four points she finally gets a hold of them and they get it figured out. We just now got to our room 90 minutes later.
Only positive is that this hotel has free breakfast and 4 points doesn't. Marriott usually does a decent one too, so we'll see.
Quote: GWAEWe left for AC this evening. We had a picnic to go to earlier in the day so we decided to drive half way tonight and use our points and get a room at four points for 3k points. So I called last night to make sure 11pm check in was ok. So we get there at 1045 and they tell us that an outside agency booked 200 people there and they don't have rooms for us or the 10 other people in line. She says they will pay for us to stay at Towne place suites which is 6 miles down the road.
After driving 11 miles we finally find the hotel. Gps wasn't putting it in the right place. We get there the and front desk girl has no idea what we are talking about. We try calling 4 points and no one answers their phone. Probably dealing with new people and turning them away. After 15 minutes and a line of about 6 people all from four points she finally gets a hold of them and they get it figured out. We just now got to our room 90 minutes later.
Only positive is that this hotel has free breakfast and 4 points doesn't. Marriott usually does a decent one too, so we'll see.
4 points lost my potential business right there. Say it with me. "Reservation". "Credit card deposit". "Guaranteed room". I'm a customer, not an inconvenience.
Quote: GWAEWe left for AC this evening. We had a picnic to go to earlier in the day so we decided to drive half way tonight and use our points and get a room at four points for 3k points. So I called last night to make sure 11pm check in was ok. So we get there at 1045 and they tell us that an outside agency booked 200 people there and they don't have rooms for us or the 10 other people in line. She says they will pay for us to stay at Towne place suites which is 6 miles down the road.
After driving 11 miles we finally find the hotel. Gps wasn't putting it in the right place. We get there the and front desk girl has no idea what we are talking about. We try calling 4 points and no one answers their phone. Probably dealing with new people and turning them away. After 15 minutes and a line of about 6 people all from four points she finally gets a hold of them and they get it figured out. We just now got to our room 90 minutes later.
Only positive is that this hotel has free breakfast and 4 points doesn't. Marriott usually does a decent one too, so we'll see.
That's beyond messed up. I would have been upset and it seems they did the "run around" with at least 6 people. Deep shame on them! :(
I would be curious how many pepole where out of a room. They gave us this form to use at new hotel and they had a devent stack of them sitting there. When we pulled into the hotel there were not very many cars but there were 3 big tour busses. Owell life happens, now on to wildwood for the day and then AC.
Eta, while typing this my wife came out of bathroom annoyed because there are no towels in bathroom. There was also no remote but I have an app on phone for universal remote.
Last year I was regularly earning 2500 - 5000 bonus per day. Hit 90,000 for year, half dozen 2 day trips.
This year almost squat. This all at BJ tables though.
I thought there was published info on coin-in per TC on VP?
Yeah, even with the daily bonuses compounded with the 50% Spring Tier Bonus, I have barely made Platinum on two 2-day trips this year. Although, had I been paying attention on my last trip and consolidated my two gambling days into a single day, I might be knocking on Diamond's door. You really have to take advantage of the daily bonus and do it while there is a separate bonus promotion.Quote: GWAEAfter last night I have to say, I have no idea how a recreational player that plays in CET 2 or 3 times a year can get to diamond or higher. Normally we don't play much on our AC trips but I decided to take $300 down last night. I played UX for .05. I jumped from 3 to 5 to 10 line. Most play was on 3 line and a fair amount on 5. My average bet was probably $2. I also played 10 pine .05 draw frenzy for $3 a hand. I had the machine set on medium speed and I only ended up with 1100 tier credits. I thought about going for diamond this week but unless I have an average of $10 a hand I don't think I could ever make it.
Even then, you would have to have at least one 2500 point ($25,000 coin-in) day and get the 5000 TC bonus. Do this during a 50% bonus period, and you're more than 2/3 the way there.
"Only" $25,000 coin-in, right? ;)
2F, I know the required coin in. I guess I was just meaning for a rec gambler you have to make a ton of trips since 1200 tiER is 12 coin in. For a low stakes player that is really a ton.
