|
Post by The Captain on Apr 6, 2020 16:30:31 GMT -5
Planetary was one of the last books I purchased from a comic book shop. The first issue was released in February of '99 while I was in my last year of law school. I moved from Moscow (Idaho) right after I took the bar exam to my current town where there is not and never has been a comic shop. So I probably picked up the first four or five issues before I left. At that point I had to follow the book in trades. My wife got me the first TPB of Planetary for my first birthday together while we were dating. We'd just started dating two months earlier, but she knew enough about me to know I liked comics and that I shopped at a particular LCS. She went there after work one day and asked the owner if he could recommend something for her to get me as a gift, and he said that he had always been surprised that I hadn't picked up Planetary yet. After that, I got all of the rest of them as floppies (including buying the first six that were in that TPB, for $1 each). She was a keeper from the first date. 20 years as a couple and 18 years married this upcoming June.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 6, 2020 15:56:00 GMT -5
Nice! I can weave reading Planetary in and out of continuing my read through Iron Man, like a little palate cleanser every so often, so I can participate.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 6, 2020 15:07:30 GMT -5
For picking The Who, or for my question using Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd? For Zeppelin, Floyd and The Who. Your answer is fine. Everyone likes what they like. But I'd almost rather have a knitting needle stuck in my ear than have to listen to Zeppelin or Floyd. I agree with you for the most part, and my answer wouldn't change with the inclusion of the two different bands. I can tolerate two Zeppelin songs and maybe four Pink Floyd songs, but that's it.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 6, 2020 15:02:33 GMT -5
For me, it's The Who. When I was growing up, my dad was always listening to them, so I developed a fondness for them at an early age. I do like both The Beatles and the Stones (Beatles more when I was younger, Stones more now), but not as much as The Who. This is a good question, but honestly, I think the better question would have been: The Who, Led Zeppelin, or Pink Floyd. They were more contemporaries with each other than they were with either The Beatles or The Stones, both of whom came to prominence in the early 1960s as opposed to the late 60s for the other three. For picking The Who, or for my question using Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd?
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 6, 2020 14:11:49 GMT -5
For me, it's The Who. When I was growing up, my dad was always listening to them, so I developed a fondness for them at an early age. I do like both The Beatles and the Stones (Beatles more when I was younger, Stones more now), but not as much as The Who.
This is a good question, but honestly, I think the better question would have been: The Who, Led Zeppelin, or Pink Floyd. They were more contemporaries with each other than they were with either The Beatles or The Stones, both of whom came to prominence in the early 1960s as opposed to the late 60s for the other three.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 4, 2020 15:51:36 GMT -5
My Mom wanted McDonald's today but I talked her out of it... sorry Ronald and pals. I think it's still a risk for two people in their late '70s, even with the drive-through only. So I have to make dins as she was mostly just not wanting to cook I think. How do other's feel about take-out food generally? I feel a bit better about KFC or fish & chips somehow, deep frying seems less likely somehow to carry anything and one comes dumped in a bucket and the other in plain paper and newspaper. McDonald's has all these individual little containers for each thing. I'm over-thinking things probably. If I may, my parents have been anxious to get out and do something, and they thought they might go to the local Arby's to get some drive-thru. They asked my sister, who's a doctor, for her opinion, and she said that while there is a risk, it can be significantly reduced by doing the following: 1. Pay cash. Try to figure out how much the bill will probably be ahead of time, put cash and coins into an envelope, and hand it to the worker at the window, telling them to keep whatever change is left. That way, they aren't handing anything back to your parents, either change or their credit card. 2. If they order drinks, it would be best if they the drinks home (not putting a straw in them in the car) and pour them into their own cups. 3. Once they are home, set the bag with the food on the floor, not the counter. Wash hands, then take the food items out of the bag, unwrap them, and place them directly onto plates, not touching them with the same hands that opened the wrappers (maybe have your mum open the wrapper and your dad take the food out). Pour fries, onion rings, nuggets, etc. onto plates from their containers. Immediately dispose of the wrappers in the same bag that is still on the floor once it is empty, throw it into the trash, then wash hands as directed and use hand sanitizer if available before eating. My sister said there are no reports yet of the virus being transmitted through food, and the kitchen workers are wearing gloves to begin with, so the likelihood of it getting onto the food or wrappers is lessened already. These stores are doing significant cleaning every day on their surfaces (or they should be), additionally lowering the risks. I get the fear, as both of my parents are in the same age range as yours, and you're not overthinking it. You're concerned and want to be cautious, but with a little extra effort, a lot of the risk can be eliminated.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 4, 2020 12:14:55 GMT -5
I got my tax docs over to our CPA the last day of March before midnight I think ha. Secure digital drop. I did my own taxes and submitted them on February 2, because we were getting a refund. Money was in my bank account within 17 days. Had we owed money, I would have waited to submit until April 15 (now July 15).
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 3, 2020 7:42:10 GMT -5
Loops
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 2, 2020 15:27:46 GMT -5
I respect this, but there is absolutely ZERO reason for you to apologize. To be perfectly honest, I don't even remember who I disagreed with in that thread or for what reasons. You and I are good, because I don't have any clue what we ever argued about. It's completely irrelevant at this point in time. The only thing I've gone the slightest bit overboard on is toilet paper, but that's because I wanted to make sure I have enough in case my parents (who can't go out) and my sister (who shouldn't go out because of being a doctor and being potentially exposed every day) need a few rolls. Never taken an obscene amount, but there is definitely a little more in my house than usual. Oh, and flour, because my wife is baking like a fiend right now. She's already made focaccia bread and two pecan pies, and I picked up some cherry pie filling this morning per her request, so we'll be getting another pie over the weekend. Well well well, and I thought you were okay. You're the reason I can't find any!! JK we are good for now, but I worry if I can't find more within a week or two I might have to find a new use for my back issues... JK Surely you've got SOMETHING drawn by Rob Liefeld laying around, maybe some of his Image work or some 90's Marvel? How about some Greg Land porn-tracing? Silver Age Wonder Woman by Robert Kanigher?
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 2, 2020 15:01:21 GMT -5
Looks like you (and Yovo) have your priorities straight! Social distancing maintained while also ensuring the necessities are taken care of. I luckily got to my favorite little locally-owned coffee roaster and seller just before the poop hit the fan and got a pound each of Viennese Roast, amaretto, and hazlenut. For most things in life, I am willing to accept "good enough", but I discovered about five years ago that I am an absolute coffee snob. If I'd have to drink regular grocery store-bought coffee throughout this ordeal, I'm not sure I would be able to make it. My man. You know, as much as I sometimes miss the politics thread for having a place to discuss such things, it really did cause a lot of unnecessary stress between posters. I know at times we disagreed pretty heartily in there, and I apologize for any past tensions. I am finding you and I agree on A LOT of stuff in most other facets I've seen discussed here, and even then more often than not on politics. I'd raise my coffee mug to you, but I don't have any at the moment. Might go down and brew some more..I can't seem to shake off the brain fog today. Also, yeah, I've been very respectful in most of my grocery and stocking stuff, but I bought like 4 pounds of coffee. Not going to risk running out with all this going on. I respect this, but there is absolutely ZERO reason for you to apologize. To be perfectly honest, I don't even remember who I disagreed with in that thread or for what reasons. You and I are good, because I don't have any clue what we ever argued about. It's completely irrelevant at this point in time. The only thing I've gone the slightest bit overboard on is toilet paper, but that's because I wanted to make sure I have enough in case my parents (who can't go out) and my sister (who shouldn't go out because of being a doctor and being potentially exposed every day) need a few rolls. Never taken an obscene amount, but there is definitely a little more in my house than usual. Oh, and flour, because my wife is baking like a fiend right now. She's already made focaccia bread and two pecan pies, and I picked up some cherry pie filling this morning per her request, so we'll be getting another pie over the weekend.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 2, 2020 11:07:24 GMT -5
Prince Hal and Slam_Bradley , I wasn't arguing against spending that money, just that I'm conflicted about it going to Social Security recipients. The estimates are that the $350B set aside for small business loans (which become grants if they maintain their payroll for a certain period of time) could be less than 1/2 of what is applied for and needed, and certainly the gig workers with kids are needing more than a retired person with no kids. However, Slam, I absolutely see your point about your Mom and how this sort of one-time payment could have made a huge difference. My parents are in a different place, as their SS combined annually currently exceeds their expenditures (based on my calculation from last year and this year thus far), which does color my judgment of the situation, but not everyone is in the same place as they are. What I would have like to have seen was far more allocated to the individual workers and the small business owners and far less to the corporations who don't have two weeks of cash reserves to weather the storms. Maybe they shouldn't have spent it all on stock buybacks and executive bonuses and perks?