On a side note , I lost my only pair of glasses in the ocean today. Thats going to make make the rest of the week difficult.
Quote: GWAEYeah only 25k.
2F, I know the required coin in. I guess I was just meaning for a rec gambler you have to make a ton of trips since 1200 tiER is 12 coin in. For a low stakes player that is really a ton.
On a side note , I lost my only pair of glasses in the ocean today. Thats going to make make the rest of the week difficult.
LensCrafter. New glasses in about an hour, nationwide.
(609) 484-8400 local store nearest to AC.
Quote: beachbumbabsLensCrafter. New glasses in about an hour, nationwide.
(609) 484-8400 local store nearest to AC.
I called them last night. The guy told me they had 3 people yesterday alone that lost them and 14 people last week.
My wife only wears hers to drive so I am using hers. They are close enough and not too girly.
I don't have a current eye exam so with lenscrafters it is going to be 92 for the exam and approx 149 for glasses. I am going to wait until we get home and use insurance for free. LensCrafter doesn't take our ins.
You were wearing your glasses in the ocean? Tell me you were on a boat on the ocean. In the ocean? Were you looking for sharks or bikinis, or both in some perverted combination ;-?Quote: GWAEYeah only 25k.
2F, I know the required coin in. I guess I was just meaning for a rec gambler you have to make a ton of trips since 1200 tiER is 12 coin in. For a low stakes player that is really a ton.
On a side note , I lost my only pair of glasses in the ocean today. Thats going to make make the rest of the week difficult.
< I was in the ocean many many years ago when a bikini caught my eye. I was mesmerized, just for a moment. In that brief moment a brutal rogue wave hit me in the side of the head compressing the air in my ear canal and blowing in my eardrum. It hurt. Then I had to go home, hours away, see the Doc, pay for some 'special' antibiotic, all while my eardrum healed itself in a week or two.
You would have thought I would have learned a significant life lesson and lived happily ever after.
And then there was a sewer drain cover open while I was walking down the street...
Quote: TwoFeathersATLYou were wearing your glasses in the ocean? Tell me you were on a boat on the ocean. In the ocean? Were you looking for sharks or bikinis, or both in some perverted combination ;-?
< I was in the ocean many many years ago when a bikini caught my eye. I was mesmerized, just for a moment. In that brief moment a brutal rogue wave hit me in the side of the head compressing the air in my ear canal and blowing in my eardrum. It hurt. Then I had to go home, hours away, see the Doc, pay for some 'special' antibiotic, all while my eardrum healed itself in a week or two.
You would have thought I would have learned a significant life lesson and lived happily ever after.
And then there was a sewer drain cover open while I was walking down the street...
That is sort if what happened. I wasnt swimming per se. We were 10 minutes from leaving. My cousins kid asked me if I would take him out a little further. Waves have been a little rough the last 2 days. Anyways I was standing there with waves hitting me in the chest then out of nowhere a wave came in twice as high and crashed over my head. It knocked me off balance and a 2nd wave came right after about then same size aND took me under. Thsee 2 waves totally came out of nowhere.
I did not realize it was a tsunami, NBC should have told me, but they were busy with some agenda rather than giving me the news. If the alien beings from a different solar system arrive today, what will be the lead story on NBC tomorrow? I suspect Trumps latest twitter feed will be #1, especially if it can be construed in some some way, that some nut job can twist around to make Trump look bad. Just my suspicion. Anyone got any word on Alien invasions today that missed the top fold of the tabloids? Just 2FQuote: rxwineTsunami.
Quote: TwoFeathersATLIf the alien beings from a different solar system arrive today, what will be the lead story on NBC tomorrow?
That's old news. BTW, proceed to the nearest tuna factory for processing.
(no dolphins will be harmed)
Now that was funny.Quote: rxwineThat's old news. BTW, proceed to the nearest tuna factory for processing.
(no dolphins will be harmed)
Who was it that said RxWine has no sense of humour?