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 2, 2020 10:24:45 GMT -5
All I know is that the stimulus check on top of my regular Social Security check will help me keep my head above water for a good six months (with my rent now $965/mo, I can't pay my bills without support from my brother and sister) and let me get a few things I desperately need but couldn't otherwise afford (clothes, Windows 10, et al). If it didn't seem inappropriate given the circumstances, I'd liken this stimulus money to a gift from God. Cei-U! I summon the (personally)fortuitous timing! Kurt, I hear you loud and clear on this, and it is because of circumstances like yours that I am as conflicted as I am. From what I understand, and please correct me if I am wrong, is that your situation is SS Disability and not SS Retirement, which I feel is a different kettle of fish entirely. I don't know WHY I feel that way, but I do.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 2, 2020 8:58:34 GMT -5
A couple of justifications I can think of: We can identify the Social Security crowd as a segment that "doesn't need the check", so we could cut them out to reduce the total payout. But there are plenty of others still working who likewise "don't need it", but needs-based evaluation would be complex, contentious, and prevent expeditious implementation of the stimulus. So there's an impression of unfairness, and that impression will hit mostly on seniors, who form a big part of the conservative base which tends to disapprove of people getting stuff from the government that they "don't deserve." So unless we can refine the giveaway so that it only goes to those whose income is definitely impacted by the economic shutdown, the safest course to maximize public approval is to discriminate as little as possible. There will still be a contingent that gripes because many recipients "don't need it", but most of those will be placated with checks of their own: "At least the parasites didn't get anything I didn't get." There's less risk in the phase-out for higher income people, who are far fewer in number and who, even if they are affected, are less likely to find that $1200 makes up for any losses they are suffering. The better justification is to put ready cash in the hands of a broader swath of the public so that when this does lift, the economy gets a juicing. The seniors will retain more of the $1200 for spending in the local economy, as opposed to those who needed it to get by during the crisis. One issue with your first point, in regard to the higher income folks, is that the phase-out is based on 2019 tax year filings (or 2018, if they haven't filed this year). Maybe they were employed up until this crisis and are now completely out of work, but because they did well last year (or two years ago, even), they get nothing. As for your second point, that makes sense, but I'm not sure I understand the logic of the government borrowing money to give it to people to put it back into the economy down the road so that those businesses can pay taxes on it, which the government will use to make up for the lost tax revenue from this situation but not actually pay back the money they borrowed. Again, I understand it, but I'm massively conflicted about it.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 2, 2020 7:46:02 GMT -5
I'm really struggling with one aspect of the US government's Coronavirus financial package, but not one that most people would think of.
As I understand it, individuals receiving Social Security (such as both of my parents, each in their 70s) will be receiving the designated $1200 apiece ON TOP of their monthly Social Security checks. There were, in December 2018, 46.8MM retired workers and dependents receiving SS benefits.
Taking the $1200 and multiplying it by 44.8MM individuals comes to nearly $54B of the package going to people who aren't working and will still be getting their SS checks every month throughout this situation.
I get that SS doesn't allow people to live lavish lifestyles, but we've got millions of people in the gig economy currently displaced from work, not to mentions thousands of small businesses that were only given $350B to divvy up, so why are people whose income isn't going to be affected by lack of work getting extra money?
I'm not 100% against this, but I am definitely conflicted about it.
There. I said it.
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 2, 2020 5:09:28 GMT -5
Potential crisis averted as a shipment of coffee arrived today. Have not been able to get to Costco. Yovo (the cat) was concerned about a lack of java. Looks like you (and Yovo) have your priorities straight! Social distancing maintained while also ensuring the necessities are taken care of. I luckily got to my favorite little locally-owned coffee roaster and seller just before the poop hit the fan and got a pound each of Viennese Roast, amaretto, and hazlenut. For most things in life, I am willing to accept "good enough", but I discovered about five years ago that I am an absolute coffee snob. If I'd have to drink regular grocery store-bought coffee throughout this ordeal, I'm not sure I would be able to make it.
|
|