Only the best tuna get to be starkist, or something like that ;-)
Quote: TwoFeathersATLYou would have thought I would have learned a significant life lesson and lived happily ever after.
And then there was a sewer drain cover open while I was walking down the street...
I walked into a ravine once my freshmen year of college.
You didn't reveal what the distraction was. Don't make me turn you over to the forum police. Reveal now. You got like 30 seconds, or a week or two.Quote: rudeboyoiI walked into a ravine once my freshmen year of college.
Who's counting?
Quote: TwoFeathersATLWere you looking for sharks or bikinis, or both in some perverted combination ;-?
Quote:The parents of the Nebraska boy who was killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World will not sue the company for his death, they announced Wednesday.
Matt and Melissa Graves, whose 2-year-old Lane was dragged to his death at the Orlando resort, said they will “solely be focused on the future health of our family and will not be pursuing a lawsuit against Disney.”
The parents’ joint statement did not say if they received any settlement cash from Disney, and did not cite a specific reason for declining legal action.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/parents-of-boy-killed-by-alligator-at-disney-resort-will-not-sue/ar-BBuyueH?ocid=spartanntp
For fun I started searching the Internet for information about the Otbit Inn and I understand that it closed in 1987. I also learned that in January 1967 a man killed himself and five others after causing an explosion at the motel. I had never heard of that story before.
Quote: GreasyjohnYesterday I saw a post in some thread showing dozens of photos of old Las Vegas. There was a photo of the Orbit Inn motel in downtown Las Vegas. I stayed in that motel for a couple of nights in the early 80s.
For fun I started searching the Internet for information about the Otbit Inn and I understand that it closed in 1987. I also learned that in January 1967 a man killed himself and five others after causing an explosion at the motel. I had never heard of that story before.
I don't remember the Orbit but I can tell you that the Western Casino may be opening back up soon. They were approved for a Nevada gaming license last week.
Quote: DRichI don't remember the Orbit but I can tell you that the Western Casino may be opening back up soon. They were approved for a Nevada gaming license last week.
I wonder how they can open up the Western again and not attract the same crowd they had before. That's going to be tough. The area around the Western has not improved that I know of. The same hookers and down-and-outers will be working their angles.
Quote: lilredroosterNate Thurmond died a couple of days ago. He was one of my favorite back in the day players. Very unassuming, great defensive player. Really strong. Probably the physically strongest player in the league at that time except for Chamberlain. Love to watch videos of him blocking Wilt and Jabbar's shots. A truly great player.
Back in the late 60:-/ early 70s, I didn't get a lot of chances to see out of town basketball games on tv..
I'd have loved to see some of the Wilt vs Nate matchup.
Quote: GWAESo I am offically starting my diet this week. I am going to lose 60 pounds by april. Any takers on a bet? I was going to start a thread but figured I would see if there was any interest in here before I did so.
I could make a friendly sized bet with you on the don't, to give you an incentive? Or what did you have in mind?
Quote: GWAESo I am offically starting my diet this week. I am going to lose 60 pounds by april. Any takers on a bet? I was going to start a thread but figured I would see if there was any interest in here before I did so.
Good luck. Are you going to post a before and after picture in your bikini too?
Quote: DRichGood luck. Are you going to post a before and after picture in your bikini too?
I was thinking a banana hammock
Quote: GWAESo I am offically starting my diet this week. I am going to lose 60 pounds by april. Any takers on a bet? I was going to start a thread but figured I would see if there was any interest in here before I did so.
Myfitnesspal is an app to count calories.
Similar day forecast for today, but I gotta get outside and do something. Maybe just short spurts of yard work, then duck back in. Plus errands.
Quote: odiousgambitI got up this morning at 4 AM. It was so hot yesterday that I just sat around all day in the AC, so no wonder I've had enough sleep.
Similar day forecast for today, but I gotta get outside and do something. Maybe just short spurts of yard work, then duck back in. Plus errands.
I am building a deck. I thought it would be a good idea to start digging the Footers yesterday. I made it about 90 minutes and decided that this was a horrible idea and went inside. It was 93 and 80 percent humidity so or was pretty gross out
